Norwegian 2018 (Bibelen - Guds Ord Hverdagsbibelen (Hermon Forlag))
Han sa til ham som gikk med den første flokken: «Når broren min Esau møter deg og spør deg: ‘Hvem er du, og hvor skal du? Hvem tilhører dyrene som går foran deg?’, skal du si: ‘De tilhører din tjener Jakob. Han sender dette som en gave til deg, herre Esau. Jakob kommer etter oss.’» De som fulgte flokkene som kom etter, fikk beskjed om å si: «Se, din tjener Jakob er bak oss.» Jakob sa: «Med gavene som kommer foran meg vil jeg prøve å bli venner med Esau. Etterpå vil jeg se ansiktet hans. Kanskje han vil ta imot meg.» Så sendte han gavene foran seg, men selv ble han i leiren en natt til.
What Does This Mean?
In Genesis 32:17, Jacob is giving instructions to the man leading his group. He predicts that Esau, his brother, will ask who they are and where they are going. This shows Jacob's strategic planning and anticipation of Esau's reaction.
Explained for Children
Imagine you're playing hide-and-seek with your sibling, and you're worried they might ask who you are and where you're going. That's kind of what Jacob is doing here, but with a much bigger group of people and a lot of animals!
Historical Background
The book of Genesis was compiled by Moses around 1446-1406 BC, recounting events from the beginning of creation up to the death of Joseph. This part specifically describes Jacob's encounter with his brother Esau after years of separation, set in the context of ancient Middle Eastern culture and family dynamics.
Living It Out Today
In modern life, this verse can remind us to be prepared for unexpected meetings or encounters. For example, if you're going to a family reunion where there's someone you've had a difficult past with, planning ahead for how you might interact can help ease the situation.