Divine Encounters - Zecharia Sitchin-pages

Page 259 of 384

Page 259 of 384
Divine Encounters - Zecharia Sitchin-pages

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255 And he called the place Mahana'im (the Place of Two Encampments). The event is recorded here in just two verses, significantly constituting a separate section in the formal enscribing of the Bible. In the following verses the subsequent, but unrelated, tale of Jacob's meeting with his brother Esau is told. The manner in which the ancient editors of the Scriptures treated these two verses brings to mind the manner in which the segment on the Nefilim has been told in chapter 6 of Genesis (preceding the tale of Noah and the ark), where the segment is clearly a retained remnant of a longer text. So must have been this reference to the encounter with an actual group or troup of Divine Emissaries—two verses remaining out of a much longer and detailed record. The ancient editors of Genesis must have retained the brief mention because of the subsequent episode, that had to be included because it explains why Jacob's name was changed to "Israel." Reaching the Crossing of Yabbok, and uncertain what his brother Esau's attitude would be to see his rival for the suc- cession return, Jacob adopted a strategy of sending forth his retinue a little at a time. Finally only he and his two wives and two handmaidens and his eleven children remained in his encampment for the night; so, under the cover of dark- ness, Jacob "took them and had them cross the stream, bring- ing over all that had remained." Then the unexpected Divine Encounter happened: And Jacob was left alone; And there wrestled with him a man until daybreak at dawn. And seeing that he could not prevail against him, he struck against the hollow of his (Jacob's) thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was put out of joint as he was wrestling with him. And he said: "Let go, for it is daybreak. But Jacob said: "I will not let thee Angels and Other Emissaries