Genesis 32:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So he stayed there that night, and from what he had with him he took a present for his brother Esau,

NIV: He spent the night there, and from what he had with him he selected a gift for his brother Esau:

NASB: So he spent the night there. Then he selected from what he had with him a gift for his brother Esau:

CSB: He spent the night there and took part of what he had brought with him as a gift for his brother Esau:

NLT: Jacob stayed where he was for the night. Then he selected these gifts from his possessions to present to his brother, Esau:

KJV: And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother;

NKJV: So he lodged there that same night, and took what came to his hand as a present for Esau his brother:

Jacob's response to the news that Esau was headed his way with 400 men was fearful (Genesis 32:6–7). He strategically divided his large company into two camps (Genesis 32:7–8). He prayed in great faith asking the Lord to deliver him (Genesis 32:9–12).

Now, Jacob takes another strategic step: He prepares an enormous gift for Esau. By taking the posture of a servant and treating Esau as a superior, Jacob hopes to appease his brother and make peace. He doesn't know, yet, if Esau comes to do him harm. If so, Jacob sees this enormous offering as a way of softening his brother's anger.

Does Jacob's strategy—splitting his people and lavishing gifts on Esau—show a lack of faith? Does he not fully trust God's ability to protect him? Perhaps, and this would be a common modern response: that Jacob needed to do nothing more than "have faith." On the other hand, Jacob's actions are not entirely foolish—in fact, they are sensible—and his attitude is one of fear, but not despair. It would be fair to say Jacob is doing what he can to avoid a tragedy and relying on God to secure the results.

Another possibility is that Jacob truly felt guilt for stealing the blessing from Esau 20 years earlier. That would make the sending of gifts a sincere attempt at making restitution.

The following verses will describe just how large this gift is and how strategically it will be delivered.

Genesis 32:1–21 describes Jacob's preparations to meet his brother Esau, who is coming his way with 400 men. This will be the first time Jacob and Esau have spoken since Jacob fled Esau's rage as described in Genesis 27. Jacob is terrified this approaching force is coming to kill him. He divides his company into two camps. He prays in humility and faith to God for deliverance. He prepares a large gift of 550 animals to be strategically delivered to Esau to appease his presumed anger.

As Jacob turns from Laban and returns to his own country, he must face another fearful potential conflict. His twin brother Esau is coming with 400 men. Jacob fears this group approaches to take revenge for cheating Esau out of the family blessing 20 years earlier. Jacob is so afraid that he splits his company into two camps, even as he prays for deliverance. He also prepares an enormous gift to appease Esau. Finally, while alone in the dark, Jacob is unexpectedly forced to wrestle a mysterious man, who turns out to be God Himself in some manifested form. In a profound moment of symbolism, God forces Jacob to state his own name, which God then changes to Israel.

Jacob came to work for Laban while running from the murderous rage of his twin brother, Esau. Jacob was routinely cheated by Laban, eventually resolving to go back home along with his entire family. Unfortunately, this means coming back to face Esau. Jacob soon learns that Esau is headed his way with 400 men. Are they coming to kill Jacob in revenge for his deceit in stealing Isaac's blessing 20 years earlier? Jacob is afraid. He divides his large company into two camps. He prays earnestly to God for deliverance, and he prepares a huge gift to appease Esau. Finally, alone in the dark, Jacob physically grapples with a mysterious man who turns out to be God Himself, in some form. The man questions Jacob, changes his name to Israel, and pronounces a blessing. Thus prepared, Jacob will finally be reunited with his brother in the next chapter.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.