Derasha 1 on Bereishis 32:8

TT #1 · Parashas Vayishlach · Passuk 32:8

Complete Passuk

וַיִּירָ֧א יַעֲקֹ֛ב מְאֹ֖ד וַיֵּ֣צֶר ל֑וֹ וַיַּ֜חַץ אֶת־הָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר־אִתּ֗וֹ וְאֶת־הַצֹּ֧אן וְאֶת־הַבָּקָ֛ר וְהַגְּמַלִּ֖ים לִשְׁנֵ֥י מַחֲנֽוֹת׃

And Yaakov was greatly afraid and he was distressed; and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and the cattle and the camels, into two camps.

Chabad · Genesis 32:8

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Bereshit Rabbah 76:2 (and parallel discussions).

Sefaria · Bereshit Rabbah 76:2

Core Text of Chazal

וַיִּירָא יַעֲקֹב מְאֹד וַיֵּצֶר לוֹ. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בַּר אִילְעַאי אָמַר: אֵין יִרְאָה וְצָרָה אֶחָד? אֶלָּא וַיִּירָא שֶׁמָּא יֵהָרֵג, וַיֵּצֶר לוֹ שֶׁמָּא יַהֲרֹג.

“And Yaakov was greatly afraid and he was distressed.” Rabbi Yehudah bar Ilai said: Are fear and distress the same? Rather, he was afraid lest he be killed, and he was distressed lest he kill.

On the daf / in context

The Midrash distinguishes the two verbs: physical fear of death versus moral distress at the prospect of having to take a life.

Type of Learning

Derash on the double language (Bereshit Rabbah) — distinguishing fear from distress.

What Is Learned

Yaakov feared for his own life and was distressed at the possibility that he might have to kill another.