Israel's Voice Versus Esav's Sword
בפסוק וחמשים עלו בנ"י מזוינים כו'.
“In the verse: ‘And the children of Israel went up armed, in groups of five.’”
The Sefat Emet begins by noting the Torah’s statement that Israel left Egypt equipped with weapons.
ולמה להם כלי זיין.
“And why did they need weapons?”
The question arises because weapons do not naturally belong to Israel’s spiritual mode of existence.
אך י"ל כי באמת החרב ניתן לעשו כמ"ש על חרבך תחי'.
“But it may be said that the sword was truly given to Esau, as it is written: ‘By your sword you shall live.’”
The Sefat Emet explains that martial power is associated with Esau, not Israel, whose strength is normally of a different kind.
ובנ"י להם הקול.
“And Israel has the voice.”
The spiritual power of Israel is expressed through prayer, speech, and Torah—the ‘voice of Jacob.’
אך ע"י שהקדים גלות מצרים.
“But through the fact that the exile in Egypt preceded [their entry into history].”
The experience of Egyptian servitude served as a preparatory stage for Israel.
עי"ז הרויחו בנ"י גם להיות להם החרב נגד עשו.
“Through this, Israel also gained the ability to possess the sword against Esau.”
Because of the transformative suffering of Egypt, Israel was granted—even temporarily—the capacity to use Esau’s attribute of the sword when necessary.
ואפשר שהי' כל הגלות רק הכנה נגד עשו ועמלק.
“And it is possible that the entire exile was only a preparation against Esau and Amalek.”
The Sefat Emet suggests that the deeper purpose of the exile was to equip Israel spiritually and materially for its future confrontations with Esau and Amalek.
לכן נא' אח"כ ויחלוש יהושע כו' לפי חרב:
“Therefore it later says: ‘And Joshua weakened [Amalek]… by the sword.’”
Israel’s victory over Amalek by means of the sword becomes understandable: they had inherited this capacity through the crucible of Egypt.
Summary: The Sefat Emet teaches that although the sword belongs to Esau, Israel’s exile in Egypt endowed them with the ability to wield it when confronting Esau and Amalek. Their true power remains the voice, but the hardship of exile granted them additional tools necessary for their mission.