Jacob Mets Esau
December 14, 2019
Commentary
Esau arrived with four hundred men to meet Jacob. If Jacob had wanted to fight, Esau was ready. Esau knew nothing of Jacob’s changed heart and found Jacob cautiously awaiting him (vv. 1-2). Jacob humbly approached Esau to ward off any retaliating spirit, as he bows to him (v. 3). This spirit completely disarmed Esau as he forgave Jacob fully, freely, and forever (vv. 4-7).
Jacob pressed Esau to accept his gift of 550 animals (v. 8). When Esau hesitated to accept the livestock, Jacob insisted (vv. 9-11). In that part of the world, the acceptance of a present is the equivalent to a bond of friendship, and Jacob wanted to make sure that all their past troubles were behind them. When Esau offered to accompany Jacob, Jacob cleverly avoided traveling with Esau (vv. 12-13). He used commendable tact in declining his brother’s generous offer as he told him he needed to travel slowly because of the young children and animals.
Jacob did not plan to travel south with Esau to Bier but instead to go north to Succoth (vv. 14-17). Jacob settling down in Shechem which is directly west of the Jabbok River and about 20 miles from the Jordan in Canaan (v. 18). (As we find out in the next chapter this was a big mistake). The land where he settled was owned by the descendants of Hamor, the father of Shechem. Jacob paid him one hundred pieces of silver for it, set up tents and built an altar to honor God (vv. 19-20).
Application
Even though Esau was in many ways a very generous, likable, and noble person he was unsaved. It is very important that I maintain a good testimony when I am dealing with unsaved people.