1And Jacob continued along his way, and the angels of God met him. 2And when Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God's host;” and he called the name of that place “Mahanaim” (two camps). 3And Jacob sent messengers ahead to his brother Esau, in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. 4And he told them, “This is what you shall you say to my lord Esau: ‘Your servant Jacob says thus, “I have been staying with Laban until now: 5And I have cattle, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell you this, so that I may find grace in your sight.”’” 6And when the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau; and he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.” 7Then Jacob was fearful and distressed at that news; and he divided the people that were with him - the flocks, herds, and camels, into two bands; 8And said, “If Esau comes and attacks the one company, then the other company shall escape.” 9And Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, and of my father Isaac, the LORD Who said to me, ‘Return to your country, and to your family, and I will deal well with you’: 10I am not worthy of the least of all Your mercies, and of all the truth, which You have shown to Your servant; for with just my staff, I crossed over this Jordan; and now I have become two camps. 11Rescue me, I pray You, from the hand of my brother, Esau; for I fear him, that he will come and attack me, and the mothers with the children. 12But You have said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your descendants like the sand of the sea, too many to be numbered.’” 13And Jacob camped there that night; and from what he had acquired, he prepared a present for Esau, his brother: 14Two hundred she-goats, twenty he-goats, two hundred ewes, twenty rams, 15Thirty milk camels with their colts, forty cows, ten bulls, twenty she-donkeys, and ten foals. 16And he put them in the care of his servants, each drove separate; and said to his servants, “Go ahead of me, and leave a space between drove and drove.” 17And he ordered the front drove, “When Esau, my brother, meets you, and asks you, ‘Whose are you? And where are you going? And whose are all these before you?’ 18Then you shall say, ‘They are from your servant, Jacob; it is a present sent to my lord, Esau: and, Jacob is also coming behind us.’” 19And he ordered the second, third, and all that followed the droves, “You are to speak to Esau in the same way, when you find him. 20And furthermore, say, ‘Look, your servant Jacob is coming behind us.’” For he thought, “I will pacify him with the present that precedes me; and afterward, when I see him, perhaps he will accept me.” 21So the present went ahead of him: while he, himself, stayed that night in the camp. 22And during that night, he arose and took his two wives, and his two women servants, and his eleven sons, and they crossed over the Ford Jabbok. 23And after he sent them over the brook, he sent over what he possessed. 24And so Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled there with him until the break of day. 25And when He saw that He did not prevail against Jacob, He touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh went out of joint, as he wrestled with Him. 26And He said, “Let Me go, for the day is breaking.” And Jacob said, “I will not let You go, unless You bless me.” 27And He said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28And He said, “Your name shall no more be Jacob, but ‘Israel’ (a prince -or one who prevails – with God); for as a prince you have power with God and with men, and you have prevailed.” 29And Jacob said Him, “Tell me, I pray You, Your name.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask after My name?” And He blessed him there. 30And Jacob called the name of the place “Peniel” (meaning “face of God”); thinking, “I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is spared.” 31And as he passed Peniel, the sun was rising upon him, and he limped upon his thigh. 32Therefore, to this day, the descendants of Israel do not eat the sinew upon the hollow of the thigh (tendon attached to the socket of the hip) which shrank; because He touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank. Reader-Friendly Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2024 by Jim Musser. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. Bible Hub |