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.
Genesis 33
33
Jacob Meets Esau and Settles at Shechem
1And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked. And behold, Esau was coming and four hundred men were with him. And he#That is, Jacob divided the children among Leah and among Rachel, and among the two of his female servants. 2And he put the female slaves and their children first, then Leah and her children next, then Rachel with Joseph last. 3And he himself passed on before them and bowed down to the ground seven times until he came to his brother. 4But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell upon his neck and kissed him, and they wept. 5Then Esau 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.” 6Then the female servants drew near, they and their children, and they bowed down. 7Then Leah and her children drew near and bowed down, and afterward Joseph and Rachel drew near and they bowed down. 8And he#That is, Esau said, “What do you mean by#Literally “What to you?” all this company that I have met?” Then he said, “To find favor in the eyes of my lord.” 9Then Esau said, “I have enough#Literally “There is to me abundance” my brother; keep what you have.”#Literally “let what is to you be to you” 10And Jacob said, “No, please, if I have found favor in your eyes, you must take my gift from my hand, for then I have seen your face which is like seeing the face of God, and you have received me. 11Please take my gift which has been brought to you, for God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.”#Literally “There is to me abundance” And he urged him, so he took it. 12Then he#That is, Esau said, “Let us journey and go on, and I will go ahead of you.” 13But he said to him, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and the flocks and the cattle which are nursing are a concern to me. Now if they drove them hard for a day all the flocks would die. 14Let my lord pass on before his servant and I will move along slowly at the pace#Or “foot” of the livestock that are ahead of me, and at the pace#Or “foot” of the children until I come to my lord in Seir.” 15And Esau said, “Let me leave some of my people with you.” But he said, “What need is there?#Literally “What is this?” Let me find favor in the eyes of my lord.” 16So Esau turned that day on his way to Seir. 17But Jacob traveled on to Succoth, and he built for himself a house, and he made shelters for his livestock. Therefore he called the name of the place Succoth. 18And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem which is in the land of Canaan, on his way#Literally “at his coming” from Paddan-Aram. And he camped before the city. 19And he bought a piece of land where he pitched his tent for one hundred pieces of money#Hebrew kesitah from the hand of the sons of Hamor, father of Shechem. 20And there he erected an altar and called it “El Elohe Israel.”#That is, “El the God of Israel”
2010 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software