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.
Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau was coming, and with him four hundred men. He divided the children between Leah, Rachel, and the two servants.
2 He placed the two personal maids with their children first, then Leah and her children, and Rachel and Joseph last.
He put the servants and their children in front, Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph at the rear.
3 Then Jacob went ahead of them and bowed low to the ground seven times before approaching his brother.
He himself passed over in front of them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came 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.
Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, fell on his neck, kissed him, and they 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.
He lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, “Who are these with you?” He said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.”
6 The personal maids and their children came over and bowed down.
Then the servants came near with their children, and they bowed themselves.
7 Then Leah and her children came over and bowed down. Lastly Joseph and Rachel came over and bowed down.
Leah also and her children came near, and bowed themselves. After them, Joseph came near with Rachel, and they bowed themselves.
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.
Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company which I met?” Jacob said, “To find favour in the sight of my lord.”
9 “I have more than enough, my brother! You keep what you have,” said Esau.
Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; let that which you have be yours.”
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!
Jacob said, “Please, no, if I have now found favour in your sight, then receive my present at my hand, because I have seen your face, as one sees the face of God, and you were 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.
Please take the gift that I brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” He urged him, and he took it.
12 “Let's get on our way,” Esau said. “I'll go ahead of you.”
Esau said, “Let’s take our journey, and let’s go, and I will go before you.”
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.
Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are tender, and that the flocks and herds with me have their young, and if they overdrive them one day, all the flocks 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.”
Please let my lord pass over before his servant, and I will lead on gently, according to the pace of the livestock that are before me and according to the pace 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.
Esau said, “Let me now leave with you some of the people who are with me.” He said, “Why? Let me find favour in the sight of my lord.”
16 So Esau started on his way back to Seir that day.
So Esau returned that day on his way 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.
Jacob travelled to Succoth, built himself a house, and made shelters for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
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.
Jacob came in peace to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Paddan Aram; and encamped before 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.
He bought the parcel of ground where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred pieces of money.
20 He built an altar there and called it El-Elohe-Israel.
He erected an altar there, and called it El Elohe Israel.
