VAYISHALACH KEY QUESTIONS

VAYISHALACH KEY QUESTIONS

Anglo’s:

Attached are a series of key questions regarding Parshat Vayishalach. These questions illuminate the Torah portion. By asking yourself these questions, Parshat Vayishalach will be more meaningful. Additionally, associated with each question are references to the text, quotes and key words that provide context and enable you to address the key questions.

Learn more about Parshat Vayishalach go to:
https://shabbos-table.blogspot.com/2025/11/vayishlach-324-3643.html

Get the straight scoop on Esau:
https://northernlight-reading.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-reemergence-of-esau.html

VAYISHALACH QUESTIONS

1. JACOB SENDS A MESSAGE TO ESAU. WERE THE MESSENGERS HUMANS OR ANGELS?

2. WHERE DID ESAU LIVE?

3.WHAT DID THE MESSAGE SAY?

4. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DID JACOB DESCRIBE HIS WEALTH TO ESAU?

5. WHAT DID THE MESSAGE NOT MENTION?

6. ON RETURN, WHAT DID THE MESSENGERS REPORT?

7.AT WAS JACOB’S IMMEDIATE REACTION?

8. WHAT AND WHY DID JACOB DO?

9. WHAT DOES JACOB ASK OF HASHEM?

10. HOW MANY ANIMALS WERE IN JACOB’S GIFT TO ESAU?

11. WHAT ANIMAL WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE GIFT? WHY?

12. BONUS QUESTION: WHERE DID CAMELS ORIGINATE FROM?

13. JACOB PROVIDES PROTECTION FOR HIS ENTIRE FAMILY WITH ONE EXCEPTION…WHO?

14. WHO WRESTLED WITH JACOB?

15, DESCRIBE THE WRESTLING MATCH.

16. EXPLAIN THE MEANING BEHIND JACOB’S NEW NAME.

17. WHY DOES JACOB WANT TO KNOW THE ANGEL’S NAME?

18. DESCRIBE THE ENCOUNTER BETWEEN JACOB AND ESAU?

19. HOW MUCH MONEY DID JACOB PAYOUT TO PURCHASE LAND IN SHECHEM?

20. TRANSLATE JACOB’S STATEMENT AT 33:20:

-אֵל, אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

21. IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN  נַעֲרָה OR A יַלדָה?

22. WHAT WAS JACOB’S REACTION WHEN HE HEARD DINAH BEING RAPED?

23. DID SHECHEM SHOW REMORSE?

24. WHAT DID JACOB’S SONS DO?

25. WHAT WAS JACOB’S REACTION?

26. YEARS LATER WHAT DID JACOB SAY?

27. WHO BURIED ISAAC?

28, WHO IS MENTIONED FIRST? SIGNIFICANCE?

29. WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT ESAU’S LINEAGE?

30. AT 36:10, REUEL IS A SON OF ESAU. WHO ELSE HAS THAT NAME?

VAYISHALACH QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

1. JACOB SENDS A MESSAGE TO ESAU. WERE THE MESSENGERS HUMANS OR ANGELS?

32:4  מַלְאָכִים֙ 

2. WHERE DID ESAU LIVE?

32:4 – MOUNT SEIR, EDOM.

3.WHAT DID THE MESSAGE SAY?

32:5,6 – VERBAL MESSAGE: LIVED WITH LAVAN; ACQUIRED WEALTH.

4. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DID JACOB DESCRIBE HIS WEALTH TO ESAU?

32:6 – TO FIND FAVOR לִמְצֹא-חֵן

5. WHAT DID THE MESSAGE NOT MENTION? CAMELS, TWO WIVES, 11 SONS, ONE DAUGHTER.

6. ON RETURN, WHAT DID THE MESSENGERS REPORT?

32:7 - ESAU IS COMING WITH 400 MEN.

7.AT WAS JACOB’S IMMEDIATE REACTION?

32:8 – VERY FRIGHTENED AND DISTRESSED   וַיֵּ֣צֶר ל֑וֹ .

8. WHAT AND WHY DID JACOB DO?

32:8, 9 –

9. WHAT DOES JACOB ASK OF HASHEM?

32:10-13 – YOU PROMISED, SAVE ME, SAVE MY FAMILY.

10. HOW MANY ANIMALS WERE IN JACOB’S GIFT TO ESAU?

32:15,16: 550

11. WHAT ANIMALS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE GIFT? WHY?

CAMELS: MALES AND NON-NURSING FEMALES.

TO ESCAPE ESAU.

12. BONUS QUESTION: WHERE DID CAMELS ORIGINATE FROM?

NORTH AMERICA. BECAME EXTINCT 11,000 YEARS AGO.

13. JACOB PROVIDES PROTECTION FOR HIS ENTIRE FAMILY WITH ONE EXCEPTION…WHO?

32:23 – DINAH IS NOT MENTIONED.

14. WHO WRESTLED WITH JACOB?

32:25 – AN ANGEL.

15, DESCRIBE THE WRESTLING MATCH.

32:25,26,27

16. EXPLAIN THE MEANING BEHIND JACOB’S NEW NAME.

32:29 – Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel יִשְׂרָאֵל:

שָׂרִיתָ עִם-אֱלֹהִים וְעִם-אֲנָשִׁים, וַתּוּכָל.

YOU ARE GOD’S LEADER (?)

17. WHY DOES JACOB WANT TO KNOW THE ANGEL’S NAME?

18. DESCRIBE THE ENCOUNTER BETWEEN JACOB AND ESAU?

33:1-16 -RECONCILLIATION, VERY POSITIVE.

19. HOW MUCH MONEY DID JACOB PAYOUT TO PURCHASE LAND IN SHECHEM?

33: 19 -  100 KASITAS.

20. TRANSLATE JACOB’S STATEMENT AT 33:20:

-אֵל, אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

GOD IS GOD OF ISRAEL.

21. IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN נַעֲרָה OR A יַלדָה?

34:1,3,4.

22. WHAT WAS JACOB’S REACTION WHEN HE HEARD DINAH BEING RAPED?

34:5 - HE WAS DEAF. וְהֶחֱרִשׁ

23. DID SHECHEM SHOW REMORSE? NO.

34:7 - אֶמְצָא-חֵן בְּעֵינֵיכֶם

IF I HAVE FOUND FAVOR IN YOUR EYES…

24. WHAT DID JACOB’S SONS DO?

34:27-29 – THEY WENT BESERK.

25. WHAT WAS JACOB’S REACTION?

34:30 – YOU MADE ME LOOK BAD?

26. YEARS LATER WHAT DID JACOB SAY?

48:22 – I CONQUERED SHECHEM WITH MY SWORD AND MY BOW.

27. WHO BURIED ISAAC?

35:29 – ESAU, JACOB AND JACOB’S SONS.

28, WHO IS MENTIONED FIRST? SIGNIFICANCE?

29. WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT ESAU’S LINEAGE?

36:1-43, MANY, MANY VERSES.

30. AT 36:10, REUEL IS A SON OF ESAU. WHO ELSE HAS THAT NAME?

MOSES’ FATHER-IN-LAW.