Genesis 32:17

17 Then he instructed the first one out: "When my brother Esau comes close and asks, 'Who is your master? Where are you going? Who owns these?'

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 camels with their nursing young, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys.

16 He put a servant in charge of each herd and said, "Go ahead of me and keep a healthy space between each herd."

17 Then he instructed the first one out: "When my brother Esau comes close and asks, 'Who is your master? Where are you going? Who owns these?'

18 - answer him like this, 'Your servant Jacob. They are a gift to my master Esau. He's on his way.'"

19 He gave the same instructions to the second servant and to the third - to each in turn as they set out with their herds: