Genesis 33:1-7

1 Ya'akov raised his eyes and looked out; and there was 'Esav coming, and four hundred men with him. So Ya'akov divided the children between Le'ah, Rachel and the two slave-girls,

2 putting the slave-girls and their children first, Le'ah and her children second, and Rachel and Yosef last.

3 Then he himself passed on ahead of them and prostrated himself on the ground seven times before approaching his brother.

4 'Esav ran to meet him, hugged him, threw his arms around his neck and kissed him; and they wept.

5 Esav looked up; on seeing the women and children, he asked, "Who are these with you?" Ya'akov answered, "The children God has graciously given to your servant."

6 Then the slave-girls approached with their children, and they prostrated themselves;

7 Le'ah too and her children approached and prostrated themselves; and last came Yosef and Rachel; and they prostrated themselves.

Genesis 33:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

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.