Genesis 32

After this chapter, I'll group a few together. I gotta pick up the pace or I'll never finish this damn book. Plus, we're getting to the Jacob and the Technicolor Dreamcoat story, and you can listen to the soundtrack to fill in the blanks. I have to tell you, trudging through the bible is a genuine chore. The sex scenes and absurdities do help liven things up, so thank you God for that.

Jacob starts the trek home to Canaan. He's nervous about reuniting with his brother Esau. Recall that Jacob was an a-hole to Esau, stealing birth rights and such. He divides his slaves and livestock into two groups. I guess if there is trouble, only half of Team Jacob will get slaughtered. He doesn't put himself in harm's way though. He prepares a gift of 530 livestock for his brother. Here's some camels and she asses, sorry about screwing up your life. The fraidy cat gives them to his slaves to deliver.

Jacob sends his family and servants ahead of him and spends the night alone. Well, not exactly alone. "There wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day." We don't know who the man is, or how/why they met, but they went at it all night. There doesn't seem to be any anger in the wrestling, in fact they part ways in the morning with a blessing. It certainly was a rough-and-tumble night though, as "the hollow of Jacob's thigh" gets bruised up. Ooh la la. The guy won't tell Jacob his name. Probably best to keep these things discreet. He renames Jacob "Israel" before he scampers off.

And Jacob called the place Peniel. Who could make this up? Ah yes, I had a wild night with a mystery man here in thy place, I name thee Peniel.

And what is with bible men naming places as they travel around? How do they know a given place is not already named? Or that the town name is not already in use? And who are you to decide what gets named? Small detail but you can poke holes at every turn in this book.

P.S. The children of Israel will not eat the sinew of the thigh of any animal, as a result of Jacob's injury during his special night with the "wrestler." Good thinking.