Genesis 32:13

13 And he lodged there that night. Then he took {from what he had with him} a gift for Esau his brother:

Genesis 32:13 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 32:13

And he lodged there that same night
At Mahanaim, or some place near it: and took of that which came to his hand;
not what came next to hand, for what he did was with great deliberation, judgment, and prudence; wherefore the phrase signifies what he was possessed of, or was in his power, as Jarchi rightly interprets it: a present for Esau his brother:
in order to pacify him, gain his good will, and avert his wrath and displeasure, see ( Proverbs 18:16 ) ; though Jacob had prayed to God, committed himself and family to him, and left all with him, yet he thought it proper to make use of all prudential means and methods for his safety: God frequently works in and by means made use of: the account of the present follows.

Genesis 32:13 In-Context

11 Please rescue me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, lest he come and attack mother and children [alike].

12 Now you yourself said, 'I will surely deal well with you and make your offspring as the sand of the sea that cannot be counted for abundance.'"

13 And he lodged there that night. Then he took {from what he had with him} a gift for Esau his brother:

14 two hundred female goats, twenty male goats, two hundred ewes, twenty rams,

15 thirty milk camels with their young, forty cows, ten bulls, twenty female donkeys, and ten male donkeys.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "from that which was going from his hand"