One of the notable passages in the Old Testament is that which tells of the changing of Jacob's name to Israel at Peniel; but the circumstances preceding the change also deserve consideration as explaining the nature of the problems which Jacob had to overcome on this occasion.
Following the agreement which Jacob had eventually reached with Laban after long years in his service (see Gen. 31:41, 52), which was apparently concluded near the northeastern border of Canaan, Laban returned home to Haran in Mesopotamia; while Jacob, his family, and his retainers continued their journey southward. That on this occasion he was met, after his long absence from Canaan, by "the angels of God" (Gen. 32:1), whom he welcomed as "God's host" (verse 2), must surely have brought Jacob encouragement; the more so because he was now approaching Seir, or Edom, in the vicinity of the Dead Sea—the land of his brother Esau, whom he had disinherited many years before and who at that time had planned to kill him (see Gen. 27:36, 41).
The news which Jacob shortly received regarding his brother's movements was portentous to say the least, especially in view of Jacob's obviously guilty conscience. Word had come to Jacob through his men who had been sent ahead to encounter his brother that Esau was now approaching with a force of four hundred men under his command. "Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed" (Gen. 32:7).
