Catholic Public Domain Version (CPDV)

1 And so Jacob, setting out, arrived in the eastern land.

2 And he saw a well in a field, and also three flocks of sheep reclining near it. For the animals were watered from it, and its mouth was closed with a great stone.

3 And the custom was, when all the sheep were gathered together, to roll away the stone. And when the flocks had been refreshed, they placed it over the mouth of the well again.

4 And he said to the shepherds, “Brothers, where are you from?” And they answered. “From Haran.”

5 And questioning them, he said, “Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.”

6 He said, “Is he well?” “He is very well,” they said. “And behold, his daughter Rachel approaches with his flock.”

7 And Jacob said, “There is still much daylight remaining, and it is not time to return the flocks to the sheepfold. Give the sheep to drink first, and then lead them back to pasture.”

8 They responded, “We cannot, until all the animals are gathered together and we remove the stone from the mouth of the well, so that we may water the flocks.”

9 They were still speaking, and behold, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep; for she pastured the flock.

10 When Jacob had seen her, and he realized that she was his maternal first cousin, and that these were the sheep of his uncle Laban, he removed the stone which closed the well.

11 And having watered the flock, he kissed her. And lifting up his voice, he wept.

12 And he revealed to her that he was a brother of her father, and the son of Rebekah. And so, hurrying, she announced it to her father.

13 And when he had heard that Jacob, his sister’s son, had arrived, he ran to meet him. And embracing him, and kissing him heartily, he brought him into his house. But when he had heard the reasons for his journey,

14 he responded, “You are my bone and my flesh.” And after the days of one month were completed,

15 he said to him: “Though you are my brother, will you serve me for nothing? Tell me what wages you would accept.”

16 In truth, he had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah; and truly the younger was called Rachel.

17 But while Leah was bleary-eyed, Rachel had an elegant appearance and was attractive to behold.

18 And Jacob, loving her, said, “I will serve you for seven years, for your younger daughter Rachel.”

19 Laban responded, “It is better that I give her to you than to another man; remain with me.”

20 Therefore, Jacob served for seven years for Rachel. And these seemed like only a few days, because of the greatness of love.

21 And he said to Laban, “Give my wife to me. For now the time has been fulfilled, so that I may go in to her.”

22 And he, having called a great crowd of his friends to the feast, agreed to the marriage.

23 And at night, he brought in his daughter Leah to him,

24 giving his daughter a handmaid named Zilpah. After Jacob had gone in to her, according to custom, when morning had arrived, he saw Leah.

25 And he said to his father-in-law, “What is it that you intended to do? Did I not serve you for Rachel? Why have you deceived me?”

26 Laban responded, “It is not the practice in this place to give the younger in marriage first.

27 Complete a week of days with this mating. And then I will give this one to you also, for the service that you will provide to me for another seven years.”

28 He agreed to his pleading. And after the week had passed, he took Rachel as a wife.

29 To her, the father had given Bilhah as her servant.

30 And, having at last obtained the marriage he desired, he preferred the love of the latter before the former, and he served with him another seven years.

31 But the Lord, seeing that he despised Leah, opened her womb, but her sister remained barren.

32 Having conceived, she gave birth to a son, and she called his name Reuben, saying: “The Lord saw my humiliation; now my husband will love me.”

33 And again she conceived and bore a son, and she said, “Because the Lord heard that I was treated with contempt, he has also given this one to me.” And she called his name Simeon.

34 And she conceived a third time, and she gave birth to another son, and she said: “Now likewise my husband will unite with me, because I have borne him three sons.” And because of this, she called his name Levi.

35 A fourth time she conceived and bore a son, and she said, “Only now will I confess to the Lord.” And for this reason, she called him Judah. And she ceased from child-bearing.

1 Then Rachel, discerning that she was infertile, envied her sister, and so she said to her husband, “Give me children, otherwise I will die.”

2 Jacob, being angry, responded to her, “Am I in the place of God, who has deprived you of the fruit of your womb?”

3 But she said: “I have a handmaid Bilhah. Go in to her, so that she may give birth upon my knees, and I may have sons by her.”

4 And she gave him Bilhah in marriage.

5 And when her husband had gone in to her, she conceived and bore a son.

6 And Rachel said, “The Lord has judged for me, and he has heeded my voice, giving me a son.” And because of this, she called his name Dan.

7 And conceiving again, Bilhah bore another,

8 about whom Rachel said, “God has compared me with my sister, and I have prevailed.” And she called him Naphtali.

9 Leah, perceiving that she had desisted from child-bearing, delivered Zilpah, her handmaid, to her husband.

10 And she, after having borne a son with difficulty,

11 said: “Happiness!” And for this reason, she called his name Gad.

12 Likewise, Zilpah bore another.

13 And Leah said, “This one is for my happiness. Indeed, women will call me blessed.” Because of this, she called him Asher.

14 Then Reuben, going out into the field at the time of the wheat harvest, found mandrakes. These he brought to his mother Leah. And Rachel said, “Give me a portion of your son’s mandrakes.”

15 She responded, “Does it seem like such a small matter to you, that you have usurped from me my husband, unless you will also take my son’s mandrakes?” Rachel said, “He will sleep with you this night because of your son’s mandrakes.”

16 And when Jacob returned from the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him, and she said, “You will enter to me, because I have hired you for the reward of my son’s mandrakes.” And he slept with her that night.

17 And God heard her prayers. And she conceived and bore a fifth son.

18 And she said, “God has given a reward to me, because I gave my handmaid to my husband.” And she called his name Issachar.

19 Conceiving again, Leah bore a sixth son.

20 And she said: “God has endowed me with a good dowry. And now, at this turn, my husband will be with me, because I have conceived six sons for him.” And therefore she called his name Zebulun.

21 After him, she bore a daughter, named Dinah.

22 The Lord, likewise remembering Rachel, heeded her and opened her womb.

23 And she conceived and bore a son, saying, “God has taken away my reproach.”

24 And she called his name Joseph, saying, “The Lord has added to me another son.”

25 But when Joseph was born, Jacob said to his father-in-law: “Release me, so that I may return to my native country and to my land.

26 Give me my wives, and my children, for whom I have served you, so that I may depart. You know the servitude with which I have served you.”

27 Laban said to him: “May I find grace in your sight. I have learned by experience that God has blessed me because of you.

28 Choose your wages, which I will give you.”

29 But he responded: “You know how I have served you, and how great your possession became in my hands.

30 You had little before I came to you, and now you have achieved riches. And the Lord has blessed you since my arrival. It is just, therefore, that at sometime I also should provide for my own house.”

31 And Laban said, “What shall I give to you?” But he said, “I want nothing. But if you will do what I ask, I will feed and guard your sheep again.

32 Go around through all your flocks and separate all the sheep of variegated or spotted fleece; and whatever will be darkened or blemished or variegated, as much among the sheep as among the goats, will be my wages.

33 And my justice will answer on my behalf tomorrow, when the time of settlement arrives before you. And all that is not variegated or blemished or darkened, as much among the sheep as among the goats, these will prove me to be a thief.”

34 And Laban said, “I hold favor for this request.”

35 And on that day he separated the she-goats, and the sheep, and the he-goats, and the rams with variegations or with blemishes. But every one of the flock which was of one color, that is, of white or of black fleece, he delivered into the hands of his sons.

36 And he established a distance of three days journey between himself and his son-in-law, who pastured the remainder of his flock.

37 Then Jacob, taking green branches of poplar, and almond, and sycamore trees, debarked them in part. And when the bark was pulled off, in the parts that were stripped, there appeared whiteness, yet the parts that were left whole, remained green. And so, in this way the color was made variegated.

38 And he placed them in the troughs, where the water was poured out, so that when the flocks had arrived to drink, they would have the branches before their eyes, and in their sight they might conceive.

39 And it happened that, in the very heat of joining together, the sheep looked upon the branches, and they bore the blemished and the variegated, those speckled with diverse color.

40 And Jacob divided the flock, and he set the branches in the troughs before the eyes of the rams. Now whatever was white or black belonged to Laban, but, in truth, the others belonged to Jacob, for the flocks were dispersed among one another.

41 Therefore, when the first to arrive were climbing on the ewes, Jacob placed the branches in the troughs of water before the eyes of the rams and the sheep, so that they might conceive while they were gazing upon them.

42 Yet when the late arrivals and the last to conceive were let in, he did not place these. And so those that arrived late became Laban’s, and those that arrived first became Jacob’s.

43 And the man was enriched beyond limit, and he had many flocks, women servants and men servants, camels and donkeys.

1 But afterwards, he heard the words of the sons of Laban, saying, “Jacob has taken all that was our father’s, and being enlarged by his ability, he has become famous.”

2 Likewise, he observed that Laban’s face was not the same toward him as it was yesterday and the day before.

3 Most importantly, the Lord was saying to him, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your generation, and I will be with you.”

4 He sent and called for Rachel and Leah, in the field where he pastured the flocks,

5 and he said to them: “I see that your father’s face is not the same toward me as it was yesterday and the day before. But the God of my father has been with me.

6 And you know that I have served your father with all my strength.

7 Even so, your father has circumvented me, and he has changed my wages ten times. And yet God has not permitted him to harm me.

8 Whenever he said, ‘The speckled will be your wages,’ all the sheep gave birth to speckled newborns. Yet truly, when he said the contrary, ‘You will take whatever is white for your wages,’ all the flocks gave birth to white ones.

9 And it is God who has taken your father’s substance and given it to me.

10 For after the time had arrived for the ewes to conceive, I lifted up my eyes, and I saw in my sleep that the males climbing on the females were of variegated, and spotted, and diverse colors.

11 And the Angel of God said to me in my sleep, ‘Jacob.’ And I responded, ‘Here I am.’

12 And he said: ‘Lift up your eyes, and see that all the males climbing on the females are variegated, spotted, and also speckled. For I have seen all that Laban has done to you.

13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the stone and made a vow to me. Now therefore arise, and depart from this land, returning to the land of your nativity.’ “

14 And Rachel and Leah responded: “Have we anything left behind among the resources and inheritance of our father’s house?

15 Has he not considered us as foreigners, and sold us, and consumed our price?

16 But God has taken our father’s riches and handed these to us and to our sons. Therefore, do all that God has instructed you.”

17 And so Jacob rose up, and having placed the children and his wives upon camels, he went forth.

18 And he took all his substance and flocks, and whatever he had acquired in Mesopotamia, and he journeyed to his father Isaac, in the land of Canaan.

19 At that time, Laban had gone to shear the sheep, and so Rachel stole her father’s idols.

20 And Jacob was not willing to confess to his father-in-law that he was fleeing.

21 And when he had gone away with all such things that were justly his, and, having crossed the river, was continuing on toward Mount Gilead,

22 it was reported to Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled.

23 And taking his brothers with him, he pursued him for seven days. And he overtook him at Mount Gilead.

24 And he saw in a dream, God saying to him, “Beware that you not speak anything harsh against Jacob.”

25 And now Jacob had pitched his tent at the mountain. And when he, with his brothers, had overtaken him, he set his tent at the same place at Mount Gilead.

26 And he said to Jacob: “Why have you acted this way, departing from me in secret, with my daughters like captives of the sword?

27 Why would you want to flee without my knowledge and without telling me, though I might have led you forward with gladness, and songs, and timbrels, and lyres?

28 You have not permitted me to kiss my sons and daughters. You have acted foolishly. And now, indeed,

29 my hand has power to repay you with harm. But the God of your father said to me yesterday, ‘Beware that you not speak anything stern against Jacob.’

30 It may be that you desired to go to your own, and that you longed for the house of your father. But why have you stolen my gods?”

31 Jacob answered: “I set out, unknown to you, because I feared that you might take away your daughters by violence.

32 But, since you accuse me of theft, with whomever you will find your gods, let him be slain in the sight of our brothers. Search; anything of yours that you will find with me, take it away.” Now when he said this, he did not know that Rachel had stolen the idols.

33 And so Laban, entering the tent of Jacob, and of Leah, and of both the handmaids, did not find them. And when he had entered the tent of Rachel,

34 she quickly hid the idols under the camel’s bedding, and she sat upon them. And when he had searched the entire tent and found nothing,

35 she said: “Do not be angry, my lord, that I am unable to rise up in your sight, because it has now happened to me according to the custom of women.” So his careful search was thwarted.

36 And Jacob, being inflated, said with contention: “For which fault of mine, or for what sin of mine, have you become so enraged against me

37 and searched all the items of my house? What have you found from all the substance of your house? Place it here before my brothers, and your brothers, and let them judge between me and you.

38 For what reason have I been with you for twenty years? Your ewes and she-goats were not barren; the rams of your flocks I did not consume.

39 Neither did I reveal to you what was seized by the wild beast. I replaced all that was damaged. Whatever was lost by theft, you collected it from me.

40 Day and night, I was burned by heat and by frost, and sleep fled from my eyes.

41 And in this way, for twenty years, I have served you in your house: fourteen for your daughters, and six for your flocks. You have also changed my wages ten times.

42 If the God of my father Abraham and the fear of Isaac had not been close to me, perhaps by now you would have sent me away naked. But God looked kindly on my affliction and the labor of my hands, and he rebuked you yesterday.”

43 Laban answered him: “My daughters and sons, and your flocks, and all that you discern are mine. What can I do to my sons and grandchildren?

44 Come, therefore, let us enter into a pact, so that it may be a testimony between me and you.”

45 And so Jacob took a stone, and he set it up as a memorial.

46 And he said to his brothers, “Bring stones.” And they, gathering together stones, made a tomb, and they ate upon it.

47 And Laban called it, ‘Tomb of Witness,’ and Jacob, ‘Pile of Testimony;’ each of them according to the fitness of his own language.

48 And Laban said: “This tomb will be a witness between me and you this day.” (And for this reason, its name has been called Gilead, that is, ‘Tomb of Witness.’)

49 “May the Lord consider and judge between us, when we will have withdrawn from one another.

50 If you afflict my daughters, and if you bring in other wives over them, no one is a witness of our words except God, who understands beforehand.”

51 And again he said to Jacob. “Lo, this tomb and the stone that I have set up between me and you,

52 will be a witness. This tomb,” I say, “and the stone, they are for testimony, in case either I cross beyond it going toward you, or you cross beyond it thinking to harm me.

53 May the God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” Therefore, Jacob swore by the fear of his father Isaac.

54 And after he had immolated sacrifices on the mountain, he called his brothers to eat bread. And when they had eaten, they lodged there.

55 In truth, Laban rose up in the night, and he kissed his sons and daughters, and he blessed them. And he returned to his place.

1 Likewise, Jacob continued on the journey that he had begun. And the Angels of God met him.

2 When he had seen them, he said, “These are the Encampments of God.” And he called the name of that place Mahanaim, that is, ‘Encampments.’

3 Then he also sent messengers before him to his brother Esau, in the land of Seir, in the region of Edom.

4 And he instructed them, saying: “You shall speak in this way to my lord Esau: ‘Your brother Jacob says these things: “I have sojourned with Laban, and I have been with him until the present day.

5 I have oxen, and donkeys, and sheep, and men servants, and women servants. And now I send an ambassador to my lord, so that I may find favor in your sight.” ‘ “

6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We went to your brother Esau, and behold, he rushes to meet you with four hundred men.”

7 Jacob was very afraid. And in his terror, he divided the people who were with him, likewise the flocks, and the sheep, and the oxen, and the camels, into two companies,

8 saying: “If Esau goes to one company, and strikes it, the other company, which is left behind, will be saved.”

9 And Jacob said: “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 nativity, and I will do well for you.’

10 I am less than any of your compassions and your truth, which you have fulfilled to your servant. With my staff I crossed over this Jordan. And now I go back with two companies.

11 Rescue me from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am very afraid of him, lest perhaps he may come and strike down the mother with the sons.

12 You did say that you would do well by me, and that you would expand my offspring like the sand of the sea, which, because of its multitude, cannot be numbered.”

13 And when he had slept there that night, he separated, from the things that he had, gifts for his brother Esau:

14 two hundred she-goats, twenty he-goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams,

15 thirty milking camels with their young, forty cows, and twenty bulls, twenty she-donkeys, and ten of their young.

16 And he sent them by the hands of his servants, each flock separately, and he said to his servants: “Pass before me, and let there be a space between flock and flock.”

17 And he instructed the first, saying: “If you happen to meet my brother Esau, and he questions you: “Whose are you?” or, “Where are you going?” or, “Whose are these which follow you?”

18 you shall respond: “Your servant Jacob’s. He has sent them as a gift to my lord Esau. And he is also coming after us.”

19 Similarly, he gave orders to the second, and the third, and to all who followed the flocks, saying: “Speak these same words to Esau, when you find him.

20 And you will add: ‘Your servant Jacob himself also follows after us, for he said: “I will appease him with the gifts that go ahead, and after this, I will see him; perhaps he will be gracious to me.” ‘ “

21 And so the gifts went before him, but he himself lodged that night in the camp.

22 And when he had arisen early, he took his two wives, and the same number of handmaids, with his eleven sons, and he crossed over the ford of Jabbok.

23 And having delivered over all the things that belonged to him,

24 he remained alone. And behold, a man wrestled with him until morning.

25 And when he saw that he would not be able to overcome him, he touched the nerve of his thigh, and immediately it withered.

26 And he said to him, “Release me, for now the dawn ascends.” He responded, “I will not release you, unless you bless me.”

27 Therefore he said, “What is your name?” He answered, “Jacob.”

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

29 Jacob questioned him, “Tell me, by what name are you called?” He responded, “Why do you ask my name?” And he blessed him in the same place.

30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “I have seen God face to face, and my soul has been saved.”

31 And immediately the sun rose upon him, after he had crossed beyond Peniel. Yet in truth, he limped on his foot.

32 For this reason, the sons of Israel, even to the present day, do not eat the nerve that withered in Jacob’s thigh, because he touched the nerve of his thigh and it was obstructed.

1 Then Jacob, lifting up his eyes, saw Esau arriving, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the sons of Leah and Rachel, and of both the handmaids.

2 And he placed the two handmaids and their children at the beginning. Truly, Leah and her sons were in the second place. Then Rachel and Joseph were last.

3 And advancing, he reverenced prostrate on the ground seven times, until his brother approached.

4 And so Esau ran to meet his brother, and he embraced him. And drawing him by his neck and kissing him, he wept.

5 And lifting up his eyes, he saw the women and their little ones, and he said: “What do these want for themselves?” and “Are they related to you?” He responded, “These are the little ones that God has given as a gift to me, your servant.”

6 Then the handmaids and their sons approached and bowed down.

7 Likewise Leah, with her sons, came near. And when they had reverenced similarly, last of all, Joseph and Rachel reverenced.

8 And Esau said, “What are these companies that I have been meeting?” He responded, “So may I find favor before my lord.”

9 But he said, “I have plenty, my brother; let these be for yourself.”

10 And Jacob said: “I beg you, let it not be so. But if I have found favor in your eyes, receive a small present from my hands. For I have looked upon your face as I would look upon the countenance of God. Be gracious to me,

11 and take the blessing which I have brought to you, and which God, who bestows all things, has given as a gift to me.” Accepting it reluctantly, at the insistence of his brother,

12 he said, “Let us go on together, and I will accompany you on your journey.”

13 And Jacob said: “My lord, you know that I have with me tender little ones, and sheep, and cows with young. If I cause these to labor too much in walking, all the flocks will die in one day.

14 May it please my lord to go before his servant. And I will follow gradually in his steps, as much as I see my little ones to be able, until I arrive to my lord in Seir.”

15 Esau responded, “I beg you, that at least some of the people who are with me may remain to accompany you on the way.” But he said, “There is no need. I have need of one thing only: to find favor in your sight, my lord.”

16 And so Esau returned that day, by the way that he had arrived, to Seir.

17 And Jacob went to Succoth, where, having built a house and pitched tents, he called the name of that place Succoth, that is, ‘Tents.’

18 And he crossed over to Salem, a city of the Shechemites, which is in the land of Canaan, after he returned from Mesopotamia of Syria. And he lived near the town.

19 And he bought the part of the field in which he had pitched his tents from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for one hundred lambs.

20 And erecting an altar there, he invoked upon it the most strong God of Israel.

1 Then Dinah, the daughter of Leah, went out to see the women of that region.

2 And when Shechem, the son of Hamor the Hivite, the leader of that land, had seen her, he fell in love with her. And so he seized her and slept with her, overwhelming the virgin by force.

3 And his soul was closely bound to her, and, since she was sorrowful, he soothed her with flattery.

4 And going on to Hamor, his father, he said, “Obtain this girl for me as a mate.”

5 But when Jacob had heard this, since his sons were absent and he was occupied in pasturing the cattle, he remained silent until they came back.

6 Then, when Hamor, the father of Shechem, had gone out to speak to Jacob,

7 behold, his sons arrived from the field. And hearing what had happened, they were very angry, because he had done a filthy thing in Israel and, in violating a daughter of Jacob, had perpetrated an unlawful act.

8 And so Hamor spoke to them: “The soul of my son Shechem has become attached to your daughter. Give her to him as a wife.

9 And let us celebrate marriages with one with another. Give us your daughters, and receive our daughters.

10 And live with us. The land is in your power: cultivate, trade, and possess it.”

11 And Shechem even said to her father and to her brothers: “May I find favor in your sight, and whatever you will appoint, I will give.

12 Increase the dowry, and request gifts, and I will freely bestow what you will ask. Only give me this girl as a wife.”

13 The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and his father with deceit, being enraged at the rape of their sister:

14 “We are not able to do what you ask, nor to give our sister to an uncircumcised man. For us, this is unlawful and abominable.

15 But we may succeed in this, so as to be allied with you, if you are willing to become like us, and if all the male sex among you will be circumcised.

16 Then we will mutually give and receive your daughters as well as ours; and we will live with you, and we will become one people.

17 But if you will not be circumcised, we will take our daughter and withdraw.”

18 Their offer pleased Hamor and his son Shechem.

19 Neither did the young man cause any delay; in fact he immediately fulfilled what was requested. For he loved the girl very much, and he was well-known throughout his father’s house.

20 And entering at the gate of the city, they spoke to the people:

21 “These men are peaceful, and they want to live among us. Let them trade in the land and cultivate it, for, being spacious and broad, it is in need of cultivation. We will receive their daughters as wives, and we will give them ours.

22 There is one thing that prevents so great a good: whether we will circumcise our males, imitating the ritual of their nation.

23 And their substance, and cattle, and all that they possess, will be ours, if only we will acquiesce to this, and so, in living together, will form one people.”

24 And they all agreed to circumcise every one of the males.

25 And behold, on the third day, when the pain of the wound was greatest, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, the brothers of Dinah, boldly entered the city with swords. And they put to death all of the males.

26 They killed Hamor and Shechem together, taking their sister Dinah from the house of Shechem.

27 And when they had departed, the other sons of Jacob rushed over the slain, and they plundered the city in vengeance for the rape.

28 Taking their sheep, and herds, and donkeys, and laying waste to everything else that was in their houses and in their fields,

29 they also took their little ones and their wives captive.

30 When they had boldly completed these acts, Jacob said to Simeon and Levi: “You have troubled me, and you have made me hateful to the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the inhabitants of this land. We are few. They, gathering themselves together, may strike me down, and then both I and my house will be wiped away.”

31 They responded, “Should they abuse our sister like a prostitute?”

1 About this time, God said to Jacob, “Arise and go up to Bethel, and live there, and make an altar to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”

2 In truth, Jacob, having called together all his house, said: “Cast away the foreign gods that are in your midst and be cleansed, and also change your garments.

3 Arise, and let us go up to Bethel, so that we may make an altar there to God, who heeded me in the day of my tribulation, and who accompanied me on my journey.”

4 Therefore, they gave him all the foreign gods which they had, and the earrings which were in their ears. And then he buried them under the terebinth tree, which is beyond the city of Shechem.

5 And when they had set out, the terror of God invaded all the surrounding cities, and they dared not pursue them as they withdrew.

6 And so, Jacob arrived at Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, also named Bethel: he and all the people with him.

7 And he built an altar there, and he called the name of that place, ‘House of God.’ For there God appeared to him when he fled from his brother.

8 About the same time, Deborah, the nurse of Rebekah, died, and she was buried at the base of Bethel, under an oak tree. And the name of that place was called, ‘Oak of Weeping.’

9 Then God appeared again to Jacob, after he returned from Mesopotamia of Syria, and he blessed him,

10 saying: “You will no longer be called Jacob, for your name shall be Israel.” And he called him Israel,

11 and he said to him: “I am Almighty God: increase and multiply. Tribes and peoples of nations will be from you, and kings will go forth from your loins.

12 And the land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give to you, and to your offspring after you.”

13 And he withdrew from him.

14 In truth, he set up a monument of stone, in the place where God had spoken to him, pouring out libations over it, and pouring oil,

15 and he called the name of that place, ‘Bethel.’

16 Then, departing from there, he arrived in springtime at the land that leads to Ephrath. And there, when Rachel was giving birth,

17 because it was a difficult birth, she began to be in danger. And the midwife said to her, “Do not be afraid, for you will have this son also.”

18 Then, when her life was departing because of the pain, and death was now imminent, she called the name of her son Benoni, that is, the son of my pain. Yet truly, his father called him Benjamin, that is, the son of the right hand.

19 And so Rachel died, and she was buried in the way that leads to Ephrath: this place is Bethlehem.

20 And Jacob erected a monument over her sepulcher. This is the monument to Rachel’s tomb, even to the present day.

21 Departing from there, he pitched his tent beyond the Tower of the Flock.

22 And when he was living in that region, Reuben went out, and he slept with Bilhah the concubine of his father, which was not such a small matter as to be hidden from him. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.

23 The sons of Leah: Reuben the first born, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun.

24 The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.

25 The sons of Bilhah, handmaid of Rachel: Dan and Naphtali.

26 The sons of Zilpah, handmaid of Leah: Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Mesopotamia of Syria.

27 And then he went to his father Isaac in Mamre, the city of Arba: this place is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.

28 And the days of Isaac were completed: one hundred and eighty years.

29 And being consumed by old age, he died. And he was placed with his people, being old and full of days. And his sons, Esau and Jacob, buried him.

1 Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom.

2 Esau took wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite,

3 and Basemath, the daughter of Ishmael, sister of Nebaioth.

4 Then Adah bore Eliphaz. Basemath conceived Reuel.

5 Oholibamah conceived Jeush, and Jalam, and Korah. These are the sons of Esau, who were born to him in the land of Canaan.

6 Then Esau took his wives, and sons, and daughters, and every soul of his house, and his substance, and cattle, and whatever he was able to obtain in the land of Canaan, and he went into another region, withdrawing from his brother Jacob.

7 For they were very wealthy and were not able to live together. Neither was the land of their sojourn able to sustain them, because of the multitude of their flocks.

8 And Esau lived at mount Seir: he is Edom.

9 So these are the generations of Esau, the father of Edom, at mount Seir,

10 and these are the names of his sons: Eliphaz the son of Adah, the wife of Esau, likewise Reuel, the son of Basemath, his wife.

11 And Eliphaz had sons: Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenez.

12 Now Timna was the concubine of Eliphaz, the son of Esau. And she bore him Amalek. These are the sons of Adah, the wife of Esau.

13 And the sons of Reuel were Nahath and Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. These are the sons of Basemath, the wife of Esau.

14 Likewise, these were the sons of Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, the wife of Esau, whom she bore to him: Jeush, and Jalam, and Korah.

15 These were leaders of the sons of Esau, the sons of Eliphaz, the firstborn of Esau: leader Teman, leader Omar, leader Zepho, leader Kenez,

16 leader Korah, leader Gatam, leader Amalek. These are the sons of Eliphaz, in the land of Edom, and these the sons of Adah.

17 Likewise, these are the sons of Reuel, the son of Esau: leader Nahath, leader Zerah, leader Shammah, leader Mizzah. And these were the leaders of Reuel, in the land of Edom. These are the sons of Basemath, the wife of Esau.

18 Now these are the sons of Oholibamah, the wife of Esau: leader Jeush, leader Jalam, leader Korah. These were the leaders of Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah and the wife of Esau.

19 These are the sons of Esau, and these were their leaders: this is Edom.

20 These are the sons of Seir, the Horite, the inhabitants of the land: Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah,

21 and Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan. These were the leaders of the Horites, the sons of Seir, in the land of Edom.

22 Now Lotan produced sons: Hori and Heman. But the sister of Lotan was Timna.

23 And these are the sons of Shobal: Alvan, and Manahath, and Ebal, and Shepho, and Onam.

24 And these are the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. This is the Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness, when he was pasturing the donkeys of his father Zibeon.

25 And he had a son Dishon, and a daughter Oholibamah.

26 And these are the sons of Dishon: Hemdan, and Esheban, and Ithran, and Cheran.

27 Likewise, these are the sons of Ezer: Bilhan, and Zaavan, and Akan.

28 Then Dishan had sons: Uz and Aran.

29 These were the leaders of the Horites: leader Lotan, leader Shobal, leader Zibeon, leader Anah,

30 leader Dishon, leader Ezer, leader Disan. These were leaders of the Horites who ruled in the land of Seir.

31 Now before the sons of Israel had a king, the kings who ruled in the land of Edom were these:

32 Bela the son of Beor, and the name of his city was Dinhabah.

33 Then Bela died, and Jobab, the son of Zerah from Bozrah, reigned in his place.

34 And when Jobab was dead, Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place.

35 Likewise, this one having died, Hadad the son of Bedad reigned in his place. He struck down Midian in the region of Moab. And the name of his city was Avith.

36 And when Adad was dead, Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place.

37 Likewise, this one being dead, Shaul of the river Rehoboth, reigned in his place.

38 And when he also had passed away, Baal-hanan, the son of Achbor, succeeded to the kingdom.

39 Likewise, this one being dead, Hadar reigned in his place; and the name of his city was Pau. And his wife was called Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, daughter of Mezahab.

40 Therefore, these were the names of the leaders of Esau, by their families, and places, and in their vocabulary: leader Timna, leader Alvah, leader Jetheth,

41 leader Oholibamah, leader Elah, leader Pinon,

42 leader Kanez, leader Teman, leader Mibzar,

43 leader Magdiel, leader Iram. These were the leaders of Edom living in the land of their rule: this is Esau, the father of Idumea.

1 Now Jacob lived in the land of Canaan, where his father sojourned.

2 And these are his generations. Joseph, when he was sixteen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers, when he was still a boy. And he was with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, the wives of his father. And he accused his brothers to their father of a most sinful crime.

3 Now Israel loved Joseph above all his sons, because he had conceived him in his old age. And he made him a tunic, woven of many colors.

4 Then his brothers, seeing that he was loved by his father more than all his other sons, hated him, and they were not able to say anything peacefully to him.

5 Then it also happened that he recounted the vision of a dream to his brothers, for which reason a greater hatred began to be nurtured.

6 And he said to them, “Listen to my dream that I saw.

7 I thought we were binding sheaves in the field. And my sheaf seemed to rise up and stand, and your sheaves, standing in a circle, reverenced my sheaf.”

8 His brothers responded: “Would you be our king? Or will we be subject to your dominion?” Therefore, this matter of his dreams and words provided kindling to their envy and hatred.

9 Likewise, he saw another dream, which he explained to his brothers, saying, “I saw by a dream, as if the sun, and the moon, and eleven stars were reverencing me.”

10 And when he had related this to his father and brothers, his father rebuked him, and he said: “What does it mean to you, this dream that you have seen? Should I, and your mother, and your brothers reverence you upon the earth?”

11 Therefore, his brothers were envious of him. Yet truly, his father considered the matter silently.

12 And while his brothers were lodging at Shechem, pasturing their father’s flocks,

13 Israel said to him: “Your brothers are pasturing the sheep at Shechem. Come, I will send you to them.” And when he answered,

14 “I am ready,” he said to him, “Go, and see if everything is prospering with your brothers and the cattle, and report to me what is happening.” So, having been sent from the valley of Hebron, he arrived at Shechem.

15 And a man found him wandering in a field, and he asked him what he was seeking.

16 So he responded: “I seek my brothers. Tell me where they pasture the flocks.”

17 And the man said to him: “They have withdrawn from this place. But I heard them saying, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’ ” Therefore, Joseph continued on after his brothers, and he found them at Dothan.

18 And, when they had seen him from afar, before he approached them, they decided to kill him.

19 And they said one to another: “Behold, the dreamer approaches.

20 Come, let us kill him and cast him into the old cistern. And let us say: ‘an evil wild beast has devoured him.’ And then it will become apparent what his dreams will do for him.”

21 But Reuben, on hearing this, strove to free him from their hands, and he said:

22 “Do not take away his life, nor shed blood. But throw him into this cistern, which is in the wilderness, and so keep your hands harmless.” But he said this, wanting to rescue him from their hands, so as to return him to his father.

23 And so, as soon as he came to his brothers, they very quickly stripped him of his tunic, which was ankle-length and woven of many colors,

24 and they cast him into an old cistern, which held no water.

25 And sitting down to eat bread, they saw some Ishmaelites, travelers coming from Gilead, with their camels, carrying spices, and resin, and oil of myrrh into Egypt.

26 Therefore, Judah said to his brothers: “What will it profit us, if we kill our brother and conceal his blood?

27 It is better that he be sold to the Ishmaelites, and then our hands will not be defiled. For he is our brother and our flesh.” His brothers agreed to his words.

28 And when the Midianite merchants were passing by, they drew him from the cistern, and they sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And these led him into Egypt.

29 And Reuben, returning to the cistern, did not find the boy.

30 And rending his garments, he went to his brothers and said, “The boy is not present, and so where shall I go?”

31 Then they took his tunic, and they dipped it in the blood of a young goat, which they had killed,

32 sending those who carried it to their father, and they said: “We found this. See whether it is the tunic of your son or not.”

33 And when the father acknowledged it, he said: “It is the tunic of my son. An evil wild beast has eaten him; a beast has devoured Joseph.”

34 And tearing his garments, he was clothed in haircloth, mourning his son for a long time.

35 Then, when all of his sons gathered together to ease their father’s sorrow, he was not willing to accept consolation, but he said: “I will descend in mourning to my son in the underworld.” And while he persevered in weeping,

36 the Midianites in Egypt sold Joseph to Potiphar, a eunuch of Pharaoh, instructor of the soldiers.

1 About the same time, Judah, descending from his brothers, turned toward an Adullamite man, named Hirah.

2 And he saw there the daughter of a man called Shua, of Canaan. And taking her as a wife, he entered to her.

3 And she conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Er.

4 And conceiving offspring again, having given birth to a son, she called him Onan.

5 Likewise, she bore a third, whom she called Shelah, after whose birth, she ceased to bear any more.

6 Then Judah gave a wife to his first born Er, whose name was Tamar.

7 And it also happened that Er, the first born of Judah, was wicked in the sight of the Lord and was killed by him.

8 Therefore, Judah said to his son Onan: “Enter to the wife of your brother, and associate with her, so that you may raise offspring to your brother.”

9 He, knowing that the sons to be born would not be his, when he entered to the wife of his brother, he spilled his seed on the ground, lest children should be born in his brother’s name.

10 And for this reason, the Lord struck him down, because he did a detestable thing.

11 Because of this matter, Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Be a widow in your father’s house, until my son Shelah grows up.” For he was afraid, lest he also might die, just as his brothers did. She went away, and she lived in her father’s house.

12 Then, after many days had passed, the daughter of Shua, the wife of Judah, died. And when he accepted consolation after his mourning, he went up to the shearers of his sheep at Timnah, he and Hirah, the herdsman of the Adullamite flock.

13 And it was reported to Tamar that her father-in-law had gone up to Timnah to shear the sheep.

14 And storing away the garments of her widowhood, she took up a veil. And changing her clothing, she sat at the crossroad that leads to Timnah, because Shelah had grown up, and she had not received him as a husband.

15 And when Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot. For she had covered her face, lest she be recognized.

16 And entering to her, he said, “Permit me to join with you.” For he did not know her to be his daughter-in-law. And she responded, “What will you give to me, to enjoy me as a concubine?”

17 He said, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” And again, she said, “I will allow what you want, if you give me a pledge, until you may send what you promise.”

18 Judah said, “What do you want to be given for a pledge?” She responded, “Your ring and bracelet, and the staff that you hold in your hand.” Thereupon, the woman, from one sexual encounter, conceived.

19 And she arose and went away. And storing away the garments that she had taken up, she was clothed in the garments of her widowhood.

20 Then Judah sent a young goat by his shepherd, the Adullamite, so that he might receive the pledge that he had given to the woman. But, when he had not found her,

21 he questioned the men of that place: “Where is the woman who sat at the crossroad?” And they all responded, “There has been no harlot in this place.”

22 He returned to Judah, and he said to him: “I did not find her. Moreover, the men of that place told me that a prostitute had never sat there.”

23 Judah said: “Let her hold herself to blame. Certainly, she is not able to accuse us of a lie. I sent the young goat that I had promised, and you did not find her.”

24 And behold, after three months, they reported to Judah, saying, “Tamar, your daughter-in-law, has committed fornication and her abdomen appears to be enlarged.” And Judah said, “Produce her, so that she may be burned.”

25 But when she was led out to the punishment, she sent to her father-in-law, saying: “I conceived by the man to whom these things belong. Recognize whose ring, and bracelet, and staff this is.”

26 But he, acknowledging the gifts, said: “She is more just than I am. For I did not deliver her to my son Shelah.” However, he knew her no more.

27 Then, at the moment of birth, there appeared twins in the womb. And so, in the very delivery of the infants, one put forth a hand, on which the midwife tied a scarlet thread, saying,

28 “This one will go out first.”

29 But in truth, drawing back his hand, the other came out. And the woman said, “Why is the partition divided for you?” And for this reason, she called his name Perez.

30 After this, his brother came out, on whose hand was the scarlet thread. And she called him Zerah.