And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God’s host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
After twenty years away Jacob was returning to his homeland in Canaan, remembering his past sin and also God's favor and promises of help and guidance. On that journey he traveled south from Mount Gilead toward Canaan.
Heavenly angels met him on the way, and he saw them in a dream encamped around him. There were two hosts surrounding and accompanying his traveling company, and he recognized them as God's host. Their presence showed that God's heavenly company was with him as he traveled.
He called the place Mahanaim, meaning two hosts or two camps. He gave it that name because the heavenly host accompanied his own company, so that there were two camps together.
The angels were a sign of divine care and protection over him on his return to Canaan. They came to instruct, comfort, and protect him. Their encircling presence assured him of God's protection as he faced the danger of meeting Esau.
The sight recalled his earlier vision at Bethel. It strengthened him with hope and courage.
God's heavenly host surrounding Jacob was also shown to Esau in a dream, in which Esau saw Jacob encompassed by God's hosts. This reassured Esau that Jacob was under the protection of the God of their father, and led him to order his soldiers not to harm Jacob.
The meeting at Mahanaim connects with the work of angels in carrying out God's work on earth. Jacob stands as a representative of believers, and his trouble is a pattern for the fear and distress believers will face in the final conflict over worship of the image of the beast.
After twenty years away Jacob was returning to his homeland in Canaan, remembering his past sin and also God's favor and promises of help and guidance. On that journey he traveled south from Mount Gilead toward Canaan.
Heavenly angels met him on the way, and he saw them in a dream encamped around him. There were two hosts surrounding and accompanying his traveling company, and he recognized them as God's host. Their presence showed that God's heavenly company was with him as he traveled.
He called the place Mahanaim, meaning two hosts or two camps. He gave it that name because the heavenly host accompanied his own company, so that there were two camps together.
The angels were a sign of divine care and protection over him on his return to Canaan. They came to instruct, comfort, and protect him. Their encircling presence assured him of God's protection as he faced the danger of meeting Esau.
The sight recalled his earlier vision at Bethel. It strengthened him with hope and courage.
God's heavenly host surrounding Jacob was also shown to Esau in a dream, in which Esau saw Jacob encompassed by God's hosts. This reassured Esau that Jacob was under the protection of the God of their father, and led him to order his soldiers not to harm Jacob.
The meeting at Mahanaim connects with the work of angels in carrying out God's work on earth. Jacob stands as a representative of believers, and his trouble is a pattern for the fear and distress believers will face in the final conflict over worship of the image of the beast.