Genesis 33:1-17

Esau forgives Jacob

1 Jacob looked up and saw Esau approaching with four hundred men. Jacob divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two women servants.

2 He put the servants and their children first, Leah and her children after them, and Rachel and Joseph last.

3 He himself went in front of them and bowed to the ground seven times as he was approaching his brother.

4 But Esau ran to meet him, threw his arms around his neck, kissed him, and they wept.

5 Esau looked up and saw the women and children and said, "Who are these with you?" Jacob said, "The children that God generously gave your servant."

6 The women servants and their children came forward and bowed down.

7 Then Leah and her servants also came forward and bowed, and afterward Joseph and Rachel came forward and bowed.

8 Esau said, "What's the meaning of this entire group of animals that I met?" Jacob said, "To ask for my master's kindness."

9 Esau said, "I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what's yours."

10 Jacob said, "No, please, do me the kindness of accepting my gift. Seeing your face is like seeing God's face, since you've accepted me so warmly.

11 Take this present that I've brought because God has been generous to me, and I have everything I need." So Jacob persuaded him, and he took it.

12 Esau said, "Let's break camp and set out, and I'll go with you."

13 But Jacob said to him, "My master knows that the children aren't strong and that I am responsible for the nursing flocks and cattle. If I push them hard for even one day, all of the flocks will die.

14 My master, go on ahead of your servant, but I've got to take it easy, going only as fast as the animals in front of me and the children are able to go, until I meet you in Seir."

15 Esau said, "Let me leave some of my people with you." But Jacob said, "Why should you do this since my master has already been so kind to me?"

16 That day Esau returned on the road to Seir,

17 but Jacob traveled to Succoth. He built a house for himself but made temporary shelters for his animals; therefore, he named the place 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 temporary shelters