Bible Commentaries

And when Jacob saw them, he said, ^a This [is] God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

(a) He acknowledges God's benefits: who for the preservation of his, sends hosts of angels.

And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my ^b lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now:

(b) He reverenced his brother in worldly things, because he mainly looked to be preferred to the spiritual promise.

Then Jacob was ^c greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that [was] with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands;

(c) Though he was comforted by the angels, yet the infirmity of the flesh appears.

I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my ^d staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.

(d) that is, poor and without all provision.

Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, [and] the ^e mother with the children.

(e) Meaning, he will put all to death. This proverb comes from those who kill the bird together with the young ones.

And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a ^f present for Esau his brother;

(f) Not distrusting God's assistance, but using such means as God had given him.

And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob [is] behind us. For he said, I ^g will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me.

(g) He thought it no less to depart with these goods with the intent that he might follow the vocation to which God called him.

And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a ^h man with him until the breaking of the day.

(h) That is, God in the form of a man.

And when he saw that he ⁱ prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

(i) For God assails his with the one hand, and upholds them with the other.

And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou ^k power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

(k) God gave Jacob both power to overcome, and also the praise of the victory.

And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he ^l halted upon his thigh.

(l) The faithful to overcome their temptations, so that they feel the pain of it, so they would not boast, except in their humility.