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Genesis 21

1 Jehovah visited Sarah just as he had said, and Jehovah did for Sarah as he had spoken. 2 Sarah conceived, and became pregnant from Abraham with a son in his old age, at the set time as God had said to him. 3 Abraham called his son born to him, Sarah had birthed, Isaac. 4 Abraham circumcised the baby Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded. 5 Abraham was a hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born. 6 Sarah said, God has made me laugh. Every one who hears will laugh with me. 7 She said, Who could have known Abraham and Sarah would have a child? For I have given birth for him a son in his old age. 8 So the child grew, and was weaned. Abraham had a great feast on the day Isaac was weaned. 9 Sarah saw Hagar the Egyptian’s son, the one she had borne to Abraham, mocking. 10 So she said to Abraham, Cast out this handmaid and her son. For the son of this handmaid will not be a coheir with my own son, Isaac. 11 This thing was very grievous to Abraham on account of his son, Ishmael. 12 God said to Abraham, Let it not be grievous in your sight because of the lad, and because of your handmaid. In all Sarah said to you, listen to her voice. For it is in Isaac your heritage will be called. 13 As for the son of the handmaid, do not worry, I will make him into a nation, because he is your son. 14 Abraham rose up early the next morning, and packed a provision of bread and a bottle of water. He gave the food to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, gave her the child, and sent them away. She departed, and wandered around in the wilderness of Beer-sheba. 15 The water in the bottle in time ran out, and she lay the child under one of the shrubs. 16 She moved away from him a reasonable distance, as what an arrow might be shot from a bow, and she sat down. For she said, Let me not look upon the death of my child. So she sat away from him, lifted up her voice, and wept bitterly. 17 God heard the cries of the lad in the wilderness. The angel of God called down to Hagar out from heaven, he said to her, What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not. For God has heard the sound of the cries made from where the lad is. 18 Arise now, lift up the boy, and hold him in your hand. I will make him into a great nation. 19 God opened her eyes, and suddenly she saw a well of water. She moved over to the well, filled the bottle to the brim with water, and gave the water to the lad to drink. 20 God was with Ishmael, and in time he grew. He dwelt in the wilderness, becoming, as he grew older, an archer. 21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran. His mother sought for him a wife out of the land of her birth, Egypt. 22 It came to pass at that time, Abimelech and Phicol the captain of his host spoke to Abraham, saying, God is with you in all you do. 23 Now please swear to me here by God you will not deal falsely with me, nor with my son after me, nor with my son's son. But according to the kindness I have shown you, show me, in this land to which you have travelled and chosen to live. 24 Abraham said, I will swear. 25 Later Abraham argued with Abimelech because of a well of water, Abimelech's servants had violently seized from them. 26 Abimelech answered, I know nothing about this you say has been done. Neither have you told me, nor have I heard of it, even until this hour. 27 Abraham took from his own flock sheep and oxen, he gave them to Abimelech. That day they both made a covenant. 28 Abraham set seven ewe lambs apart from the flock by themselves. 29 Abimelech asked Abraham, What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs you have set apart? 30 Abraham answered, These seven ewe lambs are a gift, a token you will take from me, that it may be a witness between us, I have dug this well. 31 So he called that place Beer-sheba, because there they had both sworn. 32 So they made a covenant at Beer-sheba. Abimelech and Phicol the captain of his host, they rose up and returned back into the land of the Philistines. 33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of Jehovah, the Everlasting God. 34 Abraham lived in the land of the Philistines for many days.

Genesis 22

1 It came to pass after these things, God tested Abraham, He said to him, Abraham. He answered, Here I am. 2 God said, Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac. Go to the land of Moriah. There offer him as a burnt-offering on top of one of the mountains I will show you. 3 Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, then took two of his young men with him, along with Isaac his son. He carried the wood for the burnt-offering, then went to the place God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. 5 Abraham said to his young men, Stay here with the animal, I and the lad will go on further; and we will worship God. Then we will come back to you again. 6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt-offering, and laid it on his son Isaac. In his hand he carried the fire and knife. Then they both went on together. 7 Isaac asked Abraham his father, My father. He answered, Here I am, my son. Isaac said, I see the fire and the wood. But where is the lamb for a burnt-offering? 8 Abraham responded, God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt-offering, my son. So they both went together up the mountain. 9 They came to the place God had spoken of. Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order. He bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10 Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife ready to slay his son. 11 Suddenly the angel of Jehovah called to him out of heaven. He shouted, Abraham, Abraham! He answered, Here I am. 12 The angel said, Do not lay your hand on the lad, neither do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, seeing how you did not withhold your son, your only son, from me. 13 Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and it so happened, behind him was a ram caught in the bush by its horns. Abraham went and retrieved the ram, and offered him up for a burnt-offering in the stead of his son. 14 Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh. Of that place to this day it is said, On the mountain of Jehovah it will be provided. 15 The angel of Jehovah called to Abraham a second time out from heaven. 16 He said, I have sworn by myself, says Jehovah, Because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens, and as the sands on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. 18 In your seed will all the nations of the earth be blessed. Because you have obeyed my voice. 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose up and travelled together back to Beer-sheba. Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba. 20 It came to pass after these things, it was told Abraham, Look, Milcah, has also birthed children to your brother Nahor. 21 Uz his first-born, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram. 22 Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel. 23 Bethuel fathered Rebekah. All these eight Milcah mothered for Nahor, Abraham's brother. 24 His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also had children, Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.

Genesis 23

1 Sarah reached the age of a hundred and twenty seven years. These were the years of the life of Sarah. 2 Then Sarah died in Kiriath-arba, Hebron, in the land of Canaan. Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. 3 Abraham rose up from before his dead, and spoke to the children of Heth. He said, 4 I am a stranger living in a foreign land with you. Give me a possession of a burying-place with you, that I may bury my dead, and put her out of my sight. 5 The children of Heth answered Abraham. They said to him, 6 Hear us, my lord. You are a prince of God among us. Have the choice of our tombs, bury your dead. None of us will withhold from you his tomb, so you may bury your dead. 7 Abraham rose up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, the children of Heth. 8 He communed with them, saying, If it is in your mind I am able to bury my dead away from my sight, please hear me. Entreat Ephron the son of Zohar, 9 that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, the one he owns, which is located at the end of his field. I will pay the full value price, in front of you all, so that it may be my possession for a burying-place. 10 Ephron was sat right among them, in the middle of the children of Heth. He answered Abraham in front of the audience of the children of Heth, and all of them that went in and out at the gates of his city. He said, 11 No, my lord, hear me. The field I give you freely, and the cave that is within its border, I give them to you. In the presence of the children of my people I give them you. Bury your dead. 12 Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land. 13 He spoke to Ephron before the audience of the people of his land. He said, Please hear me, I pray you. I will pay the full value price of the field. Take the money from me, and then I can bury my dead there. 14 Ephron answered Abraham, 15 My lord, hear me. The land is worth four hundred shekels of silver, but what is that between us? So bury your dead. 16 Abraham listened to Ephron. He weighed out for Ephron the silver they had valued the plot of land for before the children of Heth, that being four hundred shekels of silver. 17 So the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, before Mamre, both the field, and the cave found within the border. All the trees that were in the field, round about, all belonged 18 to Abraham as a permanent possession before the children of Heth, and all those who went in and out at the gates of his city. 19 After these things, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave found in the field of Machpelah before Mamre, Hebron, in the land of Canaan. 20 So the field, the cave therein, both became possessions of a burying-place by the children of Heth for Abraham.

Genesis 24

1 Abraham was now old, well stricken in age. Jehovah had blessed Abraham in all things. 2 Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all he had, Please put your hand under my thigh. 3 I will get you to swear by Jehovah, the God of all heaven and the God of all the earth. That you will not take as a wife for my son, one of the daughters of the Canaanites, from among whom I dwell. 4 But you should instead go back to my country, to my kin, and there obtain a wife for my son Isaac. 5 The servant answered him, It may be the woman will not want to follow me to this land. In that case should I return your son to the land from where you have come? 6 Abraham said to him, No beware you do not return my son there again. 7 Jehovah, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house, and from the land of my origin. He who commanded me, and then promised to me, saying, To your children will I give this land as an inheritance. He will send his angel before you, and you will obtain a wife for my son from there. 8 If it be the woman is not willing to follow you, then you are clear from this oath to me. Only promise me you will never bring my son there again. 9 The servant did as asked and put his hand under his master Abraham’s thigh, he swore according to this matter. 10 The servant took with him ten camels, from his master’s belongings, and departed. Abraham had given him all manner of things he may need into his hands. The servant went on his way to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. 11 He made the camels to kneel down outside the city by the well of water. It was the time of evening, the time that women came out to draw water. 12 He prayed, O Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, send me, I humbly ask you, success this day, show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 Look, I am standing by this fountain of water. The daughters of the city men are coming out to draw water. 14 Let it come to pass, the maid to whom I say, Let down your pitcher, that I may drink. That she might say, Drink, and I will get water so your camels may drink also. Let this be the one you have chosen as a wife for your servant Isaac. In this way I will know you have shown kindness to my master. 15 So it came to pass, before the man had done speaking, behold, Rebekah appeared, she was the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother. She appeared with her pitcher on her shoulder. 16 The maid was very fair to look at, a virgin, no man had ever known. She went down to the fountain, and filled her pitcher, then she came up. 17 The servant ran to meet her. He said, Please give me a drink, I ask you, some of your water from the pitcher. 18 She answered, Drink your fill, my lord. Then she quickly gave him water from her jug. 19 When he had finished drinking, she added, I will also draw more water for your camels, until they are done drinking. 20 So quickly she emptied her jug’s contents into the trough, and ran to the well drawing more for all his camels. 21 The man watched her, he held his peace, wondering if this was the one and whether Jehovah had made his journey prosperous. 22 It came to pass, when the camels had done drinking, the man took a golden ring, it was half a shekel in weight. He also picked out two bracelets for her hands, they weighed ten shekels in gold. 23 He said to her, Whose daughter are you? Tell me, is there room in your father's house for us to lodge? 24 She said to him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor. 25 She said, In our home we have both straw and food enough. There is room for you all to lodge with us. 26 The man bowed his head, and worshipped Jehovah. 27 He said, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham. He has not forsaken his lovingkindness and truth towards my master. As for me, Jehovah has led me to your house, the kin of my master. 28 At that word Rebekah ran, when she got home she told her mother's house all these words. 29 Rebekah also had a brother, whose name was Laban. Laban ran out to meet the man at the fountain. 30 It came to pass, when Laban saw the ring, the bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard all the words Rebekah his sister, said, This is what the man told me. That he went out to the man. It was so, he was standing by the camels at the fountain. 31 Laban greeted him, Come in, blessed of Jehovah. Why stay standing here outside? For I have prepared a place in the house for you, and the room for the camels. 32 The man did as asked and came into the house, and he loosened the camels. He gave straw and food for the beasts, water to wash his feet, and the feet of all the men who had travelled with him. 33 There was set food before him to eat. But he insisted, I will not eat, until I have told you my errand. Laban answered, Tell us. 34 He said, I am Abraham's servant. 35 Jehovah has blessed my master greatly. He has become great. God has given him many flocks and herds, silver and gold, men-servants and maid-servants, camels and donkeys. 36 Sarah my master's wife had a son with my master when she was old. He is the heir of all my master has. 37 My master had me swear, You will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, from this land I dwell. 38 But you will instead go to my father's house, to my kin, and obtain a wife there. 39 I said to my master, Maybe the woman won’t follow me. 40 But he said to me, Jehovah, before who I walk, will send his angel with you, he will prosper your way. There you will obtain a wife for my son from my kin, from my father's house. 41 In this way you will be clear of my oath, when you arrive at the house of my kin. If they refuse to give her to you, you will be clear from my oath. 42 I arrived at this fountain today, and prayed, Dear Jehovah, God of my master Abraham, will you prosper me. 43 Behold, here I am standing by this fountain of water. Let it be, the woman who comes along to draw out water I will say to her, Please, give me, a little water from your pitcher to drink. 44 She will answer me, Please drink, and I will draw water for your camels as well. Let this woman be the one Jehovah has chosen for my master's son. 45 Before I was done speaking in my heart, suddenly, Rebekah appeared with her jug on her shoulder. She went down to the fountain, and drew all the water we needed. I said to her, Let me drink. 46 She did indeed perform it quickly, let down her pitcher from her shoulder, said, Drink, and I will get the camels some water also to drink. So I drank, and the camels drank also. 47 I asked her, Whose daughter are you? She answered, I am the daughter of Bethuel, Nahor and Milcah’s son. So I put the ring on her nose, and bracelets on her hands. 48 I bowed my head, then worshipped and blessed Jehovah, God of my master Abraham, who had led me through providence to Abraham’s brother's daughter as a wife for his son. 49 Now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me your answer. For if not, let me know. So I may turn to the right, or to the left. 50 Then Laban and Bethuel both answered, This thing proceeds from Jehovah. We can’t speak to you neither good or bad. 51 Look, Rebekah is here before you, take her, and go. Let her be the wife of your master's son, as Jehovah has ordained. 52 It came to pass, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself low to the earth before Jehovah. 53 The servant brought forth jewels of silver, jewels of gold, and fine clothing. He gave them to Rebekah. He also gave gifts to her brother and precious things to her mother. 54 They ate and drank, he and all the men who had journeyed with him. Then they rested all night. In the morning they rose up early. He said, Send me away back to my master. 55 Her brother and mother answered, Let the woman stay here with us a few days, at least ten. Then after that she can go with you. 56 He pleaded with them, No, don’t hinder me, seeing as Jehovah has prospered my way. Send me back so I may go to my master. 57 They said, We will call the woman, and inquire an answer of her. 58 So they called to Rebekah, and asked her, Will you go with this man? She said, I will go. 59 At her word they released Rebekah their sister, along with a nurse to serve her, to Abraham's servant and the men travelling with him. 60 They blessed Rebekah, Our dear sister, may you be the mother of thousands and tens of thousands, and let your descendants possess the gates of those who hate them. 61 Rebekah got up, with her maid servants. Then they rode on the camels, following the man. The servant led Rebekah back to his master’s land. 62 Isaac came from the direction of Beer-lahai-roi. He lived in the land of the south. 63 Isaac went out to meditate with God in the field at evening. He lifted up his eyes, he saw there were camels being driven. 64 Rebekah lifted up her eyes, when she saw Isaac, she got down from off the camel. 65 She asked the servant, What man is this who is walking in the field to meet us? The servant answered, It is my master. So she covered herself with her veil. 66 The servant then told Isaac all the things that had happened. 67 Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and he took Rebekah as his wife. He loved her. Because of her, Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

Genesis 25

1 Abraham married for himself another wife, her name was Keturah. 2 She gave birth for him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3 Jokshan fathered Sheba, and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. 4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. These were the children of Keturah. 5 Abraham gave all he had to Isaac. 6 But to the other sons of the concubines, Abraham fathered, Abraham gave gifts. He sent them away from Isaac his son, in the days when he was still alive, far east, to the eastern country. 7 These are the years of Abraham's life he lived, one hundred and seventy five years. 8 Then Abraham died and gave up his spirit, he was a good old age, an old man, full of years, and he was gathered to his people. 9 Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is by Mamre. 10 The field Abraham purchased from the children of Heth. There Abraham was buried, next to Sarah his wife. 11 It came to pass after the death of Abraham, God blessed Isaac his son. Isaac was living by Beer-lahai-roi. 12 Now these are the generations and sons of Ishmael, Abraham's son, who Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, birthed for Abraham. 13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, listed by their names, according to their generations. The first-born of Ishmael was Nebaioth, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, according to their villages and encampments. Twelve princes ruling over their nations. 17 These are the years of the life of Ishmael, one hundred and thirty seven. Then he gave up his spirit and died, and was gathered to his people. 18 They lived in the region from Havilah to Shur, close to Egypt, as you travel towards Assyria. He lived away and at enmity with his brothers. 19 These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son. Abraham fathered Isaac. 20 Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban. 21 Isaac prayed to Jehovah for his wife, because she was barren. Jehovah listened to him, and Rebekah his wife was able to conceive. 22 The children struggled with one another in her womb. She said, If this is the case, why do I live? So she went to inquire of Jehovah. 23 Jehovah said, Two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from out of you. One people shall be stronger than the other people. It will be that the elder shall serve the younger. 24 When her days of term were complete, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first came out red, with red hair all over his body like a hairy garment. So they called his name Esau. 26 After that his brother came out, his hand was still holding onto Esau's heel. He was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she gave birth to them. It came to pass the boys grew up. Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field. Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. 28 Now Isaac loved Esau, because he ate of his venison. But Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 One day Jacob boiled some stew. Esau came in from the field, and he was very hungry and tired. 30 Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, with that red stew. I am very hungry and tired. So his name was known as Edom. 31 Jacob said, Sell me first your birthright. 32 Esau answered, Look, I am about to die. What good is my birthright to me? 33 Jacob said, Swear to me first your birthright. Esau swore to him. At that moment he sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Jacob gave Esau bread and lentils stew. Esau ate and drank, he rose up, then went his way. So Esau despised his birthright.

Genesis 26

1 There came another famine into the land, as what had already been in the days of Abraham. Isaac travelled down to Abimelech king of the Philistines, in Gerar. 2 Jehovah appeared to Isaac, and said, Do not go down to Egypt. Dwell in the land I will show you. 3 Stay in this land, for I will be with you, and I will bless you. That blessing will be to you, and to your descendants after you. I will give you all this land, and I will establish the oath I swore to your father Abraham. 4 I will multiply your descendants as the stars in heaven, and I will give to your future generations all this land. In your seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed. 5 This is because Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my ways, the commandments, statutes, and laws I gave him. 6 So Isaac lived in Gerar. 7 It came to pass the men of the place asked him about his wife. He said, She is my sister. He feared to tell them, She is my wife. Should, said he, the men of that place kill me to take Rebekah. Because she was pleasant to look at. 8 It came to pass, when he had been there a long time, king Abimelech of the Philistines looked through a window, and saw, behold, Isaac was caressing Rebekah his wife. 9 Abimelech called Isaac before him, Surely this woman is your wife. Why did you say she is my sister? Isaac answered him, Because I said, These men will kill me to take her. 10 Abimelech said, What is this you have done to us? One of my people might easily have had intercourse with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us. 11 Abimelech decreed to all the people, Whoever touches this man or his wife will definitely be put to death. 12 Isaac sowed grain in that land, and in the same year a hundredfold return was produced. Jehovah blessed him. 13 So the man became great, and grew more and more until he became very great. 14 He had possessions of flocks, herds, and a great household. It came that the Philistines envied him. 15 The Philistines had sealed up, and filled with earth all the wells that were dug by Abraham’s servants in the days of his father. 16 Abimelech said to Isaac, Go now, and depart from us. For you have become much mightier than we are. 17 Isaac departed then, and camped in the valley of Gerar, he stayed there. 18 Isaac dug again in that place, the wells of water, the ones dug in the days of Abraham his father. For again Philistines had sealed them after the death of Abraham. Isaac named them the same names his father had given them. 19 Isaac's servants dug in the valley, and discovered a well of spring water. 20 The herdsmen of Gerar argued with Isaac's herdsmen. They said, This water is ours. Isaac called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him. 21 They dug another well, and the herdsmen argued for that one as well. He named it Sitnah. 22 He left there and dug yet another well. This one they did not strive and contend about. Isaac named this well Rehoboth. He said of it, For now Jehovah has made room for us, and we can be fruitful in the land. 23 He went up from there to Beer-sheba. 24 Jehovah appeared to him that night, and said to him, I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not fear, for I am with you, and I will bless you. I will multiply your descendants for my servant Abraham's sake. 25 He formed an altar there, and called on the name of Jehovah his God. He erected his tent, and again Isaac's servants dug for a well. 26 Then Abimelech went to visit him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath his friend, and Phicol the captain of his host also travelled with him. 27 Isaac said to them, Why have you come to me, seems as you hate me, and you have bidden me to depart away from you? 28 They answered, We saw it is obvious Jehovah was with you. So now, Let us make an oath between all of us, between us and you, and let us make a lasting covenant with you, 29 so that you will do us no harm, even as we have never touched you. We have done only good to you, nothing but good, and have sent you away from us in peace. You are now the blessed of Jehovah. 30 Isaac made a feast, and all ate and drank. 31 The next morning, they rose up, and again made a promise to one another. Then Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace. 32 It came to pass that day, Isaac's servants approached him with news concerning the well of which they had dug. They said, We have found water. 33 Isaac named the well Shibah. Therefore the name of the city became Beer-sheba to this day. 34 When Esau was forty years old he married as a wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, as well as Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite. 35 They were a great grief and vexation of mind to Isaac and Rebekah. 

Genesis 27

1 It came to pass, that when Isaac was old, his eyes became dim, so that he could not see anymore. He called for Esau his eldest son, and said to him, My son. Esau answered, Here I am. 2 He said, Behold now, I am old, I don’t know the day of my death. 3 Now please take your weapons, your quiver and bow. Go out to the field, and hunt me some venison. 4 Make savory food for me, such as I love. Then bring it to me, so that I may eat. In that way I can bless you before I die. 5 Rebekah heard what Isaac spoke to Esau his son. Esau did as asked and went out to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it back. 6 Rebekah spoke to her son Jacob, Behold, I have heard your father speaking to Esau your brother, he instructed him, 7 Hunt some venison for me, and make savory food, that I can eat, and then bless you in the presence of Jehovah before my death. 8 Now my son, obey my voice in all I have commanded you. 9 Go this moment to the flock, fetch from there two good goat kids. I will make them into a savory meal for your father, as I know he loves. 10 Then you will take the food into your father, that he can eat it, so perhaps he will bless you before his death. 11 Jacob said to his mother Rebekah, Look, my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I have smooth skin. 12 My father will probably feel my skin, and I will be seen as a deceiver. Because of this I will be cursed, not blessed. 13 His mother assured him, If a curse is given, it will land on me, my son. Only please obey my voice, and go fetch the goats for me. 14 So he did as asked, he went to fetch them for his mother. His mother made the savory food, as she knew his father loved. 15 Rebekah gathered up clothing items that belonged to Esau her eldest son from around the house, and then dressed them onto Jacob her youngest boy. 16 She attached the fur skins left over from the goat kids onto his hands, and also onto the smoothness of his neck. 17 She gave Jacob the savory food and bread, she had prepared. 18 He appeared to his father. He said, My father. Here I am. My son, who are you? 19 Jacob said to his father, It is me, I am Esau your first-born. I have done everything you asked of me. Arise now please, sit and eat the venison I brought, so your soul can bless me. 20 Isaac said to his son, How is it you were able to find the meat so quickly, my son? He answered, Because Jehovah your God sent me favor. 21 Isaac said to Jacob, Come near please, then I can touch you, my son, so I can identify whether you are my very son Esau or not. 22 Jacob went near to Isaac his father. Isaac touched him, he said, The voice is Jacob's, but the hands are Esau’s. 23 He did not correctly identify him, because his hands felt hairy, as the hands of his brother Esau. So he blessed him. 24 He asked, Are you really my very son Esau? Isaac answered, I am. 25 He said, Bring the food here to me, and I will eat my son's venison, then my soul will be glad and bless you. He brought the food to him, and Isaac ate. Jacob also brought his father some wine to drink. 26 Isaac said to him, Come here, kiss me, my son. 27 He came to him, and kissed him. Isaac smelt the odor of his clothing, and blessed him, he said, The smell of my son is as the fragrance of a field Jehovah has blessed. 28 God give you the dew of heaven, the fatness of the earth, plenty of grain and new wine. 29 Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down before you. Be lord over all your kin, let your mother's sons bow down to you. May a curse fall on every one who curses you, may a blessing come to every one who blesses you. 30 After these things, as soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had barely left from the presence of Isaac his father, his brother Esau returned from hunting. 31 He too, cooked savory food, and brought it to his father. He said to his father, Let my father arise, and eat his son's venison, so you can bless me. 32 Isaac his father asked, Who are you? He replied, I am your son, your first-born, Esau. 33 Isaac trembled very much on hearing it, and said, Who then is the one who has already brought venison in to me, I have eaten the meal before you arrived, and have blessed him? Yes, and the blessing will stand for him. 34 When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and bitter cry, he besought his father, Bless me as well, my father. 35 He said, Your brother has come to me with deceit, he has usurped and stolen away your blessing. 36 He said, Is he not correctly named Jacob? For twice he has supplanted me. He took away my birthright. Look, now he has even taken away my blessing. He asked, Have you only one blessing, is there nothing left reserved for me? 37 Isaac answered Esau, Behold, I have made him your lord, and all his brethren I have given him as servants. Both with grain and new wine I have sustained him. What then have I left for you, my son? 38 Esau said to his father, Have you only one blessing, my father? Bless me, as well, my father. Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. 39 Isaac his father answered him, Behold, of the fatness of the earth you shall live, of the dew of heaven from above. 40 You will live by your sword, and shall serve your brother. But there will come a time when you shall break loose, When you will shake loose his yoke from off your neck. 41 From that day on Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing his father had blessed him with. Esau said in his heart, The days are approaching for mourning my father’s passing. Then I will kill my brother Jacob. 42 These words of Esau her eldest son were told to Rebekah. She sent for Jacob her youngest son, and said to him, Look, your brother Esau, he comforts himself, regarding you by purposing to kill you. 43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice again. Arise from here, escape to my brother Laban who is in Haran. 44 Tarry there with him for a while, until your brother's fury has disappeared. 45 Until your brother's anger has abated towards you, and he has forgotten what you did to him. At that time I will send for you from there. Why should I be bereaved in one day for you both? 46 Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of life because of these daughters of Heth. If Jacob also married one of the daughters of Heth, like these, of the daughters of this land, what good would my life be to me?

Genesis 28

1 Isaac called for Jacob, he blessed him, charged him, and said, You are not to marry a wife from the daughters of Canaan. 2 Arise, go to Paddan-aram, to the house of Bethuel, your mother's father. Take for yourself a wife from them, one of the daughters of Laban, who is your mother's brother. 3 God Almighty bless you, and make you fruitful. God multiply you, so you will grow to a company of peoples. 4 God give you the blessing of Abraham, to you, and your descendants after you. Then may you inherit this land of your sojournings, that God gave to Abraham. 5 Isaac sent Jacob away. So he went to Paddan-aram to visit Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, brother of Rebekah, Jacob and Esau's mother. 6 Esau saw Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-aram, in order to marry a wife from there. As he blessed him he gave him this charge, You won’t take a wife from these daughters of Canaan. 7 Jacob had obeyed his father and mother, and left for Paddan-aram. 8 Esau saw the daughters of Canaan displeased Isaac his father. 9 So Esau went to Ishmael, and there acquired, besides the wives he already had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, the sister of Nebaioth, to become his wife. 10 Jacob left Beer-sheba, and went on towards Haran. 11 He happened on a certain place, and there tarried all the night, because the sun was setting. He used one of the stones on the ground, he put it under his head, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 He dreamed a dream. Behold, a ladder was on the face of the earth, and the top of its height reached to heaven. Behold, the angels of God ascended and descended on this ladder. 13 Behold, Jehovah stood above the top of the ladder, and said, I am Jehovah, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac. The land where you are laying, I will give it to you, and to your descendants after you. 14 Your children will be like the dust of the earth, and you will multiply to cover the west, east, north, and south. In you and your seed will all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 Look, I am with you, and I will keep you, wherever you go, and I will bring you again safely into this land. For I will not leave you, until I have done what I have spoken to you. 16 Jacob awoke from his sleep, he said, Surely Jehovah is in this place. I didn’t know. 17 He was afraid, and said, What dreadful awe is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 18 Jacob rose up early in the morning, he turned the stone he had used under his head for a pillow, and set it up for a pillar. He poured oil on the top of it. 19 He named the place Beth-el. But the actual name already given to the city was Luz. 20 Jacob vowed, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in all the ways I go, and if God will give me bread to eat, and clothing to wear, 21 so that I can return again to my father's house in peace, then Jehovah will be my God. 22 This stone I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house. All you give to me I will surely give a tenth of everything back to you.

Genesis 29

1 Jacob went on with his journey, and came to the land of the eastern children. 2 He looked, and there was a well in the field, and three flocks of sheep lying close by it there. For out of that well the people watered the flocks. The stone across the well's opening was great. 3 There all the flocks were gathered. The people would roll the stone from the well's opening, water the sheep, and then return the stone again across the well's opening back in its place. 4 Jacob said to them, My brethren, from where are you? They answered, We are from Haran. 5 He further asked, Do you know Laban, son of Nahor? They replied, We know him. 6 Jacob asked, Is it well with him? They said, It is well. Behold, at that moment, Rachel his daughter came with the sheep. 7 He said, It is early, the sun is still high in the sky, it is not yet time for the cattle to be gathered together. You go water your sheep, and feed them. 8 They said, We can’t, not until all the flocks have been gathered together, then the men will roll the stone from the well's opening. That’s when we will water the sheep. 9 While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep. For she shepherded them. 10 It came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel, daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother's brother, Jacob went to her, and rolled the stone from the well. He watered the flock of Laban, his mother's brother. 11 Jacob kissed Rachel, he lifted up his voice, and wept. 12 Jacob told Rachel he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son. She ran to tell her father. 13 It came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob, his sister's son, he ran to meet him. He embraced and kissed him, then brought him in to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things. 14 Laban said to him, Surely you are my bone and my flesh. Jacob stayed with him the space of a month. 15 Laban said to Jacob, Because you are my brother, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what will your wages be? 16 Laban had two daughters. The name of the eldest was Leah, and the name of the youngest was Rachel. 17 Leah's eyes were tender. But Rachel was beautiful and good to look at. 18 Jacob loved Rachel. He said, I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter. 19 Laban said, It is better that I give her to you, than I give her to another man. Abide with me. 20 So Jacob served seven years as a price for Rachel. But they seemed to him only a few days, his love he felt for her. 21 Jacob said to Laban, It is time. Give me my wife, I have paid the seven years, so I can go in to her. 22 Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and held a feast. 23 It came to pass in the evening, he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him. Jacob went in to her. 24 Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid to Leah as a handmaid. 25 It came to pass in the morning, Jacob saw it was Leah. He said to Laban, What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve you for Rachel? Why then have you beguiled me? 26 Laban answered, It is not that way here, to give the younger before the first-born. 27 Fulfil the week with this one, and then we will give you the other as well to be your wife. You will serve me another seven years for her also. 28 Jacob did as he was asked, he fulfilled the week with her. Then Laban gave him Rachel, his daughter, to marry as a wife. 29 Laban gave to Rachel, Bilhah his handmaid to be her handmaid. 30 Jacob went in to Rachel as well, but he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served him yet another seven years. 31 Jehovah saw Leah was hated, so he opened her womb. But Rachel was barren. 32 Leah conceived, and gave birth to a son, and she called him Reuben. For she said, Because Jehovah has looked upon my affliction. Surely now my husband will love me. 33 She conceived again, and gave birth to a son. She said, Because Jehovah has heard that I am hated, he has therefore given me this son also. She called him Simeon. 34 She conceived again, and gave birth to a son. She said, Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have born him three sons. So his name became Levi. 35 She conceived again, and gave birth to a son. She said, This time I will praise Jehovah. Therefore because of this she called him Judah. Then she stopped being able to bear children.

Genesis 30

1 When Rachel saw she could not bare Jacob children, Rachel envied her sister; and she said to Jacob, Give me children, or else I will die. 2 Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel. He said, Am I God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb? 3 She said, Behold, here is my maid Bilhah, go in to her; so she may get pregnant for me, and I then I also will have children through her. 4 She gave him Bilhah her handmaid as a wife, and Jacob went in to her. 5 Bilhah did conceive, and she gave birth to a son for Jacob. 6 Rachel said, God has judged me, and heard my voice, he has given me a son. I will call his name Dan. 7 Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid, conceived again, and gave birth to a second son for Jacob. 8 Rachel said, With mighty wrestling have I wrestled my sister, and now I have prevailed. She called his name Naphtali. 9 When Leah saw she had stopped getting pregnant, she gave Zilpah her handmaid to Jacob as a wife. 10 Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, gave birth to a son for Jacob. 11 Leah said, Fortunate! She called his name Gad. 12 Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, gave birth to a second son for Jacob. 13 Leah said, Happy am I! The women will call me happy. She named him Asher. 14 In the days of the wheat harvest Reuben went out and found mandrakes in the field. He brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me some of your son's mandrakes please. 15 Leah said to Rachel, Is it a small matter you have taken away my husband? Would you also take away my son's mandrakes? Rachel answered, Jacob will lie with you tonight for the sake of your son's mandrakes. 16 Jacob came in that evening from the field, and Leah went out to greet him. She said, You must come in to me; for I have surely hired you with the price of my son's mandrakes. So he lay with her that night. 17 God hearkened to Leah, she conceived, and then gave birth to a fifth son for Jacob. 18 Leah said, God has repaid me for my hire, because I gave my handmaid to my husband. She called this son’s name Issachar. 19 Leah conceived again, and gave birth to a sixth son for Jacob. 20 Leah said, God has endowed me with fullness; now my husband will dwell with me, because I have carried six sons for him. She named him Zebulun. 21 Afterwards she also bore a daughter, and called her name Dinah. 22 In the fullness of time God remembered Rachel, God hearkened to her, and opened up her womb. 23 She conceived, and gave birth to a son. She said, God has taken away my reproach, 24 and she called him Joseph, saying, May Jehovah add to me yet another. 25 It came to pass, when Rachel had finished giving birth to Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, Send me away now, so then I may go to my own place, and to my own country. 26 Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you. Let me go. For you know the service with which I have worked for you. 27 Laban said to him, If now I have found favor in your eyes, wait, stay for I have realized Jehovah has blessed me because of you. 28 He said, Tell me the wages you want, and I will give it. 29 Jacob answered him, You know how I have served you, and how your cattle have fared with me. 30 For you had only a little before I came to you, but now it has increased to a great multitude; and Jehovah has blessed you what ever way I turned. Now when will I be able to provide for my own house? 31 Laban asked, What can I give you? Jacob said, You are not to give me anything. If you really will do this thing for me, I will again feed your flock and keep it. 32 I will pass through all of your flock today, and I will remove from out of them every speckled and spotted one, and every black one found among the sheep. The spotted and speckled among the goats, and of the like, they shall be my payment. 33 In this way my righteousness will answer for me, afterwards when you come to me concerning my earnings, they shall be evidence before you. Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and black among the sheep, if they be found in my flock, shall be counted as stolen. 34 Laban said, Yes I agree to your terms, may it be according to your word. 35 That same day Laban removed all the he-goats that were ring streaked and spotted, and all the she-goats that were speckled and spotted. Every goat that had white in it, and all the sheep which were black, all these he gave into the hand of his sons. 36 He sent them away three days' journey distance from himself and Jacob. Jacob tended the rest of Laban's flocks. 37 Jacob took for himself fresh rods from the poplar tree, and branches also from the almond and plane trees. He peeled white streaks into them, and made the white appear which was in the rods under the bark. 38 He then placed the rods he had peeled and stood them above the flocks where they came to drink from the watering trough. It so happened they mated and conceived at the place where they came to drink. 39 The flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks then birthed ring streaked, speckled, and spotted young. 40 Jacob separated the lambs. He set the faces of the animals towards the ring streaked goats for mating, and towards the black sheep for mating from Laban’s flock. Jacob separated his own flocks apart, dividing them from Laban's flock. 41 It came to pass, whenever the stronger of the flock conceived, Jacob placed the rods before the eyes of the animals at the watering trough, so they might conceive among the rods. 42 But when the animals were feeble, he did not use the rods. In this way the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger belonged to Jacob. 43 The man increased exceedingly, and grew large in flocks, maid-servants and men-servants, camels and donkeys.