17. Jacob gave them their orders. To the servant with the first group of animals he said, “When Esau my brother comes to you and asks you, ‘Whose animals are these? Where are you going? Whose servant are you?’
18. then you should answer, ‘These animals belong to your servant Jacob. He sent them as a gift to you, my master Esau. And he also is coming behind us.’”
19. Jacob also ordered the second servant, the third servant, and all the other servants to do the same thing. He said, “You will say the same thing to Esau when you meet him.
20. You will say, ‘This is a gift to you, and your servant Jacob is behind us.’” Jacob thought, “If I send these men ahead with gifts, maybe Esau will forgive me and accept me.”