There are two views regarding Jacob’s reason for arranging his family as described. Von Rad thinks that Jacob may be preparing for an attack and so exposes the maids and their children first, and Rachel and Joseph last. It is difficult to accept this view, simply because four women and eleven children in any arrangement would be totally defenseless against four hundred men. Therefore the more reasonable understanding is that of Westermann, namely, that this family arrangement “has nothing to do with protective measures … The division into three groups (vv. 1b-2) corresponds to the order of rank, as in the court ceremonial….” The first to place themselves in submission to Esau will be the servants, and the last to do so will be Jacob’s favorite wife, Rachel.

And he put the maids with their children in front: each of these women had two children (see chapters 29–30).

Then Leah with her children: behind the maids comes Leah, who has six sons and one daughter.

And Rachel and Joseph last of all: Rachel has only one son.

There is nothing to suggest that these three groups were spaced out as were the gift herds in 32.16. Accordingly we may picture them as four women and their children arranged in the order described and walking closely together. One translation that gives this kind of picture says “He made them all line up, with the two servant women and their children first, then Leah with her children next….”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .