THE TÔLDÔTH ISAAC (Genesis 25:19 to Genesis 35:29). THE BIRTH OF ISAAC’S SONS. Abraham begat Isaac — The _Tôldôth_ in its original form gave probably a complete genealogy of Isaac, tracing up his descent to Shem, and showing thereby that the right of primogeniture belonged to him; but the inspired... [ Continue Reading ]
XXXII. (1) JACOB WENT ON HIS WAY. — The meeting of Jacob and Laban had been on the dividing line between the Aramean and the Canaanite lands, and consequently at a spot where Laban would have found no allies in the natives, but rather the contrary. Delivered thus from danger from behind, Jacob now... [ Continue Reading ]
MAHANAIM. — That is, _the two camps,_ his own and that of the angels; or, possibly, two camps of angels, one on either side of him. Mahanaim was in the tribe of Gad, and became an important town. (See 2 Samuel 2:8; 2 Samuel 17:24; 1 Kings 4:14.)... [ Continue Reading ]
JACOB’S RECONCILIATION WITH ESAU. (Genesis 32:3 to Genesis 33:16.) (3) JACOB SENT MESSENGERS. — As Jacob travelled homewards to Hebron the news somehow reached him that Esau, at the head of a large body of retainers, was engaged in an expedition against the Horites. These, as we have seen on Genesi... [ Continue Reading ]
JACOB WAS GREATLY AFRAID. — Jacob’s message to his brother had been very humble, for he calls Esau his lord, and himself a servant. He hopes also to “find grace in his sight,” and by enumerating his wealth shows that he required no aid, nor need claim even a share of Isaac’s property. But Esau had g... [ Continue Reading ]
JACOB SAID. — Jacob’s prayer, the first recorded in the Bible, is remarkable for combining great earnestness with simplicity. After addressing God as the Elohim of his. fathers, he draws closer to Him as the Jehovah who had personally commanded him to return to his birthplace (Genesis 31:13). And ne... [ Continue Reading ]
HE LODGED THERE. — That is, at Mahanaim. On the first news of Esau’s approach in so hostile a manner, Jacob had divided his possessions into two main divisions, in the hope of saving at least one. He now, quieted by his prayer, makes more exact arrangements, selects a present for Esau of five hundre... [ Continue Reading ]
GOATS — EWES — CAMELS — KINE — ASSES. — As the kinds of cattle are arranged according to their value, it is remarkable that kine should be prized above camels; for the milk of cows was regarded as of little worth. This high estimation of them, therefore, must have arisen from an increased regard for... [ Continue Reading ]
A SPACE. — _Heb., a breathing place._ These paration of the droves would be a matter of course, as each kind would travel peaceably onward only by itself. But Jacob rightly concluded that the repeated acknowledgment of Esau as his lord, added to the great value of the gift, would fill his brother’s... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL APPEASE HIM. — The Heb. literally is, _he said I will cover his face with the offering that goeth before my face, and afterwards I will see his face; peradventure he will lift up my face._ The covering of the face of the offended person, so that he could no longer see the offence, became the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FORD JABBOK. — Heb., _the ford of the Jabbok._ This river, now called the Wady Zerba or Blue Torrent, formed afterwards the boundary between the tribes of Manasseh and Gad. It flows through a deep ravine, with so rapid a current as to make the crossing of it a matter of difficulty. Dr. Tristram... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BROOK. — Really, the ravine or valley; Arab., _wady._ Jacob, whose administrative powers were of a very high character, sees his wives, children, and cattle not only through the ford, but across the valley on to the high ground beyond. Staying himself to the very last, he is left alone on the so... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WRESTLED. — This verb, _abak,_ occurs only here, and without doubt it was chosen because of its resemblance to the name Jabbok. Its probable derivation is from a word signifying _dust,_ because wrestlers were quickly involved in a cloud of dust, or because, as was the custom in Greece, they ru... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HOLLOW OF JACOB’S THIGH WAS OUT OF JOINT. — The hollow is in the Hebrew the pan or socket into which the end of the thigh bone is inserted, and the verb more probably signifies that it was sprained from the over-tension of the muscles in the wrestling. But, in spite of his sprained tendons, Jaco... [ Continue Reading ]
LET ME GO... — Heb., _send me away, for the gleam of morning has gone up._ The asking of permission to depart was the acknowledgment of defeat. The struggle must end at daybreak, because Jacob must now go to do his duty; and the wrestling had been for the purpose of giving him courage, and enabling... [ Continue Reading ]
ISRAEL. — That is, _a prince of God,_ or, _one powerful with God._ (See Note on Genesis 17:15.) Esau had given a bad meaning to the name of Jacob, nor had it been undeserved. But a change has now come over Jacob’s character, and he is henceforth no longer the crafty schemer who was ever plotting for... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE... — In much the same manner the angel refuses to tell Manoah his name (Judges 13:18). Probably, however, in the blessing which followed there was a clear proof that Jacob’s opponent was a Divine personage.... [ Continue Reading ]
PENIEL. — Elsewhere _Penuel,_ and so probably it should be read here. It means, “the face of God.” For the rest of the verse see Note on Genesis 16:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS HE PASSED OVER PEMIEL. — Rather, _as he passed Penuel._ It was the place where he had wrestled, and as soon as the angel left him he proceeded onwards to rejoin his wives. It appears, from what is here said, that it was not till he tried to walk that he found out that he was lame. As his sinews g... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SINEW WHICH SHRANK. — This translation has much authority in its favour, as the LXX. render _the sinew that became numb,_ and the Vulgate _the sinew that withered._ More probably, however, it is the proper name for the large tendon which takes its origin from the spinal cord, and extends down th... [ Continue Reading ]