## Sforno on Genesis Chapter 33

###### Sforno on Genesis 33:1:1
[Sforno on Genesis 33:1:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/33:1:1)

**וְעִמּוֹ אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת אִישׁ.** שֶׁלֹּא הִתְכַּפְּרוּ פָּנָיו בַּמִּנְחָה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ועמו ארבע מרות איש. To tell us that he had not been appeased even by the substantial gift Yaakov had sent him.


###### Sforno on Genesis 33:4:1
[Sforno on Genesis 33:4:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/33:4:1)

**וַיָּרָץ עֵשָׂו.** נֶהְפַּךְ לִבּוֹ כְּמוֹ רֶגַע בְּהַכְנָעוֹתָיו שֶׁל יַעֲקֹב, כְּעִנְיָנֵנוּ בַּגָּלוּת עִם בְּנֵי עֵשָׂו הָאוֹמֵר בְּגָבְהוֹ "מִי יוֹרִידֵנוּ אָרֶץ", וְהוֹרָה שֶׁנִּהְיֶה נִמְלָטִים מִיַּד חֶרֶב גַּאֲוָתוֹ בְּהַכְנָעָה וּמִנְחָה, כְּאָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (תענית כ.) שֶׁאֲחִיָּהוּ הַשִּׁילוֹנִי קִלֵּל אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּקָנֶה הַנִּכְנָע לְכָל הָרוּחוֹת (מלכים א יד:טו). הֵן לוּ עָשׂוּ כֵן בִּרְיוֹנֵי בַּיִת שֵׁנִי, לֹא הָיָה נֶחֱרַב בֵּית מִקְדָּשֵׁנוּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁהֵעִיד רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בֶּן זַכַּאי בְּאָמְרוֹ (גיטין נו.) "בִּרְיוֹנֵי דְבָן לָא שָׁבְקִינָן".

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
וירץ עשו, his attitude changed suddenly when he realised to what extent Yaakov had humbled himself before him. It is of great concern to us seeing that we live among the descendants of Esau, people who are arrogant, consider themselves invincible. Yaakov’s conduct vis a vis Esau teaches that the only way to escape the sword of Esau is through self degradation and gifts. This corresponds to what our sages taught us (Taanit 20) that the curses of the prophet Achiyah Hashiloni were more beneficial to the Jewish people than the blessing showered upon them by Bileam. Achiyah had cursed the Jewish people describing them as a reed which bends in all directions, a reference to someone demeaning himself rather than facing up to adversaries. (Kings I 14,15) If the Jewish people during the period of the second Temple had taken his advice to heart, the Temple would not have been destroyed. Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai testified to this when he said “if not for the militant extremists the Romans would not have destroyed the Temple.”


###### Sforno on Genesis 33:5:1
[Sforno on Genesis 33:5:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/33:5:1)

**מִי אֵלֶּה לָּךְ.** שָׁאַל אִם הֵם בָּנָיו אוֹ עֲבָדָיו וּבְנֵי בֵיתוֹ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**Who are these to you.** Are they your children or your servants?.


###### Sforno on Genesis 33:8:1
[Sforno on Genesis 33:8:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/33:8:1)

**מִי לְךָ כָּל הַמַּחֲנֶה?** הַמַּחֲנֶה שֶׁאָמַר אֵלַי "מִנְחָה הִיא שְׁלוּחָה לַאדֹנִי" (בראשית לב:יט), מִי הוּא אֶצְלְךָ? אִם הוּא לְמִנְחַת כָּבוֹד אוֹ לְמִנְחַת חֶסֶד שֶׁחָשַׁבְתָּ שֶׁאֶצְטָרֵךְ?

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**Who are these to you.** Are they your children or your servants?


###### Sforno on Genesis 33:9:1
[Sforno on Genesis 33:9:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/33:9:1)

**יֶשׁ לִי רָב.** וְאֵינִי צָרִיךְ:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
יש לי רב, I most certainly do not need this gift.


###### Sforno on Genesis 33:9:2
[Sforno on Genesis 33:9:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/33:9:2)

**אָחִי, יְהִי לְךָ אֲשֶׁר לָךְ.** שֶׁבִּהְיוֹתְךָ אָחִי לֹא תִצְטָרֵךְ לְכַבְּדֵנִי בְּמִנְחָה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
אחי, יהי לך אשר לך. Seeing that you are my brother you certainly do not have to put yourself out so much in order for me to make you welcome.


###### Sforno on Genesis 33:10:1
[Sforno on Genesis 33:10:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/33:10:1)

**כִּרְאוֹת פְּנֵי אֱלֹהִים.** כְּמִנְהָג בִּפְקוֹד אֶת הַשָּׂרִים, כְּאָמְרוֹ "וְלֹא יֵרָאוּ פָנַי רֵיקָם" (שמות כג:טו).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
כראות פני אלוקים, as is the custom when one is granted an audience by the people in high office. The Torah already commanded that when appearing in Jerusalem three times a year, the Israelite fulfilling this commandment must not appear before G’d empty-handed. (Exodus 23,15)


###### Sforno on Genesis 33:10:2
[Sforno on Genesis 33:10:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/33:10:2)

**וַתִּרְצֵנִי.** שֶׁקִּבַּלְתַּנִי בְּסֵבֶר פָּנִים יָפוֹת, כְּעִנְיַן "הֲיִרְצְךָ אוֹ הֲיִשָּׂא פָנֶיךָ" (מלאכי א:ח), וּמִצַּד זֶה גַּם כֵּן רָאוּי שֶׁאֲקַדֵּם פָּנֶיךָ בַּמִּנְחָה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ותרצני, in order that you will receive me with goodwill. We have a similar construction in Maleachi 1,8 הירצך או הישא פניך?, This consideration also warrants my sending you a lavish gift.


###### Sforno on Genesis 33:11:1
[Sforno on Genesis 33:11:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/33:11:1)

**וַיִּפְצַר בּוֹ.** כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּקַבֵּל, כִּי הַשֹּׁחַד יְעַוֵּר וְיִקַּח, וְהַהֵפֶךְ בֶּאֱלִישָׁע כְּאָמוּר "וַיִּפְצַר בּוֹ לָקַחַת וַיְמָאֵן" (מלכים ב ה:טז).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויפצר בו, in order for him to accept the gift. Yaakov was aware that bribes sway people’s minds; in this case he used the bribe to blind Esau’s judgment. We encounter the very opposite with the prophet Elisha in Kings II 5,16 where he is urged to accept a well deserved gift and refuses, so that Naaman will know that a true servant of the Lord does not accept a reward for someone else’s accomplishment, i.e. G’d having cured Naaman from his leprosy.


###### Sforno on Genesis 33:12:1
[Sforno on Genesis 33:12:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/33:12:1)

**נִסְעָה וְנֵלֵכָה.** לְשֵׂעִיר, כְּמוֹ שֶׁהוֹרוּ נוֹשְׂאֵי הַמִּנְחָה בְּאָמְרָם **גַּם הִנֵּה עַבְדְּךָ יַעֲקֹב אַחֲרֵינוּ**:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
נסעה ונלכה, to Seir, Esau’s home. This was in line with what Yaakov’s messengers had told Esau as being their destination.


###### Sforno on Genesis 33:13:1
[Sforno on Genesis 33:13:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/33:13:1)

**כִּי הַיְלָדִים רַכִּים.** כִּי עָלַי מֻטָּל דְּבַר הַיְלָדִים רַכִּים **וְהַצֹּאן וְהַבָּקָר עָלוֹת**:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
כי הילדים רכים, for it is my task to take care both of the children of tender age and of the sheep and other animals which are sensitive to overexertion.


###### Sforno on Genesis 33:13:2
[Sforno on Genesis 33:13:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/33:13:2)

**וּדְפָקוּם.** לִכְבוֹדְךָ שֶׁלֹּא לְעַכֶּבְךָ בַּדֶּרֶךְ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ודפקום, in your honour, not to delay you.


###### Sforno on Genesis 33:18:1
[Sforno on Genesis 33:18:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/33:18:1)

**וַיָּבֹא יַעֲקֹב שָׁלֵם עִיר שְׁכֶם.** תֵּכֶף שֶׁהִגִּיעַ בְּשָׁלוֹם בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר (בראשית כח:כא) "וְשַׁבְתִּי בְשָׁלוֹם", לֹא הִמְתִּין שֶׁיִּהְיֶה בְּבֵית אָבִיו.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויבא יעקב שלם עיר שכם, he reached the land of Israel unharmed. This was the fulfillment of the condition he had set in his vow in 28,21 ושבתי בשלום אל בית אבי, “and I will return in peace to the house of my father.” He did not wait until he had physically returned to the house of his father.


###### Sforno on Genesis 33:18:2
[Sforno on Genesis 33:18:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/33:18:2)

**בְּבֹאוֹ מִפַּדַּן אֲרָם.** בְּעוֹד שֶׁהָיָה בַּדֶּרֶךְ לָלֶכֶת לְבֵית אָבִיו, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעֲדַיִן לֹא הִגִּיעַ שָׁם, הִתְחִיל לְקַיֵּם נִדְרוֹ וּבָנָה מִזְבֵּחַ כְּאָמְרוֹ "וְהָיָה ה' לִי לֵאלֹהִים".

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
בבאו מפדן ארם, while he was still on the way to his father’s house. He began to fulfill the terms of his vow by building an altar This was in accordance with his promises והיה ה' לי לאלוקים. (the last words of his vow).


###### Sforno on Genesis 33:19:1
[Sforno on Genesis 33:19:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/33:19:1)

**וַיִּקֶן אֶת חֶלְקַת הַשָּׂדֶה וַיַּצֶּב שָׁם מִזְבֵּחַ.** כְּאָמְרוֹ "אֵיךְ נָשִׁיר אֶת שִׁיר ה' כּוּ'" (תהלים קלז:ד):

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויקן את חלקת השדה, ויצב שם מזבח. A reminder of Psalms 137,4 “how can we sing the Lord’s songs on alien soil?”


###### Sforno on Genesis 33:20:1
[Sforno on Genesis 33:20:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/33:20:1)

**וַיִּקְרָא לוֹ אֵל אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל.** קָרָא לוֹ בִּתְפִלָּתוֹ אֶת הָאֵל יִתְבָּרַךְ לֵאלֹהִים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּרְאֶה בְּאָמְרוֹ "וְהָיָה ה' לִי לֵאלֹהִים" (בראשית כח:כא), וְזֶה כְּשֶׁיִּהְיֶה הוּא יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁלֹּא יוּכְלוּ אוּמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם לְהַעֲבִירוֹ עַל דַּעְתּוֹ וְעַל דַּעַת קוֹנוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁהִזְכִּיר בְּנִדְרוֹ לְמַעְלָה (בראשית כח:כ-כב).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויקרא לו א-ל אלו-הי ישראל. When he prayed he referred to G’d as the G’d Who is the אלו-הי ישראל, corresponding to his vow that והיה ה' לי לאלו-הים, “G’d the merciful will be accepted by me as the G’d of Justice.” This standard of being judged by the attribute of Justice commenced only at the time when Yaakov had qualified for this level of righteousness having been given the additional name of Yisrael.