Year of the Bible
Genesis 33
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Commentary on the Book of Genesis, Chapter 33:
Despite past animosity and Esau’s current superior human strength of men at arms, the two brothers meet in peace. Jacob, the former conniver (25:29-34, 27:5-29), is humble and gracious. Esau, who previously wanted to kill his brother (27:41), now offers assistance. Having seen God face to face in the previous chapter (32:30), Jacob recognizes that seeing his brother in peace is also like seeing God’s face. The two brothers part on good terms, and Jacob moves on to the city of Shechem, buys land, and builds an altar for worship of God, whom he recognizes as his own, the God of Israel.
The Book of Genesis, Chapter 33:
Jacob and Esau Meet
1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two maids. 2 And he put the maids with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. 3 He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
4 But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. 5 And when Esau raised his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, “Who are these with you?” Jacob said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” 6 Then the maids drew near, they and their children, and bowed down; 7 Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down; and last Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down. 8 Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company which I met?” Jacob answered, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.” 9 But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” 10 Jacob said, “No, I beg you, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand; for truly to see your face is like seeing the face of God, with such favor have you received me. 11 Accept, I beg you, my gift that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” Thus he urged him, and he took it.
12 Then Esau said, “Let us journey on our way, and I will go before you.” 13 But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and that the flocks and herds giving suck are a care to me; and if they are over-driven for one day, all the flocks will die. 14 Let my lord pass on be-fore his servant, and I will lead on slowly, according to the pace of the cattle which are before me and according to 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 men 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 cattle; therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
Jacob Comes to Shechem
18 And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddanaram; and he camped before the city. 19 And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, he bought for a hundred pieces of money the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent. 20 There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.
*Daily Lectio Divina Question:
There is nothing quite so freeing as hearing the words, "you are forgiven", especially if we are feeling ashamed or expecting condemnation. Thank you for your mercy, Lord! You are never outdone in generosity! Who are you calling me to be generous with today?
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Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
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Jacob alzó la vista y vio que venía
Esaú acompañado de cuatrocientos
hombres. Entonces repartió
a los niños entre Lía, Raquel y las dos
esclavas. 2 Colocó delante a las esclavas
con sus hijos, tras ellas a Lía con sus hijos,
y detrás a Raquel con José. 3 Él pasó
delante de todos y se postró en tierra
siete veces hasta llegar a su hermano.
4 Esaú corrió a su encuentro, lo abrazó,
se le echó al cuello, le besó y rompieron
a llorar.
5 Alzando la vista vio a las mujeres y
a los niños, y preguntó:
–¿Quiénes son éstos?
Respondió:
–Son los hijos que Dios ha concedido
a tu siervo.
6 Entonces se acercaron las esclavas
con sus hijos y se postraron. 7 Se acercó
también Lía con sus hijos y se postraron.
Después se acercaron José y Raquel
y se postraron.
8 Preguntó de nuevo:
–¿Qué es toda esa caravana que he
encontrado?
Jacob contestó:
–Es para alcanzar el favor de mi señor.
Repuso Esaú:
–Yo tengo mucho, hermano mío;
guarda lo que es tuyo.
10 Jacob replicó:
–De ningún modo. Si he hallado
gracia a tus ojos, acepta mi regalo, ya
que he visto tu rostro como quien ve el
rostro de Dios, y me has acogido bien.
11 Acepta, por favor, el presente que te he
traído, pues me lo ha concedido Dios y
de todo tengo en abundancia.
Le insistió tanto que aceptó. 12 Y dijo
Esaú:
–Pongámonos en marcha; yo iré a
tu lado.
13 Jacob le respondió:
–Mi señor sabe que los niños son
débiles, y llevo ovejas y vacas criando;
si las apremian una sola jornada, todo
el rebaño morirá. 14 Vaya, por tanto, mi
señor delante de su siervo, y yo seguiré
despacio, al paso de la caravana que llevo
delante, y al paso de los niños, hasta
llegar a donde está mi señor en Seír.
15 Esaú dijo:
–Dejaré contigo parte de la gente
que me escolta.
Contestó Jacob:
–¿Para qué? Sólo quiero hallar gracia
ante mi señor.
16 Aquel día Esaú volvió por su camino
hacia Seír. 17 Jacob marchó a Sucot,
donde se construyó una casa e hizo cabañas
para su ganado. Por eso puso por
nombre a aquel lugar Sucot.
18 Jacob llegó sano y salvo a la ciudad
de Siquem, en tierra de Canaán, viniendo
de Padán–Aram, y acampó frente a
la ciudad. 19 Entonces compró a los hijos
de Jamor, padre de Siquem, la parte del
campo donde había plantado su tienda
por cien monedas. 20 Construyó allí un
altar y lo llamó El–Elohé–Israel.
Pregunta de Lectio Divina del día de hoy
La Biblia de Navarra
Permiso para usar esta versión de la primera edición de la Biblia de Navarra
para el Año de la Biblia del Obispo
dado por Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, S.A. (EUNSA).