Knowing The Word in Genesis 33:1-11, Reunion

1 And Jacob lifted up 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 female servants. 2 And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. [Why this order? Is he putting those he loves most in the back so they will have a better chance of escaping? Or is this order more proper for introducing them to Esau?] 3 He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. [This is the new triumphant Israel, giving a sevenfold blessing of a vassal to his overlord. It seems to echo the blessing Isaac intended for Esau that Jacob stole: “May . . . nations bow down before you. . . . may your mother’s sons bow down before you.” Jacob is trying to undo his previous deception of cheating his brother of the blessing. I see in this scene elements of the story of the Prodigal Son.]

4 But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. [There are no hints of Esau’s previous murderous bitterness. The ice is broken and the brothers reconciled.] 5 And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, “Who are these with you?” Jacob said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” [It would be expected that Jacob would have said, “The children whom God has blessed your servant,” but Jacob has avoided using the word “bless”.] 6 Then the servants drew near, they and their children, and bowed down. 7 Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down. And last Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down. 8 Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company [the animals] that I met?” Jacob answered, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.” 9 But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” 10 Jacob said, “No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand. For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me. 11 Please accept my blessing [present] that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” [“Accept is a very important sacrificial term used to describe God’s receiving of a sacrifice. Jacob’s argument is that since you have received me with forgiveness as God has, so you must accept my “present,” a term also used for sacrifice, as God would.] Thus he urged him, and he took it.