Genesis 32:3-21

3Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in Seir, the country of Edom.

4He commanded them to give this message to Esau, “Sir, this is what Jacob has to say, ‘I’ve been living with Laban and have stayed until now.

5I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, and male and female slaves. I’ve sent ⌞these messengers⌟ to tell you ⌞this news⌟ in order to win your favor.’ ”

6When the messengers came back to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau. He is coming to meet you with 400 men.”

7Jacob was terrified and distressed. So he divided the people, the sheep and goats, the cattle, and the camels into two camps.

8He thought, “If Esau attacks the one camp, then the other camp will be able to escape.”

9Then Jacob prayed, “God of my grandfather Abraham and God of my father Isaac! Lord, you said to me, ‘Go back to your land and to your relatives, and I will make you prosperous.’

10I’m not worthy of all the love and faithfulness you have shown me. I only had a shepherd’s staff when I crossed the Jordan River, but now I have two camps.

11Please save me from my brother Esau, because I’m afraid of him. I’m afraid that he’ll come and attack me and the mothers and children too.

12But you did say, ‘I will make sure that you are prosperous and that your descendants will be as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. No one will be able to count them because there are so many.’ ”

13He stayed there that night. Then he prepared a gift for his brother Esau from what he had brought with him:

14200 female goats and 20 male goats, 200 female sheep and 20 male sheep,

1530 female camels with their young, 40 cows and 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys and 10 male donkeys.

16He placed servants in charge of each herd. Then he said to his servants, “Go ahead of me, and keep a distance between the herds.”

17He commanded the first servant, “When my brother Esau meets you and asks you, ‘To whom do you belong, and where are you going, and whose animals are these ahead of you?’

18then say, ‘Sir, they belong to your servant Jacob. This is a gift sent to you. Jacob is right behind us.’ ”

19He also commanded the second servant, the third, and all the others who followed the herds. He said, “Say the same thing to Esau when you find him.

20And be sure to add, ‘Jacob is right behind us, sir.’ ” He thought, “I’ll make peace with him by giving him this gift that I’m sending ahead of me. After that I will see him, and he’ll welcome me back.”

21So Jacob sent the gift ahead of him while he stayed in the camp that night.