Genesis 33

¹ Looking up, Jacob saw Esau coming and with him four hundred men. He then divided the childrenbetween Leah, Rachel and the two slave-girls.

² He put the slave-girls and their children in front, with Leah and her children fol owing, and Rachel andJoseph behind.

³ He himself went ahead of them and bowed to the ground seven times, until he reached his brother.

⁴ But Esau ran to meet him, took him in his arms, threw himself on his neck and wept as he kissed him.

⁵ Then looking up he saw the women and children. 'Who are these with you?' he asked. Jacobanswered, 'The children whom God has bestowed on your servant.'

⁶ The slave-girls then came up with their children, and they al bowed low.

⁷ Then Leah too came up with her children, and they al bowed low. Finally Rachel and Joseph came upand bowed low.

⁸ Esau asked, 'What was the purpose of that whole camp I just met?' 'To win my lord's favour,' hereplied.

⁹ 'Brother, I have plenty,' Esau answered, 'keep what is yours.'

¹⁰ Jacob protested, 'No, if I have won your favour, please accept the gift I offer, for in fact I have comeinto your presence as into the presence of God, since you have received me kindly.

¹¹ So accept the gift I have brought for you, since God has been generous to me and I have al I need.'And he urged him, and Esau accepted.

¹² Esau said, 'Let us break camp and move off; I shal go beside you.'

¹³ But Jacob replied, 'As my lord knows, the children are weak, and the sheep and cows which havecalved make it hard for me. If they are driven too hard, even for one day, the whole drove will die.

¹⁴ May it please my lord to go on ahead of his servant. For my part, I shal move at a slower pace, tosuit the flock I am driving and the children, until I join my lord in Seir.'

¹⁵ Esau then said, 'At least let me leave you some of the people who are with me.' 'What for?' Jacobasked. 'Please indulge me, my lord!'

¹⁶ So that day Esau turned back towards Seir,

¹⁷ but Jacob made his way to Succoth, where he built himself a house and made shelters for hislivestock; that is why the place was given the name of Succoth.

¹⁸ Jacob arrived safely at the town of Shechem in Canaanite territory, on his return from Paddan-Aram.He encamped opposite the town

¹⁹ and for one hundred pieces of silver he bought from the sons of Hamor father of Shechem the pieceof land on which he had pitched his tent.

²⁰ There he erected an altar which he cal ed 'El, God of Israel'.