Genesis 33:12–17 (ESV)
Jacob Meets Esau
12 Then
Esau said, “Let us journey on our way, and I will go ahead of you.” 13 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. 14 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.”
15 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.” 16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. 17 But Jacob journeyed to Succoth,
and built himself a house and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
18 And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem,
which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city. 19 And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, he bought for a hundred pieces of money the piece of land
on which he had pitched his tent. 20 There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.
We don’t know why Jacob changes his plans, but he does and camps at Succoth. He finely comes to Shechem and erects an altar. The Lutherans Study Bible summarizes chapter 33 as follows. “Esau
approaches and the two brothers are reconciled. Jacob humbles himself, and Esau forgives. As much as possible, without compromising Christian doctrine and morality, we should make peace with those who oppose us—especially family members. This takes mutual
humility and forgiveness. God took the lead here. While we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son (Rm 5:10).”
I
pray: Lord God, in Christ You have dealt graciously with me, and in Him I have enough. Amen.
Engelbrecht, E. A. (2009). The
Lutheran Study Bible (p. 68). St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House.