Jacob and Esau Reunite
1Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming, with four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants. 2He put the maidservants and their children first, then Leah and her children, and Rachel and Joseph last. 3He himself went on ahead of them and bowed to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. 4But Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him, and they wept. 5When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, “Who are these with you?” Jacob answered, “The children God has graciously given your servant.” 6Then the maidservants and their children came forward and bowed down. 7Leah and her children also came forward and bowed down, and last of all came Joseph and Rachel, and they bowed down as well. 8Esau asked, “What did you mean by all that company I met?” “To find favor in your eyes, my lord,” he said. 9But Esau said, “I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.” 10Jacob said, “No, please — if I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from my hand. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me so warmly. 11Please accept the gift I have brought you, for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” And because he urged him, Esau accepted it.
Jacob Parts from Esau
12Then Esau said, “Let us set out on our way, and I will go ahead of you.” 13But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are weak, and the flocks and herds under my care have their young. If they are driven hard even one day, the whole flock will die. 14Let my lord go on ahead of his servant, and I will move at a slower pace, matched to the animals ahead of me and to the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.” 15Esau said, “Then let me leave some of my men with you.” “Why should you do that?” Jacob replied. “Let me simply find favor in the eyes of my lord.” 16So that day Esau started back on his way to Seir. 17Jacob, however, journeyed on to Succoth, where he built himself a house and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place was named Succoth.
Jacob Settles Near Shechem
18After Jacob came from Paddan-aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem, in the land of Canaan, and camped within sight of the city. 19He bought the piece of land where he had pitched his tent from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred kesitahs. 20There he set up an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.
