Jacob Meets Esau
Jacob’s long-anticipated meeting with his brother Esau turned...
Jacob’s long-anticipated meeting with his brother Esau turned out far better than he had feared. Esau’s changed heart is an example of how “God fights” (See 32:28). Earlier, he had cared little about the birthright (25:32–34); now he cared little for old grudges. Jacob recognized that God had intervened.
Jacob’s identity had been changed (32:27–28), but he...
Jacob’s identity had been changed (32:27–28), but he had not yet learned to live up to the new name; he still showed the favoritism that divides families. He lined up his family and his possessions in the order of their importance to him, with the slave wives and their children in front (to face danger first), Leah’s group behind them, and Rachel and Joseph in the back, where it was safest.
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 maidservants. 2He put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph at the rear.
Even though Jacob had nothing to fear, he...
Even though Jacob had nothing to fear, he was afraid and tried to appease his brother. He assumed the role of a servant before royalty by bowing (33:3), using an honorific title (33:8, 13), making introductions (33:6–7), and presenting gifts (33:8).
3But Jacob himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.
4Esau, however, ran to him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.
5When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, “Who are these with you?”
Jacob answered, “These are the children God has graciously given your servant.” 6Then the maidservants and their children approached and bowed down. 7Leah and her children also approached and bowed down, and then Joseph and Rachel approached and bowed down.
8“What do you mean by sending this whole company to meet me?” asked Esau. “To find favor in your sight, my lord,” Jacob answered.
9“I already have plenty, my brother,” Esau replied. “Keep what belongs to you.”
10But Jacob insisted, “No, please! If I have found favor in your sight, then receive this gift from my hand. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing the face of God, since you have received me favorably. 11Please accept my gift† that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” So Jacob pressed him until he accepted.
Despite Esau’s apparent magnanimity, Jacob was wary and...
- Despite Esau’s apparent magnanimity, Jacob was wary and cleverly avoided traveling with his brother.
- I will meet you at Seir: Jacob’s lie manifests his old character, living by deception rather than by faith.
12Then Esau said, “Let us be on our way, and I will go ahead of you.”
13But Jacob replied, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and I must care for sheep and cattle that are nursing their young. If they are driven hard for even a day, all the animals will die. 14Please let my lord go ahead of his servant. I will continue on slowly, at a comfortable pace for the livestock and children, until I come to my lord at Seir.”
15“Let me leave some of my people with you,” Esau said. But Jacob replied, “Why do that? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.”
Instead of following Esau south to Seir as...
Instead of following Esau south to Seir as promised, Jacob again deceived his brother, then headed in the opposite direction to Succoth, east of the Jordan River and north of the Jabbok.
16So that day Esau started on his way back to Seir, 17but Jacob went on to Succoth,† where he built a house for himself and shelters for his livestock; that is why the place was called Succoth.
Jacob Settles in Shechem
These verses form an epilogue to Jacob’s adventures...
- These verses form an epilogue to Jacob’s adventures outside the land. He returned in peace with a large family and many possessions.
- Jacob, like Abraham, built an altar at Shechem (see 12:6–8) and purchased land from the family of Hamor.
18After Jacob had come from Paddan-aram,† he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan, and he camped just outside the city. 19And the plot of ground where he pitched his tent, he purchased from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of silver.† 20There he set up an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.†