4. Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau--The purport of the
message was that, after a residence of twenty years in Mesopotamia, he
was now returning to his native land, that he did not need any thing,
for he had abundance of pastoral wealth, but that he could not pass
without notifying his arrival to his brother and paying the homage of
his respectful obeisance. Acts of civility tend to disarm opposition
and soften hatred
(Ec 10:4).
Thy servant Jacob--He had been made lord over his brethren
(compare
Ge 27:29).
But it is probable he thought this referred to a spiritual superiority;
or if to temporal, that it was to be realized only to his posterity. At
all events, leaving it to God to fulfil that purpose, he deemed it
prudent to assume the most kind and respectful bearing.
JFB.
Outline
1 Jacob's vision at Mahanaim
3 Jacob's message to Esau
6 He is afraid of Esau's coming
9 He prays for deliverance
13 He sends a present to Esau
24 He wrestles with an angel at Peniel
28 Jacob's name is changed to Israel
31 He halts upon his thigh
Ancient Customs
Gifts
Halted Upon his thigh
Geography
Ford Jabbok
Peniel
Edom
Quick Reference Map
Map of the Jordan River
(Click to Enlarge)
The Old Testament
Genesis Resources
Creation
Adam and Eve
The
Flood
The Tower of Babel
Abraham the First Hebrew
Isaac, Son of Promise
Jacob
and the 12 Tribes
Joseph
and Egypt