Genesi 32:14-24

14 duecento capre e venti capri, duecento pecore e venti montoni,

15 trenta cammelle allattanti coi loro parti, quaranta vacche e dieci tori, venti asine e dieci puledri.

16 E li consegnò ai suoi servi, gregge per gregge separatamente, e disse ai suoi servi: "Passate dinanzi a me, e fate che vi sia qualche intervallo fra gregge e gregge".

17 E dette quest’ordine al primo: "Quando il mio fratello Esaù t’incontrerà e ti chiederà: Di chi sei? dove vai? a chi appartiene questo gregge che va dinanzi a te?

18 tu risponderai: Al tuo servo Giacobbe, è un dono inviato al mio signore Esaù; ed ecco, egli stesso vien dietro a noi".

19 E dette lo stesso ordine al secondo, al terzo, e a tutti quelli che seguivano i greggi, dicendo: "In questo modo parlerete a Esaù, quando lo troverete,

20 e direte: "Ecco il tuo servo Giacobbe, che viene egli stesso dietro a noi". Perché diceva: "Io lo placherò col dono che mi precede, e, dopo, vedrò la sua faccia; forse, mi farà buona accoglienza".

21 Così il dono andò innanzi a lui, ed egli passò la notte nell’accampamento.

22 E si levò, quella notte, prese le sue due mogli, le sue due serve, i suoi undici figliuoli, e passò il guado di Iabbok.

23 Li prese, fece loro passare il torrente, e lo fece passare a tutto quello che possedeva.

24 Giacobbe rimase solo, e un uomo lottò con lui fino all’apparir dell’alba.

Genesi 32:14-24 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 32

This chapter informs us of Jacob's proceeding on in his journey, and of his being met and guarded by an host of angels, Ge 32:1,2; of his sending messengers to his brother Esau, acquainting him with his increase, and desiring his favour and good will, Ge 32:3-5, who return and report to him, that Esau was coming to him with four hundred men, which put him into a panic, and after devising ways and means for the security of himself; and those with him, at least a part, if not the whole, Ge 32:6-8; then follows a prayer of his to God, pressing his unworthiness of mercies, and his sense of them, imploring deliverance from his brother, and putting the Lord in mind of his promises, Ge 32:9-12; after which we have an account of the wise methods he took for the safety of himself and family, by sending a present to his brother, dividing those who had the charge of it into separate companies, and directing them to move at a proper distance from each other, he, his wives and children, following after, Ge 32:13-23; when they were over the brook Jabbok, he stopped, and being alone, the Son of God in an human form appeared to him, and wrestled with him, with whom Jacob prevailed, and got the blessing, and hence had the name of Israel, Ge 32:24-28; and though he could not get his name, he perceived it was a divine Person he had wrestled with, and therefore called the name of the place Penuel, Ge 32:29-31; the hollow of his thigh being touched by him with whom he wrestled, which put it out of joint, he halted as he went over Penuel, in commemoration of which the children of Israel eat not of that part of the thigh, Ge 32:31,32.