33.1-20

Genesis

Jacob and Esau had not seen each other for over 20 years. The last time they were together, Esau was conspiring to kill his brother (Gen 27:41). The two hadn't communicated since, and Jacob was uncertain of how his brother Esau would feel about him returning. His uncertainty was so fear-filled that he divided up his family into separate tribes according to the mothers of his children - the servant women and their children first, then Leah and her children, and finally Rachel and Joseph (v2), so that should Esau attack him, his most favored wives and children would survive. This fear was misplaced, however, because as soon as Jacob came near his brother, Esau ran to him and fell (נָפַל nā·p̄ǎl, throw arms around, fall on the neck, embrace with vigor - also Ge 46:29) on Jacob's neck and kissed him, and they wept (v4). The family reunion and introductions that followed were one-sided, as Esau had not traveled with his family. Still, Jacob introduced his family to his older brother, demonstrating great honor to him. Each of his wives and children bowed down to Esau, declared to be "The children whom God has graciously given your servant” (v5). Although their meeting is only for the day (v16), Jacob now has peace with God, a new name (Israel - 32:28), peace with his brother, and a land to possess.

CHAPTER 33

Jacob Meets Esau

1 Then Jacob lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two servant-women.
2 And he put the servant-women and their children first, and Leah and her children after them, and Rachel and Joseph after them.
3 But he himself passed on ahead of them and bowed down to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
4 Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
5 And he lifted up his eyes and saw the women and the children and said, “Who are these with you?” And he said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.”
6 Then the servant-women came near with their children, and they bowed down.
7 Leah likewise came near with her children, and they bowed down; and afterward Joseph came near with Rachel, and they bowed down.
8 And he said, “What do you mean by all these camps which I have met?” And he said, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.”
9 But Esau said, “I have plenty, my brother; let what you have be your own.”
10 And Jacob said, “No, please, if now I have found favor in your sight, then take my present from my hand, for I see your face as one sees the face of God, and you have received me favorably.
11 “Please take my blessing which has been brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me and because I have everything.” Thus he urged him, and he took it.
12 Then Esau said, “Let us take our journey and go, and I will go before you.”
13 But he said to him, “My lord knows that the children are weak and that the flocks and herds which are nursing are a care to me. And if they are driven hard one day, all the flocks will die.
14 “Please let my lord pass on before his servant, and I will lead on slowly, 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 at Seir.”
15 Then Esau said, “Please let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “Why do this? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.”
16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.
17 But Jacob journeyed to Succoth and built for himself a house and made booths for his livestock; therefore the place is named Succoth.

Jacob Camps in Shechem

18 Now Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city.
19 Then he bought a portion of a field where he had pitched his tent from the hand of the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred qesitah.
20 Then he set up there an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.