Genesis 33

Jacob Meets Esau

1Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming toward him with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two slave women. 2He put the slaves and their children first, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. 3He himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground#Gn 18:2; 42:6; 43:26 seven times until he approached his brother.

4But Esau ran to meet him, hugged him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. Then they wept.#Gn 45:14 5When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, “Who are these with you?”

He answered, “The children God has graciously given your servant.”#Gn 48:9; Ps 127:3; Is 8:18 6Then the slaves and their children approached him and bowed down. 7Leah and her children also approached and bowed down, and then Joseph and Rachel approached and bowed down.

8So Esau said, “What do you mean by this whole procession#33:8 Lit camp I met?” #Gn 32:13–16

“To find favor with you, my lord,”#Gn 32:5 he answered.

9“I have enough, my brother,” Esau replied. “Keep what you have.”

10But Jacob said, “No, please! If I have found favor with you, take this gift from me. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing God’s face, since you have accepted me. 11Please take my present that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have everything I need.” So Jacob urged him until he accepted.

12Then Esau said, “Let’s move on, and I’ll go ahead of you.”

13Jacob replied, “My lord knows that the children are weak, and I have nursing flocks and herds. If they are driven hard for one day, the whole herd will die. 14Let my lord go ahead of his servant. I will continue on slowly, at a pace suited to the livestock and the children, until I come to my lord at Seir.”

15Esau said, “Let me leave some of my people with you.”

But he replied, “Why do that? Please indulge me,#33:15 Lit May I find favor in your eyes my lord.”#Gn 34:11; 47:25; Ru 2:13

16That day Esau started on his way back to Seir, 17but Jacob went to Succoth. He built a house for himself and shelters for his livestock; that is why the place was called Succoth.#33:17 = Stalls or Huts#Jos 13:27; Jdg 8:5; Ps 60:6

18After Jacob came from Paddan-aram, he arrived safely#Gn 28:21 at Shechem#Jos 24:1; Jdg 9:1; Ps 60:6; Ac 7:16 in the land of Canaan and camped in front of the city. 19He purchased a section of the field where he had pitched his tent from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of silver.#33:19 Lit 100 qesitahs; the value of this currency is unknown#Jos 24:32; Jn 4:5 20And he set up an altar there and called it God, the God of Israel.#33:20 = El-Elohe-Israel

Genesis 33

1-4Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming with his four hundred men. He divided the children between Leah and Rachel and the two maidservants. He put the maidservants out in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. He led the way and, as he approached his brother, bowed seven times, honoring his brother. But Esau ran up and embraced him, held him tight and kissed him. And they both wept.

5Then Esau looked around and saw the women and children: “And who are these with you?”

Jacob said, “The children that God saw fit to bless me with.”

6-7Then the maidservants came up with their children and bowed; then Leah and her children, also bowing; and finally, Joseph and Rachel came up and bowed to Esau.

8Esau then asked, “And what was the meaning of all those herds that I met?”

“I was hoping that they would pave the way for my master to welcome me.”

9Esau said, “Oh, brother. I have plenty of everything—keep what is yours for yourself.”

10-11Jacob said, “Please. If you can find it in your heart to welcome me, accept these gifts. When I saw your face, it was as the face of God smiling on me. Accept the gifts I have brought for you. God has been good to me and I have more than enough.” Jacob urged the gifts on him and Esau accepted.

12Then Esau said, “Let’s start out on our way; I’ll take the lead.”

13-14But Jacob said, “My master can see that the children are frail. And the flocks and herds are nursing, making for slow going. If I push them too hard, even for a day, I’d lose them all. So, master, you go on ahead of your servant, while I take it easy at the pace of my flocks and children. I’ll catch up with you in Seir.”

15Esau said, “Let me at least lend you some of my men.”

“There’s no need,” said Jacob. “Your generous welcome is all I need or want.”

16So Esau set out that day and made his way back to Seir.

17And Jacob left for Succoth. He built a shelter for himself and sheds for his livestock. That’s how the place came to be called Succoth (Sheds).

18-20And that’s how it happened that Jacob arrived all in one piece in Shechem in the land of Canaan—all the way from Paddan Aram. He camped near the city. He bought the land where he pitched his tent from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem. He paid a hundred silver coins for it. Then he built an altar there and named it El-Elohe-Israel (Mighty Is the God of Israel).

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Genesis 33

Genesis 33