Genesis 32:13-15

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 32:13

And he lodged there that same night; and took —not by random, but after careful selection; separavit (Vulgate)— of that which came to his hand —not of those things which were in his hand, ω}n e!feren ( LXX .), such as he had (Ainsworth), quae in mann erant (Rosenmüller), but of such things as had come into his hand, i . e . as he had acquired (Keil, Alford, 'Speaker's Commentary,' Inglis)— a present (Minchah; used in Genesis 4:3 , Genesis 4:4 , Genesis 4:5 , as a sacrifice... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 32:13-23

The crisis at hand. Jacob understood the human heart. I. KINDNESS WILL WORK WONDERS . " I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face." It gave Esau time to think of an altered state of things, a changed brother, and his own brotherly affection, not entirely destroyed. II. IMPORTUNITY IN DOING GOOD . The repeated strokes upon the iron changes its nature. We may learn a lesson from Jacob to prepare human hearts for the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 32:14-15

Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams, thirty milch camels (specially valuable in the East on account of their milk, which was peculiarly sweet and wholesome) with their colts, forty kine, and ten hulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals. The selection was in harmony witch the general possessions of nomads (cf. Job 1:3 ; Job 42:12 ), and the proportion of male to female animals was arranged according to what the experience of the best ancient... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 32:1-32

- Jacob Wrestles in Prayer3. מחנים machănāyı̂m, Machanaim, “two camps.”22. יבק yaboq, Jabboq; related: בקק bāqaq “gush or gurgle out” or אבק 'ābaq in niphal, “wrestle.” Now Wady Zurka.29. ישׂראל yı̂śrā'ēl, Jisrael, “prince of God.”31. פניאל penı̂y'ēl = פנוּאל penû'ēl, Peniel, Penuel, “face of God.”After twenty years spent in Aram, Jacob now returns to Kenann. As his departure was marked by a great moment in his spiritual life, so he is now approaching to a crisis in his life of no... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 32:13-16

Genesis 32:13-16 . A present for Esau his brother As he prays and trusts in God, so he uses the means; and having piously made God his friend by prayer, prudently endeavours to make Esau his friend by a present. Put a space between drove and drove To mitigate his displeasure by degrees. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 32:1-32

Preparing to meet Esau (32:1-32)During the twenty years that Jacob had been in Mesopotamia, Esau had established his household in territory to the south near the Dead Sea. Jacob knew that if he was to live in peace in Canaan, he would first have to put things right with Esau. With much fear and anxiety he sent news to Esau that he was coming to meet him (32:1-8).Jacob had by now learnt a humility before God that was lacking the previous time he met Esau. He thanked God for his remarkable... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Genesis 32:13

present. See App-43 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 32:13-21

"And he lodged there that night, and took of that which he had with him a present for Esau his brother: two hundred she-goats and twenty he-goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty milch camels and their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty she-asses and ten foals. And he delivered them into the hands of his servants, every drove by itself, and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove. And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 32:13

Genesis 32:13. Which came to his hand— Not any thing which offered itself by chance, as this phrase seems to import: for it is very evident, that the present was selected with great care, and was of the choicest kind: milch-camels in particular were a very exquisite present, as their milk was held in the greatest estimation: see Bochart Hieroz. p. 1. But the phrase means, which was in his power, which he had to present him with, see 1 Samuel 25:8. This whole transaction and disposition of the... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Genesis 32:13

13-23. took . . . a present for Esau—Jacob combined active exertions with earnest prayer; and this teaches us that we must not depend upon the aid and interposition of God in such a way as to supersede the exercise of prudence and foresight. Superiors are always approached with presents, and the respect expressed is estimated by the quality and amount of the gift. The present of Jacob consisted of five hundred fifty head of cattle, of different kinds, such as would be most prized by Esau. It... read more

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