Jacob wronged his brother, and fled their home. Many years later, he returns and they are reunited. Although Jacob feared retribution, instead, “Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him. And they burst into tears” (Genesis 33:4).
Esau is impressed with Jacob’s sizeable family and worldly goods. He invites his twin to return to the homestead, and offers to accompany him. Despite the warm reception, Jacob won’t have it.
Rather than decline the invitation, however, Jacob tells his brother that the young children can’t move as quickly as Esau’s retinue of men. He insists that he’ll follow at his own, slower, pace and that the big, happy family will be one once again. Esau offers to leave some of his men behind to guard the fledglings, but Jacob once again declines. Instead of joining his brother, Jacob and his clan set off for another locale, Succoth. He was merely feigning to follow. We do not know whether Jacob remains afraid of his brother, or if he just wants to go his own way. He never says.
What would this world be like if we could each say what we meant? What would happen if we expressed our needs to one other, rather than pretending?
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