Fear, prayer and the name Israel

“And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.” Naming Jacob keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God’s host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.” Naming Jacob keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.” Naming Edom and Esau keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may…” The line’s distinctive content terms include asses, find, flocks. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four…” The number four makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy…” Naming Abraham keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and…” Naming Deliver and Esau keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for…” The line’s distinctive content terms include good, multitude, numbered. Its relationship to verses 11 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother;” Naming Esau keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams,” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.” The number thirty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over…” Naming Pass keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob’s; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is…” Naming Esau and Jacob keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that…” Naming Jacob keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that night in the company.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had.” The line’s distinctive content terms include brook, took. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.” Naming Jacob keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh…” Naming Jacob keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” Naming Jacob keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.” Naming Penuel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.