draw attention to his generosity. Then at strategic moments he dispatched his wives, maidservants, and sons (presumably Dinah went along too although she does not rate a mention!) after the presents trusting that the softening up process would have taken effect. The result of all this activity was that Jacob was left alone with his fears and his thoughts, so he did a very wise thing, he turned to prayer. Whether he felt the need for solitude or whether it was simply the outcome of everybody else