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Yaakov’s approach to civilian casualties

 

בראשית ל״ב:ח׳

(ח) וַיִּירָ֧א יַעֲקֹ֛ב מְאֹ֖ד וַיֵּ֣צֶר ל֑וֹ וַיַּ֜חַץ אֶת־הָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר־אִתּ֗וֹ וְאֶת־הַצֹּ֧אן וְאֶת־הַבָּקָ֛ר וְהַגְּמַלִּ֖ים לִשְׁנֵ֥י מַחֲנֽוֹת׃

Genesis 32:8

(8) Then Jacob was greatly afraid and was distressed. And he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and the herds, and the camels, into two camps.

רש”י על בראשית ל״ב:ח׳:א׳

ויירא ויצר. ויירא שמא יהרג, ויצר לו אם יהרוג הוא את אחרים:

Rashi on Genesis 32:8:1

‘He was afraid’ that he [Esau] might kill him [Jacob] and he was ‘distressed’ that he [Jacob?] might kill others.