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When Jacob saw them he said, “This is God’s encampment.” So he named that place Mahanaim.[a]

Envoys to Esau. Jacob sent messengers ahead to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom,(A) ordering them: “Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: ‘Thus says your servant Jacob: I have been residing with Laban and have been delayed until now. I own oxen, donkeys and sheep, as well as male and female servants. I have sent my lord this message in the hope of gaining your favor.’” When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We found your brother Esau. He is now coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.”

Jacob was very much frightened. In his anxiety, he divided the people who were with him, as well as his flocks, herds and camels, into two camps.

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Footnotes

  1. 32:3 Mahanaim: a town in Gilead (Jos 13:26, 30; 21:38; 2 Sm 2:8; etc.). The Hebrew name means “two camps.” There are other allusions to the name in vv. 8, 11.

Jacob sent messengers(A) ahead of him to his brother Esau(B) in the land of Seir,(C) the country of Edom.(D) He instructed them: “This is what you are to say to my lord(E) Esau: ‘Your servant(F) Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban(G) and have remained there till now. I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, male and female servants.(H) Now I am sending this message to my lord,(I) that I may find favor in your eyes.(J)’”

When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.”(K)

In great fear(L) and distress(M) Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups,[a](N) and the flocks and herds and camels as well. He thought, “If Esau comes and attacks one group,[b] the group[c] that is left may escape.”

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 32:7 Or camps
  2. Genesis 32:8 Or camp
  3. Genesis 32:8 Or camp

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

And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now:

And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.

And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.

Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands;

And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.

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And Jacob sent[a] messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of (A)Seir, the country of Edom, instructing them, “Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: Thus says your servant Jacob, ‘I have sojourned with Laban and stayed until now. I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent to tell my lord, in order that (B)I may find favor in your sight.’”

And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and (C)he is coming to meet you, and there are four hundred men with him.” Then Jacob was (D)greatly afraid and distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps, thinking, “If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, then the camp that is left will escape.”

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 32:3 Or had sent