Genesis 33 we-st-homepage Notes and Questions

Jacob Meets Esau Thoughts on Esau / Jacob

1 Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so Esau the hunter 25:27, 27:2
he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two female servants. He no mention of husbandry skills
put the female servants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, Isaac says get your weapons
and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. He himself went on ahead and bowed down Jacob relates to the tents (people)
to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.

and flocks 27:9

what struck fear in Jacob 400
4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his shepherds or 400 warrior hunters
neck and kissed him. And they wept. 5 Then Esau looked up and saw the
women and children. Who are these with you? he asked.
Where are Jacobs 2 groups?
Jacob answered, They are the children God has graciously given your servant. are they merged or redivided,
Then the female servants and their children approached and bowed down. Next, family and present?
Leah and her children came and bowed down. Last of all came Joseph and
Rachel, and they too bowed down.
Where was Esaus home?
26:23-25 at Beersheba
goes back to Seir (Edom) 33:16
8 Esau asked, Whats the meaning of all these flocks and herds I met?
Isaacs blessing a dwelling away
To find favor in your eyes, my lord, Jacob said.

from the earths richness 27:39

But Esau said, I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for
yourself. i.e. this desert south of Dead sea
No, please! said Jacob. If I have found favour in your eyes, accept this gift
from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have What intelligence did the
received me favourably. Please accept the present that was brought to you, for brothers have of each other we
God has been gracious to me and I have all I need. And because Jacob insisted, wonder?
Esau accepted it.
32:3 messengers to Esau in Seir

v14 until I come to Seir

12 Then Esau said, Let us be on our way; Ill accompany you. Visit unrecorded if it ever occurred
But Jacob said to him, My lord knows that the children are tender and that I
must care for the ewes and cows that are nursing their young. If they are driven
Esau goes back to Seir at
hard just one day, all the animals will die. So let my lord go on ahead of his
servant, while I move along slowly at the pace of the flocks and herds before me speed
and the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.
what of the gifted animals
perhaps sold or herded by others

15 Esau said, Then let me leave some of my men with you. Jacobs objective, Seir or
But why do that? Jacob asked. Just let me find favour in the eyes of my lord. Succouth
So that day Esau started on his way back to Seir.
Seir not suitable for husbandry?
Outriders declined
Esau goes ahead South while
17 Jacob, however, went to Succoth, where he built a place for himself and
Jacob goes East
made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place is called Succoth.

He builds shelters for his animals

18 After Jacob came from Paddan Aram, he arrived safely at the city of Jacob at Shechem
Shechem in Canaan and camped within sight of the city. For a hundred pieces Abraham first at Shechem 12:6
of silver, he bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, the plot of The Lord appeared, he builds an
ground where he pitched his tent. There he set up an altar and called it El Elohe altar.
Israel.

NOTE A later visitor to Shechem (Sychar) was our Lord John 4:1-42
another self styled Shepherd who was known as good.
Jacob again in 33:13 as a good shepherd overriding care for the weak, the slow, the young
33:17 built not only for himself but for others in his care
Christs tenderness and care for the woman reveals shepherd qualities as he draws her into the fold
not only her but those of her town
Jacobs well and its water are likened to the words of eternal life and its efficacious qualities
We too have the very same link with this actual well of Jacob as we bring the water of life to EG
Lets see these OT - NT biblical shepherds are our guides - to shepherd people of our day into the fold
Naturally we do not have Christs insights . . but as contemporary shepherds
What sort of lessons can we pick up from both Jacob and Jesus at Shechem?