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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

Matthew Henry

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 32:10

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 32:11

Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau ,.... For though his brother, it was his brother Esau, that had formerly vowed revenge upon him, and had determined to kill him, Genesis 27:41 , and he knew not but that he was still of the same mind; and now having an opportunity, and in his power to do it, being accompanied with four hundred men, he feared he would attempt it; and therefore entreats the Lord, who was greater than he, to deliver him from falling... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 32:12

And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good ,.... All kind of good, most certainly and constantly; so Jacob rightly interpreted the promise, "I will be with thee", Genesis 31:3 ; for the promise of God's presence includes and secures all needful good to his people; and from this general promise Jacob draws an argument for a special and particular good, the preservation of him and his family, he was now pleading for; and the rather he might hope to succeed, since the following promise was... 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 32:10

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 32:11

And the mother with the children - He must have had an awful opinion of his brother when he used this expression, which implies the utmost cruelty, proceeding in the work of slaughter to total extermination. See Hosea 10:14 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 32:12

Make thy seed as the sand - Having come to the promise by which the covenant was ratified both to Abraham and Isaac, he ceased, his faith having gained strong confirmation in a promise which he knew could not fail, and which he found was made over to him, as it had been to his father and grandfather. 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

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