Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 1. Behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men.] It has been generally supposed that Esau came with an intention to destroy his brother, and for that purpose brought with him four hundred armed men.But, 1. There is no kind of evidence of this pretended hostility. 2. There is no proof that the four hundred men that Esau brought with him were at all armed. 3. But there is every proof that he acted towards his brother Jacob with all openness and candour, and with such a forgetfulness of past injuries as none but a great mind could have been capable of. Why then should the character of this man be perpetually vilified? Here is the secret.
With some people, on the most ungrounded assumption, Esau is a reprobate, and the type and figure of all reprobates, and therefore he must be everything that is bad. This serves a system; but, whether true or false in itself, it has neither countenance nor support from the character or conduct of Esau.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-16 - Jacob, having by prayer committed his case to God, went on his way Come what will, nothing can come amiss to him whose heart is fixed trusting in God. Jacob bowed to Esau. A humble, submissive behaviou goes far towards turning away wrath. Esau embraced Jacob. God has the hearts of all men in his hands, and can turn them when and how he pleases. It is not in vain to trust in God, and to call upon him in the day of trouble. And when a man's ways please the Lord he maketh eve his enemies to be at peace with him. Esau receives Jacob as a brother and much tenderness passes between them. Esau asks, Who are those with thee? To this common question, Jacob spoke like himself, like a ma whose eyes are ever directed towards the Lord. Jacob urged Esau, thoug his fear was over, and he took his present. It is well when men' religion makes them generous, free-hearted, and open-handed. But Jaco declined Esau's offer to accompany him. It is not desirable to be to intimate with superior ungodly relations, who will expect us to join in their vanities, or at least to wink at them, though they blame, an perhaps mock at, our religion. Such will either be a snare to us, or offended with us. We shall venture the loss of all things, rather tha endanger our souls, if we know their value; rather than renounc Christ, if we truly love him. And let Jacob's care and tender attentio to his family and flocks remind us of the good Shepherd of our souls who gathers the lambs with his arm, and carries them in his bosom, an gently leads those that are with young, Isa 40:11. As parents, teacher or pastors, we should all follow his example.
Original Hebrew וישׂא5375 יעקב3290 עיניו5869 וירא7200 והנה2009 עשׂו6215 בא935 ועמו5973 ארבע702 מאות3967 אישׁ376 ויחץ2673 את853 הילדים3206 על5921 לאה3812 ועל5921 רחל7354 ועל5921 שׁתי8147 השׁפחות׃8198
