Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.
Genesis 32:15 belongs to the meeting of Jacob with Esau after Jacob, in obedience to God's command, returned from Padan-aram with his wives and children and his flocks and herds. His return recalled his deception of Isaac to secure the blessing intended for Esau, the exile that followed, and God's favor and promises of help and guidance. On reaching the borders he was terrified to learn that Esau was approaching at the head of warriors bent on revenge, while his own unarmed and defenseless company seemed about to fall helpless victims, and with crushing self-reproach because his own sin had brought the danger.
The verse gives the detailed count of his substantial livestock wealth: thirty milk camels with their young, forty cows and ten bulls, and twenty female donkeys and ten young donkeys. The animals were sent as a generous present, as part of his practical effort to atone for the wrong done to his brother and to avert the threatened danger. Yet his only hope was in the mercy of God, and his only defense was prayer. He also cited the possessions to show Esau that he had substantial means and was not returning as a destitute wanderer to claim their father's inheritance.
Jacob's fear and distress as Esau approached, and his night of anguish wrestling in prayer for deliverance, represents the experience of God's people in the time of Jacob's trouble. In that account Jacob represents believers and Esau represents unbelievers, foreshadowing the final trouble over worship of the beast's image. As they approach the time of trouble, Christ's followers should likewise make every exertion to place themselves in a proper light before the people, to disarm prejudice, and to avert the danger that threatens liberty of conscience.
Genesis 32:15 belongs to the meeting of Jacob with Esau after Jacob, in obedience to God's command, returned from Padan-aram with his wives and children and his flocks and herds. His return recalled his deception of Isaac to secure the blessing intended for Esau, the exile that followed, and God's favor and promises of help and guidance. On reaching the borders he was terrified to learn that Esau was approaching at the head of warriors bent on revenge, while his own unarmed and defenseless company seemed about to fall helpless victims, and with crushing self-reproach because his own sin had brought the danger.
The verse gives the detailed count of his substantial livestock wealth: thirty milk camels with their young, forty cows and ten bulls, and twenty female donkeys and ten young donkeys. The animals were sent as a generous present, as part of his practical effort to atone for the wrong done to his brother and to avert the threatened danger. Yet his only hope was in the mercy of God, and his only defense was prayer. He also cited the possessions to show Esau that he had substantial means and was not returning as a destitute wanderer to claim their father's inheritance.
Jacob's fear and distress as Esau approached, and his night of anguish wrestling in prayer for deliverance, represents the experience of God's people in the time of Jacob's trouble. In that account Jacob represents believers and Esau represents unbelievers, foreshadowing the final trouble over worship of the beast's image. As they approach the time of trouble, Christ's followers should likewise make every exertion to place themselves in a proper light before the people, to disarm prejudice, and to avert the danger that threatens liberty of conscience.