Gen 33:1-17 · Read 10 min · think and write 15 min
In the last lesson, Jacob wrestled with a man at the ford of the Jabbok until daybreak, and was given a new name, Israel. “The sun rose on him as he passed over Peniel, and he limped because of his thigh” (Gen 32:31).
Esau was coming to meet him, “and four hundred men are with him” (Gen 32:6). This lesson reads what happened that morning when the brothers met.
1Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau was coming, and with him four hundred men. He divided the children between Leah, Rachel, and the two servants.
2He put the servants and their children in front, Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph at the rear.
3He himself passed over in front of them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
4Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, fell on his neck, kissed him, and they wept.
5He lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, “Who are these with you?” He said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.”
6Then the servants came near with their children, and they bowed themselves.
7Leah also and her children came near, and bowed themselves. After them, Joseph came near with Rachel, and they bowed themselves.
8Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company which I met?” Jacob said, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.”
9Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; let that which you have be yours.”
10Jacob said, “Please, no, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present at my hand, because I have seen your face, as one sees the face of God, and you were pleased with me.
11Please take the gift that I brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” He urged him, and he took it.
12Esau said, “Let’s take our journey, and let’s go, and I will go before you.”
13Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are tender, and that the flocks and herds with me have their young, and if they overdrive them one day, all the flocks will die.
14Please let my lord pass over before his servant, and I will lead on gently, according to the pace of the livestock that are before me and according to the pace of the children, until I come to my lord to Seir.”
15Esau said, “Let me now leave with you some of the people who are with me.” He said, “Why? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.”
16So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.
17Jacob traveled to Succoth, built himself a house, and made shelters for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
Divided. “Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau was coming, and with him four hundred men” (v. 1). He divided the children, and “put the servants and their children in front, Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph at the rear” (v. 2).
Seven times. “He himself passed over in front of them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother” (v. 3).
They wept. “Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, fell on his neck, kissed him, and they wept” (v. 4).
Given by God. Esau asked, “Who are these with you?” Jacob said: “The children whom God has graciously given your servant” (v. 5). The servants, Leah, Rachel and the children all came near and bowed (vv. 6–7).
Receive my present. Esau asked what all the company meant, and Jacob said: “To find favor in the sight of my lord” (v. 8). Esau said: “I have enough, my brother; let that which you have be yours” (v. 9). Jacob said: “if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present at my hand, because I have seen your face, as one sees the face of God, and you were pleased with me” (v. 10); “because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough” (v. 11). “He urged him, and he took it” (v. 11).
Separate ways. Esau said: “Let’s take our journey, and let’s go, and I will go before you” (v. 12). Jacob said the children were tender and the flocks had young, and asked, “Please let my lord pass over before his servant” (vv. 13–14). Esau offered to leave some of his people with him, and Jacob said, “Why? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord” (v. 15). “So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir” (v. 16). “Jacob traveled to Succoth, built himself a house, and made shelters for his livestock” (v. 17).
Afterward. Jacob came to the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan, and “He erected an altar there, and called it El Elohe Israel” (Gen 33:20).
Esau lived in the hill country of Seir. The passage says: “Esau is Edom” (Gen 36:8).
Later, through Moses, God told the Israelites: “You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother” (Deut 23:7).
Readers can see this: Jacob’s descendants were the Israelites, and Esau’s were the Edomites. In Moses’ day, the Israelites were still told to remember that Edom was a brother.
Perhaps you, too, have a family member you have not seen for many years — or can hardly speak to even when you do. Perhaps you have imagined many times what you would say if you met, and what they would do.
This lesson does not say that every broken relationship will be mended like this; after the brothers met, they went separate ways. What it shows you is this: Jacob walked out in front of his family and bowed to the ground again and again; Esau ran to him, embraced him, “and they wept” (v. 4). Jacob said: “I have seen your face, as one sees the face of God” (v. 10). Paul later wrote: “If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men” (Rom 12:18).
This week: Think of someone with whom things have not yet been mended. Pray for this person once this week. If it is appropriate, and safe, you might take one very small step: a word of greeting, or a short message.
Scripture: World English Bible.