10 And Jacob H3290 said, H559 Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found H4672 grace H2580 in thy sight, H5869 then receive H3947 my present H4503 at my hand: H3027 for therefore I have seen H7200 thy face, H6440 as though I had seen H7200 the face H6440 of God, H430 and thou wast pleased with me. H7521
And he said, H559 Well; H2896 I will make H3772 a league H1285 with thee: but one H259 thing H1697 I require H7592 of thee, that is, H559 Thou shalt not see H7200 my face, H6440 except thou first H6440 bring H935 Michal H4324 Saul's H7586 daughter, H1323 when thou comest H935 to see H7200 my face. H6440
And G2532 they shall see G3700 his G846 face; G4383 and G2532 his G846 name G3686 shall be in G1909 their G846 foreheads. G3359
Take heed G3708 that ye despise G2706 not G3361 one G1520 of these G5130 little ones; G3398 for G1063 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 That G3754 in G1722 heaven G3772 their G846 angels G32 do always G1223 G3956 behold G991 the face G4383 of my G3450 Father G3962 which G3588 is in G1722 heaven. G3772
Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 The people H5971 which were left H8300 of the sword H2719 found H4672 grace H2580 in the wilderness; H4057 even Israel, H3478 when I went H1980 to cause him to rest. H7280
By this I know H3045 that thou favourest H2654 me, because mine enemy H341 doth not triumph H7321 over me.
And Absalom H53 answered H559 Joab, H3097 Behold, I sent H7971 unto thee, saying, H559 Come H935 hither, that I may send H7971 thee to the king, H4428 to say, H559 Wherefore am I come H935 from Geshur? H1650 it had been good H2896 for me to have been there still: now therefore let me see H7200 the king's H4428 face; H6440 and if there be H3426 any iniquity H5771 in me, let him kill H4191 me.
Behold now, thy servant H5650 hath found H4672 grace H2580 in thy sight, H5869 and thou hast magnified H1431 thy mercy, H2617 which thou hast shewed H6213 unto me H5978 in saving H2421 my life; H5315 and I cannot H3201 escape H4422 to the mountain, H2022 lest some evil H7451 take H1692 me, and I die: H4191
And David H1732 sware H7650 moreover, and said, H559 Thy father H1 certainly H3045 knoweth H3045 that I have found H4672 grace H2580 in thine eyes; H5869 and he saith, H559 Let not Jonathan H3083 know H3045 this, lest he be grieved: H6087 but truly H199 as the LORD H3068 liveth, H2416 and as thy soul H5315 liveth, H2416 there is but a step H6587 between me and death. H4194
And Moses H4872 said H559 unto the LORD, H3068 See, H7200 thou sayest H559 unto me, Bring up H5927 this people: H5971 and thou hast not let me know H3045 whom thou wilt send H7971 with me. Yet thou hast said, H559 I know H3045 thee by name, H8034 and thou hast also found H4672 grace H2580 in my sight. H5869 Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found H4672 grace H2580 in thy sight, H5869 shew H3045 me now thy way, H1870 that I may know H3045 thee, that I may find H4672 grace H2580 in thy sight: H5869 and consider H7200 that this nation H1471 is thy people. H5971
And when the days H3117 of his mourning H1068 were past, H5674 Joseph H3130 spake H1696 unto the house H1004 of Pharaoh, H6547 saying, H559 If now I have found H4672 grace H2580 in your eyes, H5869 speak, H1696 I pray you, in the ears H241 of Pharaoh, H6547 saying, H559
And the time H3117 drew nigh H7126 that Israel H3478 must die: H4191 and he called H7121 his son H1121 Joseph, H3130 and said H559 unto him, If now I have found H4672 grace H2580 in thy sight, H5869 put, H7760 I pray thee, thy hand H3027 under my thigh, H3409 and deal H6213 kindly H2617 and truly H571 with me; bury H6912 me not, I pray thee, in Egypt: H4714
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Genesis 33
Commentary on Genesis 33 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 33
Ge 33:1-11. Kindness of Jacob and Esau.
1. behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men—Jacob having crossed the ford and ranged his wives and children in order—the dearest last, that they might be the least exposed to danger—awaited the expected interview. His faith was strengthened and his fears gone (Ps 27:3). Having had power to prevail with God, he was confident of the same power with man, according to the promise (compare Ge 32:28).
3. he bowed himself … seven times—The manner of doing this is by looking towards a superior and bowing with the upper part of the body brought parallel to the ground, then advancing a few steps and bowing again, and repeating his obeisance till, at the seventh time, the suppliant stands in the immediate presence of his superior. The members of his family did the same. This was a token of profound respect, and, though very marked, it would appear natural; for Esau being the elder brother, was, according to the custom of the East, entitled to respectful treatment from his younger brother. His attendants would be struck by it, and according to Eastern habits, would magnify it in the hearing of their master.
4. Esau ran to meet him—What a sudden and surprising change! Whether the sight of the princely present and the profound homage of Jacob had produced this effect, or it proceeded from the impulsive character of Esau, the cherished enmity of twenty years in a moment disappeared; the weapons of war were laid aside, and the warmest tokens of mutual affection reciprocated between the brothers. But doubtless, the efficient cause was the secret, subduing influence of grace (Pr 21:1), which converted Esau from an enemy into a friend.
5. Who are those with thee?—It might have been enough to say, They are my children; but Jacob was a pious man, and he could not give even a common answer but in the language of piety (Ps 127:3; 113:9; 107:41).
11. He urged him and he took it—In the East the acceptance by a superior is a proof of friendship, and by an enemy, of reconciliation. It was on both accounts Jacob was so anxious that his brother should receive the cattle; and in Esau's acceptance he had the strongest proofs of a good feeling being established that Eastern notions admit of.
Ge 33:12-20. The Parting.
12. And he said, Let us take our journey—Esau proposed to accompany Jacob and his family through the country, both as a mark of friendship and as an escort to guard them. But the proposal was prudently declined. Jacob did not need any worldly state or equipage. Notwithstanding the present cordiality, the brothers were so different in spirit, character, and habits—the one so much a man of the world, and the other a man of God, that there was great risk of something occurring to disturb the harmony. Jacob having alleged a very reasonable excuse for the tardiness of his movements, the brothers parted in peace.
14. until I come unto my lord—It seems to have been Jacob's intention, passing round the Dead Sea, to visit his brother in Seir, and thus, without crossing the Jordan, go to Beer-sheba to Isaac; but he changed his plan, and whether the intention was carried out then or at a future period has not been recorded.
17. Jacob journeyed to Succoth—that is, "booths," that being the first station at which Jacob halted on his arrival in Canaan. His posterity, when dwelling in houses of stone, built a city there and called it Succoth, to commemorate the fact that their ancestor, "a Syrian ready to perish" [De 26:5], was glad to dwell in booths.
18. Shalem—that is, "peace"; and the meaning may be that Jacob came into Canaan, arriving safe and sound at the city Shechem—a tribute to Him who had promised such a return (compare Ge 28:15). But most writers take Shalem as a proper name—a city of Shechem, and the site is marked by one of the little villages about two miles to the northeast. A little farther in the valley below Shechem "he bought a parcel of a field," thus being the first of the patriarchs who became a proprietor of land in Canaan.
19. an hundred pieces of money—literally, "lambs"; probably a coin with the figure of a lamb on it.
20. and he erected … an altar—A beautiful proof of his personal piety, a most suitable conclusion to his journey, and a lasting memorial of a distinguished favor in the name "God, the God of Israel." Wherever we pitch a tent, God shall have an altar.