This rises up to Jehovah.
1. It is not Mal'ak' (angel) Jehovah, but Mal'akey (angel of) Elohim; God's providential display of sovereign care.
2. "Mahanaim" is not a sovereign covenant act.
NOTE.—Jehovah can send him away in this character, but, till he is back in his right place, He does not reveal Himself on the way in any way by His name; but he can refer back to that kind of revelation.
9, 10. But it is only as a present thing, Peniel (the face of God); and this was all in its place, a faithful, gracious, but not a revealed God; we ought to have both. It is in His place we have this.
20. This is all wretched and the fruit of evil.
29. We have often remarked, there is no name here, no revelation of God; there was a name at Bethel, not of present relationship, but of promise and care. This is conflict-he is not returned there.
30. NOTE.—In confirmation of the view of Jacob's wrestling heretofore given, that all that he can say (and though perfect grace in God, how poor as to communion with Him), is " I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved "was that all? Oh, how sorrowful! Note too, the struggle was in the dark which is very expressive.