33Genesis 33

Jacob Meets Esau

1Jacob saw Esau coming with his four hundred men, so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two concubines.Select Genesis 33:1

2He put the concubines and their children first, then Leah and her children, and finally Rachel and Joseph at the rear.Select Genesis 33:2

3Jacob went ahead of them and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.Select Genesis 33:3

4But Esau ran to meet him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. They were both crying.Select Genesis 33:4

5When Esau looked around and saw the women and the children, he asked, “Who are these people with you?” “These, sir, are the children whom God has been good enough to give me,” Jacob answered.Select Genesis 33:5

6Then the concubines came up with their children and bowed down;Select Genesis 33:6

7then Leah and her children came, and last of all Joseph and Rachel came and bowed down.Select Genesis 33:7

8Esau asked, “What about that other group I met? What did that mean?” Jacob answered, “It was to gain your favor.”Select Genesis 33:8

9But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have.”Select Genesis 33:9

10Jacob said, “No, please, if I have gained your favor, accept my gift. To see your face is for me like seeing the face of God, now that you have been so friendly to me.Select Genesis 33:10

11Please accept this gift which I have brought for you; God has been kind to me and given me everything I need.” Jacob kept on urging him until he accepted.Select Genesis 33:11

12Esau said, “Let's get ready and leave. I will go ahead of you.”Select Genesis 33:12

13Jacob answered, “You know that the children are weak, and I must think of the sheep and livestock with their young. If they are driven hard for even one day, the whole herd will die.Select Genesis 33:13

14Please go on ahead of me, and I will follow slowly, going as fast as I can with the livestock and the children until I catch up with you in Edom.”Select Genesis 33:14

15Esau said, “Then let me leave some of my men with you.” But Jacob answered, “There is no need for that for I only want to gain your favor.”Select Genesis 33:15

16So that day Esau started on his way back to Edom.Select Genesis 33:16

17But Jacob went to Sukkoth, where he built a house for himself and shelters for his livestock. That is why the place was named Sukkoth.Select Genesis 33:17

18On his return from Mesopotamia Jacob arrived safely at the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan and set up his camp in a field near the city.Select Genesis 33:18

19He bought that part of the field from the descendants of Hamor father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of silver.Select Genesis 33:19

20He put up an altar there and named it for El, the God of Israel.Select Genesis 33:20