33:1 雅各舉目觀看,見以掃來了,後頭跟著四百人,他就把孩子們分開交給利亞、拉結,和兩個使女,
33:2 並且叫兩個使女和她們的孩子在前頭,利亞和她的孩子在後頭,拉結和約瑟在儘後頭。
33:3 他自己在他們前頭過去,一連七次俯伏在地才就近他哥哥。
33:4 以掃跑來迎接他,將他抱住,又摟著他的頸項,與他親嘴,兩個人就哭了。
33:5 以掃舉目看見婦人孩子,就說:「這些和你同行的是誰呢?」雅各說:「這些孩子是上帝施恩給你的僕人的。」
33:6 於是兩個使女和她們的孩子前來下拜;
33:7 利亞和她的孩子也前來下拜;隨後約瑟和拉結也前來下拜。
33:8 以掃說:「我所遇見的這些群畜是甚麼意思呢?」雅各說:「是要在我主面前蒙恩的。」
33:9 以掃說:「兄弟啊,我的已經夠了,你的仍歸你吧!」
33:10 雅各說:「不然,我若在你眼前蒙恩,就求你從我手裡收下這禮物;因為我見了你的面,如同見了上帝的面,並且你容納了我。
33:11 求你收下我帶來給你的禮物;因為上帝恩待我,使我充足。」雅各再三地求他,他才收下了。
33:12 以掃說:「我們可以起身前往,我在你前頭走。」
33:13 雅各對他說:「我主知道孩子們年幼嬌嫩,牛羊也正在乳養的時候,若是催趕一天,群畜都必死了。
33:14 求我主在僕人前頭走,我要量著在我面前群畜和孩子的力量慢慢地前行,直走到西珥我主那裡。」
33:15 以掃說:「容我把跟隨我的人留幾個在你這裡。」雅各說:「何必呢?只要在我主眼前蒙恩就是了。」
Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his
four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two
female servants. 2 He put the female servants and their children in
front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear.
3 He himself went on ahead
and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.
4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms
around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.
5 Then Esau looked up and
saw the women and children. “Who are these with you?” he asked.
Jacob answered, “They are the children God
has graciously given your servant.”
6 Then the female servants and their children approached and bowed
down. 7 Next, Leah and her children came and bowed down.
Last of all came Joseph and Rachel, and they too bowed down.
8 Esau asked, “What’s the meaning of all these flocks and herds I met?”
“To find favor in your eyes, my lord,” he
said.
9 But Esau said, “I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you
have for yourself.”
10 “No, please!” said Jacob. “If I have found favor in your eyes,
accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God,
now that you have received me favorably. 11 Please accept the present
that was brought to you, for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.”
And because Jacob insisted, Esau accepted it.
12 Then Esau said, “Let us be on our way; I’ll accompany you.”
13 But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are tender
and that I must care for the ewes and cows that are nursing their young. If
they are driven hard just one day, all the animals will die. 14 So let my
lord go on ahead of his servant, while I move along slowly at the pace of the
flocks and herds before me and the pace of the children, until I come to my
lord in Seir.”
15 Esau said, “Then let me leave some of my men with you.”
“But why do that?” Jacob asked. “Just let
me find favor in the eyes of my lord.”
************
雅各和以掃的復和讓我們看見人和人之間的正確合宜的關係,這對雅各是非常重要的,因為錯的人是他不是以掃。然而以掃竟然沒有記恨,早就原諒雅各了,並且還帶400人,為了保乎雅各和他的家人。
然而雅各也沒有表現失禮,因為他看見雅各的時候,「一連七次俯伏在地」!這是面對君王的時候,所行的大禮。不僅如此,還送以掃非常豐盛的禮物。以掃客氣不收,他還是要他收下。
聖經在這方面的教導和榜樣,讓我們看見要用豐盛的厚禮對待人,是非常重要的!因為人是有必要受到尊榮,尊榮人就是尊榮上帝!因為人是按著上帝得形象被造的,是被上帝所寶貴與看重的!