Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsGenesis 32
English College of Douai–Rheims
Read Genesis 32 in the BibleGenesis 32:24
A man wrestled.
[1] This wrestling with an Angel assumpting a body in form of a man was corporal, as the effect shewed in Jacob's sinew shrunk up, which made him to halt. v. 25. & 31. [2] It was also spiritual, as appeareth by his earnest prayer, urging and at last obtaining the Angel's blessing. S. Lyonis. C. 4. cel. Hierer. S. Greg. prefat. in Job. Theodoret q. 91. in Gen.
- 1 Jacob wrestled with an Angel corporally & spiritually.
- 2 Osee 12.
Original Douay–Rheims Annotations — English College of Douai–Rheims. CC0 1.0
Genesis 32:7
Feared exceedingly.
[1] [2] Justly may we marvel, why Jacob, so often assured by God's promises, confirmed by his many blessings, protected in all former dangers, accompanied the night before with armies of Angels, endued also with all virtues, and namely with perfect charity (which expelleth fear) was for all this so vehemently afraid! S. Augustin answereth [3], that he neither distrusted in God, nor did any unlawful thing: but did his own endeavour wisely and confidently, lest by presuming or despairing he should rather have tempted God than trusted in him. [4] The causes of his fear were in respect of himself and his brother. For considering God's former promises, benefits, & protections, were not to be presumed as absolute signs of his perpetual love, but conditional, if himself persevered sincerely in God's service; and seeing The just man knoweth not whether he be worthy of love or of hatred [5] [6], he might doubt, lest by his twenty years conversation among Infidels in Mesopotamia, he had contracted some sins, for which God might suffer him to fall into calamity and affliction. And though he was in deed still more and more virtuous, and consequently in God's more favour and protection; yea so much the more, by how much less he presumed of his own good state and merits: yet by the vehement apprehending of his brother's inclination to revenge [7], the greatness of the occasion by procuring the first-birth-right and his father's blessing from him, the news of his speedy coming towards him with four hundred men, the natural situation of the place, where Esau might easily environ him, and (as he humbly though) his own unworthiness, he was possessed with natural fear (such as happeneth to constant men) and was sore afflicted for the tender care of his family. But reflecting upon God's goodness, he prudently disposed of his people and stocks, and besought God to protect him and his, by prayer qualified with requisite conditions, to wit, with [8] humility, not asking for his own but for Abraham and Isaac's sake, and for God's own promise, acknowledging himself to be less than God's mercies towards him, with [9] gratitude recounting great benefits received, saying, With my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now with two troops I do return, with [10] confidence in that God had said he Would dilate his seed as the sand of the sea, and with [11] meekness in sending gifts and good words to Esau. Thus finally he pacified him, and so his own fear was turned into joy.