22 And he rose up H6965 that night, H3915 and took H3947 his two H8147 wives, H802 and his two H8147 womenservants, H8198 and his eleven H6240 H259 sons, H3206 and passed over H5674 the ford H4569 Jabbok. H2999
And unto the Reubenites H7206 and unto the Gadites H1425 I gave H5414 from Gilead H1568 even unto the river H5158 Arnon H769 half H8432 the valley, H5158 and the border H1366 even unto the river H5158 Jabbok, H2999 which is the border H1366 of the children H1121 of Ammon; H5983
Sihon H5511 king H4428 of the Amorites, H567 who dwelt H3427 in Heshbon, H2809 and ruled H4910 from Aroer, H6177 which is upon the bank H8193 of the river H5158 Arnon, H769 and from the middle H8432 of the river, H5158 and from half H2677 Gilead, H1568 even unto the river H5158 Jabbok, H2999 which is the border H1366 of the children H1121 of Ammon; H5983
But G1161 if any G1536 provide G4306 not G3756 for his own, G2398 and G2532 specially G3122 for those of his own house, G3609 he hath denied G720 the faith, G4102 and G2532 is G2076 worse than G5501 an infidel. G571
And it came to pass, as her soul H5315 was in departing, H3318 (for she died H4191 ) that she called H7121 his name H8034 Benoni: H1126 but his father H1 called H7121 him Benjamin. H1144
And it came to pass, when Israel H3478 dwelt H7931 in that land, H776 that Reuben H7205 went H3212 and lay H7901 with Bilhah H1090 his father's H1 concubine: H6370 and Israel H3478 heard H8085 it. Now the sons H1121 of Jacob H3290 were twelve: H8147 H6240 The sons H1121 of Leah; H3812 Reuben, H7205 Jacob's H3290 firstborn, H1060 and Simeon, H8095 and Levi, H3878 and Judah, H3063 and Issachar, H3485 and Zebulun: H2074 The sons H1121 of Rachel; H7354 Joseph, H3130 and Benjamin: H1144 And the sons H1121 of Bilhah, H1090 Rachel's H7354 handmaid; H8198 Dan, H1835 and Naphtali: H5321 And the sons H1121 of Zilpah, H2153 Leah's H3812 handmaid; H8198 Gad, H1410 and Asher: H836 these are the sons H1121 of Jacob, H3290 which were born H3205 to him in Padanaram. H6307
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,