A reading from the book of Genesis.

Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him, and when Jacob saw them, he said,

This is God's camp, so he called the name of that place, Mayanaam.

And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau, his brother in the land of Seer, the country of Edom, instructing them,

Thus you shall say to my Lord Esau, thus says your servant, Jacob.

I have sojourned with Laban and stayed until now.

I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants.

I have sent to tell my Lord an order that I may find favor in your sight.

And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to your brother Esau, and he that I may find favor in your sight. And the messengers returned to Jacob,

saying, We came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and there are 400 men with him.

Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. He divided the people who are with him and the

flocks and herds and camels into two camps, thinking, if Issa comes to the one camp and attacks it, then the camp

that is left will escape. And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac,

O Lord, who said to me, return to your country and to your kindred that I may do you good,

I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the

faithfulness that you have shown to your servant. For with only my staff I cross this Jordan,

and now I have become two camps. Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of

Esau, for I fear him that he may come and attack me, the mothers, with the children. But you said, I will surely do you good and make your offspring as the sand of the sea,

which cannot be numbered for multitude.

So he stayed there that night, and from what he had with him, he took a present for his brother Esau.

200 female goats and 20 male goats, 200 ewes and 20 rams, 30 milking camels and their calves,

40 cows and 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys, and 10 male donkeys. These he handed over to his

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