Genesis 32:14-24

14 32:15 zweihundert Ziegen, zwanzig Böcke, zweihundert Schafe, zwanzig Widder

15 32:16 und dreißig säugende Kamele mit ihren Füllen, vierzig Kühe und zehn Farren, zwanzig Eselinnen mit zehn Füllen,

16 32:17 und tat sie unter die Hand seiner Knechte, je eine Herde besonders, und sprach zu ihnen: Gehet vor mir hin und lasset Raum zwischen einer Herde nach der andern;

17 32:18 und gebot dem ersten und sprach: Wenn dir mein Bruder Esau begegnet und dich fragt: Wem gehörst du an, und wo willst du hin, und wes ist's, was du vor dir treibst? {~}

18 32:19 sollst du sagen: Es gehört deinem Knechte Jakob zu, der sendet Geschenk seinem Herrn Esau und zieht hinter uns her.

19 32:20 Also gebot er auch dem andern und dem dritten und allen, die den Herden nachgingen, und sprach: Wie ich euch gesagt habe, so sagt zu Esau, wenn ihr ihm begegnet;

20 32:21 und sagt ja auch: Siehe, dein Knecht Jakob ist hinter uns. Denn er gedachte: Ich will ihn versöhnen mit dem Geschenk, das vor mir her geht; darnach will ich ihn sehen, vielleicht wird er mich annehmen.

21 32:22 Also ging das Geschenk vor ihm her, aber er blieb dieselbe Nacht beim Heer

22 32:23 und stand auf in der Nacht und nahm seine zwei Weiber und die zwei Mägde und seine elf Kinder und zog an die Furt des Jabbok,

23 32:24 nahm sie und führte sie über das Wasser, daß hinüberkam, was er hatte,

24 32:25 und blieb allein. Da rang ein Mann mit ihm, bis die Morgenröte anbrach.

Genesis 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.