Genesis 32:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps,

NIV: In great fear and distress Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups, and the flocks and herds and camels as well.

NASB: Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks, the herds, and the camels, into two companies;

CSB: Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; he divided the people with him into two camps, along with the flocks, herds, and camels.

NLT: Jacob was terrified at the news. He divided his household, along with the flocks and herds and camels, into two groups.

KJV: Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands;

NKJV: So Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies.

Jacob is afraid. In fact, the Hebrew phrasing in this verse implies he is terrified. The original phrase wa yi'ra Ya'aqob me'ōd wa yē'ser literally means "Then was afraid Jacob, extremely, and distressed." His concern is not without good cause. Twenty years ago, he impersonated his brother, fooling their old and sick father in order to steal the family blessing (Genesis 27:30–35). Esau was furious. He made a plan to kill Jacob (Genesis 27:41–45). Jacob literally ran for his life to another country. Since then, so far as we know, there has been no contact of any kind between the brothers. Does Esau still want him dead?

Now that Jacob is back, he sends a careful, deferential message to his brother. His goal seems to be assuring Esau that he has no hard feelings, and to attempt to make peace. What he hears back is that Esau is coming to meet him with 400 men. Naturally, Jacob fears the worst—is this an attack? A welcoming party?

When Jacob is distressed, he usually comes up with a scheme to try and protect himself. He does so now, dividing all of his people, animals, and property into two camps. The following verse will tell us his reasoning: he hopes to give one group time to get away if Esau attacks. In this way, at least some of his family can survive this encounter.

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.