331 Then 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 . 2 He put the maids and their children in front , and Leah and her children next , and Rachel and Joseph last . 3 But he himself passed on ahead of them and bowed down to the ground seven times , until he came near to his brother . 4 Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept .
5 He lifted his eyes and saw the women and the children , and said , "Who are these with you?" So he said , " The children whom God has graciously given your servant ." 6 Then the maids came near with their children , and they bowed down . 7 Leah likewise came near with her children , and they bowed down ; and afterward Joseph came near with Rachel , and they bowed down . 8 And he said , "What do you mean by all this company which I have met ?" And he said , " To find favor in the sight of my lord ." 9 But Esau said , " I have plenty , my brother ; let what you have be your own." 10 Jacob said , "No , please , if now I have found favor in your sight , then take my present from my hand , for I see your face as one sees the face of God , and you have received me favorably . 11 "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. 12 Then Esau said , "Let us take our journey and go , and I will go before you." 13 But he said to him, "My lord knows that the children are frail and that the flocks and herds which are nursing are a care to me. And if they are driven hard one day , all the flocks will die . 14 "Please let my lord pass on before his servant , and I will proceed at my leisure , according to the pace of the cattle that are before me and according to the pace of the children , until e I come to my lord at Seir ." 15 Esau said , "Please 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 ."
16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 33:1-16
Commentary on Genesis 33:1-16
(Read Genesis 33:1-16)
Jacob, having by prayer committed his case to God, went on his way. Come what will, nothing can come amiss to him whose heart is fixed, trusting in God. Jacob bowed to Esau. A humble, submissive behaviour goes far towards turning away wrath. Esau embraced Jacob. God has the hearts of all men in his hands, and can turn them when and how he pleases. It is not in vain to trust in God, and to call upon him in the day of trouble. And when a man's ways please the Lord he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. Esau receives Jacob as a brother, and much tenderness passes between them. Esau asks, Who are those with thee? To this common question, Jacob spoke like himself, like a man whose eyes are ever directed towards the Lord. Jacob urged Esau, though his fear was over, and he took his present. It is well when men's religion makes them generous, free-hearted, and open-handed. But Jacob declined Esau's offer to accompany him. It is not desirable to be too intimate with superior ungodly relations, who will expect us to join in their vanities, or at least to wink at them, though they blame, and perhaps mock at, our religion. Such will either be a snare to us, or offended with us. We shall venture the loss of all things, rather than endanger our souls, if we know their value; rather than renounce Christ, if we truly love him. And let Jacob's care and tender attention to his family and flocks remind us of the good Shepherd of our souls, who gathers the lambs with his arm, and carries them in his bosom, and gently leads those that are with young, Isaiah 40:11. As parents, teachers or pastors, we should all follow his example.