Laban came into sight of Jacob in the mount Gilead. Laban decided to confront Jacob the next day. So they camped for the night.
That night God came to Laban in a dream and said to him: 'Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.'
So Laban did take heed and when he met with Jacob the next morning, they sorted their differences in a calm and reasonable way ... and after friendly farewells Laban and Jacob parted for the first time after Jacob had come to Laban to work and live with him, 20 years earlier.
Jacob was well on his way to Canaan, when he caught sight of angels of The Lord. When he saw them he said: 'This is God's host', and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
When he found that he was getting close to Esau, he sent messengers before him to Esau, unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.
He then commanded them, saying: 'You shall speak with my lord Esau. Say to him that I, his servant Jacob, has been with Laban until now. Tell him about my wealth, and that I humbly try to find grace in his eyes.'
The messengers went, but returned with disturbing news. They informed Jacob that while they were on their way to Esau, they had met with Esau. Esau was on his way to Jacob and he had 400 men with him.
Jacob was stressed out of his mind. He was not sure if Esau was carrying a grudge because Jacob stole his blessing 20 years ago, or if he was out for revenge.
He divided everything he had ... animals and people ... into 2 groups, thinking that if Esau were to kill one group, the other group had a chance to get away and survive.
He then prayed to God to deliver him from the hand of his brother, Esau.
He saw that the day was gone, and decided to wait until the next morning, to plan his next move.
The next morning he put together a gift for Esau out of his stock ... 200 she goats and 20 he goats, 200 ewes and 20 rams, 30 milch camels with their colts, 40 kine, 10 bulls, 20 she donkeys and 10 horses.
He then instructed his slaves to take the animals to meet Esau before he would reach Jacob. He said to them to tell Esau ... upon his probable question of who they were and where they came from ... that they must say to him: 'We are the servants of Jacob, your servant. This is a gift to you from him ... and he is travelling behind us.'
Jacob then knew that there is nothing more that he could do to keep him and his save. He will know by the expression on Esau's face what his reaction was on Jacob's gift.
So the slaves got prepared for their journey and they left right away to meet with Esau.
That night Jacob was so worried that he couldn't sleep. He rose during the night and moved his caravan over the ford Jabbok to the other side for more safety.
Eventually he was standing alone on the bank, when he was attacked by a man. They wrestled through the night until morning broke. When the man saw that he couldn't overcome Jacob, he touched Jacob in the hollow of his thigh and Jacob's leg was suddenly handicapped, while he wrestled with the man.
Jacob was getting the overhand and the man finally asked Jacob to let him go.
Jacob told the man that he will only let him go if the man was to bless him.
The man then asked: 'What is your name?' Jacob answered: 'Jacob'. And the man said to Jacob: 'You will no longer be called Jacob. You will be called Israel.'
Jacob blessed and called the place Peniel ... for he had seen God face to face, in the form of a man, and lived to talk about it.
Just when they past Peniel, the sun came up ... and Jacob saw Esau on the horizon, coming towards them.
When he found that he was getting close to Esau, he sent messengers before him to Esau, unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.
He then commanded them, saying: 'You shall speak with my lord Esau. Say to him that I, his servant Jacob, has been with Laban until now. Tell him about my wealth, and that I humbly try to find grace in his eyes.'
The messengers went, but returned with disturbing news. They informed Jacob that while they were on their way to Esau, they had met with Esau. Esau was on his way to Jacob and he had 400 men with him.
Jacob was stressed out of his mind. He was not sure if Esau was carrying a grudge because Jacob stole his blessing 20 years ago, or if he was out for revenge.
He divided everything he had ... animals and people ... into 2 groups, thinking that if Esau were to kill one group, the other group had a chance to get away and survive.
He then prayed to God to deliver him from the hand of his brother, Esau.
He saw that the day was gone, and decided to wait until the next morning, to plan his next move.
The next morning he put together a gift for Esau out of his stock ... 200 she goats and 20 he goats, 200 ewes and 20 rams, 30 milch camels with their colts, 40 kine, 10 bulls, 20 she donkeys and 10 horses.
He then instructed his slaves to take the animals to meet Esau before he would reach Jacob. He said to them to tell Esau ... upon his probable question of who they were and where they came from ... that they must say to him: 'We are the servants of Jacob, your servant. This is a gift to you from him ... and he is travelling behind us.'
Jacob then knew that there is nothing more that he could do to keep him and his save. He will know by the expression on Esau's face what his reaction was on Jacob's gift.
So the slaves got prepared for their journey and they left right away to meet with Esau.
That night Jacob was so worried that he couldn't sleep. He rose during the night and moved his caravan over the ford Jabbok to the other side for more safety.
Eventually he was standing alone on the bank, when he was attacked by a man. They wrestled through the night until morning broke. When the man saw that he couldn't overcome Jacob, he touched Jacob in the hollow of his thigh and Jacob's leg was suddenly handicapped, while he wrestled with the man.
Jacob was getting the overhand and the man finally asked Jacob to let him go.
Jacob told the man that he will only let him go if the man was to bless him.
The man then asked: 'What is your name?' Jacob answered: 'Jacob'. And the man said to Jacob: 'You will no longer be called Jacob. You will be called Israel.'
Jacob blessed and called the place Peniel ... for he had seen God face to face, in the form of a man, and lived to talk about it.
Just when they past Peniel, the sun came up ... and Jacob saw Esau on the horizon, coming towards them.
When the 2 brothers were within reach at last, Jacob bowed 7 times before Esau. Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him and fell on his neck ... and kissed him ... and they wept.
Jacob then introduced his family to Esau and had to insist that Esau took the gift that Jacob sent him ... Esau was a very wealthy man himself, but he at last accept the gift from his brother.
They then started the journey to Edom ... Esau and his men hastily departed first, while Jacob decided on a more relaxed travel pace with the small children, women and baby animals.
So, while Esau was on his way back to Seir, Jacob decided to set up house in a place called Succoth.
He later built an altar in Shalem, a city of Shechem in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan-aram ... and called it El-elohe-Israel.
Genesis 32-33
Jacob then introduced his family to Esau and had to insist that Esau took the gift that Jacob sent him ... Esau was a very wealthy man himself, but he at last accept the gift from his brother.
They then started the journey to Edom ... Esau and his men hastily departed first, while Jacob decided on a more relaxed travel pace with the small children, women and baby animals.
So, while Esau was on his way back to Seir, Jacob decided to set up house in a place called Succoth.
He later built an altar in Shalem, a city of Shechem in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan-aram ... and called it El-elohe-Israel.
Genesis 32-33
