(J, E.) Jacob at Mahanaim and Penuel 1 2. Jacob at Mahanaim. 3 12. The Approach of Esau, and Jacob's Prayer. 13 21. Jacob's Present to Esau. 22 32. Jacob's Wrestling with the Angel. In this section Genesis 32:1 are from E; 3 13a from J (notice the different explanations given of the origin... [ Continue Reading ]
_the angels of God_ See note on Genesis 28:12. The appearance of the angels to Jacob on his return from Haran, as on his journey thither, gives him the assurance of God's presence. In chap. 28 it was a dream; here we are told the angels "met him.... [ Continue Reading ]
_This is God's host_ The Heb. word for "host" (_maḥaneh_) is usually, and ought here to be, rendered "camp." The angels are regarded as the warriors of Jehovah; cf. the narrative in Joshua 5:13-15, and 1 Kings 22:19; Psalms 103:21; Psalms 148:2. _Mahanaim_ That is, _Two hosts_, or, _companies_. The... [ Continue Reading ]
(J). The Approach of Esau, and Jacob's Prayer 3. _the land of Seir_ This name for the country occupied by the Edomites (Genesis 14:6) seems to mean the "shaggy," or "rough," "forest-covered" country; see Genesis 33:14; Genesis 33:16; Genesis 36:8. It is applied not only to the mountains on the east... [ Continue Reading ]
_my lord Esau_ Jacob adopts the language of extreme courtesy and respect. Cf. Genesis 18:3; Genesis 43:20; Genesis 44:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
_find grace_ Cf. Genesis 18:3; Genesis 33:8; Genesis 33:15; Genesis 34:11; Genesis 47:25. Jacob hopes to be reconciled and desires to propitiate his brother. He has not forgotten his brother's threats (Genesis 27:41).... [ Continue Reading ]
_four hundred men_ Where Esau was, and how he had become the head of a force of four hundred men, is not related, but may have formed part of another narrative. His intentions, if not hostile, are suspicious (cf. Genesis 33:4).... [ Continue Reading ]
_two companies_ The word for "companies" is the same as that rendered "host" in Genesis 32:2, except that it occurs in the plural (_mahanoth_). This is evidently another explanation of the origin of the name Mahanaim. It is a pity that the same word, "camp," has not been used here and in Genesis 32:... [ Continue Reading ]
_O God_, &c. Jacob's prayer consists of (1) an invocation; (2) a reminder of the promise; (3) a humble acknowledgment of mercies; (4) an entreaty (_a_) for protection, and (_b_) for the fulfilment of the covenant promise. Jacob's prayer, followed by the symbolic scene of the wrestling with the angel... [ Continue Reading ]
_I am not worthy_ Heb. _I am less than all_, &c. The meaning is, "I am too small and insignificant to deserve." For this idiom, cf. Genesis 4:13; Genesis 18:14. _mercies … truth_ See Genesis 24:27; Genesis 24:49: i.e. "manifestations of graciousness and fidelity." _with my staff_ i.e. with only my... [ Continue Reading ]
_from the hand of Esau_ Jacob in his prayer makes no reference to the possible cause of Esau's anger, and expresses no consciousness of, nor sorrow for, his own wrong-doing towards either Esau or Isaac. _the mother with the children_ A proverbial phrase for "the mother and family"; cf. Hosea 10:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
_thou saidst_ See Genesis 28:14. _as the sand of the sea_ See Genesis 13:16; Genesis 22:17, and cf. Genesis 16:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
Jacob's Present to Esau 13. _a present_ Heb. _minḥah_. Cf. Genesis 43:11; Genesis 43:15. See note on Genesis 4:3. Jacob hopes that a substantial present will turn away the resentment of his brother. Proverbs 18:16, "a man's gift maketh room for him"; Genesis 21:14, "a gift in secret pacifieth anger... [ Continue Reading ]
_two hundred_, &c. The numbers here given enable us to form some idea of the great size of Jacob's caravan. The animals are apparently mentioned in the order of their value, beginning with the least valuable. Jacob hopes by the arrival of a succession of gifts to break down Esau's bitter grudge aga... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will appease him_ Lit. "I will cover his face," in the sense of "I will propitiate." The present will so "cover his face," that Esau cannot look upon Jacob's offence; cf. Genesis 20:16. LXX renders ἐξιλάσομαι τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ. Cf. Proverbs 16:14 (the pacifying of a king's wrath with a gift). _a... [ Continue Reading ]
_company_ Lit. "camp"; cf. Genesis 32:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the ford of Jabbok_ This river, the modern _Zerka_, is a tributary of the Jordan on its eastern bank. The narrative does not state on which bank of the Jabbok the angel appeared to Jacob. According to Genesis 32:22 Jacob had crossed the stream; according to Genesis 32:23 he had not. If, as seems pr... [ Continue Reading ]
Jacob's Wrestling with the Angel This passage forms the climax of Jacob's history. It records the occasion on which his name is changed to Israel, and describes his personal meeting with the Divine Being, whose blessing he obtains. The religious significance of the story turns upon (1) the sudden m... [ Continue Reading ]
_the stream_ The Jabbok is called a "stream" (_naḥal_) in Deuteronomy 3:16; Joshua 12:2. On the word rendered "stream," see note on Genesis 26:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Jacob … alone_ It is natural to suppose that Jacob remained behind to think and to pray at this crisis of his life. He was given over to anxious fears; the darkness and loneliness intensified them. The thought that God had left him, or was opposed to him, overwhelmed him. _there wrestled a man... [ Continue Reading ]
_he saw_ In the narrative, as we have it, these words refer to the mysterious combatant with whom Jacob wrestled. But the omission of the subject both in this and the subsequent clause, in the Hebrew as well as in the English, leaves the meaning ambiguous. That it was Jacob, and not "the man," who b... [ Continue Reading ]
_the day breaketh_ A survival of the old belief that unearthly visitants of the night must be gone before daybreak. In Plautus, _Amphitr_. 532f., Jupiter says, "Cur me tenes? Tempus est: exire ex urbe, priusquam lucescat, volo." Shakespeare, _Hamlet_, Act i. Scene i.: " _Ber_. It was about to speak... [ Continue Reading ]
_What is thy name_?] This question, concerning the name which the Questioner knows, leads up to the solemn pronunciation of Jacob's new title.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Israel_ That is, _He who striveth with God_, or, _God striveth_. The name is clearly a title of victory, from a root meaning "to persevere." (_a_) The meaning seems here to be applied to Jacob as "the perseverer with God." It is commonly compared with Jerubbaal = "he that striveth with Baal" (Judge... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he blessed him_ The name is refused, but the blessing previously asked for (Genesis 32:26) is granted. The same occurrence is recorded in Judges 13:17-21. The prayer may not always be right or wise. But the blessing is not refused, because the literal answer is not given. The blessing is the si... [ Continue Reading ]
_Peniel_ R.V. marg. _The face of God_. In the Sam. version, Syr., and Lat., it is called "Penuel," as in Genesis 32:32. Popular tradition explained the etymology of the name of the place by the story of Jacob. The face of God was to be seen in the Angel: he that looked on the Angel saw the Presence... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the sun rose_ See Genesis 32:24. _Penuel_ The name of a town in Judges 8:8; 1 Kings 12:25. The site is doubtful, but was evidently not far from the confluence of the Jabbok and the Jordan.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore the children of Israel_ The Compiler adds this note, which explains the Israelite custom of abstaining from eating the muscle in an animal, corresponding to the muscle, or sinew, in the thigh of Jacob that was touched by God: it was regarded as sacred. This tendon is commonly supposed to... [ Continue Reading ]