HOMECOMING (GENESIS 33)

JACOB MEETS ESAU

“God fights or rules,” is here reinterpreted as a reference to Jacob’s struggle with God. Yet this reinterpretation captures the paradox of Jacob’s struggle precisely. For while Jacob struggled with God, it was God who allowed Jacob to triumph in the fight.[i]

[i]Wenham, G. J. (1994). Genesis 16–50(Vol. 2, p. 303). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.

So this story of Jacob’s struggle with God summed up for Israel their national destiny. Among all their trials and perplexities in which God seemed to be fighting against them, he was ultimately on their side; indeed, he would triumph, and in his victory, Israel would triumph too.[ii]

[ii]Wenham, G. J. (1994). Genesis 16–50(Vol. 2, p. 303). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.

Genesis 28:20–22 ESV

20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, 21 so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, 22 and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”

Genesis 33:1–3 ESV

1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants. 2 And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. 3 He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

NOTICE: JACOB GOES FIRST. SEVEN TIMES: SIGN OF PERFECTION BUT ALSO OF CREATION. NEW BEGINNINGS.

Genesis 33:4 ESV

4 But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.

THINK ABOUT THE PRODIGAL SON!

Genesis 33:5–7 ESV

5 And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, “Who are these with you?” Jacob said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” 6 Then the servants drew near, they and their children, and bowed down. 7 Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down. And last Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down.

NOTICE HOW JACOB IS NOW GIVING GOD ALL THE CREDIT.

Genesis 33:8–11 ESV

8 Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company that I met?” Jacob answered, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.” 9 But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” 10 Jacob said, “No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand. For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me. 11 Please accept my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” Thus he urged him, and he took it.

8–11 The conversation continues with Esau in jovial mood, whereas Jacob is earnestly deferential. Esau jocularly puns, “What is all this camp (מחנה mḥnh) that I have encountered?” Doubtless he realized Jacob was sending him a present (מנחה mnḥh; cf. 32:14, 19, 21; 33:10), for Jacob had told his servants to explain that they were a gift (32:19). But the pun touched Jacob, for originally he had divided his possessions into “camps” so that they could escape, should Esau attack (32:8, 9, 11).[i]

[i]Wenham, G. J. (1994). Genesis 16–50(Vol. 2, p. 299). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.

Jacob’s argument is that since you have received me with forgiveness as God has, so you must accept my “present,” a term also used for sacrifice (e.g., 4:3–5; Lev 2:1, 3–7), as God would.[i]

[i]Wenham, G. J. (1994). Genesis 16–50(Vol. 2, p. 299). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.

“PLEASE ACCEPT” LIT: “He pressed him” is a very strong term, as its use elsewhere (19:3, 9; Judg 19:7; 2 Kgs 2:17; 5:16) shows.[i]

[i]Wenham, G. J. (1994). Genesis 16–50(Vol. 2, p. 299). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.

Genesis 33:12–16 ESV

12 Then Esau said, “Let us journey on our way, and I will go ahead of you.” 13 But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and that the nursing flocks and herds are a care to me. If they are driven hard for one day, all the flocks will die. 14 Let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will lead on slowly, at the pace of the livestock that are ahead of me and at the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.” 15 So Esau said, “Let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.” 16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.

Jacob is returning at the Lord’s instruction to his homeland of Canaan, which does not include Seir (cf. 31:3, 13; 32:10).[i]

[i]Wenham, G. J. (1994). Genesis 16–50(Vol. 2, p. 299). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.

Genesis 33:17 ESV

17 But Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.

SUCCOTH MEANS SHELTER OR BOOTHS. IT IS NOT IN THE LAND OF PROMISE.

Succoth (33:17).Tell Deir ʿAlla is now commonly identified as biblical Succoth. It is located east of the Jordan near the confluence of the Jordan and Jabbok Rivers. It is on the north side of the Jabbok, about seven miles west of Mahanaim.[i]

[i]Walton, J. H. (2009). Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (Old Testament): Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy (Vol. 1, pp. 116–117). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Genesis 33:18–20 ESV

18 And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city. 19 And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, he bought for a hundred pieces of money the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent. 20 There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.

Shechem (33:18).See comment on 12:6. Shechem is about thirty-five miles from Succoth—perhaps a weeklong journey with the herds and families.[i]

[i]Walton, J. H. (2009). Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (Old Testament): Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy (Vol. 1, p. 117). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Genesis 28:20–22 ESV

20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, 21 so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, 22 and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”

Jacob builds his first altar here and so identifies with the religious practices of his forefathers. Abraham had previously built an altar on this same site (12:6–7), but that was almost two hundred years earlier, so we have no reason to expect that it still stood.[i]

[i]Walton, J. H. (2001). Genesis(p. 609). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Genesis 12:1–6 ESV

1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, 6 Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land.

ONCE AGAIN WE SEE THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD!

WE ALSO SEE...For Jacob the transformation of his moral character would be incomplete if he did not also experience reconciliation at the human dimension (cf. Matt 5:23–24; 1 John 4:20).[i]

[i]Mathews, K. A. (2005). Genesis 11:27–50:26(Vol. 1B, p. 570). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

1 John 4:20–21 ESV

20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Matthew 5:23–24 ESV

23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.