Genesis 33

Jacob Shows His Bravery

1Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming. With him were 400 men. So Jacob divided his children among Leah, Rachel and the two slave girls. 2Jacob put the slave girls with their children first. Then he put Leah and her children behind them. And he put Rachel and Joseph last. 3Jacob himself went out in front of them. He bowed down flat on the ground seven times as he was walking toward his brother.

4But Esau ran to meet Jacob. Esau put his arms around him and hugged him. Then Esau kissed him, and they both cried. 5Esau looked up and saw the women and children. He asked, “Who are these people with you?”

Jacob answered, “These are the children God has given me. God has been good to me, your servant.”

6Then the two slave girls and their children came up to Esau. They bowed down flat on the earth before him. 7Then Leah and her children came up to Esau. They also bowed down flat on the earth. Last of all, Joseph and Rachel came up to Esau. And they, too, bowed down flat before him.

8Esau said, “I saw many herds as I was coming here. Why did you bring them?”

Jacob answered, “They were to please you, my master.”

9But Esau said, “I already have enough, my brother. Keep what you have.”

10Jacob said, “No! Please! If I have pleased you, then please accept the gift I give you. I am very happy to see your face again. It is like seeing the face of God because you have accepted me. 11So I beg you to accept the gift I give you. God has been very good to me. And I have more than I need.” And because Jacob begged, Esau accepted the gift.

12Then Esau said, “Let us get going. I will travel with you.”

13But Jacob said to him, “My master, you know that the children are weak. And I must be careful with my flocks and their young ones. If I force them to go too far in one day, all the animals will die. 14So, my master, you go on ahead of me, your servant. I will follow you slowly. I will let the animals and the children set the speed at which we travel. I will meet you, my master, in Edom.”

15So Esau said, “Then let me leave some of my men with you.”

“No, thank you,” said Jacob. “I only want to please you, my master.” 16So that day Esau started back to Edom. 17But Jacob went to Succoth. There he built a house for himself. And he made shelters for his animals. That is why the place was named Succoth.# This name means “shelters.”

18Jacob left Northwest Mesopotamia. And he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan. He camped east of the city. 19He bought a part of the field where he had camped. He bought it from the sons of Hamor father of Shechem for 100 pieces of silver. 20He built an altar there and named it after God, the God of Israel.

Learn More About International Children’s Bible

Genesis 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.

Learn More About New King James Version