Genesis 32:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He likewise instructed the second and the third and all who followed the droves, "You shall say the same thing to Esau when you find him,

NIV: He also instructed the second, the third and all the others who followed the herds: "You are to say the same thing to Esau when you meet him.

NASB: Then he commanded also the second and the third, and all those who followed the flocks, saying, 'In this way you shall speak to Esau when you find him;

CSB: He also told the second one, the third, and everyone who was walking behind the animals, "Say the same thing to Esau when you find him.

NLT: Jacob gave the same instructions to the second and third herdsmen and to all who followed behind the herds: 'You must say the same thing to Esau when you meet him.

KJV: And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him.

NKJV: So he commanded the second, the third, and all who followed the droves, saying, “In this manner you shall speak to Esau when you find him;

Esau and 400 men are on their way to Jacob, who has strategically separated into two camps (Genesis 32:6–8). After fervent prayer (Genesis 32:9–12), Jacob is sending out a large gift of five herds of animals to present to Esau before he arrives. He clearly hopes to quell Esau's anger over their difficult split, some twenty years prior (Genesis 27:30–35; 27:41–45).

Jacob assumes that Esau's men will ask the servants what they're doing. In the previous verse, he told the servant who will be driving the first herd how to answer: These animals belong to "your servant Jacob." He is giving them to "my lord Esau" as a gift. He is coming behind us.

Now he says to those driving the second, third, fourth, and fifth herds to say the same thing. Jacob pictures each herd reaching Esau, one after the other, with the same message. Jacob clearly hopes to impress and overwhelm Esau with his generosity and make it increasingly difficult for Esau to want to kill him.

Genesis 32:1–21 describes Jacob's preparations to meet his brother Esau, who is coming his way with 400 men. This will be the first time Jacob and Esau have spoken since Jacob fled Esau's rage as described in Genesis 27. Jacob is terrified this approaching force is coming to kill him. He divides his company into two camps. He prays in humility and faith to God for deliverance. He prepares a large gift of 550 animals to be strategically delivered to Esau to appease his presumed anger.

As Jacob turns from Laban and returns to his own country, he must face another fearful potential conflict. His twin brother Esau is coming with 400 men. Jacob fears this group approaches to take revenge for cheating Esau out of the family blessing 20 years earlier. Jacob is so afraid that he splits his company into two camps, even as he prays for deliverance. He also prepares an enormous gift to appease Esau. Finally, while alone in the dark, Jacob is unexpectedly forced to wrestle a mysterious man, who turns out to be God Himself in some manifested form. In a profound moment of symbolism, God forces Jacob to state his own name, which God then changes to Israel.

Jacob came to work for Laban while running from the murderous rage of his twin brother, Esau. Jacob was routinely cheated by Laban, eventually resolving to go back home along with his entire family. Unfortunately, this means coming back to face Esau. Jacob soon learns that Esau is headed his way with 400 men. Are they coming to kill Jacob in revenge for his deceit in stealing Isaac's blessing 20 years earlier? Jacob is afraid. He divides his large company into two camps. He prays earnestly to God for deliverance, and he prepares a huge gift to appease Esau. Finally, alone in the dark, Jacob physically grapples with a mysterious man who turns out to be God Himself, in some form. The man questions Jacob, changes his name to Israel, and pronounces a blessing. Thus prepared, Jacob will finally be reunited with his brother in the next chapter.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.

Accessed 11/21/2024 10:51:29 PM