3 Then Jacob asent messengers before him to his brother Esau in the land of bSeir, the 1country of cEdom.

4 He also commanded them saying, “Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: ‘Thus says your servant Jacob, “I have sojourned with Laban, and astayed until now;

5 aI have oxen and donkeys and flocks and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, bthat I may find favor in your sight.” ’ ”

6 The messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and furthermore ahe is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.”

7 Then Jacob was agreatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and the herds and the camels, into two companies;

8 for he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and 1attacks it, then the company which is left will escape.”

9 Jacob said, “O aGod of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord, who said to me, ‘bReturn to your country and to your relatives, and I will 1prosper you,’

10 1I am unworthy aof all the lovingkindness and of all the 2faithfulness which You have shown to Your servant; for with my staff only I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two companies.

11 “aDeliver me, I pray, bfrom the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, that he will come and 1attack me and the cmothers with the children.