Genesis 33:1-20

Genesis 33:1-20 (Good News Translation)

1Jacob saw Esau coming with his four hundred men, so he divided the
children among Leah, Rachel, and the two concubines.
          2He put the concubines and their children first, then Leah and
her children, and finally Rachel and Joseph at the rear.
          3Jacob went ahead of them and bowed down to the ground seven
times as he approached his brother.
          4But Esau ran to meet him, threw his arms around him, and
kissed him. They were both crying.
          5When Esau looked around and saw the women and the children, he
asked,
         "Who are these people with you?"


         "These, sir, are the children whom God has been good enough to
give me," Jacob answered.
          6Then the concubines came up with their children and bowed
down;
          7then Leah and her children came, and last of all Joseph and
Rachel came and bowed down.
          8Esau asked,
         "What about that other group I met? What did that mean?"

         Jacob answered,
         "It was to gain your favor."
          9But Esau said,
         "I have enough, my brother; keep what you have."
          10Jacob said,
         "No, please, if I have gained your favor, accept my gift. To
see your face is for me like seeing the face of God, now that you have
been so friendly to me.
          11Please accept this gift which I have brought for you; God has
been kind to me and given me everything I need.
         " Jacob kept on urging him until he accepted.
          12Esau said,
         "Let's get ready and leave. I will go ahead of you."
          13Jacob answered,
         "You know that the children are weak, and I must think of the
sheep and livestock with their young. If they are driven hard for even one
day, the whole herd will die.
          14Please go on ahead of me, and I will follow slowly, going as
fast as I can with the livestock and the children until I catch up with
you in Edom.
         "
          15Esau said,
         "Then let me leave some of my men with you."

         But Jacob answered,
         "There is no need for that for I only want to gain your favor."
          16So that day Esau started on his way back to Edom.
          17But Jacob went to Sukkoth, where he built a house for himself
and shelters for his livestock. That is why the place was named Sukkoth.
          18On his return from Mesopotamia Jacob arrived safely at the
city of Shechem in the land of Canaan and set up his camp in a field near
the city.

          19He bought that part of the field from the descendants of
Hamor father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of silver.
          20He put up an altar there and named it for El, the God of
Israel.

God bless you.