Genesis 32

Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.

When he saw them, Jacob said, " This is God's host ." He called the name of that place Mahanaim.

Jacob sent messengers in front of him to Esau , his brother , to the land of Seir, the field of Edom.

He commanded them, saying, "This is what you shall tell my lord , Esau : 'This is what your servant , Jacob, says. I have lived as a foreigner with Laban, and stayed until now .

I have oxen, donkeys , flocks, men-servants , and maid-servants. I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight. '"

The messengers returned to Jacob, saying, " We came to your brother Esau . Not only that , but he comes to meet you , and four hundred men with him. "

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

and he said, " If Esau comes to the one company, and strikes it, then the company which is left will escape. "

Jacob said, " God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, Yahweh, who said to me, ' Return to your country, and to your relatives , and I will do you good.'

I am not worthy of the least of all the loving kindnesses , and of all the truth, which you have shown to your servant; for with just my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I have become two companies .

Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he come and strike me, and the mothers with the children.

You said , ' I will surely do you good, and make your seed as the sand of the sea, which can't be numbered because there are so many . '"

He lodged there that night , and took from that which he had with him, a present for Esau , his brother :

two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams,

thirty milk camels and their colts, forty cows , ten bulls, twenty she -donkeys and ten foals.

He delivered them into the hands of his servants, every herd by itself, and said to his servants, " Pass over before me, and put a space between herd and herd . "

He commanded the foremost, saying, " When Esau , my brother , meets you , and asks you , saying, ' Whose are you ? Where are you going ? Whose are these before you ? '

Then you shall say, ' They are your servant , Jacob's . It is a present sent to my lord , Esau . Behold, he also is behind us. '"

He commanded also the second, and the third, and all that followed the herds , saying, " This is how you shall speak to Esau, when you find him.

You shall say , 'Not only that , but behold, your servant , Jacob , is behind us. '" For , he said, " I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face . Perhaps he will accept me. "

So the present passed over before him: and he himself lodged that night in the camp .

He rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two handmaids , and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford of the Jabbok.

He took them, and sent them over the stream , and sent over that which he had.

Jacob was left alone , and wrestled with a man there until the breaking of the day.

When he saw that he didn't prevail against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh , and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was strained , as he wrestled.

The man said, " Let me go, for the day breaks . " Jacob said, " I won't let you go, unless you bless me. "

He said to him, " What is your name? " He said, " Jacob. "

He said, "Your name will no longer be called ' Jacob, ' but , ' Israel ,' for you have fought with God and with men, and have prevailed. "

Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name. " He said, "Why is it that you ask what my name is ? " He blessed him there.

Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for , he said, " I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. "

The sun rose on him as he passed over Peniel , and he limped because of his thigh.

Therefore the children of Israel don't eat the sinew of the hip , which is on the hollow of the thigh, to this day , because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew of the hip .