John Calvin Commentary Genesis 32:1

"And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him." — Genesis 32:1 (ASV)

And Jacob went on his way. After Jacob had escaped from the hands of his father-in-law (that is, from imminent death), he meets his brother, whose cruelty was as much to be dreaded, or even more so. For by this brother's threats he had been driven from his country, and now no better prospect lay before him.

He therefore proceeds with trepidation, as one who goes to the slaughter. However, since it was almost certain that he would sink, oppressed by grief, the Lord affords him timely aid and prepares him for this conflict, as well as for others, so that he would stand forth as a brave and invincible champion in all of them.

Therefore, so that he might know he was defended by God's guardianship, angels go forth to meet him, arranged in ranks on both sides. Hebrew interpreters think that the enemy's camp had been placed on one side, and that the angels, or rather God, stood on the other.

But it is much more probable that angels were distributed in two camps on different sides of Jacob, so that he might perceive he was everywhere surrounded and fortified by celestial troops. As in Psalm 34:7, it is declared that angels, to preserve the worshippers of God, pitch their tents around them.

Yet I am not dissatisfied with the opinion of those who take the dual number simply for the plural, understanding that Jacob was entirely surrounded by an army of angels. Now the use of this vision was twofold: for first, since the holy man was very anxious about the future, the Lord intended early to remove this cause of terror from him, or at least to afford him some alleviation, lest he should sink under temptation.

Secondly, God intended, after Jacob had been delivered from his brother, to fix the memory of the past benefit so firmly in his mind that it would never be lost. We know how prone people are to forget God's benefits. Even while God is stretching out his hand to help them, scarcely one out of a hundred raises his eyes toward heaven.

Therefore, it was necessary that God's visible protection should be placed before the holy man's eyes. This was so that, as if in a splendid theater, he might perceive that he had recently been delivered from Laban's hand, not by chance, but because God's angels were fighting for him. He could then also confidently hope that their help would be ready for him against his brother's attempts. And finally, when the danger was overcome, he might remember the protection he had received from them.

This teaching is useful to us all, so that we may learn to recognize God's invisible presence in his evident favors. Primarily, however, it was necessary that the holy man be equipped with new weapons to endure the approaching conflict. He did not know whether his brother Esau had changed for the better or the worse.

But he was more inclined to suspect that this bloodthirsty man would devise nothing but hostility. Therefore, the angels appeared to confirm his faith for the future, as well as to call past favors to his remembrance. The number of these angels also greatly encouraged him, for although a single angel would be sufficient as a guardian for us, yet the Lord acts more generously towards us.

Therefore, those who think that each of us is defended by only one angel wickedly belittle God's kindness. And undoubtedly, the devil, by this crafty device, has sought to diminish our faith to some extent. The holy man's gratitude is noted by Moses in the fact that he assigns a name to the place (Galeed), as a token of perpetual remembrance.