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
The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 32:7-8
Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed :—literally, it was narrow to him; i . e . he was perplexed. Clearly the impression left on Jacob's mind by the report of his ambassadors was that he had nothing to expect but hostility— and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands ;—according to Gerlach, caravans are frequently divided thus in the present day, and for the same reason as Jacob assigns— And said, If Esau come to the... read more