Why didn't Ya'akov try to hide from Esav?

Question

I know that there are some Midrashim that "blame" Ya'akov for sending messengers to Esav. But, after he sends them, they return and report that Esav is coming after him with 400 men.

We see that he sends Esav gifts to try to appease him, and he prepares to defend himself. And, he prays to G-d for help. One thing that doesn't seem apparent, is that assuming that Ya'akov knew that he was outnumbered, and that he was afraid of his brother, why didn't he run away, try to outmaneuver his brother or hide in a cave for a while until he calculated that Esav would eventually give up searching for him?

Answer 1

Because Ya'akov was not alone.

The people with him included 13 children, 2 wives, 2 concubines, servants of his own, and servants for his wives and concubines.

He also had huge amounts of cattle and sheep, and many tents and other posessions.

See verse 32:6 "I have acquired cattle, asses, sheep, male and female slaves"

His camp was so large that he was able to divide it into 2 and credibly represent that one of them was the whole camp, so that the other might escape.

There is no way to "hide" such a camp, and it would be the worst sort of cowardice to abandon it to Eisav. So Ya'akov bravely sent messengers ahead, gave presents, and confronted Eisav in such a way that he thought might save himself, his people, and his possessions. He also prayed to G-d (I think verse 32:10 might be the time he instituted Ma'ariv) and showed his spiritual courage by wrestling the angel.

Answer 2

1. Eisov knew exactly where Yaakov was all those years, as the two families agreed to intermarry, and Yaakov was bound to this agreement.
2. Eisov promised not to harm Yaakov as long as Yitzhok's alive, and Yitzhok was still alive.
3. Eisov knew he failed, he was jealous, but he wasn't evil, like Lavan to exterminate Yaakov and the tribes altogether. After he saw Yaakov succeeded with Hashem's help - "נכמרו רחמיו" and he didn't intend to fight the whole Yaakov's family. This was a smart move, and thanks to his understanding that point his head is buried in Maaras Hamachpelo.
4. As we learn from Yaakov, and subsequently the Tribes and Moses, war is not about the strength or the ammunition. It's about being righteous and repenting in time (see his Zeide's fight against all the kings). So Yaakov was not afraid of Eisov's military power.
5. Making up with Eisov was on Yaakov's list and he did not try to escape it. He just did not know how would to go, so he prepared for anything. But miraculously, he succeeded to do it by bowing down 7 times. Oh, 7 again. Spooky.
6. I think a better question would be, why Yaakov did not fight Lavan, that would be more reasonable.

And sorry for not sourcing agin.