After the treaty of peace had been made between Ja'cob and La'ban, and La'ban had turned back toward his own land, Ja'cob continued his journey toward Ca'naan. He entered the land east of the Jor'dan river which was later known as Gil'e-ad, and encamped near the river Jab'bok. Although he had now escaped the anger of his father-in-law, he was by no means free from danger. Other trials were ahead, Ja'cob was filled with worry and fear. Most of all he feared the anger of his brother E'sau, from whom he had stolen both the birthright and blessing which belonged to him.
During Ja'cob's absence from the land of Ca'naan, E'sau had taken another wife. This woman was a member of the family of Ish'ma-el, the half-brother of his father, and he had married her in the hope of regaining his former place in the blessings which had been promised in the Covenant with A'bra-ham. E'sau had prospered, and was now the head of a great people. Each of his three wives had given birth to many children, and the number of his servants had increased greatly.
While Ja'cob was moved to the heart by fears of E'sau, he was visited by a host of Angels from Heaven. They told him that his only hope of safety was the mercy of God, but that all the forces of Heaven would come to his rescue if needed. The visit of the Angels was not enough to quiet the fears of Ja'cob. Hoping to escape by his own shrewdness, he first tried to make peace with E'sau. Messengers were sent to tell his brother that Ja'cob was already sending fine gifts to make up for the wrongs which he had done to E'sau in the past. These messengers, however, came back with the news that E'sau was coming to meet Ja'cob with four hundred armed men, evidently seeking revenge upon his brother.
Ja'cob then felt that he was in great danger, and feared that E'sau would not only take all his possessions, but also take the lives of his wives and children. For this reason he divided his household into two parts, placing those who were dearest to him in the positions of greatest safety.
After putting his wives and children where they were most likely to be safe, and scattering his flocks and herds so that only half of them could be seized in any event, Ja'cob sent many sheep and cattle as a peace-offering to E'sau. This was done in the hope of delaying E'sau's arrival at the place where Ja'cob and his household were encamped, and was intended as a gesture to cool the wrath of his brother.
Now that he had done everything in his power to protect his family from E'sau, Ja'cob turned to the LORD in earnest prayer. Appealing to Him as the God who had a Covenant with A'bra-ham and I'saac he admitted his own unworthiness, but asked the LORD deliver him from E'sau out of sheer mercy.
Having done all that he could to protect his family and to make his brother less angry, and having sought help from the LORD in prayer, Ja'cob went to a quiet place where his thoughts would not be disturbed. Suddenly he was seized by a mysterious person who first appeared in the form of a man, was then called an Angel, and was still later spoken of as God. All night long Ja'cob wrestled with the stranger, but as the morning began to dawn the struggle ended. The Angel touched the hollow of Ja'cob's thigh, making him lame. Ja'cob now realized that he could no longer count upon his own strength, and saw that there are times when the LORD alone can help. Though wounded in the struggle, he still had courage and persistence; he clung to the Angel, and refused to let him go until he blessed him.
