Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/127

 “God of  my  fathers,  O Lord,  who  saidst  to  me,  ‘Return  to  thy land’, I am  not  worthy  of  the  least  of  all  Thy  mercies,  and  of Thy  truth  which  Thou  hast  fulfilled  to  Thy  servant. With my staff  I passed  over  this  Jordan,  and  now  I return  with  two  companies. Deliver me  from  the  hand  of  my  brother!”

During the  night  an  angel  appeared  to  Jacob  with  whom he wrestled  till  morning. And Jacob  said  to  the  angel:  “I  will not let  thee  go,  except  thou  bless  me. The angel  said  to  him: “Henceforth thy  name  shall  not  be  called  Jacob,  but  Israel  (i.  e. strength  of  God),  for  if  thou  hast  been  strong  against  God,  how much more  shalt  thou  prevail  against  men?”

He then  divided  his  children,  his  servants,  and  his  flocks  into companies, and  putting  himself  at  the  head  of  one  of  them,  he advanced  to  meet  his  brother,  bowing seven  times  to  the  ground