Genesis 32:4 Commentary and Bible Study

Jacob sends word ahead to Esau. ‘I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now’, and the Hebrew which is translated ‘stayed there’ has very much the flavour of ‘have been retained there’, as though the words suggest that it was against his better judgment and his will. And that i's how it was. He was defrauded into remaining.He shows he is willing to pay for his re-entry and makes a peace offering. He asks for grace, favour, in the sight of Esau. He i's obliged to him; he knows he has a debt to him. He is willing to pay and bring this homage, this massive gift, which is now organized. He is determined to be sincere with his brother, remembering how when they were last together, he had acted with deceit towards him. He openly reports what has happened to him and that only now has he returned to Canaan. It is a diplomatic message and the significance of mentioning the flocks and herds is that he intends to give Esau a gift or payment. He speaks humbly to Esau, almost suggesting that his return to the land depends on Esau’s favour towards him.‘I have ox and ass and flock, and manservant, and maidservant – all in the singular. He does not want to boast or make Esau jealous, so he talks down what he possesses. Some think poorly of Jacob – kowtowing or even surrendering blessing to Esau. However this should be seen as humble appeasement in the face of wrongs done previously.But then he hears that Esau is coming to meet him with four hundred men. Some say that the messengers never made contact, but only saw the clouds thrown up by Esau’s men. But no, they made contact. Esau was on the march with four hundred men. He had received intelligence of Jacob’s return even before the messengers reached him, and had been on the march for two or three days. It was quite reasonable for him to assume that Esau had murder in his heart. What were four hundred men doing with him? Four hundred men suggests fighting men.