Genesis 32 - Introduction
_THE ANGELS OF GOD MEET JACOB: HE SENDS MESSENGERS TO ESAU, WITH PRESENTS, TO SOFTEN HIM. JACOB WRESTLES ALL NIGHT WITH GOD, AND PREVAILS, AND IS THENCE NAMED ISRAEL._ _Before Christ 1897._... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE ANGELS OF GOD MEET JACOB: HE SENDS MESSENGERS TO ESAU, WITH PRESENTS, TO SOFTEN HIM. JACOB WRESTLES ALL NIGHT WITH GOD, AND PREVAILS, AND IS THENCE NAMED ISRAEL._ _Before Christ 1897._... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ANGELS OF GOD, &C.— When Jacob embarked in this enterprize, and left Canaan, God was pleased to encourage him by a vision of angels, and by the assurance of his protection: and now that he was returning, happily escaped from Laban, but with good reason afraid of Esau, another vision of the celes... [ Continue Reading ]
JACOB SENT MESSENGERS, &C.— It was very natural for Jacob to conceive fearful apprehensions of Esau, and very prudential in him to take all proper methods to conciliate his favour; and this consistently with the firmest dependance upon the protection of that God who had so graciously revealed himsel... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE OXEN, &C.— Jacob mentions this to give the more weight to his address, and to shew Esau, that he did not come to be a burden to him, nor to dispute with him the possession of his father's inheritance, though he had a right to it.... [ Continue Reading ]
JACOB WAS GREATLY AFRAID, &C.— When the messengers returned with the information that Esau was advancing to meet Jacob, with _four hundred men,_ having no idea of his brother's kind and honourable intentions to him, Jacob apprehended little less than destruction. He resolved, however, to make use of... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH MY STAFF, &C.— When this expression is properly considered, it will not be found to contradict the opinion we have advanced in our note on ch. 28: Genesis 32:5 for it simply means, "I passed this Jordan without family, or social connections, a single man, and unpossessed of wife, family, or pos... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH CAME TO HIS HAND— Not any thing which offered itself by chance, as this phrase seems to import: for it is very evident, that the present was selected with great care, and was of the choicest kind: milch-camels in particular were a very exquisite present, as their milk was held in the greatest... [ Continue Reading ]
ROSE UP THAT NIGHT— That is, towards the close of the night, before break of day; when setting forward his family, who crossed the brook called Jabbok, which rises out of the adjacent mountains of Gilead, he was left alone, choosing to be so, in order, no doubt, to address himself more fervently to... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WRESTLED A MAN WITH HIM, &C.— From the prophet Hosea, ch. Genesis 12:5. it appears undeniable, that this _man_ or _person,_ who wrestled with Jacob, was the same with _him_ who appeared to him at Beth-el; that is, the second Divine Person, who assumed probably a human form, and whom the prophe... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE SAW, &C.— The Angel or Divine Person prevailed not, because he was willing to give Jacob the apparent superiority. But, at the same time, to convince him how easily he could have prevailed; had he thought fit, by a single touch he dislocated the joint of his thigh: and hinting that it wa... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID UNTO HIM, WHAT, &C.— This inquiry is made, not for information, but for the sake of giving the new name following. The words should here be rendered more properly, Genesis 32:28. _Thy name shall be called not only Jacob, but Israel;_ or _Israel rather than Jacob:_ that is, _a man prevail... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR AS A PRINCE, &C.— Our translation renders these words of the Angel to Jacob, as if Jacob had prevailed over men as well as over him; whereas he had been so far from prevailing over the only two enemies he had, viz. Esau and Laban, that he had been forced to flee from them both. This makes it the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JACOB SAID,—TELL ME, I PRAY THEE, THY NAME— i.e.. That I may do thee honour, and pay thee worship, under that peculiar attribute and title which suits this condescension and revelation of thyself to me. The Divine Person replies, _Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name?_ as much as to... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HALTED UPON HIS THIGH, &C.— Some think that he continued to do so all his life after; others, that his lameness continued only for a time: the latter seems the most probable. However, to preserve the memory of this extraordinary event, the descendants of Israel eat not of that sinew (or tendon) o... [ Continue Reading ]