Genesis 29

Jacob picked up his feet and went on his journey to the land where the Easterners dwell,
Looked around and saw there a well in the field, and three sheep lying down by the well,
For it was from that well that they gave the sheep water, but on the well’s mouth was a stone
Which was so large, they’d roll it off to let the sheep drink, and put it back when they were done.
Jacob said to them, “Brothers, where are you from?” They said, “We are from Haran.” He asked them,
“Do you know Laban son of Nahor?” They said, “Yes, we do.” He said, “Is all well with him?”
They said, “It is well; And here comes Rachel his daughter, girl of shear beauty, with the flock.”
Jacob said, “But it is still broad daylight, too early to gather up all the livestock,
So go give the sheep water and take them to pasture.” But they said, “This we cannot do
Until all the flocks have been gathered, only then is the stone moved to let water through.”

While he still spoke to them, Rachel came with her father’s flock, for she was a shepherdess.
Now when Jacob saw Rachel, daughter of Laban, there grew in him a great happiness.
When he saw the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, he neared, rolled the stone from the well,
And gave water to the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother– Then Jacob kissed Rachel.
He kissed her, then he lifted his voice and wept, telling her that he was her father’s kin,
That he was Rebekah’s son. So Rachel did run to give her father information.
Now as soon as Laban heard of Jacob, the son of his sister, he ran out to meet him,
He embraced Jacob and then he kissed Jacob, and then brought him into his house to greet him.
Jacob told Laban all that had happened. Laban told him, “Truly, you’re my flesh and bone.”
And he stayed with Laban for a month. Laban said to Jacob, “Though you’re kin of my own,
It seems silly to serve me for nothing, so tell me, what do you desire as a wage?”
Now Laban had two daughters, the older named Leah, Rachel the one of younger age.
Leah had tender eyes, but Rachel was quite shapely, so Jacob fell in love with her.
He told Laban, “I will serve you for seven years all for Rachel, your younger daughter.”
Laban said, “Better that I should give her to you than to some outsider. Stay with me.”
And so Jacob served seven years for Rachel, but to Jacob, mere days it seemed to be,
Due to his great love for Rachel. When he was done, Jacob said to Laban, “Come now, sir,
Give me my wife, for my term of work is completed, so that I may come into her.”

Laban gathered all people of that place together for a feast. And that very night,
He took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, who went into her (without sight).
Laban also gave Zilpah his maid to Leah his daughter. When morning came to be,
Surprise! Here– she was Leah! He said to Laban, “What is this that you have done to me?
Was I not in your service for Rachel? Why have you deceived me?” Laban calmly said,
“It is not our practice to give the younger one away before the firstborn is wed.
Just wait until this one’s bridal week is completed, and we’ll give you that one also,
Provided that you serve me for seven more years in return for this.” Jacob did so.
He completed the bridal week for this one, then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel
As a wife. Laban gave Rachel his daughter Bilhah his maid to be her maid as well.
So Jacob came into Rachel also, and gave her more love than Leah had collected.
Then he served Laban for seven more years. Now when the Lord saw that Leah was rejected,
The Lord opened her womb, but Rachel remained barren. Leah conceived and bore a son,
Who she named “Reuben” (“See, a son!”), for she said, “Surely, the Lord has seen my affliction.
Surely now my husband will love me.” She conceived again and bore one more son and said,
“Surely, the Lord has heard that I’m unloved, so to me a second son he has granted.”
And she named him “Shimon” (“Hearing”). She conceived again and then she bore another son,
And she said, “Now this time my husband will be joined to me, for I have borne him three sons.”
Therefore, he was named “Levi” (or “Joining”). She conceived again, and bore a son once more,
And she said, “This time I will give thanks to the Lord, because after all, this one makes four.”
And that’s why she called his name “Judah” (which means “Giving Thanks”) Then Leah stopped giving birth
After she had borne her husband Jacob four children, all of which were boys, on the earth.

Genesis 28

So Isaac called for Jacob, he blessed him and then he commanded him, saying to him,
“You shall not take a wife from the Canaanites. Rise, and go to the country of Aram,
To the house of Bethuel, your mother’s father, and from there take for yourself a wife,
From the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother. May God Almighty bless you in life,
May he make you be fruitful and multiply, so that a host of people you become,
And may he give the blessing of Abraham to you and to your offspring yet to come,
So that you may inherit the land of your sojourning, which God gave to Abraham.”
So then Isaac sent Jacob off; he went to the country of Aram, to meet Laban,
Son of Bethuel the Aramean, brother of Rebekah, the mother of two:
Namely Jacob and Esau. Now Esau, when he saw that Isaac bid Jacob adieu,
And had blessed him and sent him to the country of Aram to take a wife from that sector,
Charging him, “You shall not take a wife from the Canaanites, so go elsewhere to select her,”
And that Jacob had heeded his father and mother and gone to the land of Aram,
Well then, Esau, he saw that women from Canaan did not make his father Isaac calm.
So Esau went to Ishmael and took to wife, in addition to those he’d betrothed,
One Mahalath, the daughter of Abraham’s son Ishmael, sister of Nebaioth.

Jacob left from Beersheva and set out for Haran, and came upon a certain place.
Since the sun had set, he spent the night there, and took a stone as a pillow for his face.
He lay his head upon it, and lay down there. He dreamt a ladder was set on the ground,
With its top in the heavens, and God’s messengers upon it were going up and down.
And here God was standing over him. He said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham
Your father and the God of Isaac. The land where you lie, to you and your seed I grant.
All your offspring will be like the dust of the earth, you shall burst forth north, south, east, and west.
All the clans of the earth shall bless themselves through you and also through your seed will be blessed.
I am with you, will watch over you wheresoever you go, bring you back to this soil
Indeed, I will not leave you until I have done what I’ve spoken to you (being loyal).”
Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely, God is in this place, and I, I knew it not!”
He was awestruck and said, “How awesome is this place! It’s none other than a house of God,
And that’s heaven’s gate!” He started early, and took the stone on which he’d let his head drop,
And set it up as a standing pillar, a marker of stone, and poured oil on top.
And he named the place “Beth El” (“House of God”), although the city was named Luz formerly.
Jacob then made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and will keep watch over me
On this journey I’m making, and will give me food to eat, and also clothing to wear,
And if I return safely to my father’s house– then the Lord shall be my God, I swear.
And this stone I’ve set up as a pillar shall become a house of God for all to view,
And of everything that You give me, I shall set aside one tenth as a tithe for You.”

Genesis 27

Now when Esau was forty years old, he took as a wife Judith, daughter of Be’eri
The Hittite and of Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite, and made life less merry
For Rebekah and Isaac. Now when Isaac grew old and his eyes were too dim to see,
Isaac called Esau, his older son, and said to him, “My son!”– “Here I am,” replied he.
Isaac said, “I am old now, and don’t know the day of my death. So please take up your bow
And your quiver, go out to the field and hunt me down some game, which I love, as you know.
Then prepare me a delicacy such as I like it, bring it to me, I will eat it,
So that I may give to you my blessing before I die and my own life is completed.”

But Rebekah was listening as Isaac spoke to his son, so when Esau did run
To the field to hunt down some game to bring home, Rebekah said to Jacob her son,
“Look, I was listening as your father was speaking to your brother Esau, and said,
‘Bring me game and then make me a dish, I’ll eat it and bless you before God ‘ere I’m dead.’
So now, my son, please listen to what I command you: Go to the flock, fetch me two kids,
Some choice ones, and I will make them into a delicacy, the type which he has bid.
You bring it to your father, and he will eat, so that he may bless you before he dies.”
Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “But my brother Esau has hair on all sides,
While I have smooth skin. If my father should feel my skin, I’ll seem like a trickster, or worse.
I’ll bring a curse, and not a blessing, upon myself.” His mother said to him, “Your curse,
My dear son, shall be on me; just listen to what I say, go now, and fetch them for me.”
He went and took the kids and brought them to his mother, and she made a delicacy,
Such as his father loved. Rebekah then took the garments of Esau her older son,
The best ones in the house, and dressed her younger son Jacob in them. And when she was done,
He was covered in skins of the goat kids, with fur on his hands, and the smooth of his neck,
Then she placed in the hand of her son Jacob the dish she’d made, to complete the effect.
He came to his father and said, “Father!” Isaac replied, “Here I am. Which son are you?”
Jacob said to his father, “I’m Esau, your firstborn. I have done as you told me to.
Pray, arise and eat from the game I have hunted, so you may give your blessing to me.”
Isaac said to his son, “How did you find it so quickly, my son?” Jacob said, “You see,
The Lord your God made it go well for me.” Isaac said to Jacob, “My son, please come closer
So that I may feel you and know if you are my son Esau, or if you are a poser.”
Jacob moved close to Isaac his father, who felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice,
But the hands are Esau’s hands.” He didn’t recognize him (which may have made Jacob rejoice),
For his hands were like the hands of Esau his brother: Hairy. He was just to be blessed,
When Isaac asked once more, “Are you truly my son Esau?” Jacob replied, “I am. Yes.”
So then Isaac said, “Bring it to me, and I will eat my son’s game, so that I may bless you.”
Jacob served him and he ate, brought him wine and he drank, then Isaac his father said, “Yes, you,
Come closer and then kiss me, my son.” He came close and kissed him. Now Isaac smelled his clothes,
And blessed him saying, “The smell of my son smells like the blessed fields of God in my nose.
May God give you from the dew of heaven, the fat of the earth, plenty of wine and grain.
May peoples serve you, and tribes bow down to you, and as lord over your brothers you’ll reign.
Let your mother’s sons bow to you. Cursed be those who curse you, those who bless you will be blessed.”
And as soon as Isaac finished blessing Jacob, and from Isaac’s presence Jacob left,
Esau his brother came back from his hunting, bringing his father a sweet dish of game.
He then said to his father, “Rise and eat this delicacy, and bless me in your name.”
Isaac his father said to him, “Which son are you?” He said, “I am your firstborn, Esau.”
Isaac trembled greatly and said, “Who was it then, that just brought me some game for my maw?
I ate of it before you came, and gave my blessing to him, now he must remain blessed.”
When Esau heard his father’s words, he cried out greatly and bitterly, very distressed.
He said to his father, “Bless me, me too, father!” Isaac said, “Your brother came with guile
And he took away your blessing.” Esau said, “Is that why he was named in such a style?
He is named Jacob, Heel-Sneak, for he has now sneaked against me and cheated me twice,
He took my firstborn birthright, and now he has taken my blessing; that’s really not nice.”
Esau said, “Haven’t you reserved a blessing for me?” Isaac answered, to Esau spoke,
“Look, I’ve made him your master, and gave him all of his brothers for servants, that’s no joke.
I’ve sustained him with grain and wine. What then, my son, am I still able to do for you?”
Esau said to his father, “Have you but one blessing, father? Bless me, father, me too!”
And Esau raised his voice and wept. Then his father Isaac answered, said to him with love,
“Look, away from the fat of the earth must you dwell, from the dew of the heavens above,
You shall live by the sword, and you shall serve your brother, but one day you’ll brandish your sword,
And will break his yoke from your neck.” Esau hated Jacob due to his unjust reward,
And the blessing which Isaac had given him. So Esau said to himself, “Any day,
The days of mourning for my father will come, and then my brother Jacob I will slay.”
But Rebekah was told of the words of her elder son Esau, so she called and sent
For her younger son Jacob and said to him, “Your brother Esau has a vengeful bent.
He’s consoling himself by planning to kill you. So now, my son, listen to my voice
Flee at once to Haran, to my brother Laban. You don’t really have much of a choice.
Stay with him for a while, until your brother’s anger subsides, and from you turns away,
Until he forgets what you did to him. Then I’ll send and have you brought back on that day–

For why should I lose both of you in the same day?” So Rebekah then said to Isaac,
“I loathe my life because of these Hittite women. If Jacob took a wife from their stock,
A wife from the daughters of Heth, such as these women which are the daughters of the land,
From the native women, then why should I live? Why on earth should I continue to stand?”

Genesis 26

Now there was a famine in the land, aside from the first famine in Abraham’s days,
So Isaac went to Abimelech, king of the Philistines, to Gerar where he stayed.
The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; continue to dwell
In the land that I tell you of, sojourn in this land, and all things for you will go well.
I will be with you and bless you, to you and your offspring I will give all of these lands,
And I will fulfill the sworn-oath that I swore long ago to your father Abraham.
I will make your seed many, like the stars of heaven, all these lands I give to your seed.
All the nations of earth shall be blessed through them– all because Abraham paid my voice heed.
He kept My charge: My commandments, My laws, My teachings.” And so Isaac stayed in Gerar.
When the men of the place asked him about his wife, he said of her, “She is my sister,”
Because he was afraid to say “she’s my wife”, since he had thought to himself, “Otherwise,
The men of this place will kill me due to Rebekah, so fair to behold in one’s eyes.”
When some time had passed, the Philistines’ king Abimelech looked out a window and saw
Isaac laughing and loving with his wife Rebekah. Abimelech called him, said, “Ah!
So she is your wife! Why then did you say before, ‘She is my sister?’” Isaac replied,
“I thought to myself, otherwise on account of her and her beauty, I might have died.”
Abimelech said, “What have you done to us! One of the men might have lain with your wife,
And then you would have brought guilt upon us.” Abimelech then charged his people, “The life
Of any person who touches this man or his wife shall end in a manner quite grim.”

Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped one hundredfold in that same year. The Lord had blessed him.
The man grew rich, and kept on increasing his weath, until Isaac possessed a ton of it:
He had flocks of sheep and herds of oxen, and a large house every Philistine did covet.
So the Philistines, angry with envy, stopped up the wells which had been dug in the days
Of his father Abraham by his father’s servants, and filled them up with earth and clay.
Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go far from us, you’ve become too many to abide.”
So Isaac went from there, and encamped in the wadi of Gerar, and there did reside.
Isaac dug anew all of the wells which had been dug in his father Abraham’s time,
And which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham’s death in their envious crime.
Isaac gave the wells all of the same names that his father had given to them before.
But when Isaac’s servants, digging in the wadi, found a well with a fresh water store,
Then the herdsmen of Gerar did quarrel with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “This water’s ours.”
So he named the well “Esek” (“contention”), because they had quarreled with him and been sour.
They dug another well, and they quarreled again, so he named it “Sitnah” (“Animosity”).
He moved on from there and dug one more well, but this time of quarreling there was a paucity,
So he named it “Rehoboth” (or “space”), and said, “Now, the Lord has made space for us believers,
So that we may bear fruit and increase in the land.” Isaac went up from there to Beersheva.

That night, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham.
Do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and make your seed many in the land,
For the sake of Abraham My servant.” He built there an altar, and called the Lord’s name.
Isaac pitched his tent there, and his servants began digging a well, all in that place same.
Abimelech went to him from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his aide, and Phicol, troop chief.
Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have caused me much grief?
You have sent me away from you.” They said, “But now we see that the Lord has been with you,
So we say, let there be an oath treaty between us, and also a covenant too:
That you’ll do us no harm, just as we have not harmed you, and have dealt with you at our best,
Always kindly and fairly, and sent you away in peace. Now by the Lord are you blessed.”
Then he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. Next morning, they swore oaths to one another.
Isaac bade them farewell, and they left him in peace. That same day, Isaac’s servants discovered
The well that they’d been digging had water. They said to Isaac, “We have found water! Yay!”
So he named it “Sheva” (or “Oath”), therefore the city is named Beersheva to this day.

Genesis 25

Abraham had now taken another wife, named Keturah, who bore to him Zimran,
Jokshan, Medan, Ishbak, Midian, and Shuah. Jokshan fathered Sheba and Dedan.
Dedan’s sons were the Ashurites, Letushites, and Leummites. The sons of Midian
Were Ephah, Epher, Enoch, Abida, and Eldaah. And all of those sons, to a man,
Were the children of Keturah, but Abraham had willed all that he had to Isaac.
And to sons of the concubines Abraham had, he gave gifts, and then told them to walk.
He sent them far away from his son Isaac, while he was still alive, far to the East.

And so these are the days and years of the life of Abraham, which he lived ‘ere it ceased:
A full hundred and seventy-five years, then he expired, but to good ripe age he’d lived.
Abraham died both old and contented in days, and was gathered to his relatives.
His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field
Of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, facing Mamre, which Abraham in a deal
Had acquired from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried, and his wife Sarah as well.
After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, and near Beerlahairoi did he dwell.

These are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, that Hagar the Egyptian,
Sarah’s maid, bore to Abraham. Here are the names of his sons, ordered by generation:
Nebaioth, who was Ishmael’s firstborn, then Kedar, Adbeel and Mibsam, and Mishma,
Then Dumah and Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, and Naphish, and finally Kedmah.

These are the sons of Ishmael, these their names listed by village and tribal corrals,
With twelve leaders for their dozen tribes. And these are the years of the life of Ishmael:
One hundred thirty-seven full years, then Ishmael expired, and did breathe his last.
So he died and was gathered to his relatives. They settled in an area vast,
From Havilah to Shur, which is found before Egypt, if one were to walk toward Assyria;
And they camped alongside all their kinsmen, and he fell among all of them, in that area.

These are the generations of Isaac, son of Abraham. Abraham fathered Isaac.
Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife (after that water well trick),
Yes, Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean, from the country Aram,
Sister of Laban the Aramean. Isaac prayed to God that she could be a mom.
He prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, for she was barren and she could not bear,
And Rebekah his wife became pregnant, because the Lord God had granted Isaac’s prayer.
But the children then struggled together inside her womb, so she said, “If this is so,
Why do I exist?” And she went to inquire of the Lord. God said to her, “You must know
That two nations are in your womb, two peoples born from your body will soon be divided.
One shall be stronger than the other, elder shall serve the younger, as I have decided.”
When her days to give birth were at hand, sure enough, twins were in her womb, twins she would bear.
The first one came out red, hair all over his body, so they named him “Esau” (or “Hair”).
After that, then his brother came out, and his hand to the heel of Esau grabbed hold,
So they named him “Jacob” (“Heel-Holder”). She bore them when Isaac was sixty years old.
The boys grew up: Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field outdoors,
But Jacob was a plain man, who stayed among tents. Isaac started to love Esau more,
Because he had a taste for the game he brought, whereas Rebekah, she loved Isaac dearly.
One time Jacob was boiling some stew when Esau came in from the field, and he was weary.
Esau said to Jacob, “Please give me a few bites of that red stuff; I’m weary and tired.”
(That’s why they called him “Edom” or “Red One”, but Jacob was feeding a different desire.)
Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright, now.” Esau said, “Okay, here I am dying of hunger,
What good now is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Then at once, swear it to me, the younger.”
He swore to Jacob and sold his birthright to him. Jacob gave him bread and lentil stew.
Esau ate and drank and rose and went off, and that’s how he spurned the birthright he once knew.

Genesis 24

Abraham was now old, well advanced in years, and by the Lord in all things he’d been blessed.
Abraham said to the senior slave of his household, who had charge of all he possessed,
“Put your hand under my thigh and swear by the Lord, God of heaven and God of the earth,
That you won’t take a wife for my son from the Canaanites, but from the land of my birth.
Do not take from these women where I’ve settled, but go to seek wives in my native land,
For Isaac.” And the slave said to him, “But what if she does not want to heed my command?
If she won’t consent to follow me here, shall I take your son back to your former home?”
Abraham said to him, “Beware. My son must never be brought back to that land to roam.
For the Lord God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and my kin, spoke to me.
And He swore to me saying, ‘I give this land to your offspring’– So I have faith that He
Will send a messenger before you, and from there you will then take a wife for my son.
And if that woman won’t consent to follow you, your oath-bound duty to me is done.
But you must never take my son back there.” The servant then put his hand under the thigh
Of his lord Abraham, and swore to him an oath about this matter, vowed to comply.

So the servant took ten camels from his lord’s camels and went out, his lord’s goods in hand.
He rose up and went to Aram of-two-rivers, to Nahor’s town just as had been planned.
He had his camels kneel outside town at the water well as the sun set, at the time
When the women go out to draw water. And he said, “Lord, God of that master of mine,
Let today be the day that it goes well for me, deal kindly with my lord Abraham.
Here, I stand beside the spring of water as the townswomen draw from it. Here I am.
Let the maiden to whom I say, ‘Please lower your pitcher so that I may have a drink.’
And who says, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels some water.’ (She’d be it, I think.),
Let her be the one you have decided on for your servant, for Isaac, so I’ll know
That you’ve dealt graciously and in good faith with my master. And this sign will serve to show.”

And then just as he had finished speaking, Rebekah came out– she’d been born to Bethuel,
Son of Milcah, wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother– she was as pretty as a jewel.
Now her pitcher was up on her shoulder, and she was fair to look upon, a virgin.
No man had known her. Going down to the spring, she filled her pitcher and came up again.
Then the servant ran towards her and said, “Pray, from your pitcher let me sip a little water.”
She replied, “Drink, my lord,” as she lowered her pitcher in haste as her good grace had taught her.
She let him drink, and when he had finished she said, “I will water your camels as well.”
So she emptied her pitcher and quickly ran to the well to draw for all his camels.

He stood staring at her, silently wondering if the Lord had granted him success.
When the camels had finished, the man took a gold nose ring, half-shekel weight, and bracelets,
Two nice bracelets of gold for her wrists, ten gold shekels in weight. “Pray tell me,” the man said,
“Whose daughter are you? And in your father’s house is there space where we might rest our heads?”
She replied, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.”
And she said, “Yes, there’s straw. Yes, there’s plenty of food. Yes, you may find shelter through our door.”
The man bowed low in homage to the Lord and said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master
Abraham, who has not withheld his faithfulness from my lord, nor led him to disaster.
As for me, the Lord has guided me on my journey to the house of my master’s kin.”
And the maiden then ran to her mother’s household and relayed all this to those within.

Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban. Laban ran to the man at the spring,
And as soon as he saw the bracelets on the wrists of his sister, and the gold nose ring,
And as soon as Laban heard Rebekah his sister say, “That’s what the man said to me.”
He went up to the man who still stood at the wellspring with his camels, and said to he,
“Come in, oh you blessed of the Lord, why are you standing outside when I have prepared
Both the house for you and a place camels can stay?” So the man came in and food was shared.
The man first had unbridled the camels, and they gave the camels some straw and some fodder,
And then gave to the man and those who were with him for the washing of their feet some water.
Food was set before him to eat, but he said, “I will not eat before speaking my word.”
Laban said, “Speak on.” So the man said, “I am Abraham’s servant, as you may have heard.
The Lord has blessed my master exceedingly, and he’s become rich, with oxen and sheep,
He has given him silver and gold, servants and maids, both camels and asses he keeps.
As for Sarah, my master’s wife, she bore my master a son after she had grown old,
And he’s given him all that he owns. Now my lord made me swear, and here’s what I was told:
‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the women of the Canaanites, where I dwell.
No, instead you shall go to my father’s house, there you will find a wife that will work well.
Take a wife for my son.’ I said to my lord, ‘What if the woman will not follow me?’
He replied, ‘The Lord, Whose ways I’ve followed will send His messenger to aid your journey.
He will grant you success on your journey, to take from my clan a good wife for my son,
From my father’s house. When you have finished this task, only then will your duty be done.
When you come to my clan, if they don’t give her to you, your duty is finished that way.’
Now today I came to the well and said, ‘Oh Lord, God of my master Abraham, pray,
If you would grant success to my journey, then here, I have stationed myself by the well.
Let the maiden to whom I say, “Please lower your pitcher so that my thirst I may quell.”
And who answers, “Drink, and I will also give your camels water.” Let her be the one
Whom the Lord has decided should serve as the wife of my good master Abraham’s son.’
And before I was even done praying in my heart, Rebekah came out. On her shoulder
Was a pitcher, and she went down to the wellspring and drew water. At that point I told her,
‘Oh, please give me a drink.’ So she hastily lowered her pitcher and said, ‘Here you go.
Drink, and I’ll water your camels too.’ So I drank, and she watered the camels also.
Then I asked her ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, son of Nahor,
Whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the ring and bracelets on her, which you saw before,
And in homage I bowed to the Lord, and blessed Him, God of my master Abraham, One
Who led me on this journey to take the daughter of my master’s brother for his son.
So, now, if you will deal truly and faithfully with my lord, then tell me so I’ll know,
And if not, tell me, so I’ll know whether to turn right or if to the left I should go.”

Bethuel and Laban both responded, saying, “By the Lord this matter has been decreed;
We cannot speak to you anything bad or good. Here’s Rebekah before you, indeed,
Now take her and go, so that she may be a wife for your master’s son, as God has said.”
When the servant of Abraham heard their words, he bowed low to the Lord God with his head.
And the servant brought out things of silver and gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah,
And he gave presents to her brother and her mother as well, to show he did respect her.
Both he and the men that were with him ate and drank, spent the night. When they woke the next day,
He said, “Send me off to my lord.” But then her brother and mother said, “Let the girl stay.
Let her stay with us for a few days, maybe ten, after that she can go.” He replied,
“Don’t delay me, for God has made my journey filled with success. Send me off on my ride,
So that I can return to my master.” They said, “Call the maiden and ask her reply.”
They called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go, aye.”
So they sent off Rebekah their sister with her nurse, and Abraham’s servant and men,
And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “Our sister, may you become thousands of tens
Of thousands; And may your offspring seize the gates of their foes.” She rose, and her maids rose too.
And they mounted the camels and followed the man. Then the servant took her and withdrew.

Now Isaac had just come back from Beerlahairoi, for in the Negev he was still dwelling.
And Isaac went out to ponder in the field at night, because he found evening compelling.
Isaac lifted his eyes and saw, look, camels coming. Rebekah lifted her eyes too,
And saw Isaac, got down from the camel, and said to the servant beside her, “Now who
Is the man over there walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “That’s my lord.”
So she took a veil and covered herself. The servant told Isaac all that had occurred.
Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah, his mother, took Rebekah as his wife,
And he loved her, and so was able to find comfort once his mother left from this life.

Genesis 23

Sarah’s lifetime in years was one hundred and twenty seven, all the years of her life.
Sarah died in Arba-town (Hebron) in the land of Canaan. Abraham mourned his wife,
So he came to mourn Sarah and weep for her, then he rose up from before his own dead
And he told the Hittites, “I am a sojourner who has settled among you,” and said,
“Give me title to a burial site among you, so that I may bury from view
My own dead.” And the Hittites responded to him, saying, “Hear us, my lord. Now since you
Are exalted by God in our midst, bury your dead in our choicest burial site.
None among us denies you his plot for your dead.” Abraham then bowed to the Hittites.
He bowed low to the Hittites, the folk of the land, and said, “If this is your true request
That I bury my dead out of sight, then hear me, and for me intercede at your best
With Ephron son of Zohar, so that he may give me title to the cave of Machpelah,
Which he owns. It is at the far edge of his land, and I’ll pay the full price to that fella.
Let him sell it to me in your presence as burial site.” Ephron was sitting there,
With the Hittites. Then Ephron the Hittite arose, giving answer so that all could hear,
“No, my lord, hear me. The field I give you, and give you the cave on that land,” Ephron said,
“Here, I give it to you in the presence of my people’s sons. Go and bury your dead.”
Abraham bowed before the people of the land, speaking to Ephron so all could hear,
“But wait, hear me out, let me pay you the land’s price, take it, so I may bury dead there.”
Ephron answered to Abraham, “My lord, hear me. This small land has a value, we’ve said,
Of four hundred silver shekels, what’s that between me and you? Go and bury your dead.”
Abraham heeded Ephron’s terms, weighed out to him the silver, in its full promised weight
Which the Hittites had heard, four hundred silver shekels priced at the going merchants’ rate.

So the field of Ephron in Machpelah, near Mamre, the field and the cave therein,
And all trees in the area passed from Ephron to Abraham as his possession,
In the presence of the Hittites, and of all who entered through the town’s gates. After that,
Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave which in the field of Machpelah sat,
East of Mamre (Hebron) in the land of Canaan. And so it had passed from the Hittites,
The field with the cave in it, into Abraham’s possession as a burial site.

Genesis 22

After these events, God tested Abraham, saying to him, “Abraham!” Without shock,
Abraham replied, “Here I am.” God said, “Take your son, the favored one you love, Isaac,
And go to the land of Seeing, Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering,
Upon one of the mountains which I will tell you of.” So Abraham, the next morning,
Saddled his ass and took with him two servants and his son Isaac, since he was devout.
He split wood for the offering, rose up, and went to the place God had told him about.
On the third day did Abraham lift up his eyes, and he then saw the place from afar.
Abraham told his men, “You stay here with the ass, while the boy and I both go up there,
We will worship and then we’ll return to you.” Abraham took all the offering wood,
And placed it upon Isaac his son. In his hand, he took firestone and knife where he stood.
So the two of them went off together. Isaac said to his father Abraham, “Father!”
Abraham replied, “Here I am, Isaac, my son.” Isaac said, “Please don’t think me a bother,
Here are firestone and wood, but now where is the lamb for the offering? I don’t perceive it.”
Abraham replied, “God will see to the lamb for His own offering, my son. Believe it.”
So the two of them went off together, arriving at the place that God had mentioned.
Abraham built the altar there, arranged the wood, and then finally bound Isaac his son,
Placing him on the altar on top of the wood. And then Abraham reached out his hand,
He took up the knife to slay his son. But God’s messenger called from heaven, “Abraham!”
The Lord’s messenger called to him, “Abraham! Abraham!” Abraham said, “Here I am.”
And the messenger said, “Don’t raise your hand against the boy, do not do one thing to him.
For I now know that you fear the Lord, since you did not withhold your son, favored, from me.”
Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw a ram with its horns caught in the shrubbery.
Abraham took the ram, and then offered it up on the same spot where his son had been.
“Adonai-yireh” (“God Sees”) he named the site, so we say, “On God’s mountain it is seen.”

Now God’s messenger called to him from heaven a second time, said, “By myself I swear,
The Lord has said, because you have done this thing and not withheld your son, your favored heir,
I will bless you indeed, I will make your seed many, like heaven’s stars up in the sky,
Like the sand on the seashore. The gate of your foes all your seed shall possess by and by,
All the nations of earth shall bless themselves by your seed, because you did heed my command.”
Abraham then returned to his servants, and they went together to Beersheva’s lands.

So then Abraham stayed in Beersheva. And following all this, Abraham was told,
“Milcah has also borne, sons to Nahor your brother: The firstborn, Utz, is the most old,
And Buz (brother of Utz), Kemuel who then fathered Aram, and Chesed, and Hazo,
And Pildash, Jidlaph and Bethuel.” Now Bethuel fathered Rebekah, as we know.
These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. And his concubine named Reumah,
She had also borne children: She bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and then she bore Maacah.

Genesis 21

The Lord took note of Sarah as He had said, and the Lord dealt with her as He had spoken.
Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, when life had awoken
In the season of which God had spoken to him, in the spring. Abraham named his son,
Whom Sarah had born to him, “Isaac” (which translates as “He laughs” in old Hebrew tongue).
And then Abraham circumcised Isaac his son at eight days, as the Lord had commanded.
Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born, and on the earth landed.
So then Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me, all who hear of it will laugh with me.”
And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse sons? But indeed,
I have borne him a son in his old age.” The child then grew up and the child was soon weaned,
And so Abraham held a great feast on the day Isaac’s weaning had been seen and gleaned.

Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking.
She said to Abraham, “Cast this slave-woman out, along with her son. Send them both walking,
For the son of this slave shall not share in the inheritance with my own son, Isaac.”
This distressed Abraham since the matter dealt with his son, and looked not to be solved quick.
But God told Abraham, “Do not be distressed about the boy and the slave Sarah blames,
Heed all Sarah tells you, for through Isaac your line will be continued and bear your name.
And now as for the son of the slave-woman, I will also make a nation of him,
For he too is your seed.” Early next morning, Abraham took bread and a waterskin,
And gave them to Hagar, he put them on her shoulder, with the child and sent them away.
She went off and she wandered in the wilderness of Beersheva. Until on one day,
When the water was gone from the waterskin, she left the child beneath a bush nearby,
Then she went to sit, far as a bowshot away, thinking, “Let me not see the child die.”
So she sat far away, lifted her voice and wept. But God heard the boy’s voice from afar.
And God’s messenger called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar?
Do not be afraid, for the Lord has heard the voice of the boy at his present location.
Arise, lift the boy up, and hold him with your hand, for of him I will make a great nation.”
So God opened her eyes and Hagar saw before her a well of water, so she went,
Filled the skin up with water, and let the boy drink from it, hoping his thirst would relent.
God was with the boy as he grew up, he lived in the wilderness, became a bowman.
He lived in Paran’s wilderness, and his mother got a wife for him from Egypt’s land.

At about that time, Abimelech and Phicol, chief of his troops, said to Abraham,
“God is with you in all that you do. So now, swear to me by God, right here where I am,
That you will not deal falsely with me, with my progeny, or their progeny in turn,
But in good faith, as I’ve dealt with you, deal with me, and with the land in which you’ve sojourned.”
Abraham said, “I so swear.” But Abraham rebuked Abimelech where he did stand
All because of a well of water that Abimelech’s servants had seized beforehand.
Abimelech said, “I don’t know who did this thing, and until now you hadn’t told me,
I’ve heard nothing about it until today.” So Abraham took some oxen and sheep
And gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them then cut a covenant between them.
And then Abraham set seven ewes of his flock aside. When Abimelech had seen them,
He asked Abraham, “What do these seven ewes that you have set aside mean?” He replied,
“These are seven ewes you should accept from my hand, proof that I’ve dug this well we’ve espied.”

Therefore that place was known as Beersheva, (which means “Well of seven” or “Well of the oath”)
For the two of them swore at Beersheva, and there cut a covenant between them both.
Then Abimelech and Phicol, chief of his troops, arose and returned to the country
And the land of the Philistines. Meanwhile, Abraham planted a tamarisk tree
In Beersheva, and there he did call out the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God.
And so Abraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines for many days abroad.

Genesis 20

Abraham journeyed on from there to the Negev, settled down between Kadesh and Shur.
Sojourning in Gerar, Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “That one is my sister.”
Abimelech, the King of Gerar, had sent out to have Sarah taken to his side.
But God came to the dreams of Abimelech in the night and said to him, “You must die,
Due to the woman whom you have taken, for that one is another man’s wedded wife.”
Abimelech had not come near her, and said, “My lord, would you drain a nation of life
Even though it is innocent? Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister?’ And plus,
She said, ‘He is my brother!’ And so with a blameless heart and clean hands I have done thus.”
And God said to him in the dream, “I know it was with whole heart you did this, consequently
I have kept you from sinning against Me, which is why I did not let you touch her gently.
But now, give the man’s wife back to him, for he is a prophet and he can intercede
On your behalf, so you may live. But if you fail to return the man’s wife, then take heed:
Know that you shall die, not only you, but all that are yours will become equally harmed.”
In the morning, Abimelech called his servants and told them. They were greatly alarmed.

Abimelech had Abraham summoned and said to him, “What’s this to us you have done?
What wrong have I done you that you should bring such great guilt on me and upon my kingdom?
Deeds that should not be done, you have done to me.” Abimelech said to Abraham more,
“What were you thinking that made you do this thing?” Abraham said, “I told myself before,
‘Surely there is no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’
And besides, she is really my sister, my dad’s daughter, though my mom didn’t give her life.
So she became my wife. And when God’s power caused me to wander from my father’s house,
I said to her, ‘Please do this small kindness for me, of the truth, be quiet like a mouse.
And wherever we travel, say, “He is my brother.”’ And that’s how we got in this jam.”
Abimelech took sheep and oxen, slaves and maids, and gave all of them to Abraham,
And returned his wife Sarah to him. Abimelech said, “Here, all my land is before you.
Settle wherever looks good to you.” And to Sarah, Abimelech said, “Now, as for you,
I hereby give your brother one thousand pieces of silver, to serve as vindication,
So that those who are with you, and everyone, may overlook your recent situation.”
And then Abraham prayed to God and interceded, and God healed Abimelech,
Along with his wife and his slave women, so that they could all bear children at his beck.
For God previously had closed fast and obstructed every womb in his household area
All because of the incident with the wife of Abraham, all on account of Sarah.