Why does the Torah state twice that Yaakov crossed the river?
Rashi: (First it says that he took his family across.) "Va'Ya'aver Es Asher Lo" means that he took his animals 1 and other possessions from one side and deposited them on the other side. 2
Ramban: This entire episode took place in four stages: (a) He gathered his entire household at the edge of the ford; then (b) after crossing to gauge the depth of the water, (c) he crossed together with them, and finally, he returned and (d) transported all his animals and belongings to the other side.
Seforno: The final phrase ("and he crossed that which was his") means that he instructed them to move away from the brook ahead of him. 3
Radak: First he crossed to see if the water was deep.
Divrei David: "Va'Ya'avor" in 32:23 means that he entered it. Our verse teaches that he stood in the middle of the river, on the Ma'avar, and made himself like a bridge, 4 and transferred his children and property from one side to the other.
Malbim: Refer to 32:23:152:3.
Ha'amek Davar: First Yaakov crossed with his sons and wives; he was not worried about their safety (refer to 32:23:151:3), only about his property. When he saw that Esav was not near the river, he brought his family back to help him take his property across.
Implying even the cows and the bulls, which no other person could possibly have transferred in this way.
See also Ba'al ha'Turim, who, based on a Pasuk in Tehilim, explains that the River Yabok split and they crossed on dry land. (According to the opinions that Yaakov had 600,000 or more animals (refer to 30:43:152:1), Yaakov could not take the animals across in one night (more than 16 animals per second) without a miracle. - PF)
Similar to the Pasuk, "va'Ya'avor (and he overtook [went ahead]) Es ha'Kushi" (Shmuel II 18:23).
If "Ma'avar" is a bridge, there was no need for him to do so! (But see 32:23:152:1*) If it is where the river is shallow, one would not say 'on the Ma'avar.' Perhaps Divrei David holds that it is rocks in the river; with difficulty, one may cross the river via stepping on the rocks. (PF)
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "He made himself like a bridge; taking from this [bank of the river], and placing on that [bank]." How do we know this?
Gur Aryeh: The verse says, "va'Ya'aver" (in the causative). When a person himself crosses a river, carrying items along with him, the causative would not be used. Rather, Yaakov brought his property across without crossing over himself.
