7-8 Jacob was scared. Very scared. Panicked, he divided his people, sheep, cattle, and camels into two camps. He thought, “If Esau comes on the first camp and attacks it, the other camp has a chance to get away.”

9-12 And then Jacob prayed, “God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, God who told me, ‘Go back to your parents’ homeland and I’ll treat you well.’ I don’t deserve all the love and loyalty you’ve shown me. When I left here and crossed the Jordan I only had the clothes on my back, and now look at me—two camps! Save me, please, from the violence of my brother, my angry brother! I’m afraid he’ll come and attack us all, me, the mothers and the children. You yourself said, ‘I will treat you well; I’ll make your descendants like the sands of the sea, far too many to count.’”

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He thought, “If Esau comes and attacks one group,[a] the group[b] that is left may escape.”

Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham,(A) God of my father Isaac,(B) Lord, you who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’(C) 10 I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness(D) you have shown your servant. I had only my staff(E) when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps.(F)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 32:8 Or camp
  2. Genesis 32:8 Or camp