וילן שם בלילה ההוא ויקח מן הבא בידו מנחה לעשו אחיו
He slept there that night; he took a gift from his possessions for his brother Eisav (Bereshis 32,14)
The Medrash Yalkut Reuveni says on this verse that Yaacov sent Eisav a נשר hunting eagle. The question is why? Some commentators answer, that since Eisav was a hunter and in those days when they went hunting, they took along chivalrous horses, dogs & birds of predator.
Rabbi Yehuda haChasid says the intention of this Medrash is that Yaacov sent him animals according to the number of the word נשר (50+300+200=550). As the Torah relates Yaacov sent to Eisav the following animals: 200 female goats, 20 male goats, 200 ewes, 20 rams, 30 nursing camels, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys and 10 male donkeys, which total 550 animals.
Alternatively, the word נשר can mean נשרים “outcasts.” Baal haTurim says that all 8 words in the list of the animals all end in a final “Mem” indicating that all the animals that Yaacov sent to Eisav were blemished, thus, they all were “outcasts” to the altar.
The words "haba v'yado" הבא בידו (that come in the hand) require elucidation. Rashi offers that it either means that which belonged to him, or items that easily fit into the hand, jewels, or items that were tithed.
A novel interpretation by Rabbi Moshe Shimon Antkalski of Vilna: The Darkei Moshe on Tur Y.D. #35 writes that he read in the name of Rabbi Yehuda haChosid that if one passes his hand over the nape of an animal and it bends its head downwards, this is a sign that the animal is kosher and not a treifah. An allusion to this is found in Tehilim 51:19, "Lev nishbor v'nedkeh Elokim lo sivzeh," and in Yeshayohu 57:15, "Ushfal ruach l'hachayos." This is the intention of the words "min habo v'yodo minchah l'Eisav." Yaacov passed his hand over the napes of his animals. Those that did not bend downwards, and remained against his hand, "min haba v'yado," he sent to Eisav.
The Mattesdorfer Rav in adds a point with the famous Medrash in Tanchuma Parshas Masai regarding Eliyahu haNavi at Har Carmel. HaShem told Eliyahu to bring two identical bulls and by means of lots decide which one was to going to HaShem and which one to Baal. The bull to HaShem went willingly. However, the other bull adamantly refused to budge. The 500 prophets of Baal and the 500 prophets of Asheira could not pull the bull. So Eliyahu asked the bull why he is not going. The bull replied, “My brother and I come from the same mother, we grew up together and we ate from the same trough. He merited sanctifying to HaShem in this world and I am going to those that anger the Creator? I am not going.” So Eliyahu told the bull to go since his sacrifice would be a Kiddush HaShem. So Eliyahu gave the bull to the prophets of Baal. And Eliyahu stated, this bull goes willingly to death to sanctify HaShem, yet a 1000 people could not budge him to profane HaShem.
Also, Yaacov’s animals refused to go to Eisav as a gift (as they wanted to remain with Yaacov to become a Korban). Therefore, Yaacov was only able to send the blemished animals that could not be offered on the altar. Thus, these animals went willingly (they came to his hand) to be sent to Eisav.
Eisav is symbolic of the evil inclination and the powers of evil, the "sitra acharo." When one just acts and talks without giving it thought beforehand, "min haba l'yado," he gives over his thoughts and actions as a benefaction to Eisav. This is unfortunately true even when he does Mitzvos. (Arvei Nachal on Parshas Yisro)
