The anti-climatic meeting of Jacob and Esau

bir·ḵā·ṯî< = = = Well sir, I guess you know where you stand based on where you are stationed in this formation. But at least Jacob did the honorable thing and led from the front. He ran from Laban in secrecy, but he walks up to Esau. God prepared him for the worst, but it turned out to be a reunion.

 1 Then Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming with his 400 men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and his two servant wives. 2 He put the servant wives and their children at the front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. 3 Then Jacob went on ahead. As he approached his brother, he bowed to the ground seven times before him. 

4 Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.

5 Then Esau looked at the women and children and asked, “Who are these people with you?”

“These are the children God has graciously given to me, your servant,” Jacob replied. 6 Then the servant wives came forward with their children and bowed before him. 7 Next came Leah with her children, and they bowed before him. Finally, Joseph and Rachel came forward and bowed before him. Genesis 33: 1 - 7 NLT

Alan, in the next part of the lesson, you can't take all the words at face value, you have the cultural overlay of the Middle East between 1,800 and 1,700 BC. 

 8 “What do you mean by sending this whole company to meet me?” asked Esau. “To find favor in your sight, my lord,” Jacob answered. 9 “I already have plenty, my brother,” Esau replied. “Keep what belongs to you.” 10 But Jacob insisted, “No, please! If I have found favor in your sight, then receive this gift from my hand. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing the face of God, since you have received me favorably. 11 Please accept my gift that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” So Jacob pressed him until he accepted. Genesis 33: 8 - 11 BSB

Both brothers say they have all that they need and it is true, they are descended from Abraham and they have been richly bless. Esau is a prince, he has established a nation, Edom. But, the custom is to say that even if far less wealthy.

Also, Esau would actually love the gifts, but out of politeness, he refuses and Jacob has to haggle him to accept. Haggling was an art form in those days.

Jacob knows he wronged Esau, and a lavish gift can help right the wrong in that time and culture. The word translated as gift and bolded, bir·ḵā·ṯî, appears three times in the Torah and might be better translated blessing. The Brenton Septuagint Translation puts it this way: Receive my blessings, which I have brought thee, because God has had mercy on me, and I have all things; and he constrained him, and he took them.

 12 Then Esau said, “Let us be on our way, and I will go ahead of you.” 13 But Jacob replied, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and I must care for sheep and cattle that are nursing their young. If they are driven hard for even a day, all the animals will die. 14 Please let my lord go ahead of his servant. I will continue on slowly, at a comfortable pace for the livestock and children, until I come to my lord at Seir.” 15 “Let me leave some of my people with you,” Esau said. But Jacob replied, “Why do that? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.”Genesis 33: 12 - 15 BSB

< = = = Traslation: you go your way and I'll go mine.
"Eggzactly", John said, "And so it comes to pass."

16 So that day Esau started on his way back to Seir, 17 but Jacob went on to Succoth, where he built a house for himself and shelters for his livestock; that is why the place was called Succoth.

18 After Jacob had come from Paddan-aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan, and he camped just outside the city. 19 And the plot of ground where he pitched his tent, he purchased from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of silver. 20 There he set up an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.

< = = = He named his altar "Mighty is the God of Israel" and that's his new name Israel, not the country. I wonder if anyone knows his new name is Israel. It would be interesting to hear him tell it . . . so there was this messenger from God and we wrestled all night and he couldn't beat me, so he hurt my hip, changed my name and blessed me; any questions?

John smiled at the cocky young student, "Well, he must have told someone, or your home country might be named Ya'akovland. See you next time."