Then Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming with his 400 men. So he
divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and his two servant wives. He put
the servant wives and their children at the front, Leah and her children next,
and Rachel and Joseph last. Then Jacob went on ahead. As he approached his
brother, he bowed to the ground seven times before him. Then Esau ran to
meet him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And
they both wept.
Then Esau looked at the women and children and asked, “Who are
these people with you?”
“These
are the children God has graciously given to me, your servant,” Jacob replied.
Then
the servant wives came forward with their children and bowed before him. Next
came Leah with her children, and they bowed before him. Finally, Joseph and
Rachel came forward and bowed before him.
“And what were all the flocks and herds I met as I came?” Esau
asked.
Jacob
replied, “They are a gift, my lord, to ensure your friendship.”
“My
brother, I have plenty,” Esau answered. “Keep what you have for yourself.”
But Jacob insisted, “No, if I have found favor with you, please
accept this gift from me. And what a relief to see your friendly smile. It is
like seeing the face of God! Please take this gift I have brought you, for
God has been very gracious to me. I have more than enough.”
And because Jacob insisted, Esau finally accepted the gift.
“Well,” Esau said, “let’s be going. I will lead the way.”
But Jacob replied, “You can see, my lord, that some of the
children are very young, and the flocks and herds have their young, too. If
they are driven too hard, even for one day, all the animals could die. Please,
my lord, go ahead of your servant. We will follow slowly, at a pace that is
comfortable for the livestock and the children. I will meet you at Seir.”
“All
right,” Esau said, “but at least let me assign some of my men to guide and
protect you.”
Jacob
responded, “That’s not necessary. It’s enough that you’ve received me warmly,
my lord!”
So Esau turned around and started back to Seir that same day.Jacob,
on the other hand, traveled on to Succoth. There he built himself a house and
made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place was named Succoth (which
means “shelters”).
Later, having traveled all the way from Paddan-aram, Jacob
arrived safely at the town of Shechem, in the land of Canaan. There he set up
camp outside the town. Jacob bought the plot of land where he camped from
the family of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for 100 pieces of silver. And there
he built an altar and named it El-Elohe-Israel*.
* El-Elohe-Israel - means mighty God of Israel
~ Source : Genesis 33:1-20 [Holy Bible -NLT] taken from
https://www.biblegateway.com
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