Important notice: Always check out what you hear and see for yourself, as it is up to you as a Christian to do your own studying. Never take anyone's word alone, including this website here, without first always checking it out for yourself. As 2 Timothy 2:15 says "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
Genesis 33
1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.
Keep in mind, it has been around twenty-one years since Jacob (Israel) last saw Esau and the last time he had saw him, Esau wanted to murder him for receiving the blessing. Now Esau has an army of four hundred men and naturally Jacob's a little concerned as to how Esau will react when he sees them.
2 And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.
Based on this lineup, you can tell pretty much who the favorites were, which is something Israel (Jacob) shouldn't have even had to worry about since GOD has already told him that HE would be with them (Genesis 31:3). Something to note is that it would be Joseph who would receive the blessing next.
3 And he passed over before them (i.e. he led the way), and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
You could say this was probably a little too much, to bow down seven times but guess you could say he was wanting to make sure Esau took this in the most friendliest way possible.
4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.
As time had went by, Esau's anger had disappeared towards Israel (Jacob). Here we see an example of brotherly love which makes it evident that Esau wasn't focused on the past at this moment, and isn't something how these two in which nations would come from, Russia (Esau) and the U.S.A. (Israel [Jacob]), which have had quite hard feelings towards each other, for the past few decades, are now in friendly, peaceful, relations with each other today, and as prophesied that will happen in order to fulfill prophecy and carry out satan's one world beast system in our generation. Something how history repeats itself. As we can see, GOD has already intervened in this picture and it is no doubt that it was HIM who changed Esau's mindset, whereby things would go well with Israel (Jacob) and his family. GOD most certainly has the power to do anything, so never ever doubt what HE can do in your life and the life of others. HE most certainly has the power to change mindsets, [as you see amongst new CHRISTians, who make efforts to seek HIM] but whether or not HE will is up to HIM; keep in mind, HE isn't going to force anybody to love HIM, it's up to that individual to decide with their own free will if they will or not.
5 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.
Again, Israel (Jacob) gives the credit to GOD as we should all do today, with every good thing that we have. Never be afraid of ashamed to profess HIM. See also Mark 8:38.
6 Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.
7 And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.
8 And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met (i.e. "why is everyone approaching in this order")? And he (Israel [Jacob]) said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.
9 And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.
10 And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God (and remember, he had just seen GOD in the last chapter), and thou wast pleased with me.
11 Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.
12 And he (Esau) said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.
13 And he (Israel [Jacob]) said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die.
Though there be peaceful relations, Israel's (Jacob's) perhaps still a little edgy towards hanging around Esau and wants to continue to remain independent with his family. Here he's letting Esau know that he and his four hundred men can go ahead and carry on with where they are going, and he and the family will just poke along with the children and animals, as they are tender and do not need to be driven too hard. You can also look at this in the futuristic sense as CHRISTianity and atheistic communism do not go well together.
14 Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir (= hairy or shaggy).
Despite the friendly relations, Israel's (Jacob's) still being submissive towards Esau in perhaps hopes that he continues to remain friendly. Again, GOD is with him and he has no need to be nervous or concerned.
15 And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord.
Again, Israel (Jacob) wanted no part in what Esau had to offer because he preferred to stay independent.
16 So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.
17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth (= booths).
It is no doubt this is where the feast of booths comes from. Perhaps this gives us the time of year (end of September) this happened and the time we will see the locust army in our final generation?
18 And Jacob came to Shalem (= peaceful), a city of Shechem (= shoulder or back), which is in the land of Canaan (= lowland), when he came from Padanaram (= field); and pitched his tent before the city.
19 And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for an hundred pieces of money.
20 And he erected there an altar, and called it EleloheIsrael (= GOD-the GOD-of-Israel or the Mighty GOD of Israel).
Again, notice Israel (Jacob) keeps GOD in the picture which is why he is so blessed. And indeed, our GOD is mighty; those who walk with HIM, always reach their destination.
Keep in mind, it has been around twenty-one years since Jacob (Israel) last saw Esau and the last time he had saw him, Esau wanted to murder him for receiving the blessing. Now Esau has an army of four hundred men and naturally Jacob's a little concerned as to how Esau will react when he sees them.
2 And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.
Based on this lineup, you can tell pretty much who the favorites were, which is something Israel (Jacob) shouldn't have even had to worry about since GOD has already told him that HE would be with them (Genesis 31:3). Something to note is that it would be Joseph who would receive the blessing next.
3 And he passed over before them (i.e. he led the way), and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
You could say this was probably a little too much, to bow down seven times but guess you could say he was wanting to make sure Esau took this in the most friendliest way possible.
4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.
As time had went by, Esau's anger had disappeared towards Israel (Jacob). Here we see an example of brotherly love which makes it evident that Esau wasn't focused on the past at this moment, and isn't something how these two in which nations would come from, Russia (Esau) and the U.S.A. (Israel [Jacob]), which have had quite hard feelings towards each other, for the past few decades, are now in friendly, peaceful, relations with each other today, and as prophesied that will happen in order to fulfill prophecy and carry out satan's one world beast system in our generation. Something how history repeats itself. As we can see, GOD has already intervened in this picture and it is no doubt that it was HIM who changed Esau's mindset, whereby things would go well with Israel (Jacob) and his family. GOD most certainly has the power to do anything, so never ever doubt what HE can do in your life and the life of others. HE most certainly has the power to change mindsets, [as you see amongst new CHRISTians, who make efforts to seek HIM] but whether or not HE will is up to HIM; keep in mind, HE isn't going to force anybody to love HIM, it's up to that individual to decide with their own free will if they will or not.
5 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.
Again, Israel (Jacob) gives the credit to GOD as we should all do today, with every good thing that we have. Never be afraid of ashamed to profess HIM. See also Mark 8:38.
6 Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.
7 And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.
8 And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met (i.e. "why is everyone approaching in this order")? And he (Israel [Jacob]) said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.
9 And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.
10 And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God (and remember, he had just seen GOD in the last chapter), and thou wast pleased with me.
11 Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.
12 And he (Esau) said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.
13 And he (Israel [Jacob]) said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die.
Though there be peaceful relations, Israel's (Jacob's) perhaps still a little edgy towards hanging around Esau and wants to continue to remain independent with his family. Here he's letting Esau know that he and his four hundred men can go ahead and carry on with where they are going, and he and the family will just poke along with the children and animals, as they are tender and do not need to be driven too hard. You can also look at this in the futuristic sense as CHRISTianity and atheistic communism do not go well together.
14 Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir (= hairy or shaggy).
Despite the friendly relations, Israel's (Jacob's) still being submissive towards Esau in perhaps hopes that he continues to remain friendly. Again, GOD is with him and he has no need to be nervous or concerned.
15 And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord.
Again, Israel (Jacob) wanted no part in what Esau had to offer because he preferred to stay independent.
16 So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.
17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth (= booths).
It is no doubt this is where the feast of booths comes from. Perhaps this gives us the time of year (end of September) this happened and the time we will see the locust army in our final generation?
18 And Jacob came to Shalem (= peaceful), a city of Shechem (= shoulder or back), which is in the land of Canaan (= lowland), when he came from Padanaram (= field); and pitched his tent before the city.
19 And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for an hundred pieces of money.
20 And he erected there an altar, and called it EleloheIsrael (= GOD-the GOD-of-Israel or the Mighty GOD of Israel).
Again, notice Israel (Jacob) keeps GOD in the picture which is why he is so blessed. And indeed, our GOD is mighty; those who walk with HIM, always reach their destination.