And Jacob was left alone
On the other side of Jabbok, his family and cattle having passed
over it; and this solitude he chose, in order to spend some time
in prayer to God for the safety of him and his: and there
wrestled a man with him;
not a phantasm or spectre, as Josephus F5 calls
him; nor was this a mere visionary representation of a man, to
the imagination of Jacob; or done in the vision of prophecy, as
Maimonides F6; but it was something real,
corporeal, and visible: the Targum of Jonathan says, it was an
angel in the likeness of a man, and calls him Michael, which is
not amiss, since he is expressly called an angel, ( Hosea 12:4 ) ; and if
Michael the uncreated angel is meant, it is most true; for not a
created angel is designed, but a divine Person, as appears from
Jacob's desiring to be blessed by him; and besides, being
expressly called God, ( Genesis
32:28 Genesis
32:30 ) ; and was, no doubt, the Son of God in an human form;
who frequently appeared in it as a token and pledge of his future
incarnation: and "this wrestling" was real and corporeal on the
part of both; the man took hold of Jacob, and he took hold of the
man, and they strove and struggled together for victory as
wrestlers do; and on Jacob's part it was also mental and
spiritual, and signified his fervent and importunate striving
with God in prayer; or at least it was attended with earnest and
importunate supplications; see ( Hosea 12:4 ) ; and this
continued until the breaking of the day:
how long this conflict lasted is not certain, perhaps not long;
since after Jacob rose in the night he had a great deal of
business to do, and did it before this affair happened; as
sending his wives, children, servants, and cattle over the brook:
however, this may denote, that in the present state or night of
darkness, wrestling in prayer with God must be continued until
the perfect state commences, when the everlasting day of glory
will break.
F5 Antiqu. l. 1. c. 20. sect. 2.
F6 Morch Nevochim, par. 2. c. 42. p. 310.