JACOB WRESTLES WITH THE ANGEL

The servants of Jacob went before him with the present for Esau,
and he followed with his wives and his children. As he was about
to pass over the ford of Jabbok, he observed a shepherd, who
likewise had sheep and camels. The stranger approached Jacob and
proposed that they should ford the stream together, and help each
other move their cattle over, and Jacob assented, on the
condition that his possessions should be put across first. In the
twinkling of an eye Jacob's sheep were transferred to the other
side of the stream by the shepherd. Then the flocks of the
shepherd were to be moved by Jacob, but no matter how many he
took over to the opposite bank, always there remained some on the
hither shore. There was no end to the cattle, though Jacob
labored all the night through. At last he lost patience, and he