Jacob Divides into Groups to Meet Esau |
Genesis 32:1-32 The First Book of Moses Called Genesis |
And Jacob went on his way & the angels of God met him. When Jacob saw them, he called the place Mahanaim, This is God’s [camp.] And Jacob sent messengers [ahead] of them to speak to his brother, Esau, [in] the land of Seir, [in] the country of Edom. |
[Jacob] commanded them, saying, You shall speak [this] to my lord, Esau; Your servant Jacob says [this,] I have [lived like a foreigner] with Laban & stayed there until now. I have oxen, [donkeys,] flocks, [male & female servants] & I have sent to tell my lord, [so] that I find favor, in your sight. |
The messengers returned & [told] Jacob, We came to your brother, Esau & he was also coming to [greet] you & with 400 men with him. Then, Jacob was greatly afraid & distressed. And [Jacob] divided the people, flocks, herds & camels that were with him, into 2 [companies.] And said, If Esau [comes & attacks] 1 company, the other company [would be] left [to] escape. |
Jacob [prayed,] O Lord God of my [forefather] Abraham & God of my father Isaac, the Lord, Who said to me, Return to your country & family & I will deal well with you. I am not worthy of the least of all Your mercies & all of the truth You have [shown] your servant. For with my staff [walking stick,] I have passed over this Jordan [River] & have now become 2 [companies.] |
I pray You deliver me from the hand of my brother, Esau, for I fear him, lest he will come & [kill] me & the mother with the children. And You said, I will surely do good [to] you & make your [descendants like] the sand of the sea [that] can’t be numbered for their multitude. |
[Jacob camped] there that same night & took [what] came to [him, as] a present for his brother, Easu:] 200 [female] & 20 [male] goats, 200 ewes & 20 rams, 30 [milk] camels with their colts & 40 [cows] & 10 bulls & 20 [female donkeys] & 10 foals. And [Jacob] delivered them into the hand of his servants & every [herd] by themselves & said to his servants, [Cross] over [in front of] me & put a space [between] each [herd.] |
[Jacob] commanded the 1st, saying, When Esau, my brother, meets you & asks you saying, Whose are you? And, [Where do you go?] And, Whose are these [in front of] you? |
Then, you shall say, They are your servant, Jacob's. It is a present sent to my lord, Esau: & [look, Jacob] is behind us. [Jacob] commanded all [who followed] the 2nd & 3rd [herds, Say the same thing] to Esau, when you find him. [Also] say, [Look,] Jacob, your servant is behind us. For [Jacob] said, I will [soothe] him with this present that goes [in front of] me & afterward [when] I see his face, [perhaps] he will accept me. |
So, the present [crossed] over [in front of Jacob.] And [Jacob] lodged in the [camp] that night & arose & took his 2 wives, 2 [female servants] & 11 sons & [they] crossed over the Ford [of] Jabbok. [After they crossed] over the brook, [Jacob ] sent over what he had. Jacob was left alone. |
A Man wrestled there with [Jacob] until daybreak. And when He saw that He [hadn't] prevailed against [Jacob,] He touched the hollow [socket] of Jacob's thigh & the hollow [socket] of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as [the Lord God] wrestled with [Jacob.] [God] said, Let Me go, because it is the daybreak. And [Jacob] said, I won’t let You go [unless] You bless me! |
[God] said to [Jacob,] What is your name? And he said, Jacob. And [God] said, Your name will no [longer] be Jacob, but [now is] Israel, [because] for [like] a prince, you have power with God & with men & have prevailed. And Jacob asked Him & said, I pray [that] You tell me, Your Name? And He said, [Why] do you ask [about] My Name? And [the Lord] blessed [Jacob/Israel] there. |
Jacob called the name of the place Peniel [a.k.a. Penuel]: For I have seen God face-to-face & my life is preserved. As [Jacob crossed] over Peniel, the sun rose upon him & [Jacob/Israel limped] on his thigh. Therefore to this day, the children [people] of Israel do not eat the [muscle] that shrank upon the hollow [socket] of the thigh, to this day: because [the Lord God] touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the [muscle] that shrank. |