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.
