1
Ge 32:1, 2.
英文原文
Ge 32:1, 2.
VISION OF ANGELS.
1. angels of God met him--It is not said whether this angelic manifestation was made in a vision by day, or a dream by night. There is an evident allusion, however, to the appearance upon the ladder (compare
Ge 28:12),
and this occurring to Jacob on his return to Canaan, was an encouraging pledge of the continued presence and protection of God
(Ps 34:7; Heb 1:14).
2
無標題
2. 瑪哈念——意即「二軍兵」或「二營」。那地方位於基列山與雅博河之間，靠近那小河的河岸。
英文原文
2. Mahanaim--"two hosts," or "camps." The place was situated between mount Gilead and the Jabbok, near the banks of that brook.
3
Ge 32:3-32.
Ge 32:3-32.
差人見以掃。
3. 雅各打發人先往以掃那裏去——即「曾打發」。這是審慎的防備，為要查明以掃目前的心情如何，因為那條路在接近迦南東界之處，便鄰近他兄弟現今定居的荒野地區。
西珥地——死海以東和以南的高地，原為何利人所居，後被以掃或其後裔所驅逐
(De 11:12)。
他何時並在何種情形下遷居那裏，這分離究竟是由於他妻子們不孝順的行為和拜偶像的習氣，使她們在他父母的帳棚中不受歡迎，還是由於他好流浪的性情因愛冒險和打獵而另尋一國，他當時正生活在強盛與富足之中；而他在迦南外緣邊境的這個定居，雖出於自願，卻被護理所使用，為雅各歸回應許之地鋪平了道路。
英文原文
Ge 32:3-32.
MISSION TO ESAU.
3. Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau--that is, "had sent." It was a prudent precaution to ascertain the present temper of Esau, as the road, on approaching the eastern confines of Canaan, lay near the wild district where his brother was now established.
land of Seir--a highland country on the east and south of the Dead Sea, inhabited by the Horites, who were dispossessed by Esau or his posterity
(De 11:12).
When and in what circumstances he had emigrated thither, whether the separation arose out of the undutiful conduct and idolatrous habits of his wives, which had made them unwelcome in the tent of his parents, or whether his roving disposition had sought a country from his love of adventure and the chase, he was living in a state of power and affluence, and this settlement on the outer borders of Canaan, though made of his own free will, was overruled by Providence to pave the way for Jacob's return to the promised land.
4
無標題
4. 你們對我主以掃這樣說——這信息的要旨是：他在米所波大米住了二十年之後，如今正要回到故土；他並不需要甚麼，因他有豐盛的牧業財富，但他不能就這樣過去而不通知他哥哥他的到來，並向他致以恭敬的敬意。禮貌之舉能化解反對、軟化仇恨
(Ec 10:4)。
你的僕人雅各——他本已被立為他弟兄的主
（參 Ge 27:29）。
但他可能認為這是指屬靈的優越；又或者，若指屬世的，那也只會在他的後裔身上實現。無論如何，他把成就那目的的事交給神，自己則認為審慎地採取最和善、最恭敬的態度為宜。
英文原文
4. Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau--The purport of the message was that, after a residence of twenty years in Mesopotamia, he was now returning to his native land, that he did not need any thing, for he had abundance of pastoral wealth, but that he could not pass without notifying his arrival to his brother and paying the homage of his respectful obeisance. Acts of civility tend to disarm opposition and soften hatred
(Ec 10:4).
Thy servant Jacob--He had been made lord over his brethren (compare
Ge 27:29).
But it is probable he thought this referred to a spiritual superiority; or if to temporal, that it was to be realized only to his posterity. At all events, leaving it to God to fulfil that purpose, he deemed it prudent to assume the most kind and respectful bearing.
6
無標題
6. 所打發的人回到雅各那裏——他們的回報使雅各對他哥哥的看法和心情處於痛苦的未知之中。以掃刻意保持緘默，使他有理由害怕最壞的情況。雅各生性膽怯；但他的良心告訴他，有許多值得擔心的理由，而他的苦況更因他必須為一個龐大而無助的家庭提供安全保障而加劇。
英文原文
6. The messengers returned to Jacob--Their report left Jacob in painful uncertainty as to what was his brother's views and feelings. Esau's studied reserve gave him reason to dread the worst. Jacob was naturally timid; but his conscience told him that there was much ground for apprehension, and his distress was all the more aggravated that he had to provide for the safety of a large and helpless family.
9
無標題
9-12. 雅各說，耶和華我祖亞伯拉罕的神——在這極大的急難中，他訴諸於禱告。這是聖經中所記載的第一個禱告的例子。它簡短、懇切，並且直接針對當時的場合。這懇求是向神發出的，正如祂與他家立約的關係一樣，正如我們也當把我們在基督裏蒙神悅納的盼望放在這基礎上。它以那賜給他平安歸來的特別應許為祈求；在作了最謙卑而動人的不配之認罪之後，它流露出從迫在眉睫的危險中得救的熱切渴望。這是一個慈愛的丈夫、慈祥的父親、對應許堅信之人的禱告。
英文原文
9-12. Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham--In this great emergency, he had recourse to prayer. This is the first recorded example of prayer in the Bible. It is short, earnest, and bearing directly on the occasion. The appeal is made to God, as standing in a covenant relation to his family, just as we ought to put our hopes of acceptance with God in Christ. It pleads the special promise made to him of a safe return; and after a most humble and affecting confession of unworthiness, it breathes an earnest desire for deliverance from the impending danger. It was the prayer of a kind husband, an affectionate father, a firm believer in the promises.
13
無標題
13-23. 預備……給以掃的禮物——雅各把積極的努力與懇切的禱告結合起來；這教訓我們，不可依賴神的幫助和介入，到了取代審慎和遠見之運用的地步。到尊者面前總要帶着禮物，而所表達的敬意是按禮物的品質和數量來衡量的。雅各的禮物包括五百五十頭不同種類的牲畜，都是最為以掃所看重的。這是一份最豐厚的禮物，安排和比例都十分巧妙。單是那些擠奶的駱駝就價值巨大；因為母駱駝是亞拉伯人財富的主要部分；駱駝奶是主要的飲食項目；在許多其他方面，牠們也是最有用的。
英文原文
13-23. took . . . a present for Esau--Jacob combined active exertions with earnest prayer; and this teaches us that we must not depend upon the aid and interposition of God in such a way as to supersede the exercise of prudence and foresight. Superiors are always approached with presents, and the respect expressed is estimated by the quality and amount of the gift. The present of Jacob consisted of five hundred fifty head of cattle, of different kinds, such as would be most prized by Esau. It was a most magnificent present, skilfully arranged and proportioned. The milch camels alone were of immense value; for the she camels form the principal part of Arab wealth; their milk is a chief article of diet; and in many other respects they are of the greatest use.
16
無標題
16. 每樣各成一群——這安排極有審慎；因為禮物如此便會顯得更壯觀；以掃每經過一隊，他的怒氣便有時間冷卻；而若第一隊被拒絕，其餘的便會趕快回去傳達及時的警告。
英文原文
16. every drove by themselves--There was great prudence in this arrangement; for the present would thus have a more imposing appearance; Esau's passion would have time to cool as he passed each successive company; and if the first was refused, the others would hasten back to convey a timely warning.
17
無標題
17. 他囑咐最前面的——使者被嚴嚴地吩咐說同樣的話
[Ge 32:18, 20]，
使以掃更受感動，並使這話的一致性更清楚地顯出是出於雅各本人。
英文原文
17. he commanded the foremost--The messengers were strictly commanded to say the same words
[Ge 32:18, 20],
that Esau might be more impressed and that the uniformity of the address might appear more clearly to have come from Jacob himself.
21
無標題
21. 他自己卻住宿——不是住宿整夜，而是其中一部分。
英文原文
21. himself lodged--not the whole night, but only a part of it.
22
無標題
22. 雅博渡口——即今日的 Zerka——一條發源於基列山嶺的溪流，自東向西流，在提比哩亞海以南約四十哩處注入約旦河。渡口處寬十碼。有時渡河不易；但夏季時極淺。
他夜間起來……帶過去——雅各睡不著覺，夜間獨自涉水渡過渡口；既確知其安全，便回到北岸，把家人與僕從都送過去，自己卻留在後面，要在無聲的禱告中再次尋求神祝福他所已經動用的手段。
英文原文
22. ford Jabbok--now the Zerka--a stream that rises among the mountains of Gilead, and running from east to west, enters the Jordan, about forty miles south of the Sea of Tiberias. At the ford it is ten yards wide. It is sometimes forded with difficulty; but in summer it is very shallow.
he rose up and took--Unable to sleep, Jacob waded the ford in the night time by himself; and having ascertained its safety, he returned to the north bank and sent over his family and attendants, remaining behind, to seek anew, in silent prayer, the divine blessing on the means he had set in motion.
24
無標題
24, 25. 有一個人來和他摔跤——這位神秘者被稱為天使
(Ho 12:4)，
也稱為神
(Ge 32:28, 30； Ho 12:5)。
最受支持的一種見解認為：他就是「立約的使者」，以可見的形狀顯現，要振奮他敬虔僕人的心，並體恤他的苦情。所描述的事件究竟是實際的角力還是異象中的場景，一直是眾多爭論的題目。許多人認為，由於敘述中明文沒有提到睡眠、異夢或異象，這是一次真實的事件；另一些人則考慮到雅各身體的疲乏、極大的精神焦慮、他所懇求的那種幫助，以及他先前所得顯現（如梯子）的類比，便斷定那是一個異象 [CALVIN, HESSENBERG, HENGSTENBERG]。這事的道德用意，是要振奮先祖頹喪的心靈，並使他在預期次日可怖的場景之時，以對神的信靠武裝自己。對我們而言，這是極具教訓意義的；它表明：為了鼓勵我們勇敢面對所受的試煉，神容許我們把唯獨祂的恩典使我們能贏得的勝利，歸功於我們信心與禱告的功效。
英文原文
24, 25. There wrestled a man with him--This mysterious person is called an angel
(Ho 12:4)
and God
(Ge 32:28, 30; Ho 12:5);
and the opinion that is most supported is that he was "the angel of the covenant," who, in a visible form, appeared to animate the mind and sympathize with the distress of his pious servant. It has been a subject of much discussion whether the incident described was an actual conflict or a visionary scene. Many think that as the narrative makes no mention in express terms either of sleep, or dream, or vision, it was a real transaction; while others, considering the bodily exhaustion of Jacob, his great mental anxiety, the kind of aid he supplicated, as well as the analogy of former manifestations with which he was favored--such as the ladder--have concluded that it was a vision [CALVIN, HESSENBERG, HENGSTENBERG]. The moral design of it was to revive the sinking spirit of the patriarch and to arm him with confidence in God, while anticipating the dreaded scenes of the morrow. To us it is highly instructive; showing that, to encourage us valiantly to meet the trials to which we are subjected, God allows us to ascribe to the efficacy of our faith and prayers, the victories which His grace alone enables us to make.
26
無標題
26. 你不給我祝福，我就不容你去——顯然雅各知道與他摔跤的是誰；他相信對方的能力雖遠超世人，卻因祂應許要向他施善而受了約束，便決心不失去這得著祝福的黃金機會。當神看見祂百姓的心緊緊倚靠祂，沒有比這更令神喜樂的事了。
英文原文
26. I will not let thee go, except thou bless me--It is evident that Jacob was aware of the character of Him with whom he wrestled; and, believing that His power, though by far superior to human, was yet limited by His promise to do him good, he determined not to lose the golden opportunity of securing a blessing. And nothing gives God greater pleasure than to see the hearts of His people firmly adhering to Him.
28
無標題
28. 你的名不要再叫雅各，要叫以色列——舊名並非要廢除；但它既與先祖歷史中不光彩的一段相連，便要與另一個描述他如今已被成聖、顯著敬虔之品格的新名相提並論。
英文原文
28. Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel--The old name was not to be abandoned; but, referring as it did to a dishonorable part of the patriarch's history, it was to be associated with another descriptive of his now sanctified and eminently devout character.
29
無標題
29. 雅各問說：請……將你的名告訴我——這請求被拒絕了，免得他因勝利而過於自高，或以為自己已從使者那裏取得足以令其隨心所欲的優勢。
英文原文
29. Jacob asked, Tell me . . . thy name--The request was denied that he might not be too elated with his conquest nor suppose that he had obtained such advantage over the angel as to make him do what he pleased.
31
無標題
31. 大腿就瘸了——正如保羅為使他謙卑、免得因所得豐富的啟示而過於自高，便賜他一根肉中的刺
[2Co 12:7]，
照樣雅各的瘸腿，也是為要使他常常記念這個神秘的場景，並記得勝利是出於恩典的俯就才讓給他的。在神的百姓憑信心所得的最大屬靈勝利中，總有些事物使他們謙卑下來。
英文原文
31. halted upon his thigh--As Paul had a thorn in the flesh given to humble him, lest he should be too elevated by the abundant revelations granted him
[2Co 12:7],
so Jacob's lameness was to keep him mindful of this mysterious scene, and that it was in gracious condescension the victory was yielded to him. In the greatest of these spiritual victories which, through faith, any of God's people obtain, there is always something to humble them.
32
無標題
32. 那萎縮了的筋——把大腿骨固定在臼中的那根神經。猶太人不喫動物肉中這條筋，這並非根據摩西律法，不過是傳統的習慣。這條筋被仔細地抽去；在沒有技術熟練之人作這手術的地方，他們就完全不使用後腿。
英文原文
32. the sinew which shrank--the nerve that fastens the thigh bone in its socket. The practice of the Jews in abstaining from eating this in the flesh of animals, is not founded on the law of Moses, but is merely a traditional usage. The sinew is carefully extracted; and where there are no persons skilled enough for that operation, they do not make use of the hind legs at all.
Ge 32:1, 2.
天使的異象。
1. 神的使者遇見他——並未說明這天使的顯現是日間異象，還是夜間異夢。然而顯然有對梯子之上的景象的暗示（參
Ge 28:12），
而這發生在雅各回迦南之時，便是神繼續同在與保護的鼓勵性憑據
(詩 34:7； 來 1:14)。