Genesis 33
1 Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming toward him with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants.
Jacob saw Esau in the distance, coming towards him with four hundred men. So he split up the children between Leah, Rachel and the two personal maids.
2 He put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph at the rear.
He placed the two personal maids with their children first, then Leah and her children, and Rachel and Joseph last.
3 But Jacob himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.
Then Jacob went ahead of them and bowed low to the ground seven times before approaching his brother.
4 Esau, however, ran to him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.
Esau ran over to him and hugged him. He put his arms around his neck and kissed him. The two of them wept.
5 When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, “Who are these with you?” Jacob answered, “These are the children God has graciously given your servant.”
Then Esau looked around at the women and children. “Who are these people with you?” he asked. “They are the children God graciously gave your servant,” Jacob replied.
6 Then the maidservants and their children approached and bowed down.
The personal maids and their children came over and bowed down.
7 Leah and her children also approached and bowed down, and then Joseph and Rachel approached and bowed down.
Then Leah and her children came over and bowed down. Lastly Joseph and Rachel came over and bowed down.
8 “What do you mean by sending this whole company to meet me?” asked Esau. “To find favor in your sight, my lord,” Jacob answered.
“What were all the livestock for that I met on the way?” Esau asked. “They're a gift to you my lord so you'd treat me well,” Jacob answered.
9 “I already have plenty, my brother,” Esau replied. “Keep what belongs to you.”
“I have more than enough, my brother! You keep what you have,” said Esau.
10 But Jacob insisted, “No, please! If I have found favor in your sight, then receive this gift from my hand. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing the face of God, since you have received me favorably.
“No, please!” Jacob insisted. “If you're happy with me, then please accept the gift I'm giving you. Now I've seen your face again it's like seeing the face of God, and you have welcomed me so kindly!
11 Please accept my gift that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” So Jacob pressed him until he accepted.
Please take the gift I've brought to you because God has treated me so well and I have so much.” So Esau accepted it.
12 Then Esau said, “Let us be on our way, and I will go ahead of you.”
“Let's get on our way,” Esau said. “I'll go ahead of you.”
13 But Jacob replied, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and I must care for sheep and cattle that are nursing their young. If they are driven hard for even a day, all the animals will die.
“My lord can see that the children are weak,” Jacob responded. “Also, the goats, sheep, and cattle are nursing their young, and if I push them too hard, they'll all die.
14 Please let my lord go ahead of his servant. I will continue on slowly, at a comfortable pace for the livestock and children, until I come to my lord at Seir.”
You go on, my lord, and your servant will come along slowly, walking with the children, and I'll meet you at Seir.”
15 “Let me leave some of my people with you,” Esau said. But Jacob replied, “Why do that? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.”
“Fine, but let me leave some of my men with you,” said Esau. “You're very kind, but there's no need to do that,” Jacob replied.
16 So that day Esau started on his way back to Seir,
So Esau started on his way back to Seir that day.
17 but Jacob went on to Succoth, where he built a house for himself and shelters for his livestock; that is why the place was called Succoth.
But Jacob headed to Succoth, where he built himself a house and shelters for the livestock. That's why the place is called Succoth.
18 After Jacob had come from Paddan-aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan, and he camped just outside the city.
Later Jacob continued his journey from Paddan-aram. He arrived safely at Shechem in the country of Canaan where he camped outside the town.
19 And the plot of ground where he pitched his tent, he purchased from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of silver.
He bought the plot of ground where he was camping from the sons of Hamor, the founder of Shechem, for 100 pieces of money.
20 There he set up an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.
He built an altar there and called it El-Elohe-Israel.
