Genesis 33

Genesis 33

Jacob Meets Esau

1Then Jacob raised his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children #33.1: Or toamong Leah and Rachel, and the two slave women. 2He put the slave women and their children #33.2: Lit firstin front, and Leah and her children #33.2: Lit behindnext, and Rachel and Joseph #33.2: Lit behindlast. 3But he himself passed on ahead of them and bowed down to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

4Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. 5He raised his eyes and saw the women and the children, and said, “#33.5: Or What relation are these to you?Who are these with you?” So he said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” 6Then the slave women came forward #33.6: Lit they andwith their children, and they bowed down. 7And Leah likewise came forward with her children, and they bowed down; and afterward Joseph came forward with Rachel, and they bowed down. 8And he said, “What do you mean by all this company which I have met?” And he said, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.” 9But Esau said, “I have plenty, my brother; let what you have be your own.” 10Jacob said, “No, please, if now I have found favor in your sight, then accept my gift from my hand, #33.10: Lit for therefore I have seen your face like seeing God’s facefor I see your face as one sees the face of God, and you have received me favorably. 11Please accept my #33.11: Lit blessinggift which has been brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me and because I have #33.11: Lit allplenty.” So he urged him, and he accepted it.

12Then #33.12: Lit heEsau said, “Let’s journey on and go, and I will go ahead of you.” 13But he said to him, “My lord knows that the children are frail and that the flocks and herds that are nursing are #33.13: Lit upon mea matter of concern to me. And if they are driven hard just one day, all the flocks will die. 14Please let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will proceed at my leisure, at the pace of the cattle that are ahead of me and at the pace of the children, until I come to my lord at Seir.”

15Then Esau said, “Please let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “#33.15: Lit Why this?What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.” 16So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. 17But Jacob journeyed to #33.17: I.e., boothsSuccoth, and built for himself a house and made booths for his livestock; therefore the place is named Succoth.

Jacob Settles in Shechem

18Now Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Paddan-aram, and camped before the city. 19He bought the plot of land where he had pitched his tent from the hand of the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred #33.19: Heb qesitahpieces of money. 20Then he erected there an altar and called it #33.20: I.e., God, the God of IsraelEl-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