Genesis 33:18-20

18 And Jacob came safely^[a] to the city of ¹Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city.

19 And from the sons of ²Hamor, Shechem’s father, ³he bought for a hundred pieces of money^[b] the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent.

20 There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel. ^[c]

Genesis 33:18-20 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.

Cross References

• 1. 33:18 Josh. 24:1; Judg. 9:1; Ps. 60:6; Acts 7:16
• 2. 33:19 Acts 7:16
• 3. 33:19 Josh. 24:32; John 4:5

Footnotes

• [a] 33:18 Or 'peacefully'
• [b] 33:19 Hebrew 'a hundred qesitah'; a unit of money of unknown value
• [c] 33:20 'El-Elohe-Israel' means 'God, the God of Israel'