Genesis 32:1-20

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Genesis 32:1-32

This is unquestionably one of the great chapters of the Bible, and it is significant how constant and powerful is its appeal to all who live on the principle of faith. It gives the account of the third direct communication of God to Jacob. As he returned to his own land, the same conflicting principles which have been evident throughout are still manifest. His going at all was in direct obedience to the distinct command of God. There was really no other reason to return. He might still have... read more

James Nisbet

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 32:1

THE ANGELS OF GOD‘The angels of God.’ Genesis 32:1 To the Christian, to the member of the Church of England, with his Prayer Book in his hand, there is a prayer in which we speak to God and recall the existence of a world unseen around us, and beyond us a great realm, the realm of holy souls, the angels and the archangels of God. Some of us, with our Churchman’s Almanack in our hand, look up the passages of Scripture, or at least one of the passages set down for this day, and as we read the... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 32:1-2

‘And early in the morning Laban rose up and kissed his sons and daughters, and blessed them. And Laban departed and returned to his own place. And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when he saw them Jacob said, “This is God’s host.” And he called the name of that place Mahanaim (‘two hosts’). When the feasting was over Laban said farewell to his sons and daughters giving them the patriarchal blessing. All is now at peace. ‘Sons’ probably includes Jacob his son-in-law, and... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 32:3-5

Events in Jacob’s Life Up To the Death of Isaac (Genesis 32:3 to Genesis 35:1 ) Jacob Meets With His Brother Esau (Genesis 32:3 to Genesis 33:17 ). This section is built around two covenants. The covenant made with God at Peniel and the covenant of peace made between Esau and Jacob. It is probable that the covenant with God was the central one. But Jacob being a careful man (compare Genesis 25:33 and the passage built around it) would certainly want on record the details of his covenant of... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 32:6

‘And the messengers returned to Jacob saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and moreover he comes to meet you and four hundred men with him.” ’ The fact that the messengers were allowed to return without a threatening reply should have assured him that Esau’s intentions were not evil. And indeed had they been so Esau and his men would have arrived first. The only purpose then in allowing the messengers to return first would have been to tell Jacob what would happen to him. Esau necessarily... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 32:7-8

‘Then Jacob was greatly afraid and was distressed. And he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and the herds and the camels, into two companies. And he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and smites it then the other company which is left will escape.” ’ Jacob is seized with terror and he decides on a strategy to deceive his brother. He divides his possessions into ‘two companies’. There may well be a deliberate contrast here with verse 2 where Mahanaim also meant two... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 32:9-12

‘And Jacob said, “Oh God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, Oh Yahweh who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred and I will do you good,’ I am not worthy of the least of all your mercies and of all the truth which you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I passed over this Jordan and now I am become two companies. Deliver me I pray you from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau. For I am afraid of him lest he come and smite me, the mother... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 32:13-15

‘And he stayed there that night and took from what he had with him a present for Esau his brother. Two hundred she-goats and twenty he-goats, two hundred yews and twenty rams, thirty milch camels and their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty she-asses (or donkeys) and ten foals.’ The giving of a gift to honour someone important was a regular custom of the time (compare 43:11) and its acceptance would indicate a willingness to treat peacefully. The present was munificent. Again the numbers... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 32:16-21

‘And he delivered them into the hands of his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass over before me and put a space between drove and drove.” And he commanded the foremost, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, saying, ‘To whom do you belong? And where are you going? And whose are these animals before you?’ Then you will say, ‘They are your servant Jacob’s. It is a present to my lord Esau, and behold he also is behind us.’ And he commanded also the second and... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 32:20-21

“For he said, “I will make reconciliation with him (‘cover his face”) with the present that goes before me (‘goes before my face’), and afterwards I will see his face. It may be that he will accept me (‘his face will be towards me’).” So the present passed over before him and he himself stayed that night in the company.’ Jacob is quite clear that the purpose of the gifts is appeasement and reconciliation so that when they meet there will be no trouble. He hopes that they will make him... read more

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