Genesis 33
The Face of the Brother, the Face of God
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Reunion and Reconciliation
33:1Now Jacob looked up with his eyes and saw, and behold, Esau his brother was coming, and with him were four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two slave women.
33:2And he put the two slave women and their sons in the front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last.
33:3He himself went on before them and bowed down upon the earth seven times until he came near to his brother.
33:4Esau ran to meet him, embraced and kissed him, and fell on his neck; both of them wept.
33:5And looking up, Esau saw the women and the children, and said, “Who are these with you?” And he said, “The children with whom God has had mercy on your servant.”
33:6Then the slave women and their children drew near and bowed down.
33:7And Leah also and her children drew near and bowed down; and after these things Rachel and Joseph drew near and bowed down.
33:8Esau asked, “What did you mean by all these companies I met?” Jacob said, “So your servant might find favor in your sight, my lord.”
33:9But Esau said, “I have plenty, my brother; keep what is yours for yourself.”
33:10Jacob said, “If I have found favor in your sight, accept the gifts from my hands. I have seen your face as one might see the face of God, and you will accept me.”
33:11“Accept my blessings that I have brought to you, for God has shown me mercy, and I have everything.” He pressed him, and Esau accepted them.
Parting of the Ways
33:12He said, “Let us set out and go straight ahead.”
33:13He said to him, “My lord knows that the children are tender, and the sheep and cows are nursing under my care. If I drive them hard for one day, all the livestock will die.”
33:14“Let my lord go ahead of his servant. I will make my way at a leisurely pace, according to the journey before me and the children’s steps, until I come to my lord in Seir.”
33:15Esau said, “Let me leave some of my people with you.” He replied, “Why do that? It is enough that I have found favor in your sight, my lord.”
33:16So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.
33:17Jacob traveled to Booths. He built himself houses there and made tents for his livestock. Therefore he named the place Booths.
33:18Then Jacob came to Salem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Mesopotamia of Syria; and he pitched his tent before the city.
33:19He bought the plot of ground where he had pitched his tent from Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred lambs.
33:20And he erected an altar there and invoked the God of Israel.
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.