Genesis 33
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Genesis 33
Genesis 33
And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.
We saw the messengers warn Jacob that Esau was coming with 400 men back in verse 6 of chapter 32. At that time he divided his family as a strategic move in case they needed to escape. But now he is arrange the family to present them to Esau. Order is layed out in verse 2 and then followed in verses 5-7. The word men in the Hebrew is “ish” which is singular, showing us that this group would be consider ONE lending to the idea of it being a military type group (battalion, platoon, squad).
And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.
So Jacob arranges the family in order from his least to most favorite; “saving the best for last”.
And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
In chapter 32 we saw Jacob send his family to cross the river first, while he stayed behind. He ends up wrestling with the angel of God until daybreak. However after wrestling with God Jacob received what he wanted: a blessing (Genesis 32:29). Jacob limped for the rest of his life, but he “saw God face to face” (Genesis 32:30) and received God’s blessing. In his weakness, he was strong and now with that new confidence that God is with him he goes first to meet Esau. Jacob bows down seven times to show respect to Esau and that he is coming in peace. This is ironic as he is showing the respect that should be given to the first born, but that was part of the inheritance that he took from Esau. Remember that seven in biblical numerics is spiritual perfection, God’s signature.
And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.
and kissed him. This is one of the Hebrew words with “extraordinary points” (we can see this in Appendix 31 in the Companion Bible), to show that the Massorites thought it should be omitted. It should read, “and fell on his neck and wept”. Here are two examples of how this was translated this way: Who are the Massorites? They are Jewish scholars, active c. AD 600–950, who developed elaborate traditions to ensure the accurate copying of the Hebrew Old Testament text.
And he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck.
And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.
So we see the correct translation through these two verses, however this doesn’t change the fact that Jacob was sincere; this is a heartfelt greeting between two estranged brothers after over two decades apart.
And he (Esau) lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he (Jacob) said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.
Jacob continues to address himself as Esau’s servant, stressing his respect for him and his desire for peace between them. Jacob also gives thanks and respect to God in recognizing that his family is a gift from God, we see this in:
Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: And the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Don’t forget to give thanks to God everyday for the blessings he gives us.
Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.
And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.
When this verse says “they bowed themselves” this could be translated as “showing humility”. The women and children are following Jacob’s lead and showing respect to Esau.
And he (Esau) said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he (Jacob) said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.
We saw in verse 5 of chapter 32 that Jacob sent oxen, asses, flocks, and servants to Esau as a peace offering.
And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.
So Esau is telling Jacob that he has plenty, the gifts are unnecessary.
And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.
Jacob refuses to take back the gifts and asks Esau to keep them if everything is going to be peaceful between them.
Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.
This verbal exchange illustrates the cultural expectations of ancient Near Eastern etiquette with respect to receiving gifts. Where Jacob used the Hebrew word minchah of his gift to Esau in chapter 32—a term associated with offering tribute to a superior—here in chapter 33 he uses berakhah (meaning “blessing”; see note on 27:4). This term suggests that Jacob views the gift as repayment for Esau’s inheritance.
And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.
And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die.
The correct translation of “if men should overdrive” should be “if I should overdrive”, Jacob is saying he can’t push the flocks and children to travel as quickly as Esau and his men would be able to.
Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.
Jacob is telling Esau to go on ahead, that his group will follow behind.
And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord.
The Hebrew for “what needeth it” means “what for”. Jacob is asking why would Esau need to leave part of his men with Jacob?
So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.
And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
As Esau turns south toward Seir, Jacob turns north toward Succoth. Jacob’s actions show his uncertainty about Esau’s feelings toward him. Succoth This Hebrew term means “booths” or “shelters,” . It is located in the plain north of the Jabbok (32:22) and east of the Jordan River
And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan-aram; and pitched his tent before the city.
Shalem means peace so the correct translation here would be “came in peace to the city of Shechem” showing Jacob and his family had no issues reaching this place. Shechem The city where Abraham built an altar after God appeared to him and promised him the land of Canaan (12:6–7).
And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for an hundred pieces of money.
the sons of Hamor Since the sale involved the loss of part of their ancestral estate, the extended family was involved in the transaction. See note on 34:2.
a piece of land As done previously by Abraham (23:9), Jacob purchases a plot of ground in Canaan. He apparently had the same motive—a family burial ground—in light of Josh 24:32.
one hundred pieces of money The money mentioned in the Hebrew text is an unknown form of currency called the qesitah. It is mentioned elsewhere only in Josh 24:32 and Job 42:11.
And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel.
Jacob following the example that Abraham and Isaac had set for him. El-elohe-Israel means the God of Israel
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