Bible Commentaries
Genesis 33

Verses 1-20

1-16.Jacob and Esau meet peaceably.

17-20. Jacob settles in Canaan.

3. Bowed seven times] in token of submission to Esau.

4. Jacob’s prayer (Genesis 32:11) is answered, and Esau, whatever his original purpose, now shows his brother only goodwill and affection.

10. I have seen thy face, etc.] i.e. I find thee as favourable to me as God is, alluding, no doubt, to the name Peniel (Genesis 32:30).

11. My blessing] RV ’my gift’: the present which accompanied expressions of good-will. So Naaman said to Elisha, ’I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant’ (2 Kings 5:15).

12-16. Jacob was unwilling to refuse Esau, and yet thought it most prudent to keep apart from his hasty brother. He therefore made an excuse and crossed the Jordan into Canaan.

17. Succoth] ’booths,’ S. of the Jabbok and on the E side of Jordan. Succoth and Penuel are mentioned together in Judges 8.

18. To Shalem, a city of Shechem] RV ’in peace to the city of Shechem.’ But there is a village called Salim 3 m. E. of Shechem. Here Jacob settled for some eight or ten years. The well which he dug still exists, though nearly choked with stones, some 1¼m. from Nablous. It was here that Christ conversed with the woman of Samaria (John 4).

19. Pieces of money] Heb. Kesitah, probably bars or rings of silver of a certain weight. See on Genesis 23:16, also Job 42:11.

20. El-elohe-Israel] i.e. El (God) is the God of Israel (Jacob’s new name).