3 Then Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother cin the land of Seir, dthe 2country of Edom. 4 And he commanded them, saying, e“Speak thus to my lord Esau, ‘Thus your servant Jacob says: “I have dwelt with Laban and stayed there until now. 5 fI have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that gI may find favor in your sight.” ’ ”

6 Then the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and hhe also is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.” 7 So Jacob was greatly afraid and idistressed; and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies. 8 And he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and 3attacks it, then the other company which is left will escape.”

9 jThen Jacob said, k“O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the Lord lwho said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you’: 10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mmercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with nmy staff, and now I have become two companies. 11 oDeliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and 4attack me and pthe mother with the children. 12 For qYou said, ‘I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the rsand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’ ”

13 So he lodged there that same night, and took what 5came to his hand as sa present for Esau his brother: 14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, 15 thirty milk camels with their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals. 16 Then he delivered them to the hand of his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass over before me, and put some distance between successive droves.” 17 And he commanded the first one, saying, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, saying, ‘To whom do you belong, and where are you going? Whose are these in front of you?’ 18 then you shall say, ‘They are your servant Jacob’s. It is a present sent to my lord Esau; and behold, he also is behind us.’ ” 19 So he commanded the second, the third, and all who followed the droves, saying, “In this manner you shall speak to Esau when you find him; 20 and also say, ‘Behold, your servant Jacob is behind us.’ ” For he said, “I will tappease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me.” 21 So the present went on over before him, but he himself lodged that night in the camp.

Wrestling with God

22 And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, uand crossed over the ford of Jabbok.