Jacob Meets Esau
1. Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming toward him with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants.
2. He put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph at the rear.
3. Then he himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times until he approached his brother.
4. But Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And they wept.
5. When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, “Who are these with you?” Jacob answered, “They are the children God has graciously given your servant.”
6. Then the maidservants and their children approached and bowed down.
7. Next, Leah and her children came and bowed down. Finally, Joseph and Rachel came forward and bowed down.
8. “And what do you mean by all this company that I have met?” Esau asked. Jacob answered, “To find favor in your eyes, my lord.”
9. But Esau replied, “I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.”
10. “No, please!” said Jacob. “If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from my hand. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing the face of God, since you have received me favorably.
11. Please take my present that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have everything I need.” So Jacob pressed him until he accepted.
12. Then Esau said, “Let us be on our way, and I will go ahead of you.”
13. But Jacob replied, “My lord knows that the children are weak, and I must care for the nursing flocks and cattle. If they are driven hard for even a day, all the flocks will die.
14. Let my lord go ahead of his servant, while I move along slowly at the pace of the livestock and children, until I come to my lord in Seir.”
15. “Please let me leave some of my people with you,” Esau said. But Jacob replied, “Why do you need any of my people? Let me find favor in your eyes, my lord.”
16. So that day Esau started on his way back to Seir,
17. but Jacob journeyed to Succoth, where he built a house for himself and shelters for his livestock. That is why the place was called Succoth.
Jacob Settles in Shechem
18. After Jacob came from Paddan-aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan, and he camped within sight of the city.
19. Then he purchased the piece of land where he had pitched his tent from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of silver.
20. And there he set up an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.