Genesis 33

It seems incredible that critics would attempt to split this chapter as to its alleged sources, there being no rational basis whatever for it. If one should accept the theory that the names for God are determinative, then the chapter clearly belongs to the imaginary document "E"; but if one favors the dictum that "maid-servant" is a Jehovist word, then it belongs to so-called "J." However, the chapter is clearly a unit, demanding the conclusion reached by Aalders that, "neither of those reasons for assigning a passage to a `source' carries any weight."[1] (See our refutation of the whole documentary speculation in the Introduction.)

We have here the dramatic and beautiful reunion of the twin brothers Jacob and Esau, whose lives were to figure so prominently in the history of human redemption. The fears and apprehensions of Jacob had been somewhat allayed by the precious experience at Peniel, or Penuel ("The latter being nothing more than an old form of the same word"[2]). However, there appeared to remain a certain degree of uncertainty as the meeting drew near.