To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
Jacobs Wisdom in Appeasing Esau's Anger. His Wrestling with an Angel.
JACOB having thus escaped the hands of Laban, thought of nothing now, but how he might escape those of Esau his Brother; in order whereunto he sends Messengers before him unto the Land of Seir, to acquaint Esau in the most submissive way imaginable, that ha∣ving sojourned with Laban in Mesopotamia for several years, he was then upon his return to his Fathers House, and that the occasion of his sending to him was, That he might find grace in his sight.
But the Messengers (upon their return) ac∣quainting Jacob, that as soon as they had de∣livered their Message to Esau, he had put himself at the Head of 400 Armed Men, and was already on his march to meet him, he be∣came seized with an extream Fear, which made him cast forth strong Cries to GOD, to deliver him from the Hand of Esau his Brother.
Having thus first of all fixed his confidence in GOD, he proceeded to make use of all his Natural Prudence to calm his Brothers Anger, and to incline his Heart towards him, which he thought he could not so well do a∣ny other way than by Presents. Wherefore having set apart 200 She-Goats, 20 He-Goats, 200 Ewes, 20 Rams, 80 Milch Camels, with their Colts, 40 Cows, and 10 Bulls, 20 She-Ases, and 10 Foals, he delivered them to his Servants, every Drove by themselves, with Orders to leave a space between every one, and express Directions, how to behave them∣selves towards Esau, to the end, that his Spi∣rit seeing those Presents pass severally, might by little and little be mollified towards him, as well as by the humble submission of those who offered them to him in the Name of their Master.
Jacob having given these Orders, which were not to be executed until the next day, caused his Wives and Children (with all that belonged to him) to pass over the Brook Jabbok by Night, whilst Jacob was left alone on the other side. Then Jacob betakes him∣self in earnest Prayer to GOD, for an happy issue of the Meeting between him and his Bro∣ther, whereupon a Man, (or rather an Angel in the shape of a Man) appeared unto him, and Wrestled with him until the Break of Day; and seeing that he did not prevail against him, he touched the Sinew or Hollow of his Thigh, and caused him to halt: But Jacob taking new Courage from this happy hurt, told him he had hurt him; and the Angel would fain have been gone, but Jacob would not let him go until he had blessed him. Then the Angel demanded what was his Name, and gave him the new Name of ISRAEL; withal assuring him, that as he had been so happy and strong as to prevail with GOD, he had no need to apprehend any thing of danger from Men, and in particular from his Brother Esau.
Not long after Jacob seeing his Brother coming a far off, at the Head of 400 Men, and having ranged his Family in the order he thought best, he passed on before them to meet him; and as he came near he bowed himself seven times to the ground before him, and not being able to resist the powerful impression which Jacob's meek Submission made upon his Spirit, runs to meet him, falls upon his Neck, and kisses him; yea, his former Wrath was turn'd to that degree of Tenderness and Af∣fection, that he could not withhold himself from Tears. He with pleasure beholds the Wives and Children which GOD had given him, and could hardly be perswaded to receive the Presents that Jacob design'd for him.
After this, Esau (to shew his Kindness to him) offered to keep Company with him, and with his Armed Men, to be a Guard to him and his Company, but Jacob having repre∣sented to him how necessary it was for him to go on softly, because of the tenderness of his young Children and the Herds with young, which if over-driven but one day, would cer∣tainly die, pressed Esau to march on before to Mount Sier, where he would not fail to wait upon him.
Thus did he not only avoid the Anger of his Brother, who had sworn his destruction; but moreover changed it into Tenderness and Love. He did not fix his Thoughts upon the conside∣ration of his own Innocence, or Esaus Guilt and Blame-worthiness; he blotted out of his Heart all the Resentments he might have had against him; and if he was troubled for his Misdemeanors, 'twas rather (saith S. Ambrose) for his Brothers sake than his own.
The same Year.