seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Genesis 32:32 [a]Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2 When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God!” So he named that place Mahanaim.(b)
3 Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. 4 He instructed them: “This is what you are to say to my lord Esau: ‘Your servant Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban and have remained there till now. 5 I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, male and female servants. Now I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes.’”
6 When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.”
3 Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. 4 He instructed them: “This is what you are to say to my lord Esau: ‘Your servant Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban and have remained there till now. 5 I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, male and female servants. Now I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes.’”
6 When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.”
Genesis 32:1 In Hebrew texts 32:1-32 is numbered 32:2-33.
Genesis 32:2 Mahanaim means two camps
Angels?!? I can see why Jacob stopped.
Oh brother.... the man who swore to kill him is coming with 400 men. Jacob doesn't have 400 men.... just some women, children, servants, cattle, donkeys, sheep and goats! But Jacob did see angels from God. That's a good thing.
This is the commentary from studylight.org.
We don't exactly know what this means. In some way, angelic being that are normally unseen were now made visible to Jacob, and he interacted with them. Perhaps God wanted Jacob to know how great His care was for him and his family.
This wonderful revelation of Gods presence and care came after Jacob finally separated from Laban, the worldly man. Separation from the world brings greater insight to the believer.
Literally, Jacob observed he was in a double camp. He was not alone; God had a camp of angels with him at Mahanaim.
This wonderful revelation of Gods presence and care came after Jacob finally separated from Laban, the worldly man. Separation from the world brings greater insight to the believer.
Literally, Jacob observed he was in a double camp. He was not alone; God had a camp of angels with him at Mahanaim.
When the messengers return, Jacob heard news that gave him great concern - Esau was coming to meet him with 400 men. Because Jacob could not bring himself to think the best of Esau (for understandable reasons), he was convinced the 400 men were an army intending to destroy him and his family.
I found this commentary that shows how utterly stressed Jacob must have been. It's good that God's Angels were camping next to him.
Their report left Jacob in painful uncertainty as to what was his brother's views and feelings. Esau's studied reserve gave him reason to dread the worst. Jacob was naturally timid; but his conscience told him that there was much ground for apprehension, and his distress was all the more aggravated that he had to provide for the safety of a large and helpless family.
