‘And he himself went before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times until he came near to his brother.' Bowing seven times was reserved for extremely important people who demanded great subservience. The petty princes of Palestine ‘bowed seven times' to Pharaoh in the Amarna letters (14th... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.' Esau had dismounted which must have been a great relief to Jacob. Esau is clearly genuinely pleased to see his brother and feels very emotionally about it. But we cannot doubt that Jacob's tears had wit... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he lifted up his eyes and saw the women and the children and said, “Who are these with you?” And he said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” When Esau sees the women and children he is impressed. To have many children was a sign of someone's importance. But even here Ja... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Then the handmaids came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves. And Leah also and her children came near and bowed themselves, and after came Joseph near, and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.' The wives and children are now introduced. The sevenfold bowing is no longer felt to... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he said, “What do you mean by all this company which I met?” And he said, “To find favour in the sight of my lord.” ' Esau here refers to the droves which had been sent in front (Genesis 32:13), some of which at least he had come across. Jacob makes no pretence. They were as gifts to an import... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Esau said, “I have enough. My brother, let what you have remain yours.” Esau does not want such favours from his brother. They are not necessary, for he is reasonably wealthy and has the means of obtaining more. This may have brought a chill to Jacob's heart. The rejection of a gift was often... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Jacob said, “No, I beg you. If now I have found favour in your sight then receive my present at my hand, because I have seen your face as one sees the face of God and you were pleased with me. Take, I beg you, my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and bec... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he said, “Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before you.” ' Esau is well meaning and offers his protection. He is unaware of his brother's fears, although no doubt amused at his seeming subservience. But then, he thinks, that is Jacob. But his intentions are all good. They w... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he said to him, “My lord knows that the children are of tender age, and that the flocks and herds with me are feeding their young, and that if they overdrive them one day all the flocks will die. Let my lord, I beg you, pass on before his servant, and I will lead on slowly according to the pace... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Esau said, “Let me now leave with you some of the folk who are with me.” And he said, “What is the need? Let me find grace in the sight of my lord.” So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.' Esau recognises the wisdom of what Jacob says, and is probably somewhat relieved. But at least he... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Jacob journeyed to Succoth and built himself a house and made booths for his cattle. That is why the name of the place is called Succoth (booths).' Succoth was later a city in the territory assigned to the Gaddites, east of Jordan, in the Jordan valley not far from a water crossing (Joshua 13:... [ Continue Reading ]
JACOB MOVES INTO THE LAND OF PROMISE - REVENGE FOR DINAH (GENESIS 33:18 TO GENESIS 34:31) Some years have passed and now Jacob feels the time has come to return to the land of the covenant. This particular record was made as a permanent record of the covenant between Hamor and Jacob which resulted i... [ Continue Reading ]