Vayishlach
Angels Birth Door Evil Evil Inclination Jacob Sin

1. "And Jacob sent messengers..." (Beresheet 32:4). Rabbi Yehuda began the discussion with the verse, "For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways" (Tehilim 91:11). This verse has already been explained by the friends. When man is born, the Evil Inclination enters with him and constantly denounces him, as it is written, "sin crouches at the door" (Beresheet 4:7). What is meant by "sin crouches?" It refers to the Evil Inclination. " ...AT THE DOOR" MEANS AT THE OPENING OF THE WOMB - AT A PERSON'S BIRTH.

1. וַיִּשְׁלַח יַעֲקֹב מַלְאָכִים וגו.' רִבִּי יְהוּדָה פְּתַח, כִּי מַלְאָכָיו יְצַוֶּה לָךְ לִשְׁמָרְךָ בְּכָל דְרָכֶיךָ, הַאי קְרָא אוֹקְמוּהָ חַבְרַיָיא, דְהָא בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְּבַר נָשׁ אָתֵי לְעַלְמָא, מִיָּד אִזְדַּמַּן בַּהֲדֵיהּ יֵצֶר הָרָע, דְּאִיהוּ מְקַטְרֵג לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ תָּדִיר, כד"א לַפֶּתַח חַטָּאת רוֹבֵץ. מַאי חַטָּאת רוֹבֵץ, דָּא יֵצֶר הָרָע.

Birth David Evil Evil Inclination Good Inclination Sin

2. David also called THE EVIL INCLINATION BY THE NAME 'sin,' as it is written, "and my sin is ever before me" (Tehilim 51:5). This is because it tempts man every day to sin before his Master. The Evil Inclination never leaves man, from the day of his birth. The Good Inclination comes to man only when he seeks purity.

2. וְדָוִד הָכֵי נָמֵי קָרְיֵיהּ חַטָּאת, דִּכְתִיב וְחַטָּאתִי נֶגְדִי תָמִיד, בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ עָבֵיד לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ כָּל יוֹמָא לְמֶחֱטֵי קַמֵּי מָרֵיהּ, וְיֵצֶר הָרָע דָּא, לָא אִתְעֲדֵי מִבַּר נָשׁ, מִיּוֹמָא דְאִתְיְלֵיד בַּר נָשׁ לְעָלְמִין. וְיֵצֶר הַטּוֹב אָתֵי לְבַר נָשׁ, מִיּוֹמָא דְאָתֵי לְאִתְדַּכָּאָה.

Angels Evil Evil Inclination Good Inclination

3. And when does man seek purity? On his thirteenth birthday, man joins with the Good Inclination on the right and the Evil Inclination on the left. They are literally two appointed angels found constantly with man.

3. וְאֵימָתַי אָתֵי בַּר נָשׁ לְאִתְדַּכָּאָה, כַּד אִיהוּ בַּר תְּלֵיסַר שְׁנִין, כְּדֵין אִזְדַּוַּוג בַּר נָשׁ בְּתַרְוַויְיהוּ, חַד מִימִינָא, וְחַד מִשְּׂמָאלָא, יֵצֶר טוֹב לִימִינָא, וְיֵצֶר רַע לִשְׂמָאלָא. וְאִלֵּין אִינוּן תְּרֵין מַלְאָכִין מַמָּשׁ, מְמַנָּן, וְאִינוּן מִשְׁתַּכְּחִין תָּדִיר בַּהֲדֵיהּ דְּבַר נָשׁ.

Angels Evil Evil Inclination Good Inclination Purification

4. When man seeks to be purified, the Evil Inclination is humbled before him, and the right rules over the left. And both - THE GOOD INCLINATION AND THE EVIL INCLINATION - watch over man whichever way he travels. This is the essence of the verse, "For He shall give His angels charge over you to keep you all your ways" (Tehilim 91:11).

4. אָתֵי בַּר נָשׁ לְאִתְדַּכָאָה, הַהוּא יֵצֶר הָרָע אִתְכַּפְיָא קַמֵּיהּ, וְשַׁלִּיט יְמִינָא עַל שְׂמָאלָא, וְתַרְוַויְיהוּ מִזְדַּוְּוגִין, לְנַטְרָא לֵיהּ לְבַּר נָשׁ, בְּכָל אָרְחוֹי דְּהוּא עָבֵיד, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב כִּי מַלְאָכָיו יְצַוֶּה לָךְ לִשְׁמָרְךָ בְּכָל דְּרָכֶיךָ.

Angels Esau Jacob Laban Point Shechinah Tribes

5. Rabbi Elazar applies this verse to Jacob. As the Holy One, blessed be He, surrounded Jacob with legions of angels, because he came complete with the supernal tribes, who were in a state of perfection. As it is written, "And Jacob continued on his way, and angels of Elohim met him" (Beresheet 32:2). It has been explained that after being saved from Laban, and departing from him, the Shechinah joined Jacob, and legions of saintly angels surrounded him. At that point "Jacob said when he saw them" (Ibid. 3) (Don't understand). From these angels, he sent a group to Esau. This is the meaning of the verse, "And Jacob sent messengers (also: angels)." Surely these were real angels.

5. רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, מוֹקִים לֵיהּ לְהַאי קְרָא בְּיַעֲקֹב, דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אַזְמִין בַּהֲדֵיהּ מַלְאָכִין מַשִּׁרְיָין מְמַנָּן, בְּגִין דְהָא אִיהוּ אָתֵי שְׁלִים, בְּשִׁבְטִין עִלָּאִין, כֻּלְּהוּ שְׁלֵמִין כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת, כְּמָה דְאִתְּמָר וְיַעֲקֹב הָלַךְ לְדַרְכּוֹ וַיִּפְגְּעוּ בוֹ מַלְאֲכֵי אֱלֹקִים, וְאִתְּמָר. וְהָכָא כֵּיוָן דְּאִשְׁתְּזֵיב מִנֵּיהּ דְּלָבָן, וְהָא אִתְפְּרַשׁ מִנֵּיהּ כְּדֵין אִזְדַּוְּוגַת עִמֵּיהּ שְׁכִינְתָּא, וַאֲתוֹ מַשִּׁרְיָין קַדִּישִׁין לְסַחֲרָא לֵיהּ, וּכְדֵין וַיֹּאמֶר יַעֲקֹב כַּאֲשֶׁר רָאָם וגו.' וּמֵאִינוּן מַלְאָכִין שַׁדַּר לֵיהּ לְעֵשָׂו, הה"ד וַיִּשְׁלַח יַעֲקֹב מַלְאָכִים, מַלְאָכִים מַמָּשׁ הֲווֹ וַדַּאי.

Angels Bush Directions Fear Fire Flame Hosts Shechinah

6. Rabbi Yitzchak said, It is written, "The angel of Hashem encamps round about those who fear Him, and he delivers them" (Tehilim 34:8). This verse has already been explained. But in another place, it is written, "For He shall give His angels charge over you," NAMELY, many angels, whereas here ONLY one is mentioned, as it is written, "The angel of Hashem encamps." HE ANSWERS, The verse, "For He shall give His angels charge over you," refers to angels in general, but THE VERSE, "The angel of Hashem," refers to the Shechinah, as it is written, "And the angel of Hashem appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush" (Shemot 3:2). JUST AS IT REFERS TO THE SHECHINAH IN THE FIRST VERSE, SO THE ANGEL MENTIONED HERE ALSO POINTS TO THE SHECHINAH. And so, "the angel of Hashem encamps round about those who fear Him," to encircle them in every direction so as to deliver them. And when the Shechinah resides inside man, all the holy hosts come there.

6. פְּתַח רִבִּי יִצְחָק וַאֲמַר, כְּתִיב חוֹנֶה מַלְאַךְ ה' סָבִיב לִירֵאָיו וַיְחַלְּצֵם, הָא אוֹקְמוּהָ. אֲבָל בַּאֲתַר חַד כְּתִיב, כִּי מַלְאָכָיו יְצַוֶּה לָךְ, מַלְאָכָיו סַגִּיאִין, וְהָכָא חַד, דִּכְתִיב חוֹנֶה מַלְאַךְ ה' סָבִיב לִירֵאָיו וַיְחַלְּצֵם. אֶלָּא כִּי מַלְאָכָיו יְצַוֶּה לָךְ, אִלֵּין שְׁאָר מַלְאָכִין. מַלְאַךְ ה' סָבִיב, דָּא שְׁכִינְתָּא, כד"א וַיֵּרָא מַלְאַךְ ה' אֵלָיו בְּלַבַּת אֵשׁ מִתּוֹךְ הַסְּנֶה. וּבְגִין כָּך, חוֹנֶה מַלְאַךְ ה' סָבִיב לִירֵאָיו, לַאֲקָפָא לֵיהּ בְּכָל סִטְרִין, בְּגִין לְשֵׁזָבָא לֵיהּ. וְכַד שְׁכִינְתָּא שַׁרְיָא בְּגַוֵּיהּ דְּבַּר נָשׁ, כַּמָּה מַשִּׁרְיָין קַדִּישִׁין, כֻּלְּהוּ אִזְדַּמְּנוּ לְתַמָּן.

Achish Angels David Hands Samuel Shechinah

7. Come and behold, When King David was saved from Achish, King of Gat, he said, "THE ANGEL OF HASHEM ENCAMPS..." For the Shechinah surrounded him and saved him from Achish, his people, and those who attacked him. As it is written, "Vayitholel (Eng. 'feigned himself mad') in their hands" (I Shmuel 21:14). HE ASKS, Why is it written "Vayitholel" rather than 'Vayishtage'a',' as it is written, "you have brought this fellow to play the mad man (Heb. lehishtage'a) in my presence?" (I Shmuel 21:16).

7. תָּא חֲזֵי, כַּד דָּוִד מַלְכָּא אִשְׁתְּזֵיב מֵאָכִישׁ מֶלֶךְ גַת, כְּדֵין אֲמַר הַאי, בְּגִין דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא סַחֲרָא לֵיהּ, וְאִשְׁתְּזֵיב מִנַּיְיהוּ, מֵאָכִישׁ וּמֵעַמֵּיהּ, כָּל אִינוּן דְּאַתְקִיפוּ בֵּיהּ, מַה כְּתִיב, וַיִּתְהוֹלֵל בְּיָדָם, אַמַּאי וַיִּתְהוֹלֵל, וַיִּשְׁתַּגֵּעַ מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ, כְּדָבָר אֲחֵר כִּי הֵבֵאתֶם אֶת זֶה לְהִשְׁתַּגֵּעַ עָלַי.

Achish David Hands House Shechinah

8. HE ANSWERS, THIS VERSE refers to what David said earlier. As it is written, "For I was envious of the Holelim ('madmen') ..." (Tehilim 73:3). So the Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: Upon your life, you shall be in need of that yet. And when he came to the house of Achish and was attacked, it is written, "He feigned himself mad in their hands," like those Holelim ('madmen') he first envied WHEN HE SAID, "FOR I WAS ENVIOUS OF THE MADMEN." Only then did the Shechinah come and protect him. She dwelt there, around David.

8. אֶלָּא, אַהֲדַר עַל הַהוּא מִלָּה דַאֲמַר דָּוִד בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, דִּכְתִיב כִּי קִנֵּאתִי בַּהוֹלְלִים וגו.' אָמַר לוֹ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, חַיֶּיךָ, עֲדַיִין אַנְתְּ אִצְטְרִיךְ לְהַאי, כֵּיוָן דְּעָאל לְבֵי אָכִישׁ, וְאַתְקִיפוּ בֵיהּ, מַה כְּתִיב וַיִּתְהוֹלֵל בְּיָדָם, כְּאִינוּן הוֹלְלִים דְּקַנֵּי בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, וּכְדֵין אַתְיָא שְׁכִינְתָּא, וְשַׁרְיָא סַחֲרָנֵיהּ דְּדָוִד.

Camp Holy Land House Jacob Laban Shechinah

9. You may ask, if the Shechinah resides only in Her own place, which is the Holy Land, WHY WAS THE SHECHINAH UPON HIM IN GAT, WHICH IS OUTSIDE THE HOLY LAND? HE ANSWERS, She certainly does not dwell outside the land of Yisrael for people to draw PLENTY from Her, but can dwell OUTSIDE to rescue men. Thus, when Jacob arrived from the house of Laban, all the holy camps encircled him and did not leave him alone.

9. וְאִי תֵימָא שְׁכִינְתָּא לָא שַׁרְיָא אֶלָּא בְּאַחְסַנְתֵּיהּ, דְּאִיהִי אַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא. וַדַּאי לָא שַׁרְיָא, בְּגִין לִינָקָא מִנָּהּ, אֲבָל לַאֲגָנָא שַׁרְיָא. וְהָכָא כַּד אָתָא יַעֲקֹב מִבֵּי לָבָן, כֻּלְּהוּ מַשִּׁרְיָין קַדִּישִׁין סַחֲרָן לֵיהּ, וְלָא אִשְׁתָּאַר בִּלְחוֹדוֹי.

Angels Camp Jacob

10. Rabbi Chizkiyah asks, If this is so, why is it written, "And Jacob remained alone" (Beresheet 32:35)? WHERE WERE THE LEGIONS OF ANGELS WHO ENCIRCLED HIM AND CAME WITH HIM? Rabbi Yehuda replies, Because he led himself into danger BY REMAINING ALONE AT NIGHT and saw clearly the danger he was in, the angels deserted him, FOR THEY CAME TO GUARD HIM ONLY FROM UNSEEN DANGERS. Then, BEFORE ENTERING INTO DANGER, he stated, "I am unworthy of the least of all the mercies and all the truth, which You have shown Your servant" (Ibid. 11). WITH THIS, he referred to the holy camps OF ANGELS WHO USUALLY ENCIRCLED HIM, BUT HAD left him BECAUSE HE HAD LED HIMSELF TO A VISIBLE DANGER.

10. אָמַר רָבִּי חִזְקִיָה, אִי הָכֵי, אַמַּאי כְּתִיב, וַיִּוָּתֵר יַעֲקֹב לְבַדּוֹ וגו.' אֲמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה, בְּגִין דְּאָעֵיל גַּרְמֵיהּ לְסַכָּנָה, וַהֲוָה חָמֵי לְהַהִיא סַכָּנָה בְּעֵינוֹי, אִינוּן אִתְפָּרְשׁוּ מִנֵּיהּ, וּכְדֵין אֲמַר קָטֹנְתִּי מִכֹּל הַחֲסָדִים וּמִכָּל הָאֱמֶת, אִלֵּין אִינוּן מַשִּׁרְיָין קַדִּישִׁין, דְּאִתְפָּרְשׁוּ מִנֵּיהּ.