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33 And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau came and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two handmaids.

And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindmost.

And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times until he came near to his brother.

And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him; and they wept.

And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children, and said, “Who are those with thee?” And he said, “The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.”

Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.

And Leah also with her children came near and bowed themselves; and after these came Joseph and Rachel near, and they bowed themselves.

And he said, “What meanest thou by all this drove which I met?” And he said, “These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.”

And Esau said, “I have enough, my brother. Keep what thou hast unto thyself.”

10 And Jacob said, “Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand; for therefore I have seen thy face as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.

11 Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee, because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” And he urged him, and he took it.

12 And he said, “Let us take our journey; and let us go, and I will go before thee.”

13 And he said unto him, “My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me; and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die.

14 Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant; and I will lead on gently, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children are able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.”

15 And Esau said, “Let me now leave with thee some of the folk who are with me.” And he said, “What need is there? Let me find grace in the sight of my lord.”

16 So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.

17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him a house, and made booths for his cattle. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth [that is, Booths].

18 And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram, and pitched his tent before the city.

19 And he bought a parcel of a field where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of money.

20 And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel [that is, God, the God of Israel].

Jacob Meets Esau

33 Jacob saw Esau coming with 400 men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two slaves. He put the slaves and their children in front, Leah and her children after them, and Rachel and Joseph last. He went on ahead of them and bowed seven times with his face touching the ground as he came near his brother.

Then Esau ran to meet Jacob. Esau hugged him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. They both cried. When he saw the women and children, Esau asked, “Who are these people here with you?”

“The children Elohim has graciously given me, sir,” Jacob answered.

Then the slaves and their children came forward and bowed down. Likewise, Leah and her children came forward and bowed down. Finally, Joseph and Rachel came forward and bowed down.

Then Esau asked, “Why did you send this whole group of people and animals I met?”

He answered, “To win your favor, sir.”

Esau said, “I have enough. Keep what you have, Brother.”

10 Jacob said, “No, please take the gift I’m giving you, because I’ve seen your face as if I were seeing the face of Elohim, and yet you welcomed me so warmly. 11 Please take the present I’ve brought you, because Elohim has been gracious to me and has given me all that I need.” So Esau took it because Jacob insisted.

12 Then Esau said, “Let’s get ready to go, and I’ll go with you.”

13 Jacob said to him, “Sir, you know that the children are frail and that I have to take care of the flocks and cattle that are nursing their young. If they’re driven too hard for even one day, all the flocks will die. 14 Go ahead of me, sir. I will slowly and gently guide the herds that are in front of me at their pace and at the children’s pace until I come to you in Seir.”

15 Esau said, “Then let me leave some of my men with you.”

“Why do that?” Jacob asked. “I only want to win your favor, sir.”

16 That day Esau started back to Seir. 17 But Jacob moved on to Succoth, where he built a house for himself and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place is named Succoth [Shelters].

18 So having come from Paddan Aram, Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem in Canaan. He camped within sight of the city. 19 Then he bought the piece of land on which he had put up his tents. He bought it from the sons of Hamor, father of Shechem, for 100 pieces of silver. 20 He set up an altar there and named it El Is the Elohim of Israel.