And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now:
Jacob gave his messengers specific instructions, saying, 'This is what you should say to my master Esau: Your servant Jacob says, I have been living with Laban and have stayed there all this time.'
Jacob is humbly reaching out to his brother Esau through messengers, calling himself Esau's servant and explaining where he's been all these years.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative, Jacob had fled from his brother Esau years earlier after deceiving him to gain his birthright and paternal blessing, leading to a deep family rift. During his time away, Jacob lived with his uncle Laban in Haran, where he worked hard, married, and grew his family and wealth. Now, as Jacob journeys back to his homeland in Canaan, he sends messengers to Esau to humbly announce his return and seek a peaceful reunion.
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