창세기 32:8의 미드라쉬

(Gen. 32:7 [6]:) AND THE MESSENGERS RETURNED < UNTO JACOB, SAYING >: WE CAME UNTO YOUR BROTHER ESAU. What do you think about him? < Is he > your brother? He is Esau.²⁰Cf. Rashi, ad loc.: You used to say: He is my brother, but he acts toward you like Esau the Wicked. (Ibid., cont.:) HE ALSO IS COMING TO MEET YOU. He is on the go all day, AND (ibid., cont.) FOUR HUNDRED PEOPLE ARE WITH HIM. What do you think about < the meaning of > AND FOUR HUNDRED PEOPLE ARE WITH HIM? R. Samuel bar Nahmani said: Each and every one of them was appointed over four hundred people.²¹The interpretation comes from the words WITH HIM, which are understood to mean, “like him.” Thus, as Esau commanded four hundred, so did each of them command four hundred. So Gen. R. 75:7. As soon as Jacob heard that, what is written (in Gen. 32:8 [7])? AND JACOB WAS < GREATLY > AFRAID.

Another interpretation (of Gen. 32:8 [7]): AND JACOB WAS < GREATLY > AFRAID. Our masters have said: His body became like wax.²²See Gen. R. 44:3; 65:19. Moreover, the Holy Spirit cries out (in Prov. 24:10): IF YOU ARE INDOLENT IN THE DAY OF DISTRESS (TsRH), YOUR STRENGTH IS WANTING (TsR). At that time the Holy One said to him (in Is. 41:10): FEAR NOT, FOR I AM WITH YOU; BE NOT DISMAYED, FOR I AM YOUR GOD. I STRENGTHEN YOU, I HELP YOU…. I STRENGTHEN YOU through Michael; I HELP YOU through Gabriel. (Ibid., cont.:) AND I ALSO UPHOLD YOU THROUGH MY VICTORIOUS RIGHT HAND. (Gen. 28:15:) SEE, I AM WITH YOU. At that time (according to Gen. 32:8 [7]) HE DIVIDED THE PEOPLE WHO WERE WITH HIM. What did he do? He armed them within and clothed them with linen without. He prepared himself in three things: in prayer, with a gift,²³Gk.: doron. and for war. Where is it shown < that he prepared himself > with a gift? (In Gen. 32:22 [21]:) AND SO THE GIFT (MNHH) PASSED ON BEFORE HIM…. Where is it shown < that he prepared himself > for war? (In Gen. 32:9 [8]:) IF ESAU SHOULD COME < TO ONE CAMP (MHNH) AND DESTROY IT >…. Where is it shown < that he prepared himself > in prayer? (In Gen. 32:10 [9]:) THEN JACOB SAID: O GOD OF MY FATHER ABRAHAM, AND GOD OF MY FATHER ISAAC…. What is written after that (in vss. 11-12 [10-111])? I AM UNWORTHY OF ALL THE KINDNESSES AND ALL THE FIDELITY…. PLEASE DELIVER ME FROM THE HAND OF MY BROTHER, FROM THE HAND OF ESAU. The Holy One said to him: You have called to me. By your life, I will save you, according to what is stated (in Ps. 89:27 [26]): HE SHALL CRY TO ME, YOU ARE MY FATHER, MY GOD, AND THE ROCK OF MY SALVATION.

It is written: “And set it in the ears of Joshua” (Exodus 17:14), this is one of four righteous people to whom a portent was given; two sensed it and two did not sense it. A portent was given to Moses, but he did not sense it. A portent was given to Jacob, but he did not sense it. A portent was given to David and Mordekhai, and they sensed it.
Jacob – the Holy One blessed be He said to him: “I will protect you wherever you go” (Genesis 28:15), and he was frightened. A person to whom the Holy One blessed be He made a promise was frightened, as it is written: “He was frightened” (Genesis 32:8)? Rather, he said: Perhaps when I was in the house of Laban the impure, I became sullied with impurity.
Moses – “and set it in the ears of Joshua,” indicating that Joshua will lead Israel into the land. And it is written: “I pleaded with the Lord [… please let me cross over and see the good land on the other side of the Jordan]” (Deuteronomy 3:23-25).
However, David and Mordekhai were given a portent and they sensed it. David said: “Your servant has smitten both the lion and the bear” (I Samuel 17:36). David said: Am I so important that I was able to smite these wild beasts? Rather, he said: Perhaps an event is destined to befall Israel, and they are destined to be rescued by me.
Mordekhai – “Mordekhai would walk before the courtyard of the harem” (Esther 2:11). He said: Is it possible that this righteous one [Esther] will mary an uncircumcised man? Rather, a great event is destined to befall Israel and they are destined to be rescued by her.