Genesis 32:17-20 - Exposition

And he commanded the foremost, saying (with admirable tact and prudence), When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee! then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob's; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he (Jacob) is behind us. And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him —literally, in your finding of him . And say ye (literally, and ye shall say ) moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is Behind us'' for he thought that this would convince Esau that he Went to 'meet him with complete confidence, and without apprehension" (Kalisch)— for he said (the historian adds the motive which explained Jacob's singular behavior), I will appease him (literally, I will cover his face , meaning I will prevent him from seeing my past offences, i . e . I will turn away his anger or pacify him, as in Proverbs 16:14 ) with the present that goeth before me, —literally, going before my face . So Abigail appeased David with a present ( 1 Samuel 25:18-32 )— and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me —literally, lift up my face; a proverbial expression for granting a favorable reception (cf. Genesis 19:21 ; Job 42:8 ). "Jacob did not miscalculate the influence of his princely offerings, and I verily believe there is not an emeer or sheikh in all Gilead at this day who would not be appeased by such presents; and from my personal knowledge of Orientals, I should say that Jacob need not have been in such great terror, following in their rear. Far less will now 'make room,' as Solomon says, for any offender, however atrocious, and bring him before great men with acceptance".