EXTRA on Bereishis 32:4

Side-ring · classical material on a skipped passuk

Complete Passuk

וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח יַעֲקֹ֤ב מַלְאָכִים֙ לְפָנָ֔יו אֶל־עֵשָׂ֖ו אָחִ֑יו אַ֥רְצָה שֵׂעִ֖יר שְׂדֵ֥ה אֱדֽוֹם׃

And Yaakov sent messengers before him to Eisav his brother, to the land of Seir, the field of Edom.

Source Citation

Bereshit Rabbah 75:4 (and parallel discussions of the messengers).

Sefaria · Bereshit Rabbah 75:4

Core Text of Chazal

וישלח יעקב מלאכים — רבי חמא בר חנינא אמר: מלאכים ממש; רבנן אמרי: מלאכים של בשר ודם.

“And Yaakov sent messengers” — Rabbi Chama bar Chanina said: actual angels; the Rabbis said: human messengers.

On the daf / in context

The Midrash debates whether the messengers were celestial or ordinary human agents.

Type of Learning

Derash on the identity of the messengers (Bereshit Rabbah).

What Is Learned

There is a dispute whether Yaakov sent angels or human messengers to Eisav.