“And Yaakov Sent Angels As Messengers To Esav His Brother, To The Land Of Seir, To The Field Of Edom.” (Bereishis 32:4)
Rav Alter Elyokim Shraga Feivish Shapiro
The Torei Zahav asks (Vayishlach, pasuk 12): How can it be that a person like Yaakov Avinu, who used real angels as his messengers, was frightened of a rasha like Esav? He answers, based on the Zohar, that Esav was surely circumcised, like all the members of Avrohom Avinu’s household. When Yaakov said, “I fear him” (ki yarei anochi oso), he was referring to Esav’s circumcision. [The word oso (“him”) is related to the word os, referring to a bris, the sign of the covenant]. Yaakov was frightened that the wicked Esav possessed such a powerful sign of kedusha. Nevertheless, although Esav did have a bris, the Torei Zahav explains that he had blemished and ruined it through his many transgressions, so Yaakov had nothing to fear.
The Beis Yisroel gives a different answer to the same question. He cites the Alshich (Ki Seitzei 25:17), who asks why the Jews didn’t completely destroy Amalek in the same way that the Egyptians were all destroyed. The Alshich explains that, before we can be victorious in battle against another nation, we must first overcome that nation’s ministering angel. Only once the ministering angel is defeated can the nation be defeated, as well.
The verse regarding the Egyptians (Beshalach 14:3o) says, “They saw Mitzrayim dead on the seashore.” The Zohar explains that the word “Mitzrayim” refers to Egypt’s defeated ministering angel. However, the ministering angel of Amalek and Esav is the Angel of Death himself – a force so powerful that he can only be defeated in the future redemption.
Based on the Alshich’s explanation, we can now understand Yaakov’s fear when approaching Esav. Yaakov was afraid not of Esav himself, but rather of Esav’s ministering angel – the Angel of Death. (Beis Yisroel, Parshas Vayishlach, pp. 38-39)
