Aggada -- Translations into English; Bible. Old Testament -- Legends; Jewish legends; Midrash -- Translations into English
Beside the presents which Jacob gave Esau, he also paid out a large sum
of money to him for the Cave of Machpelah. Immediately upon his arrival
in the Holy Land he sold all he had brought with him from Haran, and a
pile of gold was the proceeds of the sale. He spoke to Esau, saying:
"Like me thou hast a share in the Cave of Machpelah, wilt thou take
this pile of gold for thy portion therein?" "What care I for the Cave?"
returned Esau. "Gold is what I want," and for his share in Machpelah he
took the gold realized from the sale of the possessions Jacob had
accumulated outside of the Holy Land. But God "filled the vacuum
without delay," and Jacob was as rich as before.[274]
Wealth was not an object of desire to Jacob. He would have been well
content, in his own behalf and in behalf of his family, to resign all
earthly treasures in favor of Esau and his family. He said to Esau: "I
foresee that in future days suffering will be inflicted by thy children
upon mine. But I do not demur, thou mayest exercise thy dominion and
wear thy crown until the time when the Messiah springs from my loins,
and receives the rule from thee." These words spoken by Jacob will be
realized in days to come, when all the nations will rise up against the
kingdom of Edom, and take away one city after another from him, one
realm after another, until they reach Bet-Gubrin, and then the Messiah
will appear and assume his kingship. The angel of Edom will flee for
refuge to Bozrah, but God will appear there, and slay him, for though
Bozrah is one of the cities of refuge, yet will the Lord exercise the
right of the avenger therein. He will seize the angel by his hair, and
Elijah will slaughter him, letting the blood spatter the garments of
God.[275] All this Jacob had in mind when he said to Esau, "Let my
lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant, until I come unto my
lord unto Seir." Jacob himself never went to Seir. What he meant was
the Messianic time when Israel shall go to Seir, and take possession
thereof.[276]
Jacob tarried in Succoth a whole year, and he opened a house of
learning there.[277] Then he journeyed on to Shechem, while Esau betook
himself to Seir, saying to himself, "How long shall I be a burden to my
brother?" for it was during Jacob's sojourn at Succoth that Esau
received daily presents from Jacob.[278]
And Jacob, after abiding these many years in a strange land, came to
Shechem in peace, unimpaired in mind and body. He had forgotten none of
the knowledge he had acquired before; the gifts he gave to Esau did not
encroach upon his wealth; the injury inflicted by the angel that
wrestled with him had been healed, and likewise his children were sound
and healthy.[279]
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