GENESIS CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE OVERVIEW
Overall what is happening in this chapter is that Jacob is reunited with Esau.
Thomas Coke (1801) – Genesis 33
The friendly meeting of Jacob and Esau. Esau at first refuses, but, being urged, accepts his brother's present. Esau returns to Seir. Jacob goes to Succoth, and purchases a field of the sons of Hamor.
Thomas Constable (2012) – Genesis 33
Jacob was ready to sacrifice part of his family, expecting Esau to attack him, and he approached his brother as though Esau was his lord. In contrast, Esau welcomed Jacob magnanimously, reluctantly received his gift, and offered to host him in Seir. Jacob declined Esau's offer and traveled instead to Succoth, four miles west of Peniel, where he settled next.
Adam Clarke (1826) – Genesis 33
Esau, with four hundred men, meets Jacob, (Genesis 33:1). He places his children under their respective mothers, passes over before them, and bows himself to his brother, (Genesis 33:2-3). Esau receives him with great affection, (Genesis 33:4). Receives the homage of the handmaids, Leah, Rachel, and their children, (Genesis 33:5-7). Jacob offers him the present of cattle, which he at first refuses, but after much entreaty accepts, (Genesis 33:8-11). Invites Jacob to accompany him to Mount Seir, (Genesis 33:12). Jacob excuses himself because of his flocks and his children, but promises to follow him, (Genesis 33:13-14). Esau offers to leave him some of his attendants, which Jacob declines, (Genesis 33:15). Esau returns to Seir, (Genesis 33:16) and Jacob journeys to Succoth, (Genesis 33:17) and to Shalem, in the land of Canaan, (Genesis 33:18). Buys a parcel of ground from the children of Hamor, (Genesis 33:19), and erects an altar which he calls El-elohe-Israel, (Genesis 33:20).
John Gill (1746) – Genesis 33
In this chapter we find Esau meeting Jacob in a friendly manner, contrary to his fears and expectation, having set his family in order in case of the worst, (Genesis 33:1); putting questions to Jacob concerning the women and children with him, who make their obeisance to him as Jacob had done before, (Genesis 33:5); and concerning the drove he met, which was a present to him, and which he refused at first to take, but at the urgency of Jacob accepted of it, (Genesis 33:8); proposing to travel with him, unto which Jacob desired to be excused, he, with the women, children, and flocks, not being able to keep pace with him, (Genesis 33:12), and to leave some of his men with him to guard him, which Jacob judged unnecessary, upon which they parted friendly, (Genesis 33:15); and the chapter is concluded with an account of Jacob's journey, first to Succoth, then to Shalem, where he pitched his tent, bought a field and built an altar, (Genesis 33:17).
Matthew Henry (1714) – Genesis 33
We read, in the former chapter, how Jacob had power with God, and prevailed; here we find what power he had with men too, and how his brother Esau was mollified, and, on a sudden, reconciled to him; for so it is written, (Proverbs 16:7), “When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
Here is:
I. A very friendly meeting between Jacob and Esau (Genesis 33:1-4).
II. Their conference at their meeting, in which they vie with each other in civil and kind expressions.
Their discourse is:
1. About Jacob's family (Genesis 33:5-7).
2. About the present he had sent (Genesis 33:8-11).
3. About the progress of their journey (Genesis 33:12-15).
III. Jacob's settlement in Canaan, his house, ground, and altar (Genesis 33:16-20).
KEY VERSE
Genesis 33:1 “Then Jacob lifted 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.”
KEY EVENT
Jacob meets Esau.
KEY CROSS-REFERENCE
Genesis 27:41 So Esau bore a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him; and Esau said to himself, "The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob."
KEY THOUGHT
Reconciliation should never be ruled out.
KEY QUOTE
“God has the hearts of all men in his hands, and can turn them when and how he pleases, by a secret, silent, but resistless power.” Matthew Henry
