Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. And Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” When the words of her older son Esau were relayed to Rebekah, she sent for her younger son Jacob and told him, “Look, your brother Esau is consoling himself by plotting to kill you.
In great fear and distress, Jacob divided his people into two camps, as well as the flocks and herds and camels. ... He entrusted them to his servants in separate herds and told them, “Go on ahead of me, and keep some distance between the herds.”