The identity of Jacob’s assailant is a mystery, but Kass offers a number of suggestions for who he could possibly be. The first suggestion is the traditional view that the opponent is an angel. Some people think he is a symbol for Jacob’s conscience/ fears, but the physicality of the fight suggests that it is in fact a physical being. Others think that he could be a stand-in for Esau, or even more generally, a stand in for all of Jacob’s past struggles with men (“… the memories of all of Jacob’s previous strivings appear to be conflated and embodied, ready not only for revisiting, but for reenactment”). Later, Kass notes that the being’s “remark about daybreak has confirmed Jacob in his suspicion that he has faced a more-than-human adversary.” In short, Jacob realizes that the opponent he faces is not merely human. Kass suggests that the opponent could represent both man and God simultaneously, and the fight could represent the idea that all of Jacob’s past struggles with men have also been struggles with God.
As for who wins the fight, I don’t think either person necessarily “wins” in the traditional sense of the word. Kass points out how Jacob technically wins physically, as “the man could not overcome Jacob, at least not whilst fighting as a man.” But Kass makes the distinction that Jacob doesn’t necessarily win, he “prevails.” Since Jacob is physically strong, “he will learn his limitations only in contests with the divine.” Kass notes that most people would think that struggling against God would lead to punishment. However, it’s actually good that Jacob struggled, because “struggle or striving is vastly preferable to ignorance or indifference.” Jacob emerges from the fight with a new name – his “title of victory.” However, the opponent/ God also gains from this struggle. By begging for a blessing, Jacob “acknowledges both his own neediness and the higher standing of his opponent.” The assailant also gives Jacob a limp which “permanently slows” him and affects his progeny, reminding them of the power and position of the Lord.
Caroline's Blog 
I like how you mentioned Jacob’s opponent could be a general embodiment of all of his past struggles with men. Do you think the fact that Jacob engaged in this fight was in some ways his repentance for his past? I also liked how you described the meaning of “winning” that fight – especially your distinctions between both of their concessions to the other in terms of superiority.
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I like how you make the connection that the opponent could have been man and God simultaneously. Do you think this incident is connected to Christ’s role in any way? Or is this completely separate?
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I like your comment about how this fight might mean that all of Jacob’s fights with men have been with God. You talk about how the mark gives him a limp and effects his progeny, reminding him of God’s power. Do you think that this is just, for God to maim him in such a way that it slows him down forever, in a way that the other covenant of circumcision does not?
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I agree with you on the fact that there is not necessarily a clear winner in the fight. I thought you identified the man well by both man and God because of Jacob’s struggles with both. What do you think the opponents reasoning is behind starting the fight exactly? Do you think it has to do with his past with his brother?
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I had a very similar opinion on this question as you did. I struggle with naming Jacob the clear winner because of his injury that will inflict him for the rest of his life. Do you think the real winner could be the descendants of Israel?
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