Genesis 33:2-12

2 He put the handmaids and their children in front, Le'ah and her children after, and Rachel and Yosef at the rear.

3 He himself passed over in front of them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

4 Esav ran to meet him, embraced him, fell on his neck, kissed him, and they wept.

5 He lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, "Who are these with you?" He said, "The children whom God has graciously given your servant."

6 Then the handmaids came near with their children, and they bowed themselves.

7 Le'ah also and her children came near, and bowed themselves. After them, Yosef came near with Rachel, and they bowed themselves.

8 Esav said, "What do you mean by all this company which I met?" Ya`akov said, "To find favor in the sight of my lord."

9 Esav said, "I have enough, my brother; let that which you have be yours."

10 Ya`akov said, "Please, no, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present at my hand, because I have seen your face, as one sees the face of God, and you were pleased with me.

11 Please take the gift that I brought to you; because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough." He urged him, and he took it.

12 Esav said, "Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before you."

Genesis 33:2-12 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.