Illustration Credit: Elad Lifshitz, Dov Abramson Studio
What's going on here? מַה זֶה?
The night before Yaakov met up with Esav, the Torah says that Yaakov was alone.
וַיִּוָּתֵ֥ר יַעֲקֹ֖ב לְבַדּ֑וֹ וַיֵּאָבֵ֥ק אִישׁ֙ עִמּ֔וֹ עַ֖ד עֲל֥וֹת הַשָּֽׁחַר׃
Yaakov was left alone. And an angel wrestled with him until the sun came up.
Until now, Yaakov had been traveling with his very large family. How was it possible that Yaakov was by himself?
The Talmud (Hullin 91a) explains that, after Yaakov’s family crossed the Yabbok River, Yaakov stayed back to collect a few jars he had left behind. From Yaakov’s behavior, the Talmud teaches that צַדִיקִים (tzadikim, righteous people) take good care of their personal property so that they do not accidentally use something stolen.
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