Genesis 32:17

17 And he instructed the foremost, saying, "When Esau my brother comes upon you and asks you, saying, 'Whose [are] you and where are you going? To whom do these [animals] belong ahead of you?'

Genesis 32:17 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 32:17

And he commanded the foremost
He that had the care of the first drove, which consisted of goats, male and female: saying, when Esau my brother meeteth thee;
as there was reason to believe he would, being on the road, and him first of all, being the foremost: and asketh thee, saying, what [art] thou?
that is, whose servant art thou? to whom dost thou belong? and whither goest thou?
what place art thou travelling to? and whose are these before thee?
whose are these goats? to whom do they belong thou art driving? for in driving and travelling on the road, sheep and goats went before those that had the care of them; whereas, in leading out to pastures, the shepherds went before, and the flocks followed, ( John 10:4 ) .

Genesis 32:17 In-Context

15 thirty milk camels with their young, forty cows, ten bulls, twenty female donkeys, and ten male donkeys.

16 And he put [them] under the hand of his servants, {herd by herd}, and said to his servants, "Cross on ahead before me, and put some distance {between herds}.

17 And he instructed the foremost, saying, "When Esau my brother comes upon you and asks you, saying, 'Whose [are] you and where are you going? To whom do these [animals] belong ahead of you?'

18 Then you must say, 'To your servant, to Jacob. It [is] a gift sent to my lord, to Esau. Now behold, he [is] also [coming] after us.'"

19 And he also instructed the second [servant] and the third, and everyone [else] who [was] behind the herds, saying, "You must speak to Esau according to this word when you find him.