Genesis 32:3-21

Jacob sent messengers ahead to his brother Esau who was living in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. He instructed them, “Give this message from me to my master Esau, ‘I am your servant. I have lived with our uncle Laban all these years and have acquired sheep, cattle, donkeys, and both male and female servants. I send this message to you, my master, in the hope of finding favor in your eyes.’ ” When the messengers returned to Jacob, they informed him, “We gave your brother Esau your message, and he himself is coming here to meet you. In fact, he’s on his way now with four hundred men!” Gripped with fear to the point of panic, Jacob split all the people who were with him into two camps, and also the flocks, herds, and camels. He said to himself, “If Esau attacks the first camp and destroys them, at least the other camp will escape.” Then Jacob prayed, “YAHWEH, God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, you said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your family, and I will make you prosper.’ I am so unworthy of all the loving-kindness and faithfulness that you have showered upon me, your servant. When I crossed this river Jordan years ago, all I had to my name was a staff in my hand, and now I have increased to become two camps! Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I’m afraid he will come and kill all of us, including the women and children. You said to me, ‘I will certainly prosper you and make your offspring as innumerable as the sand of the sea.’ ” So he spent the night there. From what he had with him, Jacob sent a gift to his brother Esau: two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty female camels and their calves, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. He placed them in the care of his servants, each herd by itself. He told them, “Go on ahead of me, and put some space between each herd.” He gave these instructions to the one in the lead, “When my brother Esau meets you, and asks, ‘Who is your master? Where are you going? Who owns these herds you are driving?’ then you are to say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. He’s sent them as a gift to you, my lord Esau, and he is coming behind us.’ ” He likewise instructed the leaders of the second and the third herds and all those following them, “You must say the same thing when you meet Esau. And be sure to say, ‘Your servant Jacob is coming behind us,’ ” because he reasoned, “If I can appease Esau with these gifts before I have to meet him face-to-face, he may accept me.” So he sent the gifts on ahead of him, while he spent that night in the camp.