And Jacob went on his way ,.... From Gilead towards the land of Canaan: and the angels of God met him ; to comfort and help him, to protect and defend him, to keep him in all his ways, that nothing hurt him, Psalm 91:11 ; these are ministering spirits sent forth by God to minister to his people, the heirs of salvation; and such an one Jacob was. read more
And when Jacob saw them ,.... These appeared in a visible form, most probably human, and in the habit, and with the accoutrements of soldiers, and therefore afterwards called an host or army. Aben Ezra thinks that Jacob alone saw them, as Elisha first saw the host of angels before the young man did that was with him, 2 Kings 6:17 , he said, this is God's host : or army, hence he is often called the Lord of hosts; angels have this name from their number, order, strength, and military... read more
The angels of God met him - Our word angel comes from the Greek αγγελος aggelos , which literally signifies a messenger; or, as translated in some of our old Bibles, a tidings-bringer. The Hebrew word מלאך malach , from לאך laach , to send, minister to, employ, is nearly of the same import; and hence we may see the propriety of St. Augustine's remark : Nomen non naturae sed officii , "It is a name, not of nature, but of office;" and hence it is applied indifferently to a human... read more
Mahanaim - The two hosts, if read by the points, the angels forming one, and Jacob and his company forming another; or simply hosts or camps in the plural. There was a city built afterwards here, and inhabited by the priests of God, Joshua 21:38 . For what purpose the angels of God met Jacob, does not appear from the text; probably it was intended to show him that he and his company were under the care of an especial providence, and consequently to confirm his trust and confidence in God. ... read more
Verse 1 1.And Jacob went on his way. After Jacob has escaped from the hands of his father-in-law, that is, from present death, he meets with his brother, whose cruelty was as much, or still more, to be dreaded; for by the threats of this brother he had been driven from his country; and now no better prospect lies before him. He therefore proceeds with trepidation, as one who goes to the slaughter. Seeing, however, it was scarcely possible but that he should sink oppressed by grief, the Lord... read more
And Jacob (after Laban's departure) went on his way (from Galeed and Mizpah, in a southerly direction towards the Jabbok), and the angels of God— literally, the messengers of Elohim, not chance travelers who informed him of Esau's being in the vicinity (Abarbanel), but angels (cf. Psalms 104:4 )— met him. Not necessarily came in an opposite direction, fuerunt ei obviam (Vulgate), but simply fell in with him, lighted on him as in Genesis 28:11 , συνήντησαν αὐτῶ ( LXX ... read more
Divine protection. The pilgrim on his way is met by the angels of God. They are two hosts—"Mahanaim," that is, twofold defense, before and behind. There was fear in the man, but there was trust and prayer. He saw the objective vision, but the inward preparation of heart enabled him to see it. On our way we may reckon on supernatural protection—protection for ourselves, protection for those who are Divinely appointed to be with us. The double host is an emblem of that angelic guardianship... read more
Mahanaim, or preparing for Esau. I. THE ANGELIC APPARITION . 1. The time when it occurred . 2. The impression which it made. Whether completely surrounding him, or divided into two companies, one on either side of him, Jacob's angelic visitors, from their number, their orderly array, their military dispositions, assumed the appearance of a heavenly army lying encamped over against His own; and the sight of the two companies immediately suggested the ejaculation, "This is... read more
And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host :— Mahaneh Elohim ; i . e . the army (cf. Genesis 1:9 ; Exodus 14:24 ) or camp ( 1 Samuel 14:15 ; Psalms 27:3 ) of God, as opposed to the Mahanoth, or bands of Jacob himself ( vide Genesis 32:7 , Genesis 32:10 )— and he called the name of that place Manahan. — i . e . Two armies or camps, from the root חָנַה decline or bend, and hence to fix oneself down or encamp; meaning either a multitudinous host, reading... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 32:1-2
1. Here is Jacob's convoy in his journey (Gen. 32:1): The angels of God met him, in a visible appearance, whether in a vision by day or in a dream by night, as when he saw them upon the ladder (Gen. 28:12), is uncertain. Note, Those that keep in a good way have always a good guard; angels themselves are ministering spirits for their safety, Heb. 1:14. Where Jacob pitched his tents, they pitched theirs about him, Ps. 34:7. They met him, to bid him welcome to Canaan again; a more honourable... read more