מדרש על בראשית 37:14

"Abshalom exalted himself with his hair," etc. Our Rabbis were taught Abshalom rebelled [against his father] through his hair, as it is said (II. Sam. 14, 25) And like Abshalom there was no man as handsome in all Israel, so that he was greatly praised. From the sole of his foot up to the crown of his head, there was no blemish on him. And when he shaved off [the hair of his head], and it was at the end of every year that he shaved it off because it was too heavy on him, he weiged the hair of his head at two hundred shekels by the king's weight. We are taught that this means, the weight was as one of those used among the Tiberians and Ziporians. Therefore was he hung by his hair, as it is said (Ib. 15, 9) And Abshalom happened to come before the servants of David. And Abshalom was riding upon a mule, and the mule came under the thick boughs of a big oak, and his head caught hold of the oak. It was taught in the school of R. Ishmael that he took his scissors and wanted to cut off his hair, but he at that moment saw Gehenna open under him [which frightened him] (Ib. 19, 1) And the king was much moved and he went up to the upper chamber of the gate and wept; and thus he said as he went, 'Oh, my son Abshalom, my son, my son Abshalom! I had died for thee. Oh, Abshalom, my son, my son!' But the king covered his face and the king cried with a loud voice. Oh, my son Abshalom, Oh! Abshalom, my son, my son!' These eight times, in which is mentioned My son for what purpose? Seven times it was for the purpose of bringing him forth from seven fires of Gehenna, the eighth one, was, according to some, for the purpose of connecting the head of Abshalom [which was cut off] to the body, and according to others it was for the purpose of bringing him into the future world. (Ib. 18, 18) Now Abshalom in his life-time had taken and reared up for himself the pillar, which is in the king's dale, for he said: 'I have no son to keep my name in remembrance; and he called the pillar after his own name; and it was called Abshalom's Monument, even until this day! What is the meaning of Abshalom has taken. Said Resh Lakish: "He purchased a bad bargain for himself." The pillar, which is in the king's vale. Said R. Chanina b. Papa: This [the word Aimek (vale)] means that if was caused by the deep council of the Universal King (Fol. 11) who said (Ib. 12, 11) I will raise up again this evil out of thy own house." Similarly is the following explained: (Gen. 37, 14) So he sent him out of the vale (aimek) of Hebron. Said R. Chanina b. Papa: "This was caused by the deep counsel of the Universal King, who said (Ib. 15, 13) Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land which is not theirs." (II Sam. 18, 18) For he said: 'I have no son.' Did he indeed not have a son? Behold, the passage says (Ib. 14, 27) And there were born unto Abshalom three sons and one daughter, whose name was Thamor. Said R. Isaac b. Abdimi: "The former passage means that he did not have a son fit to the royalty." R. Chisda said: "We have a tradition that whoever sets on fire his neighbor's crop, will not leave a son to inherit him, and Abshalom caused to set on fire the crop of Jo'ab, as it is written (Ib., ib., 30) He thereupon said unto his servants, 'See, Jo'ab's field is alongside of mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire."

(Gen. 32:4:) THEN JACOB SENT ANGELS.⁷In Hebrew the same word may be translated either as “angels” or as “messengers.” This text is related (to Ps. 91:11): FOR HE WILL CHARGE HIS ANGELS TO PROTECT YOU IN ALL YOUR WAYS.⁸Cf. Matthew 4:6. When? When one is in the land of Israel, angels who are in the land of Israel protect him.⁹So below, 9:2. And from whom do you learn this? From Jacob; for, when he desired to go abroad, what is written (in Gen. 28:12)? THEN HE DREAMED THAT HERE WAS A LADDER…. AND BEHOLD, THE ANGELS OF GOD WERE ASCENDING AND DESCENDING ON IT. < The verse > should not have said < this > but "descending and ascending." After one descends, he ascends. Yet < here > it says: ASCENDING AND DESCENDING! It said to him: Those angels who had been protecting him in the land of Israel had ascended while others descended to protect him while abroad. He did not stay. So, when he came from Paddan-aram, those angels who had protected him in the land of Israel descended. Thus it is stated (in Gen. 32:3 [2]): WHEN JACOB SAW THEM (i.e., the angels), HE SAID: < THIS IS THE CAMP (mahaneh) OF GOD >, AND CALLED THE NAME OF THAT PLACE MAHANAIM (i.e., two camps). "Mahaneh" (i.e., "camp" in the singular) is not written here but MAHANAIM, < a dual form which means > "two camps," the former < which had kept him when abroad > and the latter < to protect him in the land of Israel >. What did Jacob do? When he wanted to send < messengers > to Esau, he took < them > from the one < camp > and from the other, and sent < them >, as stated (in vs. 4 [3]): THEN JACOB SENT ANGELS. And do not be surprised; for behold, the youngest of his house spoke with the angel. Who was this? This was Joseph; for, when he said to him (in Gen. 37:14): PLEASE GO AND SEE < HOW YOUR BROTHERS ARE FARING >…. < Then > what is written (in vs. 15): THEN A MAN FOUND HIM…. ¹⁰Cf. Gen. R. 84:14. What did he say to him (in vs. 17)? THEN THE MAN SAID: THEY HAVE MOVED ON FROM HERE; < FOR I HEARD THEM SAYING: LET US GO TO DOTHAN >. What is the meaning of DOTHAN (DTYNH)? That he was the same angel who protects the religion (DT) of the Lord (YH). So neither be surprised about Jacob sending angels nor about Joseph. Yes, even Hagar had the angels speak with her. What is written (in Gen. 21:17)? AND AN ANGEL OF {THE LORD} [GOD] CALLED UNTO HAGAR. How many angels spoke with her? R. Levi said: < Five >,¹¹The figure comes from Codex Vaticanus Ebr. 34. but our masters have said three.¹²Cf. Gen. R. 45:7. Now surely, if the slave woman talks with the angels, do not be surprised at Jacob having sent out angels. It is therefore written (in Gen. 32:4 [3]): THEN JACOB SENT ANGELS.

And he sent Judah before him (Gen. 46:28). Scripture states elsewhere: Behold, I send My messenger, and he shall clear the way before Me (Mal. 3:1). Observe that every misfortune that occurred to Joseph likewise befell Zion. It is written of Joseph: and Israel loved Joseph more than all his children (Gen. 38:3), and of Zion it is written: God loves the gates of Zion (Ps. 87:2). Concerning Joseph it is stated: And they hated him (Gen. 37:8), and about Zion: She hath uttered her voice against Me, therefore I have hated her (Jer. 12:8). With reference to Joseph it is said: For behold, we are binding sheaves (Gen. 37:7), and in regard to Zion: Ye shall come home with song, bearing sheaves (Ps. 126:6). It is written of Joseph: Shalt thou indeed rule over us? (Gen. 36:8), and of Zion: That sayeth unto Zion: “Thy God reigneth” (Isa. 52:7). Joseph: And Joseph dreamed a dream (Gen. 37:5), and Zion: When the Lord brought back those that returned to Zion, we were like unto them that dream (Ps. 126:1). Joseph: Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down to thee? (Gen. 37:10), Zion: They shall bow down to thee with their face to the earth (Isa. 49:23). Joseph: And his brothers envied him (Gen. 37:11), Zion: I am jealous of Zion with great jealousy (Zech. 8:2). Joseph: Go now, see whether it is well with thy brethren (Gen. 37:14), Zion: Seek the peace of the city (Jer. 29:7). Joseph: They saw him from afar off (Gen. 37:18), Zion: Remember the Lord from afar off (Jer. 51:50). Joseph: And before he came near unto them they conspired (Gen. 37:18), Zion: They hold crafty converse against the people (Ps. 83:4). Joseph: And they stripped Joseph of his coat (Gen. 37:23), Zion: They shall strip thee of thy clothes (Ezek. 23:26). Joseph: They took him and cast him into the pit (Gen. 37:24), Zion: They have cut off my life in the dungeon (Lam. 3:53). Joseph: And the pit was empty (Gen. 37:24), Zion: And in the pit there was no water (Jer. 38:6). Joseph: And they sat down to eat bread (Gen. 37:25), Zion: We have given the hand to Egypt, and to Assyria, to have bread enough (Lam. 5:6). Joseph: And they drew near and lifted up Joseph (Gen. 37:28), Zion: Ebed-Melech the Cushite drew him up (Jer. 38:13). Joseph: And Jacob rent his garments (Gen. 37:34), Zion: And in that day did the Lord, the God of hosts, call to the weeping (Isa. 22:12). Joseph: All his sons and all his daughters rose to comfort him (Gen. 37:35), Zion: Strain not to comfort me (Isa. 22:4). Joseph: And the Midianites sold him into Egypt (Gen. 37:36), Zion: The children also of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the sons of the Jevanim (Joel 4:6).