Sefat Emet, Genesis, Vayishlach 11:5

התקין עצמו לדורון לתפלה ולמלחמה.

He prepared himself for a gift, for prayer, and for battle.

The Sefat Emet alludes to Jacob’s threefold preparation upon meeting Esau, understanding each mode as a spiritual stance: offering, supplication, and struggle.

הוא בחי’ בכל לבבך עבודה שבלב תפלה.

This reflects the aspect of “with all your heart,” the service of the heart, which is prayer.

The text connects Jacob’s preparation for prayer with the command to serve God with one’s entire heart, seeing prayer as the core expression of inner devotion.

נפשך מלחמה.

“Your soul” refers to battle.

The Sefat Emet interprets the struggle of the soul as the internal battle one must wage—discipline, perseverance, and guarding the spiritual self.

מאדך דורון:

“Your might” refers to the gift.

Here the giving of a gift is linked to offering one’s resources or strength (“your might”) in service of reconciliation and holiness.

Summary: The Sefat Emet interprets Jacob’s three preparations—gift, prayer, and battle—as expressions of the verse “with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might,” mapping each mode to a corresponding inner service.