Study Desk

He told his men to gather some rocks and pile them up. Then they ate a meal beside the pile of rocks.

The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor will judge between us." Then, in the name of the God whom his father Isaac worshiped, Jacob solemnly vowed to keep this promise.

He killed an animal, which he offered as a sacrifice on the mountain, and he invited his men to the meal. After they had eaten, they spent the night on the mountain.

Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters good-bye, and left to go back home.

As Jacob went on his way, some angels met him.

Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the country of Edom.

When the messengers came back to Jacob, they said, "We went to your brother Esau, and he is already on his way to meet you. He has four hundred men with him."

Jacob was frightened and worried. He divided into two groups the people who were with him, and also his sheep, goats, cattle, and camels.

After spending the night there, Jacob chose from his livestock as a present for his brother Esau: 200 female goats and 20 males, 200 female sheep and 20 males, 30 milk camels with their young, 40 cows and 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys and 10 males.

He divided them into herds and put one of his servants in charge of each herd. He said to them, "Go ahead of me, and leave a space between each herd and the one behind it."

you must answer, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. He sends them as a present to his master Esau. Jacob himself is right behind us.'"

That same night Jacob got up, took his two wives, his two concubines, and his eleven children, and crossed the Jabbok River.

The sun rose as Jacob was leaving Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.

Jacob saw Esau coming with his four hundred men, so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two concubines.

Jacob went ahead of them and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.

But Esau ran to meet him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. They were both crying.

So that day Esau started on his way back to Edom.

But Jacob went to Sukkoth, where he built a house for himself and shelters for his livestock. That is why the place was named Sukkoth.

On his return from Mesopotamia Jacob arrived safely at the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan and set up his camp in a field near the city.

He told his father, "I want you to get Dinah for me as my wife."