HOMILETICS. Vcrs. 1-20.-Jacob and Esau, or the brothers reconciled. I. THE MEETING OP' THE DROTHERS. 1. The approach of Esau .. (~) Conscious of his greatness, being attended by 400 am1ed followers; (2) tlnrst!Ilg for revenge, remembering the wrongs he had endured at Jacob's hands; (3) longing to see his brother from whom he had been parted now for upwards of twenty years. It is probable that all three emotions-pride, anger, affection-swelled within the breast of my lord Esau struggling to obtain the mastery. Which of them should conquer another moment "·ould decide. 2. Tiu advance of Ja.cob. (1) With commendable caution, dividing his company into three several groups-first the handmaids and their boys, next Leah and her children, and last Rachel and Joseph; (2) with rare chivalry, placing himself in front of the foremost, which may be placed to his account as a set-off against his supposed partiality to Rachel nnd Joseph; (3) with,profound respect, bowing and advancing seven times, with true Oriental politeness, until he came to Esau. 3. The reconcuiation of both. The conflict of emotions in the breast of Esau was brought to a decision by the sight of Jacob, which at once cast the balance on the side of fraternal affection. Old memories of boyhood and home revived in the bosom of the stalwart hunter as he looked on his twin-brother, and, under the impulse of generous and noble feeling, be ran and embraced him, and fell on hie neck and kissed him. Nor was the heart of Jacob less susceptible of such tender emotion. Reciprocating his manly brother's embrace, he too yielded to a rush of kindly sentiment, and they both wept. What a study for a painter I Cf. Jonathan and David (1 Sam. x.x. 41), and the prodigal and his father (Luke xv. 20). II. THE CONVERSE OJI' THE BROTHERS. 1. Esau's inquiries and Ja.cob's answers. (1) Esau asks about the women and the children in Jacob's train; and Jacob, piously acknowledging the Divine hand that had surrounded him with so many precious objects of affection, instructs them to do obeisance to their kinsman, which with beautiful politeness, following his own courteous example, they do. It bespeaks a devout heart when domestic as well as other blessings o.re traced to the all-bountiful Giver, a well-ordered home when its inmates imitate the good conduct of ils head, and a fine sensibility when the claims of relatives to courtesy o.nd kind- ness are recognised and honoured. (2) Esau requests to be informed about the droves which he had met, and Jacob explains that ho had sent them as a present to conciliate his favour. At first declining with a praiseworthy magnanimity to deprive his brother of any of his hard-earned wealth, Esau is afterwards constrained to accept the proffered gift, on learning that Jacob would not otherwise be sure of l1is forgiveness and friendship. It is beautiful when br.,thers emulate each other in noble acts. 2. Esau's invitations and Jacob'a prom-ise. It appears most satisfactory to understand Esau as soliciting his brother to accompany him to Seir, where for the time he was residing, and Jacob as engaging to drive on slowly after the roving chieftain, according as the tender age of his children and the condition of his flocks and berdB would admit, with the view of ultimately paying him a visit in his mountain home; but whether he fulfilled that promise now or afterwards, or at all, cannot ba ascertained. If he did not, we may rest satisfied that he had good reasons for hreal<ing l,is word. whicl1, !llas, promise-breakers aeldcm have. 3, Esau's off,:i· and CB. XXXIII. 1-20.] THE BOOK OF GENESIS. 408
Jacob's decli11ature. Esau o.nxiously desires to leave a convoy of his troopers to assist bis brother in the further prosecution of his journey; but Jacob with respect- ful firmness refused to accept of his kindness-perhaps becPuse, being a man of peace, he did not co.re for the society of soldiers, but chiefly, we apprehend, because, having J-ehovah as a guide, he did not need the help of roving buccaneers (cf. Ezra viii. 22). III. Tn& PARTIN0 OF THE DR0THERS. 1. Esau returw unto Mount Seir. (1) Immedio.tely, that day; but (2) not ns yet finally, since his ultimate withdrawal from the land of Canaan appears to have taken place at a subsequent period. 2. Jacob journeyed to Succoth, where he built himself a house, constructed booths for bis cattle, and remained a considerable time, afterwards moving up to Shechem, where he (1) pitched his tent outside the city, for convenience or for safety; (2) purchased a field from the chief man of the place, honestly paying for his purchase, as became a just man; and (3) erected an altar, which be named El-elohe-Israel. See here-1. The strength of fraternal affection. 2. The beauty of forgiveness and reconciliation. 3. The possibility of combining politeness and piety. 4. The power of kindness in disarming enmity and opposition. 5. The advantage of con- ference for promoting good understanding and exciting kindly feeling. 6. The tender care which the strong should exercise towards the weak. 7. The sad partings which Providence effects between friends. 8. The propriety of taking God with us on all our journeys. 9. The duty of affectionately remembering God's mercies.