Let us journey on our way: Esau seems to assume that they will travel together. The common form of these words in many languages is “Let us go.” Us is the inclusive first person pronoun, plural or dual; “You and me.” Although no destination is named, from verse 14 it is clear that Esau’s place in Seir is meant.

I will go before you: this expression may mean “ahead of” or “alongside of.” In either case Esau’s proposal is to accompany Jacob, not to go a long distance in advance of him. Esau too now has a herd of at least five hundred animals to drive. See 32.13-15.

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 .