Jacob and Esau Meet
Genesis 33, verse 1. Now Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau his brother was coming, and four hundred men with him. So Jacob divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants. Genesis 33, verse 2. Then he put the maidservants and their sons in front, Leah and her children behind, and Rachel and Joseph last. Genesis 33, verse 3. He then crossed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. Genesis 33, verse 4. But Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him; and they wept. Genesis 33, verse 5. Then he lifted his eyes and saw the women and children, and said, “Who are these with you?” He replied, “The children God mercifully gave your servant.” Genesis 33, verse 6. Then the maidservants came near, they and their children, and bowed down. Genesis 33, verse 7. Leah also came near with her children, and they bowed down. Afterward Rachel and Joseph came near, and they bowed down. Genesis 33, verse 8. Then Esau said, “What are these things to you, all this company I met?” So he said, “That your servant might find grace in the sight of my Lord.” Genesis 33, verse 9. But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” Genesis 33, verse 10. But Jacob replied, “If I have now found grace in your sight, receive the present from my hands, inasmuch as I have seen your face, as though someone might see the face of God; and you were pleased with me. Genesis 33, verse 11. Receive my blessing I brought you, because God has shown me mercy; and I have enough.” Thus he urged him, and he took it. Genesis 33, verse 12. Then Esau said, “Let us take our journey; let us go, and I will go before you.” Genesis 33, verse 13. But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows the children are weak, and the flocks and herds with me are giving birth. If therefore the men should drive them hard one day, all the cattle would die. Genesis 33, verse 14. Let my lord go on ahead before his servant. I will lead on slowly at a pace the children are able to bear, until I come to my lord in Seir.” Genesis 33, verse 15. Then Esau said, “Let me leave with you some of the people with me.” But he said, “What need is there? It is enough that I found grace in my lord's sight.” Genesis 33, verse 16. So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. Genesis 33, verse 17. Then Jacob journeyed to Succoth, built houses, and made booths for his cattle. Therefore, he called the name of that place, Succoth. Genesis 33, verse 18. Then Jacob came safely to Salem, a city of Shechem, in the land of Canaan, when he came from Mesopotamia of Syria; and he took up a position in front of the city. Genesis 33, verse 19. He then bought the parcel of land where he pitched his tent from Hamor, Shechem's father, for a hundred male lambs. Genesis 33, verse 20. There he set up an altar and called on the God of Israel.