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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 32:9-12

Our rule is to call upon God in the time of trouble; we have here an example to this rule, and the success encourages us to follow this example. It was now a time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it; and here we have him praying for that salvation, Jer. 30:7. In his distress he sought the Lord, and he heard him. Note, Times of fear should be times of prayer; whatever frightens us should drive us to our knees, to our God. Jacob had lately seen his guard of angels, but, in this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 32:10

I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies ,.... Or of any of them, according to his humble sense of things his mind was now impressed with; he was not worthy of the least mercy and favour that had been bestowed upon him; not even of any temporal mercy, and much less of any spiritual one, and therefore did not expect any from the hands of God, on account of any merit of his own: or "I am less than all thy mercies" F23 קטנתי מכל החסדים "minor sum cunctis misericordiis",... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 32:10

I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies - The marginal reading is more consistent with the original: האמת ומכל החסדים מכל קטנתי katonti miccol hachasadim umiccol haemeth , I am less than all the compassions, and than all the faithfulness, which thou hast showed unto thy servant. Probably St Paul had his eye on this passage when he wrote, Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints. A man who sees himself in the light of God will ever feel that he has no good but what he has... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 32:10

Verse 10 10.I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies (103) Although this expression sounds harsh to Latin ears, the sense is not obscure. Jacob confesses, that greater mercies of God had been heaped upon him than he had dared to hope for: and therefore, far be it from him that he should plead anything of dignity or merit, for the purpose of obtaining what he asks. He therefore says, that he is less than God’s favors; because he felt himself to be unworthy of those excellent gifts which... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 32:1-23

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 32:9-12

And Jacob said ,—the combined beauty and power, humility and boldness, simplicity and sublimity, brevity and comprehensiveness of this prayer, of which Kalisch somewhat hypercritically complains that it ought to have been offered before resorting to the preceding precautions, has been universally recognized— O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the Lord— Jacob's invocation is addressed not to Deity in general, but to the living personal Elohim who had taken his fathers... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 32:9-12

Jacob's prayer. 1. It was the prayer of humility . 2. Of faith— faith in a covenant God, faith in him who had already revealed himself, faith in promises made to the individual as well as to God's people generally, faith founded on experience of the past, faith which has been mingled with obedience, and therefore lays hold of Divine righteousness. He has commanded me to return; I am in the way of his commandments. Faith in the great purpose of God and his kingdom: " I will... 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 32:10

Genesis 32:10. I am not worthy It is a surprising plea. One would think he should have pleaded that what was now in danger was his own against all the world, and that he had earned it dear enough; no, he pleads, Lord, I am not worthy of it. Of the least of all thy mercies Much less am I worthy of so great a favour as this I am now suing for. For with my staff I passed over this Jordan Poor and desolate, like a forlorn and despised pilgrim; having no guides, no companions, no... 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

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