Jacob Wrestles with God
In the Book of Genesis, as Jacob prepares to reunite with his brother Esau after years of estrangement, he encounters a mysterious divine being while alone by the Jabbok River. Throughout the night, Jacob wrestles with this figure, refusing to release him until receiving a blessing, during which his hip is dislocated. The being then renames Jacob as Israel, meaning "he who struggles with God," symbolizing his perseverance and transformation. This event holds profound significance in Scripture as it marks the origin of the name for the nation of Israel and underscores themes of divine encounter and covenantal identity.
Meanwhile in the World
Egypt's Old Kingdom builds the pyramids (c. 2600-2100 BC). Mesopotamia is dominated by Akkad and then Ur III. The Indus Valley civilization flourishes. Stonehenge is being constructed in Britain. This is the era of the great ziggurats and the first law codes (Ur-Nammu).