Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two maids. He put the maids with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all.1 He himself went on ahead of them, bowing himself to the ground seven times,2 until he came near his brother. But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him,3 and they wept4.
When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he said, "Who are these with you?"5
Jacob said, "The children6 whom God has graciously given your servant."
Then the maids drew near, they and their children, and bowed down; Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down; and finally Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down.7
Esau said, "What do you mean by all this company that I met?"
Jacob answered, "To find favor with my lord."8
But Esau said, "I have enough,9 my brother; keep what you have for yourself."
Jacob said, "No, please; if I find favor with you, then accept my present from my hand;10 for truly to see your face is like seeing the face of God--since you have received me with such favor. Please accept my gift that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have everything I want.11" So he urged him, and he took it.
Then Esau said, "Let us journey on our way, and I will go alongside you."12
But Jacob said to him, "My lord knows that the children are frail and that the flocks and herds, which are nursing, are a care to me; and if they are overdriven for one day, all the flocks will die. Let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will lead on slowly, according to the pace of the cattle that are before me and according to the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir."13
So Esau said, "Let me leave with you some of the people who are with me."
But he said, "Why should my lord be so kind to me?"14
So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. But Jacob journeyed to Succoth,15 and built himself a house, and made booths for his cattle; therefore the place is called Succoth.
[1] Wow...a callous reading of who he was afraid to lose? Or just a traditional ranking of honor?
[2] Showing humility and deference. Does it matter whether it's "real humility" here, or is the action the important part?
[3] What a surprise!
[4] Wow...emotional. Esau's feelings for his brother far overwhelmed his anger. Once again a dispute is resolved nonviolently.
[5] Interested in his brother's family.
[6] What about the wives?
[7] Everyone showing deference/humility.
[8] Honestly admits that he was trying to gain favor.
[9] Is he just following the polite cultural non-acceptance, or does he really see himself as not having need? Or does he not want to be in debt to his brother or to show that his brother has gained more than him?
[10] Wants the security of having his gift accepted.
[11] Attributes his success to God, and says that he also has enough.
[12] Esau wants to continue the relationship.
[13] But Jacob wants to maintain some separation. Is his answer the real reason, or does he still hold some fear of Esau? Or does he just want to continue to make his own way?
[14] The same dynamic continues.
[15] All is forgiven, but not relationship appears to be continued.
Take-home: In a great surprise, Jacob and Esau reconcile and conflict is yet again resolved nonviolently. My Study Bible states that one purpose of this story is to explain the "peace with separateness" relationship between the Israelites and the Edomites.
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