1 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 handmaids. 2 He put the handmaids and their children in front, Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph at the rear. 3 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 to meet him, embraced him, fell on his neck, kissed him, and they wept. 5 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 Then the handmaids came near with their children, and they bowed themselves. 7 Leah also and her children came near, and bowed themselves. After them, Joseph came near with Rachel, and they bowed themselves. 8 Esau said, "What do you mean by all this company which I met?" Jacob said, "To find favor in the sight of my lord." 9 Esau said, "I have enough, my brother; let that which you have be yours." 10 Jacob said, "Please, no, if I have now found favor 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 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 Esau said, "Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before you." 13 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 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 Esau said, "Let me now leave with you some of the folk who are with me." He said, "Why? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord." 16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. 17 Jacob traveled to Succoth, built himself a house, and made shelters for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth. 18 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 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 erected an altar there, and called it El Elohe Israel.
Esau, with four hundred men, meets Jacob, Genesis 33:1. He places his children under their respective mothers, passes over before them, and bows himself to his brother, Genesis 33:2, Genesis 33:3. Esau receives him with great affection, Genesis 33:4. Receives the homage of the handmaids, Leah, Rachel, and their children, Genesis 33:5-7. Jacob offers him the present of cattle, which he at first refuses, but after much entreaty accepts, Genesis 33:8-11. Invites Jacob to accompany him to Mount Seir, Genesis 33:12. Jacob excuses himself because of his flocks and his children, but promises to follow him, Genesis 33:13, Genesis 33:14. Esau offers to leave him some of his attendants, which Jacob declines, Genesis 33:15. Esau returns to Seir, Genesis 33:16, and Jacob journeys to Succoth, Genesis 33:17, and to Shalem, in the land of Canaan, Genesis 33:18. Buys a parcel of ground from the children of Hamor, Genesis 33:19, and erects an altar which he calls El-elohe-Israel, Genesis 33:20.
INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 33
In this chapter we find Esau meeting Jacob in a friendly manner, contrary to his fears and expectation, having set his family in order in case of the worst, Genesis 33:1; putting questions to Jacob concerning the women and children with him, who make their obeisance to him as Jacob had done before, Genesis 33:5; and concerning the drove he met, which was a present to him, and which he refused at first to take, but at the urgency of Jacob accepted of it, Genesis 33:8; proposing to travel with him, unto which Jacob desired to be excused, he, with the women, children, and flocks, not being able to keep pace with him, Genesis 33:12, and to leave some of his men with him to guard him, which Jacob judged unnecessary, upon which they parted friendly, Genesis 33:15; and the chapter is concluded with an account of Jacob's journey, first to Succoth, then to Shalem, where he pitched his tent, bought a field and built an altar, Genesis 33:17.
(v. 1-16) The friendly meeting of Jacob and Esau.
(Genesis 33:17-20) Jacob comes to Succoth and Shalem, He builds an altar.
*More commentary available by clicking individual verses.