Genesischapter 33

20 verses · ASV

This chapter sends 141 cross-references outward and receives 132 — heaviest partner: Genesis.

Chapter summary

Reconciliation with Esau. Jacob lifts his eyes; Esau is coming. He bows seven times to the ground. Esau runs and embraces him; they weep together. Esau refuses the gift at first but receives it. He offers an escort; Jacob declines for the children's sake and travels at the pace of the flocks. They part in peace. Jacob settles at Succoth, then at Shechem, buys a parcel of field, erects an altar — El-elohe-Israel, ‘God, the God of Israel’. After twenty years of absence and a night of wrestling, the patriarch's first act in the land is worship. Calvin: strife finds its end at the feet of the LORD.

Drafted from Matthew Henry, Calvin, Gill, Clarke, JFB, and Barnes.

Context

Law · Moses — see the Genesis overview for the book's full setting.

1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau was coming, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.

2 And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.

3 And he himself passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.

5 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are these with thee? And he said, The children whom God hath graciously given thy servant.

6 Then the handmaids came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.

7 And Leah also and her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.

8 And he said, What meanest thou by all this company which I met? And he said, To find favor in the sight of my lord.

9 And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; let that which thou hast be thine.