So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that night in the company.
The verse belongs to Jacob's return from Padan-aram after twenty years away as a fugitive, and as he retraced the road he remembered that his deception of his father had led to his exile and his conscience troubled him, while he also recalled God's favor and promises of help and guidance. On that return two hosts of angels accompanied his company as guardians, and the place was named Mahanaim, meaning two hosts or two camps. He was returning at God's command with his wives and children and flocks and herds after long exile for deceiving his father to take Esau's blessing, and at the borders of the land he was terrified because Esau was approaching with warriors for revenge while his own company was unarmed and defenseless. In that setting he feared that Esau might use violence to take or to protect the wealth that Esau regarded as his own.
He was burdened with fear and with self-reproach because his own sin had brought the danger, and he hoped only in God's mercy with prayer as his only defense. The verse records that he sent a generous present ahead over to Esau with a friendly message and himself lodged that night with his company, as part of his effort to make amends for the wrong done to his brother and to avert the threatened danger.
The account to which the verse belongs portrays Jacob as representing believers and Esau as representing unbelievers, and it applies to the closing conflict with the image beast when believers will face fear and distress. It teaches followers of Christ approaching the time of trouble to make every exertion to place themselves in a proper light before the people, to disarm prejudice, and to avert the danger threatening liberty of conscience.
The verse belongs to Jacob's return from Padan-aram after twenty years away as a fugitive, and as he retraced the road he remembered that his deception of his father had led to his exile and his conscience troubled him, while he also recalled God's favor and promises of help and guidance. On that return two hosts of angels accompanied his company as guardians, and the place was named Mahanaim, meaning two hosts or two camps. He was returning at God's command with his wives and children and flocks and herds after long exile for deceiving his father to take Esau's blessing, and at the borders of the land he was terrified because Esau was approaching with warriors for revenge while his own company was unarmed and defenseless. In that setting he feared that Esau might use violence to take or to protect the wealth that Esau regarded as his own.
He was burdened with fear and with self-reproach because his own sin had brought the danger, and he hoped only in God's mercy with prayer as his only defense. The verse records that he sent a generous present ahead over to Esau with a friendly message and himself lodged that night with his company, as part of his effort to make amends for the wrong done to his brother and to avert the threatened danger.
The account to which the verse belongs portrays Jacob as representing believers and Esau as representing unbelievers, and it applies to the closing conflict with the image beast when believers will face fear and distress. It teaches followers of Christ approaching the time of trouble to make every exertion to place themselves in a proper light before the people, to disarm prejudice, and to avert the danger threatening liberty of conscience.