1Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming, accompanied by four hundred men. So Jacob divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two female servants.
2He put the female servants and their children in front, then Leah and her children, and finally Rachel and Joseph at the very back.
3He himself went ahead of them and bowed seven times to the ground as he approached his brother.
4But Esau ran to meet him, hugged him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.
5Esau looked up and saw the women and children. He asked, “Who are these with you?” Jacob answered, “These are the children God has graciously given your servant.”
6Then the female servants and their children came forward and bowed down.
7Next, Leah and her children came forward and bowed down. Finally, Joseph and Rachel came forward and bowed down.
8Esau asked, “What was the meaning of all those groups of people I met?” Jacob replied, “I hoped to gain your favor, my lord.”
9Esau said, “I have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have.”
10But Jacob said, “No, please! If I have found favor with you, then please accept my gift. For seeing your face is like seeing the face of God, since you have received me so kindly.
11Please accept the present I brought you, for God has been gracious to me, and I have more than enough.” Jacob insisted, and Esau accepted it.
12Esau then said, “Let’s get moving; I will travel ahead of you.”
13Jacob replied, “My lord knows that the children are young and the flocks and herds with young are delicate. If they are pushed too hard for even one day, all the animals will die.
14Please, my lord, go on ahead of your servant. I will travel slowly, at the pace of the livestock and the children, until I reach my lord in Seir.”
15Esau said, “Then let me leave some of my men with you.” Jacob asked, “Why do that? I just want to find favor with you, my lord.”
16So Esau turned back that day and went on his way to Seir.
17Jacob, however, traveled to Succoth, where he built a house for himself and shelters for his livestock. That is why the place is called Succoth.
18Jacob arrived safely at the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan after leaving Paddan Aram, and he camped outside the city.
19He bought the plot of land where he had pitched his tent from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred pieces of silver.
20He built an altar there and named it El Elohe Israel.