Welcome to my Hebrew reading & language series.
Genesis 33:1-5
We saw Jacob's fear of his brother last week as he had sent droves of presents ahead of him to meet his brother. Then we saw how he wrestled with God and prevailed.
Now the moment of truth comes. He looks up and sees his brother coming with hundreds of men. He continues to build one drove after another, ending with his wives and children in groups. Jacob walks just ahead of his precious family and bows every so often with his face to the ground, getting closer and closer to his brother and the band of men who are with him. When Esau got close enough, he ran and fell down and kissed Jacob's neck. It turns out that he was not angry at all. He is thrilled to meet his sisters-in-law, his nieces and nephews.
The last time Jacob saw Esau, Esau had threatened to kill him. His parents had held them apart until Jacob could be sent far away to look for a wife. There was no way of knowing if Esau's threat was still good or not. Jacob was doing everything he could to cool his brother's temper. This could have been the end of the tribe of Israel and only days after it was born. It is a good thing that family is always family, valued more as time goes on between siblings.
I think God knew that Esau had cooled down. That might also be the reason God injured Jacob's sciatic nerve. If not, then Jacob may have run, but in his weakened state, no chance of that now.
Today's reading
English
And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants. And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, "Who are these with you?" Jacob said, "The children whom God has graciously given your servant."
Hebrew
The story continues next week as Jacob explains the droves...
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