Observations Upon the Old Testament, Genesis · Chapter 32 – Chapter 33
CHAP. XXXII.
Verse 1. ANgelis of God] To comfort and confirm him against the future fear and danger by Esau, Psal 91. 11.
met him] In a visible Apparition when he was awake.
V. 2. Gods Host] Camp, Army, Heavenly souldiers, Luke 2. 13. Horses and charets of fire, 2 Kings 6. 17. fighting for Gods people against their enemies, Dan. 10. 13, 20. 2 Kings 19. 35. Psal. 34. 7. Hoste] For their Numbers, Order, Power, Employment; Angel the Guardian of Jacob; but two Hosts, Heb. 1. 14. No Angel is restrained from a particular ministration to any of the Elect, nor any of the Elect so allotted to the custody of any Angel, that he may not expect the protection of many.
Mahanaim] Two armies, the word is of the Dual number, Cant. 6. 13. on either hand of him, or before and behinde, Ps. 34. 7. 91. 11. Here is not one peculiar Angel. It seems not so likely, that by the two Armies should be meant, the one of the Angels, the other of Jacobs family. Hence likely is the name of that City, Josh. 21. 38. in the tribe of Gal, assigned to the Levites the children of Merari.
V. 3. Land of Seir] Ch. 14. 6. Deut. 2. 22. The Horims dwelt there afore; called Seir, not from Esau, but from Seir a Chorite or Horite, ch. 36. 20, 21. ch. 14 6. Thither was Esau gone, ch. 36. 6, 7, 8. And that lay in Jacobs way, which he must passe.
V. 4. My Lord Esau. Thy servant Jacob] V. 18. 33. 8. Not here by prejudicing or renouncing the birth-right or blessing, ch. 27. 29. Though yielding for a time, as David, after he was anointed, did to Saul, so Jacob here to pacifie Esaus old malice, and present rage, v. 5. Prov. 15. 1. waiting by faith for the Promise, which was to be accomplished in future times.
I have sojourned with Laban] As an exile, as it were so long, and rendering to him an accompt of his time spent.
V. 5. And I have oxen] And so will not be burdensom to him, or to his fathers house, not gape after his fathers riches, nor be a reproach to their family by his poverty, nor seek Esaus favour for his own profit sake.
to tell my lord] q. d. I would not passe by thee without acquainting thee with it.
V. 6. Foure hundred men] Most likely, with a bloody intent, how grievous soever it might be to his aged father, v. 8. These were too many for ostentation sake.
V. 7. Greatly afraid] The infirmity of the flesh appears, the Angels being gone.
he divided] V. 8. Another division, ch. 33. 1, 2. Good and godly policy, so, v. 16, 17, 18. and, ch. 14. 15. 30. 38.
V. 9. O God] He falls to prayer as his only safe-guard. And prayers not to the Angels that appeared for their mediation. But labours to strengthen himself, and his faith in God, and his Promises and Word throughout his Prayer.
of my father] To whom thou hast made such promises. He prayes not to Abraham.
which saidst unto me, Return] Ch. 31. 13. Be now as good as thyword, to me obeying it.
V. 10. I am not worthy of the least] Nor of this I now beg; so, ch. 18. 27. 2 Sam. 9 7, 8. Luke 17. 10. Though he justly pleaded his merit to Laban, ch. 31. 38.
the truth] In performing thy gracious Promises and Predictions.
this Jordan] Now in sight, being in Mount Gilead or nearer.
two bands] V. 7.
V. 11. And the mother with the children] Or upon them, as, Hos. 10. 14. Deut 22. 6.
V 12. And thou saidest] Ch. 28. 14, 15. 31. 3.
V. 13. Which came to his hand] The night, and his haste to prevent his brother, would not suffer him to stand upon choice, 1 Sam 25. 8.
a Present] Rich, of five hundred and eighty head of cattel, a stock for breed. As Jacob prayeth and trusteth in God and his Promises, so yet he useth means, Prov. 17. 8. 18. 16.
V. 16. A space betwixt] V. 20. To mitigate his displeasure by degrees, ch. 33. 8, 9. and that if he fell in hostile manner upon the first, the other might seek the better to escape.
V. 20. Jacob is behinde us] Lest Esau might surmise that he sent these only, that he in the mean season might escape some other way.
V. 21. That night] Not that, v. 13. but the night following, having spent the day before in sending away the droves and Presents by his servants.
V. 22. Two women-servants] So are Bilhah and Zilpah called here.
eleven sonnes] Dinah his daughter not mentioned. And Benjamin not yet borne.
Jabb…ak] Deut. 2. 37. 3. 16. Numb. 21. 24. Josh. 12. 2. Judg. 11. 13. the border of the children of Ammon. If Jacob now had not been well setled in the confidence of Gods Protection, he would not likely have passed over this river, as having better meanes to escape on the other side, Or rather, he being last, stayed yet on the other side of the river.
V. 23 Sent them ever] He remaining behinde, left alone on the other side, v. 24. And there, without knowledge of any, wrestled with the Angel that night, v. 24. 26, 31.
V. 24. Wrestled] Jacob wrestling both spiritually and corporally. He deignes this, who afterwards deigned to be borne in a stable, to die on a Crosse for us, Esay 55. 8. 1 Cor. 1. 27, 28.
a man] God in the shape of a man, even Christ, v. 26, 28, 30. Called God, and an Angel, Hos. 12. 3, 4. that Angel, Gen. 48. 16 Mal. 3. 1. that Arch-Angel Michael, Jude v. 9. After he had stayed behinde alone, purposely to pray, as he did, Hos. 12. 4. with weeping, at the last the Lord appeared and set on him with wr…stling.
until the breaking of the day] A private wrastling without Spectators, v. 26. nor then did Jacob fully know with whom he wrastled.
V. 25. And when he saw] This is spoken after the manner of men. God knowes all, with one pure and perfect act.
that he prevailed not] With that measure of strength, which God in that assumed body was then pleased to take and use, Gen. 19. 22. Mar. 6. 5. Mat. 15. 22. 24. 27, 28. Exod. 32, 10. Luke 24. 29. To confirme him hereby, that he should prevail with Esau.
out of joynt] The huckle-bone, where the Sciatica is, to humble him that he should not be exalted out of measure: but know by whose indulgence he did prevaile; and this halting to remain as a monument of it, and of this Apparition.
V. 26. Let me go] Speaks after the manner of men, whose shape he had taken, and to put Jacob in minde of haste to his affaires, Esay 64. 7. Cant. 3. 4.
except thou blesse me] Now then he knew him to be an Angel, the Arch-angel. Here is his wrastling by prayers and teares, knowing him now to be God, Hos. 12. 4. The power of prayer, Deut. 9. 14.
V. 27. What is thy name] God knew well enough, as what was become of Abel; and Adam, ch. 3. and 4. He asketh his name, to take occasion for what himselfe meant to say of the change of his name.
V. 28. No more Jacob] Only, so, 1 Sam. 8. 7. Jer. 7. 22. or principally. The Jews are never called Jacobites but Israelites; as, Exod. 16. 8. See, Annotations on chap. 46. 2.
but Israel] The change of names for honour sake; so in Abraham, Sarah, Joseph, Daniel and others. Esay 62. 2, see, ch. 35. 10.
with men] Laban already, Esau shortly.
V. 29. Tell me, I pray thee, thy Name] As God asked before his name v. 27. so Jacob here returnes a like demand, hoping he would give himself some peculiar name, whereby he might have the surer and clearer knowledge of him, and the better remember and honour him, Judg. 13. 17. God appeared to Jacobat least thrice before, yet not having the like occasion, he doth not, as now, ask his name.
wherefore is it] A refusal to satisfie his curiosity; as likewise, Judg. 13. 17, 18. It would be curiosity in us to ask the reason of this resusal, 1 Sam. 6. 19. some Angels had names, as Gabriel, Luke 1. 19, 26. Christ the Angel of the Covenant is named Michael, Dan. 10. 21. Jude v. 9. Apoc. 12. 7. Rom. 12. 3.
blessed him] So granting his request, v. 26.
V. 30. Peniel] And Penuel, v. 31. Exod. 33. 11. so before in ch. 28. 19. In this place afterward a City and Tower was builded, and spoiled by Gideon, Judg. 8. 8, 17. and built again by Jeroboam, 1 Kings 12. 25.
God face to face] Jacob now knew him to be God, Exod. 33. 11, 20, 23. Deut. 34. 10.
and my life is preserved] Which the godly feared when they saw visions of God. See, Annotat. on chap. 16. 13.
V. 31. He halted] Infirmities we have in tentations and wrastlings with God, whether cured of it afterwards, or it still continued, we reade not.
V. 32. Eate not] In any creatures. To perpetuate the memory of this honour done to Jacob.
unto this day] Till Moses time; without fault or folly in abstaining.
CHAP. XXXIII.
Verse 1. HE divided] Ch. 32. 16.
V. 2. He put] The dearest he reserves to the safest place.
V. 3. Before them] This shewes his fatherly affection, and his faith in the Promises. It seems he followed the five droves of cattel, and went before his children and their mothers, that were in three companies.
bowed] See Annot. on ch. 32. 4. Humility goeth before honour.
Seven times] Sometimes taken for many times, 1 Sam. 2. 5. Prov. 26. 25.
V. 4. Kissed him] Esaus heart really changed, Luk. 15. 20. Prov. 26. 7.
V. 8. What meanest thou] The servants had told him; but he thus takes occasion courteously to refuse them.
V. 9. I have enough] Many will never say so, Eccl. 4 8. Prov. 30. 15.
V. 10. Face of God] Honourable and comfortable. The Scripture useth to entitle to God the things that excel; so the Mountaines of God, the City of God, Prince of God, Wrastlings of God, Cedars of God, and seeing the light of Gods countenance shine evidently in the chearful countenance of his brother, Psal. 41. 11.
V. 11. My blessing] Gift of good will to thee, which God hath blessed me with, 1 Sam. 25. 27. blessing thee, and God for thee, 1 Sam. 30. 26. 2 Kings 5. 15. 2 Cor. 9. 5, 6.
he took it] It is a more blessed thing to give then to receive, Acts 20. 35. Gen. 14. 23.
V. 14. Be able to endure] Esay 40. 11. Mar. 4. 33. 1 Cor. 3. 2. 9 22. Rom. 15. 1.
until I come unto my Lord] We reade not that he performed this Promise. After, upon some reasons he might change his minde, (Mat. 2. 12.) Or go to him with a few, making no stay. For it is not like that he would so soon, by so manifest a contempt or neglect, provoke afresh his new reconciled brother.
V. 15. Let me finde grace] Ch 34 11. 47. 25. 1 Sam. 25 8. 2 Sam 16. 4. Ru…h 2. 13.
V. 17. To Succoth] Here first so named, Judg. 8. 15, 16. Exod. 12. 37. Lev. 23. 34.
and built him an house] Not yet that he stayed here long.
V. 18. To Shalem] Or Salem, Thought to be Sychar, Joh. 4. 5. Not that Salem where Melchizedech reigned. This Salem was about fourty miles distant from it, John 3. 23. There is Salim near Ae non, haply that mentioned, 1 Sam. 9. ….
a C ty of Shechem] Sychem, Acts 7. 16. Sychai, John 4. 5, 6.
pitched his tent] Dwelt at Succoth, and here most about six yeares, till Dinah was ravishable, and Jacobs sons able men to slay the Shechemites.
V. 19. And he bought] As Abraham did, ch. 23. 17, 18. See Annot. there.
a parcel of a field] After it became the portion of Joseph and his children. (And perhaps that legacy of Jacob on his death-bed, ch. 48. 22) Josh. 24. 32 Here Christ had conference with the woman of Samaria, Joh. 4. 5.
of Hamor] Acts 7. 16. Emor.
a hundred pieces] Or lambs. Ancient custome to buy and sell by exchanging one thing for another. Or money having the pictures of Lambs stamped on them, whence pecunia hath its name à pecude, Josh. 24. 32. Job 42. 11. the same word Kesitah is used, where it must be understood of a piece of money, likely of gold, for a Lamb were too small a gift. Kesitah is 1 d. ob.
V. 20. An Altar] As, ch 12. 8. 13. 3, 4, 18. 26. 25. He repaired that Altar Abraham had built there, ch. 12. 6, 7.
El-eohe-Israel] Exod. 17. 15. Figuratively calling the signe by the name of the thing signified. This the name of the Altar, not the Inscription upon the Altar.
Judah's departure from his brethren, and marrying a Canaanitish woman, ch. 38. 1. fell not out at this time; but before. See Annot. on that place.