GENESIS 33:1-18: An Encounter with Esau

In Genesis chapter 33 we read about Jacob's encounter with his brother Esau. It had been twenty years since Jacob ran away from his brother’s fury. Certainly, he was wondering if Esau was still resentful or if he had forgiven him. At first glance, it looked like he was coming with the desire to fight, since he was approaching escorted by a large company of men.

(Genesis 33:1-2)  And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants.  (2)  And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. 

Jacob protected his family from a possible attack from Esau (even here we can see his partiality for his favorite wife).

WITH HUMILITY

Jacob acted very wisely during his encounter with Esau. He did not adopt an aggressive posture, but rather a defensive one. But most important, he acted very humbly.

The Bible teaches that the soft answer turns away wrath (Proverbs 15:1) and that was the attitude Jacob had before Esaul. Jacob did not face him with arrogance or excuses, but with humility.

(Genesis 33:3) He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. 

According to ancient customs, whenever someone would approach a king, he had to bow down seven times. Was Esau a king? It is possible that he had become king of Edom.

The Bible tells us that Esau left the land of Canaan to settle in Seir. This was a deserted region in the wilderness that Esau and his descendants inhabited. It was later known as the kingdom of Edom. Esau knew that he would not be able to become someone great in Canaan, since he and his family lived as foreigners among the Amorite people. That is why he left the Promised Land and headed towards the wilderness to establish his own kingdom. Esau was not a patient man, and it is likely that he was not willing to wait for the divine promise. Based on what we read in the Bible, he was looking for instant gratification instead of an eternal reward. Esau decided to leave the Promised Land in search of “better opportunities”. All his life he underestimated God’s heritage, and that is why he was not counted among God’s people.

The Bible tells us that God hated Esau, which was a consequence that came from his rejection towards God and his heritage.

(Malachi 1:2-3)  "I have loved you," says the LORD. But you say, "How have you loved us?" "Is not Esau Jacob's brother?" declares the LORD. "Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert."

The Heritage Esau chose was to be a king over the jackals of the desert, instead of a servant of God. That is why we see him outside the Promised Land.

ESAU’S REACTION

Coming back to the narrative in Genesis 33, we read that Jacob bowed down seven times before Esau (33:3), which would not surprise us if Esau was a king.

Esau was accompanied by 400 men, all prepared to fight. However, Jacob’s humble attitude caught Esau off guard.

(Genesis 33:4)  But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. 

Instead of attacking him, Esau was eager to see him and embraced him. He then wanted to meet his family.

(Genesis 33:5-7)  And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, "Who are these with you?" Jacob said, "The children whom God has graciously given your servant."  (6)  Then the servants drew near, they and their children, and bowed down.  (7)  Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down. And last Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down. 

PRESENTS

After meeting his family, Esau asked Jacob about the presents he sent his way ahead of him.

(Genesis 33:8)  Esau said, "What do you mean by all this company that I met?" Jacob answered, "To find favor in the sight of my lord." 

In the Middle East there is a whole culture around presents. There are two main reasons why someone would offer a present:

* Recognition present: is the gift that is given when you owe something. This also applies to gifts given to someone considered a superior, in recognition to what he or she has done. 

* Commitment present: is a gift that is given with the intention of getting a favor in return. It is seen as an advance payment or the purchase of a favor.

Knowing this, we may understand where Esau was coming from. He was asking Jacob what his intention was by sending him so many presents.

(Genesis 33:9-11 Literal Translation of the Holy Bible)  And Esau said, I have much, my brother. Let what you have be to yourself.  (10)  And Jacob said, No, please, if I now have found favor in your eyes, take my present from my hands. For I have seen your face, like seeing the face of God; and you are pleased with me.  (11)  Please take my blessing which has been brought to you, because God has favored me, and because I have all things. And he urged him; and he accepted.

Esau did not want to be compromised with Jacob, and that is why he said he already had enough and did not need it. However, Jacob explained that these were recognition presents, not commitment presents.

MUCH vs. ALL

It is interesting to note the different views Jacob and Esau had regarding their possessions and wealth.

Esau said “I have much” (Genesis 33:9), from the Hebrew word “Rav”, which also means: plenty, abundant. “Much” implies abundance, but it always leaves room for more.

In contrast, Jacob said he had “all things”, from the Hebrew “Kol”, which means: all, fullness. This implies that he has everything he needs, and therefore, he needs no more.

There is a Jewish quotation that says: “Who is rich? One who is satisfied with his lot”.

THEY WENT THEIR WAY

There was a misunderstanding with Jacob’s declaration. When Esau heard that his brother was recognizing him as king, he thought that his brother was becoming his servant. However, that was not Jacob’s intention. Even if he was recognizing him as “king of Edom”, he was not recognizing him as “his king”.

Jacob did not want to go to Edom, but rather to the Promised Land. Even though he was a pilgrim and a stranger there, that was the land God had promised to give to his descendants. This was the land he regarded as an eternal heritage.

The problem was that Jacob did not know how to tell this to Esau. No doubt he wanted to avoid upsetting his brother again.

(Genesis 33:12-15)  Then Esau said, "Let us journey on our way, and I will go ahead of you."  (13)  But Jacob said to him, "My lord knows that the children are frail, and that the nursing flocks and herds are a care to me. If they are driven hard for one day, all the flocks will die.  (14)  Let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will lead on slowly, at the pace of the livestock that are ahead of me and at the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir."  (15)  So Esau said, "Let me leave with you some of the people who are with me." But he said, "What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord." 

Jacob’s intention was never to follow Esau all the way to Seir, but to continue his journey to the Promised Land.

(Genesis 33:16-18)  So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.  (17)  But Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.  (18)  And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city.

While Esau went back to his land in Seir (which today would be south of Jordan), Jacob headed towards the Promised Land. However, before crossing the Jordan River, they temporarily settled in Succoth.

It is interesting to note that “Succoth” is the Hebrew word for “tabernacles or booths”. It is also the name of the last of the Feasts of Redemption, which celebrates the life of the Israelites in the wilderness, right before they come into the Promised Land.

On our next article we will study the last few verses in chapter 33…