Kabbalah Library
Zohar for All, Volume 6
Jacob Went on His Way
52. “Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.” “Jacob went on his way,” going toward his father. As long as Jacob was with Lavan [Laban], the Creator did not speak with him. But it is written, “And the Lord said to Jacob, ‘Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.’” But that was in the end, when he wanted to part from Lavan. When he parted from him, those angels came toward him and accompanied him along the way.
53. It is written, “met him,” and it should have written “He met the angels of God,” that Jacob met them. What is “met him”? They came to incorporate from the side of Gevura, as it is written, “angels of God,” and Gevura is called “God.” On another side, Jacob saw angels of Rachamim [mercy], and angels of mercy and angels of judgment were confined in him, since Jacob is the middle line, which incorporates right and left, mercy and judgment.
54. In the beginning, it is written, “the camp of God,” which is one, and then it is written, “And he called the name of the place Mahanaim [two camps],” which is two camps. However, one camp was from the side of judgment, and one from the side of mercy, angels from the right sided, and angels from the left side, and Jacob, the middle line, incorporates both sides. This is why it is written “met him.” Him, since he is the middle line.
“And when Jacob saw them, he said.” He saw them incorporated together, angels of mercy and judgment adhered to one another and bonding with each other. This is why it is written “saw them” [in one word in Hebrew] and not “saw them” [in two words], indicating their incorporation together, and they all came to accompany him and save him from the hand of Esau.
