Jacob encountered the angels of God as he walked near the camp and named the place Mahanaim. He then sent messengers to his brother Esau, who was in Seir, the land of Edom. Jacob instructed the messengers, saying, "Speak to my lord and brother Esau and tell him that I have lived with Laban and acquired many oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants. I hope to find favor in his eyes."
The messengers returned and informed Jacob that they had met Esau, who was accompanied by 400 men. Esau was coming to meet Jacob, and upon hearing this, Jacob became anxious. He divided the people, herds, flocks, and camels into two groups, thinking that if Esau attacked one group, the other might escape.
Jacob prayed to God, saying, "God of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac, I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness You have shown me. I started with nothing and now I have become two camps. Please save me from the hand of my brother Esau, for You have promised to make my descendants as numerous as the sand of the sea."
Jacob then moved to Mahanaim and settled there. He prepared a gift for Esau, consisting of a large number of animals. He instructed his servants to present the gift to Esau, saying, "When you meet Esau and find him along the way, remind him that I am following behind with my servants. I hope to appease him with the gift before I see his face, as perhaps he will receive me kindly." The gift was sent ahead, but Jacob stayed in the camp that night.
JThe following day, Jacob took his family, including his two wives, female servants, and eleven sons, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He sent them over the brook along with his possessions. Jacob was left alone and wrestled with a man until daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower Jacob, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip, causing it to be dislocated. The man asked Jacob to let him go, but Jacob refused unless he received a blessing. The man then revealed himself to be God and changed Jacob's name to Israel, explaining that he had struggled with God and men and had prevailed. Jacob asked God for his name, but God did not reveal it. Instead, God blessed Jacob, and Jacob named the place Peniel, for he had seen God face to face.