Genesis 33:1-14 ▼

1 Jacob looked up and saw that Esau was coming along with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two female servants.

2 He put the servants and their children in front, with Leah and her children behind them, and Rachel and Joseph behind them.

3 But Jacob himself went on ahead of them, and he bowed toward the ground seven times as he approached his brother.

4 But Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, hugged his neck, and kissed him. Then they both wept.

5 When Esau looked up and saw the women and the children, he asked, |Who are these people with you?| Jacob replied, |The children whom God has graciously given your servant.|

6 The female servants came forward with their children and bowed down.

7 Then Leah came forward with her children and they bowed down. Finally Joseph and Rachel came forward and bowed down.

8 Esau then asked, |What did you intend by sending all these herds to meet me?| Jacob replied, |To find favor in your sight, my lord.|

9 But Esau said, |I have plenty, my brother. Keep what belongs to you.|

10 No, please take them,| Jacob said. |If I have found favor in your sight, accept my gift from my hand. Now that I have seen your face and you have accepted me, it is as if I have seen the face of God.

11 Please take my present that was brought to you, for God has been generous to me and I have all I need.| When Jacob urged him, he took it.

12 Then Esau said, |Let's be on our way! I will go in front of you.|

13 But Jacob said to him, |My lord knows that the children are young, and that I have to look after the sheep and cattle that are nursing their young. If they are driven too hard for even a single day, all the animals will die.

14 Let my lord go on ahead of his servant. I will travel more slowly, at the pace of the herds and the children, until I come to my lord at Seir.|