| | Here we have a family reunion between Jacob and Esau. Esau, instead of being (probably justifiably) angry at seeing his brother Jacob again, welcomes him with open arms and a kiss. For some reason, Jacob and his wives, servants, and children all bow down before their "lord" Esau. This is a sign of submission, isn't it? This is maybe Jacob's way for apologizing for all he did to his brother, but it is not explained.
Jacob offers Esau the gifts mentioned in the last chapter, which Esau at first refuses but then reluctantly accepts. Jacob offers to stay behind and take care of the animals and says he will catch up with Esau in a place called Seir. Except for Jacob doesn't go to Seir, he goes to Succoth instead. I looked ahead a few chapters, and no explanation is given for this in the text that I've found so far. He tells his brother, who welcomes him warmly, that he'll catch up with him in Seir, but then instead goes off to other cities (first Succoth, then Shechem) and sets up camp there. He does set up an altar to God in Shechem (no word as to whether God wanted this, or what God thought of it).
So it is a very positive thing that despite his brother's actions, Esau welcomes him warmly and they apparently make up to each other, and Esau is eager to find out about his brother's family. Finally, some positive family relations in the Bible. But then Jacob appears to wander off on his own again for no stated reason, even though he told his brother he'd meet with him in Seir. If he did do so, the Bible doesn't say here.
There is another line that is somewhat confusing. Jacob, when insisting is brother should take his gifts, says to Esau, "For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably." (NIV, 33:10). The author of the Skeptic's Annotated Bible recently hypothesized that this means God looks like Esau (who is red-haired and very hairy). This is a possible interpretation, but the text really isn't clear, just as it isn't clear who it is Jacob wrestled with in Genesis 32, nor why Jacob was renamed Israel, but is still called Jacob in this and other chapters later!
There really should have been an editor to check all this for continuity and clarity. If God was the source for the Bible, he really ought to have done a better job at finding editors. Or why delegate, certainly the big man himself could have done a better job.
In any case, nothing overtly negative happens in this chapter, and the reunion between Jacob and Esau might teach some to let bygones be bygones. Something that should happen more often in the Bible, and in the modern-day Middle East, for that matter.
PS Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved. |
| | Posted 3/9/2009 7:58 PM - 37 Views - 2 eProps - 1 Comment
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