Genesis 33
33
Jacob and Esau Meet
1Now Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and there, #Gen. 32:6Esau was coming, and with him were four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants. 2And he put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children behind, and Rachel and Joseph last. 3Then he crossed over before them and #Gen. 18:2; 42:6bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
4#Gen. 32:28But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, #Gen. 45:14, 15and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. 5And he lifted his eyes and saw the women and children, and said, “Who are these with you?”
So he said, “The children #Gen. 48:9; (Ps. 127:3); Is. 8:18whom God has graciously given your servant.” 6Then the maidservants came near, they and their children, and bowed down. 7And Leah also came near with her children, and they bowed down. Afterward Joseph and Rachel came near, and they bowed down.
8Then Esau said, “What do you mean by #Gen. 32:13–16all this company which I met?”
And he said, “These are #Gen. 32:5to find favor in the sight of my lord.”
9But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.”
10And Jacob said, “No, please, if I #Gen. 43:3; 2 Sam. 3:13; 14:24, 28, 32have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me. 11Please, take #Judg. 1:15; 1 Sam. 25:27; 30:26my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt #Gen. 30:43; Ex. 33:19graciously with me, and because I have enough.” #2 Kin. 5:23So he urged him, and he took it.
12Then Esau said, “Let us take our journey; let us go, and I will go before you.”
13But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are weak, and the flocks and herds which are nursing are with me. And if the men should drive them hard one day, all the flock will die. 14Please let my lord go on ahead before his servant. I will lead on slowly at a pace which the livestock that go before me, and the children, are able to endure, until I come to my lord #Gen. 32:3; 36:8in Seir.”
15And Esau said, “Now let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.”
But he said, “What need is there? #Gen. 34:11; 47:25; Ruth 2:13Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.” 16So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. 17And Jacob journeyed to #Josh. 13:27; Judg. 8:5; Ps. 60:6Succoth, built himself a house, and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
Jacob Comes to Canaan
18Then Jacob came safely to #John 3:23the city of #Gen. 12:6; 35:4; Josh. 24:1; Judg. 9:1; Ps. 60:6Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan Aram; and he pitched his tent before the city. 19And #Josh. 24:32; John 4:5he bought the parcel of land, where he had pitched his tent, from the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred pieces of money. 20Then he erected an altar there and called it #Gen. 35:7El Elohe Israel.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Genesis 33
33
Jacob Meets Esau
1Later that day Jacob met Esau coming with his 400 men. So Jacob told his children to walk with their mothers. 2The two servant women, Zilpah and Bilhah, together with their children went first, followed by Leah and her children, then by Rachel and Joseph. 3Jacob himself walked in front of them all, bowing to the ground seven times as he came near his brother.
4But Esau ran toward Jacob and hugged and kissed him. Then the two brothers started crying.
5When Esau noticed the women and children he asked, “Whose children are these?”
Jacob answered, “These are the children the Lord has been kind enough to give to me, your servant.”
6Then the two servant women and their children came and bowed down to Esau. 7Next, Leah and her children came and bowed down; finally, Joseph and Rachel also came and bowed down.
8Esau asked Jacob, “Why did you send those herds I met along the road?”
“Master,” Jacob answered, “I sent them so you would be friendly to me.”
9“But, brother, I already have plenty,” Esau replied. “Keep them for yourself.”
10“No!” Jacob said. “Please accept them as a sign of your friendship for me. When you welcomed me and I saw your face, it was like seeing the face of God. 11Please accept these as gifts I brought to you. God has been good to me, and I have everything I need.” Jacob kept insisting until Esau agreed.
12“Let's get ready to travel,” Esau said. “I'll go along with you.”
13But Jacob answered, “Master, you know traveling is hard on children, and I have to look after the sheep and goats that are nursing their young. If my animals travel too much in one day, they will all die. 14Why don't you go on ahead and let me travel along slowly with the children, the herds, and the flocks. We can meet again in the country of Edom.”
15Esau replied, “Let me leave some of my men with you.”
“You don't have to do that,” Jacob answered. “I am happy, simply knowing that you are friendly to me.”
16So Esau left for Edom. 17But Jacob went to Succoth,#33.17 Succoth: In Hebrew “Succoth” means “shelters.” where he built a house for himself and set up shelters for his animals. That's why the place is called Succoth.
Jacob Arrives at Shechem
18After leaving northern Syria,#33.18 northern Syria: See the note at 24.10. Jacob arrived safely at Shechem in Canaan and set up camp outside the city. 19#Js 24.32; Jn 4.5. The land where he camped was owned by the descendants of Hamor, the father of Shechem. So Jacob paid them 100 pieces of silver#33.19 pieces of silver: Or “lambs” or “cattle.” for the property, 20then he set up his tents and built an altar there to honor the God of Israel.
Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.