וַֽיְהִי־לִי֙ שׁ֣וֹר וַחֲמ֔וֹר צֹ֖אן וְעֶ֣בֶד וְשִׁפְחָ֑ה וָֽאֶשְׁלְחָה֙ לְהַגִּ֣יד לַֽאדֹנִ֔י לִמְצֹא־חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינֶֽיךָ׃
Y tengo vacas, y asnos, y ovejas, y siervos y siervas; y envío á decirlo á mi señor, por hallar gracia en tus ojos.
Midrash Tanchuma
When the angels were about to depart (to go to Esau), what did Jacob tell the angels to say to him: I have an ox, and an ass (Gen. 32:6). Did he possess only a single ox and a single ass (as the text literally states)? From the size of the gift he sent him, we know that he had at least two hundred she-goats and twenty he-goats (ibid., v. 15). He told them to say this because the righteous person is always modest about himself, while the wicked exaggerates his importance, as did Esau, when he said: I have many (ibid. 33:9). Scripture states regarding the righteous and the wicked; There is that pretendeth himself rich, yet hath nothing; there is that pretendeth himself poor, yet hath great wealth (Prov. 13:7).
Bereshit Rabbah
“I have oxen and donkeys and flocks and slaves and maidservants, and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes” (Genesis 32:6).
“I have oxen [shor] and donkeys [vahamor]…”16Shor and Ḥamor are singular nouns used to connote numerous oxen and donkeys. – Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Neḥemya, and the Rabbis, Rabbi Yehuda says: From one ox, many oxen emerged; from one donkey, many donkeys emerged. Rabbi Neḥemya said: In people’s vernacular they say ox, camel. The Rabbis say: “Shor” – that is the one anointed for war, as it is stated: “A firstborn bull [shoro] is his majesty” (Deuteronomy 33:17).17The verse continues: “With them he will gore the peoples together at the ends of the earth.” “Ḥamor” – this is the messianic king, as it is stated: “He is humble, and riding upon a donkey [ḥamor]…” (Zechariah 9:9). “Flocks [tzon]” – this is Israel, as it is stated: “You, My flock [tzoni], flock of My pasture” (Ezekiel 34:31). “And slaves and maidservants [ve’eved veshifḥa]” – “Behold, as the eyes of slaves to the hand of their master, [as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress]” (Psalms 123:2); “Be gracious to us, Lord; be gracious to us, for we have had more than enough of scorn” (Psalms 123:3).
“I have oxen [shor] and donkeys [vahamor]…”16Shor and Ḥamor are singular nouns used to connote numerous oxen and donkeys. – Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Neḥemya, and the Rabbis, Rabbi Yehuda says: From one ox, many oxen emerged; from one donkey, many donkeys emerged. Rabbi Neḥemya said: In people’s vernacular they say ox, camel. The Rabbis say: “Shor” – that is the one anointed for war, as it is stated: “A firstborn bull [shoro] is his majesty” (Deuteronomy 33:17).17The verse continues: “With them he will gore the peoples together at the ends of the earth.” “Ḥamor” – this is the messianic king, as it is stated: “He is humble, and riding upon a donkey [ḥamor]…” (Zechariah 9:9). “Flocks [tzon]” – this is Israel, as it is stated: “You, My flock [tzoni], flock of My pasture” (Ezekiel 34:31). “And slaves and maidservants [ve’eved veshifḥa]” – “Behold, as the eyes of slaves to the hand of their master, [as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress]” (Psalms 123:2); “Be gracious to us, Lord; be gracious to us, for we have had more than enough of scorn” (Psalms 123:3).
Bereshit Rabbah
Another matter, “I have oxen [shor], and donkeys [vaḥamor]” (Genesis 32:6). Shor – this is Joseph, as it is stated: “A firstborn bull [shoro] is his majesty” (Deuteronomy 33:17). Vaḥamor – this is Issachar, as it is written: “Issachar is a strong-boned donkey [ḥamor] (Genesis 49:14). Joseph’s grandson is destined to eradicate Amalek, as it is stated: “Joshua21Joshua was from the tribe of Ephraim, who was Joseph's son. weakened Amalek and its people by sword” (Exodus 17:13). Issachar’s descendants know what the Holy One blessed be He does in His world, as it is stated: “From the children of Issachar, possessors of understanding of the times, to know what Israel should do; their leaders were two hundred” (I Chronicles 12:33). “Flocks [tzon]” – this is Israel, as it is stated: “You, My flock [tzoni], flock of My pasture, you are man” (Ezekiel 34:31). “And slaves [ve’eved]” – this is David, as it is stated: “I am your servant [avdekha] son of your maidservant” (Psalms 116:16). “And maidservants [veshifḥa]” – this is Avigayil, as it is stated: “Here is your handmaiden as a maidservant [leshifḥa]” (I Samuel 25:41).
“Jacob was very frightened and distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks, and the cattle, and the camels, into two camps” (Genesis 32:8).
At that moment, those messengers went to Esau and saw armed warriors with him, and they came and told Jacob, as it is stated: “The messengers returned to Jacob, saying: We came to your brother, to Esau” (Genesis 32:7). What is: “And four hundred men with him”? Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said: Four hundred kings wearing crowns. Some say: Four hundred prefects were with him. Rabbi Yanai said: Four hundred generals were with him. When they related to Jacob all that multitude, he was afraid and he divided his wives and children into two camps, as it is stated: “He divided the people who were with him…[into two camps].”
“Jacob was very frightened and distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks, and the cattle, and the camels, into two camps” (Genesis 32:8).
At that moment, those messengers went to Esau and saw armed warriors with him, and they came and told Jacob, as it is stated: “The messengers returned to Jacob, saying: We came to your brother, to Esau” (Genesis 32:7). What is: “And four hundred men with him”? Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said: Four hundred kings wearing crowns. Some say: Four hundred prefects were with him. Rabbi Yanai said: Four hundred generals were with him. When they related to Jacob all that multitude, he was afraid and he divided his wives and children into two camps, as it is stated: “He divided the people who were with him…[into two camps].”