Genesis 32:6

_AND THE MESSENGERS RETURNED TO JACOB, SAYING, WE CAME TO THY BROTHER ESAU, AND ALSO HE COMETH TO MEET THEE, AND FOUR HUNDRED MEN WITH HIM._ The messengers returned. Their report left Jacob in painful uncertainty as to what was his brother's views and feelings. Esau's studied reserve gave him reason to dread the worst; and there can be little doubt that the first feeling which the mention of Jacob's name and approach awakened in the breast of his brother was a purpose of revenge. Jacob was naturally timid; but his conscience told him that there was much ground for apprehension; and his distress was all the more aggravated that he had to provide for the safety of a large and helpless family....

6._And the messengers returned_. Esau advances to meet his brother with a feeling of benevolence: but Jacob, reflecting on his cruel ferocity, inflated spirits, and savage threats, expects no humanity from him. And the Lord willed that the mind of his servant should be oppressed by this anxiety for a time, although without any real cause, in order the more to excite the fervor of his prayer. For we know what coldness, on this point, security engenders. Therefore, lest our faith, being stirred up by no stimulants, should become torpid, God often suffers us to fear things which are not terrible in themselves. For although he anticipates our wishes, and opposes our evils, he yet conceals his remedies until he has exercised our faith. Meanwhile it is to be noted, that the sons of God are never endued with a constancy so steadfast, that the infirmity of the flesh does not betray itself in the...

1-8 The angels of God appeared to Jacob, to encourage him with the assurance of the Divine protection. When God designs his people for great trials, he prepares them by great comforts. While Jacob, to whom the promise belonged, had been in hard service, Esau was become a prince. Jacob sent a message, showing that he did not insist upon the birth-right. Yielding pacifies great offences, Ecclesiastes 10:4. We must not refuse to speak respectfully, even to those unjustly angry with us. Jacob received an account of Esau's warlike preparations against him, and was greatly afraid. A lively sense of danger, and quickening fear arising from it, may be found united with humble confidence in God's power and promise....

Verse Genesis 32:6. _ESAU - COMETH - AND FOUR HUNDRED MEN WITH HIM._] Jacob, conscious that he had injured his brother, was now apprehensive that he was coming with _hostile_ intentions, and that he had every evil to fear from his displeasure. _Conscience_ is a terrible accuser. It was a fine saying of a heathen, -- ______Hic murus aheneus esto_, _Nil conscire sibi, nulla pallescere culpa_. HOR. _Ep_., l. i., E. i., v. 60. Be this thy brazen bulwark of defence, Still to preserve thy conscious innocence, Nor e'er turn pale with guilt. FRANCIS....

- Jacob Wrestles in Prayer 3. מחנים _machănāyı̂m_, Machanaim, “two camps.” 22. יבק _yaboq_, Jabboq; related: בקק _bāqaq_ “gush or gurgle out” or אבק _'ābaq_ in niphal, “wrestle.” Now Wady Zurka. 29. ישׂראל _yı̂śrā'ēl_, Jisrael, “prince of God.” 31. פניאל _p__e__nı̂y'ēl_ = פנוּאל _penû'ēl_, Peniel, Penuel, “face of God.” After twenty years spent in Aram, Jacob now returns to Kenann. As his departure was marked by a great moment in his spi

EXPOSITION GENESIS 32:1 AND JACOB (after Laban's departure) WENT ON HIS WAY (from Galeed and Mizpah, in a southerly direction towards the Jabbok), AND THE ANGELS OF GOD—literally, _the messengers of _Elohim, not chance travelers who informed him of Esau's being in the vicinity (Abarbanel), but angels (cf. Psalms 104:4)—MET HIM. Not necessarily came in an opposite direction, _fuerunt ei obviam _(Vulgate), but simply fell in with him, lighted on him as in Genesis 28:11, συνήντησαν αὐτῶ (LXX.), forgathered with him (Scottish); but whether this was in a waking vision (Kurtz, Keil, Inglis)

AND THE MESSENGERS RETURNED TO JACOB,.... After they had delivered their message, with the answer they brought back: SAYING, WE CAME TO THY BROTHER ESAU; which, though not expressed, is implied in these words, and is still more manifest by what follows: AND ALSO HE COMETH TO MEET THEE; and pay a friendly visit, as they supposed: AND FOUR HUNDRED MEN WITH HIM; partly to show his grandeur, and partly out of respect to Jacob, and to do honour to him; though some think this was done with an ill design upon him, and which indeed seems probable; and it is certain Jacob so understood it, as is evident by the distress it gave him, and by the methods he took for his safety, and by the gracious appearance of God unto him, and the strength he gave him on this occasion, not only to pray to and wrestle with him, but to prevail both with God and men, as the following account shows. The Targums of J...

Genesis 32:1. _And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him._ When he left the promised land, he had a vision of angels, ascending and descending upon the ladder, as if to bid him farewell. Now that he is going back, the angels are there again to speed him on his way home to the land of the covenant, the land which the Lord had promised to give to Abraham and his seed. Genesis 32:2. _And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim._ The marginal reading is «Two hosts, or, camps.» The angels of the Lord were encamping round about the man who feared him, though shore had been much in his character and conduct which the Lord could not approve....

CHAPTER 32 JACOB'S FEAR OF ESAU AND PRAYER AT PENIEL _ 1. The vision at Mahanaim (Genesis 32:1)_ 2. The message to Esau (Genesis 32:3) 3. Esau's coming and Jacob's fear (Genesis 32:6) 4. Jacob's prayer (Genesis 32:9) 5. Preparing to meet Esau (Genesis 32:13) 6. Jacob's prayer at Peniel (Genesis 32:24) What a welcome it was when he came near to his land, that the angels of God met him. They were like divine amb

JACOB TAKES PRECAUTIONS TO APPEASE ESAU. Genesis 32:3_ a_ seems to be from J, Genesis 32:13 _b_ - Genesis 32:21 from E. Genesis 32:9 may be an expansion. According to J, Jacob divides his company into two camps, so that one may escape if Esau attacks. E represents Jacob as making up a very valuable present to win Esau's favour. This consists of goats, sheep, camels, cattle, and asses. He hits on the plan of arranging them in separate droves, with a space between each. Each drover is to say that it is a present for Esau, and that Jacob is behind. Thus Esau, when he expects to see Jacob, is to be again and again surprise