Gênesis 32:20

20 E direis também: Eis que o teu servo Jacó vem atrás de nós. Porque dizia: Aplacá-lo-ei com o presente, que vai adiante de mim, e depois verei a sua face; porventura ele me aceitará.

Gênesis 32:20 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 32:20

And say ye moreover, behold, thy servant Jacob [is] behind
us
This is repeated to impress it upon their minds, that they might be careful of all things, not to forget that, it being a point of great importance; for the present would have signified nothing, if Jacob had not appeared in person; Esau would have thought himself, at best, but slighted; as if he was unworthy of a visit from him, and of conversation with him: for he said:
that is, Jacob, or "had said" ^F1, in his heart, within himself, as might be supposed from the whole of his conduct; for what follows are the words of Moses the historian, as Aben Ezra observes, and not of Jacob to his servants, nor of them to Esau: I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and
afterwards I will see his face:
he hoped the present would produce the desired effect; that it would turn away his wrath from him, and pacify him; and then he should be able to appear before him, and see his face with pleasure: or, "I will expiate his face" ^F2, as some render the words, or make him propitious and favourable; or cover his face, as Aben Ezra interprets it, that is, cause him to hide his wrath and resentment, that it shall not appear; or cause his fury to cease, as Jarchi; or remove his anger, wrath, and displeasure, as Ben Melech; all which our version takes in, by rendering it, "appease him"; and then, peradventure he will accept of me:
receive him with marks of tenderness and affection, and in a very honourable and respectable manner.

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 (rma yk) "dicebat enim", Vatablus, Junius & Tremellius, Drusius.
F2 (wyup hrpka) "expiabo faciem ejus", Montanus; "propitium reddam", Drusius, Munster.

Gênesis 32:20 In-Context

18 Então responderás: São de teu servo Jacó, presente que envia a meu senhor, a Esaú, e eis que ele vem também atrás dé nos.

19 Ordenou igualmente ao segundo, e ao terceiro, e a todos os que vinham atrás das manadas, dizendo: Desta maneira falareis a Esaú quando o achardes.

20 E direis também: Eis que o teu servo Jacó vem atrás de nós. Porque dizia: Aplacá-lo-ei com o presente, que vai adiante de mim, e depois verei a sua face; porventura ele me aceitará.

21 Foi, pois, o presente adiante dele; ele, porém, passou aquela noite no arraial.

22 Naquela mesma noite levantou-se e, tomando suas duas mulheres, suas duas servas e seus onze filhos, passou o vau de Jaboque.