Genesis 32:17
And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose [art] thou? and whither goest thou? and whose [are] these before thee?
And he commanded {H6680} the foremost {H7223}, saying {H559}, When Esau {H6215} my brother {H251} meeteth thee {H6298}, and asketh thee {H7592}, saying {H559}, Whose art thou? and whither goest {H3212} thou? and whose are these before {H6440} thee?
He instructed the servant in front, "When 'Esav my brother meets you and asks you, 'Whose servant are you? Where are you going? And whose animals are these?'
He instructed the one in the lead, โWhen my brother Esau meets you and asks, โTo whom do you belong, where are you going, and whose animals are these before you?โ
And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee?
Cross-References
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Genesis 33:3
And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
Commentary
Genesis 32:17 details a crucial part of Jacob's elaborate strategy to reconcile with his estranged brother, Esau. After two decades of separation following Jacob's deception to gain the birthright and blessing, Jacob is returning to the land of Canaan, but he is filled with great fear concerning Esau's reaction. This verse describes the precise instructions Jacob gives to the servants leading the first of several droves of livestock he is sending as a gift ahead of him.
Context
Jacob's journey back to his homeland is overshadowed by the looming confrontation with Esau, whom he had wronged years prior (Genesis 27:36). Upon hearing that Esau was coming to meet him with 400 men, Jacob was "greatly afraid and distressed" (Genesis 32:7). Following a fervent prayer for deliverance (Genesis 32:9-12), Jacob devised a plan to appease Esau. This plan involved sending waves of valuable gifts, hoping to soften his brother's heart before their face-to-face meeting. Verse 17 specifically outlines Jacob's foresight, anticipating the questions Esau would ask the servants leading these gifts: "Whose [art] thou? and whither goest thou? and whose [are] these before thee?" These questions are natural inquiries from someone encountering a large caravan and are critical for Jacob's strategy to unfold.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The KJV uses the bracketed "[art]" to clarify the implied verb in "Whose [art] thou?". The Hebrew phrasing here is direct and inquires about identity and ownership, reflecting a common way to ascertain status and purpose in ancient Near Eastern encounters. The phrase "whose [are] these before thee?" (ืึฐืึดืึพืึตืึผึถื ืึฐืคึธื ึถืืึธ - l'mi-elleh l'faneykha) directly asks about the ownership of the droves, which is central to Jacob's plan of revealing his identity as the giver of the gifts.
Practical Application
Jacob's strategic preparation offers valuable lessons for modern challenges:
Ultimately, Jacob's detailed plan, initiated in verses like Genesis 32:17, paved the way for a surprising and emotional reunion with Esau, demonstrating God's faithfulness and the power of strategic reconciliation (Genesis 33:4), even after a night of wrestling with God Himself (Genesis 32:24-30).
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