Difference between revisions of "Penuel"

<p> <strong> [[Penuel]] </strong> (once, &nbsp; [[Genesis]] 32:30 , Peniel). A place E. of Jordan, and near the Jabbok, at which Jacob wrestled with the angel (&nbsp; Genesis 32:24 ff.), and said (&nbsp; Genesis 32:30 ) to be called [[Peniel]] (or Penuel), <em> i.e </em> . ‘Face of God,’ because Jacob said, ‘I have seen God <em> face to face </em> , and yet my life is preserved.’ (The mention of the ‘face of God’ in &nbsp; Genesis 33:10 makes it possible that another explanation of the origin of the name is there alluded to.) There was, however, in PhÅ“nicia, a little S. of Tripolis, a headland called <em> Theou prosôpon </em> , ‘God’s face’; and it is thought by some scholars that ‘Penuel’ really derived its name from some projecting rock in whose contour a face was seen. Penuel is mentioned also in the history of Gideon, as a place with a strong tower or castle which [[Gideon]] destroyed (&nbsp; Judges 8:8-9; &nbsp; Judges 8:17 ); it may be inferred from this passage that Penuel was a little E. of <strong> [[Succoth]] </strong> (&nbsp; Judges 8:6 ), and also on a higher elevation (‘went up,’ &nbsp; Judges 8:8 ). Many years later, Penuel was fortified by [[Jeroboam]] (&nbsp; 1 Kings 12:25 ); so that it must have been a place of some strategic importance. The site is not more certain than that of Succoth; see under Succoth some account of the data upon which its settlement depends, and a suggestion for it. Merrill identifies Penuel with <em> Tulûl edh-Dhahab </em> (‘the hills of gold,’ so called from the yellow metalliferous sandstone of which they are composed), two conical hills, about 250 ft. high, round which the [[Jabbok]] winds, about 6 miles E. of Deir ‘Allâ (which Merrill identifies with Succoth), up the valley, with ancient ruins on the top; and Conder Identifies it with <em> Jebel Osha </em> , a mountain 3597 ft. high, with a fine view, 8 miles S. of the Jabbok. But to each of these identifications there are grave objections: as regards Merrill’s site, it is expressly declared by other travellers that the banks of the Jabbok for many miles above Tulûl edh-Dhahab are on both sides so lofty and precipitous as to afford no way for either the [[Midianites]] or Gideon to pass along them (see <em> ExpT </em> <em> [Note: Expository Times.] </em> . xiii. [1902] 457 ff., or more briefly the writer’s <em> Genesis </em> , p. 300 ff.). </p> <p> S. R. Driver. </p>

<p> In the place of this name, (See Peniel). The name Penuel (Heb. ''Penuel','' פְּנוּאֵל face of God; Sept. Φανουήλ ) occurs also as the name of two men. </p> <p> '''1.''' First named of two sons of Hur, son of Judah. He was the father of [[Gedor]] (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 4:4). B.C. post 1658. </p> <p> '''2.''' Last named of eleven sons of Shashak, son of Beriah; a man of the tribe of [[Benjamin]] who dwelt in the city of [[Jerusalem]] (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 8:25). B.C, post 1612. </p>