And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.
Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked. Jacob having crossed the ford, and ranged his wives and children in order-the dearest last, that they might be the least exposed to danger-awaited the expected interview. HIS faith was strengthened and his fears gone (Psalms 27:3). Having had power to prevail with God, he was confident of the same power with man, according to the promise (cf. Genesis 32:28).
Behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. An Arab chief in the present day would, in similar circumstances, appear attended by a large retinue, armed with matchlocks, spears, and other weapons. Esau, undoubtedly, on the unexpected revival of his brother's name, had entertained a vindictive purpose. And the circumstance of his being able to command the immediate services of so many men may be accounted for, as Delitzsch suggests, by his 'having to subjugate the Horite population in Seir, for which purpose he might easily have formed such an army, partly from the Canaanite and Ishmaelite relations of his wives, and partly from his own servants.'