Category:Book of Genesis/Part 2

Part 2 of the Book of Genesis Click here for Chapters 1 - 25 of the Book of Genesis. Chapters 35 - 50 of the Book of Genesis are on this page.

Genesis Chapter 26


'Isaac sojourned in Gerara, where God renewed to him the promise made to Abraham. King Abimelech makes league with him.'

26:1. When a famine came in the land, after that barrenness which had happened in the days of Abraham, Isaac went to Abimelech, king of the Palestines, to Gerara.



26:2. The Lord appeared to him, and said: Go not down into Egypt, but stay in the land that I shall tell you.

26:3. Sojourn in it, and I will be with you, and will bless you: for to you and to your seed I will give all these countries, to fulfill the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.

26:4. I will multiply your seed like the stars of heaven: and I will give to your posterity all these countries: and in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.

26:5. Because Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my precepts and commandments, and observed my ceremonies and laws.

26:6. So Isaac abode in Gerara.



26:7. When he was asked by the men of that place, concerning his wife, he answered: She is my sister: for he was afraid to confess that she was his wife, thinking lest perhaps they would kill him because of her beauty.

26:8. When very many days were passed, and he abode there, Abimelech, king of the Palestines, looking out through a window, saw him playing with Rebekah, his wife.

'''26:9. Calling for him, he said: It is evident she is your wife: why did you feign her to be your sister? He answered: I feared lest I should die for her sake.'''

'''26:10. Abimelech said: Why have you deceived us? Some man of the people might have *** brought upon us a great sin. He commanded all the people, saying:'''

26:11. He that shall touch this man's wife, shall surely be put to death.

26:12. Isaac sowed in that land, and he found that same year a hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him.

26:13. The man was enriched, and he went on prospering and increasing, until he became exceeding great.



'''26:14. He had possessions of sheep and of herds, and a very great family. Wherefore the Palestines envying him,'''

26:15. Stopped up at that time all the wells, that the servants of his father, Abraham, had dug, filling them up with earth: 

26:16. Insomuch that Abimelech himself said to Isaac: Depart from us, for you have become much mightier than we.

26:17. So he departed, and came to the torrent of Gerara, to dwell there:

26:18. He dug again other wells, which the servants of his father, Abraham, had dug, and which, after his death, the Philistines had of old stopped up: and he called them by the same names, by which his father before had called them.

26:19. They dug in the torrent, and found living water:

Torrent. . .That is, a channel where sometimes a torrent or violent stream had run.

'''26:20. But there also the herdsmen of Gerara strove against the herdsmen of Isaac, saying: It is our water. Wherefore he called the name of the well, on occasion of that which had happened, Calumny.'''

26:21. They dug also another; and for that they quarreled likewise, and he called the name of it, Enmity.



26:22. Going forward from thence, he dug another well, for which they contended not; therefore he called the name thereof, Latitude, saying: Now has the Lord given us room, and made us to increase upon the earth.

Latitude. . .That is, wideness, or room.

26:23. He went up from that place to Beer-sheba,

Beer-sheba is the newer spelling for Bersabee.

26:24. Where the Lord appeared to him that same night, saying: I am the God of Abraham your father, do not fear, for I am with you: I will bless you, and multiply your seed for my servant Abraham's sake.

26:25. He built there an altar: and called upon the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent; and commanded his servants to dig a well.

26:26. To which place when Abimelech, and Ochozath, his friend, and Phicol, chief captain of his soldiers, came from Gerara,

26:27. Isaac said to them: Why have you come to me, a man whom you hate, and have thrust out from you?

26:28. They answered: We saw that the Lord is with you, and therefore we said: Let there be an oath between us, and let us make a covenant,

26:29. that you do us no harm, as we on our part have touched nothing of yours, nor have done anything to hurt you; but with peace have sent you away, increased with the blessing of the Lord.

26:30. He made them a feast, and after they had eaten and drunk:

26:31. arising in the morning, they swore one to another: and Isaac sent them away peaceably to their own homes.

26:32. Behold, the same day the servants of Isaac came, telling him of a well which they had dug, and saying: We have found water.

26:33. Whereupon he called it Abundance: and the name of the city was called Beer-sheba, even to this day.

26:34. Esau being forty years old, married wives, Judith, the daughter of Beeri, the Hethite, and Basemath, the daughter of Elon, of the same place.

26:35. They both offended the mind of Isaac and Rebekah.

Genesis Chapter 27
'Jacob, by his mother's counsel, obtained his father's blessing instead of Esau. By her is advised to fly to his uncle, Laban.'

'''27:1. Now Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, and he could not see: and he called Esau, his elder son, and said to him: My son? And he answered: Here I am.'''

27:2. His father said to him, You see that I am old, and know not the day of my death.



27:3. Take your arms, your quiver, and bow, and go abroad; and when you have taken something by hunting,

27:4. make me a savory meat thereof, as you know how I like it, and bring it that I may eat: and my soul may bless you, before I die.

27:5. When Rebekah had heard this, and he had gone into the field to fulfill his father's commandment,



27:6. she said to her son Jacob, "I heard your father talking with Esau, your brother, and saying to him:

27:7. "'Bring me of your hunting, and make me meats that I may eat, and I will bless you in the sight of the Lord, before I die.'

27:8. "Now therefore, my son, follow my counsel,

27:9. "and go your way to the flock, bring me two kids of the best, that I may make of them meat for your father, such as he gladly eats,

27:10. "which when you have brought in, and he has eaten, he may bless you before he dies."

27:11. He answered her, "You know that Esau, my brother, is a hairy man, and I am smooth;

27:12. if my father should feel me, and perceive it, I fear lest he will think I would have mocked him, and I shall bring upon myself a curse instead of a blessing.

27:13. His mother said to him, "Upon me be this curse, my son; just listen to my voice, and go, fetch me the things which I have mentioned.

'''27:14. He went, and brought, and gave them to his mother. She dressed meats, such as she knew his father liked.'''

27:15. She put on him very good garments of Esau, which she had at home with her,

27:16. and she put the little skins of the kids around his hands, and covered the bare of his neck.

27:17. She gave him the savory meat, and delivered him bread that she had baked.



'''27:18. Which when he had carried in, he said: "My father?" But he answered: "I hear. Who are you, my son?"'''

27:19. Jacob said, "I am Esau, your firstborn; I have done as you commanded me; arise, sit and eat of my venison, that your soul may bless me."

'''27:20. Isaac said to his son, "How could you find it so quickly, my son?" He answered, "It was the will of God, that what I sought came quickly in my way."'''

27:21. Then Isaac said, "Come hither, that I may feel you, my son, and may prove whether you are my son Esau or not."

27:22. He came near to his father, and when he had felt him, Isaac said, "The voice indeed is the voice of Jacob; but the hands are the hands of Esau."

'''27:23. He did not recognize him, because his hairy hands made him similar to the elder. Then blessing him,'''

'''27:24. he said, "Are you my son Esau?" He answered, "I am."'''

27:25. Then he said, "Bring me the meats of your hunting, my son, that my soul may bless you. When they were brought and he had eaten, he offered him wine also, which after he had drunk,

27:26. he said to him, "Come near me, and give me a kiss, my son."



'''27:27. He came near and kissed him. Immediately as he smelled the fragrant smell of his garments, blessing him, he said, "Behold, the smell of my son is as the smell of a plentiful field, which the Lord has blessed.'''

27:28. "May God give you of the dew of heaven, and of the fatness of the earth, abundance of corn and wine,

27:29. "and let peoples serve you, and tribes worship you; be lord of your brethren, and let your mother's children bow down before you. Cursed be he that curses you, and let him that blesses you be filled with blessings."

27:30. Isaac had scarcely ended his words, when, Jacob being now gone out abroad, Esau came,



27:31. and brought in to his father meats, made of what he had taken in hunting, saying, "Arise, my father, and eat of your son's venison; that your soul may bless me."

'''27:32. Isaac said to him, "Why! who are you?" He answered, "I am your firstborn son, Esau."'''

27:33. Isaac was struck with fear, and astonished exceedingly; and wondering beyond what can be believed, said, "Who is he then that even now brought me venison that he had taken, and I ate of all before you came? I have blessed him, and he shall be blessed."

27:34. Esau having heard his father's words, roared out with a great cry; and, being in a consternation, said, "Bless me also, my father."

27:35. Isaac said, "Your brother came deceitfully and got your blessing."

'''27:36. But Esau said again, "Rightly is his name called Jacob, for he has supplanted me lo this second time; my birthright he took away before, and now this second time he has stolen away my blessing." Again he said to his father, "Have you not reserved me also a blessing?"'''

Jacob. . .That is, a supplanter.



27:37. Isaac answered, "I have appointed him your lord, and have made all his brethren his servants; I have established him with corn and wine, and after this, what shall I do more for you, my son?"

'''27:38. Esau said to him, "Have you only one blessing, father? I beseech you to bless me also." When he wept with a loud cry,'''

27:39. Isaac being moved, said to him, "In the fat of the earth, and in the dew of heaven from above,

27:40. "shall your blessing be. You shall live by the sword and shall serve your brother, and the time shall come when you shall shake off and loose his yoke from your neck.

27:41. Esau therefore always hated Jacob, for the blessing with which his father had blessed him; and he said in his heart, "The days will come of the mourning for my father, and I will kill my brother Jacob."

27:42. These things were told to Rebekah, and she sent and called Jacob, her son, and said to him, "Behold Esau, your brother, threatened to kill you.



27:43. "Now, therefore, my son, hear my voice, arise and flee to Laban, my brother, in Haran,

27:44. "and you shall dwell with him a few days, until the wrath of your brother be assuaged,

27:45. "and his indignation cease, and he forget the things you have done to him; afterwards, I will send, and bring you from thence hither. Why shall I be deprived of both my sons in one day?"

27:46. Rebekah said to Isaac, "I am weary of my life, because of the daughters of Heth; if Jacob take a wife of the stock of this land, I choose not to live."

Genesis Chapter 28
Jacob's journey to Mesopotamia: his vision and vow.

28:1. Isaac called Jacob, blessed him, and charged him, saying, "Take not a wife of the stock of Canaan,



28:2. "but go and take a journey to Mesopotamia of Syria, to the house of Bathuel, your mother's father, and take yourself a wife thence of the daughters of Laban, your uncle.

28:3. "May God almighty bless you, and make you to increase and multiply you, that you may be a multitude of people,

28:4. "and give the blessings of Abraham to you, and to your seed after you, that you may possess the land of your sojournment, which he promised to your grandfather."

28:5. When Isaac had sent him away, he took his journey and went to Mesopotamia of Syria, to Laban, the son of Bathuel, the Syrian, brother to Rebekah, his mother.



28:6. When Esau saw that his father had blessed Jacob, and had sent him into Mesopotamia of Syria, to marry a wife thence; and that after the blessing he had charged him, saying, "You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan;"

28:7. and that Jacob obeying his parents, was gone into Syria:

28:8. Experiencing also, that his father was not well pleased with the daughters of Canaan:

28:9. he went to Ismael, and took to wife, besides them he had before, Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, the sister of Nebaioth.

28:10. But Jacob being departed from Beer-sheba, went on to Haran.

28:11. When he had come to a certain place, and would rest in it after sunset, he took of the stones that lay there, and putting under his head, slept in the same place.



28:12. He saw in his sleep a ladder standing upon the earth, and the top thereof touching Heaven; the angels also of God ascending and descending by it,

28:13. and the Lord leaning upon the ladder saying to him, "I am the Lord God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac; the land in which you sleep I will give to you and to your seed,

28:14. "and your seed shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and IN YOU and your seed, all the tribes of the earth SHALL BE BLESSED.

28:15. "I will be your keeper wherever you go, and will bring you back into this land; neither will I leave you, until I shall have accomplished all that I have said."

28:16. When Jacob awoke out of sleep, he said, "Indeed the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not."

28:17. Trembling, he said, "How awe-striking is this place? this is no other but the house of God, and the gate of heaven."

28:18. Jacob arising in the morning, took the stone which he had laid under his head, and set it up for a title, pouring oil upon the top of it,

28:19. and he called the name of the city Bethel, which before was called Luza.

Bethel. . .This name signifies the house of God.

28:20. He also made a vow, saying, "If God shall be with me, and shall keep me in the way by which I walk, and shall give me bread to eat and raiment to put on,

28:21. "and I shall return prosperously to my father's house, the Lord shall be my God,

28:22. "and this stone, which I have set up for a title, shall be called the house of God, and of all things that you shall give to me, I will offer tithes to you.

Genesis Chapter 29


'Jacob served Laban seven years for Rachel: but is deceived with Lia: he afterwards married Rachel. Lia bears him four sons.'

29:1. Then Jacob went on in his journey, and came into the east country.

29:2. He saw a well in the field, and three flocks of sheep lying by it, for the beasts were watered out of it, and the mouth thereof was closed with a great stone.



29:3. The custom was, when all the sheep were gathered together, to roll away the stone, and after the sheep were watered, to put it on the mouth of the well again.

'''29:4. Jacob said to the shepherds, "Brethren, whence are you?" They answered, "Of Haran."'''



'''29:5. Then he asked them, "Do you know Laban, the son of Nachor?" They said, "We know him."'''

'''29:6. He said, "Is he in health?" "He is in health," they said, "and behold, Rachel, his daughter, cometh with his flock."'''

29:7. Jacob said, "There is yet much day remaining, neither is it time to bring the flocks into the folds again; first give the sheep drink, and so lead them back to feed."



29:8. They answered, "We cannot, until all the cattle be gathered together, and we remove the stone from the well's mouth, that we may water the flocks."

29:9. They were yet speaking, and behold Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she fed the flock.

29:10. When Jacob saw her, and knew her to be his cousin, and that they were the sheep of Laban, his uncle, he removed the stone with which the well was closed.

29:11. Having watered the flock, he kissed her, and lifting up his voice wept.



29:12. He told her that he was her father's brother, and the son of Rebekah, but she went in haste and told her father,



'''29:13. who, when he heard that Jacob, his sister's son, had come, ran forth to meet him, and embracing him, and heartily kissing him, brought him into his house. When he had heard the causes of his journey,'''

29:14. he answered, "You are my bone and my flesh. After the days of one month were expired,

29:15. he said to him, "Because you are my brother, shall you serve me without wages? Tell me what wages you will have."

29:16. Now he had two daughters, the name of the elder was Leah; and the younger was called Rachel.



29:17. But Leah was blear-eyed; Rachel was well-favored, and of a beautiful countenance.

29:18. Jacob being in love with her, said, "I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter."

29:19. Laban answered, "It is better that I give her to you than to another man; stay with me."



29:20. So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed but a few days, because of the greatness of his love.

29:21. He said to Laban, "Give me my wife; for now the time is fulfilled, that I may go in unto her."

29:22. He, having invited a great number of his friends to the feast, made the marriage.

29:23. At night he brought in Leah, his daughter, to him,

'''29:24. Giving his daughter a handmaid, named Zelpha. Now when Jacob had gone in to her according to custom, when morning was come he saw it was Leah.'''

29:25. He said to his father-in-law, "What is it that you meant to do? Did not I serve you for Rachel? Why have you deceived me?"

29:26. Laban answered, "It is not the custom in this place to give the younger in marriage first."

29:27. Make up the week of days of this match, and I will give you her also, for the service that you shall render me another seven years.

29:28. He yielded to his pleasure, and after the week was past he married Rachel,

29:29. to whom her father gave Bala for her servant.

29:30. Having at length obtained the marriage he wished for, he preferred the love of the latter before the former, and served with him other seven years.

29:31. The Lord, seeing that he despised Leah, opened her womb, but her sister remained barren.

29:32. She conceived and bore a son, and called him Reuben, saying, "The Lord saw my affliction; now my husband will love me."

29:33. Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, "Because the Lord heard that I was despised, he has given this also to me;" and she called his name Simeon.

29:34. She conceived the third time, and bore another son, and said, "Now also my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons," and therefore she called his name Levi.

'''29:35. The fourth time she conceived and bore a son, and said, "Now will I praise the Lord," and for this she called his name Judah. She left bearing.'''

Genesis Chapter 30


'Rachel, being barren, delivered her handmaid to Jacob; she bore two sons. Leah ceasing to bear, also gives her handmaid, and she bore two more. Then Leah bore two other sons and one daughter. Rachel bore Joseph. Jacob, desirous to return home, is hired to stay for a certain part of the flock's increase, whereby he becomes exceedingly rich.'

30:1. Rachel, seeing herself without children, envied her sister, and said to her husband, "Give me children, otherwise I shall die."

30:2. Jacob, being angry with her, answered, "Am I as God, who has deprived you of the fruit of your womb?"

30:3. But she said, "I have here my servant Bilhah; go in unto her, that she may bear upon my knees, and I may have children by her."

30:4. She gave him Bilhah in marriage, who,

30:5. when her husband had gone in unto her, conceived and bore a son.



30:6. Rachel said, "The Lord has judged for me, and has heard my voice, giving me a son;" and therefore she called his name Dan.

30:7. Again Bilhah conceived, and bore another,

30:8. for whom Rachel said, "God has compared me with my sister, and I have prevailed," and she called him Naphtali.

30:9. Leah, perceiving that she had left off bearing, gave Zelpha, her handmaid, to her husband.

30:10. When she had conceived, and brought forth a son,

30:11. she said, "Happily," and therefore called his name Gad.

30:12. Zelpha also bore another,



'''30:13. and Leah said, "This is for my happiness, for women will call me blessed." Therefore she called him Asher.'''

'''30:14. Reuben going out in the time of the wheat harvest into the field, found mandrakes, which he brought to his mother Leah. Rachel said, "Give me part of your son's mandrakes."'''

'''30:15. She answered, "Do you think it a small matter that you have taken my husband from me, unless you take also my son's mandrakes?" Rachel said, "He shall sleep with you this night, for your son's mandrakes."'''

'''30:16. When Jacob returned at evening from the field, Leah went out to meet him and said, "You shall come in unto me, because I have hired you for my son's mandrakes." He slept with her that night.'''

30:17. God heard her prayers, and she conceived and bore a fifth son,



'''30:18. and said, "God has given me a reward, because I gave my handmaid to my husband." She called his name Issachar.'''

30:19. Leah conceived again and bore a sixth son,

30:20. and said, "God has endowed me with a good dowry; this turn also my husband will be with me, because I have borne him six sons," and therefore she called his name Zebulon,

30:21. after whom she bore a daughter, named Dinah.

30:22. The Lord, also remembering Rachel, heard her and opened her womb.

30:23. She conceived and bore a son, saying, "God has taken away my reproach."

30:24. She called his name Joseph, saying, "The Lord give me also another son."



30:25. When Joseph was born, Jacob said to his father-in-law, "Send me away, that I may return into my country, and to my land.

30:26. "Give me my wives, and my children, for whom I have served you, that I may depart; you know the service that I have rendered you."

30:27. Laban said to him, "Let me find favor in your sight; I have learned by experience that God has blessed me for your sake.

30:28. "Appoint your wages which I shall give you."

30:29. But he answered, "You know how I have served you, and how great your possession has been in my hands.

30:30. "You had but little before I came to you, and now you have become rich, and the Lord has blessed you at my coming. It is reasonable, therefore, that I should now provide also for my own house."

'''30:31. Laban said, "What shall I give you?" But he said, "I require nothing, but if you will do what I demand, I will feed and keep your sheep again.'''

30:32. "Go round through all your flocks, and separate all the sheep of diverse colors, and speckled; and all that is brown and spotted, and of diverse colors, as well among the sheep as among the goats, shall be my wages.

30:33. "My justice shall answer for me tomorrow before you, when the time of the bargain shall come; and all that is not of diverse colors, and spotted, and brown, as well among the sheep as among the goats, shall accuse me of theft."

30:34. Laban said, "I like well what you demand."

30:35. He separated the same day the she-goats, and the sheep, and the he-goats, and the rams of diverse colors, and spotted; and all the flock of one color, that is, of white and black fleece, he delivered into the hands of his sons.

30:36. He set the space of three days journey between himself and his son-in-law, who fed the rest of his flock.

30:37. Jacob took green rods of poplar, and of almond, and of plane-trees, and pilled them in part: so when the bark was taken off, in the parts that were pilled, there appeared whiteness: but the parts that were whole, remained green: and by this means the color was diverse.

30:38. He put them in the troughs, where the water was poured out; that when the flocks should come to drink, they might have the rods before their eyes, and in the sight of them might conceive.

30:39. It came to pass, that in the very heat, the sheep beheld the rods, and brought forth spotted, and of diverse colors, and speckled.

30:40. Jacob separated the flock, and put the rods in the troughs before the eyes of the rams; and all the white and the black were Laban's, and the rest were Jacob's, when the flocks were separated one from the other.

30:41. So when the ewes went first to ram, Jacob put the rods in the troughs of water before the eyes of the rams, and of the ewes, that they might conceive while they were looking upon them.

'''30:42. But when the later coming was, and the last conceiving, he did not put them. Those that were lateward, became Laban's; and they of the first time, Jacob's.'''

30:43. The man was enriched exceedingly, and he had many flocks, maid-servants and men-servants, camels and donkeys.

Genesis Chapter 31
'Jacob's departure; he is pursued and overtaken by Laban. They make a covenant.'

31:1. But after that he had heard the words of the sons of Laban, saying, "Jacob has taken away all that was our father's, and being enriched by his substance has become great."

31:2. Perceiving also, that Laban's countenance was not towards him as yesterday and the other day.

31:3. Especially the Lord saying to him, "Return into the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you."



31:4. He sent, and called Rachel and Leah into the field, where he fed the flocks,

31:5. and said to them, "I see your father's countenance is not towards me as yesterday and the other day: but the God of my father has been with me.

31:6. "You know that I have served your father to the uttermost of my power.

31:7. "Yes, your father has also overreached me, and has changed my wages ten times: and yet God has not suffered him to hurt me.

31:8. "If at any time, he said, 'The speckled shall be your wages,' all the sheep brought forth speckled, but when he said on the contrary, 'You shall take all the white ones for your wages,' all the flocks brought forth white ones.

31:9. "God has taken your father's substance, and given it to me.

31:10. "For after the time came of the ewes conceiving, I lifted up my eyes, and saw in my sleep, that the males which leaped upon the females were of diverse colors, and spotted, and speckled.



31:11. "The angel of God said to me in my sleep, 'Jacob.' I answered, 'Here I am.'

31:12. "Then he said, 'Lift up your eyes, and see that all the males leaping upon the females, are of various colors, spotted and speckled. For I have seen all that Laban has done to you.

31:13. "'I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the stone, and made a vow to me. Now therefore arise, and go out of this land, and return into your native country.'"

31:14. Rachel and Leah answered, "Have we anything left among the goods and inheritance of our father's house?

31:15. "Has he not counted us as strangers, and sold us, and eaten up the price of us?

31:16. "But God has taken our father's riches, and delivered them to us, and to our children; wherefore, do all that God has commanded you."

31:17. Then Jacob rose up, and having set his children and wives upon camels, went his way.



31:18. He took all his substance, and flocks, and whatever he had gotten in Mesopotamia, and went forward to Isaac, his father, to the land of Canaan.

31:19. At that time Laban was gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole away her father's idols.

Her father's idols. . .By this it appears that Laban was an idolater; and some of the fathers are of opinion that Rachel stole away these idols to withdraw him from idolatry, removing the occasion of his sin.

31:20. Jacob would not confess to his father-in-law that he was fleeing away.

31:21. When he had gone, together with all that belonged to him, and having passed the river, was going on towards mount Galaad,

31:22. it was told Laban on the third day, that Jacob fled.



31:23. He took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days; and overtook him in the mount of Gilead.

31:24. He saw in a dream God, saying to him, "Take heed you do not speak anything harshly against Jacob."

31:25. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountain: and when he, with his brethren, had overtaken him, he pitched his tent in the same mount of Galaad.

31:26. He said to Jacob, "Why have you done thus, to carry away, without my knowledge, my daughters as captives taken with the sword?



31:27. "Why would you run away privately, and not acquaint me, that I might have brought you on the way with joy, and with songs, and with timbrels, and with harps?

31:28. "You have not suffered me to kiss my sons and daughters; you have done foolishly; and now indeed

31:29. "it is in my power to return you evil, but the God of your father said to me yesterday, 'Take heed you do not speak anything harshly against Jacob.'

31:30. "Suppose you desired to go to your friends, and had a longing after your father's house; why have you stolen away my gods?"

31:31. Jacob answered, "That I departed unknown to you, it was for fear lest you would take away your daughters by force.

'''31:32. "But, whereas, you charged me with theft: with whomever you shall find your gods, let him be slain before our brethren. Search, and if you find any of your things with me, take them away." Now when he said this, he did not know that Rachel had stolen the idols.'''

'''31:33. So Laban went into the tent of Jacob, and of Leah, and of both the handmaids, and did not find them. When he had entered into Rachel's tent,'''



31:34. she, in haste, hid the idols under the camel's furniture, and sat upon them, and when he had searched all the tent, and found nothing,

'''31:35. she said, "Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise up before you, because it has now happened to me according to the custom of women." So his careful search was in vain.'''

31:36. Jacob, being angry, said in a chiding manner, "For what fault of mine, and for what offense on my part have you so hotly pursued me,

31:37. "and searched all my household stuff? What have you found of all the substance of your house? Lay it here before my brethren, and your brethren, and let them judge between me and you.



31:38. "Have I, therefore, been with you twenty years? Your ewes and goats were not barren, the rams of your flocks I did not eat:

31:39. "Neither did I show yu that which the beast had torn; I made good all the damage: whatsoever was lost by theft, you did exact it of me:

31:40. "Day and night was I parched with heat, and with frost, and sleep departed from my eyes.

31:41. "In this manner have I served you in your house twenty years, fourteen for your daughters, and six for your flocks: you have changed also my wages ten times.

31:42. "Unless the God of my father, Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had stood by me, peradventure now you would have sent me away unclothed: God beheld my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you yesterday."

31:43. Laban answered him: The daughters are mine, and the children, and your flocks, and all things that you see are mine: what can I do to my children, and grandchildren?

31:44. Come, therefore, let us enter into a league; that it may be for a testimony between me and you.

let us enter into a league ... alliance

31:45. Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a title.



'''31:46. He said to his brethren: Bring hither stones. They, gathering stones together, made a heap, and they ate upon it.'''

31:47. Laban called it, 'The witness heap'; and Jacob, 'The hillock of testimony': each of them according to the propriety of his language.

31:48. Laban said: This heap shall be a witness between me and you this day, and therefore the name thereof was called Galaad, that is, 'The witness heap'.

31:49. The Lord behold and judge between us, when we shall be gone one from the other.

31:50. If you afflict my daughters, and if you bring in other wives over them: none is witness of our speech but God, who is present and beholds.

31:51. He said again to Jacob: Behold this heap, and the stone which I have set up between me and you,

31:52. shall be a witness: this heap, I say, and the stone, be they for a testimony, if either I shall pass beyond it going towards you, or you shall pass beyond it thinking harm to me.

'''31:53. The God of Abraham, and the God of Nachor, the God of their father, judge between us. Jacob swore by the fear of his father Isaac:'''



'''31:54. After he had offered sacrifices in the mountain, he called his brethren to eat bread. When they had eaten, they lodged there:'''

31:55. But Laban arose in the night, and kissed his sons and daughters, and blessed them: and returned to his place.

Genesis Chapter 32
Jacob's vision of angels; his message and presents to Esau; his wrestling with an angel.

32:1. Jacob also went on the journey he had begun: and the angels of God met him.

32:2. When he saw them, he said: These are the camps of God, and he called the name of that place Mahanaim, that is, Camps.

32:3. He sent messengers before him to Esau, his brother, to the land of Seir, to the country of Edom:

32:4. and he commanded them, saying: Thus shall ye speak to my lord Esau: Thus says your brother Jacob: I have sojourned with Laban, and have been with him until this day:



32:5. I have oxen, and donkeys, and sheep, and menservants, and womenservants: and now I send a message to my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.

32:6. The messengers returned to Jacob, saying: We came to Esau, your brother, and behold he comes with speed to meet you with four hundred men.

32:7. Then Jacob was greatly afraid; and in his fear divided the people that were with him, and the flocks, and the sheep, and the oxen, and the camels, into two companies,

32:8. Saying: If Esau comes to one company, and destroys it, the other company that is left, shall escape.

32:9. Jacob said: O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac: O Lord who said to me, Return to your land, and to the place of your birth, and I will do well for you.

'''32:10. I am not worthy of the least of all Your mercies, and of Your truth which You have fulfilled to Your servant. With my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I return with two companies.'''

32:11. Deliver me from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am greatly afraid of him; lest perhaps he comes, and kills the mothers with the children.

32:12. You did say, that You would do well by me, and multiply my seed like the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.

32:13. When he had slept there that night, he set apart, of the things which he had, presents for his brother Esau,



32:14. Two hundred she-goats, twenty he-goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams,

32:15. Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and twenty bulls, twenty she-donkeys, and ten of their foals.

32:16. He sent them by the hands of his servants, every drove by itself, and he said to his servants: Go before me, and let there be a space between drove and drove.

'''32:17. He commanded the first, saying: If you meet my brother Esau, and he asks you: Whose are these? Or, where are you going? Or, whose are these before you?'''

32:18. You shalt answer: Your servant Jacob's: he has sent them as a present to my lord, Esau; and he comes after us.

32:19. In like manner he commanded the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying: Speak the same words to Esau, when you find him.

32:20. You shall add: Your servant, Jacob himself, also followed after us; for he said: I will appease him with the presents that go before, and afterwards I will see him, perhaps he will be gracious to me.

32:21. So the presents went before him, but Jacob, himself, lodged that night in the camp.

32:22. Rising early, he took his two wives and his two handmaids, with his eleven sons, and passed over the ford of Jaboc.

32:23. When all things were brought over that belonged to him,



32:24. He remained alone; and behold, a man wrestled with him until morning.

A man, etc. . .This was an angel in human shape, as we learn from Osee 12.4. He is called God, ver. 28 and 30, because he represented the person of the Son of God. This wrestling, in which Jacob, assisted by God, was a match for an angel, was so ordered (ver. 28,) that he might earn by this experiment of the divine assistance, that neither Esau, nor any other man, should have power to hurt him.--It was also spiritual, as appearing by his earnest prayer, urging and at last obtaining the angel's blessing.

32:25. When he saw that he could not overcome him, he touched the sinew of his thigh, and forthwith it shrank.

'''32:26. He said to him: Let me go, for it is break of day. He answered: I will not let you go, unless you bless me.'''

'''32:27. He said: What is your name? He answered: Jacob.'''

32:28. But he said: Your name shall not be called Jacob, but Israel; for if you have been strong against God, how much more shall you prevail against men?

'''32:29. Jacob asked him: Tell me by what name are you called? He answered: Why do you ask my name? He blessed him in the same place.'''

32:30. Jacob called the name of the place Phanuel, saying: I have seen God face to face, and my soul has been saved.

Phanuel. . .This word signifies the face of God, or the sight, or seeing of God.

32:31. Immediately the sun rose upon him, after he was past Phanuel; but he halted on his foot.

32:32. Therefore the children of Israel, unto this day, eat not the sinew, that shrank in Jacob's thigh: because he touched the sinew of his thigh and it shrank.

Genesis Chapter 33
Jacob and Esau meet: Jacob goes to Salem, where he raises an altar.

33:1. Jacob lifting up his eyes, saw Esau coming, and with him four hundred men: and he divided the children of Leah and of Rachel, and of the two handmaids.

33:2. He put both the handmaids and their children foremost: and Leah and her children in the second place: and Rachel and Joseph last.

33:3. He went forward and bowed down with his face to the ground seven times, until his brother came near.

33:4. Then Esau ran to meet his brother, and embraced him: and clasping him fast about the neck, and kissing him, wept.

'''33:5. Lifting up his eyes, he saw the women and their children, and said: What do these mean? Do they belong to you? He answered: They are the children which God has given to me, your servant.'''

33:6. Then the handmaids and their children came near and bowed themselves.

33:7. Leah also, with her children, came near and bowed down in like manner; and last of all, Joseph and Rachel bowed down.

'''33:8. Esau said: What are the droves that I met? He answered: That I might find favor before my lord.'''

33:9. But he said: I have plenty, my brother, keep what is yours for yourself.

33:10. Jacob said: Do not so, I beseech you, but if I have found favor in your eyes, receive a little present at my hands: for I have seen your face, as if I should have seen the countenance of God: be gracious to me,

'''33:11. and take the blessing which I have brought you, and which God has given me, who gives all things. He took it with much ado at his brother's earnest pressing him,'''

33:12. and said: Let us go on together, and I will accompany you in your journey.



33:13. Jacob said: My lord, you know that I have with me tender children, and sheep, and kine with young: which if I should cause to be overdriven, in one day all the flocks will die.

33:14. May it please my lord to go before his servant: and I will follow softly after him, as I shall see my children to be able, until I come to my lord in Seir.

'''33:15. Esau answered: I beseech you, that some of the people, at least, who are with me, may stay to accompany you in the way. He said: There is no necessity: I want nothing else but only to find favor, my lord, in your sight.'''

33:16. So Esau returned that day, the way that he came, to Seir.

33:17. Jacob came to Socoth: where having built a house, and pitched tents, he called the name of the place Socoth, that is, Tents.

33:18. He passed over to Salem, a city of the Sichemites, which is in the land of Canaan, after he returned from Mesopotamia of Syria: and he dwelt by the town.



33:19. He bought that part of the field, in which he pitched his tents, of the children of Hemor, the father of Sichem, for a hundred lambs.

33:20. Raising an altar there, he invoked upon it the most mighty God of Israel.

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Genesis Chapter 34
Dina is ravished, for which the Sichemites are destroyed.

34:1. Dina, the daughter of Leah, went out to see the women of that country.

34:2. When Sichem, the son of Hemor, the Hevite, the prince of that land, saw her, he was in love with her: and took her away, and lay with her, ravishing the virgin.

34:3. His soul was fast knit unto her; and whereas she was sad, he comforted her with sweet words.

34:4. Going to Hemor his father, he said: Get me this damsel to wife.

34:5. But when Jacob had heard this, his sons being absent, and employed in feeding the cattle, he held his peace till they came back.

34:6. When Hemor the father of Sichem was come out to speak to Jacob,

34:7. Behold his sons came from the field: and hearing what had passed, they were exceeding angry, because he had done a foul thing in Israel, and committed an unlawful act, in ravishing Jacob's daughter.

34:8. Hemor spoke to them: The soul of my son Sichem has a longing for your daughter: give her him to wife:

34:9. and let us contract marriages one with another: give us your daughters, and take you our daughters.

34:10. Dwell with us: the land is at your command, till, trade, and possess it.

34:11. Sichem also said to her father and to her brethren: Let me find favor in your sight, and whatsoever you shall appoint I will give:

34:12. Raise the dowry, and ask gifts, and I will gladly give what you shall demand: only give me this damsel to wife.

34:13. The sons of Jacob answered Sichem and his father deceitfully, being enraged at the deflowering of their sister:

Deceitfully. . .The sons of Jacob, on this occasion, were guilty of a grievous sin, as well by falsely pretending religion, as by excess of revenge: though otherwise their zeal against so foul a crime was commendable.

34:14. We cannot do what you demand, nor give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; which with us is unlawful and abominable.

34:15. But in this we may be allied with you, if you will be like us, and all the male sex among you be circumcised:

34:16. Then will we mutually give and take your daughters, and ours; and we will dwell with you, and will be one people:

34:17. But if you will not be circumcised, we will take our daughter and depart.

34:18. Their offer pleased Hemor, and Sichem, his son:

34:19. and the young man made no delay, but forthwith fulfilled what was required: for he loved the damsel exceedingly, and he was the greatest man in all his father's house.

34:20. Going into the gate of the city, they spoke to the people:

34:21. These men are peaceable, and are willing to dwell with us: let them trade in the land, and till it, which being large and wide wants men to till it: we shall take their daughters for wives, and we will give them ours.

34:22. One thing there is for which so great a good is deferred: We must circumcise every male among us, following the manner of the nation.

34:23. Their substance, and cattle, and all that they possess, shall be ours; only in this let us condescend, and by dwelling together, we shall make one people.

34:24. They all agreed, and circumcised all the males.

34:25. Behold the third day, when the pain of the wound was greatest: two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, the brothers of Dina, taking their swords, entered boldly into the city and slew all the men.

34:26. They killed also Hemor and Sichem, and took away their sister, Dina, out of Sichem's house.

34:27. When they were gone out, the other sons of Jacob came upon the slain; and plundered the city in revenge of the rape.

34:28. They took their sheep, and their herds, and their donkeys, wasting all they had in their houses and in their fields.

34:29. Their children and wives they took captive.

'''34:30. When they had boldly perpetrated these things, Jacob said to Simeon and Levi: You have troubled me, and made me hateful to the Canaanites and Pherezites, the inhabitants of this land. We are few: they will gather themselves together and kill me; and both I, and my house shall be destroyed.'''

34:31. They answered: Should they abuse our sister as a strumpet? -->

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