Joe: Alright, so what can you tell me about Genesis 32?

Bible Expert: This chapter begins with Jacob sending messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau to prepare the way for a reunion with his estranged brother.

Joe: Woah, that sounds intense! What did the messengers say?

Bible Expert: They said, “Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: ‘Thus says your servant Jacob, I have sojourned with Laban and stayed until now. I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, in order that I may find favor in your sight.’”

Joe: That's... a lot to unpack. So, what happened next?

Bible Expert: Well, Jacob then took his family and possessions across the river Jabbok.

Joe: And what happened at the river?

Bible Expert: Jacob encountered a man in a wrestling match, who was later revealed to be an angel. Jacob struggled with him all night and was only released when he gave him the name Israel, meaning “he who struggles with God”.

Joe: Wow, that's an incredible story! So what happened after that?

Bible Expert: After the wrestling match, Jacob was reunited with his brother Esau and the two made peace with one another.

Joe: That's amazing! So, after all of that, what did Jacob do?

Bible Expert: Jacob then set up an altar and built a city and called it Beth-El, meaning “house of God”. He also made a vow to God, that if God would be with him and protect him on his journeys, he would give God a tenth of his possessions.

Joe: That's pretty cool. So, what happened after that?

Bible Expert: After that, Jacob and his family continued on their journey and eventually arrived in the land of Canaan, where they settled and Jacob lived out the remainder of his days.