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Lexham English Bible

file:///D|/STAF/BILLY/_PROJECT/_MOBILE/PDF/English/_RESULT/PLEB/PrintDraft/pdf_alkitab_title_pl1.html1/18/2011 4:38:43 PM

Genesis

11 In the beginning God createdheaven and earth.

2The earth was formless and empty,and darkness covered the deep water.The Spirit of God was hovering over thewater.3Then God said, "Let there be light!" Sothere was light.4God saw the light was good. So Godseparated the light from the darkness.5God named the light day, and thedarkness he named night. There wasevening, then morningthe first day.6Then God said, "Let there be a horizonin the middle of the water in order toseparate the water."7So God made the horizon andseparated the water above and belowthe horizon. And so it was.8God named what was above thehorizon sky. There was evening, thenmorninga second day.

Genesis 1.9–16 29Then God said, "Let the water underthe sky come together in one area, andlet the dry land appear." And so it was.10God named the dry land earth. Thewater which came together he namedsea. God saw that it was good.11Then God said, "Let the earth producevegetation: plants bearing seeds, eachaccording to its own type, and fruit treesbearing fruit with seeds, each accordingto its own type." And so it was.12The earth produced vegetation:plants bearing seeds, each according toits own type, and trees bearing fruit withseeds, each according to its own type.God saw that they were good.13There was evening, then morningathird day.14Then God said, "Let there be lightsin the sky to separate the day from thenight. They will be signs and will markreligious festivals, days, and years.15They will be lights in the sky to shineon the earth." And so it was.16God made the two bright lights:the larger light to rule the day and thesmaller light to rule the night. He alsomade the stars.

Genesis 1.17–25 317God put them in the sky to give lightto the earth,18 to dominate the day and the night,and to separate the light from thedarkness. God saw that it was good.19There was evening, then morningafourth day.20Then God said, "Let the water swarmwith swimming creatures, and let birdsfly through the sky over the earth."21So God created the large seacreatures, every type of creature thatswims around in the water and everytype of flying bird. God saw that theywere good.22God blessed them and said, "Befertile, increase in number, fill the sea,and let there be many birds on theearth."23There was evening, then morningafifth day.24Then God said, "Let the earth produceevery type of living creature: every typeof domestic animal, crawling animal, andwild animal." And so it was.25God made every type of wild animal,every type of domestic animal, and

Genesis 1.26–31 4

every type of creature that crawls on theground. God saw that they were good.26Then God said, "Let us make humansin our image, in our likeness. Let themrule the fish in the sea, the birds in thesky, the domestic animals all over theearth, and all the animals that crawl onthe earth."27So God created humans in his image.In the image of God he created them.He created them male and female.28God blessed them and said, "Befertile, increase in number, fill the earth,and be its master. Rule the fish in thesea, the birds in the sky, and all theanimals that crawl on the earth."29God said, "I have given you everyplant with seeds on the face of the earthand every tree that has fruit with seeds.This will be your food.30 I have given all green plants as foodto every land animal, every bird in thesky, and every animal that crawls onthe earthevery living, breathing animal."And so it was.31And God saw everything that he hadmade and that it was very good. Therewas evening, then morningthe sixth day.

Genesis 2.1–8 5

21Heaven and earth and everything inthem were finished.

2By the seventh day God had finishedwork he had been doing. On the seventhday he stopped the work he had beendoing.3Then God blessed the seventh day andset it apart as holy, because on that dayhe stopped all his work of creation.4This is the account of heaven andearth when they were created, at thetime when the LORD God made earthand heaven.5Wild bushes and plants were not onthe earth yet because the LORD Godhadnt sent rain on the earth. Also, therewas no one to farm the land.6 Instead, underground water wouldcome up from the earth and water theentire surface of the ground.7Then the LORD God formed the manfrom the dust of the earth and blew thebreath of life into his nostrils. The manbecame a living being.8The LORD God planted a garden inEden, in the east. Thats where he putthe man whom he had formed.

Genesis 2.9–17 69The LORD God made all the trees growout of the ground. These trees were niceto look at, and their fruit was good toeat. The tree of life and the tree of theknowledge of good and evil grew in themiddle of the garden.10A river flowed from Eden to water thegarden. Outside the garden it dividedinto four rivers.11The name of the first river is Pishon.This is the one that winds throughoutHavilah, where there is gold.12 (The gold of that land is pure.Bdellium and onyx are also found there.)13The name of the second river isGihon. This is the one that windsthroughout Sudan.14The name of the third river is Tigris.This is the one that flows east of Assyria.The fourth river is the Euphrates.15Then the LORD God took the manand put him in the Garden of Eden tofarm the land and to take care of it.16The LORD God commanded the man.He said, "You are free to eat from anytree in the garden.17But you must never eat from thetree of the knowledge of good and evil

Genesis 2.18–23 7

because when you eat from it, you willcertainly die."18Then the LORD God said, "It is notgood for the man to be alone. I will makea helper who is right for him."19The LORD God had formed all thewild animals and all the birds out of theground. Then he brought them to theman to see what he would call them.Whatever the man called each creaturebecame its name.20So the man named all the domesticanimals, all the birds, and all the wildanimals. But the man found no helperwho was right for him.21So the LORD God caused him to fallinto a deep sleep. While the man wassleeping, the LORD God took out one ofthe mans ribs and closed up the flesh atthat place.22Then the LORD God formed a womanfrom the rib that he had taken from theman. He brought her to the man.23The man said, "This is now bone ofmy bones and flesh of my flesh. Shewill be named woman because she wastaken from man."

Genesis 2.24–3.6 824That is why a man will leave hisfather and mother and will be unitedwith his wife, and they will become oneflesh.25The man and his wife were bothnaked, but they werent ashamed of it.

31The snake was more clever than allthe wild animals the LORD God had

made. He asked the woman, "Did Godreally say, You must never eat the fruitof any tree in the garden?"2The woman answered the snake,"Were allowed to eat the fruit from anytree in the garden3except the tree in the middle of thegarden. God said, You must never eat itor touch it. If you do, you will die!"4 "You certainly wont die!" the snaketold the woman.5 "God knows that when you eat it youreyes will be opened. Youll be like God,knowing good and evil."6The woman saw that the tree had fruitthat was good to eat, nice to look at,and desirable for making someone wise.So she took some of the fruit and ate it.She also gave some to her husband, whowas with her, and he ate it.

Genesis 3.7–14 97Then their eyes were opened, andthey both realized that they were naked.They sewed fig leaves together andmade clothes for themselves.8 In the cool of the evening, the manand his wife heard the LORD God walkingaround in the garden. So they hid fromthe LORD God among the trees in thegarden.9The LORD God called to the man andasked him, "Where are you?"10He answered, "I heard you in thegarden. I was afraid because I wasnaked, so I hid."11God asked, "Who told you that youwere naked? Did you eat fruit from thetree I commanded you not to eat from?"12The man answered, "That woman,the one you gave me, gave me somefruit from the tree, and I ate it."13Then the LORD God asked thewoman, "What have you done?" "Thesnake deceived me, and I ate," thewoman answered.14So the LORD God said to the snake,"Because you have done this, You arecursed more than all the wild or domesticanimals. You will crawl on your belly. You

Genesis 3.15–19 10

will be the lowest of animals as long asyou live.15 I will make you and the womanhostile toward each other. I will makeyour descendants and her descendanthostile toward each other. He will crushyour head, and you will bruise his heel."16He said to the woman, "I will increaseyour pain and your labor when you givebirth to children. Yet, you will long foryour husband, and he will rule you."17Then he said to the man, "Youlistened to your wife and ate fruit fromthe tree, although I commanded you,You must never eat its fruit. The groundis cursed because of you. Through hardwork you will eat food that comes fromit every day of your life.18The ground will grow thorns andthistles for you, and you will eat wildplants.19By the sweat of your brow, you willproduce food to eat until you return tothe ground, because you were takenfrom it. You are dust, and you will returnto dust."

Genesis 3.20–4.3 1120Adam named his wife Eve [Life]because she became the mother of everyliving person.21The LORD God made clothes fromanimal skins for the man and his wifeand dressed them.22Then the LORD God said, "The manhas become like one of us, since heknows good and evil. He must not reachout and take the fruit from the tree oflife and eat. Then he would live forever."23So the LORD God sent the man out ofthe Garden of Eden to farm the groundfrom which the man had been formed.24After he sent the man out, God placedangels and a flaming sword that turnedin all directions east of the Garden ofEden. He placed them there to guard theway to the tree of life.

41Adam made love to his wife Eve.She became pregnant and gave birth

to Cain. She said, "I have gotten theman that the LORD promised."2Then she gave birth to anotherchild, Abel, Cains brother. Abel was ashepherd, and Cain was a farmer.3Later Cain brought some crops fromthe land as an offering to the LORD.

Genesis 4.4–11 124Abel also brought some choice parts ofthe firstborn animals from his flock. TheLORD approved of Abel and his offering,5but he didnt approve of Cain and hisoffering. So Cain became very angry andwas disappointed.6Then the LORD asked Cain, "Whyare you angry, and why do you lookdisappointed?7 If you do well, wont you be accepted?But if you dont do well, sin is lyingoutside your door ready to attack. Itwants to control you, but you mustmaster it."8Cain talked to his brother Abel. Later,when they were in the fields, Cainattacked his brother Abel and killed him.9The LORD asked Cain, "Where isyour brother Abel?" "I dont know," heanswered. "Am I supposed to take careof my brother?"10The LORD asked, "What have youdone? Your brothers blood is crying outto me from the ground.11So now you are cursed from theground, which has received the blood ofyour brother whom you killed.

Genesis 4.12–19 1312When you farm the ground, it will nolonger yield its best for you. You will bea fugitive, a wanderer on the earth."13But Cain said to the LORD, "Mypunishment is more than I can stand!14You have forced me off this landtoday. I have to hide from you andbecome a fugitive, a wanderer on theearth. Now anyone who finds me will killme!"15So the LORD said to him, "Notso! Anyone who kills Cain will suffervengeance seven times over." The LORDgave Cain a sign so that anyone meetinghim would not kill him.16Then Cain left the LORDS presenceand lived in Nod [The Land ofWandering], east of Eden.17Cain made love to his wife. Shebecame pregnant and gave birth toEnoch. Cain was building a city, and henamed it Enoch after his son.18To Enoch was born Irad. Irad was thefather of Mehujael. Mehujael was thefather of Methushael. And Methushaelwas the father of Lamech.19Lamech married two women, onenamed Adah and the other Zillah.

Genesis 4.20–5.1 1420Adah gave birth to Jabal. He was thefirst person to live in tents and havelivestock.21His brothers name was Jubal. He wasthe first person to play the harp and theflute.22Zillah also had a son, Tubalcain, whomade bronze and iron tools. Tubalcainssister was Naamah.23Lamech said to his wives, "Adah andZillah, listen to me! Wives of Lamech,hear what I say! I killed a man forbruising me, a young man for woundingme.24 If Cain is avenged 7 times, thenLamech, 77 times."25Adam made love to his wife again.She gave birth to a son and named himSeth, because she said, "God has givenme another child in place of Abel, sinceCain killed him."26A son was also born to Seth, and henamed him Enosh. At that time peoplebegan to worship the LORD.

51This is the written account of Adamand his descendants. When God

created humans, he made them in thelikeness of God.

Genesis 5.2–12 152He created them male and female. Heblessed them and called them humanswhen he created them.3When Adam was 130 years old, hebecame the father of a son in his ownlikeness, in his own image. He namedhim Seth.4After Adam became the father of Seth,he lived 800 years and had other sonsand daughters.5Adam lived a total of 930 years; thenhe died.6When Seth was 105 years old, hebecame the father of Enosh.7After he became the father of Enosh,Seth lived 807 years and had other sonsand daughters.8Seth lived a total of 912 years; thenhe died.9When Enosh was 90 years old, hebecame the father of Kenan.10After he became the father of Kenan,Enosh lived 815 years and had othersons and daughters.11Enosh lived a total of 905 years; thenhe died.12When Kenan was 70 years old, hebecame the father of Mahalalel.

Genesis 5.13–24 1613After he became the father ofMahalalel, Kenan lived 840 years andhad other sons and daughters.14Kenan lived a total of 910 years; thenhe died.15When Mahalalel was 65 years old, hebecame the father of Jared.16After he became the father of Jared,Mahalalel lived 830 years and had othersons and daughters.17Mahalalel lived a total of 895 years;then he died.18When Jared was 162 years old, hebecame the father of Enoch.19After he became the father of Enoch,Jared lived 800 years and had other sonsand daughters.20 Jared lived a total of 962 years; thenhe died.21When Enoch was 65 years old, hebecame the father of Methuselah.22After he became the father ofMethuselah, Enoch walked with Godfor 300 years and had other sons anddaughters.23Enoch lived a total of 365 years.24Enoch walked with God; then he wasgone because God took him.

Genesis 5.25–6.2 1725When Methuselah was 187 years old,he became the father of Lamech.26After he became the father ofLamech, Methuselah lived 782 years andhad other sons and daughters.27Methuselah lived a total of 969 years;then he died.28When Lamech was 182 years old, hebecame the father of a son.29He named him Noah [Relief], andsaid, "This child will bring us relief fromthe work and painful labor of our handssince the LORD has cursed the ground."30After Lamech became the father ofNoah, he lived 595 years and had othersons and daughters.31Lamech lived a total of 777 years;then he died.32When Noah was 500 years old, hebecame the father of Shem, Ham, andJapheth.

61The number of people increased allover the earth, and daughters were

born to them.2The sons of God saw that thedaughters of other humans werebeautiful. So they married any womanthey chose.

Genesis 6.3–10 183Then the LORD said, "My Spirit will notstruggle with humans forever, becausethey are flesh and blood. They will live120 years."4The Nephilim were on the earth inthose days, as well as later, when thesons of God slept with the daughters ofother humans and had children by them.These children were famous long ago.5The LORD saw how evil humans hadbecome on the earth. All day long theirdeepest thoughts were nothing but evil.6The LORD was sorry that he hadmade humans on the earth, and he washeartbroken.7So he said, "I will wipe off the face ofthe earth these humans that I created. Iwill wipe out not only humans, but alsodomestic animals, crawling animals, andbirds. Im sorry that I made them."8But the LORD was pleased with Noah.9This is the account of Noah and hisdescendants. Noah had Gods approvaland was a man of integrity among thepeople of his time. He walked with God.10He had three sons: Shem, Ham, andJapheth.

Genesis 6.11–18 1911The world was corrupt in Gods sightand full of violence.12God saw the world and how corruptit was because all people on earth livedevil lives.13God said to Noah, "I have decidedto put an end to all people because theearth is full of their violence. Now Imgoing to destroy them along with theearth.14Make yourself a ship of cypress wood.Make rooms in the ship and coat it insideand out with tar.15This is how you should build it: theship is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide,and 45 feet high.16Make a roof for the ship, and leavean 18inchhigh opening at the top. Puta door in the side of the ship. Buildthe ship with lower, middle, and upperdecks.17 Im about to send a flood on the earthto destroy all people under the skyeveryliving, breathing human. Everything onearth will die.18 "But I will make my promise to you.You, your sons, your wife, and your sonswives will go into the ship.

Genesis 6.19–7.4 2019Bring two of every living creature intothe ship in order to keep them alive withyou. They must be male and female.20Two of every type of bird, every typeof domestic animal, and every type ofcreature that crawls on the ground willcome to you to be kept alive.21Take every kind of food that can beeaten and store it. It will be food for youand the animals."22Noah did this. He did everything thatGod had commanded him.

71The LORD said to Noah, "Go into theship with your whole family because

I have seen that you alone are righteousamong the people of today.2Take with you seven pairs of everykind of clean animal (a male and afemale of each) and one pair of everykind of unclean animal (a male and afemale).3Also, take seven pairs of every kindof bird (a male and a female of each) topreserve animal life all over the earthafter the flood.4 In seven days I will send rain to theearth for 40 days and 40 nights. I will

Genesis 7.5–14 21

wipe off the face of the earth every livingcreature that I have made."5So Noah did everything that the LORDcommanded him.6Noah was 600 years old when theflood came to the earth.7Noah, his sons, his wife, and his sonswives went into the ship to escape thefloodwaters.8Clean and unclean animals, birds, andcreatures that crawl on the ground9 came to Noah to go into the ship inpairs (a male and female of each) asGod had commanded Noah.10Seven days later the flood came onthe earth.11On the seventeenth day of the secondmonth of the six hundredth year ofNoahs life, all the deep springs burstopen. The sky opened,12and rain came pouring down on theearth for 40 days and 40 nights.13On that same day Noah and his sonsShem, Ham, and Japheth, as well asNoahs wife and his three daughtersinlawwent into the ship.14They had with them every type ofwild animal, every type of domestic

Genesis 7.15–22 22

animal, every type of creature thatcrawls on the earth, and every type ofbird (every creature with wings).15A pair of every living, breathinganimal came to Noah to go into the ship.16A male and a female of every animalwent in as God had commanded Noah.Then the LORD closed the door behindthem.17The flood continued for 40 days onthe earth. The water increased and liftedthe ship so that it rose high above theground.18As the water rose and became verydeep, the ship floated on top of thewater.19The water rose very high above theearth. It covered all the high mountainseverywhere under the sky.20 It rose 23 feet above themountaintops.21Every creature that crawls on theearth died, including birds, domesticand wild animals, and everything thatswarms over the earth, along with everyhuman.22Everything on dry land (every living,breathing creature) died.

Genesis 7.23–8.6 2323Every living creature on the faceof the earth was wiped out. Humans,domestic animals, crawling creatures,and birds were wiped off the earth. OnlyNoah and those with him in the shipwere left.24The floodwaters were on the earthfor 150 days.

81God remembered Noah and all thewild and domestic animals with him

in the ship. So God made a wind blowover the earth, and the water started togo down.2The deep springs and the sky hadbeen shut, and the rain had stoppedpouring.3The water began to recede from theland. At the end of 150 days the waterhad decreased.4On the seventeenth day of the seventhmonth, the ship came to rest in themountains of Ararat.5The water kept decreasing until thetenth month. On the first day of thetenth month, the tops of the mountainsappeared.6After 40 more days Noah opened thewindow he had made in the ship

Genesis 8.7–15 247and sent out a raven. It kept flyingback and forth until the water on theland had dried up.8Next, he sent out a dove to see if thewater was gone from the surface of theground.9The dove couldnt find a place to landbecause the water was still all over theearth. So it came back to Noah in theship. He reached out and brought thedove back into the ship.10He waited seven more days and againsent the dove out of the ship.11The dove came to him in the evening,and in its beak was a freshly pluckedolive leaf. Then Noah knew that thewater was gone from the earth.12He waited seven more days and sentout the dove again, but it never cameback to him.13By the first day of the first month ofNoahs six hundred and first year, thewater on the land had dried up. Noahopened the top of the ship, looked out,and saw the surface of the ground.14By the twentyseventh day of thesecond month the land was dry.15Then God spoke to Noah,

Genesis 8.16–22 2516 "Come out of the ship with your wife,your sons, and your sons wives.17Bring out every animal thats withyou: birds, domestic animals, and everycreature that crawls on the earth. Befertile, increase in number, and spreadover the earth."18So Noah came out with his sons, hiswife, and his sons wives.19Every animal, crawling creature,and birdeverything that moves on theearthcame out of the ship, one kind afteranother.20Noah built an altar to the LORD. On ithe made a burnt offering of each type ofclean animal and clean bird.21The LORD smelled the soothingaroma. He said to himself, "I will neveragain curse the ground because ofhumans, even though from birth theirhearts are set on nothing but evil. I willnever again kill every living creature as Ihave just done.22As long as the earth exists, plantingand harvesting, cold and heat, summerand winter, day and night will neverstop."

Genesis 9.1–10 26

91God blessed Noah and his sons andsaid to them, "Be fertile, increase in

number, and fill the earth.2All the wild animals and all the birdswill fear you and be terrified of you.Every creature that crawls on the groundand all the fish in the sea have been putunder your control.3Everything that lives and moves willbe your food. I gave you green plants asfood; I now give you everything else.4 "But you are not to eat meat withblood in it. (Blood is life.)5 In addition, I will demand your bloodfor your life. I will demand it from anyanimal or from any person. I will demandthe life of any person who kills anotherperson.6Whoever sheds human blood, byhumans his blood will be shed, becausein the image of God, God made humans.7Be fertile, and increase in number.Spread over the earth, and increase."8God also said to Noah and his sons,9 "I am going to make my promise toyou, your descendants,10and every living being that is withyoubirds, domestic animals, and all the

Genesis 9.11–18 27

wild animals, all those that came out ofthe shipevery living thing on earth.11 I am making my promise to you.Never again will all life be killed byfloodwaters. Never again will there be aflood that destroys the earth."12God said, "This is the sign ofthe promise I am giving to you andevery living being that is with you forgenerations to come.13 I will put my rainbow in the clouds tobe a sign of my promise to the earth.14Whenever I form clouds over theearth, a rainbow will appear in theclouds.15Then I will remember my promise toyou and every living animal. Never againwill water become a flood to destroy alllife.16Whenever the rainbow appears inthe clouds, I will see it and remembermy everlasting promise to every livinganimal on earth."17So God said to Noah, "This is the signof the promise I am making to all life onearth."18Noahs sons, who came out of theship, were Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Genesis 9.19–29 2819These were Noahs three sons. Fromthem the whole earth was populated.Ham was the father of Canaan.20Noah, a farmer, was the first personto plant a vineyard.21He drank some wine, got drunk, andlay naked inside his tent.22Ham, father of Canaan, saw hisfather naked. So he went outside andtold his two brothers.23Shem and Japheth took a blanketand laid it over their shoulders. Thenthey walked in backwards and coveredtheir fathers naked body. They turnedtheir faces away so that they didnt seetheir father naked.24When Noah sobered up, he found outwhat his youngest son had done to him.25So he said, "Canaan is cursed! He willbe the lowest slave to his brothers.26Praise the LORD, the God of Shem!Canaan will be his slave.27May God expand the territory ofJapheth. May he live in the tents ofShem. Canaan will be his slave."28Noah lived 350 years after the flood.29Noah lived a total of 950 years; thenhe died.

Genesis 10.1–9 29

101This is the account of Noahssons Shem, Ham, and Japheth,

and their descendants. Shem, Ham andJapheth had children after the flood.2 Japheths descendants were Gomer,Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech,and Tiras.3Gomers descendants were Ashkenaz,Riphath, and Togarmah.4 Javans descendants were the peoplefrom Elishah, Tarshish, Cyprus, andRhodes.5From these descendants the peopleof the coastlands spread into their owncountries. Each nation had its ownlanguage and families.6Hams descendants were Cush, Egypt,Put, and Canaan.7Cushs descendants were Seba,Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca.Raamahs descendants were Sheba andDedan.8Cush was the father of Nimrod, thefirst mighty warrior on the earth.9He was a mighty hunter whom theLORD blessed. Thats why people used tosay, "Hes like Nimrod, a mighty hunterwhom the LORD blessed."

Genesis 10.10–20 3010The first cities in his kingdom wereBabylon, Erech, Accad, and Calneh inShinar [Babylonia].11He went from that land to Assyriaand built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah,12and Resen, the great city betweenNineveh and Calah.13Egypt was the ancestor of the Ludites,Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites,14Pathrusites, Casluhites (fromwhom the Philistines came), and theCaphtorites.15Canaan was the father of Sidon hisfirstborn, then Heth,16also the Jebusites, the Amorites, theGirgashites,17 the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites,18 the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and theHamathites. Later the Canaanite familiesscattered.19The border of the Canaanitesextended from Sidon toward Gerar asfar as Gaza and then toward Sodom,Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim as faras Lasha.20These were Hams descendants byfamilies and languages within theircountries and nations.

Genesis 10.21–32 3121Shem, Japheths older brother, alsohad children. Shem was the ancestor ofall the sons of Eber.22Shems descendants were Elam,Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram.23Arams descendants were Uz, Hul,Gether, and Mash.24Arpachshad was the father of Shelah,and Shelah was the father of Eber.25Two sons were born to Eber. Thename of the one was Peleg [Division],because in his day the earth was divided.His brothers name was Joktan.26 Joktan was the father of Almodad,Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,27Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,28Obal, Abimael, Sheba,29Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. Thesewere Joktans sons.30The region where they lived extendedfrom Mesha toward Sephar in the easternmountains.31These were Shems descendantsby families and languages within theircountries according to their nations.32These were the families of Noahssons listed by their genealogies, nationby nation. From these descendants the

Genesis 11.1–7 32

nations spread over the earth after theflood.

111The whole world had onelanguage with a common

vocabulary.2As people moved toward the east,they found a plain in Shinar [Babylonia]and settled there.3They said to one another, "Lets makebricks and bake them thoroughly." Theyused bricks as stones and tar as mortar.4Then they said, "Lets build a city forourselves and a tower with its top in thesky. Lets make a name for ourselves sothat we wont become scattered all overthe face of the earth."5The LORD came down to see the cityand the tower that the descendants ofAdam were building.6The LORD said, "They are one peoplewith one language. This is only thebeginning of what they will do! Nownothing they plan to do will be toodifficult for them.7Let us go down there and mix up theirlanguage so that they wont understandeach other."

Genesis 11.8–16 338So the LORD scattered them all overthe face of the earth, and they stoppedbuilding the city.9This is why it was named Babel,because there the LORD turned thelanguage of the whole earth into babble.From that place the LORD scatteredthem all over the face of the earth.10This is the account of Shem andhis descendants. Two years after theflood when Shem was 100 years old, hebecame the father of Arpachshad.11After he became the father ofArpachshad, Shem lived 500 years andhad other sons and daughters.12Arpachshad was 35 years old whenhe became the father of Shelah.13After he became the father of Shelah,Arpachshad lived 403 years and hadother sons and daughters.14Shelah was 30 years old when hebecame the father of Eber.15After he became the father of Eber,Shelah lived 403 years and had othersons and daughters.16Eber was 34 years old when hebecame the father of Peleg.

Genesis 11.17–27 3417After he became the father of Peleg,Eber lived 430 years and had other sonsand daughters.18Peleg was 30 years old when hebecame the father of Reu.19After he became the father of Reu,Peleg lived 209 years and had other sonsand daughters.20Reu was 32 years old when hebecame the father of Serug.21After he became the father of Serug,Reu lived 207 years and had other sonsand daughters.22Serug was 30 years old when hebecame the father of Nahor.23After he became the father of Nahor,Serug lived 200 years and had othersons and daughters.24Nahor was 29 years old when hebecame the father of Terah.25After he became the father of Terah,Nahor lived 119 years and had othersons and daughters.26Terah was 70 years old when hebecame the father of Abram, Nahor, andHaran.27This is the account of Terah and hisdescendants. Terah was the father of

Genesis 11.28–12.2 35

Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haran was thefather of Lot.28While his father Terah was still alive,Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, hisnative land.29Both Abram and Nahor married. Thename of Abrams wife was Sarai, andthe name of Nahors wife was Milcah,daughter of Haran. (Haran was thefather of Milcah and Iscah.)30Sarai was not able to have children.31Terah took his son Abram, hisgrandson Lot (son of Haran), and hisdaughterinlaw Sarai, wife of his sonAbram. They set out together from Ur ofthe Chaldeans to go to Canaan. Whenthey came as far as Haran, they stayedthere.32Terah lived 205 years and died inHaran.

121The LORD said to Abram, "Leaveyour land, your relatives, and

your fathers home. Go to the land that Iwill show you.2 I will make you a great nation, I willbless you. I will make your name great,and you will be a blessing.

Genesis 12.3–9 363 I will bless those who bless you,and whoever curses you, I will curse.Through you every family on earth willbe blessed."4So Abram left, as the LORD had toldhim, and Lot went with him. Abram was75 years old when he left Haran.5Abram set out for Canaan. He tookalong his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, andall the possessions they had accumulatedand the servants they had acquired inHaran.6They arrived in Canaan, and Abramtraveled through the land to the oak treebelonging to Moreh at Shechem. At thattime the Canaanites were in the land.7Then the LORD appeared to Abramand said, "Im going to give this land toyour descendants." So he built an altarthere to the LORD, who had appeared tohim.8He moved on to the hills east ofBethel, and he put up his tentwith Bethelon the west and Ai on the east. He alsobuilt an altar to the LORD there andworshiped the LORD.9Abram kept moving toward the Negev.

Genesis 12.10–18 3710There was a famine in the land.Abram went to Egypt to stay awhilebecause the famine was severe.11When he was about to enter Egypt,Abram said to his wife Sarai, "I knowthat youre a beautiful woman.12When the Egyptians see you, theyllsay, This is his wife! Then theyll kill mebut let you live.13Please say that youre my sister. Theneverything will be alright for me, andbecause of you I will live."14When Abram arrived in Egypt, theEgyptians saw how very beautiful hiswife was.15When Pharaohs officials saw her, theyraved about her to Pharaoh, so Saraiwas taken to Pharaohs palace.16Everything went well for Abrambecause of her, and he was given sheep,cattle, donkeys, male and female slaves,and camels.17However, the LORD struck Pharaohand his household with terrible plaguesbecause of Sarai, Abrams wife.18Then Pharaoh called for Abram."What have you done to me?" he asked.

Genesis 12.19–13.6 38

"Why didnt you tell me that shes yourwife?19Why did you say, Shes my sister andallow me to take her for my wife? Heresyour wife! Take her and go!"20Pharaoh gave his men ordersconcerning Abram. They sent Abramaway with his wife and everything thathe had.

131Abram left Egypt with his wifeand everything he had and went

to the Negev. Lot was with him.2Abram was very rich because he hadlivestock, silver, and gold.3He traveled from place to place. Hewent from the Negev as far as Bethel, tothe area between Bethel and Ai wherehis tent had been originally,4where he had first made an altar.There Abram worshiped the LORD.5Lot, who had been traveling withAbram, also had his own sheep, cattle,and tents.6There wasnt enough pasturelandfor both of them. They had so manypossessions that they were unable toremain together.

Genesis 13.7–13 397Quarrels broke out between Abramsherders and Lots herders. (Canaanitesand Perizzites were also living in thatarea.)8Abram said to Lot, "Please, lets nothave any more quarrels between us orbetween our herders. After all, wererelatives.9 Isnt all this land yours also? Letsseparate. If you go to the left, Ill go tothe right, and if you go to the right, Illgo to the left."10Then Lot looked in the direction ofZoar as far as he could see. He saw thatthe whole Jordan Plain was wellwateredlike the LORDS garden or like Egypt.(This was before the LORD destroyedSodom and Gomorrah.)11Lot chose the whole Jordan Plain forhimself. He moved toward the east. Theyeach went their own way.12Abram lived in Canaan, while Lotlived among the cities of the plain,moving his tents as far as Sodom.13 (The people who lived in Sodom werevery wicked. They committed terriblesins against the LORD.)

Genesis 13.14–14.2 4014After Lot left, the LORD said toAbram, "Look north, south, east, andwest of where you are.15 I will give all the land you see to youand to your descendants for an indefiniteperiod of time.16 I will also give you as manydescendants as the dust of the earth.If anyone could count the dust of theearth, then he could also count yourdescendants.17Go! Walk back and forth across theentire land because I will give it to you."18So Abram moved his tents and wentto live by the oak trees belonging toMamre at Hebron. There he built an altarfor the LORD.

141At that time four kingsKingAmraphel of Shinar, King Arioch

of Ellasar, King Chedorlaomer of Elam,and King Tidal of Goiim2went to war against five kingsKingBera of Sodom, King Birsha of Gomorrah,King Shinab of Admah, King Shemeberof Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is,Zoar).

Genesis 14.3–9 413The five kings joined forces and metin the valley of Siddim (that is, the DeadSea).4For 12 years they had been subject toChedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth yearthey rebelled.5 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomerand his allies came and defeated theRephaim at Ashteroth Karnaim, theZuzim at Ham, the Emim at ShavehKiriathaim,6and the Horites in the hill country ofSeir, going as far as El Paran on the edgeof the desert.7On their way back, they came to EnMishpat (that is, Kadesh), and theyconquered the whole territory of theAmalekites and also the Amorites whowere living at Hazazon Tamar.8Then the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah,Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (that is, Zoar)marched out and prepared for battle inthe valley of Siddim.9They fought against KingChedorlaomer of Elam, King Tidalof Goiim, King Amraphel of Shinar, andKing Arioch of Ellasarfour kings againstfive.

Genesis 14.10–16 4210The valley of Siddim was full oftar pits. As the kings of Sodom andGomorrah fled, they fell because of thetar pits, but the other kings fled to thehills.11So the four kings took all thepossessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, aswell as all their food, and left.12They also took Abrams nephew Lotand his possessions since he was livingin Sodom.13Then a soldier who had escaped cameand told Abram the Hebrew what hadhappened. He was living next to the oaktrees belonging to Mamre the Amorite, abrother of Eshcol and Aner. (These menwere Abrams allies.)14When Abram heard that his nephewhad been captured, he armed his 318trained men, born in his own household,and pursued the four kings all the way toDan.15He split up his men to attack them atnight. He defeated them, pursuing themall the way to Hobah, which is north ofDamascus.16He brought back everything theyhad, including women and soldiers. He

Genesis 14.17–23 43

also brought back his relative Lot and hispossessions.17After Abram came back fromdefeating Chedorlaomer and his allies,the king of Sodom came out to meet himin the Shaveh Valley (that is, the KingsValley).18Then King Melchizedek of Salembrought out bread and wine. He was apriest of God Most High.19He blessed Abram, and said, "Blessedis Abram by God Most High, maker ofheaven and earth.20Blessed is God Most High, who hashanded your enemies over to you." ThenAbram gave him a tenth of everything.21The king of Sodom said to Abram,"Give me the people, and keepeverything else for yourself."22But Abram said to the king of Sodom,"I now raise my hand and solemnlyswear to the LORD God Most High,maker of heaven and earth,23 that I wont take a thread or a sandalstrap. I wont take anything that is yoursso that you will never be able to say, Imade Abram rich.

Genesis 14.24–15.6 4424 I wont take one single thing exceptwhat my men have eaten. But let myallies Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take theirshare."

151Later the LORD spoke his wordto Abram in a vision. He said,

"Abram, dont be afraid. I am your shield.Your reward will be very great."2Abram asked, "Almighty LORD, whatwill you give me? Since Im going to diewithout children, Eliezer of Damascuswill inherit my household.3You have given me no children, sothis member of my household will be myheir."4Suddenly, the LORD spoke his word toAbram again. He said, "This man will notbe your heir. Your own son will be yourheir."5He took Abram outside and said, "Nowlook up at the sky and count the stars, ifyou are able to count them." He also saidto him, "Thats how many descendantsyou will have!"6Then Abram believed the LORD, andthe LORD regarded that faith to be hisapproval of Abram.

Genesis 15.7–14 457Then the LORD said to him, "I am theLORD, who brought you out of Ur of theChaldeans to give you this land so thatyou will take possession of it."8Abram asked, "Almighty LORD,how can I be certain that I will takepossession of it?"9He answered Abram, "Bring me athreeyearold heifer, a threeyearoldfemale goat, a threeyearold ram, amourning dove, and a pigeon."10So Abram brought all these animalsto him. He cut each of them in halfand laid each half opposite the other.However, he did not cut the birds in half.11When birds of prey came down uponthe carcasses, Abram drove them away.12As the sun was just about toset, a deep sleepa dreadful, deepdarknesscame over Abram.13God said to Abram, "You can knowfor sure that your descendants will live ina land that is not their own, where theywill be slaves, and they will be oppressedfor 400 years.14But I will punish the nation theyserve, and after that they will come outwith many possessions.

Genesis 15.15–16.2 4615But you will die in peace and beburied at a very old age.16 In the fourth generation yourdescendants will come back here,because the sin of the Amorites will nothave run its course until then."17The sun had gone down, and it wasdark. Suddenly a smoking oven and aflaming torch passed between the animalpieces.18At that time the LORD made apromise to Abram. He said, "I will givethis land to your descendants. This is theland from the river of Egypt to the greatriver, the Euphrates.19 It is the land of the Kenites, theKenizzites, the Kadmonites,20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, theRephaim,21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, theGirgashites, and the Jebusites."

161Sarai, Abrams wife, was not ableto have children. She owned an

Egyptian slave named Hagar.2So Sarai said to Abram, "The LORDhas kept me from having children. Whydont you sleep with my slave? Maybe I

Genesis 16.3–8 47

can build a family through her." Abramagreed with Sarai.3After Abram had lived in Canaan forten years, Abrams wife Sarai took herEgyptian slave Hagar and gave her toher husband Abram to be his wife.4He slept with Hagar, and she becamepregnant. When Hagar realized thatshe was pregnant, she began to bedisrespectful to Sarai, her owner.5So Sarai complained to Abram, "Imbeing treated unfairly! And its yourfault! I know that I gave my slave toyou, but now that shes pregnant, shesbeing disrespectful to me. May the LORDdecide who is rightyou or me."6Abram answered Sarai, "Here, shesyour slave. Do what you like with her."Then Sarai mistreated Hagar so muchthat she ran away.7The Messenger of the LORD found herby a spring in the desert, the spring onthe way to Shur.8He said, "Hagar, Sarais slave, wherehave you come from, and where areyou going?" She answered, "Im runningaway from my owner Sarai."

Genesis 16.9–14 489The Messenger of the LORD said toher, "Go back to your owner, and placeyourself under her authority."10The Messenger of the LORD alsosaid to her, "I will give you manydescendants. No one will be able tocount them because there will be somany."11Then the Messenger of the LORD saidto her, "You are pregnant, and you willgive birth to a son. You will name himIshmael [God Hears], because the LORDhas heard your cry of distress.12He will be as free and wild as anuntamed donkey. He will fight witheveryone, and everyone will fight withhim. He will have conflicts with all hisrelatives."13Hagar named the LORD, who hadbeen speaking to her, "You Are the GodWho Watches Over Me." She said, "Thisis the place where I watched the onewho watches over me."14This is why the well is named BeerLahai Roi [Well of the Living One WhoWatches Over Me]. It is still therebetween Kadesh and Bered.

Genesis 16.15–17.7 4915Hagar gave birth to Abrams son.Abram named him Ishmael.16Abram was 86 years old when Hagargave birth to Ishmael.

171When Abram was 99 years old,the LORD appeared to him. He

said to Abram, "I am God Almighty. Livein my presence with integrity.2 I will give you my promise, and I willgive you very many descendants."3 Immediately, Abram bowed with hisface touching the ground, and again Godspoke to him,4 "My promise is still with you. You willbecome the father of many nations.5So your name will no longer be Abram[Exalted Father], but Abraham [Father ofMany] because I have made you a fatherof many nations.6 I will give you many descendants.Many nations and kings will come fromyou.7 I will make my promise to you andyour descendants for generations tocome as an everlasting promise. Iwill be your God and the God of yourdescendants.

Genesis 17.8–14 508 I am also giving this land whereyou are livingall of Canaanto you andyour descendants as your permanentpossession. And I will be your God."9God also said to Abraham, "You andyour descendants in generations to comeare to be faithful to my promise.10This is how you are to be faithful tomy promise: Every male among you isto be circumcised.11All of you must be circumcised. Thatwill be the sign of the promise from meto you.12For generations to come every malechild who is eight days old must becircumcised, whether he is born in yourhousehold or bought with money from aforeigner whos not related to you.13Every male born in your householdor bought with your money is to becircumcised without exception. So mypromise will be a sign on your flesh, aneverlasting promise.14Any uncircumcised male must beexcluded from his people because he hasrejected my promise."

Genesis 17.15–20 5115God said to Abraham, "Dont callyour wife by the name Sarai anymore.Instead, her name is Sarah [Princess].16 I will bless her, and I will also giveyou a son by her. I will bless her, and shewill become a mother of nations, andkings will come from her."17 Immediately, Abraham bowed withhis face touching the ground. He laughedas he thought to himself, "Can a sonbe born to a hundredyearold man? CanSarah, a ninetyyearold woman, have achild?"18Then Abraham said to God, "Why notlet Ishmael be my heir?"19God replied, "No! Your wife Sarahwill give you a son, and you will namehim Isaac [He Laughs]. I will makean everlasting promise to him and hisdescendants.20 I have heard your request aboutIshmael. Yes, I will bless him, make himfertile, and increase the number of hisdescendants. He will be the father of12 princes, and I will make him a greatnation.

Genesis 17.21–18.2 5221But I will make my promise to Isaac.Sarah will give birth to him at this timenext year."22When God finished speaking withAbraham, he left him.23So Abraham took his son Ishmael,everyone born in his household, andeveryone bought with moneyevery malein his householdand circumcised themthat day, as God had told him.24Abraham was 99 years old when hewas circumcised.25His son Ishmael was 13 years oldwhen he was circumcised.26That same day Abraham and his sonIshmael were circumcised.27All the men of his household,whether born in the household or boughtwith money from a foreigner, werecircumcised with him.

181The LORD appeared to Abrahamby the oak trees belonging to

Mamre as he was sitting at the entranceof his tent during the hottest part of theday.2Abraham looked up, and suddenly hesaw three men standing near him. Whenhe saw them, he ran to meet them, and

Genesis 18.3–10 53

he bowed with his face touching theground.3 "Please, sir," Abraham said, "stop byto visit me for a while.4Why dont we let someone bring a littlewater? After you wash your feet, you canstretch out and rest under the tree.5Let me bring some bread so that youcan regain your strength. After that youcan leave, since this is why you stoppedby to visit me." They answered, "Thatsfine. Do as you say."6So Abraham hurried into the tent tofind Sarah. "Quick," he said, "get threemeasures of flour, knead it, and makebread."7Then Abraham ran to the herd andtook one of his best calves. He gave it tohis servant, who prepared it quickly.8Abraham took cheese and milk, aswell as the meat, and set these in frontof them. Then he stood by them underthe tree as they ate.9They asked him, "Where is your wifeSarah?" He answered, "Over there, inthe tent."10The LORD said, "I promise Ill comeback to you next year at this time, and

Genesis 18.11–18 54

your wife Sarah will have a son." Sarahhappened to be listening at the entranceof the tent, which was behind him.11Abraham and Sarah were old. Sarahwas past the age of childbearing.12And so Sarah laughed to herself,thinking, "Now that Ive become old, willI enjoy myself again? Whats more, myhusband is old!"13The LORD asked Abraham, "Why didSarah laugh and say, Can I really have achild now that Im old?14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? Iwill come back to you next year at thistime, and Sarah will have a son."15Because she was afraid, Sarah deniedthat she had laughed. But the LORDsaid, "Yes, you did laugh."16Then the men got up to leave. AsAbraham was walking with them to seethem off, they looked toward Sodom.17The LORD said, "I shouldnt hide whatI am going to do from Abraham.18After all, Abraham is going to becomea great and mighty nation and throughhim all the nations of the earth will beblessed.

Genesis 18.19–25 5519 I have chosen him so that he willdirect his children and his family afterhim to keep the way of the LORD bydoing what is right and just. In thisway I, the LORD, will do what I havepromised Abraham."20The LORD also said, "Sodom andGomorrah have many complaints againstthem, and their sin is very serious.21 I must go down and see whetherthese complaints are true. If not, I willknow it."22From there the men turned andwent on toward Sodom, but Abrahamremained standing in front of the LORD.23Abraham came closer and asked,"Are you really going to sweep away theinnocent with the guilty?24What if there are 50 innocent peoplein the city? Are you really going to sweepthem away? Wont you spare that placefor the sake of the 50 innocent peoplewho are in it?25 It would be unthinkable for you todo such a thing, to treat the innocentand the guilty alike and to kill theinnocent with the guilty. That would

Genesis 18.26–32 56

be unthinkable! Wont the judge of thewhole earth do what is fair?"26The LORD said, "If I find 50 innocentpeople inside the city of Sodom, I willspare the whole place for their sake."27Abraham asked, "Consider now, if Imay be so bold as to ask you, althoughIm only dust and ashes,28what if there are 45 innocent people?Will you destroy the whole city becauseof 5 fewer people?" The LORD answered,"I will not destroy it if I find 45 there."29Abraham asked him again, "What if40 are found there?" He answered, "Forthe sake of the 40 I will not do it."30 "Please dont be angry if I speakagain," Abraham said. "What if 30 arefound there?" He answered, "If I find 30there, I will not do it."31 "Look now, if I may be so bold as toask you," Abraham said. "What if 20 arefound there?" He answered, "I will notdestroy it for the sake of the 20."32 "Please dont be angry if I speak onlyone more time," Abraham said. "Whatif 10 are found there?" He answered, "Iwill not destroy it for the sake of the 10."

Genesis 18.33–19.5 5733When the LORD finished speakingto Abraham, he left. Abraham returnedhome.

191The two angels came to Sodomin the evening as Lot was sitting

in the gateway. When Lot saw them, hegot up to meet them and bowed with hisface touching the ground.2He said, "Please, gentlemen, why dontyou come to my home and spend thenight? You can wash your feet there.Then early tomorrow morning you cancontinue your journey." "No," theyanswered, "wed rather spend the nightin the city square."3But he insisted so strongly that theycame with him and went into his home.He prepared a special dinner for them,baked some unleavened bread, and theyate.4Before they had gone to bed, all theyoung and old male citizens of Sodomsurrounded the house.5They called to Lot, "Where are themen who came to stay with you tonight?Bring them out to us so that we can havesex with them."

Genesis 19.6–12 586Then Lot went outside and shut thedoor behind him.7 "Please, my friends, dont be sowicked," he said.8 "Look, I have two daughters who havenever had sex. Why dont you let mebring them out to you? Do whatever youlike with them. But dont do anythingto these men, since Im responsible forthem."9But the men yelled, "Get out of theway! This man came here to stay awhile.Now he wants to be our judge! Weregoing to treat you worse than thosemen." They pushed hard against Lot andlunged forward to break down the door.10The men inside reached out, pulledLot into the house with them, and shutthe door.11Then they struck all the men whowere in the doorway of the house, youngand old alike, with blindness so that theygave up trying to find the door.12Then the men asked Lot, "Do youhave anyone else hereany inlaws, sons,daughters, or any other relatives in thecity? Get them out of here

Genesis 19.13–19 5913because were going to destroy thisplace. The complaints to the LORDagainst its people are so loud that theLORD has sent us to destroy it."14So Lot went out and spoke to themen engaged to his daughters. He said,"Hurry! Get out of this place, becausethe LORD is going to destroy the city."But they thought he was joking.15As soon as it was dawn, the angelsurged Lot by saying, "Quick! Take yourwife and your two daughters who arehere, or youll be swept away when thecity is punished."16When he hesitated, the men grabbedhim, his wife, and his two daughters bytheir hands, because the LORD wantedto spare Lot. They brought them safelyoutside the city.17As soon as they were outside, one ofthe angels said, "Run for your lives! Dontlook behind you, and dont stop on theplain. Run for the hills, or youll be sweptaway!"18Lot answered, "Oh no!19Even though youve been so good tome and though youve been very kind tome by saving my life, I cant run as far as

Genesis 19.20–28 60

the hills. This disaster will overtake me,and Ill die.20Look, theres a city near enough toflee to, and its small. Why dont you letme run there? Isnt it small? Then my lifewill be saved."21The angel said to him, "Alright, I willgrant you this request too. I will notdestroy the city youre talking about.22Run there quickly, because I cant doanything until you get there." (The cityis named Zoar [Small].)23The sun had just risen over the landas Lot came to Zoar.24Then the LORD made burning sulfurand fire rain out of heaven on Sodomand Gomorrah.25He destroyed those cities, the wholeplain, all who lived in the cities, andwhatever grew on the ground.26Lots wife looked back and turned intoa column of salt.27Early the next morning Abrahamcame to the place where he had stood infront of the LORD.28When he looked toward Sodom andGomorrah and all the land in the plain,

Genesis 19.29–34 61

he saw smoke rising from the land likethe thick smoke of a furnace.29When God destroyed the cities on theplain, he remembered Abraham. Lot wasallowed to escape from the destructionthat came to the cities where he wasliving.30Lot left Zoar because he was afraidto stay there. He and his two daughterssettled in the mountains where theylived in a cave.31The older daughter said to theyounger one, "Our father is old. No menare here. We cant get married as otherpeople do.32Lets give our father wine to drink.Then well go to bed with him so thatwell be able to preserve our family linethrough our father."33That night they gave their father wineto drink. Then the older one went to bedwith her father. He didnt know when shecame to bed or when she got up.34The next day the older daughter saidto the younger one, "I did it! Last nightI went to bed with my father. Lets givehim wine to drink again tonight. Thenyou go to bed with him so that well be

Genesis 19.35–20.4 62

able to preserve our family line throughour father."35That night they gave their fatherwine to drink again. Then the youngerone went to bed with him. He didnt knowwhen she came to bed or when she gotup.36So Lots two daughters becamepregnant by their father.37The older one gave birth to a son andnamed him Moab. He is the ancestor ofthe Moabites of today.38The younger daughter also gave birthto a son and named him Ben Ammi. He isthe ancestor of the Ammonites of today.

201Abraham moved to the Negevand settled between Kadesh and

Shur. While he was living in Gerar,2Abraham told everyone that his wifeSarah was his sister. So King Abimelechof Gerar sent men to take Sarah.3God came to Abimelech in a dreamone night and said to him, "Youre goingto die because of the woman that youvetaken! Shes a married woman!"4Abimelech hadnt come near her, so heasked, "Lord, will you destroy a nationeven if its innocent?

Genesis 20.5–11 635Didnt he tell me himself, Shes mysister, and didnt she even say, Hes mybrother? I did this in all innocence andwith a clear conscience."6 "Yes, I know that you did this with aclear conscience," God said to him in thedream. "In fact, I kept you from sinningagainst me. Thats why I didnt let youtouch her.7Give the mans wife back to him now,because hes a prophet. He will pray foryou, and you will live. But if you dontgive her back, you and all who belong toyou are doomed to die."8Early in the morning Abimelech calledtogether all his officials. He told themabout all of this, and they were terrified.9Then Abimelech called for Abrahamand asked him, "What have you done tous? How have I sinned against you thatyou would bring such a serious sin onme and my kingdom? You shouldnt havedone this to me."10Abimelech also asked Abraham,"What were you thinking when you didthis?"11Abraham said, "I thought thatbecause there are no Godfearing people

Genesis 20.12–18 64

in this place, Id be killed because of mywife.12Besides, she is my sistermy fathersdaughter but not my mothers. She isalso my wife.13When God had me leave my fathershome and travel around, I said to her,Do me a favor: Wherever we go, saythat Im your brother."14Then Abimelech took sheep, cattle,and male and female slaves and gavethem to Abraham. He also gave his wifeSarah back to him.15Abimelech said, "Look, heres myland. Live anywhere you like."16He said to Sarah, "Dont forget, Ivegiven your brother 25 pounds of silver.This is to silence any criticism againstyou from everyone with you. Yourecompletely cleared."17Abraham prayed to God, and Godhealed Abimelech, his wife, and hisfemale slaves so that they could havechildren.18 (The LORD had made it impossiblefor any woman in Abimelechs householdto have children because of Abrahamswife Sarah.)

Genesis 21.1–10 65

211The LORD came to help Sarahand did for her what he had

promised.2So she became pregnant, and at theexact time God had promised, she gavebirth to a son for Abraham in his old age.3Abraham named his newborn sonIsaac.4When Isaac was eight days old,Abraham circumcised him as God hadcommanded.5Abraham was 100 years old when hisson Isaac was born.6Sarah said, "God has brought melaughter, and everyone who hears aboutthis will laugh with me.7Who would have predicted to Abrahamthat Sarah would nurse children? Yet, Ihave given him a son in his old age."8The child grew and was weaned. Onthe day Isaac was weaned, Abrahamheld a big feast.9Sarah saw that Abrahams son byHagar the Egyptian was laughing atIsaac.10She said to Abraham, "Get rid of thisslave and her son, because this slaves

Genesis 21.11–16 66

son must never share the inheritancewith my son Isaac."11Abraham was upset by this becauseof his son Ishmael.12But God said to Abraham, "Dont beupset about the boy and your slave.Listen to what Sarah says becausethrough Isaac your descendants willcarry on your name.13Besides, I will make the slaves soninto a nation also, because he is yourchild."14Early the next morning Abrahamtook bread and a container of water andgave them to Hagar, putting them onher shoulder. He also gave her the boyand sent her on her way. So she leftand wandered around in the desert nearBeersheba.15When the water in the container wasgone, she put the boy under one of thebushes.16Then she went about as far away asan arrow can be shot and sat down. Shesaid to herself, "I dont want to watch theboy die." So she sat down and sobbedloudly.

Genesis 21.17–24 6717God heard the boy crying, and theMessenger of God called to Hagar fromheaven. "Whats the matter, Hagar?"he asked her. "Dont be afraid! God hasheard the boy crying from the bushes.18Come on, help the boy up! Take himby the hand, because Im going to makehim into a great nation."19God opened her eyes. Then she saw awell. She filled the container with waterand gave the boy a drink.20God was with the boy as he grewup. He lived in the desert and became askilled archer.21He lived in the desert of Paran, andhis mother got him a wife from Egypt.22At that time Abimelech, accompaniedby Phicol, the commander of his army,said to Abraham, "God is with you ineverything you do.23Now, swear an oath to me here infront of God that you will never cheatme, my children, or my descendants.Show me and the land where youvebeen living the same kindness that Ihave shown you."24Abraham said, "I so swear."

Genesis 21.25–33 6825Then Abraham complained toAbimelech about a well whichAbimelechs servants had seized.26Abimelech replied, "I dont know whodid this. You didnt tell me, and I didnthear about it until today."27Abraham took some sheep and cattleand gave them to Abimelech, and thetwo of them made an agreement.28Then Abraham set apart sevenfemale lambs from the flock.29Abimelech asked him, "What is themeaning of these seven female lambsyou have set apart?"30Abraham answered, "Accept theselambs from me so that they may beproof that I dug this well."31This is why that place is calledBeersheba, because both of them sworean oath there.32After they made the treaty atBeersheba, Abimelech and Phicol, thecommander of his army, left and wentback to the land of the Philistines.33Abraham planted a tamarisk tree atBeersheba and worshiped the LORD, theEverlasting God, there.

Genesis 21.34–22.6 6934Abraham lived a long time in the landof the Philistines.

221Later God tested Abraham andcalled to him, "Abraham!" "Yes,

here I am!" he answered.2God said, "Take your son, your onlyson Isaac, whom you love, and go toMoriah. Sacrifice him there as a burntoffering on one of the mountains that Iwill show you."3Early the next morning Abrahamsaddled his donkey. He took with himtwo of his servants and his son Isaac.When he had cut the wood for the burntoffering, he set out for the place thatGod had told him about.4Two days later Abraham saw the placein the distance.5Then Abraham said to his servants,"You stay here with the donkey while theboy and I go over there. Well worship.After that well come back to you."6Then Abraham took the wood for theburnt offering and gave it to his sonIsaac. Abraham carried the burning coalsand the knife. The two of them went ontogether.

Genesis 22.7–13 707 Isaac spoke up and said, "Father?""Yes, Son?" Abraham answered. Isaacasked, "We have the burning coals andthe wood, but where is the lamb for theburnt offering?"8Abraham answered, "God will providea lamb for the burnt offering, Son." Thetwo of them went on together.9When they came to the place that Godhad told him about, Abraham built thealtar and arranged the wood on it. Thenhe tied up his son Isaac and laid him ontop of the wood on the altar.10Next, Abraham picked up the knifeand took it in his hand to sacrifice hisson.11But the Messenger of the LORD calledto him from heaven and said, "Abraham!Abraham!" "Yes?" he answered.12 "Do not lay a hand on the boy," hesaid. "Do not do anything to him. NowI know that you fear God, because youdid not refuse to give me your son, youronly son."13When Abraham looked around, hesaw a ram behind him caught by itshorns in a bush. So Abraham took the

Genesis 22.14–19 71

ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offeringin place of his son.14Abraham named that place The LORDWill Provide. It is still said today, "Onthe mountain of the LORD it will beprovided."15Then the Messenger of the LORDcalled to Abraham from heaven a secondtime16and said, "I am taking an oath onmy own name, declares the LORD, thatbecause you have done this and havenot refused to give me your son, youronly son,17 I will certainly bless you and makeyour descendants as numerous as thestars in the sky and the grains of sandon the seashore. Your descendants willtake possession of their enemies cities.18Through your descendant all thenations of the earth will be blessed,because you have obeyed me."19Then Abraham returned to hisservants, and together they left forBeersheba. Abraham remained inBeersheba.

Genesis 22.20–23.6 7220Later Abraham was told, "Milcah hasgiven birth to these children of yourbrother Nahor:21Uz (the firstborn), Buz (his brother),Kemuel (father of Aram),22Kesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, andBethuel.23Bethuel is the father of Rebekah.Milcah had these eight sons by Abrahamsbrother Nahor.24Nahors concubine, whose name wasReumah, had the following children:Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah."

231Sarah lived to be 127 years old.This was the length of her life.

2She died in Kiriath Arba (that is,Hebron) in Canaan. Abraham went tomourn for Sarah and to cry about herdeath.3Then Abraham left the side of his deadwife and spoke to the Hittites,4 "Im a stranger with no permanenthome. Let me have some of yourproperty for a tomb so that I can burymy dead wife."5The Hittites answered Abraham,6 "Listen to us, sir. You are a mightyleader among us. Bury your dead in one

Genesis 23.7–13 73

of our best tombs. Not one of us willwithhold from you his tomb for buryingyour dead."7Abraham got up in front of the Hittites,the people of that region, and bowedwith his face touching the ground.8He said to them, "If you are willingto let me bury my wife, listen to me.Encourage Ephron, son of Zohar,9 to let me have the cave of Machpelahthat he owns at the end of his field. Heshould sell it to me for its full price as myproperty to be used as a tomb amongyou."10Ephron was sitting among theHittites. He answered Abraham so thateveryone who was entering the city gatecould hear him. He said,11 "No, sir, listen to me. Im giving youthe field together with the cave that isin it. My people are witnesses that Imgiving it to you. Bury your wife!"12Abraham bowed down again in frontof the people of that region.13He spoke to Ephron so that thepeople of that region could hear him. Hesaid, "If you would only listen to me. Iwill pay you the price of the field. Take

Genesis 23.14–20 74

it from me so that I can bury my wifethere."14Ephron answered Abraham,15 "Sir, listen to me. The land is worthten pounds of silver. What is thatbetween us? Bury your wife!"16Abraham agreed to Ephrons terms.So he weighed out for Ephron theamount stated in front of the Hittites:ten pounds of silver at the currentmerchants exchange rate.17So Ephrons field at Machpelah, eastof Mamre, was sold18 to Abraham. His property includedthe field with the cave in it as well asall the trees inside the boundaries ofthe field. The Hittites together with allwho had entered the city gate were theofficial witnesses for the agreement.19After this, Abraham buried hiswife Sarah in the cave in the field ofMachpelah, east of Mamre (that is,Hebron).20So the field and its cave were sold bythe Hittites to Abraham as his propertyto be used as a tomb.

Genesis 24.1–7 75

241By now Abraham was old, andthe LORD had blessed him in

every way.2So Abraham said to the senior servantof his household who was in charge of allthat he owned, "Take a solemn oath.3 I want you to swear by the LORD Godof heaven and earth that you will not getmy son a wife from the daughters of theCanaanites among whom Im living.4 Instead, you will go to the land ofmy relatives and get a wife for my sonIsaac."5The servant asked him, "What if thewoman doesnt want to come back to thisland with me? Should I take your sonall the way back to the land you camefrom?"6 "Make sure that you do not take myson back there," Abraham said to him.7 "The LORD God of heaven took mefrom my fathers home and the land ofmy family. He spoke to me and sworethis oath: I will give this land to yourdescendants."God will send his angelahead of you, and you will get my son awife from there.

Genesis 24.8–14 768 If the woman doesnt want to comeback with you, then youll be free fromthis oath that you swear to me. But donttake my son back there."9So the servant did as his masterAbraham commanded and swore theoath to him concerning this.10Then the servant took ten of hismasters camels and left, taking withhim all of his masters best things. Hetraveled to Aram Naharaim, Nahors city.11The servant had the camels kneeldown outside the city by the well. It wasevening, when the women would go outto draw water.12Then he prayed, "LORD, God of mymaster Abraham, make me successfultoday. Show your kindness to Abraham.13Here I am standing by the spring,and the girls of the city are coming outto draw water.14 I will ask a girl, May I please havea drink from your jar? If she answers,Have a drink, and Ill also water yourcamels, let her be the one you havechosen for your servant Isaac. This wayIll know that youve shown your kindnessto my master."

Genesis 24.15–22 7715Before he had finished praying,Rebekah came with her jar on hershoulder. She was the daughter ofBethuel, son of Milcah, who was the wifeof Abrahams brother Nahor.16The girl was a very attractive virgin.No man had ever had sexual intercoursewith her. She went down to the spring,filled her jar, and came back.17The servant ran to meet her and said,"Please give me a drink of water."18 "Drink, sir," she said. She quicklylowered her jar to her hand and gavehim a drink.19When she had finished giving him adrink, she said, "Ill also keep drawingwater for your camels until theyve hadenough to drink."20So she quickly emptied her jar intothe water trough, ran back to the well todraw more water, and drew enough forall his camels.21The man was silently watching her tosee whether or not the LORD had madehis trip successful.22When the camels had finisheddrinking, the man took out a gold nose

Genesis 24.23–30 78

ring weighing a fifth of an ounce and twogold bracelets weighing four ounces.23He asked, "Whose daughter are you?Please tell me whether there is room inyour fathers house for us to spend thenight."24She answered him, "Im the daughterof Bethuel, son of Milcah and Nahor.25We have plenty of straw and feed foryour camels and room for you to spendthe night."26The man knelt, bowing to the LORDwith his face touching the ground.27He said, "Praise the LORD, the God ofmy master Abraham. The LORD hasntfailed to be kind and faithful to mymaster. The LORD has led me on this tripto the home of my masters relatives."28The girl ran and told her mothershousehold about these things.29Rebekah had a brother whose namewas Laban.30He saw the nose ring and thebracelets on his sisters wrists and heardher tell what the man had said to her.Immediately, Laban ran out to the manby the spring. He came to the man, who

Genesis 24.31–37 79

was standing with the camels by thespring.31He said, "Come in, you whom theLORD has blessed. Why are you standingout here? I have straightened up thehouse and made a place for the camels."32So the man went into the house. Thecamels were unloaded and given strawand feed. Then water was brought forhim and his men to wash their feet.33When the food was put in front ofhim, he said, "I wont eat until Ive saidwhat I have to say." "Speak up," Labansaid.34 "I am Abrahams servant," he said.35 "The LORD has blessed my master,and he has become wealthy. The LORDhas given him sheep and cattle, silverand gold, male and female slaves,camels and donkeys.36My masters wife Sarah gave him ason in her old age, and my master hasgiven that son everything he has.37My master made me swear this oath:Dont get a wife for my son from thedaughters of the Canaanites, in whoseland Im living.

Genesis 24.38–44 8038 Instead, go to my fathers home andto my relatives, and get my son a wife.39 "I asked my master, What if thewoman wont come back with me?40 "He answered me, I have been livingthe way the LORD wants me to. TheLORD will send his angel with you tomake your trip successful. You will getmy son a wife from my relatives andfrom my fathers family.41Then you will be free from your oathto me. You will also be free of your oathto me if my relatives are not willing todo this when you go to them.42 "When I came to the springtoday, I prayed, LORD God of mymaster Abraham, please make my tripsuccessful.43 Im standing by the spring. Ill sayto the young woman who comes out todraw water, "Please give me a drink ofwater."44 If she says to me, "Not only may youhave a drink, but I will also draw waterfor your camels," let her be the womanthe LORD has chosen for my mastersson.

Genesis 24.45–51 8145 "Before I had finished praying,Rebekah came with her jar on hershoulder. She went down to the springand drew water." So I asked her, May Ihave a drink?46She quickly lowered her jar and said,Have a drink, and Ill water your camelstoo. So I drank, and she also wateredthe camels.47 "Then I asked her, Whose daughterare you? "She answered, The daughterof Bethuel, son of Nahor and Milcah. "Iput the ring in her nose and the braceletson her wrists.48 I knelt, bowing down to the LORD. Ipraised the LORD, the God of my masterAbraham. The LORD led me in the rightdirection to get the daughter of mymasters relative for his son.49Tell me whether or not youre going toshow my master true kindness so that Iwill know what to do."50Laban and Bethuel answered, "This isfrom the LORD. We cant say anything toyou one way or another.51Heres Rebekah! Take her and go! Shewill become the wife of your mastersson, as the LORD has said."

Genesis 24.52–60 8252When Abrahams servant heard theiranswer, he bowed down to the LORD.53The servant took out gold and silverjewelry and clothes and gave themto Rebekah. He also gave expensivepresents to her brother and mother.54Then he and the men who were withhim ate and drank and spent the night.When they got up in the morning, hesaid, "Let me go back to my master."55Her brother and mother replied, "Letthe girl stay with us ten days or so. Afterthat she may go."56He said to them, "Dont delay menow that the LORD has made my tripsuccessful. Let me go back to mymaster."57So they said, "Well call the girl andask her."58They called for Rebekah and askedher, "Will you go with this man?" Shesaid, "Yes, Ill go."59So they let their sister Rebekah andher nurse go with Abrahams servant andhis men.60They gave Rebekah a blessing: "Mayyou, our sister, become the mother ofmany thousands of children. May your

Genesis 24.61–25.1 83

descendants take possession of theirenemies cities."61Then Rebekah and her maids left.Riding on camels, they followed the man.The servant took Rebekah and left.62 Isaac had just come back from BeerLahai Roi, since he was living in theNegev.63Toward evening Isaac went out intothe field to meditate. When he lookedup, he saw camels coming.64When Rebekah saw Isaac, she gotdown from her camel.65She asked the servant, "Who is thatman over there coming through the fieldto meet us?" "That is my master," theservant answered. Then she took herveil and covered herself.66The servant reported to Isaaceverything he had done.67 Isaac took her into his mother Sarahstent. He married Rebekah. She becamehis wife, and he loved her. So Isaac wascomforted after his mothers death.

251Abraham married again, and hiswifes name was Keturah.

Genesis 25.2–10 842Keturah gave birth to these sons ofAbraham: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan,Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.3 Jokshan was the father of Shebaand Dedan. Dedans descendants werethe Assyrians, the Letushites, and theLeummites.4The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher,Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. These werethe descendants of Keturah.5Abraham left everything he had toIsaac.6But while he was still living, Abrahamhad given gifts to the sons of hisconcubines. He sent them away from hisson Isaac to a land in the east.7Abraham lived 175 years.8Then he took his last breath, and diedat a very old age. After a long and fulllife, he joined his ancestors in death.9His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried himin the cave of Machpelah in the field ofEphron, son of Zohar the Hittite. Thecave is east of Mamre.10This was the field that Abraham hadbought from the Hittites. There Abrahamwas buried with his wife Sarah.

Genesis 25.11–19 8511After Abraham died, God blessed hisson Isaac, who settled near Beer LahaiRoi.12This is the account of the descendantsof Abrahams son Ishmael. He was theson of Sarahs Egyptian slave Hagar andAbraham.13These are the names of the sons ofIshmael listed in the order of their birth:Nebaioth (Ishmaels firstborn), Kedar,Adbeel, Mibsam,14Mishma, Dumah, Massa,15Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, andKedemah.16These are the sons of Ishmael andtheir names listed by their settlementsand camps12 leaders of their tribes.17 Ishmael lived 137 years. Then hetook his last breath and died. He joinedhis ancestors in death.18His descendants lived as nomadsfrom the region of Havilah to Shur, whichis near Egypt, in the direction of Assyria.They all fought with each other.19This is the account of Abrahams sonIsaac and his descendants. Abraham wasthe father of Isaac.

Genesis 25.20–27 8620 Isaac was 40 years old when hemarried Rebekah, daughter of Bethuelthe Aramean from Paddan Aram andsister of Laban the Aramean.21 Isaac prayed to the LORD for hiswife because she was childless. TheLORD answered his prayer, and his wifeRebekah became pregnant.22When the children inside her werestruggling with each other, she said, "Ifits like this now, what will become ofme?" So she went to ask the LORD.23The LORD said to her, "Two countriesare in your womb. Two nations will gotheir separate ways from birth. Onenation will be stronger than the other,and the older will serve the younger."24When the time came for her to givebirth, she had twins.25The first one born was red. His wholebody was covered with hair, so theynamed him Esau [Hairy].26Afterwards, his brother was born withhis hand holding on to Esaus heel, andso he was named Jacob [Heel]. Isaacwas 60 years old when they were born.27They grew up. Esau became anexpert hunter, an outdoorsman. Jacob

Genesis 25.28–26.1 87

remained a quiet man, staying aroundthe tents.28Because Isaac liked to eat the meatof wild animals, he loved Esau. However,Rebekah loved Jacob.29Once, Jacob was preparing a mealwhen Esau, exhausted, came in fromoutdoors.30So Esau said to Jacob, "Let me havethe whole pot of red stuff to eatthat redstuffIm exhausted." This is why he wascalled Edom.31 Jacob responded, "First, sell me yourrights as firstborn."32 "Im about to die." Esau said. "Whatgood is my inheritance to me?"33 "First, swear an oath," Jacob said. SoEsau swore an oath to him and sold himhis rights as firstborn.34Then Jacob gave Esau a meal ofbread and lentils. He ate and drank, andthen he got up and left. This is how Esaushowed his contempt for his rights asfirstborn.

261There was a famine in the land inaddition to the earlier one during

Abrahams time. So Isaac went to KingAbimelech of the Philistines in Gerar.

Genesis 26.2–8 882The LORD appeared to Isaac and said,"Dont go to Egypt. Stay where I tell you.3Live here in this land for a while, andI will be with you and bless you. I willgive all these lands to you and yourdescendants. I will keep the oath that Iswore to your father Abraham.4 I will make your descendants asnumerous as the stars in the sky andgive all these lands to your descendants.Through your descendant all the nationsof the earth will be blessed.5 I will bless you because Abrahamobeyed me and completed the duties,commands, laws, and instructions I gavehim."6So Isaac lived in Gerar.7When the men of that place askedabout his wife, Isaac answered, "Shesmy sister." He was afraid to say "mywife." He thought that the men of thatplace would kill him to get Rebekah,because she was an attractive woman.8When he had been there a longtime, King Abimelech of the Philistineslooked out of his window and saw Isaaccaressing his wife Rebekah.

Genesis 26.9–16 899Abimelech called for Isaac and said,"So shes really your wife! How could yousay, Shes my sister?" Isaac answeredhim, "I thought I would be killed becauseof her."10Then Abimelech said, "What haveyou done to us! One of the people mighthave easily gone to bed with your wife,and then you would have made us guiltyof sin."11So Abimelech ordered his people,"Anyone who touches this man or hiswife will be put to death."12 Isaac planted crops in that land. Inthat same year he harvested a hundredtimes as much as he had plantedbecause the LORD had blessed him.13He continued to be successful,becoming very rich.14Because he owned so many flocks,herds, and servants, the Philistinesbecame jealous of him.15So the Philistines filled in all the wellsthat his fathers servants had dug duringhis father Abrahams lifetime.16Finally, Abimelech said to Isaac, "Goaway from us! Youve become morepowerful than we are."

Genesis 26.17–24 9017So Isaac moved away. He set up histents in the Gerar Valley and lived there.18He dug out the wells that had beendug during his father Abrahams lifetime.The Philistines had filled them in afterAbrahams death. He gave them thesame names that his father had giventhem.19 Isaacs servants dug in the valley andfound a springfed well.20The herders from Gerar quarreledwith Isaacs herders, claiming, "Thiswater is ours!" So Isaac named the wellEsek [Argument], because they hadargued with him.21Then they dug another well, and theyquarreled over that one too. So Isaacnamed it Sitnah [Accusation].22He moved on from there and duganother well. They didnt quarrel over thisone. So he named it Rehoboth [Roomy]and said, "Now the LORD has made roomfor us, and we will prosper in this land."23He went from there to Beersheba.24That night the LORD appeared toIsaac, and said, "I am the God of yourfather Abraham. Dont be afraid, becauseI am with you. I will bless you and

Genesis 26.25–31 91

increase the number of your descendantsfor my servant Abrahams sake."25So Isaac built an altar there andworshiped the LORD. He also pitched histent in that place, and his servants duga well there.26Abimelech, his friend Ahuzzath, andPhicol, the commander of his army, camefrom Gerar to see Isaac.27 Isaac asked them, "Why have youcome to me, since you hate me and sentme away from you?"28They answered, "We have seen thatthe LORD is with you. So we thought,There should be a solemn agreementbetween us. Wed like to make anagreement with you29 that you will not harm us, since wehave not touched you. We have doneonly good to you and let you go in peace.Now you are blessed by the LORD."30 Isaac prepared a special dinner forthem, and they ate and drank.31Early the next morning theyexchanged oaths. Then Isaac sent themon their way, and they left peacefully.

Genesis 26.32–27.5 9232That same day Isaacs servants cameand told him about a well they had dug.They said to him, "Weve found water."33So he named it Shibah [Oath].That is why the name of the city is stillBeersheba today.34When Esau was 40 years old, hemarried Judith, daughter of Beeri theHittite. He also married Basemath,daughter of Elon the Hittite.35These women brought Isaac andRebekah a lot of grief.

271When Isaac was old and goingblind, he called his older son Esau

and said to him, "Son!" Esau answered,"Here I am."2 Isaac said, "Im old. I dont know whenIm going to die.3Now take your hunting equipment,your quiver and bow, and go out into theopen country and hunt some wild gamefor me.4Prepare a goodtasting meal for me,just the way I like it. Bring it to me toeat so that I will bless you before I die."5Rebekah was listening while Isaac wasspeaking to his son Esau. When Esau

Genesis 27.6–14 93

went into the open country to hunt forsome wild game to bring back,6Rebekah said to her son Jacob, "Ivejust heard your father speaking to yourbrother Esau.7He said, Bring me some wild game,and prepare a goodtasting meal for meto eat so that I will bless you in thepresence of the LORD before I die.8Now listen to me, Son, and do what Itell you.9Go to the flock, and get me two goodyoung goats. Ill prepare them as agoodtasting meal for your father, justthe way he likes it.10Then take it to your father to eat sothat he will bless you before he dies."11 Jacob said to his mother Rebekah,"My brother Esau is a hairy man, and myskin is smooth.12My father will feel my skin and thinkIm mocking him. Then Ill bring a curseon myself instead of a blessing."13His mother responded, "Let any curseon you fall on me, Son. Just obey meand go! Get me the young goats."14He went and got them and broughtthem to his mother. She prepared a

Genesis 27.15–21 94

goodtasting meal, just the way his fatherliked it.15Then Rebekah took her older sonEsaus good clothes, which she had in thehouse, and put them on her younger sonJacob.16She put the skins from the younggoats on his hands and on the back ofhis neck.17Then she gave her son Jacob thegoodtasting meal and the bread she hadprepared.18He went to his father and said,"Father?" "Yes?" he answered. "Who areyou, Son?"19 Jacob answered his father, "Im Esau,your firstborn. Ive done what you toldme. Sit up and eat this meat Ive huntedfor you so that you may bless me."20 Isaac asked his son, "How did youfind it so quickly, Son?" "The LORD yourGod brought it to me," he answered.21Then Isaac said to Jacob, "Come overhere so that I can feel your skin, Son,to find out whether or not you really aremy son Esau."

Genesis 27.22–29 9522So Jacob went over to his father.Isaac felt his skin. "The voice is Jacobs,"he said, "but the hands are Esaus."23He didnt recognize Jacob, becausehis hands were hairy like his brotherEsaus hands. So he blessed him.24 "Are you really my son Esau?" heasked him. "I am," Jacob answered.25 Isaac said, "Bring me some of thegame, and I will eat it, Son, so that Iwill bless you." Jacob brought it to Isaac,and he ate it. Jacob also brought himwine, and he drank it.26Then his father Isaac said to him,"Come here and give me a kiss, Son."27He went over and gave him a kiss.When Isaac smelled his clothes, heblessed him and said, "The smell of myson is like the smell of open country thatthe LORD has blessed.28May God give you dew from the sky,fertile fields on the earth, and plenty offresh grain and new wine.29May nations serve you. May peoplebow down to you. Be the master of yourbrothers, and may the sons of yourmother bow down to you. May those

Genesis 27.30–36 96

who curse you be cursed. May those whobless you be blessed."30 Isaac finished blessing Jacob. Jacobhad barely left when his brother Esaucame in from hunting.31He, too, prepared a goodtasting mealand brought it to his father. Then he saidto his father, "Please, Father, eat some ofthe meat Ive hunted for you so that youwill bless me."32 "Who are you?" his father Isaacasked him. "Im your firstborn son Esau,"he answered.33Trembling violently all over, Isaacasked, "Who hunted game and broughtit to me? I ate it before you came in. Iblessed him, and he will stay blessed."34When Esau heard these words fromhis father, he shouted out a very loudand bitter cry and said to his father,"Bless me too, Father!"35 Isaac said, "Your brother came anddeceived me and has taken away yourblessing."36Esau said, "Isnt that why hes namedJacob? Hes cheated me twice already:He took my rights as firstborn, and now

Genesis 27.37–42 97

hes taken my blessing." So he asked,"Havent you saved a blessing for me?"37 Isaac answered Esau, "I have madehim your master, and I have made all hisbrothers serve him. Ive provided freshgrain and new wine for him. What is leftfor me to do for you, Son?"38Esau asked, "Do you have only oneblessing, Fathe