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Jacob Meets Esau

33 Jacob saw Esau coming with 400 men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two slaves. He put the slaves and their children in front, Leah and her children after them, and Rachel and Joseph last. He went on ahead of them and bowed seven times with his face touching the ground as he came near his brother.

Then Esau ran to meet Jacob. Esau hugged him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. They both cried. When he saw the women and children, Esau asked, “Who are these people here with you?”

“The children Elohim has graciously given me, sir,” Jacob answered.

Then the slaves and their children came forward and bowed down. Likewise, Leah and her children came forward and bowed down. Finally, Joseph and Rachel came forward and bowed down.

Then Esau asked, “Why did you send this whole group of people and animals I met?”

He answered, “To win your favor, sir.”

Esau said, “I have enough. Keep what you have, Brother.”

10 Jacob said, “No, please take the gift I’m giving you, because I’ve seen your face as if I were seeing the face of Elohim, and yet you welcomed me so warmly. 11 Please take the present I’ve brought you, because Elohim has been gracious to me and has given me all that I need.” So Esau took it because Jacob insisted.

12 Then Esau said, “Let’s get ready to go, and I’ll go with you.”

13 Jacob said to him, “Sir, you know that the children are frail and that I have to take care of the flocks and cattle that are nursing their young. If they’re driven too hard for even one day, all the flocks will die. 14 Go ahead of me, sir. I will slowly and gently guide the herds that are in front of me at their pace and at the children’s pace until I come to you in Seir.”

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

“Why do that?” Jacob asked. “I only want to win your favor, sir.”

16 That day Esau started back to Seir. 17 But Jacob moved on to Succoth, where he built a house for himself and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place is named Succoth [Shelters].

18 So having come from Paddan Aram, Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem in Canaan. He camped within sight of the city. 19 Then he bought the piece of land on which he had put up his tents. He bought it from the sons of Hamor, father of Shechem, for 100 pieces of silver. 20 He set up an altar there and named it El Is the Elohim of Israel.

33 And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.

And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.

And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.

And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.

Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.

And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.

And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.

And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.

10 And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.

11 Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.

12 And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.

13 And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die.

14 Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.

15 And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord.

16 So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.

17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.

18 And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city.

19 And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for an hundred pieces of money.

20 And he erected there an altar, and called it EleloheIsrael.

Jacob Meets Esau

33 And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, (A)Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants. And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. He himself went on before them, (B)bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

(C)But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him (D)and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, “Who are these with you?” Jacob said, (E)“The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” Then the servants drew near, they and their children, and bowed down. Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down. And last Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down. Esau said, “What do you mean by (F)all this company[a] that I met?” Jacob answered, (G)“To find favor in the sight of my lord.” But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” 10 Jacob said, “No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand. (H)For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me. 11 Please accept my (I)blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” Thus he (J)urged him, and he took it.

12 Then Esau said, “Let us journey on our way, and I will go ahead of[b] you.” 13 But 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. 14 Let 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 (K)in Seir.”

15 So Esau said, “Let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “What need is there? (L)Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.” 16 So Esau returned that day on his way to (M)Seir. 17 But Jacob journeyed to (N)Succoth, and built himself a house and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.[c]

18 And Jacob came safely[d] to the city of (O)Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city. 19 And from the sons of (P)Hamor, Shechem's father, (Q)he bought for a hundred pieces of money[e] the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent. 20 There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.[f]

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 33:8 Hebrew camp
  2. Genesis 33:12 Or along with
  3. Genesis 33:17 Succoth means booths
  4. Genesis 33:18 Or peacefully
  5. Genesis 33:19 Hebrew a hundred qesitah; a unit of money of uncertain value
  6. Genesis 33:20 El-Elohe-Israel means God, the God of Israel