Genesis 33:1-7

1 Jacob saw Esau coming with his four hundred men, so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two concubines.

2 He put the concubines and their children first, then Leah and her children, and finally Rachel and Joseph at the rear.

3 Jacob went ahead of them and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.

4 But Esau ran to meet him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. They were both crying.

5 When Esau looked around and saw the women and the children, he asked, "Who are these people with you?" "These, sir, are the children whom God has been good enough to give me," Jacob answered.

6 Then the concubines came up with their children and bowed down;

7 then Leah and her children came, and last of all Joseph and Rachel came and bowed down.

Genesis 33:1-7 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.