Vayishlach 5770: The Only Thing Yaakov Has to Fear is Fear Itself

In Vayishlach, Yaakov returns from Charan a wealthy and established man, blessed with a large family. After two decades he has finally stood up to his conniving father-in-law who backs down from a confrontation. Now entering Canaan, Yaakov sends a celestial reconnaissance to size up Esav. Why? This is his older twin brother from who he finessed the rights of the first born. Does he wonder where he stands? Is he nervous?

His delegation returns with a full report:

• "We came to your brother (Esau)”
• “He is coming to you”
• “Four hundred men are with him." (Bereishis 32.7)

“Yaakov became very frightened and was distressed...” (32.8). Why the emotional response to this account? Did he feel his life was in peril (Medrash Tanchumah)? We are compelled to believe that 'four hundred men' is intimidating. But if my brother were coming to visit, I would be delighted even if he were being escorted by a battalion. Unless...

We know that there is history between these gentlemen. Was Yaakov ever threatened? We go back and review chapter 27. Rivkah alerts Yaakov that “...your brother Esav... [plans to] kill you” (27.42). What made her think that? Same verse: “And Rivkah was told of the words of Esav”. Those are the words that Esav contemplated but never verbalized (“...and Esau said to himself...” (27.41)! Was Yaakov fearful thanks to his mother's warning of twenty years earlier?

This parshah is quite revealing of Yaakov's thinking based on a most bizarre incident: The night before the big meeting with Esav and after, Yaakov gets into a fight with a 'man'. There is strange dialog and Yaakov emerges with a prize: a new name...but perhaps more. Yaakov is transformed. The meeting with Esav the next day goes off without a hitch. What occurred the night before that had such an impact on Yaakov. How does his new name frame an everlasting legacy?