Jacob Prepares to Meet Esau

32 ^[a]Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God^(A) met him. ² When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God!”^(B) So he named that place Mahanaim.^[b](C)

³ Jacob sent messengers^(D) ahead of him to his brother Esau^(E) in the land of Seir,^(F) the country of Edom.^{(G) 4} He instructed them: “This is what you are to say to my lord^(H) Esau: ‘Your servant^(I) Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban^(J) and have remained there till now. ⁵ I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, male and female servants.^(K) Now I am sending this message to my lord,^(L) that I may find favor in your eyes.^(M)’”

⁶ 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.”^(N)

⁷ In great fear^(O) and distress^(P) Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups,^[c](Q) and the flocks and herds and camels as well. ⁸ He thought, “If Esau comes and attacks one group,^[d] the group^[e] that is left may escape.”

Elisha Traps Blinded Arameans

⁸ Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, “I will set up my camp in such and such a place.”

⁹ The man of God sent word to the king^(A) of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.” ¹⁰ So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned^(B) the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.

¹¹ This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Tell me! Which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?”

¹² “None of us, my lord the king^(C),” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”

¹³ “Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.”^{(D) 14} Then he sent^(E) horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.

¹⁵ When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.

¹⁶ “Don’t be afraid,”^(F) the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more^(G) than those who are with them.”

¹⁷ And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots^(H) of fire all around Elisha.

¹⁸ As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.”^(I) So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.

¹⁹ Elisha told them, “This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to Samaria.

²⁰ After they entered the city, Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men so they can see.” Then the Lord opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria.

²¹ When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Shall I kill them, my father?^(J) Shall I kill them?”

²² “Do not kill them,” he answered. “Would you kill those you have captured^(K) with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master.” ²³ So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands^(L) from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory.

²² My God sent his angel,^(A) and he shut the mouths of the lions.^(B) They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.^(C) Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

² Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world?^(A) And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? ³ Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!

¹⁴ Are not all angels ministering spirits^(A) sent to serve those who will inherit^(B) salvation?^(C)

²⁷ The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter,^(A) a man of the open country,^(B) while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents. ²⁸ Isaac, who had a taste for wild game,^(C) loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.^(D)

²⁹ Once when Jacob was cooking some stew,^(E) Esau came in from the open country,^(F) famished. ³⁰ He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew!^(G) I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.^[a])^(H)

³¹ Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.^(I)”

³² “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”

³³ But Jacob said, “Swear^(J) to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright^(K) to Jacob.

³⁴ Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew.^(L) He ate and drank, and then got up and left.

So Esau despised his birthright.

³⁵ But he said, “Your brother came deceitfully^(A) and took your blessing.”^(B)

³⁶ Esau said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob^[a]?^(C) This is the second time he has taken advantage of^(D) me: He took my birthright,^(E) and now he’s taken my blessing!”^(F) Then he asked, “Haven’t you reserved any blessing for me?”

³⁷ Isaac answered Esau, “I have made him lord over you and have made all his relatives his servants, and I have sustained him with grain and new wine.^(G) So what can I possibly do for you, my son?”

³⁸ Esau said to his father, “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!” Then Esau wept aloud.^(H)

³⁹ His father Isaac answered him,^(I)

⁴¹ Esau held a grudge^(O) against Jacob^(P) because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning^(Q) for my father are near; then I will kill^(R) my brother Jacob.”^(S)

⁶ 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.”^(A)