- PENUEL face of God, a place not far from Succoth, on the east of the
Jordan and north of the river Jabbok. It is also called “Peniel.” Here Jacob
wrestled (Genesis 32:24-32) “with a man” (“the angel”, Hos. 12:4. Jacob
says of him, “I have seen God face to face”) “till the break of day.”
A town was afterwards built there (Judges 8:8; 1 Kings 12:25). The men of
this place refused to succour Gideon and his little army when they were in
pursuit of the Midianites (Judges 8:1-21). On his return, Gideon slew the
men of this city and razed its lofty watch-tower to the ground.
- PEOR opening. (1.) A mountain peak (Numbers 23:28) to which Balak
led Balaam as a last effort to induce him to pronounce a curse upon Israel.
When he looked on the tribes encamped in the acacia groves below him, he
could not refrain from giving utterance to a remarkable benediction
(24:1-9). Balak was more than ever enraged at Balaam, and bade him flee
for his life. But before he went he gave expression to that wonderful
prediction regarding the future of this mysterious people, whose “goodly
tents” were spread out before him, and the coming of a “Star” out of Jacob
and a “Sceptre” out of Israel (24:14-17).
(2.) A Moabite divinity, called also “Baal-peor” (Numbers 25:3, 5, 18;
comp. Deuteronomy 3:29).