Today, I am reading and commenting on Genesis 33-35.

I have often heard this passage interpreted as an example of Jacob being a deceiver, tricking Esau into letting him travel alone, but letting him think that Jacob would join his household when Jacob had no such intention.  However, this reads to me as a negotiation between Jacob and Esau.  First, Esau invites Jacob to merge his family into Esau’s household” “I’ll accompany you.”  If Jacob had accepted Esau’s offer, he would have entered into a similar relationship with Esau as he had originally had with Laban.  When Jacob politely declined that offer by essentially saying that he would continue to decide what was best for his family and his possessions, Esau offered to take Jacob under his wing and extend his protection to him.  This would have left Jacob as somewhat independent, but subordinate to Esau.  Jacob’s reply to that was, “Thank you, but I am able to protect my family on my own.”  If Jacob had accepted Esau’s offer, his descendants and Esau’s would have been one people rather that the two they developed into.  The lesson we learn here is that the two brothers reconciled and peaceably lived next to each other, even after burying their father.  Jacob made efforts here to make up for the wrong he had done to his brother, and Esau accepted those offerings in the spirit in which they were made.  Esau could have said, “None of that is necessary,” and refused to accept Jacob’s offer, but that would have left Jacob feeling like he was indebted to his brother.  Esau demonstrated his forgiveness of his brother by inviting him into his household, but also demonstrated his respect for him by allowing him to move independently.  Esau could have attempted to forcibly annex Jacob’s family by leaving his men to escort Jacob, but, again, demonstrated his love and respect for his brother by allowing Jacob to stand on his own.

We can learn two lessons from this passage.  If we have wronged another, when we seek their forgiveness we should make it clear that we acknowledge that we did something which gives them a legitimate grievance against us.  And, when someone has wronged us we should allow them to do that which gives them peace that they have made good the wrong they have done.  I believe that Esau had forgiven Jacob long before Jacob gave him gifts, but by accepting those gifts Esau made clear that their relationship had been restored.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.