Chapter 33

1Looking up, Jacob saw Esau coming, accompanied by four hundred men. He divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maids, 2putting the maids and their children first, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. 3He himself went on ahead and bowed low to the ground seven times until he was near his brother. 4Esau ran to greet him. He embraced him and, falling on his neck, he kissed him; and they wept. 5Looking about, he saw the women and the children. “Who,” he asked, “are these with you?” He answered, “The children with whom God has favored your servant.” 6Then the maids, with their children, came forward and bowed low; 7next Leah, with her children, came forward and bowed low; and last, Joseph and Rachel came forward and bowed low. 8And he asked, “What do you mean by all this company which I have met?” He answered, “To gain my lord’s favor.” 9Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; let what you have remain yours.” 10But Jacob said, “No, I pray you; if you would do me this favor, accept from me this gift; for to see your face is like seeing the face of God, and you have received me favorably. 11Please accept my present which has been brought to you, for God has favored me and I have plenty.” And when he urged him, he accepted. 12And [Esau] said, “Let us start on our journey, and I will proceed at your pace.” 13But he said to him, “My lord knows that the children are frail and that the flocks and herds, which are nursing, are a care to me; if they are driven hard a single day, all the flocks will die. 14Let my lord go on ahead of his servant, while I travel slowly, at the pace of the cattle before me and at the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.” 15Then Esau said, “Let me assign to you some of the men who are with me.” But he said, “Oh no, my lord is too kind to me!” 16So Esau started back that day on his way to Seir. 17But Jacob journeyed on to Succoth, and built a house for himself and made stalls for his cattle; that is why the place was called Succoth.a

18Jacob arrived safe in the city of Shechem^✦ which is in the land of Canaan—having come thus from Paddan-aram—and he encamped before the city. 19The parcel of land where he pitched his tent he purchased from the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred kesitahs.b 20He set up an altar there, and called it El-elohe-yisrael.c