Genesis 33:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: 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."

NIV: Esau said, "Then let me leave some of my men with you." "But why do that?" Jacob asked. "Just let me find favor in the eyes of my lord."

NASB: Then Esau said, 'Please 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.'

CSB: Esau said, "Let me leave some of my people with you." But he replied, "Why do that? Please indulge me, my lord."

NLT: All right,' Esau said, 'but at least let me assign some of my men to guide and protect you.' Jacob responded, 'That’s not necessary. It’s enough that you’ve received me warmly, my lord!'

KJV: And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord.

NKJV: And Esau said, “Now 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.”

Jacob and Esau have just been reconciled (Genesis 33:4) after many years of separation. Esau invites Jacob to come along as he travels back to his home in Seir (Genesis 33:12). Jacob makes the excuse that his flocks and children can't keep up, so Esau and his men should go on ahead (Genesis 33:13). Here, Esau makes a final offer, suggesting he leave behind some men. Perhaps his intent is for these men to act as bodyguards.

Jacob again turns his brother down, insisting that there is no need. Perhaps Jacob is confident of the Lord's protection or perhaps he is still concerned, on some level, that Esau wishes him harm. In either case, he urges Esau to accept his refusal as a sign that Jacob has found favor with him.

What makes this statement harder to interpret is what Jacob does next. Rather than moving south, towards Seir and Edom, Jacob will head north, towards Succoth—in exactly the opposite direction as his brother (Genesis 33:17).

Genesis 33:12–20 records Jacob's large company settling near the city of Shechem. Esau asks Jacob to travel back to Seir with him, but Jacob asks to come along later. Instead of following Esau, Jacob takes his caravan through Succoth. They eventually arrive near Shechem. There, Jacob buys land and settles in. In the next chapter, this will become the site of one of the ugliest episodes in Israel's young history.

All the preparations to meet Esau have been made. Jacob has both the promise of the Lord's protection and a plan. Now the moment comes. Jacob approaches, repeatedly bowing low, until Esau finally runs to embrace and kiss his brother. They weep together. Esau meets Jacob's family. Though he initially refuses Jacob's enormous gift, Jacob urges him to take it as a sign of Esau's favor for him. Jacob soon buys land and sets up camp outside the city of Shechem, building an altar to the Lord there.

Jacob has just left a miraculous encounter with God, which left him with a new name and a limp (Genesis 32). When finally faced with meeting Esau, he is pleasantly surprised. Esau runs to Jacob to hug and kiss him. They weep together. After meeting Jacob's family, Esau tries to refuse Jacob's enormous gift. Jacob insists, saying that seeing Esau's face is as seeing the face of God. Jacob, refuses to travel back to Seir and instead journeys to Shechem. This sets up a tragic instance of assault and revenge, involving Jacob's daughter, Dinah.

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.