Old TestamentThe Pentateuch |
Did Jacob ever see his brother Esau again? |
Yes. Years passed. Jacob married and had several children. He was wealthy and successful. When his wealth and property became so great that his interests conflicted with Laban’s, he took his family and left. At one point during their travels, angels of God met him. The Bible does not say exactly why the angels are there, but what follows suggests they might have been there to herald a big change for Jacob.
Jacob sent messengers to Esau to find out if Esau would be receptive to meeting him. The messengers came back with this worrisome announcement: “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.” (NIV, Genesis 32:6) Jacob, fearing the worst, split his group in two. That way, if Esau harmed one group, the other group could escape.