Genesis 33 Commentary: Reconciliation, Gifts, and a Journey Continued
And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.
And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.
And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.
And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.
Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.
And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.
And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.
And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.
And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.
Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.
And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.
And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die.
Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.
And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord.
So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.
And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan–aram; and pitched his tent before the city.
And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for an hundred pieces of money.
And he erected there an altar, and called it El–elohe–Israel.
Genesis 33 marks a pivotal moment in Jacob's life, filled with unexpected grace and strategic decisions. After years of estrangement and a life-changing encounter with God, Jacob finally faces his brother Esau. This chapter reveals themes of reconciliation, generosity, and the ongoing journey of faith, while also foreshadowing future challenges. Let's delve into the details of this significant chapter.
An Unexpected Reunion (Genesis 33:1-7)
As Jacob prepared to meet Esau, he strategically arranged his family into distinct groups, placing his servant wives and their children in the front, followed by Leah and her children, and finally, Rachel and Joseph (Genesis 33:1-2). This arrangement, while perhaps showing favoritism, also served as a practical measure to protect his most beloved family members should Esau's intentions prove hostile.
Jacob then humbled himself, bowing to the ground seven times as he approached Esau (Genesis 33:3). To Jacob's immense surprise, Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, and kissed him. Both men wept at this emotional reunion (Genesis 33:4). The anticipated conflict melted away into an embrace of forgiveness and brotherly love. Something had changed in Esau; he no longer sought vengeance, but reconciliation.
Esau then inquired about Jacob's wives and children, who approached him in turn, bowing before him as a sign of respect (Genesis 33:5-7). This display highlighted the size and prosperity of Jacob's family.
Gifts and Grace (Genesis 33:8-11)
Esau questioned Jacob about the large company that preceded him, referring to the massive gift of livestock Jacob had sent ahead (Genesis 33:8). Jacob explained that these gifts were intended to find favor in Esau's sight. Perhaps out of politeness, Esau initially refused the gifts, stating that he already had enough (Genesis 33:9).
However, Jacob insisted that Esau accept the gifts as a token of his favor and acceptance. Jacob poignantly declared that seeing Esau's face was like seeing the face of God (Genesis 33:10). This powerful statement underscores the depth of Jacob's relief and gratitude at being reconciled with his brother. Jacob insisted that Esau share in his blessing, because God had been gracious to him (Genesis 33:11). This suggests that we become truly generous, not when we give out of compulsion, but when we realize that God has given us all we possess.
Esau finally relented and accepted the gift, solidifying their reconciliation.
A Divergent Path (Genesis 33:12-17)
Esau then invited Jacob to travel with him back to Seir (Genesis 33:12). However, Jacob, likely still wary of Esau's intentions or simply desiring to return to the land of promise, subtly declined. Fearing a possible change of heart, Jacob avoided traveling any further with Esau. Using his children and his flocks as an excuse (Genesis 33:13), he appealed to Esau to go ahead while Jacob himself would continue on slowly (Genesis 33:14). He cited the frailty of his children and the needs of his livestock as reasons for his slow pace, promising to catch up with Esau later (Genesis 33:13-14).
Esau offered to leave some of his men as escorts, but Jacob declined (Genesis 33:15). Once Esau was out of sight and on his way back to Seir (Genesis 33:16), Jacob changed directions and went to Succoth, which was in exactly the opposite direction (Genesis 33:17). This decision reveals Jacob's strategic mind and his determination to follow his own path, even after the reconciliation with his brother.
Settlement and Worship (Genesis 33:18-20)
Jacob arrived safely at Shechem in the land of Canaan (Genesis 33:18) and, like Abraham, set up an altar there (Genesis 33:20). After his time in Succoth, Jacob journeyed further west and settled outside the city of Shechem. He purchased the land where he pitched his tent and built an altar, which he named "El Elohe Israel," meaning "God, the God of Israel" (Genesis 33:19-20). This act of worship and land acquisition signified Jacob's return to the land promised to his ancestors and his renewed commitment to God. He acknowledged that God had indeed brought him back to the land of promise.
However, Jacob's presence near Shechem would not be peaceful. The following chapter unveils a disturbing story of the defilement of Dinah and the subsequent revenge taken by her brothers, setting the stage for future conflicts and challenges for Jacob's family. This event marks the beginning of a new section of Genesis (34:1–36:43): The Defilement of Dinah and the Return to Bethel.
Genesis 33, therefore, is a chapter of contrasts: reconciliation and separation, generosity and strategic maneuvering, worship and the foreshadowing of future turmoil. It offers a complex portrait of Jacob, a man who experienced both divine grace and human fallibility, as he navigated his life in the land of promise.
And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.
And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.
And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.
And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.
Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.
And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.
And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.
And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.
And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.
Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.
And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.
And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die.
Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.
And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord.
So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.
And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan–aram; and pitched his tent before the city.
And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for an hundred pieces of money.
And he erected there an altar, and called it El–elohe–Israel.
Genesis 33 marks a pivotal moment in Jacob's life, filled with unexpected grace and strategic decisions. After years of estrangement and a life-changing encounter with God, Jacob finally faces his brother Esau. This chapter reveals themes of reconciliation, generosity, and the ongoing journey of faith, while also foreshadowing future challenges. Let's delve into the details of this significant chapter.
An Unexpected Reunion (Genesis 33:1-7)
As Jacob prepared to meet Esau, he strategically arranged his family into distinct groups, placing his servant wives and their children in the front, followed by Leah and her children, and finally, Rachel and Joseph (Genesis 33:1-2). This arrangement, while perhaps showing favoritism, also served as a practical measure to protect his most beloved family members should Esau's intentions prove hostile.
Jacob then humbled himself, bowing to the ground seven times as he approached Esau (Genesis 33:3). To Jacob's immense surprise, Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, and kissed him. Both men wept at this emotional reunion (Genesis 33:4). The anticipated conflict melted away into an embrace of forgiveness and brotherly love. Something had changed in Esau; he no longer sought vengeance, but reconciliation.
Esau then inquired about Jacob's wives and children, who approached him in turn, bowing before him as a sign of respect (Genesis 33:5-7). This display highlighted the size and prosperity of Jacob's family.
Gifts and Grace (Genesis 33:8-11)
Esau questioned Jacob about the large company that preceded him, referring to the massive gift of livestock Jacob had sent ahead (Genesis 33:8). Jacob explained that these gifts were intended to find favor in Esau's sight. Perhaps out of politeness, Esau initially refused the gifts, stating that he already had enough (Genesis 33:9).
However, Jacob insisted that Esau accept the gifts as a token of his favor and acceptance. Jacob poignantly declared that seeing Esau's face was like seeing the face of God (Genesis 33:10). This powerful statement underscores the depth of Jacob's relief and gratitude at being reconciled with his brother. Jacob insisted that Esau share in his blessing, because God had been gracious to him (Genesis 33:11). This suggests that we become truly generous, not when we give out of compulsion, but when we realize that God has given us all we possess.
Esau finally relented and accepted the gift, solidifying their reconciliation.
A Divergent Path (Genesis 33:12-17)
Esau then invited Jacob to travel with him back to Seir (Genesis 33:12). However, Jacob, likely still wary of Esau's intentions or simply desiring to return to the land of promise, subtly declined. Fearing a possible change of heart, Jacob avoided traveling any further with Esau. Using his children and his flocks as an excuse (Genesis 33:13), he appealed to Esau to go ahead while Jacob himself would continue on slowly (Genesis 33:14). He cited the frailty of his children and the needs of his livestock as reasons for his slow pace, promising to catch up with Esau later (Genesis 33:13-14).
Esau offered to leave some of his men as escorts, but Jacob declined (Genesis 33:15). Once Esau was out of sight and on his way back to Seir (Genesis 33:16), Jacob changed directions and went to Succoth, which was in exactly the opposite direction (Genesis 33:17). This decision reveals Jacob's strategic mind and his determination to follow his own path, even after the reconciliation with his brother.
Settlement and Worship (Genesis 33:18-20)
Jacob arrived safely at Shechem in the land of Canaan (Genesis 33:18) and, like Abraham, set up an altar there (Genesis 33:20). After his time in Succoth, Jacob journeyed further west and settled outside the city of Shechem. He purchased the land where he pitched his tent and built an altar, which he named "El Elohe Israel," meaning "God, the God of Israel" (Genesis 33:19-20). This act of worship and land acquisition signified Jacob's return to the land promised to his ancestors and his renewed commitment to God. He acknowledged that God had indeed brought him back to the land of promise.
However, Jacob's presence near Shechem would not be peaceful. The following chapter unveils a disturbing story of the defilement of Dinah and the subsequent revenge taken by her brothers, setting the stage for future conflicts and challenges for Jacob's family. This event marks the beginning of a new section of Genesis (34:1–36:43): The Defilement of Dinah and the Return to Bethel.
Genesis 33, therefore, is a chapter of contrasts: reconciliation and separation, generosity and strategic maneuvering, worship and the foreshadowing of future turmoil. It offers a complex portrait of Jacob, a man who experienced both divine grace and human fallibility, as he navigated his life in the land of promise.