Commentaire sur La Genèse 33:14

יעבר נא אדני LET MY LORD, I PRAY THEE, PASS — do not prolong the time of your journey: pass on at your usual speed even though you thereby get far away from me.

UNTIL I COME UNTO MY LORD UNTO SE’IR. In returning to his land Jacob could have gone by way of the land of Se’ir. Now Esau told him, And I will go before thee,⁹³Verse 12 here. meaning that he will not be separated from him until Jacob returns to his father in order to honor him when he comes into his land. But Jacob said, “I will proceed slowly and let my lord return to the city of his rule, and if I will return by way of his city, he will honor me and go with me as he desires.” This was not a vow on the part of Jacob that he will come to him, for Esau did not need him. Our Rabbis have further said⁹⁴Abodah Zarah 25 b, and mentioned here by Rashi. that Jacob had no intention of returning by way of Se’ir, and his desire was to remove himself from him as much as possible, but he mentioned until I come … unto Se’ir in order to extend the length of his journey [so that if Esau meant to do him harm he would wait until Jacob reached his abode at Se’ir]. This also was wise counsel. The Rabbis have yet another Midrash,⁹⁵Bereshith Rabbah 78:18. which states that Jacob will fulfill his word in the days of the Messiah, as it is said, And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau.⁹⁶Obadiah 1:21. Scripture is saying that the saviors [i.e., the judges of Israel]⁹⁷See Judges 2:16. who are on Mount Zion shall come up to judge the mount of Esau.

עד אשר אבא אל אדוני שעירה, he described the trek as quite long. (compare Avodah Zarah 25)