Genesis 50:12-26
50:12 So Jacob’s sons did as he had commanded them [cf. Gen. 49:29-33]:

50:13 They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre, which Abraham had bought as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite, along with the field.

50:14 After burying his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, together with his brothers and all the others who had gone with him to bury his father.

50:15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said [Joseph’s brothers feared the worst], “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?”

50:16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father [Jacob] left these instructions before he died:

50:17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph [there is no indication that Jacob actually spoke these words although one can safely assume that he would have agreed with their sentiment …]: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs [the words “sins” and “wrongs” accentuate the true nature of their past deeds] they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept [perhaps Joseph thought of all that he had suffered because of “the sins and the wrongs” committed against him; perhaps he wept because he felt bad about the guilt and anxiety that his brothers still felt; perhaps he wept because these words indicated that his brothers were genuinely sorry for their past sins and wrong].

50:18 His brothers [still anxious because of what they had done to Joseph in the past] then came [personally] and threw themselves down [cf. Gen. 37:5-11] before him [Joseph]. “We are your slaves [indicates attitude of complete submission],” they said [the brothers wanted Joseph’s forgiveness].

50:19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God [Joseph was unwilling to evaluate why God had chosen to work as He had; Joseph was unwilling to seek revenge]?
50:20 [cf. Gen. 45:5-8; this verse has been called the Romans 8:28 of the OT] You intended to harm me, but God [who is always at work behind the scenes] intended it [the evil his brothers had done to him] for good [Joseph came to this conviction over a period of years] to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives [both his own family and many people in the land of Egypt].

50:21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide [indication that Joseph harbored no ill feelings toward his brothers] for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them [Joseph reassured his frightened brothers by speaking to their hearts].

50:22 Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all his father’s family. He lived a hundred and ten years [Joseph lived a long and full life]

50:23 and saw the third generation of Ephraim’s children. Also the children of Makir son of Manasseh were placed at birth on Joseph’s knees.

50:24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die [cf. Jacob’s awareness of his approaching death in Gen. 49:29]. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob [Joseph added the name of his father to the list of patriarchs].”

50:25 And Joseph made the sons of Israel swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry [not immediately as in the case of Jacob (cf. Gen. 49:29-30)] my bones up from this place [to the land of Canaan for final burial; Joseph buried at Shechem (Josh. 24:32)].”

50:26 So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed [Joseph had ordered the physicians in his service to embalm the body of Jacob (Gen. 50:1-3)] him, he was placed in a coffin [a sarcophagus] in Egypt [until the time of the Exodus; cf. Ex. 13:19].

Genesis 49:9-10
God’s promise of a Messiah is progressively revealed in Scripture. Jacob’s prophecy concerning Jesus was made 19 centuries before Jesus was born. We can submit to Jesus’ rule in our lives because He is God’s promised ruler.

49:9 You are a lion’s cub [young and full of vigor], O Judah [Jacob’s fourth son; Reuben was oldest and Joseph was favorite]; you return from the prey [describes lion feasting on flesh taken as prey; protective/defensive of its food], my son. Like a lion [common in Israel in Bible times; imagery of lion conveys power and authority] he crouches and lies down, like a lioness [fierce in defending its young] — who dares to rouse him?

49:10 The scepter [symbol of power and authority] will not depart from Judah [the royal tribe; cf. Matt. 1:2], nor the ruler’s staff [symbol of power and authority] from between his feet [when king sat down the scepter rested between his feet], until [Judah would hold a leadership status among tribes of Israel] he [ future ruler would come from tribe of Judah; anticipates rise of Davidic monarchy (cf. 2 Sam. 7:15-16); ultimately fulfilled in coming of Messiah] comes to whom it [the kingdom] belongs [no other has a legitimate claim to royalty through Judah] and the obedience of the nations [leadership, kingship, sovereignty over Israel and non-Israelite peoples] is his.

Genesis 49:29-33
49:29 Then he gave them these instructions: “I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers [in the promised land] in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite,

49:30 the cave in the field of Machpelah [name means “the double cave”], near Mamre in Canaan, which Abraham bought [Abraham paid 400 shekels of silver; cf. Gen. 23:17-20] as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite, along with the field.
49:31 There Abraham [cf. Gen. 25:9] and his wife Sarah [cf. Gen. 23:19] were buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried, and there I buried Leah.

49:32 The field and the cave in it were bought from the Hittites [Noah’s great grandson (original ancestor of the Hittites), a people group living in Canaan].”

49:33 When Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons, he drew his feet up [perhaps suggests a fetal position] into the bed, breathed his last [died] and was gathered to his people [joined his ancestors].

Genesis 46:1-5
46:1 So Israel set out [from Hebron] with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba [located in the semi-desert region known as the Negeb; in the southernmost part of the promised land (cf. 1 Sam. 3:20; 2 Sam. 24:2 re: expression “from Dan to Beersheba”)], he offered sacrifices [Jacob took the time to worship before continuing his journey to Egypt] to the God of his father Isaac.

46:2 And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” “Here I am,” he replied.

46:3 “I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid [Jacob had reason to fear because he was old, because he was leaving the promised land, and because he was going to a strange land] to go down to Egypt [God confirmed that Jacob was doing the right thing in going to Egypt; cf. Gen. 15:13], for I will make you into a great nation [cf. Balaam’s words in Num. 23:10, “Who can count the dust of Jacob…”] there [in Egypt].
46:4 I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again [after they had become a great nation]. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes [Joseph would be with his father at death].”

46:5 Then Jacob left Beersheba, and Israel’s sons took their father Jacob and their children and their wives in the carts that Pharaoh had sent to transport him.

Genesis 45:3-8
45:3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph [imagine the shock his brothers must have felt at hearing these words]! Is my father [Jacob] still living [an indication that Joseph’s affection for his father was still strong]?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified [perhaps because they realized that Joseph had the authority and power to exact revenge] at his presence.
45:4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt [this detail validated Joseph’s claim]!

45:5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because [note that Joseph was a bigger picture person…] it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you [Joseph understood God’s providence].

45:6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years [as indicated by Pharaoh’s dreams (cf. Gen. 41:1-7)] there will not be plowing and reaping.

45:7 But God [used the evil intentions of Joseph’s brothers to accomplish His purposes] sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

45:8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God [these words must have alleviated much anxiety]. He made me father to Pharaoh [or Pharaoh’s counselor], lord of his entire household and ruler of all [indicates the scope of Joseph’s authority] Egypt.

Genesis 45:25-28
45:25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.

45:26 They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is [at the present time] ruler of all Egypt.” Jacob was stunned [he probably went limp; or to use an old Texas expression, “he was slack-jawed”]; he did not believe them.

45:27 But when they told him everything [cf. Gen. 45:9-13] Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts [tangible evidence of Joseph’s concern for his family] Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived [he felt better or came to life].

45:28 And Israel [Jacob] said, “I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive [the fact that Joseph was “alive” was more important to him than Joseph’s wealth or status in Egypt]. I will go and see him before I die.”

Genesis 42:1-8
42:1 When Jacob [previous mention of Jacob is in Gen. 37:34] learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you just keep looking at each other?”

42:2 He continued, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go [from Canaan] down there [to Egypt] and buy some [grain] for us, so that we may live and not die.”

42:3 Then ten of Joseph’s brothers [the sons of Jacob] went down to buy grain from Egypt.

42:4 But Jacob did not send Benjamin [the youngest of his sons; younger son of Rachel, Jacob’s favorite wife], Joseph’s brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him.

42:5 So Israel’s sons were among those who went [indicates that others also went from Canaan to Egypt to buy grain] to buy grain, for the famine was in the land of Canaan also.
42:6 Now Joseph was the governor [cf. Gen. 41:40-43] of the land, the one who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down [cf. Gen. 37:7,9] to him with their faces to the ground.

42:7 As soon as Joseph saw his brothers [first time Joseph had seen his brothers since they had sold him into slavery] he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger [perhaps Joseph feared his brothers might recognize him] and spoke [Joseph spoke through an interpreter (cf. Gen. 42:23)] harshly [Joseph spoke with authority] to them. “Where do you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied, “to buy food.”

42:8 Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him [Joseph was 17 years old when sold into slavery almost twenty years earlier; Joseph dressed in royal Egyptian garb and spoke through an interpreter].

Genesis 41:1-7
41:1 When two full years had passed [since the release of the chief cupbearer from prison; cupbearer forgot Joseph (cf. Gen. 40:23)], Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile [provided water for crops in Egypt],

41:2 when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds.

41:3 After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank.

41:4 And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.

41:5 He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk.

41:6 After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—thin and scorched by the east wind [the wind that came from the area of the Arabian Desert; hot and dry wind that withered everything in its path; cf. Jonah 4:8].

41:7 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream [Pharaoh was troubled by his two dreams; (cf. Gen. 41:8)].

Genesis 41:15-16
41:15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said [from the cupbearer who had forgotten Joseph (cf. Gen. 40:23)] of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”

41:16 “I cannot do it [Joseph refused to take the credit for himself],” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God [a significant statement because people in Egypt worshiped many gods] will give Pharaoh [considered a god in Egypt] the answer he desires [a favorable answer; one that would calm and reassure the troubled monarch].”

Genesis 41:25-40
41:25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.

41:26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years [years of bumper crops throughout Egypt]; it is one and the same dream.

41:27 The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.

41:28 “It is just as I [Joseph was merely the spokesman describing for Pharaoh what God was about to do] said to Pharaoh: God has shown [in advance; a warning to help them prepare for the coming difficulties] Pharaoh what he is about to do.

41:29 Seven years [represented by the seven good cows and the seven good heads of grain] of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt,

41:30 but seven years [represented by the lean, ugly good cows and the seven worthless heads of grain] of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance [everything gained during the seven years of plenty] in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage [or consume] the land [indicates the magnitude of the famine].

41:31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe.

41:32 The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms [this emphasized the importance of the message of the dreams; recall that Joseph’s dream about his brothers was also repeated (cf. Gen. 37:5-1)] is that the matter has been firmly decided [speaks of certainty] by God, and God will do it soon [speaks of imminence].

41:33 “And now [after interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams, Joseph courageously offered practical advice about how to deal with the situation] let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt [the Scripture does not indicate that Joseph was seeking this job for himself].

41:34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth [20%] of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.

41:35 They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities [perhaps cities strategically located for distribution efforts in the future and cities where the grain could be protected] for food.

41:36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”

41:37 The plan seemed good [they saw the wisdom of Joseph’s suggestion to prepare for coming difficulties] to Pharaoh and to all his officials.

41:38 So Pharaoh asked [his question was rhetorical] them [his officials and advisors], “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?”

41:39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you [Pharaoh gave God the credit for Joseph’s insight and wisdom], there is no one so discerning and wise as you.

41:40 You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders [Joseph’s word would be law throughout the land]. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you [Joseph was made one of the most powerful men in Egypt].”

Note: Pharaoh had gained valuable administrative experience while in Potiphar’s household (Gen. 39:1-6) and while he was in prison (Gen. 39:21-23).

Genesis 48:21-22
48:21 Then Israel said [Israel’s words show his faith that God would return his descendants to Canaan just as He had promised (cf. Gen. 46:41)] to Joseph, “I am about to die, but [consolation given to survivors…] God will be with you and take you back to the land of your fathers.

48:22 And to you, as one who is over your brothers, I give the ridge of land I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow.”

Genesis 39:2-10
39:2 The LORD was with [God was not limited or confined to the borders of Canaan] Joseph [although Joseph was separated from his family, he was not alone because the Lord was with him] and he prospered [success despite hardship], and he lived in the house [up to this point he had only lived in tents] of his Egyptian master [“Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard” (Gen. 39:1)].

39:3 When his master saw that the LORD [Yahweh; since Potiphar would have been familiar with hundreds of gods/goddesses, he probably had asked Joseph the name of his God] was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did,

39:4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.

39:5 From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned [Joseph became a steward or manager of Potiphar’s household and property; cf. 1 Cor. 4:2], the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field.

39:6 So he left in Joseph’s care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome [Joseph’s mother Rachel is described as “lovely in form, and beautiful” (Gen. 29:17)],
39:7 and after a while [temptation often comes when everything seems to be going well] his master’s wife took notice [continually did so] of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me! [an invitation to have sexual relations]”

39:8 But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master [note the extent of Potiphar’s trust] does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted [Joseph would not violate his master’s trust] to my care.

39:9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. [notice that Joseph had moral convictions prior to being tempted…] How then could I do such a wicked [Joseph recognized the character of such an immoral deed] thing [adultery undermines marriage] and sin against God [Joseph understood that sin is always against God; cf. Ps. 51:4]?”

39:10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day [Joseph stood firm though she was persistent], he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her [Joseph wisely kept his distance].

Genesis 39:19-23
39:19 When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger.

39:20 Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison [the fact that he did not have Joseph executed may indicate he really did not believe that Joseph was guilty; cf. Ps. 105:17-18], the place [being confined in this place would prove providential] where the king’s prisoners [political prisoners] were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison,

39:21 the LORD was with him [the Lord is with us even in our dark hours]; he showed him kindness [loyal or steadfast love] and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden [recognized Joseph’s ability and trustworthiness].

39:22 So the warden [trusted Joseph’s integrity] put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there.

39:23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

Genesis 37:3-8
37:3 Now Israel [formerly Jacob (cf. Gen. 32:28); name means “he struggles with God”] loved Joseph [firstborn son of his preferred wife Rachel; Joseph was 17 years old at this time (cf. Gen. 37:2)] more than [Jacob showed favoritism; recall that Jacob was favored by his mother Rebekah and Esau favored by his father Isaac] any of his other sons [had 12 sons, including Joseph], because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe [a sign of Jacob’s special love for Joseph and a constant reminder to his brothers that their father favored him] for him [Jacob (Israel) did not extend this favor to his other sons].

Note: Why did Jacob repeat the sin of his parents? Perhaps because many parents tend to raise their children the way they were raised.

37:4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated [this was the bitter fruit of Jacob’s preferential treatment of Joseph] him and could not speak a kind word [peaceably] to him [to Jacob or to Joseph].

37:5 Joseph had a dream [cf. Gen. 42:9], and when he told it [the text does not criticize Joseph for relating the dream to his brothers; cf. Gen. 37:11 re: Jacob’s response] to his brothers [would later call Joseph “the dreamer” (Gen. 37:19)], they hated him all the more.

37:6 He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had [Joseph and his family did not realize at this time what Joseph’s dreams indicated about his destiny and the destiny of the family]:

37:7 We were binding sheaves of grain [bundles of harvested grain] out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”

37:8 His brothers said [their question unwittingly contained the interpretation of Joseph’s dream] to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.

Genesis 37:19-28
37:19 “Here comes that dreamer! [spoken with contempt; Joseph’s dreams had become the basis of all their bitterness and hatred]” they said to each other.

37:20 “Come now, let’s [it is likely that no one of the brothers would have carried out such a sinister plot alone] kill [their festering jealousy and bitterness came to the surface] him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say [they came up with a plausible cover-up] that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”

37:21 When Reuben [oldest brother; son of Leah (Gen. 29:32)] heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. “Let’s not take his life,” he said.

Note: What does it take to stand up to a crowd and say no? What risks are involved? What are the potential benefits?

37:22 “Don’t shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern [hewn out of the ground to collect water; had narrow opening at the top and a wide basin at the bottom] here in the desert, but don’t lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father.
37:23 So when Joseph came to his brothers [who were tending the flocks in the vicinity of Shechem and, later, Dothan], they stripped him of his robe [the focal point of their growing anger; their hatred moved from abusive words (cf. Gen. 37:8,19) to violent action]—the richly ornamented robe he was wearing [Joseph seemed insensitive or ignorant with regard to how his brothers felt about the coat]—

37:24 and they took him and threw him into the cistern [originally Reuben’s idea (cf. Gen. 37:21-22); Reuben intended to later rescue Joseph]. Now the cistern [Joseph would be unable to escape without assistance (cf. Gen. 37:28)] was empty; there was no water in it [thus no danger of drowning and no water to drink].

Note: How would you have felt if you had been Joseph?

37:25 As they sat down to eat their meal [Joseph’s brother’s ate while he awaited his uncertain fate], they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites [used interchangeably with “Midianites”] coming from Gilead [a region in northern Transjordan; a famous source of balm (cf. Jer. 8:22)]. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm and myrrh [used in Egypt for incense, medicine, embalming], and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt.

37:26 Judah said [his suggestion saved Joseph from death] to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?

37:27 Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites [used interchangeably with “Midianites”] and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed.

37:28 So when the Midianite [used interchangeably with “Ishmaelites”] merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.

Note: Sin leads to more sin. Joseph’s brothers sinned by:
• mocking Joseph
• selling Joseph into slavery
• stripping off Joseph’s coat
• casting Joseph into the cistern
• selling Joseph to the passing caravan
• lying to their father about Joseph

Genesis 37:34-36
37:34 Then Jacob [the deceiver was now deceived; expressed his grief…] tore his clothes, put on sackcloth [clothes made out of rough cloth] and mourned for his son many days.

Note: Read 2 Samuel 12:19-23 regarding how David handled the grief of losing a child.

37:35 All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted [shows depth of his love for Joseph]. “No,” he said, “in mourning will I go down to the grave to my son.” So his father wept for him.

37:36 Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard.

Genesis 33:1-11
33:1 Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men [perhaps these men traveled with Esau to offer protection from hostile people in the area, to show Jacob how powerful he had become, or because he feared that Jacob might be hostile]; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two maidservants.

33:2 He put the maidservants and their children in front [thus putting them in a position of being the first to be attacked; indication that he loved these least], Leah and her children next, and [notice that Jacob showed favoritism just as his parents had…] Rachel and Joseph in the rear.
33:3 He himself went on ahead [Jacob did not try to hide from his brother or to protect himself] and bowed down to the ground [a customary way to greet high officials] seven times [repetition was token of respect and a way to indicate to his older brother that he only desired peace and reconciliation] as he approached his brother.

33:4 [cf. Joseph embracing his brothers (Gen. 45:14-15) and father kissing his prodigal son (Lk. 15:20)] But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept [perhaps a mixture of tears of relief, joy, and some grief; actions showed forgiveness given and accepted].

33:5 Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children. “Who are these with you?” he asked. Jacob answered, “They are the children God [Jacob took advantage of this opportunity to give glory to God] has graciously given your servant [use of this term indicates Jacob’s humility].”

33:6 Then the maidservants and their children approached and bowed down.

33:7 Next, Leah and her children came and bowed down. Last of all came Joseph and Rachel, and they too bowed down.

33:8 Esau asked, “What do you mean by all these droves I met?” “To find favor in your eyes, my lord,” he said.

33:9 But Esau said, “I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.”

33:10 “No, please!” said Jacob. “If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift [cf. Gen. 32:14-15] from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably.

33:11 Please accept the present that was brought to you, for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need [Jacob’s generous gift would not impoverish him because God had blessed him with so much; indication that a restored relationship with his brother was more important to Jacob than money and possessions].” And because Jacob insisted, Esau accepted it [an indication that the brothers were fully reconciled].