Genesis 32:17

17 He ordered the first group, "When my brother Esau meets you and asks you, ‘Who are you with? Where are you going? And whose herds are these in front of you?'

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 nursing camels with their young, forty cows and ten bulls, and twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys.

16 He separated these herds and gave them to his servants. He said to them, "Go ahead of me and put some distance between each of the herds."

17 He ordered the first group, "When my brother Esau meets you and asks you, ‘Who are you with? Where are you going? And whose herds are these in front of you?'

18 say, ‘They are your servant Jacob's, a gift sent to my master Esau. And Jacob is actually right behind us.'"

19 He also ordered the second group, the third group, and everybody following the herds, "Say exactly the same thing to Esau when you find him.