Genesis 33:1-17

Jacob Meets Esau

1 Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming toward him with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants.

2 He put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph at the rear.

3 But Jacob himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.

4 Esau, however, ran to him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.

5 When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, “Who are these with you?” Jacob answered, “These are the children God has graciously given your servant.”

6 Then the maidservants and their children approached and bowed down.

7 Leah and her children also approached and bowed down, and then Joseph and Rachel approached and bowed down.

8 “What do you mean by sending this whole company to meet me?” asked Esau. “To find favor in your sight, my lord,” Jacob answered.

9 “I already have plenty, my brother,” Esau replied. “Keep what belongs to you.”

10 But Jacob insisted, “No, please! If I have found favor in your sight, then receive this gift from my hand. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing the face of God, since you have received me favorably.

11 Please accept my gift ^[a] that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” So Jacob pressed him until he accepted.

12 Then Esau said, “Let us be on our way, and I will go ahead of you.”

13 But Jacob replied, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and I must care for sheep and cattle that are nursing their young. If they are driven hard for even a day, all the animals will die.

14 Please let my lord go ahead of his servant. I will continue on slowly, at a comfortable pace for the livestock and children, until I come to my lord at Seir.”

15 “Let me leave some of my people with you,” Esau said. But Jacob replied, “Why do that? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.”

16 So that day Esau started on his way back to Seir,

17 but Jacob went on to Succoth, ^[b] where he built a house for himself and shelters for his livestock; that is why the place was called Succoth.

Genesis 33:1-17 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.

Footnotes

• [a] Or blessing or treaty of peace
• [b] Succoth means booths or shelters or tabernacles; twice in this verse.