What are the implications of "va'Yizrach Lo ha'Shemesh"?
Rashi #1: It is merely a manner of speech - 'When we reached place Ploni, the sun came out.'
Rashi #2 and Targum Yonasan: The sun rose early in order to heal Yaakov 1 of his limp. 2 As a matter of fact, it restored the balance by rising early the same number of hours that it had set early on Yaakov's way to Charan, twenty years earlier. 3
Seforno: This hints at the time of Mashi'ach, about which the Pasuk writes, "But a sun of righteousness will shine for you who fear My Name, with healing in its rays..." (Malachi 3:20).
Oznayim la'Torah (citing Chulin 91b): The sun shone early to protect Yaakov against Mazikin. 4
Hence the Torah adds the word "Lo." The sun is a great healer, as the Pasuk writes in Malachi (3:20) - Refer to 32:32:1:3 and 32:32:1.2:1. See also Oznayim la'Torah, who explains "Lo" in connection with the power of healing that Yitzchak inherited from Avraham.
Gur Aryeh: Rashi interprets this way, for did the sun rise just for Yaakov? It rose for all! Rather, it rose [early] to benefit Yaakov.
Refer to 28:11:3:1. For a calculation, refer to 32:32:1.1:1**.
In fact, the Gemara there learns from here that a Talmid-Chacham may not go out alone at night - precisely for this reason.
Why was Yaakov healed by the sun?
Maharal (Netzach Yisrael, Ch. 16 (end)): The sun rules over the day, and sets it in order (1:14-18). Yaakov's limp was a deviation from order, so the sun was used to heal it.
Why does the Torah say that the sun rose, and Yaakov was limping?
Hadar Zekenim, Riva #1: Until the sun rose, Yaakov was afraid. Only after it rose did he realize that he was limping.
Riva #2: This explains why he delayed so long to reach there. 1
Refer to 32:32:1:2. Rashi - Yaakov had been limping until the sun rose - but now he was healed. 2
R. Chaim Paltiel: Normally, a person can walk five Mil between dawn (when the fight ended) and sunrise (Pesachim 93b), and Yaakov sufficed only to go from Ma'avar Yabok to Penu'el! (PF)
Gur Aryeh: What is Rashi adding? We should not interpret that Yaakov remined with a limp after the sun rose. Rather, he had been limping at sunrise, but thereupon he was healed.
What is the symbolism of Yaakov's limp after the fight with the angel of Esav?
Maharal (Chidushei Agados Vol. 4, p. 38, to Avodah Zarah 11b): Esav gave the outward appearance of being like Adam; Yaakov, on the other hand, was like Adam's essence. 1 Yaakov became temporarily lame, for injuries are incidental; but the essence eventually heals and returns to its former state.
Esav merely had Adam's clothing; while Yaakov's Tzelem Elokim reflected the inner essence of Adam (Bava Basra 58a). Compare to 32:26:1:9 and 27:15:1.02:1.
What is the symbolism of Yaakov being healed only after he passed by Peni'el?
Maharal (Chidushei Agados Vol. 4, p. 39, to Avodah Zarah 11b): The name Peni'el means, 'the [angry] countenance of Hashem has passed.' Afterwards, the sun shone upon Yaakov and he was healed. 1
Maharal explains this as a sign for Yaakov's descendants; the ascendancy of Rome over Yisrael would be only temporary. Maharal notes that Chazal use the name Tzafenas bas Peniel in one of their accounts of the times of the Churban (Gitin 58a).
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "The hours that [the sun] hastened to set for Yaakov when he left Be'er Sheva, it now hastened to rise for him." How is this parallel indicated in the Pasuk?
Gur Aryeh: Would Hashem make the sun rise early, merely for the extra hour or two that Yaakov would have had to limp? 1 Rather, it was anyways fitting that the sun would rise early, to compensate for it having set early 2 when Yaakov first left.
The dawn (Alos ha'Shachar) had already arrived (32:25,27). Alos ha'Shachar is commonly calculated as 72 minutes before sunrise.
On that occasion as well, sunset had advanced by only about an hour. Yaakov had already prayed Arvis after Plag ha'Mincha (which is 75 minutes before sunset), when the sun advanced and set. (Tosfos to Berachos 26b; refer to 28:11:3.2:1 and 28:11:3:3.) Also now, the dawn had already come (32:25,27) about 72 minutes prior to sunrise; the sun now advanced and rose immediately. (CS)
