And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him.
Jacob gave the same instructions to the second group of servants, and the third group, and all the others who were leading the herds of animals. He told them, 'This is exactly what you must say to Esau when you meet him.'
Jacob is making sure all his servants know exactly what to say to his brother Esau - he wants everyone to deliver the same humble, peace-making message.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of Genesis, Jacob is returning to his homeland of Canaan after living in exile with his uncle Laban, and he is deeply fearful of encountering his brother Esau, whom he had tricked out of his birthright and blessing years earlier. To mitigate potential hostility, Jacob devises a plan to send waves of gifts ahead through his servants, instructing each group on how to speak humbly and appeasingly to Esau if they meet him. This reflects the cultural practices of the ancient Near East, where gifts were often used as a means of diplomacy and reconciliation in familial disputes.
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