Genesis 32:16-21

‘And he delivered them into the hands of his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass over before me and put a space between drove and drove.” And he commanded the foremost, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, saying, ‘To whom do you belong? And where are you going? And whose are these animals before you?' Then you will say, ‘They are your servant Jacob's. It is a present to my lord Esau, and behold he also is behind us.' And he commanded also the second and third, and all that followed the droves saying, ‘in this way will you speak to Esau when you find him.' And you will say, ‘Moreover, behold your servant Jacob is behind us.'

Jacob's tactic was simple. A munificent present received in sections so as to build up goodwill and conciliation. First Esau would receive the goats, then the sheep, then the camels which would greatly impress him for they were comparatively rare, then the cattle and then finally the valuable donkeys. And each time when Esau questioned the servants they would inform him that the gifts were for him from Jacob and that Jacob followed after.

“The second and third and all that followed.” The threeness was an indication of the completeness of the gift, the remainder a sign of full measure and running over.