Genesis 33:1

1 Jacob saw Esau coming with 400 men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two slaves.

Genesis 33:1 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 33:1

And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked
After he had passed over the brook, and was come to his wives and children; which was done either accidentally or on purpose, to see if he could espy his brother coming: some think this denotes his cheerfulness and courage, and that he was now not distressed and dejected, as he had been before: and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men;
see ( Genesis 32:6 ) ; and he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the
two handmaids;
some think he made four divisions of them; Leah and her children, Rachel and her son, Bilhah and hers, and Zilpah and hers: but others are of opinion there were but three: the two handmaids and their children in one division, Leah and her children in another, and Rachel and her son in the third; which seems to be confirmed in ( Genesis 33:2 ) , though the word for "divide" signifies to halve or divide into two parts; according to which, the division then must be of the two wives and their children in one company, and of the two handmaids and theirs in the other: and this Jacob did partly for decency and partly for safety.

Genesis 33:1 In-Context

1 Jacob saw Esau coming with 400 men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two slaves.

2 He put the slaves and their children in front, Leah and her children after them, and Rachel and Joseph last.

3 He went on ahead of them and bowed seven times with his face touching the ground as he came near his brother.

4 Then Esau ran to meet Jacob. Esau hugged him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. They both cried.

5 When he saw the women and children, Esau asked, "Who are these people here with you?" "The children God has graciously given me, sir," Jacob answered.