1 Jacob [Supplanter] went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2 [a] When he saw them, Jacob [Supplanter] said, “This is God’s army.” He called the name of that place Mahanaim [Two camps].
3 [b] Jacob [Supplanter] sent messengers in front of him to Esau [Hairy], his brother, to the land of Seir, the field of Edom [Red]. 4 He enjoined them, saying, “This is what you shall tell my lord, Esau [Hairy]: ‘This is what your servant, Jacob [Supplanter], says. I have lived as a foreigner with Laban [White], and stayed until now. 5 I have cattle, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find chen ·grace· in your sight.’ ” 6 The messengers returned to Jacob [Supplanter], saying, “We came to your brother Esau [Hairy]. Not only that, but he comes to meet you, and four hundred men with him.” 7 Then Jacob [Supplanter] was greatly afraid and was distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks, and the herds, and the camels, into two companies; 8 and he said, “If Esau [Hairy] comes to the one company, and strikes it, then the company which is left will escape.” 9 Jacob [Supplanter] said, “God of my father Abraham [Father of a multitude], and God of my father Isaac [Laughter], Adonai, who said to me, ‘Teshuvah ·Completely return· to your country, and to your relatives, and I will do you good,’ 10 I am not worthy of the least of all the chesed ·loving-kindnesses·, and of all the truth, which you have shown to your servant; for with just my staff I crossed over this Jordan [Descender]; and now I have become two companies. 11 Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau [Hairy]: for I fear him, lest he come and strike me, and the mothers with the children. 12 You said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which can’t be counted because there are so many.’ ”
21 So the present passed over before him, and he himself stayed that night in the camp.
22 He rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them, and sent them over the stream, and sent over that which he had. 24 Jacob [Supplanter] was left alone, and wrestled with a man there until the breaking of the day. 25 When he saw that he didn’t prevail against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of Jacob [Supplanter]’s thigh was strained, as he wrestled. 26 The man said, “Let me go, for the day breaks.”
27 He said to him, “What is your name?” [d]
29 Jacob [Supplanter] asked him, “Please tell me your name.”
- a Hebrew ch 32 v. 3
- b Hebrew ch 32 v. 4
- c Hebrew ch 32 v. 14
- d Asking the Name; this is a very cultural question. To have the name is perceived as having power over that thing. Some religions had secret names of deities to summon. Here, the wrestler is asking Jacob to submit by announcing his name, and the meaning thereof. Compare with (Ex 3:14-15, 6:3) where God gives his memorial name for all generations. Consider, having the name of an evil spirit is sometimes part of casting out and rejecting, deaf, dumb, blind, etc. (Num 5:14; Luke 7:21-23; Mark 9:25) because a name has authority linked to the bearer of the name.
- e Hebrew ch 32 v. 31
- f . Gen 32:32 (Gen 32:21-32) [Heb Bible Gen 32:33 (Gen 32:22-33)] (#3.188): T. This is a tradition observed, not a direct command in and of itself / R. Not to eat the sinew nor tendon of the thigh muscle that passes along the hip socket