Introduction

The story of Jacob and the angel is a tale of fear and confrontation; of defeat and triumph; of struggle and destiny.

Twenty years earlier, an altercation with his older brother Esau compelled Jacob to flee his parent's home. He found safe haven with his uncle Laban. It was there that he married, raised a family, and became a successful businessman. He might have stayed indefinitely, had the domestic climate not changed, but between Laban's hostility and God's command it was time to return home. However returning home meant facing his long-lost brother Esau, whom he had not left on good terms. The text describes Jacobs's trepidation about what might ensue.