A Help for the Understanding of the Holy Scriptures, Genesis · Chapter 32
CHAP. XXXII.
Verſ. 2. ANd he called the name of that place, Mahanaim.]
That is, two camps, becauſe the Angel appeared in two camps or troops, happely on each ſide of him, as it were to guard and defend him.
Verſ. 3. And Jacob ſent meſſengers before him to Eſau his brother unto the land of Seir.]
Here the Horites dwelt, Gen. 14. 6. And the Horites in their mount Seir; but Eſau and his children deſtroyed them afterward, and dwelt in their ſtead. Deut. 2. 22. As he did to the children of Eſau which dwelt in Seir, when he deſtroyed the Horims from before them, and they ſucceeded them, &c. Now Eſau being removed thither at this time from his fathers houſe, Jacob that was neceſſarily to paſſe that way, ſends thither to him to get his favour.
Verſ. 4. Thy ſervant Jacob ſaith thus.]
Jacob doth not by this ſubmiſſive ſpeech renounce his bleſſing, but yielding temporall ſubjection for a time (as David to Saul, though he were even then the anointed king) he thereby labours to appeaſe his brothers wrath, ſtill waiting by faith for the promiſe which was to be accompliſhed in future times.
I have ſojourned with Laban, &c.]
This he ſaith, that the conſideration of what he had already ſuffered might cauſe Eſaus anger to c…aſe; and alſo, that this his readineſſe to render an account (as it were) of his time ſpent might ſeem a kind of ſubmiſſion unto him.
Verſ. 5. And I have oxen, &c.]
This is added to prevent ſuſpicion, that he might not think he was come as one that gaped after his fathers riches, or to ſuck any thing from him, or that he now ſought his favour for his own profit ſake.
Verſ. 6. We came to thy brother Eſau, and alſo he cometh to meet thee, and foure hundred men with him.]
Whether Eſau came with this troop againſt Jacob with a purpoſe to deſtroy him, and ſo to be revenged on him, as long ſince he intended, it is not evident in the text: the moſt Expoſitours are of that mind, and that God did miraculouſly change his heart by that time they met together. Yet others judge it more probable, that Eſau meant not to cut off Jacob; & indeed they alledge a very probable reaſon for it: for if, ſay they, out of reverence to his father, Eſau reſtrained himſelf vvhen he was in the freſheſt and hotteſt of his paſsion, it is not likely that now after twenty years abſence he would have no reſpect to the grief of his aged father (who was ſtill living) but by ſlaying his brother bring his gray hairs with ſorrow to the grave. However, evident it is that the meſſengers feared he came in his diſpleaſure, and to that end brought ſuch a band of men along with him, which no marvell it is though Jacob were very ready to believe.
Verſ. 16. And put a ſpace betwixt drove and drove.]
This he did that his preſents might make the fairer ſhow, and by theſe diſtant ſpaces the heat of Eſaus rage might be abated; and alſo that if he fell in hoſtile manner upon the firſt, the other might ſeek the better to eſcape.
Verſ. 20. And ſay ye moreover, Behold thy ſervant Jacob is behind us.]
This he urgeth to be eſpecially remembred by his ſervants, that Eſau might not think that he ſent theſe in this manner before to delude him, that he in the mean ſeaſon might eſcape ſome other way.
Verſ. 21. And himſelf lodged that night in the company.]
That is, the night after he had ſent avvay theſe droves by his ſervants, as is before related: it vvas not therefore that night, mentioned verſ. 13. the night after he heard that his brother Eſau vvas coming tovvards him vvith foure hundred men, but the night follovving, the day betvveen being ſpent in ſending avvay the preſents to Eſau.
Verſ. 22. And paſſed over the ford Jabbok.]
Jabbok was a river whereof mention is again made, Deut. 2. 37. Thou cameſt not unto any place of the river Jabbok: and that Jacob paſſed over this river, is expreſly ſet down, becauſe this teſtified that after he had prayed to the Lord he was well confirmed and ſettled in his mind concerning the Lords protection, becauſe otherwiſe he would not have paſſed the river but have made a ſtand on the other ſide, where with leſſe difficulti… he might have eſcaped away, had his brother in an hoſtile manner ſet upon them.
Verſ. 24. And there wrestled a man with him.]
That is, Chriſt appearing in the form of a man, therefore called after, and by the prophet Hoſea, God and an Angel, Hoſe. 12. 3, 4. And by his ſtrength he had power with God: Yea he had power over the Angel, yea, the Angel that redeemed him from all evil, Gen. 48. 16. The Angel that redeemed me from all evill bleſſe the lads. Jacob having wreſtled with God by prayer (as no doubt to that very end he ſtayed behind alone) and that not without bitter tears, as Hoſe. 12. 4. he wept and made ſupplication unto him, at the laſt the Lord appeared, ſet upon him, and wreſtled with him, and that to this very end, that he might be aſſured that though he wreſtled with many afflictions, yet he ſhould be victour in them all.
Verſ. 25. When he ſaw that he prevailed not againſt him, &c.]
This is ſpoken with reſpect to that aſſiſtance & meaſure of ſtrength wherewith God was pleaſed, in that aſſumed body wherein he wreſtled with Jacob, to ſtruggle with him, and over which Jacob with his might and power prevailed.
And the hollow of Jacobs thigh was out of joynt.]
This was for the preſent to humble him, that he might not be exalted above meaſure, being a diſcovery of his weakneſſe and of the Lords indulgence, whereby onelyonly he prevailed; and it was withall for the future a memoriall and remembrance unto him of this moſt comfortable Apparition.
Verſ. 26. And he ſaid, Let me go, for the day breaketh.]
The Angel ſpeaks thu… 1. after the manner of men, whoſe ſhape he had taken, as if he had haſte to be gone; 2. to put Jacob in mind of his affairs, that it was fit he ſhould make haſte to his wives, &c. and 3. to intimate unto him that he would not have his glory by the riſing light be revealed to him, and much leſſe to any of his family that might now come to him.
And he ſaid, I will not let thee go except thou bleſſe me.]
His deſiring to be bleſſed by him argues that he acknowledged himſelf to be inferiour to him, with whom he wreſtled, and that though he did what he could to hold him, yet if he procured not the bleſſing by begging it at his hands, he might happely miſſe of it: and ſo ſome underſtand that place of the prophet, Hoſ. 12. 4. to wit, that it was at this time that he wept and made ſupplication to the Angel, with whom he had wreſtled.
Verſ. 28. Thy name ſhall be called no more Jacob, but Iſrael.]
That is, not ſo much Jacob as Iſrael, which ſignifieth one that hath princely power with God.
Verſ. 29. Tell me I pray thee thy name.]
Though he knevv at length vvith vvhom he vvreſtled, at leaſt that he wreſtled vvith an Angel ſent from God, ver. 30. For I have ſeen God face to face, &c. yet he deſires a ſurer and clearer knovvledge.
Verſ. 30. I have ſeen God face to face.]
To vvit, in the Apparition before mentioned, for othervviſe to ſee the face of God, that is, to ſee the glory of God as he is in and of himſelf, it is altogether impoſſible for men▪ Exod. 33. 20. Thou canſt not ſee my face; for there ſhall no man ſee me and live.
Verſ. 32. Therefore the children of Iſrael eat not of the ſinew which ſhrank &c.]
To perpetuate hereby the memory of this honour vvhichwhich God afforded Jacob in this conflict vvhichwhich he had vvith him.