1Jacob saw Esau coming with his 400 men, so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two concubines. 2He put the concubines and their children first, then Leah and her children, and finally Rachel and Joseph at the rear. 3Jacob went ahead of them and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. 4But Esau ran to meet him, threw his arms round him, and kissed him. They were both crying. 5When Esau looked round and saw the women and the children, he asked, “Who are these people with you?”

“These, sir, are the children whom God has been good enough to give me,” Jacob answered. 6Then the concubines came up with their children and bowed down; 7then Leah and her children came, and last of all Joseph and Rachel came and bowed down.

8Esau asked, “What about that other group I met? What did that mean?”

Jacob answered, “It was to gain your favour.”

9But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have.”

10Jacob said, “No, please, if I have gained your favour, accept my gift. To see your face is for me like seeing the face of God, now that you have been so friendly to me. 11Please accept this gift which I have brought for you; God has been kind to me and given me everything I need.” Jacob kept on urging him until he accepted.

12Esau said, “Let's prepare to leave. I will go ahead of you.”

13Jacob answered, “You know that the children are weak, and I must think of the sheep and cattle with their young. If they are driven hard for even one day, the whole herd will die. 14Please go on ahead of me, and I will follow slowly, going as fast as I can with the livestock and the children until I catch up with you in Edom.”

15Esau said, “Then let me leave some of my men with you.”

But Jacob answered, “There is no need for that for I only want to gain your favour.”#33.15 for I only want to gain your favour; or if it's all right with you. 16So that day Esau started on his way back to Edom. 17But Jacob went to Sukkoth, where he built a house for himself and shelters for his livestock. That is why the place was named Sukkoth.#33.17 Sukkoth: This name in Hebrew means “shelters”.

18On his return from Mesopotamia Jacob arrived safely at the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan and set up his camp in a field near the city. 19#Josh 24.32; Jn 4.5He bought that part of the field from the descendants of Hamor father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of silver. 20He put up an altar there and named it after El, the God of Israel.

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Genesis 33

Jacob Meets Esau

1And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, #ch. 32:6Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants. 2And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. 3He himself went on before them, #ch. 18:2; 42:6; 43:26bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

4 # ch. 32:28 But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him #ch. 45:14and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. 5And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, “Who are these with you?” Jacob said, #ch. 48:9; Ps. 127:3; Isa. 8:18“The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” 6Then the servants drew near, they and their children, and bowed down. 7Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down. And last Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down. 8Esau said, “What do you mean by #ch. 32:16 all this company#33:8 Hebrew camp that I met?” Jacob answered, #ver. 15; ch. 32:5“To find favor in the sight of my lord.” 9But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” 10Jacob said, “No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand. #ch. 18:1; 19:1For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me. 11Please accept my #2 Kgs. 5:15 blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” Thus he #[2 Sam. 13:25, 27; 2 Kgs. 5:23]urged him, and he took it.

12Then Esau said, “Let us journey on our way, and I will go ahead of#33:12 Or along with you.” 13But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and that the nursing flocks and herds are a care to me. If they are driven hard for one day, all the flocks will die. 14Let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will lead on slowly, at the pace of the livestock that are ahead of me and at the pace of the children, until I come to my lord #ch. 32:3in Seir.”

15So Esau said, “Let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “What need is there? #ver. 8; ch. 34:11; 47:25; Ruth 2:13Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.” 16So Esau returned that day on his way to #ch. 32:3Seir. 17But Jacob journeyed to #Josh. 13:27; Judg. 8:5; Ps. 60:6Succoth, and built himself a house and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.#33:17 Succoth means booths

18And Jacob came safely#33:18 Or peacefully to the city of #Josh. 24:1; Judg. 9:1; Ps. 60:6; Acts 7:16Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city. 19And from the sons of #Acts 7:16 Hamor, Shechem’s father, #Josh. 24:32; John 4:5he bought for a hundred pieces of money#33:19 Hebrew a hundred qesitah; a unit of money of unknown value the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent. 20There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.#33:20 El-Elohe-Israel means God, the God of Israel

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Genesis 33

Genesis 33