Genesis 32:16

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 32:16

And he delivered them into the hand of his servants ,.... To present them to Esau as from him: every drove by themselves ; there seems to have been three droves, see Genesis 32:19 ; very probably the two hundred and twenty goats, male and female, were in the first drove; and the two hundred and twenty sheep, ewes, and rams, were in the second drove; and the thirty camels, with their colts, and the fifty cows and bulls, with the twenty she asses and ten foals, which made in all one... 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 32:13-23

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 32:16

And he delivered them into the Band of his servants, every drove by themselves ; and said unto his servants, Passover (the river Jabbok) before me, and put a space (literally, a breathing-place ) betwixt drove and drove —as is still the manner with Oriental shepherds. 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

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

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Genesis 32:16

16. every drove by themselves—There was great prudence in this arrangement; for the present would thus have a more imposing appearance; Esau's passion would have time to cool as he passed each successive company; and if the first was refused, the others would hasten back to convey a timely warning. read more

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