Note that Good News Translation places verse numbers 13-15 at this point in order to avoid any confusion from inserting numbers 14 and 15 into the list of numbered animals.

So he lodged there that night: for lodged see 24.23. The last place mentioned by name was the place of the encounter with the angels, Mahanaim in Gen 32.2. The text does not say that Jacob has moved from there. If it is essential for the coherence of the story, translators may say, for example, “Jacob spent the night in the place where he had prayed” or “… spent the night in one of the two camps.”

Took from what he had with him refers to selecting animals from the camp where he was located. In some languages it will be necessary to say “The next day he took….” Note Good News Translation and Revised English Bible “After spending the night there, Jacob chose….”

A present for his brother Esau: present translates a word used in 4.3 and translated “offering” by Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. See there for comments. As a gift to a superior the word clearly suggests the idea of tribute, that is, a payment made by an inferior to a superior to obtain protection. See 2 Kgs 8.9. Verse 20 states that the gift is to appease Esau. Many languages have special names for such “gifts.”

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 .