the people before, he remained alone, and behold an angel came, and wrestled with him till the day began to appear. Then the angel said to Jacob, Let me go, for the morning begins to appear. Jacob answered, I shall not let you go from me till you have given me your blessing. The angel blessed him then in the same place, which Jacob thence called Peniel, saying, I have seen God face to face, yet continue alive.

In following ages the Israelites built a city in this place, which was given to the tribe of Gad. Gideon, returning from the pursuit of the Midianites, overthrew the tower of Peniel, (Judges viii. 17), and put all the inhabitants of the city to death, for having refused succourance to him and his people, and having answered him in a very insulting manner. Jeroboam the son of Nebat rebuilt the city of Peniel, (1 Kings xii. 25). Jothophus says, that this prince there built himself a palace.

the second wife of Elkanah, the father of Samuel. Peninnah had several children, (1 Sam. i. 2, 3, &c.), but Hannah, who afterwards was mother of Samuel, was for a great while barren: Peninnah, instead of giving the glory to God, the author of fruitfulness, was elevated with pride, and insulted her rival Hannah. But the Lord having visited Hannah, Peninnah was thereupon humbled: and some interpreters think, that God took away her children from her, or at least that she had no more after this time, according to the words of the song of Hannah, (1 Sam. ii. 5), "The barren hath born seven, and the that hath many children is waxed feeble."