Genesis 33
1 Jacob saw Esau in the distance, coming towards him with four hundred men. So he split up the children between Leah, Rachel and the two personal maids.
Jacob looked up and, behold, Esau was coming, and with him were four hundred men. Jacob divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two female servants.
2 He placed the two personal maids with their children first, then Leah and her children, and Rachel and Joseph last.
Then he put the female servants and their children in front, followed by Leah and her children, and followed by Rachel and Joseph last of all.
3 Then Jacob went ahead of them and bowed low to the ground seven times before approaching his brother.
He himself went on ahead of them. He bowed toward the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
4 Esau ran over to him and hugged him. He put his arms around his neck and kissed him. The two of them wept.
Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, hugged his neck, and kissed him. Then they wept.
5 Then Esau looked around at the women and children. “Who are these people with you?” he asked. “They are the children God graciously gave your servant,” Jacob replied.
When Esau looked up, he saw the women and the children. He said, “Who are these people with you?” Jacob said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.”
6 The personal maids and their children came over and bowed down.
Then the female servants came forward with their children, and they bowed down.
7 Then Leah and her children came over and bowed down. Lastly Joseph and Rachel came over and bowed down.
Next Leah also and her children came forward and bowed down. Finally Joseph and Rachel came forward and bowed down.
8 “What were all the livestock for that I met on the way?” Esau asked. “They're a gift to you my lord so you'd treat me well,” Jacob answered.
Esau said, “What do you mean by all these groups that I met?” Jacob said, “To find favor in the sight of my master.”
9 “I have more than enough, my brother! You keep what you have,” said Esau.
Esau said, “I have enough, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.”
10 “No, please!” Jacob insisted. “If you're happy with me, then please accept the gift I'm giving you. Now I've seen your face again it's like seeing the face of God, and you have welcomed me so kindly!
Jacob said, “No, please, if I have found favor in your eyes, then accept my gift from my hand, for indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me.
11 Please take the gift I've brought to you because God has treated me so well and I have so much.” So Esau accepted it.
Please accept my gift that was brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” Thus Jacob urged him, and Esau accepted it.
12 “Let's get on our way,” Esau said. “I'll go ahead of you.”
Then Esau said, “Let us be on our way. I will go before you.”
13 “My lord can see that the children are weak,” Jacob responded. “Also, the goats, sheep, and cattle are nursing their young, and if I push them too hard, they'll all die.
Jacob said to him, “My master knows that the children are young, and that the sheep and the cattle are nursing their young. If they are driven hard even one day, all the animals will die.
14 You go on, my lord, and your servant will come along slowly, walking with the children, and I'll meet you at Seir.”
Please let my master go on ahead of his servant. I will travel more slowly, at the pace of the livestock that are before me, and at the pace of the children, until I come to my master in Seir.”
15 “Fine, but let me leave some of my men with you,” said Esau. “You're very kind, but there's no need to do that,” Jacob replied.
Esau said, “Let me leave with you some of my men who are with me.” But Jacob said, “Why do that? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.”
16 So Esau started on his way back to Seir that day.
So Esau that day started on his way back to Seir.
17 But Jacob headed to Succoth, where he built himself a house and shelters for the livestock. That's why the place is called Succoth.
Jacob traveled to Succoth, built himself a house, and made shelters for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
18 Later Jacob continued his journey from Paddan-aram. He arrived safely at Shechem in the country of Canaan where he camped outside the town.
When Jacob came from Paddan Aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan. He camped near the city.
19 He bought the plot of ground where he was camping from the sons of Hamor, the founder of Shechem, for 100 pieces of money.
Then he bought the piece of ground where he had pitched his tent from the sons of Hamor, Shechem's father, for a hundred pieces of silver.
20 He built an altar there and called it El-Elohe-Israel.
There he set up an altar and called it El Elohe Israel.
