1. Early in the morning Laban got up, kissed his grandchildren and daughters and blessed them. Then Laban left and returned to his place.
2. While Jacob left on his way, the angels of God met him.
3. Then Jacob said when he saw them, “This is God’s camp,” and he named that place Mahanaim.
4. Then Jacob sent messengers before him to his brother Esau, to the land of Seir, the field of Edom.
5. He also commanded them saying, “This is what you should say to my lord, to Esau: ‘This is what your servant Jacob said: I’ve been staying with Laban, and have lingered until now.
6. Now I’ve come to possess oxen and donkeys, flocks, male servants and female servants. I sent word to tell my lord, in order to find favor in your eyes.’”
7. The messengers returned to Jacob saying, “We went to your brother, to Esau, and he’s also coming out to meet you—and 400 men with him.”
8. So Jacob became extremely afraid and distressed. He divided the people with him, along with the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps,
9. for he thought, “If Esau comes to one camp and strikes it, the camp that’s left will escape.”
10. Then Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, Adonai, who said to me, ‘Return to your land and to your relatives and I will do good with you.’
11. I am unworthy of all the proofs of mercy and of all the dependability that you have shown to your servant. For with only my staff I crossed over this Jordan, and now I’ve become two camps.
12. Deliver me, please, from my brother’s hand, from Esau’s hand, for I’m afraid of him that he’ll come and strike me—the mothers with the children.
13. You Yourself said, ‘I will most certainly do good with you, and will make your seed like the sand of the sea that cannot be counted because of its abundance.’”
14. So he stayed overnight there. Then from all that had come into his possession he took an offering for Esau his brother:
15. 200 female goats, 20 billy goats, 200 ewes, 20 rams,
16. 30 milking camels with their young, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys and 10 male donkeys.