And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. He put the handmaids and their children foremost - There is something so artificial in this arrangement of Jacob's family, that it must have had some peculiar design. Was Jacob still apprehensive of danger, and put those foremost whom he least esteemed, that if the foremost met with any evil, those who were behind might escape on their swift beasts? Genesis 32:7, Genesis 32:8. Or did he intend to keep his choicest treasure to the last, and exhibit his beautiful Rachel and favourite Joseph after Esau had seen all the rest, in order to make the deeper impression on his mind?
Related Commentaries of Genesis 33:2
Genesis 33:2
2 And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.