33:1-3
All Jacob’s preparations have been completed, most importantly his encounter with God. Now he will finally meet Esau. He sees Esau in the distance with his four hundred men. Again Jacob divides his family between Leah and Rachel, placing the children and servants in the front, probably trying to elicit a gentle attitude from Esau. This time Jacob goes out in front, he is adopting a very humbling attitude with his repeated bowing to the ground. This expresses his submission to Esau.
33:4-7
The reaction he gets from Esau is not the one he expects. Far from being hostile, Esau seems delighted to see Jacob and greets him warmly. It seems that the anger of twenty years ago has well and truly subsided. Esau is also pleased to see Jacob’s wives, children and servants. The wives and children now come forward, also bowing down.
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