Genesis 33

Jacob Meets Esau

1 Jacob looked up and saw Esau rolling up with 400 men. He split his kids between Leah, Rachel, and the two servant wives.

2 He put the servant wives and their kids up front, Leah and her kids next, and Rachel with Joseph in the back.

3 Jacob went ahead of them, bowing to the ground seven times as he got closer to Esau.

4 But Esau ran up to him, hugged him, threw his arms around Jacob’s neck, and kissed him. Both of them started crying.

Esau Meets Jacob’s Family

5 When Esau saw the women and kids, he said, ‘Who is all this with you?’ Jacob said, ‘These are the blessings God gave me, your servant.’

6 Then the servant wives and their kids came up and bowed.

7 Leah and her kids came up next and bowed too. Finally, Rachel and Joseph came and bowed.

8 Esau asked, ‘What is up with all those animals I ran into?’ Jacob said, ‘They are a gift to find favor with you, my lord.’

9 Esau said, ‘Keep your stuff, bro. I have got plenty.’

10 But Jacob insisted, ‘Nah, please take it. Seeing your face is like seeing God, and I know you are cool with me now.’

11 ‘Take the gift, fam. God has been good to me, and I have more than enough.’ Jacob kept pushing until Esau took it.

Esau Offers to Travel Together

12 Esau said, ‘Alright, let us roll out together.’

13 But Jacob said, ‘You know my kids are young, and the animals need to go slow. If we push too hard, everything could die.’

14 ‘You go on ahead, and I will catch up at my own pace, meeting you in Seir.’

15 Esau said, ‘Alright, then let me leave some of my men with you.’ But Jacob said, ‘Nah, it is cool. I am good.’

16 So Esau headed back to Seir that day.

Jacob Settles in Canaan

17 Jacob went to Succoth, built himself a house, and set up shelters for his animals. That is why the place is called Succoth (Shelters).

18 After leaving Paddan Aram, Jacob arrived safely in Shechem, in Canaan, and set up camp outside the city.

19 He bought the land where he pitched his tent from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s dad, for 100 pieces of silver.

20 There, Jacob set up an altar and called it El Elohe Israel (God, the God of Israel).