Genesis Bible Study: Genesis 33

⁽¹⁾ Then, in the distance, Jacob saw Esau coming with his four hundred men.

⁽²⁾ Jacob now arranged his family into a column, with his two concubines and their children at the front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last.

Jacob had barely passed over the brook Jabbok and caught up with his family when he saw his brother approaching accompanied by four hundred men (armed?). Limping from his wrestling bout with the Lord, Jacob was powerless before Esau's group. He had just enough time before Esau came up to arrange his family, placing his different children with their respective mothers, and putting those in the rear that he loved the most. Jacob still feared whether Esau might do what he'd threatened to do twenty years before - kill Jacob.

⁽³⁾ Then Jacob went on ahead. As he approached his brother, he bowed low seven times before him.

Perhaps less afraid because of the blessing from God and his being renamed "Israel", Jacob moved past his family to greet Esau - not the original plan. Jacob was anxious to let Esau understand that he intended to make no claim of preeminence because of the prophecy to Rebecca, his mother, and because of the blessing by Isaac, Jacob's father.

⁽⁴⁾ Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him affectionately and kissed him. Both of them were in tears.

Had God not intervened, Esau probably would have still been angry. But, Jacob had prayed earnestly to God and had pleaded His promise to keep in safe. Esau had buried all his anger and receives his brother not only with forgiveness but with brotherly love. God made Esau not only not an enemy, but a friend. Like Jacob, we need to leave our enemies in God's hands.

⁽⁵⁾ Then Esau looked at the women and children and asked, "Who are these people with you?" "These are the children God* has graciously given to me," Jacob replied.

*God - giving the credit to God, not his own shrewdness.

⁽⁶⁾ Then the concubines came forward with their children and bowed low before him.

⁽⁷⁾ Next Leah came with her children, and they bowed down. Finally, Rachel and Joseph came and made their bows.

⁽⁸⁾ "And what were all the flocks and herds I met as I came?" Esau asked. Jacob replied, "They are gifts, my lord, to ensure your goodwill."

Esau is referring to the groups of cattle which had been sent on to him earlier as a present. Note that here he terms Esau "my lord." Jacob still has two groups of flocks and herds that he's keeping for himself.

⁽⁹⁾ "Brother, I have plenty*," Esau answered. "Keep what you have."

*plenty: Hebrew "rab". Translated "I have enough" in the King James version. Contrast this with what Jacob says in verse 11, where the Hebrew word "kol" is translated "enough" in the King James, but is more properly translated "I have EVERYTHING".

Jacob had devoted a lot thought to the problem how he could best pacify Esau, but it was unnecessary. God had preceded Jacob and had already pacified Esau!

⁽¹⁰⁾ "No, please accept them," Jacob said, "for what a relief it is to see your friendly smile. It is like seeing the smile of God*!

*God: While Jacob never saw "the face of God", seeing the face of Esau and his smile was, to him, like seeing the face of God. Jacob recognizes in the smile that God has prepared Esau for this meeting. Notice that Esau doesn't bring up the past, the way we would probably be tempted to do. Like Paul, we must "forget the past and press forward" Failure to "forget and forgive" can lead to physical and emotional harm to ourselves.

⁽¹¹⁾ Please take my gifts, for God has been very generous to me. I have more than enough*." Jacob continued to insist, so Esau finally accepted them.

*enough: Hebrew word "kol" is translated "enough" in the King James, but is more properly translated "I have EVERYTHING". Jacob is not just thinking of his wealth, not just his wives and children, but all of God's blessings on him. His "cup runneth over" because God has blessed him beyond measure.

⁽¹²⁾ "Well, let's be going," Esau said. "I will stay with you and lead the way."

Esau is offering to lead the way and provide protection - back to Seir.

⁽¹³⁾ But Jacob replied, "You can see, my lord, that some of the children are very young, and the flocks and herds have their young, too. If they are driven too hard, they may die.

⁽¹⁴⁾ So go on ahead of us. We will follow at our own pace and meet you at Seir."

Now that Esau had accepted his present, Jacob was anxious for them to separate again. Esau might change his mind after a few days and Jacob wished to be far away should that happen. However, he could not afford to offend his brother, so Jacob, at once, begins to frame excuses as to why they should journey separately. Jacob is headed for Canaan not Seir.

⁽¹⁵⁾ "Well," Esau said, "at least let me leave some of my men to guide and protect you." "There is no reason for you to be so kind to me," Jacob insisted.

This was probably to afford protection for Jacob and his herds while passing through a wild and dangerous country. What a contrast to the way Jacob and Laban parted ways - no need for a boundary stone to be set up. God can fully reconcile us with former enemies and erase bitterness and hatred, if we let Him and put Him in charge of the situation. Wouldn't we have asked about our mother and father, were we in Jacob's shoes? Why does Jacob not ask? Perhaps Esau tells him, but that's not mentioned, possibly because writer, Moses, is keeping the focus on Jacob. Isaac is probably completely incapacitated and living in Hebron. Rebecca is probably dead by now. I can't believe that Jacob doesn't ask about them.

⁽¹⁶⁾ So Esau started back to Seir* that same day.

Jacob doesn't see Esau again until they get together to bury Isaac.

⁽¹⁷⁾ Meanwhile, Jacob and his household traveled on to Succoth*. There he built himself a house and made shelters for his flocks and herds. That is why the place was named Succoth*

*Succoth means "shelters". Joshua 13:27, Judges 8:5-16. East of the Jordan and probably north of the Jabbok, in a plain where there was pasture for the flocks and where they could rest awhile to regain their strength. These shelters would have been crude reed-grass huts.

Not only was Jacob distrustful of his brother but he lied unto him. Instead of making for Seir, the appointed meeting-place, he went in another direction entirely. Even after the unexpected cordiality which Esau had displayed, Jacob couldn't believe that God had permanently subdued his brother’s anger. Succoth was in the opposite direction of Seir where Jacob had told Esau he was coming. While the text does not inform us of Jacob’s reasons for such a move, several could be suggested. First, Jacob may not have been eager to face his father. Also, Jacob may not have been too excited about spending much time in close proximity to Esau, who was obviously well able to protect his own interests. Furthermore, Jacob had made a vow to pay a tithe to God at Bethel (28:22). Perhaps he was not eager to do this now that God had greatly prospered him. Finally, and perhaps most likely, the pasture was vastly superior in the Jordan Valley where Succoth was located, while Bethel was in the mountains. Succoth was a common name, so we can't be absolutely positive where this was. Most likely, it is not far from Peniel. Jacob probably stayed there one or two seasons to replenish his flocks, severely depleted by giving so many to Esau.

⁽¹⁸⁾ Then they arrived safely* at Shechem**, in Canaan, and they set up camp just outside the town.

*safely: indicates that God had fulfilled the condition in
Genesis 28:21 of Jacob's vow about making Him his God.

**Shechem: Also known as Nablus. Now, after an unspecified time but probably two seasons, Jacob has finally crossed the Jordan. This was Abraham's first stopping place in Canaan (Genesis 12:6). Located between Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Ebal and north of Jerusalem, Shechem is preeminent in the biblical record, beginning with God's promise of the land to Abraham. Later Jacob would return here with his family and settle shortly. The twelve tribes gathered on these two hills to recite God's Law and the blessings and curses that accompanied obedience and disobedience. This is the burial site of Joseph, situated on the edge of the ancient city of Shechem. Jacob purchased the land in Shechem and when he died he handed it down to his son Joseph (Genesis 48:22). Joseph requested not to be buried in Egypt, so his body was taken to Shechem for burial.

⁽¹⁹⁾ Jacob bought the land he camped on from the family of Hamor, Shechem's father, for a hundred pieces of silver*.

*a hundred pieces of silver: Hebrew 100 kesitahs; the value or weight of the kesitah is no longer known.

This demonstrated his faith that the nation of Israel would one day occupy that land. Jacob's well is in the area. This is where, in John 4:6, Jesus talked to the Samaritan woman.

⁽²⁰⁾ And there he built an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel*.

*El-Elohe-Israel means "The strong God (is) the God of Israel."

Jacob viewed God as the God of all grace as evidenced in verses 5 and 11, and to Him he erects an altar, dedicating it to God, the God of Israel, referring particularly to the change of his own name. Jacob calls God this because it was by the power of His grace and goodness He had rescued, defended, blessed, and supported him from his youth up until now. The erecting of altars with particular names appears in other places. For example, in Exodus 17:15, Moses calls his altar "Yahweh Nissii", "Jehovah is my banner."

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Okay, if 2 Timothy 3:16 is right that "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right.", what lessons are here for us?

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