5Then Esau looked at the women and children and asked, “Who are these people with you?”

6Then the servant wives came forward with their children and bowed before him.

7Next came Leah with her children, and they bowed before him. Finally, Joseph and Rachel came forward and bowed before him.

8“And what were all the flocks and herds I met as I came?” Esau asked.

9“My brother, I have plenty,” Esau answered. “Keep what you have for yourself.”

10But Jacob insisted, “No, if I have found favor with you, please accept this gift from me. And what a relief to see your friendly smile. It is like seeing the face of God!

11Please take this gift I have brought you, for God has been very gracious to me. I have more than enough.” And because Jacob insisted, Esau finally accepted the gift.

12“Well,” Esau said, “let’s be going. I will lead the way.”

13But Jacob replied, “You can see, my lord, that some of the children are very young, and the flocks and herds have their young, too. If they are driven too hard, even for one day, all the animals could die.

14Please, my lord, go ahead of your servant. We will follow slowly, at a pace that is comfortable for the livestock and the children. I will meet you at Seir.”

15“All right,” Esau said, “but at least let me assign some of my men to guide and protect you.”

16So Esau turned around and started back to Seir that same day.

17Jacob, on the other hand, traveled on to Succoth. There he built himself a house and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place was named Succoth (which means “shelters”).

18Later, having traveled all the way from Paddan-aram, Jacob arrived safely at the town of Shechem, in the land of Canaan. There he set up camp outside the town.

19Jacob bought the plot of land where he camped from the family of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for 100 pieces of silver.33:19 Hebrew 100 kesitahs; the value or weight of the kesitah is no longer known.

20And there he built an altar and named it El-Elohe-Israel.33:20 El-Elohe-Israel means “God, the God of Israel.”