Génesis 33

1 Y alzando Jacob los ojos miró, y he aquí, Esaú venía y cuatrocientos hombres con él. Entonces dividió a los niños entre Lea y Raquel y las dos siervas.

2 Y puso a las siervas con sus hijos delante, y a Lea con sus hijos después, y a Raquel con José en último lugar;

3 y él se les adelantó, y se inclinó hasta el suelo siete veces hasta que llegó cerca de su hermano.

4 Entonces Esaú corrió a su encuentro y lo abrazó, y echándose sobre su cuello lo besó, y lloraron.

5 Y alzó sus ojos y vio a las mujeres y a los niños, y dijo: ¿Quiénes son éstos que vienen contigo? Y él respondió: Son los hijos que Dios en su misericordia ha concedido a tu siervo.

6 Entonces se acercaron las siervas con sus hijos, y se inclinaron.

7 Lea también se acercó con sus hijos, y se inclinaron; y después José se acercó con Raquel, y se inclinaron.

8 Y dijo Esaú: ¿Qué te propones con toda esta muchedumbre que he encontrado? Y él respondió: Hallar gracia ante los ojos de mi señor.

9 Pero Esaú dijo: Tengo bastante, hermano mío; sea tuyo lo que es tuyo.

10 Mas Jacob respondió: No, te ruego que si ahora he hallado gracia ante tus ojos, tomes el presente de mi mano, porque veo tu rostro como uno ve el rostro de Dios, y favorablemente me has recibido.

11 Acepta, te ruego, el presente que se te ha traído, pues Dios me ha favorecido, y porque yo tengo mucho. Y le insistió, y él lo aceptó.

12 Entonces Esaú dijo: Pongámonos en marcha y vámonos; yo iré delante de ti.

13 Pero él le dijo: Mi señor sabe que los niños son tiernos, y que debo cuidar de las ovejas y las vacas que están criando. Si los apuramos mucho, en un solo día todos los rebaños morirán.

14 Adelántese ahora mi señor a su siervo; y yo avanzaré sin prisa, al paso del ganado que va delante de mí, y al paso de los niños, hasta que llegue a mi señor en Seir.

15 Y Esaú dijo: Permíteme dejarte parte de la gente que está conmigo. Pero él dijo: ¿Para qué? Halle yo gracia ante los ojos de mi señor.

16 Aquel mismo día regresó Esaú por su camino a Seir;

17 y Jacob siguió hasta Sucot , y se edificó una casa, e hizo cobertizos para su ganado; por eso al lugar se le puso el nombre de Sucot.

18 Y Jacob llegó sin novedad a la ciudad de Siquem, que está en la tierra de Canaán, cuando vino de Padán-aram, y acampó frente a la ciudad.

19 Compró la parcela de campo donde había plantado su tienda de mano de los hijos de Hamor, padre de Siquem, por cien monedas,

20 y levantó allí un altar, y lo llamó: El-Elohe-Israel .

Génesis 33 Commentary

Chapter 33

The friendly meeting of Jacob and Esau. (1-16) Jacob comes to Succoth and Shalem, He builds an altar. (17-20)

Verses 1-16 Jacob, having by prayer committed his case to God, went on his way. Come what will, nothing can come amiss to him whose heart is fixed, trusting in God. Jacob bowed to Esau. A humble, submissive behaviour goes far towards turning away wrath. Esau embraced Jacob. God has the hearts of all men in his hands, and can turn them when and how he pleases. It is not in vain to trust in God, and to call upon him in the day of trouble. And when a man's ways please the Lord he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. Esau receives Jacob as a brother, and much tenderness passes between them. Esau asks, Who are those with thee? To this common question, Jacob spoke like himself, like a man whose eyes are ever directed towards the Lord. Jacob urged Esau, though his fear was over, and he took his present. It is well when men's religion makes them generous, free-hearted, and open-handed. But Jacob declined Esau's offer to accompany him. It is not desirable to be too intimate with superior ungodly relations, who will expect us to join in their vanities, or at least to wink at them, though they blame, and perhaps mock at, our religion. Such will either be a snare to us, or offended with us. We shall venture the loss of all things, rather than endanger our souls, if we know their value; rather than renounce Christ, if we truly love him. And let Jacob's care and tender attention to his family and flocks remind us of the good Shepherd of our souls, who gathers the lambs with his arm, and carries them in his bosom, and gently leads those that are with young, ( Isaiah 40:11 ) . As parents, teachers or pastors, we should all follow his example.

Verses 17-20 Jacob did not content himself with words of thanks for God's favour to him, but gave real thanks. Also he kept up religion, and the worship of God in his family. Where we have a tent, God must have an altar. Jacob dedicated this altar to the honour of El-elohe-Israel, God, the God of Israel; to the honour of God, the only living and true God; and to the honour of the God of Israel, as a God in covenant with him. Israel's God is Israel's glory. Blessed be his name, he is still the mighty God, the God of Israel. May we praise his name, and rejoice in his love, through our pilgrimage here on earth, and for ever in the heavenly Canaan.

Footnotes

• [a]. I.e., cabaas
• [b]. I.e., Dios, el Dios de Israel

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 33

In this chapter we find Esau meeting Jacob in a friendly manner, contrary to his fears and expectation, having set his family in order in case of the worst, Ge 33:1-4; putting questions to Jacob concerning the women and children with him, who make their obeisance to him as Jacob had done before, Ge 33:5-7; and concerning the drove he met, which was a present to him, and which he refused at first to take, but at the urgency of Jacob accepted of it, Ge 33:8-11; proposing to travel with him, unto which Jacob desired to be excused, he, with the women, children, and flocks, not being able to keep pace with him, Ge 33:12-14, and to leave some of his men with him to guard him, which Jacob judged unnecessary, upon which they parted friendly, Ge 33:15,16; and the chapter is concluded with an account of Jacob's journey, first to Succoth, then to Shalem, where he pitched his tent, bought a field and built an altar, Ge 33:17-20.