1 Looking up, Jacob saw Esau coming and with him four hundred men. He then divided the children between Leah, Rachel and the two slave-girls.
2 He put the slave-girls and their children in front, with Leah and her children following, and Rachel and Joseph behind.
3 He himself went ahead of them and bowed to the ground seven times, until he reached his brother.
4 But Esau ran to meet him, took him in his arms, threw himself on his neck and wept as he kissed him.
5 Then looking up he saw the women and children. ‘Who are these with you?’ he asked. Jacob answered, ‘The children whom God has bestowed on your servant.’
6 The slave-girls then came up with their children, and they all bowed low.
7 Then Leah too came up with her children, and they all bowed low. Finally Rachel and Joseph came up and bowed low.
8 Esau asked, ‘What was the purpose of that whole camp I just met?’ ‘To win my lord’s favour,’ he replied.
9 ‘Brother, I have plenty,’ Esau answered, ‘keep what is yours.’
10 Jacob protested, ‘No, if I have won your favour, please accept the gift I offer, for in fact I have come into your presence as into the presence of God, since you have received me kindly.
11 So accept the gift I have brought for you, since God has been generous to me and I have all I need.’ And he urged him, and Esau accepted.
12 Esau said, ‘Let us break camp and move off; I shall go beside you.’
13 But Jacob replied, ‘As my lord knows, the children are weak, and the sheep and cows which have calved make it hard for me. If they are driven too hard, even for one day, the whole drove will die.
14 May it please my lord to go on ahead of his servant. For my part, I shall move at a slower pace, to suit the flock I am driving and the children, until I join my lord in Seir.’
15 Esau then said, ‘At least let me leave you some of the people who are with me.’ ‘What for?’ Jacob asked. ‘Please indulge me, my lord!’
16 So that day Esau turned back towards Seir,
17 but Jacob made his way to Succoth, where he built himself a house and made shelters for his livestock; that is why the place was given the name of Succoth.
18 Jacob arrived safely at the town of Shechem in Canaanite territory, on his return from Paddan-Aram. He encamped opposite the town
19 and for one hundred pieces of silver he bought from the sons of Hamor father of Shechem the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent.
20 There he erected an altar which he called ‘El, God of Israel’.
A Brief Overview of Genesis Chapter 33
In this chapter, Jacob sees his brother Esau approaching with 400 men. Fearing the worst, Jacob arranges his family into groups, placing his wives, children, and servants in a specific order, with himself in the front. As Esau reaches him, Jacob humbly bows to the ground seven times. Surprisingly, instead of hostility, Esau runs to Jacob, hugs him, and the two brothers reconcile with tears and joy.
Esau asks about Jacob’s family, and Jacob introduces them as the children God has blessed him with. Esau also inquires about the gifts Jacob had sent ahead, to which Jacob explains that they were meant to win Esau’s favor. Esau assures him that he has enough, but Jacob insists, and Esau graciously accepts the gift.
Esau offers to accompany Jacob on his journey, but Jacob explains that his children and livestock need to move at a slower pace. He asks Esau to go ahead and promises to join him in Seir. Esau then offers some of his men to assist Jacob, but Jacob politely declines. Esau heads back to Seir, while Jacob goes to a place called Succoth, where he builds a house and shelters for his animals.
Later, Jacob safely reaches the town of Shechem in Canaan, where he buys a piece of land and sets up camp. There, he builds an altar and dedicates it to “El, God of Israel.”
This chapter focuses on Jacob’s reconciliation with Esau and his peaceful return to Canaan, showing themes of forgiveness, humility, and gratitude.