Parsha:

Vayishlach 

Description

When Yaakov returns home to Canaan after having spent twenty years with Laban, he understands that Esau is probably still angry with him for his receiving the firstborn blessing. Yaakov tries to appease his brother by sending him malachim bearing gifts. Who these malachim are will form the basis of our discussion today. While malachim are often translated as human messengers sent on a specific mission, they are at least as often translated as heavenly angels who are also sent by God on a specific mission. Rashi chooses to interpret these malachim as malachim mamash, actual (heavenly) angels. What prompted Rashi toward this understanding?