Jacob looked up and saw Esau approaching with four hundred men. He divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two servants. The servants and their children went first, Leah and her children followed, and Rachel and Joseph remained at the rear.
Jacob went ahead of everyone. As he approached his brother, he bowed to the ground seven times. Esau ran toward him, embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. The brothers wept together.
Esau asked about the women and children. Jacob called them the children God had graciously given him. Each family group came forward and bowed. Esau also asked about the herds sent ahead, and Jacob explained that they were gifts intended to gain his favor.
Esau said he already had enough and urged Jacob to keep what was his. Jacob insisted, saying that Esau’s welcome was like seeing God’s face. Because God had treated him graciously, Jacob had all he needed. Esau finally accepted the gift.
Esau offered to travel together, but Jacob said the children and nursing animals required a slower pace. He also declined Esau’s offer to leave men behind. That day Esau returned toward Seir, while Jacob went to Succoth and built a house and shelters for his livestock.
Jacob later arrived safely near the city of Shechem in Canaan and camped before it. He bought the ground where he pitched his tent from Hamor’s sons for one hundred pieces of silver. There he built an altar and named it for God, the God of Israel.