gen 33

Question	Answer	Note---10-02-2016
		33:1 It is obvious here, given Jacob’s action that Esau was not very close by .
		33:2The order in which he separates the children shows his preference. It seems this is the order in which he regarded the mothers and their children. It seems that if Esau had decided to fall upon them Rachel stood the greatest chance of escaping.
	The blessing out of Isaac’s mouth was that the older would bow to the younger. However here was Jacob possibly knowingly contradicting that promise, so as to deflate the situation and to quell in Esau’s mind that he (Jacob) had come to claim anything.	33:3 Jacob bowed 7 times. It is not clear why Jacob would have bowed this many times. However it is clear that 7 is one of those numbers to which there is significance.
		33:3 Jacob passed before all the mothers and their children to beg pardon. It is obvious that Jacob had wanted Esau to see that he was not in battle mode and therefore not a threat to him (Esau)
		It is noteworthy that Esau ran to meet his brother Jacob. They both (esau and Jacob) wept together. Their tears expressed more than words could ever say. Both were sorry. Jacob was sorry for betraying Esau and Esau was sorry for having hated his younger brother for so long.
		33:4 Note that Esau would have spent all 20 years that Jacob was away preparing for the day that Jacob would return to claim the birthright (which was sold). No wonder Esau had 400 men with him. He was ready to fight for the birthright which he (esau) had sold prior.
		However upon seeing Jacob’s condition, there is a sudden change of heart. Esau probably had meant to hurt Jacob, but it is possible that looking upon his younger feeble brother brought back memories of childhood, and maybe softened his heart.
		He who had meant Jacob could do nothing now but just hug him and kiss him. The burden/grudge which Esau had been carrying around with him for the past 20 years was suddenly lifted. Esau no longer hated his younger brother, but instead loved him, and it was evident from this greeting.
Why was the name of Rachel’s child mentioned and none of the other women?		33:7
Was the request of Esua to go before Jacob one of doubt? Hadn’t God already promised Jacob that he would bring him safely? Why was this request necessary?	Jacob had now ventured into Canaanite territory. Some argue that this part of the journey might have been more treacherous than the previous leg. It may not have been that he did not trust Esau, but that Jacob truly thought he needed the additional protection.	33:14 In spite of the visit from God the night before, the angels which had accompanied him on the journey previously and the promises that were made to him by God himself, this lack of trust seems to be based on lack of experience with God. “Miracle without experience means nothing”-kerry-ann
		It is obvious that Esua is convinced by the arguments of Jacob that he is indeed fearful, however the gesture to leave some soldiers behind to protect Jacob and his family is refused. This seems to solidify the claim that it was only Esau that Jacob was fearful of.
	Succoth = "booths"