OT § 30
Theophany Vespers
And Jacob said, when he saw them, This is the Camp of God; and he called the name of that place, Encampments.
εἶπε δὲ ᾿Ιακώβ, ἡνίκα εἶδεν αὐτούς· παρεμβολὴ Θεοῦ αὕτη· καὶ ἐκάλεσε τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ τόπου ἐκείνου Παρεμβολαί.
Рече́ же і҆а́кѡвъ, є҆гда̀ ви́дѣ и҆̀хъ: по́лкъ бж҃їй се́й. И҆ прозва̀ и҆́мѧ мѣ́стꙋ томꙋ̀ полкѝ.
Scripture enlightens in a circle, as, for instance, when it advises us not to flee, because we have protection all around. For we have the Lord and angels about us, wherefore the Psalm: Mountains are round about Jerusalem; so the Lord is round about His people. To the servant of Eliseus who cried out because of the Syrian robbers who sought to capture him, Eliseus said: "Lord, open his eyes, that he may see." And the Lord opened the eyes of the servant, and he saw. And behold the mountain was full of horses, and chariots of fire round about Eliseus. Jacob too, afraid of his brother, saw the angels and said: "This is the encampment of God." Wherefore the Psalm says: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? And in another passage: Had not the Lord been with us, let Israel say, etc., until the end.
Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 17(Chapter XXXII, Verse 2) And Sara died in the city of Arboc, which is in the valley: this is Chebron, in the land of Canaan. This that is placed here, which is in the valley, is not found in authentic codices. The name of the city Arboc has also gradually been corrupted by scribes and readers. For it should not be assumed that the Seventy Interpreters translated the name of the Hebrew city in a barbaric and corrupted manner, differently than it is said in its own language. Indeed, 'Arboc' signifies nothing at all. But it is said to be 'Arbee' (that is, four) because there Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were buried, and also the first of the human race, Adam, as will be more clearly demonstrated in the book of Jesus.
Hebrew Questions on GenesisAnd Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother to the land of Seir, to the country of Edom.
᾿Απέστειλε δὲ ᾿Ιακὼβ ἀγγέλους ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ πρὸς ῾Ησαῦ τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ εἰς γῆν Σηείρ, εἰς χώραν ᾿Εδώμ.
Посла́ же і҆а́кѡвъ послы̀ пред̾ собо́ю ко и҆са́ѵꙋ бра́тꙋ своемꙋ̀ въ зе́млю сиі́ръ, въ странꙋ̀ є҆дѡ́мъ,
Jacob did not want to see Esau before he had appeased him with presents, and he only saw him afterward when the presents had been accepted. And when Jacob came to him, he bowed down to him from a long way off. So how shall the elder be slave to the younger, when the younger manifestly bows down to the elder? But the reason why these things were not fulfilled in the actual history of the two men is to make us understand that they were said of a future Jacob. The younger son received the first place, and the elder son, the people of the Jews, lost the first place. See how Jacob has filled the whole world, has taken possession of nations and kingdoms.
SERMON 5.5See how great was Jacob's fear even after the vision had affected the good man. He was afraid of his brother's aggression and was concerned lest the memory of what had been done by him previously might provoke Esau into an attack on him. "Say to my lord Esau, 'Thus says your servant Jacob: I was dwelling with Laban and tarried until now; I acquired cattle and asses and sheep, servants male and female. I have sent word to my lord in the hope that your servant may find favor with you.' " Notice how Jacob was afraid of his brother, and hence out of a wish to placate him he sent word ahead alerting him to his coming, the wealth acquired by him and where he had spent all the time, so as to calm Esau's anger and succeed in making him gracious. This in fact happened, for God placated his heart, allayed his anger and rendered him gracious. After all, if by the words Jacob spoke to Laban, who had hunted him down in such awful rage, he caused him to suffer such great apprehension, much more did he cause his brother to be more affable to the good man.
HOMILIES ON GENESIS 58.3And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye say to my lord Esau: Thus saith thy servant Jacob; I have sojourned with Laban and tarried until now.
καὶ ἐνετείλατο αὐτοῖς λέγων· οὕτως ἐρεῖτε τῷ κυρίῳ μου ῾Ησαῦ· οὕτως λέγει ὁ παῖς σου ᾿Ιακώβ· μετὰ Λάβαν παρῴκησα, καὶ ἐχρόνισα ἕως τοῦ νῦν,
и҆ заповѣ́да и҆̀мъ глаго́лѧ: та́кѡ рцы́те господи́нꙋ моемꙋ̀ и҆са́ѵꙋ: та́кѡ глаго́летъ ра́бъ тво́й і҆а́кѡвъ: ᲂу҆ лава́на ѡ҆бита́хъ и҆ ᲂу҆ме́длихъ да́же до нн҃ѣ:
And there were born to me oxen, and asses, and sheep, and men-servants and women-servants; and I sent to tell my lord Esau, that thy servant might find grace in thy sight.
καὶ ἐγένοντό μοι βόες καὶ ὄνοι καὶ πρόβατα καὶ παῖδες καὶ παιδίσκαι, καὶ ἀπέστειλα ἀναγγεῖλαι τῷ κυρίῳ μου ῾Ησαῦ, ἵνα εὕρῃ ὁ παῖς σου χάριν ἐναντίον σου.
и҆ бы́ша мѝ воло́ве и҆ ѻ҆слы̀ и҆ ѻ҆́вцы, и҆ рабѝ и҆ рабы̑ни: и҆ посла́хъ повѣ́дати господи́нꙋ моемꙋ̀ и҆са́ѵꙋ, дабы̀ ѡ҆брѣ́лъ ра́бъ тво́й благода́ть пред̾ тобо́ю.
And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and lo! he comes to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.
καὶ ἀνέστρεψαν οἱ ἄγγελοι πρὸς ᾿Ιακὼβ λέγοντες· ἤλθομεν πρὸς τὸν ἀδελφόν σου ῾Ησαῦ, καὶ ἰδοὺ αὐτὸς ἔρχεται εἰς συνάντησίν σοι καὶ τετρακόσιοι ἄνδρες μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ.
И҆ возврати́шасѧ послы̀ ко і҆а́кѡвꙋ, глаго́люще: ходи́хомъ ко бра́тꙋ твоемꙋ̀ и҆са́ѵꙋ, и҆ сѐ, са́мъ и҆́детъ во срѣ́тенїе тебѣ̀, и҆ четы́риста мꙋже́й съ ни́мъ.
(Verse 6) Hear us, O Lord, you are our king from God, bury your dead in our chosen sepulcher. For a king is called a prince in Hebrew, or a leader. For a leader is called not a king, but a duke.
Hebrew Questions on GenesisSee how this was sufficient to aggravate the good man's fear. Far from realizing precisely his brother's intent, Jacob was terrified to learn the number of those approaching and suspected that they were bent on hostilities and so wanted to catch up with him. Note the text says, "Jacob was in a state of fear and perplexity." Fear disturbed his thinking, and instead of knowing what to do, he was at a loss; hence Jacob was terrified of almost everything, and, with the prospect of death before him, "he divided all the people with him into two camps." You see, he said, "If he comes upon one camp and attacks it, the other will have the chance of being saved." While it was Jacob's fear and great terror that suggested this, … seeing himself caught in a trap he had recourse to the invincible Lord and invoked the promises made him by the God of all, as if to say to him, "Now the time has come for a good man to enjoy your complete assistance on account of the virtue of his forebears and the promises made by you."
HOMILIES ON GENESIS 58.4And Jacob was greatly terrified, and was perplexed; and he divided the people that was with him, and the cows, and the camels, and the sheep, into two camps.
ἐφοβήθη δὲ ᾿Ιακὼβ σφόδρα, καὶ ἠπορεῖτο. καὶ διεῖλε τὸν λαὸν τὸν μεθ᾿ ἑαυτοῦ καὶ τοὺς βόας καὶ τὰς καμήλους καὶ τὰ πρόβατα εἰς δύο παρεμβολάς,
Оу҆боѧ́сѧ же і҆а́кѡвъ ѕѣлѡ̀ и҆ въ недоꙋмѣ́нїи бѣ̀: и҆ раздѣлѝ лю́ди сꙋ́щыѧ съ собо́ю, и҆ волы̀ и҆ вельблю́ды и҆ ѻ҆́вцы на два̀ полка̑,
And Jacob said, If Esau should come to one camp, and smite it, the other camp shall be in safety.
καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Ιακώβ· ἐὰν ἔλθῃ ῾Ησαῦ εἰς παρεμβολὴν μίαν καὶ κόψῃ αὐτήν, ἔσται ἡ παρεμβολὴ ἡ δευτέρα εἰς τὸ σώζεσθαι.
и҆ речѐ і҆а́кѡвъ: а҆́ще прїи́детъ и҆са́ѵъ на є҆ди́нъ по́лкъ и҆ и҆зсѣче́тъ и҆̀, бꙋ́детъ вторы́й по́лкъ во спасе́нїи.
And Jacob said, God of my father Abraam, and God of my father Isaac, O Lord, thou [art] he that said to me, Depart quickly to the land of thy birth, and I will do thee good.
εἶπε δὲ ᾿Ιακώβ· ὁ Θεὸς τοῦ πατρός μου ῾Αβραὰμ καὶ ὁ Θεὸς τοῦ πατρός μου ᾿Ισαάκ, Κύριε σὺ ὁ εἰπών μοι, ἀπότρεχε εἰς τὴν γῆν τῆς γενέσεώς σου καὶ εὖ σε ποιήσω,
Рече́ же і҆а́кѡвъ: бг҃ъ ѻ҆тца̀ моегѡ̀ а҆враа́ма и҆ бг҃ъ ѻ҆тца̀ моегѡ̀ і҆саа́ка, гдⷭ҇и бж҃е, ты̀ рекі́й мѝ: и҆дѝ въ зе́млю рожде́нїѧ твоегѡ̀, и҆ бла́го тебѣ̀ сотворю̀:
(Verse 9 and 10.) And Jacob said, O God of my father Isaac, Lord, who said to me, Return to your land and I will bless you: I am less than all your mercies, and all your truth, which you have shown to your servant. For because of what we have done, I am less, something else I do not know, which disturbs the meaning, is contained in the Greek and Latin codices.
Hebrew Questions on GenesisLet there be to me a sufficiency of all the justice and all the truth which thou hast wrought with thy servant; for with this my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I am become two camps.
ἱκανούσθω μοι ἀπὸ πάσης δικαιοσύνης καὶ ἀπὸ πάσης ἀληθείας, ἧς ἐποίησας τῷ παιδί σου· ἐν γὰρ τῇ ῥάβδῳ μου ταύτῃ διέβην τὸν ᾿Ιορδάνην τοῦτον, νυνὶ δὲ γέγονα εἰς δύο παρεμβολάς.
довлѣ́етъ мѝ ѿ всеѧ̀ пра́вды и҆ ѿ всеѧ̀ и҆́стины, ю҆́же сотвори́лъ є҆сѝ рабꙋ̀ твоемꙋ̀: съ жезло́мъ бо си́мъ преидо́хъ і҆ѻрда́нъ се́й, нн҃ѣ же бѣ́хъ въ два̀ полка̑:
"With only his staff he crossed the Jordan." It was a wondrous symbol Jacob held in his hand in anticipation—the sign of the cross of the great prophet. He lifted up his feet on to the land of the people of the east, because it was from there that "a light shone out to the peoples." He reclined by the well that had a stone on its mouth that many men had not been able to lift—for many shepherds had been unable to lift it and open up the well, until Jacob came and, through the power of the Shepherd who was hidden in his limbs, lifted up the stone and watered his sheep. Many prophets too had come without being able to unveil baptism, before the great Prophet came and opened it up by himself and was baptized in it, calling out and proclaiming in a gentle voice: "Let everyone who thirsts come to me and drink."
ON PRAYER 6We do not read of blessed Jacob that he departed with horses or asses or camels, but we read only that he carried a staff in his hand. Thus indeed, when entreating the Lord he said, "Lord, I am not worthy of all thy kindnesses. With only my staff I crossed this Jordan; behold, now I have grown into two camps." Jacob displayed his staff to take a wife, but Christ bore the wood of the cross to redeem the church. In his sleep Jacob put a stone under his head and saw a ladder extending to heaven, while the Lord leaned upon the ladder. Consider, brothers, how many mysteries there are in this place. Jacob represented a type of the Lord our Savior; the stone that he put under his head no less prefigured Christ the Lord. Listen to the apostle telling why the stone at the head signifies Christ: "The head of man is Christ." Finally, notice that blessed Jacob anointed the stone. Pay attention to the anointing, and you will recognize Christ. Christ is explained from an anointing, that is, from the grace of anointing.
SERMON 87.2And like an alien who possessed nothing he began to travel the path of his journey, and he asked from them for his need nothing, neither beast for burden, nor servants for ministration, nor costly apparel in which to appear, nor other things which are a vain show, to which many hold fast to-day, but he went forth from them with his staff, being provided for the journey, and bearing blessings and promises of good things instead of these things of mankind. And his words also make this known unto us, for in giving thanks unto God for the things which he had, and entreating to be delivered from his brother, he saith, "With my staff only I passed over this Jordan, and now I have become two companies; deliver me from the hands of Esau, my brother, for I am afraid of him."
13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 4 -- On Faith: First Discourse on Simplicity
AND Jacob departed for his journey; and having looked up, he saw the host of God encamped; and the angels of God met him.
ΚΑΙ ᾿Ιακὼβ ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὴν ὁδὸν ἑαυτοῦ. καὶ ἀναβλέψας εἶδε παρεμβολὴν Θεοῦ παρεμβεβληκυῖαν, καὶ συνήντησαν αὐτῷ οἱ ἄγγελοι τοῦ Θεοῦ.
И҆ і҆а́кѡвъ и҆́де въ пꙋ́ть сво́й. И҆ воззрѣ́въ ви́дѣ по́лкъ бж҃їй воѡполчи́вшїйсѧ: и҆ срѣто́ша є҆го̀ а҆́гг҃ли бж҃їи.
After Jacob and Laban had parted from each other, "angels of God met Jacob" to make known to him that if Laban did not obey God, who had appeared to him in the evening, he and those with him would be destroyed at dawn by the hands of those angels who protect Jacob. Just as God had shown Jacob the angels that accompanied him when he went down, he also showed him angels when he was going up to make him know that the word was true which God had spoken to him: "I will go down with you, and I will bring you up from there." The army of angels that God had shown Jacob was so that he would not fear Esau, for there were many more [angels] with Jacob than were with Esau.
COMMENTARY ON GENESIS 30:1(Chapter XXXII.—Verse 1 and 2.) And the angels of God met him, and when Jacob saw them, he said: These are the camps of God, and he called the name of that place Mahanaim. Where these camps were placed, in Hebrew it means Mahanaim (); so that we may know, if it is ever mentioned in another place without interpretation, what place it signifies. And beautifully, as he goes to meet his enemy brother, he is received by choirs of accompanying angels.
Hebrew Questions on GenesisYou see, once fear of Laban faded and was no more, then fear of his brother took hold of Jacob; so the loving Lord wanted to give the good man heart and drive out all his apprehension. Thus he caused Jacob to see the angels' camp. "God's angels accosted him," the text says, remember. "Jacob said, 'This is God's camp,' and he called that place Camps," with the result that from the name there was a constant reminder of the vision that occurred to him there.
HOMILIES ON GENESIS 58.2