Yaakov Struggles

Traditional explanations of Yaakov’s preparation for his meeting with Esav shows that Yaakov, who is terrified, is anticipating war. The subsequent meeting, however, is brotherly, even joyous, with no indication of obvious hostility. If Esav is so loving, why is Yaakov afraid? And what is the meaning of the mysterious fight in the night, which has semantic echoes in Yaakov’s daytime words to Esav? There seems to be evidence of a character transformation—but of whom?