Genesis 33:6-16

6 Then the handmaids came near with their children, and they bowed themselves.

7 Le'ah also and her children came near, and bowed themselves. After them, Yosef came near with Rachel, and they bowed themselves.

8 Esav said, "What do you mean by all this company which I met?" Ya`akov said, "To find favor in the sight of my lord."

9 Esav said, "I have enough, my brother; let that which you have be yours."

10 Ya`akov said, "Please, no, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present at my hand, because I have seen your face, as one sees the face of God, and you were pleased with me.

11 Please take the gift that I brought to you; because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough." He urged him, and he took it.

12 Esav said, "Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before you."

13 Ya`akov said to him, "My lord knows that the children are tender, and that the flocks and herds with me have their young, and if they overdrive them one day, all the flocks will die.

14 Please let my lord pass over before his servant: and I will lead on gently, according to the pace of the cattle that are before me and according to the pace of the children, until I come to my lord to Se`ir."

15 Esav said, "Let me now leave with you some of the folk who are with me." He said, "Why? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord."

16 So Esav returned that day on his way to Se`ir.

Genesis 33:6-16 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.