D. Jacob ~ cont.
5. Jacob's closing days with Laban ~ cont.
b. Departure from Laban - Genesis 31:17-55
6. His return to Canaan
a. Reunion with Esau
(1) Apprehension - Genesis 32:1-23
(2) Wrestles with angel, name changed - Genesis 32:24-32; 35:10
(3) Meets Esau - Genesis 33:1-16
b. Journey resumes - Genesis 33:17-20
c. Judah's three sons - Genesis 38:1-5; 1 Chronicles 2:3
(1) Birth of Er
(2) Birth of Onan
(3) Birth of Shelah
And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. (Genesis 32:1)
And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim. (Genesis 32:2)
I am amazed each year when I read through the Bible and discover or see something I had not in previous years. Thank you Father for the continual discoveries. :-D
Setting - Jacob left Laban, Rachel stole Laban's gods, Laban is warned not to harm Jacob, Jacob and Laban come to an understanding.
The verses above caught my attention because of the reference to angels and host. Exploring:
angels - H4397 - From an unused root meaning to despatch as a deputy; a messenger; specifically of God, that is, an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher).
host - H4264 - From H2583; an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence an army, whether literally (of soldiers) or figuratively (of dancers, angels, cattle, locusts, stars; or even the sacred courts).
Mahanaim - H4266 - Dual of H4264; double camp; Machanajim, a place in Palestine.
Browsed Gill's commentary:
And Jacob went on his way,.... From Gilead towards the land of Canaan:
and the angels of God met him; to comfort and help him, to protect and defend him, to keep him in all his ways, that nothing hurt him, Psa_91:11; these are ministering spirits sent forth by God to minister to his people, the heirs of salvation; and such an one Jacob was.
And when Jacob saw them,.... These appeared in a visible form, most probably human, and in the habit, and with the accoutrements of soldiers, and therefore afterwards called an host or army. Aben Ezra thinks that Jacob alone saw them, as Elisha first saw the host of angels before the young man did that was with him, 2Ki_6:17,
he said, this is God's host: or army, hence he is often called the Lord of hosts; angels have this name from their number, order, strength, and military exploits they perform:
and he called the name of the place Mahanaim; which signifies two hosts or armies; either his own family and company making one, and the angels another, as Aben Ezra observes; or they were the angels, who very probably appeared in two companies, or as two armies, and one went on one side of Jacob and his family, and the other on the other side; or the one went before him, and the other behind him; the latter to secure him from any insult of Laban, should he pursue after him, and distress him in the rear, and the former to protect him from Esau, near whose country Jacob now was, and of whom he was in some fear and danger; thus seasonably did God appear for him. The Jewish writers (t) say, the host of God is 60,000, and that the Shechinah, or divine Majesty, never dwells among less, and that Mahanaim, or two hosts, are 120,000; there was afterwards a city of this name near this place, which very likely was so called in memory of this appearance, Jos_21:38; and there seems to be an allusion to it in the account of the church, Son_6:13; it was in the land of Gilead, and tribe of Gad, forty four miles from Jerusalem to the southeast (u).
Gill references the verse that came to my mind when reading that Jacob saw an angelic host.
And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim. (Genesis 32:2)
I am amazed each year when I read through the Bible and discover or see something I had not in previous years. Thank you Father for the continual discoveries. :-D
Setting - Jacob left Laban, Rachel stole Laban's gods, Laban is warned not to harm Jacob, Jacob and Laban come to an understanding.
The verses above caught my attention because of the reference to angels and host. Exploring:
angels - H4397 - From an unused root meaning to despatch as a deputy; a messenger; specifically of God, that is, an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher).
host - H4264 - From H2583; an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence an army, whether literally (of soldiers) or figuratively (of dancers, angels, cattle, locusts, stars; or even the sacred courts).
Mahanaim - H4266 - Dual of H4264; double camp; Machanajim, a place in Palestine.
Browsed Gill's commentary:
And Jacob went on his way,.... From Gilead towards the land of Canaan:
and the angels of God met him; to comfort and help him, to protect and defend him, to keep him in all his ways, that nothing hurt him, Psa_91:11; these are ministering spirits sent forth by God to minister to his people, the heirs of salvation; and such an one Jacob was.
And when Jacob saw them,.... These appeared in a visible form, most probably human, and in the habit, and with the accoutrements of soldiers, and therefore afterwards called an host or army. Aben Ezra thinks that Jacob alone saw them, as Elisha first saw the host of angels before the young man did that was with him, 2Ki_6:17,
he said, this is God's host: or army, hence he is often called the Lord of hosts; angels have this name from their number, order, strength, and military exploits they perform:
and he called the name of the place Mahanaim; which signifies two hosts or armies; either his own family and company making one, and the angels another, as Aben Ezra observes; or they were the angels, who very probably appeared in two companies, or as two armies, and one went on one side of Jacob and his family, and the other on the other side; or the one went before him, and the other behind him; the latter to secure him from any insult of Laban, should he pursue after him, and distress him in the rear, and the former to protect him from Esau, near whose country Jacob now was, and of whom he was in some fear and danger; thus seasonably did God appear for him. The Jewish writers (t) say, the host of God is 60,000, and that the Shechinah, or divine Majesty, never dwells among less, and that Mahanaim, or two hosts, are 120,000; there was afterwards a city of this name near this place, which very likely was so called in memory of this appearance, Jos_21:38; and there seems to be an allusion to it in the account of the church, Son_6:13; it was in the land of Gilead, and tribe of Gad, forty four miles from Jerusalem to the southeast (u).
Gill references the verse that came to my mind when reading that Jacob saw an angelic host.
2Ki 6:17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
An encouragement to those who are of the household of faith that we are always under the watchful care and protection of the Lord and His host.
Psa 91:11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
Heb 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
