Welcome to my Hebrew reading & language series.
Genesis 33:12-15
source
We saw Jacob meeting up with his brother last week and all seems to be fine. Esau asked that they follow him, but Jacob chooses to stay in one place and rest, then follow along at a slower pace for the children and nursing lambs. So as soon as they are together again, they are to be separated and Esau does not even know the names of his sisters in law or their children yet. I think Jacob just wanted to establish that the anger of his brother is gone.
Esau also offers to leave some of his servants with Jacob, but Jacob says there is no need for that either. If I were Esau, I would want to stay and meet some of my nieces and nephews (at least). They could have easily shared a meal and talked a bit. Then again, these brothers were competing since they were in their mother's womb. Why push their luck and risk another rift.
We are back to the point when the verse numbers align correctly in both Hebrew and English. The interpretation is always spot on, it is just confusing to find things when given a verse number and then it does not match.
Today's reading
English
Then Esau said, "Let us journey on our way, and I will go ahead of you." But Jacob said to him, "My lord knows that the children are frail, and that the nursing flocks and herds are a care to me. If they are driven hard for one day, all the flocks will die. Let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will lead on slowly, at the pace of the livestock that are ahead of me and at the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir." So Esau said, "Let me leave with you some of the people who are with me." But he said, "What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord."
Hebrew
The story continues next week as Jacob goes to Succoth...
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