Genesis
Chapter 33
The Meeting of Esau and Jacob
Jacob looked up and saw that Esau was approaching with four hundred men. He divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants.
He then placed the maidservants and their children at the front, followed by Leah and her children, with Rachel and Joseph at the end.
He himself went ahead of them, bowing to the ground seven times until he drew near to his brother.
Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, kissed him, and they both wept.
Esau looked up and, seeing the women and children, asked: “Who are these with you?” Jacob replied: “They are the children God has given to your servant.”
Then the servants and their children moved forward and bowed down.
Leah, along with her children, also stepped forward and bowed. Finally, Joseph and Rachel approached and bowed.
Esau said: “What is the meaning of all this company I have met?” Jacob replied: “It is to win your favor.”
Esau answered: “Brother, I have plenty; keep what you have for yourself.”
Jacob said: “But, no, please! Accept the gift I offer, for I came to you as to God, and you received me kindly.
So accept the gift I have brought you, for God has dealt generously with me, and I have plenty.” Jacob insisted so much that Esau accepted the gift.
Esau then said: “Let us be on our way. I will lead you.”
But Jacob said to him: “My lord knows that the children are not strong, and besides, I must think of the ewes with lambs and the cows that have calves and if they are driven too hard, even for one day, all the flocks will die.
Let it please my lord to go ahead of me while I move on slowly at the pace of the cattle I’m driving and that of the children until I reach my lord at Seir.”
Esau said: “At least let me leave some of my men with you.” Jacob replied; “Why? All I want is to keep your friendship.”
So Esau returned that same day to Seir.
But Jacob went to Succoth. There, he built a house for himself and shelters for his cattle. For this reason, the place was called Succoth.
On his return from Paddan-aram, Jacob safely arrived in Shechem, a town in the land of Canaan, and camped within sight of the town.
For one hundred pieces of silver, he purchased from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, the plot of land where he had set up his tent.
There he built an altar and named it God—the God of Israel.
Commentaries
The Meeting of Esau and Jacob.
As announced in 32:7, Esau marches to meet Jacob with four hundred men, indicating that his initial intention is not to have a peaceful encounter. However, if there was any warlike intention on the part of the older brother, it is entirely replaced by fraternal feelings upon seeing his brother approach, showing signs of submission (3). This elicits kisses and weeping from Esau, along with an implicit recognition of the effects of the blessing carried by the younger brother, which is manifested in his wives, children, and cattle (5-8).
Jacob will not feel completely at ease until his brother accepts the gifts and presents for which he feels somewhat indebted (9-11). By accepting his brother’s gifts, Esau also intends to walk alongside Jacob (12). However, the two brothers must go their separate ways. Once again, Jacob prudently decides to walk at a distance. Esau returns to Seir, east of the Jordan. At the same time, Jacob goes to Succoth, west of the Jordan, and then to Shechem, where he pitches his tent in a purchased field (19) and erects an altar dedicated to the God of Israel (20), thus ratifying his connection to Abraham. Jacob’s stay in Shechem is only temporary; the writer uses it to link his story with that of Abraham.