In Genesis 32:24, who was the “man” with whom Jacob wrestled?

In “Who wrestled with Jacob” written by Fred Blumenthal, his final consensus is that Jacob wrestled not with a man but with two symbolic voices within his own head. According to Blumenthal one voice advocates his entitlement to entry into the Promised Land of his forefathers. The other voice advocates prosperity in the face of retreating from his brother Esau. Blumenthal mentions other interpretations regarding who the man might be. He states that author Naomi Rosenblatt believes the man is Jacob’s father Isaac “the enmity of his brother Esau.” Maimonides in The Guide for the Perplexed, Blumenthal writes, believes the match was not real but rather a “prophetic vision” on Maimonides apparently did not elaborate on.

In “The struggle for a blessing: Reflections on Genesis 32:24-3” written by Athanasios Hatzopoulos, the author provides varying perspectives from other noted authors as to the identity of the man Jacob wrestles with. The first is from Gregory the Great who believes Jacob is wrestling with God, but not as a onetime incident but rather as an invitation to human nature to be part of “divine reality.” Claus Westermann sees the man as a demonic figure that wraps around the traditional view about the “perils of the ford of the Jabbok.”  Hatzopoulos maintains the stance that the man was a divine figure and not at all a demonic force.

            In “Studies in the Life of Jacob Part 2: Jacob at the Jabbok, Israel at Peniel” written by Alan P. Ross, the author surmises various interpretations of who the man is. One is the idea that Jacob’s adversary is none other than a dream as expressed by Josephus. Clement of Alexandria accepts the narrative as an allegory and that the struggle is between Jacob and the Logos. Jerome sees the wrestling as the “long and earnest prayer,” alluding to the combatant as God Himself. According to Ross, Jewish literature accepts the text as literal and claims the man as “the prince or angel of Esau.” The author agrees with a literal “fight” and provides a wonderful commentary in the final analysis as to what the passage means for the contemporary biblical audience.

            I have always considered this epic struggle between Jacob and the man as Jacob fighting with God. Although, as I read further and really considered the details of the account, I wonder now. There is no doubt in my mind that the man is of divine nature and that God was looking to accomplish something through Jacob that would translate for us today. In fact I see a bit of this struggle going on in my own life as I cry out to God, “I won’t let go until you bless me.” But I have to ask, if it was God, why did He have to leave by dawn? How come he could not get away from Jacob’s grip? So many questions that undoubtedly require further study, one well worth it I imagine.

Bibliography

Hatzopoulos, Athanasios. 1996. "The Struggle for a Blessing: Reflections on Genesis 32:24-31." The Ecumenical Review. 507, http://search.proquest.com/docview/228636348?accountid=12085 (accessed September 10, 2012).

Blumenthal, Fred. 2010. "Who wrestled with Jacob?" Jewish Bible Quarterly 38.2:119, http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/ps/i.do?action=interpret&id=GALE|A225793260&v=2.1&u=vic_liberty&it=r&p=ITOF&sw=w&authCount=1 (accessed September 10, 2012).

Allen P. Ross. 1980. “Studies in the Life of Jacob Part 2: Jacob at the Jabbok, Israel at Peniel”  Bibliotheca Sacra 137:223-40, http://faculty.gordon.edu/hu/bi/Ted_Hildebrandt/OTeSources/01-Genesis/Text/Articles-Books/Ross_JacobPeniel_BSac.pdf (accessed September 10, 2012).