Genesis 32:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: then you shall say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a present sent to my lord Esau. And moreover, he is behind us.’”

NIV: then you are to say, 'They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift sent to my lord Esau, and he is coming behind us.''

NASB: then you shall say, ‘ These belong to your servant Jacob; it is a gift sent to my lord Esau. And behold, he also is behind us.’?'

CSB: then tell him, 'They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift sent to my lord Esau. And look, he is behind us.' "

NLT: You must reply, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob, but they are a gift for his master Esau. Look, he is coming right behind us.’'

KJV: Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob's; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us.

NKJV: then you shall say, ‘They are your servant Jacob’s. It is a present sent to my lord Esau; and behold, he also is behind us.’ ”

Esau and 400 men are on their way to intercept Jacob's family, for reasons unknown (Genesis 32:6). Fearing the worst, Jacob has split his caravan into two separate camps (Genesis 32:7–8). He has also prayed, in desperation, for God's protection from his own twin brother (Genesis 32:9–12). Finally, Jacob has begun to orchestrate a dramatic presentation of lavish gifts. Five individual herds have been prepared: goats, sheep, camels, cattle, and donkeys. These are being sent, one at a time, to be presented to Esau before he arrives. Clearly, Jacob's hope is to soften his brother's long-simmering wrath (Genesis 27:41–45).

Jacob sensibly assumes Esau will ask the servants what they're doing. Now he tells them specifically how to answer: These animals belong to "your servant Jacob." He is giving them to "my lord Esau" as a gift, and he is coming behind us. This tactic of presenting multiple gifts would make each one seem unique and special, rather than simply coming as a single large group. The repetition of Jacob's servant-like attitude would also be repeated, and made clear to Esau.

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.