2 And when Jacob H3290 saw them, H7200 he said, H559 This is God's H430 host: H4264 and he called H7121 the name H8034 of that place H4725 Mahanaim. H4266
But Abner H74 the son H1121 of Ner, H5369 captain H8269 of Saul's H7586 host, H6635 took H3947 Ishbosheth H378 the son H1121 of Saul, H7586 and brought him over H5674 to Mahanaim; H4266
And out of the tribe H4294 of Gad, H1410 Ramoth H7433 in Gilead H1568 with her suburbs, H4054 to be a city H5892 of refuge H4733 for the slayer; H7523 and Mahanaim H4266 with her suburbs, H4054
Then David H1732 came H935 to Mahanaim. H4266 And Absalom H53 passed over H5674 Jordan, H3383 he and all the men H376 of Israel H3478 with him.
And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei H8096 the son H1121 of Gera, H1617 a Benjamite H1145 of Bahurim, H980 which cursed H7043 me with a grievous H4834 curse H7045 in the day H3117 when I went H3212 to Mahanaim: H4266 but he came down H3381 to meet H7125 me at Jordan, H3383 and I sware H7650 to him by the LORD, H3068 saying, H559 I will not put thee to death H4191 with the sword. H2719
Praise H1984 ye him, all his angels: H4397 praise H1984 ye him, all his hosts. H6635
So Israel H3478 and Absalom H53 pitched H2583 in the land H776 of Gilead. H1568 And it came to pass, when David H1732 was come H935 to Mahanaim, H4266 that Shobi H7629 the son H1121 of Nahash H5176 of Rabbah H7237 of the children H1121 of Ammon, H5983 and Machir H4353 the son H1121 of Ammiel H5988 of Lodebar, H3810 and Barzillai H1271 the Gileadite H1569 of Rogelim, H7274
Ahinadab H292 the son H1121 of Iddo H5714 had Mahanaim: H4266
And Elisha H477 prayed, H6419 and said, H559 LORD, H3068 I pray thee, open H6491 his eyes, H5869 that he may see. H7200 And the LORD H3068 opened H6491 the eyes H5869 of the young man; H5288 and he saw: H7200 and, behold, the mountain H2022 was full H4390 of horses H5483 and chariots H7393 of fire H784 round about H5439 Elisha. H477
Bless H1288 ye the LORD, H3068 all ye his hosts; H6635 ye ministers H8334 of his, that do H6213 his pleasure. H7522
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Genesis 32
Commentary on Genesis 32 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 32
We have here Jacob still upon his journey towards Canaan. Never did so many memorable things occur in any march as in this of Jacob's little family. By the way he meets,
Gen 32:1-2
Jacob, having got clear of Laban, pursues his journey homewards towards Canaan: when God has helped us through difficulties we should go on our way heaven-ward with so much the more cheerfulness and resolution. Now,
Gen 32:3-8
Now that Jacob was re-entering Canaan God, by the vision of angels, reminded him of the friends he had when he left it, and thence he takes occasion to remind himself of the enemies he had, particularly Esau. It is probable that Rebekah had sent him word of Esau's settlement in Seir, and of the continuance of his enmity to him. What shall poor Jacob do? He longs to see his father, and yet he dreads to see his brother. He rejoices to see Canaan again, and yet cannot but rejoice with trembling because of Esau.
Gen 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 distress, he applied to God, not to them; he knew they were his fellow-servants, Rev. 22:9. Nor did he consult Laban's teraphim; it was enough for him that he had a God to go to. To him he addresses himself with all possible solemnity, so running for safety into the name of the Lord, as a strong tower, Prov. 18:10. This prayer is the more remarkable because it won him the honour of being an Israel, a prince with God, and the father of the praying remnant, who are hence called the seed of Jacob, to whom he never said, Seek you me in vain. Now it is worth while to enquire what there was extraordinary in this prayer, that it should gain the petitioner all this honour.
Gen 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 had 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 tempt him; we must so depend upon God's providence as to make use of our own prudence. "Help thyself, and God will help thee;' God answers our prayers by teaching us to order our affairs with discretion. To pacify Esau,
Gen 32:24-32
We have here the remarkable story of Jacob's wrestling with the angel and prevailing, which is referred to, Hos. 12:4. Very early in the morning, a great while before day, Jacob had helped his wives and his children over the river, and he desired to be private, and was left alone, that he might again more fully spread his cares and fears before God in prayer. Note, We ought to continue instant in prayer, always to pray and not to faint: frequency and importunity in prayer prepare us for mercy. While Jacob was earnest in prayer, stirring up himself to take hold on God, an angel takes hold on him. Some think this was a created angel, the angel of his presence (Isa. 63:9), one of those that always behold the face of our Father and attend on the shechinah, or the divine Majesty, which probably Jacob had also in view. Others think it was Michael our prince, the eternal Word, the angel of the covenant, who is indeed the Lord of the angels, who often appeared in a human shape before he assumed the human nature for a perpetuity; whichsoever it was, we are sure God's name was in him, Ex. 23:21. Observe,