Esau was heading toward Jacob with 400 fighting men. Jacob was frightened that his brother would try to destroy him and his family.
Jacob divided his family and possessions into two groups.
He sent several gifts of cattle and animals to his brother.
Then he saw Esau approaching.
3. And he [Jacob] passed over before them, and bowed to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
This verse describes Jacob’s actions immediately before meeting his brother for the first time in 20 years.
Jacob First
Jacob arranged his wives and children in the order that he wanted them to approach Esau.
Then Jacob went in front of them.
Rashi explains that Jacob wanted to be the first one to confront Esau. If Esau was planning to attack, then Jacob wanted to be sure that Esau would have to defeat him first.
until he came near – Netziv in HaEmek Davar points out that Jacob did not get too close to his brother. He came “near” but not all the way to him. That is why the next verse (Genesis 33:4) states, “And Esau ran to meet him …”
There was still a big gap between them. It seems to me that Jacob wanted to keep some distance until he could discern Esau’s intentions.
Jacob Bowed to the Ground
The word translated as “bowed” is from the Hebrew root shin-chet-hey. Forms of this root appear 170 times throughout the Bible.
The Gemara explains that 3 words in the Bible denote different types of bows:
The Sages taught: The term kidda indicates falling upon one’s face, …
Keria means descending upon one’s knees, …
Hishtahava’a [root: shin-chet-hey], this is prostrating oneself while spreading one’s arms and legs in total submission…
Note: This is the Steinsaltz Gemara translation and commentary. The Gemara quotes proof texts which I have not included here.
Even though the root shin-chet-hey is often translated as “bow,” based on this Gemara it is better translated as prostrate.
There are some places where this root indicates an act of worship when a person prostrates before God.
Why Did Jacob Bow?
I’ve identified 3 different approaches in the commentators as to why Jacob bowed to Esau.
Actual Submission
Abarbanel claims that Jacob bowed before Esau like a slave before his master.
Daat Mikra likens Jacob’s bowing to a lesser king submitting to the authority of a greater king.
Appearance of Submission
Radak and Malbim claim that Jacob only wanted to appear like he was being submissive.
Radak (on verse 33:4) writes that Esau thought Jacob was acting in a submissive way. He’s hinting that Jacob was not actually being submissive.
Malbim writes Jacob bowed to appear submissive to Esau. As a result God changed Esau’s heart from hatred to love.
Hiding His Injury
Rabbi Sorotzkin in a unique approach claims that Jacob was acting deceptively.
Jacob had been wounded in his hip during his struggle with the angel. See Genesis 32:26-33.
Jacob bowed to conceal from Esau that he was limping. He thought that if Esau saw his physical weakness it could make him more likely to attack.
Jacob Did NOT Bow to Esau
Rabbi Dessler (Michtav MiEliyahu Vol. 3, page 155 based on Zohar 171b) claims that Jacob did not bow to his brother Esau.
The Zohar begins by quoting a verse from Exodus:
14. For you shall not prostrate yourselves to another god; for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, He is a jealous God.
According to the Zohar, Esau was an evil man and represented “another god.” Whoever would bow to him would, as it were, be bowing to another god.
But Genesis 33:3 clearly states, “And he passed over before them.” Isn’t this Jacob moving in front of his family to face Esau?
The Zohar claims that the “he” in this verse is actually “He.” It was God’s presence passing in front of them and making Himself known to Jacob.
The verse doesn’t say that Jacob bowed to Esau. In fact, Jacob was bowing before God.
Esau and those with him thought that Jacob was being subservient and showing weakness. Actually, Jacob was accepting from God that this encounter with Esau was part of God testing him.
Jacob was able to see not the oppressor, Esau, but rather acknowledge that what happened to him came from God.
Rabbi Dessler develops this theme in more detail, but this is enough for our purposes.
Significance of 7 Times
Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch writes about the significance of the number 7 in the Bible.
It has been frequently attempted to present the number seven as a mystery, whose secret lies in certain arithmetic and geometric properties that are not accessible to all. We believe we must disregard all such conjectures and seek the symbolic significance and origin of this number within the realm of the Jewish people and its Holy Scriptures…
[Rabbi Hirsch mentions 12 verses, throughout the Bible, including Genesis 33:3, that mention the number seven.]
…
In each of the above Biblical passages the number seven is used to express a full number or a full measure, something “whole” or “complete.” What is done seven times in these passages indicates that the action thus performed is to be understood as having been performed in full measure.
Based on R. Hirsch we can say what Jacob’s 7 prostrations represent.
If he was being submissive (as many commentators write), then he was being completely submissive to Esau.
On the other hand, if he was bowing to God, then he was being whole in is faith and trust in God.
Vilna Gaon’s Approach
The Gaon references a Gemara about a strange incident:
Abaye heard that he [Rav Aha bar Yaakov] was coming.
Now, a certain demon haunted Abaye’s yeshiva, so that when [only] two entered, even by day, they were injured. He [Abaye] ordered, ‘Let no man afford him [Rav Aha] hospitality; perhaps a miracle will happen [in his merit].’
So he [Rav Aha] entered and spent the night in that yeshiva, during which it [the demon] appeared to him in the guise of a seven-headed dragon. Every time he [Rav Aha] fell on his knees one head fell off.
What are these 7 heads? Maharsha in Chidushei Agadot writes that the seven heads of the serpent are the seven forces of impurity that the primordial serpent (Genesis 3) brought to the world.
When did Rav Aha fall on his knees? According to Rashi he prayed about that demon and a head fell off. It was a special prayer for that danger.
Rabbi Steinsaltz agrees that he prayed, but it wasn’t a special prayer. Rather, he prayed the regular evening pray (what we call Shemoneh Esrei).
A person bows 7 times during that prayer: 2 during the first blessing (Avot); 2 during the next to last blessing (Modim), and 3 at the ending of the prayer.
I prefer Rashi’s answer for two reasons:
1. The 7 bows during the evening prayer do not involve actually kneeling on the ground.
2. Why would Rav Aha have prayed in the yeshiva alone? It seems more likely he would have prayed with a group earlier in the evening.
My opinion is that Rav Aha said the Aleinu prayer 7 times.
This prayer can be said at any time of the day or night. It includes this sentence (Artscroll translation): But we bend our knees, bow, and acknowledge our thanks before the King Who reigns over kings, the Holy One, Blessed is He.
Back to the Vilna Gaon. He compares what Jacob did to the incident with Rav Aha.
He writes that every prostration of Jacob was toward the Holy One, blessed be He. With them he brought down the guardian angel of Esau. This guardian angel appeared to Jacob as a snake with 7 heads. Each time Jacob bowed one of the 7 heads fell off.
Conclusion – Did Jacob Act Correctly?
Nehama Leibowitz (Studies in Bereshit) addresses this issue.
She quotes passages from Bereshit Rabbah where some of the sages condemn what Jacob did. Two of those passages end with God saying to Jacob: He (Esau) was going his own way, and you dispatch a delegation to him saying: “Thus says your servant Jacob.”
The implication is that Jacob could and should have gone back to Hebron without coming into contact with Esau.
She also quotes another midrash that defends Jacob.
Said Rabbi Jonathan: Whoever wishes to placate a king or authority and is not familiar with their ways and tactics should place this chapter in front of him and learn from it the arts of appeasement and placation.
There will be times when the king must be placated. Then Jacob’s actions give us an approach to take. There will be other times when it is possible and advisable to avoid the confrontation entirely.
Picture Credits
Unknown artist/maker, illuminator and Rudolf von Ems (Austrian, about 1200 – 1254), author Jacob’s Reconciliation with Esau, about 1400–1410. Digital image courtesy of Getty’s Open Content Program.
Intrigued by the Vilna Goan’s comparison of Yacov’s bowing and the
(peculiar) Rav Aha yeshiva event. I agree with your conclusion that it was probably the Aleinu prayer said seven times, for one reason: I think the Aleinu is extremely powerful. Ain od!
The Rav Dessler/ Zohar explanation is the one I am most familiar with — have heard or read it in many places. I think it appeals to me, too.
And…thank you for describing the 3 types of bowing– first really thorough description I have read‼️
Thanks for your comment. I find it interesting that you were familiar with Rabbi Dessler and the Zohar. Another reader emailed me that he have never heard that approach. Also, I came across it for the first time this year.