32:1 Jacob departed on his journey
and
he encountered angels of God.
32:2 Jacob saw them and said:
This
is God’s gang!
So
he named that place Mahanaim (two gangs).
32:3 Jacob dispatched messengers
ahead
to his brother Esau in Seir
in
the
32:4 He instructed them:
You
shall say this directly
to
my master Esau:
Your
subject Jacob says
he
has been staying with Laban
and
have remained there until now.
32:5 I have oxen, donkeys and sheep
and
male and female workers.
Now
I send this message
to
my master
so
I may please you.
32:6 When the messengers returned
they
said to Jacob:
We
went to your brother Esau
and
now he comes to meet you
with
four hundred men.
32:7 Then Jacob was greatly astonished
so
he divided his people
into
two groups
along
with the flocks
herds
and camels.
32:8 He thought:
If
Esau comes and attacks one group
the
other group left may escape.
32:9 Then Jacob prayed:
O
God of my teacher Abraham
God
of my teacher Isaac
Yahweh
who told me to
go
back to my country and family
and
you will be able to prosper.
32:10 I am not worthy
of
the mercy and truth
You
showed your servant.
I
had only my staff
when
I crossed the
but
now I am a part of two gangs.
32:11 I pray deliver me
from
my brother Esau
because
I am worried that
he
will come and attack me
the
mothers and their children.
32:12 Yet You have said
You
will help me prosper
and
make my followers
as
numerous as sand in the sea.
32:13 He stayed overnight there
and
brought with him
a
gift for his brother Esau:
32:14 Two hundred female goats
and
twenty male goats
and
two hundred ewes
and
twenty rams.
32:15 And thirty female camels
with
offspring
forty
cows and ten bulls
and
twenty female
and
ten male donkeys.
32:16 He delivered them into
the
care of his workers
one
herd at a time
and
said to his workers:
Get
ahead of me
and
keep the herds separate.
32:17 He instructed the foreman:
When
my brother Esau
meets
you asking:
Who
are you
and
where are you going?
And
whose are these animals
with
you?
32:18 Then you tell him:
They
belong to your subject Jacob.
They
are a gift
sent
to master Esau
and
he will be coming after us.
32:19 He then instructed
the
second and third in charge
along
with others
who
traveled with the herds:
You
need to say
the
same thing to Esau
when
you meet him.
32:20 Be sure to say:
Your
subject Jacob
will
be coming after us.
As
he thought:
I
will appease him
with
these gifts
I
am sending ahead of me.
So
later when I see him
perhaps
he will receive me.
32:21 So Jacob's gifts went ahead
but
he spent the night in his camp.
32:22 He woke up during the night
and
traveled with his two wives
his
two maids and his eleven sons
and
they crossed over the Jabbok.
32:23 After he sent them
over
the stream
he
sent over all his things.
32:24 Then Jacob was left
alone
there
and
Someone wrestled him
until
daybreak.
32:25 Knowing He would not prevail
He
touched Jacob's hip socket
and
dislocated his hip
as
they wrestled.
32:26 Then He spoke to him:
Let
go, as it is now daybreak.
But
Jacob replied:
I
will not let go
until
You bless me.
32:27 Then He spoke to him:
What
is your name?
He
answered:
Jacob.
32:28 Then He spoke to him:
Your
name will no longer be Jacob.
Instead
you will be called
because
you persevered
with
God and others
and
have prevailed.
32:29 Jacob then asked:
I
pray please tell me Your Name.
And
He spoke to him:
Why
would you ask My Name?
Then
He blessed him at that place.
32:30 Jacob named that place
Peniel
(face of God) saying:
For
I have seen God face to face
and
my life was spared.
32:31 As he left Peniel the sun rose.
He
was limping because of his hip.
32:32 Therefore the followers of
do
not eat the muscle
attached
to the hip
because
He touched Jacob's hip
at
the muscle.
