Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition)
Jacob Wrestleth. with an Angd. GENESIS XXXIII. Kindness of Jacob and Esav, ourable part of the patriarch's history—it was to be associated with another descriptive of his now sanctified and eminently devout character. 39. Jacob asked, Tell me recourse to prayer. This Is the first recorded example of prayer in the Bible. It is short, earnest, and bearing directly on the occasion. The appeal Is made to God, as 8tandiug in a covenant-relation to his family, just as we ought to put our hopes of acceptance with God in Christ.
. . . thy name—The request was denied, that he might not be too elated with his conquest, nor suppose tliat he had obtained such advilntage over the angel as to make him do what he pleased. 31. halted upon his thigh As Paul had a thorn in the flesh given to humble him.
It pleads the special promise made to himself of a safe return; and after a most humble and affecting confession of unworthiness, breathes an earnest desire for deliverance from the Impending danger. It was the prayer of a kind husband, an atfect'ionate father, a firm believer in the promises. 13-33. took ... a present for Ksau Ma brotlier—Jacob combined active exertions with earnest prayer; and this teaches us tliatwemust notdepend upon the aid and Interposition of God in such a waj' as to supersede the exercise of prudence and foresight. Superiors are always approached with presents, and the respect expressed is estimated by the quality and amount of the gift. The present of Jacob consisted of SoO head of lest he should be too elevated by the abundant revelations granted him; so Jacob's lameness was to keep him mindful of this mysterious scene, and that it was in gracious condescension the victory was yielded to him. In the greatest of these spiritual victories, wliieh, through f'aitli, any of God's people obtain, there is always sonietliing to humble them. 33. the sinew which slirank—the nerve that fastens the thigh-bone in its socket. The practice of the Jews in abstaining from eating tliis in the flesh of animals, is not founded on the law of Moses, but is merely a traditional usage. The sinew is carefully extracted; and where there are no persons skilled enough for tha' operation, they do not make use of the liind legs at all.
cattle, of different kinds, such as would be most prized by Esau. It was a most magnificent present, skilfully arranged and proportioned. The milch camels alone were of immense value; for the she-camels form the principal part of Arab wealth; their milk Is a chief article of diet; and in many other respects they are of the greatest use. 16. every drove by themselves—There was great prudence in this arrangement; for the present would thus have a more imposing appearance; Esau's passion would have time to cool as he passed each successive company; and if the first was refused, the others would hasten back to convey a timely warning. 17. lie commaiidecl the foremost—The messengers were strictly commanded to say the same words, that Esau might be more impressed, and tliat the uniformity of the address might appear more clearly to have come from Jacob himself. 21. hlin- •elf lodged—not the whole night, but only a part of it. aa. ford Jahbok—now the Zerka—a stream that rises among the mountains of Gilead, and running from east to west, enters the Jordan, about forty miles south of the Sea of Tllierias. At the ford it Is ten yards wide. It is sometimes forded with difficulty ; but in summer, very shallow, he rose up and took—Unable to sleep, he waded the ford in the night-time by himself; and having ascertained its safety, he returned to the north bank, and sent over his
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Ver. I-U. Kindness of Jacob and Esau. 1. behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men—Jacob having crossed the ford, and ranged his wives anil cliildren In order—the dearest last, that they might be the least exposed to danger—awaited the expected interview. His faith was strengthened and his fears goue (Psalm 27.
3). Having had power to prevail with God, he was confident of the same power with man, according to the promise (cf. ch. 32. 28). 3. he bowed himself . . . seven times—the manner of doing this is by looking towards a superior and bowing with the upper part of tiie body brought parallel to the ground, then advancing a few steps and bowing again, and repeating liis obeisance till, at the seventh time, the suppliant stands in the immediate presence of his superior. The members of his family did the same. This was a token of profound respect, and, though very marked, it would appear natural ; for Esau being the elder brother, was, accon-ding to the custom of the East, entitled to respectful treatment from his younger brother. His attendants would be struck by it, and according to Eastern habits, would magnify it in the hearing of their master. 4. Esau ran to meet him—What a sudden and surprising change! "Whether the sight of the princely present and the profound homage of Jacob had produced this effect, or it proceeded from the impulsive character of Esau, the cherished enmity of twenty years in a moment disappeared ; the weapons ofwar were laid aside, and the warmest tokens of mutual affection reciprocated between the brothers. But doubtless, the efficient cause was the secret, subduing influence of grace (Proverbs 21. 1), which converted Esau from an enemy into a friend. 5. Who are those with theel—It might have been enough to say. They are my children ; but Jiicob was a pious man, and he could not give even a common answer but in the Language of piety (Psalms 127. 3; 113.9; 107.41). 11. He urged him and he took it—In the East the acceptance by a superior is a proof of friendship, and by an enemy of reconciliation. It was on both accounts Jacob was so anxious that his brother should receive the cattle; and in Esaii's acceptance he had the strongest proofs of a good feeling being established that Eastern notions admit of.
family and attendants—remaining behind, to seek anew, in silent prayer, the Divine blessing on the means he had set in motion. 2*, 3.5. There wrestled -a man tvith him —This in.vsterlous person is called an angel (Hosea 12.5) and God («. 28, .30; Hosea 12.4); and the opinion that is most supported is, that he was "the angel of the covenant," wlio, in a visible form, appeared to animate the mind, and sympathize with the distress of his pious servant. It has been a subject of much discussion wlietlier the Incident described was an actual confllet, or a visionary scene. Many til ink that as the narrative makes no mention in express terms either of sleep, or dream, or vision, It was a real transaction; while others, considering the l)o<llly exhaustion of Jacob, his great mental anxiety, the kind of aid he supplicated, as well as the analogy of former manifestations with which he was favoured—such as the ladder—have concluded that it was a vision. [Calvin, IlEssEXBERG, Hengstenberg.] The moral design of It was to revive the sinking spirit of the patriarch, and to arm hini with confidence in God, whih; anticipating the dreaded scenes of the morrow. To us it Is highly Instructive; showing that, to encourage us valiantly to meet the trials to wliich we are subjected, God allows us to ascribe to the efficacy of our faith and prayers, the victories which His grace alone enables us to malte. 36. I will not let thee go, except thou bless me—It is evident that Jacob was aware of the character of Illm
12-20. The Parting. 13. And he said, Let us take our Journey—Esau proposed to accompany Jacolj and his familj' through the country, both as a mark of frieiuishlp and as an escort to guard them. But the proposal was prudently declined. Jacob did not need any worldly state or equipage. Notwithstanding the present cordlalwith wliom lie wrestled; and, believing that his power, though by far superior to human, was yet limited by his promise to do him good, he determined not to lose the golden opportunity of securing a blessing. And nothing gives God greater pleasure than to see the hearts of his people firmly adhering to him. 38. Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel—The old name was lt.v, the brothers were so diflerent in spirit, character, and habits—the (me so mucli a man of the world, and the other a man of God, that there was great risk of something occurring to disturb the harmony. Jacob havinn alleged a very rciisonable excuse for the tardiness of liip movements, the brothers parted in peace. 14. until come unto my Lord—It seems to have been .Jacob's iji not to be abandoned; but, referring as it did to a dislion-