Genesis 33
33
Chapter 33
Jacob and Esau meet as friends
1Jacob looked up. He saw Esau with 400 men coming towards him. So he divided his children into separate groups. Some went with Leah, some went with Rachel, and some went with his two female servants. 2He put his female servants and their children at the front of the group. Then came Leah and her children. But Jacob put his son Joseph with Rachel at the back of the group. 3Jacob himself went in front of these groups. He bent down to the ground to respect Esau. He did this seven times as he came nearer to his brother.
4But Esau ran to meet Jacob and he hugged him. He put his arms around Jacob's neck and he kissed him. They both wept.
5Then Esau looked up. He saw the women and children. He asked, ‘Who are these people with you?’
Jacob replied, ‘They are the children that God has given to me, your servant.’
6Then the female servants and their children came to Esau. As they came near to him, they bent down to the ground. 7Then Leah and her children came and they bent down in front of Esau. Last of all, Joseph and Rachel came to Esau and they also bent down to the ground.
8Esau asked Jacob, ‘Why did you send all those animals in front of you?’
Jacob replied, ‘So that you would be happy to see me, my master.’
9Then Esau said, ‘Keep your animals for yourself, my brother. I have enough animals of my own.’
10But Jacob replied, ‘No! If you are happy to see me, please accept these animals as a gift from me. When you met me and I saw your face, it was as if I saw the face of God himself. I am happy that you have accepted me as a friend. 11So please accept the gift that I brought to you. God has been very kind to me so that I have everything that I need.’ So Esau accepted the gifts because Jacob would not agree to keep them for himself.
12Then Esau said, ‘Let us continue to go on our way. I will travel with you.’
13But Jacob said, ‘My master, the children are not very strong. Many of the animals have young babies. If we go too far in one day, then all the animals will die. 14So you should go in front of me, my master. I will travel slowly with the animals and children, so that they are comfortable. Then, my master, I will come to you in Seir.’
15Esau said, ‘Then let me leave some of my men to travel with you.’
But Jacob replied, ‘You do not need to do that. All I want is for you to be pleased with me.’
16So Esau began his journey back to Seir that same day. 17But Jacob went to Succoth instead. He built a house for himself, and he made huts for his animals. That is why the place is called Succoth. #33:17 Succoth means ‘huts’.
18After Jacob left Paddan Aram, he travelled safely to Canaan. He put up his tents there, near the city of Shechem. 19He bought the piece of ground where he had put up his tents. He paid 100 pieces of silver to Hamor's sons to buy the land. Hamor was the father of Shechem.
20Jacob built an altar in that place. He called the altar ‘The God of Israel is the true God’.
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Genesis 33: EASY
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