In this week’s parsha, Parshat Vayishlach, we encounter the famous story of Yaakov’s fight with the angel near the river. The narrative describes how Yaakov wrestled with this figure until daybreak, only releasing him upon receiving a blessing. However, before blessing Yaakov, the angel posed a peculiar question וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו מַה־שְּׁמֶ֑ךָ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר יַעֲקֹֽב׃ and he said to him what is your name and he said, Yaakov. (Bereshit 32:28).
This question seems redundant, as surely the angel knew Yaakov’s name, having been sent specifically to him. Why does he ask his name before blessing him, are we saying that he didn't know his name? The simple explanation is like how the Radak explains, of course, he knew his name, he was sent to him! The reason that he asked was to provide an opening to what he says in the next vese וַיֹּ֗אמֶר לֹ֤א יַעֲקֹב֙ יֵאָמֵ֥ר עוֹד֙ שִׁמְךָ֔ כִּ֖י אִם־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּֽי־שָׂרִ֧יתָ עִם־אֱלֹהִ֛ים וְעִם־אֲנָשִׁ֖ים וַתּוּכָֽל׃ He [the man] said, No longer will your name be spoken of as Yaakov, but as Yisrael, for you have contended with God[ly beings] and with men, and you have won. (Bereshit 32:29)
But I would like to suggest that there is a deeper narrative taking place, what is the context of this incident? Yaakov had dispatched messengers and learned that his brother, Esav, still resentful over the lost blessing so many years before, was approaching with 400 men. Yaakov was understandably terrified, as it says, וַיִּירָ֧א יַעֲקֹ֛ב מְאֹ֖ד וַיֵּ֣צֶר ל֑וֹ Yaakov was very frightened, and distressed. (Bereshit 32:8). And he prayed to Hashem to save him as it says הַצִּילֵ֥נִי נָ֛א מִיַּ֥ד אָחִ֖י מִיַּ֣ד עֵשָׂ֑ו כִּֽי־יָרֵ֤א אָנֹכִי֙ אֹת֔וֹ פֶּן־יָב֣וֹא וְהִכַּ֔נִי אֵ֖ם עַל־בָּנִֽים׃ Rescue me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Eisov, for I fear him, that he will come and attack me—mother and children alike. (Bereshit 32:12)
When Yaakov crossed the river to retrieve small jugs, and the angel came to wrestle with him, it was Hashem’s response to his prayers, in essence, Hashem sent this angel, or as Rashi explains, the angel of Esav, to fight him to convey to him that he will be with him in his upcoming encounter with Esav.
When Yaakov prevailed and the angel asked him this question about his name, it was a form of comfort. By asking "What is your name?" the angel prompted Yaakov to reflect on his identity, on the situation of life that he felt he was in. When Yaakov answer’s, "Yaakov," he is saying that he feels that who he is as a person in his life so far is how in essence the pasuk explains his name in parshat Toldot וְאַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֞ן יָצָ֣א אָחִ֗יו וְיָד֤וֹ אֹחֶ֙זֶת֙ בַּעֲקֵ֣ב עֵשָׂ֔ו וַיִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ יַעֲקֹ֑ב וְיִצְחָ֛ק After that his brother came out, his hand grasping the heel of Eisav, and he named him Yaakov. Meaning the name Yaakov comes from the word heel, the heel of Esav. The name Yaakov expresses a situation where Yaakov is always having to hold onto the foot of Esav, throughout his life, Esav was tormenting him and Yaakov was in a situation where he had to just hold his foot.
When the angel hears that this is the feeling that Yaakov has, he comforts him by telling him Hashem has answered your prayers, you no longer need to be afraid of Esav because you now are entering a new stage in your life, the angel informs him that Hashem has planned to rename him and in a deeper sense bring him to change his direction in life as it says in the pasuk כִּֽי־שָׂרִ֧יתָ עִם־אֱלֹהִ֛ים וְעִם־אֲנָשִׁ֖ים וַתּוּכָֽל׃ for you have contended with God[ly beings] and with men, and you have won. (Bereshit 32:29). Meaning the angel is telling him, you have shown for yourself that you could fight and prevail not just over the physical Esav but you have prevailed over the higher and more spiritual angel of Esav, don't fear because kal vchomer, all the more so, if you can beat me, an angel, then certainly Hashem will be with you when you encounter Esav.
-Rafael Avner Tirat-Gefen
