Thinking translates “and he said,” in which Jacob is thinking aloud or talking to himself.

If Esau comes to the one company and destroys it: Jacob may not be certain that Esau is approaching. However, his emotions have reacted as if that is certain. He does not know for certain that Esau will attack, but neither can he assume that he won’t attack. The only course open for Jacob is to prepare for the worst. Destroys translates a word meaning to strike, but in the context it refers to a military type of attack. See Good News Translation.

Then the company which is left will escape: Jacob’s reasoning does not take into consideration that Esau also could divide his men into two companies and attack both of Jacob’s camps.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .