TORAH STUDIES: LINKING SCRIPTURES

TORAH WEEK 08 VAYISHLACH

08-TorahPortion: וַיִּשְׁלַחVayishlach("He Sent")

PortionSummary:

TheTorah portion Vayishlachfocuses on Jacob's journey as he prepares to meet his estrangedbrother Esau after many years. Jacob fears Esau's wrath and prays forprotection, then wrestles with a mysterious man, who blesses him andrenames him Israel, meaning "he who wrestles with YHVH."The portion also covers the reconciliation between Jacob and Esau,the tragic incident involving Dinah, and the deaths of Isaac andRachel.

Inthis eighth reading from the Book of Genesis, the name Vayishlachmeans "He sent." The title comes from the opening verse,where "Jacob sent messengers before him to his brother Esau inthe land of Seir, the country of Edom" (Genesis 32:3-4) in someHebrew Bibles).

This portionrecounts Jacob's preparation to meet Esau as he returns to thepromised land. Before the meeting, Jacob has a mysterious encounterwith an angel in the darkness, who changes his name to Israel. Thenarrative follows Jacob's journey through Canaan, including thesorrowful loss of his beloved wife, Rachel.

OpeningPrayer:

Blessed areyou, Adonai YHVH, our Father, Sovereign of Creation, who has given usyour Torah of truth, implanting within us eternal life through Y'shuaour Messiah. Blessed are you, YHVH Eloheinu Adonai, King of Creation.

Torah:

Genesis32:3–32:32– Jacob Wrestles with Aravat
Jacob, returning to Canaan, sendsmessengers to Esau seeking reconciliation. When he learns Esau iscoming with 400 men, Jacob is fearful and divides his camp to protecthis family. He prays to YHVH for deliverance and sends gifts ahead topacify Esau.

Genesis33:1–33:20– Jacob and Esau Reconcile
Jacob and Esau meet. Instead ofhostility, Esau embraces Jacob warmly. Despite Esau's invitation totravel together, Jacob chooses to settle in Shechem, building analtar to worship YHVH.

Genesis34:1–34:31– Dinah and the Events at Shechem
Dinah, Jacob's daughter,visits women in Shechem, leading to the tragic event of her beingraped by the prince of Shechem, who desires to marry her. Jacob'ssons demand circumcision of the men of Shechem as a condition formarriage, but later, Simeon and Levi attack the city, avenging theirsister. Jacob expresses concern about the consequences of theiractions.

Genesis35:1–35:29– YHVH Instructs Jacob to Return to Bethel
YHVH commands Jacobto return to Bethel, where he builds an altar and purifies hishousehold. Rachel dies while giving birth to Benjamin, and Reubencommits an immoral act with Bilhah, Jacob's concubine. The chapterconcludes with the death of Isaac and his burial by Jacob and Esau.

Genesis36:1–36:43–The Descendants of Esau
This chapter details the descendants ofEsau, who becomes the father of the Edomites. It outlines the chiefsand kings of Edom, emphasizing Esau's legacy and establishing theseparation of his lineage from Jacob's.

Targums:

Genesis32:Jacob, on his journey back to Canaan, encounters malakhim (angels)and fears the meeting with his brother Esau. He sends messengersahead with gifts to appease Esau. After praying for protection, Jacobwrestles with a mysterious man (the Mal'akh of YAH - Y'shua) untildawn, where he is blessed and his name is changed to Israel,signifying his struggle with Aravat.

Genesis33:Jacob meets Esau, who surprisingly greets him warmly, showing noanger. The brothers reconcile, and Jacob refuses Esau's gifts,though Esau insists. Jacob settles in Shechem, builds an altar, andnames it "El - Elohei - Israel" (YHVH, Father of Israel).