Here And Not Here

ויחן את פני העיר.  The Midrash says נכנס עם דמדומי חמה וקבע תחומין מבעוד יום.  What is the emphasis on Yaakov setting up eiruv techumim if the Avos kept the entire Torah?  And the Midrash continues that because of this Yaakov gets a greater reward than Avraham who merely kept Shabbos.  Why is eiruv techumim worthy of such a reward? 

The Nitziv comments on the possuk ויחן את פני העיר – לפי הפשט — לא נכנס לדור בעיר, אלא חנה מחוץ לעיר ונקרא ״פני העיר״. והוא כמדתו של יעקב להיות בדד ולא מעורב עם אומות העולם.  According to the simple understanding the possuk alludes to the fact that Yaakov was separate and not part of the general community.  On the other hand, the Malbim has a diametrically opposing comment.  "ויחן את פני העיר, שלא חנה שם כמו בסכות, ששכן במקום בפ״ע נבדל מן העיר ואנשיה, כי פה חנה לפני העיר מתערב עם אנשי העיר, כי קבע דירתו שם."  How are we to reconcile these two opposite approaches?  

The idea of an eiruv techumim Rav Amiel explains, is that a person is another place from where their mindset is.  A person can keep Shabbos as a day that is an oasis from the days of the week, a break from the craziness of life.  However, a deeper level is to infuse Shabbos into the week.  To be living during the week, but having a Shabbos mindset.  That is the chiddush of Yaakov over Avraham.  Yaakov was living amongst the people but his mindset was apart.  He established eiruv techumim, he was able to rise above the troubles in his life because his mind was elsewhere.