Genesis 32:13

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 32:13-23

Jacob, having piously made God his friend by a prayer, is here prudently endeavouring to make Esau his friend by a present. He had prayed to God to deliver him from the hand of Esau, for he feared him; but neither did his fear sink into such a despair as dispirits for the use of means, nor did his prayer make him presume upon God's mercy, without the use of means. Note, When we have prayed to God for any mercy, we must second our prayers with our endeavours; else, instead of trusting god, we... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 32:13

And he lodged there that same night ,.... At Mahanaim, or some place near it: and took of that which came to his hand ; not what came next to hand, for what he did was with great deliberation, judgment, and prudence; wherefore the phrase signifies what he was possessed of, or was in his power, as Jarchi rightly interprets it: a present for Esau his brother : in order to pacify him, gain his good will, and avert his wrath and displeasure, see Proverbs 18:16 ; though Jacob had prayed... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 32:13

And took of that which came to his hand - בידו הבא habba beyado , which came under his hand, i.e., what, in the course of God's providence, came under his power. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 32:13

Verse 13 13.And took of that which came to his hand. In endeavoring to appease his brother by presents, he does not act distrustfully, as if he doubted whether he should be safe under the protection of God. This, indeed, is a fault too common among men, that when they have prayed to God, they turn themselves hither and thither, and contrive vain subterfuges for themselves: whereas the principal advantage of prayer is, to wait for the Lord in silence and quietness. But the design of the holy man... 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 32:13

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

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

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