AND HE SAID: LET ME GO, FOR THE DAY BREAKETH, AND HE SAID: I WILL NOT LET THEE GO, EXCEPT THOU BLESS ME. R. Judah discoursed on the verse: Who is she that looketh forth as the dawn, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, terrible as an army with banners ? (S. S. 6, 10). ‘This verse’, he said, ‘refers to Israel, at the time when the Holy One, blessed be He, will raise them up and bring them out of captivity. At that time he will first open for them a tiny aperture of light, then another somewhat larger, and so on until He will throw open for them the supernal gates which face on all the four quarters of the world.
And, indeed, this process is followed by God in all that He does for Israel and the righteous among them. For we know that when a man has been long shut up in darkness it is necessary, on bringing him into the light, first to make for him an opening as small as the eye of a needle, and then one a little larger, and so on gradually until he can endure the full light.
It is the same with Israel, as we read: “By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, etc.” (Ex. 23, 30). So, too, a sick man who is recovering cannot be given a full diet all at once, but only gradually. But with Esau it was not so. His light came at a bound, but it will gradually be withdrawn from him until Israel will come into their own and destroy him completely from this world and from the world to come. Because he plunged into the light all at once, therefore he will be utterly and completely exterminated.
Israel’s light, on the other hand, will come little by little, until they will become strong. God will illumine them forever. All then will ask: “Who is she that looketh forth like the dawn”, this being a reference to the first tiny streak of the dawn, then “fair as the moon”, the light of the moon being stronger than that of the dawn, and then “clear as the sun”, that is, a still stronger light, and finally “terrible as an army with banners”, expressive of the light in its full strength.
For, just as when the dawn emerges from the darkness its light at first is faint, but gradually brightens till full daylight is reached, so when God will bestir Himself to shine upon the Community of Israel, He will first shed on them a streak of light like that of the daybreak which is still black, then increase it to make it “fair as the moon”, then “clear as the sun”, until it will be “tremendous as an army with banners”, as already explained.’
1The first 28 lines of the Hebrew text (until “Said R. Hiya) do not appear in our translation. Now in connection with Jacob it is not written: “for daybreak has come (ba’)”, but “for daybreak has gone up (‘alah)”. For at the moment when daybreak arrived, the Chieftain summoned all his strength and struck out at Jacob in order thereby to impart power to Esau;
but as soon as the blackness of the dawn passed the light came on and Jacob’s power increased; for his time had then arrived to come into the light, as it is written: “And the sun rose upon him as he passed over Peniel.
In the next words, AND HE LIMPED UPON HIS THIGH , there is a hint that after Israel in exile have endured many sufferings and pains, when daylight rises upon them and they attain to rest and ease they will in their memory go through again their past sufferings and afflictions and will wonder how they could have endured them. So Jacob, after “the sun had risen upon him”, was “limping upon his thigh”, vexing himself for what had befallen.
But when the blackness of the early dawn passed he made a great effort and grasped his opponent, whose strength at the same time gave out, his dominion being only during the night, whereas Jacob has ascendancy in the daytime. Hence he said: LET ME GO, FOR THE DAY BREAKETH, so that, as he might have added, “I am now in thy power”.
וַיֹּאמֶר שַׁלְחֵנִי כִּי עָלָה הַשָּׁחַר וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא אֲשַׁלֵּחֲךָ כִּי אִם בֵּרַכְתָּנִי. רִבִּי יְהוּדָה פָּתַח וְאָמַר, (שיר השירים ו׳:י׳) מִי זֹאת הַנִּשְׁקָפָה כְּמוֹ שָׁחַר יָפָה כַלְּבָנָה בָּרָה כַּחַמָּה אֲיֻמָּה כַּנִּדְגָלוֹת. הַאי קְרָא אוּקְמוּהָ וְאִתְּמָר, אֲבָל מִי זֹאת הַנִּשְׁקָפָה, אִלֵּין אִינוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּזִמְנָא דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יוֹקִים לוֹן וְיָפִיק לוֹן מִן גָּלוּתָא. כְּדֵין יִפְתַּח לוֹן פִּתְחָא דִּנְהוֹרָא (דהיא) דַּקִּיק זְעֵיר. וּלְבָתַר פִּתְחָא אַחֲרִינָא דְּאִיהוּ רַב מִינֵיהּ, עַד דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יִפְתַּח לוֹן תַּרְעִין עִלָּאִין פְּתִיחִין לְאַרְבַּע רוּחֵי עָלְמָא.
AND HE SAID: LET ME GO, FOR THE DAY BREAKETH, AND HE SAID: I WILL NOT LET THEE GO, EXCEPT THOU BLESS ME. R. Judah discoursed on the verse: Who is she that looketh forth as the dawn, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, terrible as an army with banners ? (S. S. 6, 10). ‘This verse’, he said, ‘refers to Israel, at the time when the Holy One, blessed be He, will raise them up and bring them out of captivity. At that time he will first open for them a tiny aperture of light, then another somewhat larger, and so on until He will throw open for them the supernal gates which face on all the four quarters of the world.
וְכֵן כָּל מַה דְּעָבִיד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וּלְצַדִּיקַיָיא דִּי בְּהוּ, הָכִי כֻּלְּהוּ וְלָאו בְּזִמְנָא חָדָא. לְבַר נָשׁ דְּאִתְיְהִיב בַּחֲשׁוֹכָא וְדִיּוּרֵיהּ הֲוָה בַּחֲשׁוֹכָא תָּדִיר, כַּד יִבְעוּן לְאַנְהָרָא לֵיהּ, בַּעְיָין לְאִפְתְּחָא לֵיהּ נְהוֹרָא זְעֵירְתָּא כְּעֵינָא דְּמַחֲטָא, וּלְבָתַר רַב מִנֵּיהּ, וּכְדֵין בְּכָל זִמְנָא עַד דְּיִנְהֲרוּן לֵיהּ כָּל נְהוֹרָא כְּדְקָא יְאוּת.
And, indeed, this process is followed by God in all that He does for Israel and the righteous among them. For we know that when a man has been long shut up in darkness it is necessary, on bringing him into the light, first to make for him an opening as small as the eye of a needle, and then one a little larger, and so on gradually until he can endure the full light.
כָּךָ אִינוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר, (שמות כ״ג:ל׳) מְעַט מְעַט אֲ גרַשֶׁנּוּ מִפָּנֶיךָ עַד אֲשֶׁר תִּפְרֶה וְגו'. וְכֵן לְמַאן דְּאָתֵי אַסְוָותָא לָאו אִיהוּ בְּשַׁעְתָּא חָדָא, אֶלָּא זְעֵיר זְעֵיר עַד דְּיִתְתַּקַּף. אֲבָל לְעֵשָׂו לָאו הָכִי, אֶלָּא בְּזִמְנָא חָדָא נָהִיר לֵיהּ וְאִתְאֲבִיד מִנֵּיהּ זְעֵיר זְעֵיר. (ולזמנא דאתי לאומות עובדי עבודת כוכבים ומזלות (ישעיהו מ״ב:י״ג) יי כגבור יצא) עַד דְּיִתְתַּקְפוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל וִישֵׁיצוּן (וישבון) לֵיהּ מִכֹּלָּא, מֵעַלְמָא דֵין וּמֵעַלְמָא דְאָתֵי. וּבְגִין דְּנָהִיר בְּשַׁעְתָּא חָדָא, הֲוָה לֵיהּ שֵׁצִיאוּ מִכֹּלָּא. אֲבָל יִשְׂרָאֵל נְהוֹרָא דִלְהוֹן זְעֵיר זְעֵיר, עַד דְּיִתְתַּקְפוּן וְיַנְהִיר לוֹן קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְעָלְמִין.
It is the same with Israel, as we read: “By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, etc.” (Ex. 23, 30). So, too, a sick man who is recovering cannot be given a full diet all at once, but only gradually. But with Esau it was not so. His light came at a bound, but it will gradually be withdrawn from him until Israel will come into their own and destroy him completely from this world and from the world to come. Because he plunged into the light all at once, therefore he will be utterly and completely exterminated.
וְכֹלָּא שָׁאֲלֵי לוֹן וְאָמְרֵי מִי זֹאת הַנִּשְׁקָפָה כְּמוֹ שָׁחַר, אִיהוּ קַדְרוּתָא דְצַפְרָא, וְדָא אִיהוּ נְהוֹרָא דָּקִיק. וּלְבָתַר יָפָה כַלְּבָנָה, בְּגִין דְּסִיהֲרָא נְהוֹרָא דִילָהּ נָהִיר יַתִּיר מִשַּׁחַר. וּלְבָתַר בָּרָה כַּחַמָּה, בְּגִין דִּנְהוֹרֵיהּ תַּקִּיף וְנָהִיר יַתִּיר מִסִּיהֲרָא. וּלְבָתַר אֲיֻמָּה כַּנִּדְגָלוֹת, תַּקִּיפָא בִּנְהוֹרָא תַּקִּיף כְּדְקָא יְאוּת.
Israel’s light, on the other hand, will come little by little, until they will become strong. God will illumine them forever. All then will ask: “Who is she that looketh forth like the dawn”, this being a reference to the first tiny streak of the dawn, then “fair as the moon”, the light of the moon being stronger than that of the dawn, and then “clear as the sun”, that is, a still stronger light, and finally “terrible as an army with banners”, expressive of the light in its full strength.
תָּא חֲזֵי, בְּעוֹד דְּאִתְחֲשַׁךְ יְמָמָא וְאִתְכַּסְיָא נְהוֹרָא וְאָתֵי צַפְרָא, יִתְנְהִיר בְּקַדְמִיתָא זְעֵיר זְעֵיר עַד דְּיִתְרַבֵּי נְהוֹרָא כְּדְקָא יְאוּת. דְּהָא כֵּיוָן דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יִתְעַר לְאַנְהָרָא לָהּ לִכְנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, יִתְנְהִיר בְּקַדְמִיתָא כְּמוֹ שָׁחַר דְאִיהִי אוּכְמָא. וּלְבָתַר יָפָה כַלְּבָנָה, וּלְבָתַר בָּרָה כַּחַמָּה. וּלְבָתַר אֲיֻמָּה כַּנִּדְגָּלוֹת כְּמָה דְאִתְּמָר.
For, just as when the dawn emerges from the darkness its light at first is faint, but gradually brightens till full daylight is reached, so when God will bestir Himself to shine upon the Community of Israel, He will first shed on them a streak of light like that of the daybreak which is still black, then increase it to make it “fair as the moon”, then “clear as the sun”, until it will be “tremendous as an army with banners”, as already explained.’
וְתָּא חֲזֵי, כֵּיוָן דְּאִסְתַּלִיק צַפְרָא, דְּהָא לָא כְּתִיב כִּי בָא הַשָּׁחַר אֶלָּא כִּי עָלָה, דְּהָא בְּזִמְנָא כִּי בָא הַשָּׁחַר, כְּדֵין אִתְתַּקַּף הַהוּא מְמַנָּא וְאַכִּישׁ לֵיהּ לְיַעֲקֹב. בְּגִין דְּהַהוּא מְמַנָּא אַכִּישׁ לְיַעֲקֹב לְמֵיהַב תַּקִּיפוּ לְאִתַתַּקָּפָא לְעֵשָׂו.
1The first 28 lines of the Hebrew text (until “Said R. Hiya) do not appear in our translation. Now in connection with Jacob it is not written: “for daybreak has come (ba’)”, but “for daybreak has gone up (‘alah)”. For at the moment when daybreak arrived, the Chieftain summoned all his strength and struck out at Jacob in order thereby to impart power to Esau;
וְכַד סָלִיק הַהוּא אוּכְמָא דְּשָׁחַר וְאִתְחֲזֵי אֲתָא נְהוֹרָא וְאִתְתַּקַּף יַעֲקֹב, דְּהָא כְדֵין מָטָא זִמְנֵיהּ לְאִתְנְהָרָא, מַה כְּתִיב וַיִּזְרַח לוֹ הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ כַּאֲשֶׁר עָבַר אֶת פְּנוּאֵל וְהוּא צוֹלֵעַ עַל יְרֵכוֹ. וַיִּזְרַח לוֹ הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ, דְּהָא כְּדֵין זִמְנָא לְאִתְנָהָרָא.
but as soon as the blackness of the dawn passed the light came on and Jacob’s power increased; for his time had then arrived to come into the light, as it is written: “And the sun rose upon him as he passed over Peniel.
וְהוּא צוֹלֵעַ עַל יְרֵכוֹ. כְּדֵין אִיהוּ רֶמֶז דְּהָא בְּעוֹד דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּגָלוּתָא וְסָבְלִין כְּאֵבִין וְצַעֲרִין וְכַמָּה בִּישִׁין, כַּד אִתְנְהִיר לוֹן יְמָמָא וְיֵיתֵי לוֹן נַיְיחָא, כְּדֵין יִסְתַּכְּלוּן וְיִכְאֲבוּן בְּגַרְמַיְיהוּ מִכַּמָּה בִּישִׁין וְצַעֲרִין דְּסָבְלוּ וְיִתְמְהוּ עֲלַיְיהוּ. בְּגִין כָּךְ וַיִּזְרַח לוֹ הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ. דְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא דְנַיְיחָא, וּכְדֵין וְהוּא צוֹלֵעַ עַל יְרֵכוֹ אִתְכָּאַב וְצָעֵיר גַּרְמֵיהּ עַל מַה דְּעֲבַר.
In the next words, AND HE LIMPED UPON HIS THIGH , there is a hint that after Israel in exile have endured many sufferings and pains, when daylight rises upon them and they attain to rest and ease they will in their memory go through again their past sufferings and afflictions and will wonder how they could have endured them. So Jacob, after “the sun had risen upon him”, was “limping upon his thigh”, vexing himself for what had befallen.
וְאִיהוּ כַּד אִסְתַּלַּק קַדְרוּתָא דְּשַׁחֲרָא כְּדֵין אִתְתַּקַּף וְאִתְאֲחִיד בֵּיהּ דְּכַד אִתְחַלַּשׁ חֵילֵיהּ, דְּלֵית לֵיהּ שׁוּלְטָנוּתָא אֶלָּא בְּלֵילְיָא, וְיַעֲקֹב שָׁלְטָנוּתֵיהּ בִּימָמָא. וְעַל דָּא אָמַר וַיֹּאמֶר שַׁלְחֵנִי כִּי עָלָה הַשָּׁחַר, דְּהָא אֲנָא בִּרְשׁוּתְךָ קָאִימְנָא, וְהָא אִתְּמָר וְאוּקְמוּהָ:
But when the blackness of the early dawn passed he made a great effort and grasped his opponent, whose strength at the same time gave out, his dominion being only during the night, whereas Jacob has ascendancy in the daytime. Hence he said: LET ME GO, FOR THE DAY BREAKETH, so that, as he might have added, “I am now in thy power”.