Jacob anticipates trouble, meeting the brother he tricked after 20 years apart. He splits his families and flocks (so that he won't lose *all* his "property"). But Esau is a forgiving sort and meets Jacob with open arms -- falls on his neck (love this expression!) and kisses him.
Jacob offers gifts, Esau refuses, Jacob insists, Esau accepts. Rabbi Friedman points out that "Jacob and Esau are going through the classic Near Eastern conventions, which continue to this day." (p. 115, n. 33:9) That's interesting. To me it really looks like grovelling. I just don't trust Jacob, and do you blame me??!!! Esau is VERY big-hearted.
Jacob says he will go slowly (because of the children and the animals), follow Esau and meet him in Seir, but he in fact goes first to Succoth and then to the city of Shechem, where he buys a plot of land.
Shechem, is the son of Hamor. I assume that we will soon have an explanation of why the city, Shechem is named for the man, Shechem. Jacob buys land from the sons of Hamor. And Shechem (the man) will play a big role in the next chapter.
If it matters (and I don't know if it does), Hamor's name means donkey, and Shechem's means shoulder.
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