Genesis 32

1Jacob went on and there were angels of God who came to Jacob.

2When Jacob saw the angels, Jacob said: This is a camp of God's soldiers. Jacob named that place Mahanaim, which means Two Camps.

3Jacob sent a message to his brother Esau. Esau was in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.

4Jacob told the men to tell his brother Esau: Sir, I am your servant Jacob. I have lived with Laban all these years.

5Now I have oxen, donkeys, sheep, goats, male servants and female servants. I am sending you this message. I hope you will be friendly and accept me back.

6When the messengers came back to Jacob, they said to Jacob: We went to your brother Esau. Esau is coming to meet you, and Esau has 400 men with him.

7Jacob became afraid and very worried. Jacob divided all the people who were with Jacob into 2 groups. Jacob also divided all the sheep, goats, oxen and camels.

8Jacob said: If Esau attacks one group, then the other group can flee.

9Jacob prayed to God and said: God of my grandfather Abraham, God of my father Isaac, LORD, You told me to go back to my land and to my family. You said that You would be good to me.

10I am not worthy of all Your kindness. You have done everything You promised me. When I first crossed the Jordan River, I owned nothing but my walking stick. Now I own enough to have 2 full camps.

11Please protect me from my brother Esau, because I am afraid of Esau. I am afraid that Esau will attack me and the women and children.

12You have promised and said to me: I will be good to Jacob. I will make your descendants as many as the grains of sand of the sea. There will be so many that no one will be able to count them.

13Jacob slept there that night. Jacob took some of his animals and sent a gift to his brother Esau.

14Jacob's gift was 200 female goats and 20 male goats, 200 female sheep and 20 male sheep.

15Jacob also sent 30 nursing camels and their calves, 40 cows and 10 bulls, and 20 female donkeys and 10 young donkeys.

16Jacob gave the animals to his servants. Jacob gave a flock of animals to each servant and told the servants: Walk ahead of me, but keep each flock separate.

17Jacob told the 1st servant: When my brother Esau comes to you and asks you whose servant you are, where you are going and whose animals these are,

18you must tell Esau: Sir, they belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift that Jacob sends to you, Esau. Jacob is also coming. Jacob is behind us.

19Jacob said the same to the 2nd servant and the 3rd servant, and to all the other servants who followed the flocks. Jacob told the servants what they must say to Esau when they found him.

20They also had to say to Esau: Your servant Jacob is also coming. Jacob is behind us. Jacob said to himself: I will make peace with Esau by sending this gift ahead of me. When I see Esau face to face, maybe Esau will accept me.

21Jacob first sent the gifts to Esau, and Jacob stayed that night in the camp.

22Jacob got up that night. Jacob took his 2 wives, his 2 servant women and his 11 sons, and they went through the Jabbok River.

23Jacob sent them through the river and then Jacob also sent his animals through the river.

24Jacob stayed behind, alone. A man came and wrestled with Jacob until just before the sun came up the next day.

25The man saw that he could not defeat Jacob. The man touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh. Jacob's thigh was thrown out of joint.

26The man said to Jacob: Let me go, because the sun is coming up and it is almost day. But Jacob said to the man: I will not let you go unless you bless me.

27The man asked Jacob: What is your name? Jacob said: Jacob.

28The man said: Your name will no longer be Jacob. From now on you will be Israel. This is because you have wrestled with God and with people, and you have won.

29Jacob asked: Please tell me your name. The man said: Why do you ask what my name is? The man blessed Jacob there.

30Jacob named that place Peniel, which means Face of God. Jacob said: At this place, I saw God face to face, but my life was spared.

31The sun came up when Jacob went away from Peniel. Jacob could not walk well because his thigh was hurt.

32That is why the Israelites never eat the sinew in the hollow of an animal's thigh. The man touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh.