Genèse 32:8

8 et il dit: Si Esaü vient contre l'un des camps et le bat, le camp qui restera pourra se sauver.

Genèse 32:8 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 32:8

And said, if Esau come to the one company, and smite it
The first, which perhaps consisted only of some servants, with a part of his cattle; so that if Esau should come in an hostile manner, and fall upon that, and slay the servants, and take the cattle as a booty: then the other company which is left shall escape;
by flight, in which most probably were he himself, his wives and children, and the camels to carry them off who would have notice by what should happen to the first band; but one would think, that, notwithstanding all this precaution and wise methods taken, there could be little expectation of escaping the hands of Esau, if he came out on such an ill design; for whither could they flee? or how could they hope to get out of the reach of four hundred men pursuing after them, unless it could be thought, or might be hoped, that the first company falling into his hands, and the revenge on them, and the plunder of them, would satiate him, and he would proceed no further? but Jacob did not trust to these methods he concerted, but betakes himself to God in prayer, as follows.

Genèse 32:8 In-Context

6 Les messagers revinrent auprès de Jacob, en disant: Nous sommes allés vers ton frère Esaü; et il marche à ta rencontre, avec quatre cents hommes.

7 Jacob fut très effrayé, et saisi d'angoisse. Il partagea en deux camps les gens qui étaient avec lui, les brebis, les boeufs et les chameaux;

8 et il dit: Si Esaü vient contre l'un des camps et le bat, le camp qui restera pourra se sauver.

9 Jacob dit: Dieu de mon père Abraham, Dieu de mon père Isaac, Eternel, qui m'as dit: Retourne dans ton pays et dans ton lieu de naissance, et je te ferai du bien!

10 Je suis trop petit pour toutes les grâces et pour toute la fidélité dont tu as usé envers ton serviteur; car j'ai passé ce Jourdain avec mon bâton, et maintenant je forme deux camps.