Genesis 32:17

17 And he commanded the foremost, saying, "When Esau my brother meeteth thee and asketh thee, saying, `Whose art thou? And whither goest thou? And whose are these before thee?'

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 colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty sheasses and ten foals.

16 And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by itself, and said unto his servants, "Pass over before me, and put a space between drove and drove."

17 And he commanded the foremost, saying, "When Esau my brother meeteth thee and asketh thee, saying, `Whose art thou? And whither goest thou? And whose are these before thee?'

18 then thou shalt say, `They are thy servant Jacob's. It is a present sent unto my lord Esau; and behold also, he is behind us.'"

19 And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all who followed the droves, saying, "In this manner shall ye speak unto Esau when ye find him.