< Genesis 33 >

1 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.
And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and beheld, and lo! Esau his brother coming, and four hundred men with him; and Jacob divided the children to Lea and to Rachel, and the two handmaidens.
2 He placed the two personal maids with their children first, then Leah and her children, and Rachel and Joseph last.
And he put the two handmaidens and their children with the first, and Lea and her children behind, and Rachel and Joseph last.
3 Then Jacob went ahead of them and bowed low to the ground seven times before approaching his brother.
But he advanced himself before them, and did reverence to the ground seven times, until he drew near to his brother.
4 Esau ran over to him and hugged him. He put his arms around his neck and kissed him. The two of them wept.
And Esau ran on to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him; and they both wept.
5 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.
And Esau looked up and saw the women and the children, and said, What are these to thee? And he said, The children with which God has mercifully blessed thy servant.
6 The personal maids and their children came over and bowed down.
And the maid-servants and their children drew near and did reverence.
7 Then Leah and her children came over and bowed down. Lastly Joseph and Rachel came over and bowed down.
And Lea and her children drew near and did reverence; and after this drew near Rachel and Joseph, and did reverence.
8 “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.
And he said, What are these things to thee, all these companies that I have met? And he said, That thy servant might find grace in thy sight, my lord.
9 “I have more than enough, my brother! You keep what you have,” said Esau.
And Esau said, I have much, my brother; keep thine own.
10 “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!
And Jacob said, If I have found grace in thy sight, receive the gifts through my hands; therefore have I seen thy face, as if any one should see the face of God, and thou shalt be well-pleased with me.
11 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.
Receive my blessings, which I have brought thee, because God has had mercy on me, and I have all things; and he constrained him, and he took [them].
12 “Let's get on our way,” Esau said. “I'll go ahead of you.”
And he said, Let us depart, and proceed right onward.
13 “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.
And he said to him, My lord knows, that the children are very tender, and the flocks and the herds with me are with young; if then I shall drive them hard one day, all the cattle will die.
14 You go on, my lord, and your servant will come along slowly, walking with the children, and I'll meet you at Seir.”
Let my lord go on before his servant, and I shall have strength on the road according to the ease of the journey before me, and according to the strength of the children, until I come to my lord to Seir.
15 “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.
And Esau said, I will leave with thee some of the people who are with me. And he said, Why so? it is enough that I have found favour before thee, [my] lord.
16 So Esau started on his way back to Seir that day.
And Esau returned on that day on his journey to Seir.
17 But Jacob headed to Succoth, where he built himself a house and shelters for the livestock. That's why the place is called Succoth.
And Jacob departs to his tents; and he made for himself there habitations, and for his cattle he made booths; therefore he called the name of that place, Booths.
18 Later Jacob continued his journey from Paddan-aram. He arrived safely at Shechem in the country of Canaan where he camped outside the town.
And Jacob came to Salem, a city of Secima, which is in the land of Chanaan, when he departed out of Mesopotamia of Syria, and took up a position in front of the city.
19 He bought the plot of ground where he was camping from the sons of Hamor, the founder of Shechem, for 100 pieces of money.
And he bought the portion of the field, where he pitched his tent, of Emmor the father of Sychem, for a hundred lambs.
20 He built an altar there and called it El-Elohe-Israel.
And he set up there an altar, and called on the God of Israel.

< Genesis 33 >