1. Jacob went on his way, and God’s messengers approached him.
2. When Jacob saw them, he said, "This is God’s camp," and he named that sacred place Mahanaim.
3. Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau, toward the land of Seir, the open country of Edom.
4. He gave them these orders: "Say this to my master Esau. This is the message of your servant Jacob: ‘I’ve lived as an immigrant with Laban, where I’ve stayed till now.
5. I own cattle, donkeys, flocks, men servants, and women servants. I’m sending this message to my master now to ask that he be kind.’"
6. The messengers returned to Jacob and said, "We went out to your brother Esau, and he’s coming to meet you with four hundred men."
7. Jacob was terrified and felt trapped, so he divided the people with him, and the flocks, cattle, and camels, into two camps.
8. He thought, If Esau meets the first camp and attacks it, at least one camp will be left to escape.
9. Jacob said, "Lord, God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I’ll make sure things go well for you,’
10. I don’t deserve how loyal and truthful you’ve been to your servant. I went away across the Jordan with just my staff, but now I’ve become two camps.