Jacob Meets Esau

1And Jacob lifting up his eyes, saw Esau coming, and with him four hundred men: and he divided the children of Lia and of Rachel, and of the two handmaids. 2And he put both the handmaids and their children foremost: and Lia and her children in the second place: and Rachel and Joseph last. 3And he went forward and bowed down with his face to the ground seven times, until his brother came near.

4Then Esau ran to meet his brother, and embraced him: and clasping him fast about the neck, and kissing him, wept. 5And lifting up his eyes, he saw the women and their children, and said: What mean these? And do they belong to thee? He answered: They are the children which God hath given to me, thy servant. 6Then the handmaids and their children came near and bowed themselves. 7Lia also, with her children, came near and bowed down in like manner; and last of all, Joseph and Rachel bowed down. 8And Esau said: What are the droves that I met? He answered: That I might find favour before my lord. 9But he said: I have plenty, my brother, keep what is thine for thyself. 10And Jacob said: Do not so I beseech thee, but if I have found favour in thy eyes, receive a little present at my hands: for I have seen thy face, as if I should have seen the countenance of God: be gracious to me, 11And take the blessing which I have brought thee, and which God hath given me, who giveth all things. He took it with much ado at his brother's earnest pressing him,

12And said: Let us go on together, and I will accompany thee in thy journey. 13And Jacob said: My lord, thou knowest that I have with me tender children, and sheep, and kine with young: which if I should cause to be overdriven, in one day all the flocks will die. 14May it please my lord to go before his servant: and I will follow softly after him, as I shall see my children to be able, until I come to my lord in Seir.

15Esau answered: I beseech thee, that some of the people, at least, who are with me, may stay to accompany thee in the way. And he said: There is no necessity: I want nothing else but only to find favour, my lord, in thy sight. 16So Esau returned that day, the way that he came, to Seir. 17And Jacob came to Socoth: where having built a house, and pitched tents, he called the name of the place Socoth, that is, Tents.

Jacob Settles in Shechem

18And he passed over to Salem, a city of the Sichemites, which is in the land of Chanaan, after he returned from Mesopotamia of Syria: and he dwelt by the town. 19And he bought that part of the field, in which he pitched his tents, of the children of Hemor, the father of Sichem, for a hundred lambs. 20And raising an altar there, he invoked upon it the most mighty God of Israel.