Genesis 33:1 Now Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and there, Esau was coming, and with him were four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants. 2 And he put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children behind, and Rachel and Joseph last.
"Behold, Esau came — Who had said, Genesis 27:41, 'I will slay my brother Jacob;' and with him four hundred men — A force sufficient for him to do what he had threatened.” (Benson Commentary) “Jacob having crossed the ford and ranged his wives and children in order—the dearest last, that they might be the least exposed to danger—awaited the expected interview. His faith was strengthened and his fears gone (Ps 27:3). Having had power to prevail with God, he was confident of the same power with man, according to the promise (compare Ge 32:28).” (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown)
3 Then he crossed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
"He passed over before them, exposing himself to the first and greatest hazard for the security of his wives and children.” (Matthew Poole) And bowed himself to the ground SEVEN times. This signifies complete submission on Jacob’s part. He went as a lamb to the slaughter. "While providing some small chance of escape for his wives and children, arranged according to their rank, Jacob manfully went first and placed himself entirely in Esau’s power.” (Ellicott's Commentary)
4 But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
"What a sudden and surprising change! Whether the sight of the princely present and the profound homage of Jacob had produced this effect, or it proceeded from the impulsive character of Esau, the cherished enmity of twenty years in a moment disappeared; the weapons of war were laid aside, and the warmest tokens of mutual affection reciprocated between the brothers. But doubtless, the efficient cause was the secret, subduing influence of grace (Pr 21:1), which converted Esau from an enemy into a friend." (Jamieson-Fausset Brown)
5 And he lifted his eyes and saw the women and children, and said, “Who are these with you?” So he said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” 6 Then the maidservants came near, they and their children, and bowed down. 7 And Leah also came near with her children, and they bowed down. Afterward Joseph and Rachel came near, and they bowed down.
“'God' is referred to as ’Elohim, it seems, because Jacob desires to avoid reference to Yahweh, whose blessing he secured at his brother’s expense.” (Leupold) They had brotherly love, but vastly different religions. Perhaps, Jacob’s plan was to protect the plans of Yahweh. His life was submitted before Esau first. His own death would not frustrate God’s plan for his posterity. The maidservants and their children were least likely in Jacob’s mind to be the promised Seed. Then Leah and her children were the next unlikely candidates. But finally comes the first born of his beloved Rachel, whom he deemed to the the Child of promise. Unbeknownst to him Messiah would descend from Judah by Leah, many generations later. Yet now, they all bowed down in submission as if to say, “Our very lives are in your hands; slay us if you wish.”
8 Then Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company which I met?” And he said, “These are to find favor in the sight of my lord.” 9 But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” 10 And Jacob said, “No, please, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me. 11 Please, take my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” So he urged him, and he took it.
Esau now asks about the presents sent along the way. He declines the gifts. But "Jacob could not be certain that he had found favor with Esau, unless the present had been received; for in accepting it Esau necessarily became his friend, according to the custom of those times, and in that country. In the eastern countries, if your present be received by your superior, you may rely on his friendship; if it be not received, you have every thing to fear. It is on this ground that Jacob was so urgent with Esau to receive his present...” (Adam Clarke) Accept the gifts because your grace to me has been like that of God, gracious and merciful, and seeing your face is "as if I had seen the face of God.” And so Esau took it.
12 Then Esau said, “Let us take our journey; let us go, and I will go before you.” 13 But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are weak, and the flocks and herds which are nursing are with me. And if the men should drive them hard one day, all the flock will die. 14 Please let my lord go on ahead before his servant. I will lead on slowly at a pace which the livestock that go before me, and the children, are able to endure, until I come to my lord in Seir.” 15 And Esau said, “Now let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.” 16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. 17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, built himself a house, and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth. [Literally Booths]
As Israel is no longer Jacob, we must assume that his words are true, but we cannot deny hidden, yet pure, motives. "We may gather from this that Esau has invited Jacob to join him in Seir where he is at present residing...” (Peter Pett) in permanent dwellings. But Abraham, Isaac and now Israel were not to dwell in permanent dwelling but rather in booths in the land of promise, for they were to be nomads. For by faith Abraham “lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” (Heb 11:10) And they must not mingle with people of another religion. We will soon find that they had enough problems with their own sins. They must remain a separate people for genealogical, as well as prophetic purposes. Moreover, Jacob even made booths for his livestock. They are part of the redemption that is the Messiah. Yea, perhaps "Jacob like Abraham (14:23) was conscious that he owed his entire wealth and success to God’s blessing and, therefore, he felt the necessity of maintaining his independence, lest it might seem as though others had contributed to his wealth….” (Leupold)
Genesis 33:18 Then Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan Aram; and he pitched his tent before the city. 19 And he bought the parcel of land, where he had pitched his tent, from the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred pieces of money. 20 Then he erected an altar there and called it El Elohe Israel. [Literally, the God of Israel]
Jacob first went to Succoth and built booths for his family and animals. "But in reality the land of Canaan was not reached till the Jordan was crossed.” (H. C. Leupold)
"Shechem first appears in the Bible as the initial campsite of Abram after he entered Canaan from Mesopotamia. There God promised him the land of Canaan, and there Abram built his first altar in the land (Gn 12:6- 7). After Jacob's 20- year sojourn in northern Mesopotamia at Paddan-aram, he returned to Shechem and bought a piece of land.” (Tyndale Bible Dictionary)
"A little farther in the valley below Shechem 'he bought a parcel of a field,' thus being the first of the patriarchs who became a proprietor of land in Canaan….” (Jameson Fausset, Brown), execepting a burial plot purchased by Abraham.
“This purchase showed that Jacob, in reliance upon the promise of God, regarded Canaan as his own home and the home of his seed. This piece of field, which fell to the lot of the sons of Joseph, and where Joseph's bones were buried (Joshua 24:32), was, according to tradition, the plain which stretches out at the south-eastern opening of the valley of Shechem, where Jacob's well is still pointed out (John 4:6)..." (Keil & Delitzsch Commentary) signifying his spiritual journey.
“Jacob also erected an altar, as Abraham had previously done after his entrance into Canaan (Genesis 12:7), and called it El-Elohe-Israel, 'God (the mighty) is the God of Israel' to set forth in this name the spiritual acquisition of his previous life, and according to his vow (Genesis 28:21) to give glory to the 'God of Israel' (as he called Jehovah, with reference to the name given to him at Genesis 32:29), for having proved Himself to be El, a mighty God, during his long absence, and that it might serve as a memorial for his descendants.” (Keil & Delitzsch Commentary)
"He erected there an altar — 1st, In thankfulness to God, for the good hand of his providence over him. 2d, That he might keep up religion and the worship of God in his family. He dedicated this altar to the honour of El-elohe-Israel, God the God of Israel..." (Benson Commentary)
"And called it El-Elohe-Israel, 'God (the mighty) is the God of Israel',,," "Israel's God is Israel's glory. Blessed be his name, he is still the mighty God, the God of Israel. May we praise his name, and rejoice in his love, through our pilgrimage here on earth, and for ever in the heavenly Canaan.” (Matthew Henry)