Genesis 33:9

7 And Leah also came near with her children, and they bowed down. Afterward Joseph and Rachel came near, and they bowed down.

8 Then Esau said, “What do you mean by ^aall this company which I met?” And he said, “These are ^bto find favor in the sight of my lord.”

9 But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.”

10 And Jacob said, “No, please, if I ^ahave now found favor in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me.

11 Please, take ^amy blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt ^bgraciously with me, and because I have¹ enough.” ^cSo he urged him, and he took it.

12 Then Esau said, “Let us take our journey; let us go, and I will go before you.”

13 But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are weak, and the flocks and herds which are nursing are with me. And if the men should drive them hard one day, all the flock will die.

14 Please let my lord go on ahead before his servant. I will lead on slowly at a pace which the livestock that go before me, and the children,¹ are able to endure, until I come to my lord ^ain Seir.”

15 And Esau said, “Now let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “What need is there? ^aLet me find favor in the sight of my lord.”

16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.

17 And Jacob journeyed to ^aSuccoth, built himself a house, and made¹ booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called² Succoth.

Jacob Comes to Canaan

18 Then Jacob came¹ safely to ^athe city of ^bShechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan Aram; and he pitched his tent before the city.

19 And ^ahe bought the parcel of land, where he had pitched his tent, from the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred pieces of money.

20 Then he erected an altar there and called it ^aEl Elohe Israel.

Commentaries:

Forerunner Commentary
What is the Forerunner Commentary?

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What Does Genesis 33:9 Mean?

Genesis 33:9

Genesis 33:4, 9 reveals an entirely different aspect to his personality than we normally think: "But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. . . . But Esau said, 'I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.'" This scene pictures a man who is generous and magnanimous even to one who had defrauded him of an extremely valuable possession.

God undoubtedly paved the way for Jacob in this instance, but still Esau's temperament seems to have been forgiving and without resentment even though normally more mercurial than Jacob's. It would quickly flare into anger and then subside just as quickly, so that it was difficult for him to hold a grudge. He seems lovable, impulsive, physically strong, and easygoing, but unfortunately, he was also somewhat of a spiritual airhead, careless, and lacking in strong principle.

John W. Ritenbaugh
Eating: How Good It Is! (Part Two)

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