Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.
Then the servant women came forward with their children, and they all bowed down.
This verse shows the servant women and their children respectfully bowing down, likely as part of Jacob's family greeting Esau.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Genesis, Jacob is returning to his homeland after years of exile and is about to reunite with his brother Esau, whom he had deceived in the past. As part of his strategy to appease Esau, Jacob arranges his family in order of importance, with the handmaidens and their children approaching first to demonstrate submission. This reflects the cultural norms of the ancient Near East, where bowing was a common gesture of respect and deference to authority figures.
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