Genesis 32:1-11 ▼

1 And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.

2 And Jacob said when he saw them, “This is the camp of God.” And he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

3 And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother, to the land of Seir, the field of Edom.

4 And he commanded them, saying, “Thus you? shall say to my lord, to Esau, thus says your servant Jacob: ‘With Laban I have sojourned and I have delayed until now.

5 And I have oxen and donkeys, flock, and menservants and maidservants. And I have sent to declare to my lord, to find favor in your eyes.’”

6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother, to Esau, and he is also coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.”

7 And Jacob was greatly afraid and was distressed. And he divided the people who were with him, and the flock and the cattle and the camels, into two camps,

8 and he said, “If Esau comes to the one camp and strikes it, then the remaining camp shall be for an escape.”

9 And Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, YHWH, the One saying to me, ‘Return to your land and to your kindred, and I will do good with you,’

10 I am not worthy of all the kindnesses and of all the faithfulness that You have done for Your servant. For with my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I have become two camps.

11 Deliver me, please, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and strike me—mother with sons.