Genesis 33:13

13 And Jacob said, My lord, thou knowest that I have little children tender, and sheep, and kine with calves with me, and if I shall make them for to travail more in going, all the flocks shall die in one day; (But Jacob said, My lord, thou knowest that I have tender little children with me, and sheep, and cows with their calves, and if I make them go any further this day, all the flocks shall die;)

Genesis 33:13 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 33:13

And he said unto him, my lord knoweth the children [are]
tender
The eldest being but thirteen years of age, and the youngest about six; and Esau might easily perceive by their stature that they were young and tender, and not able to bear either riding or walking very fast: and the flocks and herds with young [are] with me;
or "upon me" ^F18; the charge of them was upon him, it was incumbent on him to take care of them, and especially in the circumstances in which they were, being big with young, both sheep and kine; or "suckling", giving milk to their young, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan, and so having lambs and calves, some of them perhaps just yeaned and calved, they required more attendance and greater care in driving them, not being able to travel far in a day: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die;
if he, and the servants under him, should push them on too fast, beyond their strength, even but one day, all in the above circumstances would be in danger of being lost through overmuch fatigue and weariness.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 (yle) "super me", Montanus, Vatablus, "incumbere mihi", Junius & Tremellius, so Aben Ezra.

Genesis 33:13 In-Context

11 and receive the blessing which I have brought to thee, and which blessing God giving all things gave to me. Scarcely (desiring it), while the brother compelled (him), he received (it), (and receive the blessing which I have brought to thee, which blessing God, who giveth all things, hath given to me. Scarcely desiring it, but because his brother compelled him, Esau at last accepted the gifts,)

12 and said, Go we together, and I shall be (a) fellow of thy way. (and he said, Now let us go together, and I shall give thee fellowship on the way.)

13 And Jacob said, My lord, thou knowest that I have little children tender, and sheep, and kine with calves with me, and if I shall make them for to travail more in going, all the flocks shall die in one day; (But Jacob said, My lord, thou knowest that I have tender little children with me, and sheep, and cows with their calves, and if I make them go any further this day, all the flocks shall die;)

14 my lord go (on) before his servant, and I shall follow little and little his steps (and I shall follow his steps little and little), as I see that my little children be able (to go), till I come to my lord, into Seir.

15 Esau answered, I pray thee, that (some) of the people which is with me, dwell they namely fellows of thy way. Jacob said, It is no need; I have need to this one thing only, that I find grace in thy sight, my lord. (Esau answered, Then I pray thee, let some of the people who be with me give thee fellowship on the way. But Jacob said, There is no need; yea, I only have need of this one thing, that I find grace in thine eyes, my lord.)