Jacob’s journey

Away from home. Back with a promise.

All journeys

Illustrated overview of Canaan, Syria, and Mesopotamia.

Mediterranean
Sea CANAAN SYRIA MESOPOTAMIA Euphrates

06Canaan

Illustrative connectionsNearby chapters grouped at this scale.

CHAPTER 06 OF 06

Illustrative map · locations approximate

Homeward in Canaan

Reunion and return · Esau, Shechem, and Bethel

Esau runs to meet Jacob, embraces him, and weeps with him. Their reunion gives way to separate journeys. Jacob travels by Succoth to Shechem, and later returns to Bethel, where he builds an altar and hears God’s promise again.

Genesis 33:1–20; 35:1–15

This chapter groups several episodes; Canaan is shown as regional context.

You might be wondering...

How did Esau greet Jacob?

Esau runs toward Jacob, embraces him, kisses him, and weeps with him. The meeting is far warmer than Jacob had feared (Genesis 33:4).

Why did Jacob return to Bethel?

God tells him to return to the place of his earlier encounter and build an altar. Jacob prepares his household, goes to Bethel, and receives a renewed promise (Genesis 35:1–15).