Genesis 32:16 - He delivered them into the hands of his servants, every herd by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass over before me, and put a space between herd and herd.”
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What does "Genesis 32:16" mean?
This verse is part of the story of Jacob's return to his homeland and his impending encounter with his brother Esau, whom he had wronged years before. Let's break down the meaning:
"He delivered them into the hands of his servants, every herd by itself...": Jacob is dividing his livestock (flocks of goats, sheep, camels, cattle, etc.) into separate herds and entrusting each one to a different group of his servants. This is a significant amount of wealth he's managing.
"...and said to his servants, “Pass over before me...": He's instructing the servants to lead the herds in front of him, meaning he will be following behind.
"...and put a space between herd and herd.”": This is the key to understanding the verse. Jacob is telling his servants to keep a considerable distance between each herd of animals.
Why the space between the herds?
The most common interpretation is that Jacob is trying to appease Esau and soften him up before their encounter. Here's how:
Staggered Gifts: By sending the herds in waves, with spaces in between, it would appear to Esau (or anyone encountering them) as a constant stream of gifts. This would create the impression of great generosity and perhaps pacify Esau's anger or resentment. Jacob is hoping to win Esau over through repeated generosity.
Exaggerated Wealth: The staggered arrival of the herds could give the impression that Jacob's wealth is even greater than it actually is.
Reduced Threat: Presenting the animals in smaller, manageable groups could appear less threatening to Esau than if he were confronted with one massive herd. A large concentrated herd might seem like an invading army or a statement of dominance.
In summary, Genesis 32:16 depicts Jacob strategically dividing his wealth and spacing out the herds as he approaches his brother Esau, hoping to appease him, impress him with his wealth, and minimize any potential threat. He is using this tactic as part of his overall plan to ensure a peaceful reunion after years of estrangement. He's basically trying to bribe his brother with a constant stream of gifts.
Genesis 32:16 - He delivered them into the hands of his servants, every herd by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass over before me, and put a space between herd and herd.”
What does "Genesis 32:16" mean?
This verse is part of the story of Jacob's return to his homeland and his impending encounter with his brother Esau, whom he had wronged years before. Let's break down the meaning:
"He delivered them into the hands of his servants, every herd by itself...": Jacob is dividing his livestock (flocks of goats, sheep, camels, cattle, etc.) into separate herds and entrusting each one to a different group of his servants. This is a significant amount of wealth he's managing.
"...and said to his servants, “Pass over before me...": He's instructing the servants to lead the herds in front of him, meaning he will be following behind.
"...and put a space between herd and herd.”": This is the key to understanding the verse. Jacob is telling his servants to keep a considerable distance between each herd of animals.
Why the space between the herds?
The most common interpretation is that Jacob is trying to appease Esau and soften him up before their encounter. Here's how:
Staggered Gifts: By sending the herds in waves, with spaces in between, it would appear to Esau (or anyone encountering them) as a constant stream of gifts. This would create the impression of great generosity and perhaps pacify Esau's anger or resentment. Jacob is hoping to win Esau over through repeated generosity.
Exaggerated Wealth: The staggered arrival of the herds could give the impression that Jacob's wealth is even greater than it actually is.
Reduced Threat: Presenting the animals in smaller, manageable groups could appear less threatening to Esau than if he were confronted with one massive herd. A large concentrated herd might seem like an invading army or a statement of dominance.
In summary, Genesis 32:16 depicts Jacob strategically dividing his wealth and spacing out the herds as he approaches his brother Esau, hoping to appease him, impress him with his wealth, and minimize any potential threat. He is using this tactic as part of his overall plan to ensure a peaceful reunion after years of estrangement. He's basically trying to bribe his brother with a constant stream of gifts.