1. Jacob looked and saw Esau coming with 400 men. Jacob divided his family into four groups. Leah and her children were in one group, Rachel and Joseph were in one group, and the two maids and their children were in two groups.
2. Jacob put the maids with their children first. Then he put Leah and her children behind them, and he put Rachel and Joseph in the last place.
3. Jacob himself went out before them. While he was walking toward his brother Esau, he bowed down to the ground seven times.
4. When Esau saw Jacob, he ran to meet him. He put his arms around Jacob, hugged his neck, and kissed him. Then they both cried.
5. Esau looked up and saw the women and children. He said, “Who are all these people with you?” Jacob answered, “These are the children that God gave me. God has been good to me.”
6. Then the two maids and the children with them went to Esau. They bowed down before him.
7. Then Leah and the children with her went to Esau and bowed down. And then Rachel and Joseph went to him and bowed down.
8. Esau said, “Who were all those people I saw while I was coming here? And what were all those animals for?” Jacob answered, “These are my gifts to you so that you might accept me.”
9. But Esau said, “You don’t have to give me gifts, brother. I have enough for myself.”
10. Jacob said, “No, I beg you! If you really accept me, please accept the gifts I give you. I am very happy to see your face again. It is like seeing the face of God. I am very happy to see that you accept me.
11. So I beg you to also accept the gifts I give you. God has been very good to me. I have more than I need.” Because Jacob begged Esau to take the gifts, he accepted them.