33 Then Yacob raised his head and looked ahead, and wow, Esau was coming towards him along with his four hundred men. Then Yacob quickly divided the children among Le’ah and Rahel and their two female slaves, 2 and he put the slave women and their children first, and then Le’ah and her children after them, and finally Rahel and Yosef after them. 3 Then he himself went ahead of them, and he bowed to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. 4 But Esau ran forward to meet him and embraced him and threw his arms around his neck and kissed him, and they both cried together. 5 Then Esau looked up and saw the women and the children, and asked, “Who are these others with you?”

“The children that God has graciously given to your servant,” Yacob replied. 6 Then the two female slaves approached with their children, and they bowed down. 7 Next Le’ah also approached with her children, and they bowed down. Then after that, Yosef and Rahel approached, and they bowed down.

8 Then Esau asked, “What were all these groups that I met?”

“To win my master’s favour,” Yacob replied.

9 “I’ve got plenty, my brother,” said Esau. “Keep what belongs to you.”

10 “No, please,” Yacob insisted. “If I’ve won your favour, then take my gifts. Because indeed, I’ve seen you face-to-face, which is like seeing God’s face, and you’ve received me favourably. 11 Please take my gifts that were brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have way more than I need.”

And he urged him, so Esau took it 12 and said, “Ok, let’s get moving and go, and I’ll go ahead of you.”

13 But Yacob replied, “My master knows that the children are tender plus I have flocks and herds with young animals. If they drive them harder today, then all the flocks will die. 14 Please let my master go on before his servant, and I’ll lead them on at my gentle pace—at the pace of the livestock that are ahead of me and at the pace of the children—until I come to my master’s place in Se’ir.”

15 “At least let me leave some of my men with you all,” said Esau.

“Why do that?” contradicted Yacob. “May my master allow me to decide.” 16 So Esau and his men started heading home to Se’ir, 17 but Yacob travelled to Succot where he built a house for himself and made shelters for his livestock. That’s why he named the place ‘Succot’ (which means ‘shelters’).