33:8 “ויאמר מי לך כל המחנה הזה אשר פגשתי” “And he said: What did you intend by that whole camp that I met?” Rashi explains that Eisav was asking what was the purpose in sending so many messengers to bring the gifts to Eisav. Yaakov sent gifts to Eisav, but apparently sent many more messengers than was necessary. Yaakov Avinu responded to Eisav, “למצוא חן בעיני אדוני” – to find favor in my lord’s eyes. What was Yaakov Avinu’s answer to the question?
It says in Bereishis Rabbah that all the gifts that Yaakov Avinu gave to Eisav are destined to be returned by the nations of the world to the Melech hamoshiach le’asid lavo. We know this from the posuk in Tehillim 72:10 “מלכי תרשיש ואיים מנחה ישיבו” – “Let the kings of Tarshish and the islands return tribute.” The Posuk doesn’t say, “Shall bring tribute,” rather it says they shall “return tribute,” indicating that they are returning tribute that had been previously Klal Yisroel’s – from Yaakov Avinu.
There were a total of 550 בהמות, animals, that Yaakov gave to Eisav. What is the great significance in this “news” that they will be returned to us when Moshiach comes – as if it is something great for Klal Yisroel? 550 בהמות for the entire Klal Yisroel is not much. Yaakov Avinu was careful to send as gifts three females and three males of every type of animal that can proliferate. Not only are Klal Yisroel going to receive the original 550 animals, but they will also receive all the animals that were born from those original animals. That will be a great abundance of animals; by the time Moshiach comes, the amount will be immeasurable. This is the good news that Klal Yisroel is being told.
550 Beheimos Multiplied
With this p’shat, we can understand the conversation between Yaakov and Eisav. When Eisav saw that Yaakov gave him specifically males and females of each type of animals as the gifts, his mazel saw what Yaakov Avinu had in mind with these gifts. Yaakov was giving Eisav principal, so that he should receive a great abundance in the future. Thus, Eisav said to Yaakov, “מי לך כל המחנה אשר פגשתי” – what is your purpose in giving these gifts to me in a way that they are prepared to proliferate, to have offspring?
Yaakov responded that indeed he was doing this in order to profit from it, for he will benefit when these animals proliferate, and all of it will be returned to him. To this, Eisav responded, “אחי, יהי לך אשר לך” – brother – what is yours is yours, meaning that you will only receive the 550 beheimos that you gave me. To this, Yaakov Avinu responded, “אל נא” – no – it is not that way, meaning that I am not going to take it back from you in this generation, rather it will be taken back after many generations, so why should you care?
Yaakov Avinu sent many more messengers than was necessary, to show that the gifts that were being sent would in actuality be much more in the future. In truth, Yaakov Avinu wanted Eisav to do teshuva. Yaakov was saying that the focus was on ruchniyos, and in the end he would have much gashmiyos. The gashmiyos will be there to serve the ruchniyos. Unfortunately, Eisav responded that he had “רב” – had much; he had much gashmiyos now, and wasn’t ready to give any of it up for any ruchniyos.
May we be zoche to see what is truly important in this world – ruchniyos.
