John Calvin Commentary Genesis 33:1

"And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau was coming, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids." — Genesis 33:1 (ASV)

And Jacob lifted up his eyes. We have said how greatly Jacob feared for himself on account of his brother; but now, when Esau himself approaches, Jacob's terror is not only renewed but also increased. For although he advances like a courageous and spirited combatant to this contest, he is still not exempt from a sense of danger, from which it follows that he is not free from either anxiety or fear.

For his cruel brother still had the same cause for hatred against him as before. And it was not probable that, after leaving his father’s house and living as he pleased, he had become milder. Therefore, in an uncertain affair and one of great danger, Jacob placed his wives and children in the order described, so that if Esau should attempt anything hostile, his entire seed might not perish, but part might have time for flight.

The only thing he appears to do out of order is to prefer Rachel and her son Joseph to all the rest, whereas the substance of the benediction truly lay with Judah. But his excuse concerning Judah is that the oracle had not yet been revealed; nor, in fact, was it made known until shortly before Jacob’s death, so that he might become at once its witness and its herald.

Meanwhile, it cannot be denied that he was excessively indulgent to Rachel. It is, indeed, a proof of distinguished courage that, from a desire to preserve a part of his seed, he goes before his companies and offers himself as a victim, if necessity demanded it. For there is no doubt that the promise of God was his authority and his guide in this plan; nor would he have been able thus bravely to meet death, unless sustained by the confident expectation of celestial life.

Indeed, it sometimes happens that a father, regardless of himself, will expose his life to danger for his children; but holy Jacob’s reason was different, for the promise of God was so deeply fixed in his mind that, disregarding the earth, he looked up towards heaven. But while he follows the word of God, yet by the affection of the flesh, he is slightly drawn aside from the right way.

For the faith of the holy fathers was not so pure in all respects as to prevent them from being liable to swerve to one side or the other. Nevertheless, the Spirit always prevailed to such an extent that the infirmity of the flesh did not divert them from their aim, but rather they held to their course.

All the more, then, ought each of us to be suspicious of himself, lest he should deem himself perfectly pure merely because he intends to act rightly. For the flesh always mingles with our holy purpose, and many faults and corruptions steal in upon us. But God deals kindly with us and does not impute faults of this kind to us.