Genesis 33:1-20
Q.1. How did Jacob face his brother? Was the reunion as bad as Jacob feared? What reason did Jacob give for his gift to Esau? How was it received? – (Gen.33:1-11 c.f. Gen.32:7 & 11)
Previously, when Jacob heard that Esau was coming to meet him with four hundred men – Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed … He told God his fears (Gen.32:7 & 11). However, after his encounter with God, his attitude changed from fearful to tactful – Jacob lifted 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 maids … But he himself passed on ahead of them … (Gen.33:1 & 3). The reality was very different from his fears, as – Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept (Gen.33:4). Esau sought information regarding Jacob’s family, to which Jacob replied that these are – the children whom the Lord has graciously given your servant (Gen.33:5). After meeting his relatives, Esau was puzzled by the wave after wave of livestock. He was told that they were for him – to find favour in the sight of my lord (Gen.33:8). Jacob gave God the glory because he was able to give to his brother – Please take my gift which has been brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me and because I have plenty.” Thus he urged him, and he took it (Gen.33:11).
Q.2. How did Jacob’s fearful nature show when the brothers parted? Where did he go and settle? What was significant about the name of his location? – (Gen.33:12-20)
Esau invited Jacob to join him in the hill country of Seir, south-eat of the Dead Sea (Gen.33:12-16 c.f. Gen.32:3; 36:6-8). God had told Jacob to return to Bethel in Canaan. That was where he eventually settled (c.f. Gen.31:3 & 13; 35:1 & 6). However, he was not straightforward with Esau, and actually went to Succoth near what is now the Suez Canal, and far to the west of Edom (Gen.33:17). [NOTE: Succoth is the precursor of the Feast of Booths, for at that place Jacob – … built for himself a house and made booths for his livestock; therefore, the place is named Succoth (Gen.33:17 c.f. Lev.23:43)]. From there he journeyed to Shechem in Canaan, some distance north of Bethel (Gen.33:18). There he purchased a piece of land from the sons of Hamor, and – erected there an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel meaning: ‘God, the God of Israel’ (Gen33:20). Jacob wanted everyone to know and remember that God had given him a new name (c.f. Is.62:2; Rev.2:17).