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New Living Translation |   | |
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| | Gen 33:1 | Then, in the distance, Jacob saw Esau coming with his four hundred men.
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| | Gen 33:2 | Jacob now arranged his family into a column, with his two concubines and their children at the front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last.
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| | Gen 33:3 | Then Jacob went on ahead. As he approached his brother, he bowed low seven times before him.
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| | Gen 33:4 | Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him affectionately and kissed him. Both of them were in tears.
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| | Gen 33:5 | Then Esau looked at the women and children and asked, "Who are these people with you?" "These are the children God has graciously given to me," Jacob replied.
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| | Gen 33:6 | Then the concubines came forward with their children and bowed low before him.
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| | Gen 33:7 | Next Leah came with her children, and they bowed down. Finally, Rachel and Joseph came and made their bows.
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| | Gen 33:8 | "And what were all the flocks and herds I met as I came?" Esau asked. Jacob replied, "They are gifts, my lord, to ensure your goodwill."
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| | Gen 33:9 | "Brother, I have plenty," Esau answered. "Keep what you have."
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| | Gen 33:10 | "No, please accept them," Jacob said, "for what a relief it is to see your friendly smile. It is like seeing the smile of God!
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| | Gen 33:11 | Please take my gifts, for God has been very generous to me. I have more than enough." Jacob continued to insist, so Esau finally accepted them.
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| | Gen 33:12 | "Well, let's be going," Esau said. "I will stay with you and lead the way."
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| | Gen 33:13 | But Jacob replied, "You can see, my lord, that some of the children are very young, and the flocks and herds have their young, too. If they are driven too hard, they may die.
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| | Gen 33:14 | So go on ahead of us. We will follow at our own pace and meet you at Seir."
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| | Gen 33:15 | "Well," Esau said, "at least let me leave some of my men to guide and protect you." "There is no reason for you to be so kind to me," Jacob insisted.
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| | Gen 33:16 | So Esau started back to Seir that same day.
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| | Gen 33:17 | Meanwhile, Jacob and his household traveled on to Succoth. There he built himself a house and made shelters for his flocks and herds. That is why the place was named Succoth.
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| | Gen 33:18 | Then they arrived safely at Shechem, in Canaan, and they set up camp just outside the town.
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| | Gen 33:19 | Jacob bought the land he camped on from the family of Hamor, Shechem's father, for a hundred pieces of silver.
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| | Gen 33:20 | And there he built an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.
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