Tyndale Open Study NotesGenesis 33

Jacob had long expected to meet his brother Esau, and the meeting turned out much better than he feared. Esau’s changed heart shows how “God fights” for his people (See 32:28). God works powerfully for his people when they trust him.

Earlier, Esau did not value his birthright (the rights and blessing of the firstborn son; 25:32–34). Now he no longer held on to old anger. Jacob understood that God had stepped in and changed the situation.

God had changed Jacob's identity (32:27–28), but he had not yet learned to live in line with his new name. He still showed favoritism (treating some family members better than others), which can divide families.

He arranged his family and possessions according to their importance to him. He placed the servant wives and their children in front, where they would face danger first. Leah and her children were behind them. Rachel and Joseph were at the back, where it was safest.

Jacob was scared even though he had no reason to be. He tried to calm his brother by acting like a servant to a king:

• he bowed (33:3),

• used respectful titles (33:8, 13),

• introduced people (33:6–7), and

• gave gifts (33:8).

Esau’s friendly greeting was an answer to prayer (32:11). God had rescued Jacob from Esau’s revenge.

your servant: When speaking with his brother, Jacob kept calling himself Esau’s servant (also 33:14). He referred to Esau as his lord (33:8, 13–15). Esau called Jacob “my brother” (33:9). Jacob acted carefully to avoid any possible attack from Esau. In doing this, he went against the earlier oracle (a message from God about the future; 25:23).

Among Jacob’s sons, only Joseph is named. Joseph was Jacob’s favorite son and the recipient of the blessing.

Jacob knew that Esau’s friendly greeting was God’s work, secured at Peniel when he saw God face to face.

my gift (literally my blessing) that was brought to you: Jacob considered Esau as a threat and tried to calm him with a gift (see 2 Kings 17:3–4; 18:7, 14; 2 Chronicles 28:21). He might have felt guilty and wanted to fix past mistakes. Jacob insisted that Esau accept the gift.

• Even though Esau seemed generous, Jacob was cautious and cleverly avoided traveling with him.

• until I come to my lord at Seir: Jacob's lie shows his old habit of using deceit instead of living by faith.

Jacob promised Esau he would follow him south to Seir, but he deceived him. Instead, Jacob went to Succoth, which is east of the Jordan River and north of the Jabbok.

• These verses conclude Jacob's adventures away from home. He returned safely with a large family and many possessions.

• Jacob, like Abraham, built an altar at Shechem (see 12:6–8) and bought land from Hamor's family.

El-Elohe-Israel: The name of the altar means "God, the God of Israel." It commemorated Jacob's relationship with God. Jacob publicly declared that God was his God and had guided him back to the land he would inherit.