Jacob has resolved his conflict with Laban and now returns to the land of Canaan. He faces another unresolved conflict, however. He must pass near the region where his twin brother Esau lives to return home.
After being met by some angels of God and declaring that place "God's camp," Jacob begins working a strategy to know if he can make peace with Esau. Twenty years have passed since Jacob cheated Esau out of the family blessing. He did this by pretending to be Esau, fooling their blind father, Isaac. Esau became murderous in response (Genesis 27). When their mother Rebekah learned of Esau's plan to kill Jacob, he had literally run for his life to Laban's household in Paddan-Aram
