Genesis 33

1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.2 And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.3 And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.

5 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.s6 Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.7 And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.8 And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.s9 And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.s10 And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.11 Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.s12 And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.13 And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die.14 Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.s15 And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord.ss

16 So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.s

18 And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan–aram; and pitched his tent before the city.s19 And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for an hundred pieces of money.ss20 And he erected there an altar, and called it El–elohe–Israel.s

Genesis 33

1-4 Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming with his four hundred men. men. He divided the children between Leah and Rachel and the two maidservants. He put the maidservants out in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. He led the way and, as he approached his brother, bowed seven times, honoring his brother. But Esau ran up and embraced him, held him tight and kissed him. And they both wept.

5  Then Esau looked around and saw the women and children: "And who are these with you?"
Jacob said, "The children that God saw fit to bless me with."

6-7  Then the maidservants came up with their children and bowed; then Leah and her children, also bowing; and finally, Joseph and Rachel came up and bowed to Esau.

8  Esau then asked, "And what was the meaning of all those herds that I met?"
"I was hoping that they would pave the way for my master to welcome me."

9  Esau said, "Oh, brother. I have plenty of everything—keep what is yours for yourself."

10-11  Jacob said, "Please. If you can find it in your heart to welcome me, accept these gifts. When I saw your face, it was as the face of God smiling on me. Accept the gifts I have brought for you. God has been good to me and I have more than enough." Jacob urged the gifts on him and Esau accepted.

12  Then Esau said, "Let's start out on our way; I'll take the lead."

13-14  But Jacob said, "My master can see that the children are frail. And the flocks and herds are nursing, making for slow going. If I push them too hard, even for a day, I'd lose them all. So, master, you go on ahead of your servant, while I take it easy at the pace of my flocks and children. I'll catch up with you in Seir."

15  Esau said, "Let me at least lend you some of my men."
"There's no need," said Jacob. "Your generous welcome is all I need or want."

16  So Esau set out that day and made his way back to Seir.

17  And Jacob left for Succoth. He built a shelter for himself and sheds for his livestock. That's how the place came to be called Succoth (Sheds).

18-20  And that's how it happened that Jacob arrived all in one piece in Shechem in the land of Canaan—all the way from Paddan Aram. He camped near the city. He bought the land where he pitched his tent from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem. He paid a hundred silver coins for it. Then he built an altar there and named it El-Elohe-Israel (Mighty Is the God of Israel).