And he commanded the foremost,.... He that had the care of the first drove, which consisted of goats, male and female:
saying, when Esau my brother meeteth thee; as there was reason to believe he would, being on the road, and him first of all, being the foremost:
and asketh thee, saying, what [art] thou? that is, whose servant art thou? to whom dost thou belong?
and whither goest thou? what place art thou travelling to?
and whose are these before thee? whose are these goats? to whom do they belong thou art driving? for in driving and travelling on the road, sheep and goats went before those that had the care of them; whereas, in leading out to pastures, the shepherds went before, and the flocks followed, John 10:4.