Although hoping for aid and safety from the Lord alone, Jacob neglected no means of doing what might help to appease his brother. Having taken up his quarters for the night in the place where he received the tidings of Esau's approach, he selected from his flocks ("of that which came to his hand," i.e., which he had acquired) a very respectable present of 550 head of cattle, and sent them in different detachments to meet Esau, "as a present from his servant Jacob," who was coming behind. The selection was in harmony with the general possessions of nomads (cf. Job 1:3; Job 42:12), and the proportion of male to female animals was arranged according to the agricultural rule of Varro (de re rustica 2, 3). The division of the present, "drove and drove separately," i.e., into several separate droves which followed one another at certain intervals, was to serve the purpose of gradually mitigating the wrath of Esau. פּנים כּפּר, Genesis 32:21, to appease the countenance; פּנים נשׁא to raise any one's countenance, i.e., to receive him in a friendly manner. This present he sent forward; and he himself remained the same night (mentioned in Genesis 32:14) in the camp.

Genesis 32:25 Parallel Commentaries

that he.

Genesis 19:22 Haste you, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till you be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

Numbers 14:13,14 And Moses said to the LORD, Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for you brought up this people in your might from among them;)...

Isaiah 41:14 Fear not, you worm Jacob, and you men of Israel; I will help you, said the LORD, and your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 45:11 Thus said the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons...

Hosea 12:3,4 He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God...

Matthew 15:22-28 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried to him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord...

Luke 11:5-8 And he said to them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go to him at midnight, and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves...

touched.

Genesis 32:32 Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is on the hollow of the thigh, to this day...

Psalm 30:6,7 And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved...

Matthew 26:41,44 Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak...

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh...