1. Jacob also left that place. While he was traveling, he saw God’s angels.
2. When he saw them, he said, “This is God’s camp!” So Jacob named that place Mahanaim.
3. Jacob’s brother Esau was living in the area called Seir in the hill country of Edom. Jacob sent messengers to Esau.
4. He told them, “Tell this to my master Esau: ‘Your servant Jacob says, I have lived with Laban all these years.
5. I have many cattle, donkeys, flocks, and servants. Sir, I am sending you this message to ask you to accept us.’”
6. The messengers came back to Jacob and said, “We went to your brother Esau. He is coming to meet you. He has 400 men with him.”
7. Jacob was very frightened and worried. He divided the people who were with him and all the flocks, herds, and camels into two groups.
8. Jacob thought, “If Esau comes and destroys one group, the other group can run away and be saved.”
9. Then Jacob said, “God of my father Abraham! God of my father Isaac! Lord, you told me to come back to my country and to my family. You said that you would do good to me.
10. You have been very kind to me. You did many good things for me. The first time I traveled across the Jordan River, I owned nothing—only my walking stick. But now I own enough things to have two full groups.
11. I ask you to please save me from my brother Esau. I am afraid that he will come and kill us all, even the mothers with the children.
12. Lord, you said to me, ‘I will be good to you. I will increase your family and make your children as many as the sands of the sea. There will be too many to count.’”
13. Jacob stayed in that place for the night. He prepared some things to give to Esau as a gift.