GENESIS 33
12 Then Esau said, “Let us journey on our way, and I will go ahead ofyou.” 13 But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and that the nursing flocks and herds are a care to me. If they are driven hard for one day, all the flocks will die. 14 Let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will lead on slowly, at the pace of the livestock that are ahead of me and at the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.” 15 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.” 16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. 17 But Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house and made booths for his livestock. Therefore, the name of the place is called Succoth. 18 And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city. 19 And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, he bought for a hundred pieces of moneythe piece of land on which he had pitched his tent. 20 There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.
– Genesis 33:12-20
GENESIS 33 JACOB ARRIVES IN SHECHEM
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
After meeting his brother Esau who wanted to journey with them
He requested that they take their time because of the women and children
So, Esau understood his brother’s request and went back to Seir
While Jacob went to Succoth, built a house and made booths for his livestock
He also came safely to the city of Shechem and camped before the city
Then, from the sons of Hamor, he bought a piece of land and put up an altar.
We witness the love between Jacob and Esau here. Esau wanted to provide some of his men to help Jacob and his camp to follow them, but Jacob was wise enough to see that it would stress the flock, women and children. Esau respected his brother’s request and went on his way back to Seir. It is amazing how Jacob is able to be very sensitive to his women and children and I was thinking that he himself was already in his nineties when he returned to his homeland. Jacob’s thankful heart was so evident in his desire to erect an altar and call it El-Elohe-Israel as a gratitude for all going well.
REFLECTION
- What was evident in Jacob’s heart in this account?
