Miryam's Space

Jacob crosses the Jabboc River, only to wrestle with a mysterious man all night until the break of dawn, and the dislocation of Jacob’s hip. “Release me!” cries the man. “Not until you bless me” answers Jacob. A midrash says the Angel/wrestler man’s name was Yisrael, and he gave Jacob his own name. Another Midrash says he wrestled with his twin brother Esav’s guardian angel Sammael. Meanwhile what has happened to Jacob’s fortune and livestock? He has divided them, sending troves of gifts to his brother, and keeping the most precious to cross last. Except for daughter Dina, who, the midrash says is hidden in a box, to keep her from marriage to Esav! Jacob and Esav seem to embrace, say they’ll stay together but do not. Jacob also delays fulufilling his vow of returning to his father’s house and to Beth El, house of God, Instead he sojourns at Shechem. The rape of Dina, and the slaughter of Shechem by Shimon and Levi follow. Oy. Read more here!