upon me, and not a blessing.' 13 And his mother said unto him: 'Upon me be thy curse, my son; only hearken to my voice, and go fetch me them.' 14And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother; and his mother made savoury food, such as his father loved. 15And Rebekah took the choicest garments of Esau her elder son, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son. 16 And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck. 17 And she gave the savoury food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. 18 And he came unto his father, and said: 'My father'; and he said: 'Here am I; who art thou, my son?' 19And Jacob said unto his father: 'I am Esau thy first-born; I have done according as thou badest me. Arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.' 20And Isaac said unto his son: 'How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son?' And he said: 'Because the LORD thy God sent me good speed.' 21 And Isaac said unto Jacob: Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.' 22And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said: "The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.' 23 And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands; so he blessed him. And he said: 'Art thou my very son Esau?' And he said: 'I am.' 25 And he said: 'Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee.' And he brought it near to him, and he did eat; and he brought him wine, and he drank. 26 And his father Isaac said unto him: 'Come near now, and kiss me, my son.' 27And he came near, and kissed him. And he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said: See, the smell of my son Is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed. 28So God give thee of the dew of heaven, And of the fat places of the earth, And nations bow down to thee. Cursed be every one that curseth thee, And blessed be every one that blesseth thee. 30And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. And he also made savoury food, and brought it unto his father; and he said unto his father: 'Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me.' 32And Isaac his father said unto him: 'Who art thou?' And he said: I am thy son, thy first-born, Esau.' 33And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said: 'Who then is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.' 34When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceeding great and bitter cry, and said unto his father: 'Bless me, even me also, O my father.' "And he said: 'Thy brother came with guile, and hath taken away thy blessing.' And he said: 'Is not he rightly named which thou hast done to him; then I will send, and fetch thee from thence; why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?' Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing.' And he said: 'Hast thou not reserved a bless- 46 And Rebekah said to Isaac: 'I ing for me?' 37And Isaac answered am weary of my life because of the and said unto Esau: 'Behold, I have daughters of Heth. If Jacob take a made him thy lord, and all his brethren wife of the daughters of Heth, such have I given to him for servants; and as these, of the daughters of the land, with corn and wine have I sustained what good shall my life do me?' him; and what then shall I do for 28 And Isaac called Jacob, and thee, my son?' 38 And Esau said unto blessed him, and charged him, his father: 'Hast thou but one bless- and said unto him: 'Thou shalt not ing, my father? bless me, even me take a wife of the daughters of Caalso, O my father.' And Esau lifted naan. 2Arise, go to Paddan-aram, to up his voice, and wept. 39And Isaac the house of Bethuel thy mother's his father answered and said unto him: Behold, of the fat places of the earth shall be thy dwelling, And of the dew of heaven from above; 40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and thou shalt serve thy broth er; And it shall come to pass when thou shalt break loose, That thou shalt shake his yoke from father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother. And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a congregation of peoples; and give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land of thy sojournings, which God gave unto Abraham.' And Isaac sent away Jacob; and he went to Paddan-aram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother. "Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-aram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying: 'Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan'; and that Jacob hearkened to his father and his mother, and was gone to Paddan-aram; and Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father; 'so Esau went unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives that he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his off thy neck. "And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him. And Esau said in his heart: 'Let the days of mourning for my father be at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.' 42And the words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah; and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him: 'Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee. Now therefore, my son, hearken to my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran; and tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away; until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that wife. ויצא 10 And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. "And he lighted upon the place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took one of the stones of the place, and put it under his head, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. that I come back to my father's house in peace, then shall the LORD be my God, 22and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house; and of all that Thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto Thee.' 29 Then Jacob went on his jour ney, and came to the land of the children of the east. And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and lo three flocks of sheep lying there And, behold, by it. For out of that well they watered the flocks. And the stone upon the well's mouth was great. And thither were all the flocks gathered; and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone back upon the well's mouth in its place. And Jacob said unto them: My brethren, whence are ye?' And they said: 'Of Haran are we.' "And he said unto them: 'Know ye Laban the son of Nahor?' And they said: 'We know him.' And he said unto them: 'Is it well with him?' And they said: 'It is well; and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.' 'And he said: 'Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together; water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.' And they said: "We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.' While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she tended them. 10And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. "And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted That is, The house of God. the LORD stood beside him, and said: 'I am the LORD, the God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac. The land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed. 14And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south. And in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee whithersoever thou goest, and will bring thee back into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.' 16And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said: 'Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.' And he was afraid, and said: 'How full of awe is this place! this is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.' 18And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. 19And he called the name of that place Beth-el, but the name of the city was Luz at the first. 20And Jacob vowed a vow, saying: 'If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread o eat, and raiment to put on, 21so up his voice, and wept. 12And Jacob wherefore then hast thou beguiled told Rachel that he was her father's me?' 26And Laban said: 'It is not so brother, and that he was Rebekah's done in our place, to give the younger son; and she ran and told her father. before the first-born. 27 Fulfil the week 13 And it came to pass, when Laban of this one, and we will give thee the heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's other also for the service which thou son, that he ran to meet him, and em- shalt serve with me yet seven other braced him, and kissed him, and years.' 28And Jacob did so, and fulbrought him to his house. And he filled her week; and he gave him told Laban all these things. 14And Rachel his daughter to wife. 29And Laban said to him: 'Surely thou art Laban gave to Rachel his daughter my bone and my flesh.' And he Bilhah his handmaid to be her handabode with him the space of a month. maid. 3oAnd he went in also unto 15 And Laban said unto Jacob: 'Be- Rachel, and he loved Rachel more cause thou art my brother, shouldest than Leah, and served with him yet thou therefore serve me for nought? seven other years. tell me, what shall thy wages be?' 31 And the LORD saw that Leah was 16 Now Laban had two daughters: hated, and he opened her womb; but the name of the elder was Leah, and Rachel was barren. 32And Leah conthe name of the younger was Rachel. ceived, and bore a son, and she called "And Leah's eyes were weak; but his name Reuben; for she said: 'BeRachel was of beautiful form and fair cause the LORD hath looked upon my to look upon. 18 And Jacob loved affliction; for now my husband will Rachel; and he said: 'I will serve love me.' 33 And she conceived again, thee seven years for Rachel thy and bore a son; and said: 'Because younger daughter.' 19And Laban the LORD hath heard that I am hated, said: 'It is better that I give her to He hath therefore given me this son thee, than that I should give her to also.' And she called his name another man; abide with me.' 20And Simeon. And she conceived again, Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and bore a son; and said: "Now this and they seemed unto him but a few time will my husband be djoined unto days, for the love he had to her. me, because I have borne him three 21And Jacob said unto Laban: 'Give sons.' Therefore was his name called me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, Levi. 35And she conceived again, and that I may go in unto her.' 22And bore a son; and she said: "This time Laban gathered together all the men will I praise the LORD.' Therefore of the place, and made a feast. 23And she called his name 'Judah; and she it came to pass in the evening, that he left off bearing. took Leah his daughter, and brought 30 And when Rachel saw that her to him; and he went in unto her. she bore Jacob no children, "And Laban gave Zilpah his hand- Rachel envied her sister; and she said maid unto his daughter Leah for a unto Jacob: 'Give me children, or handmaid. And it came to pass in else I die.' And Jacob's anger was the morning that, behold, it was kindled against Rachel; and he said: Leah; and he said to Laban: 'What Am I in God's stead, who hath withis this thou hast done unto me? did held from thee the fruit of the womb?' not I serve with thee for Rachel? And she said: 'Behold my maid * Heb. raah beonji. Heb. shama. • Heb. Shimeon. d From the Heb. root lavah. From the Heb. hodah. ! Heb. Jehudah. Bilhah, go in unto her; that she may 18 And Leah said: 'God hath given me bear upon my knees, and I also may my hire, because I gave my handbe builded up through her.' And she maid to my husband.' And she called gave him Bilhah her handmaid to his name Issachar. 19And Leah conwife; and Jacob went in unto her. ceived again, and bore a sixth son to "And Bilhah conceived, and bore Jacob. 20And Leah said: 'God hath Jacob a son. And Rachel said: 'God endowed me with a good dowry; now hath judged me, and hath also will my husband 'dwell with me, beheard my voice, and hath given me a cause I have borne him six sons.' son.' Therefore called she his name And she called his name Zebulun. Dan. And Bilhah Rachel's handmaid 21And afterwards she bore a daughter, conceived again, and bore Jacob a and called her name Dinah. And second son. And Rachel said: 'With God remembered Rachel, and God mighty wrestlings have I bwrestled hearkened to her, and opened her with my sister, and have prevailed.' womb. 23 And she conceived, and And she called his name Naphtali. bore a son, and said: 'God hath "When Leah saw that she had left taken away my reproach.' And she off bearing, she took Zilpah her hand- called his name Joseph, saying: 'The maid, and gave her to Jacob to wife. LORD hadd to me another son.' 10 And Zilpah Leah's handmaid bore Jacob a son. "And Leah said: 'Fortune is come!' And she called his name Gad. 12And Zilpah Leah's handmaid bore Jacob a second son. 13 And Leah said: 'Happy am I! for the daughters will call me happy.' And she called his name dAsher. 14 And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah: 'Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes.' And she said unto her: 'Is it a small matter that thou hast taken away my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also?' And Rachel said: Therefore he shall lie with thee to-night for thy son's mandrakes.' 16 And Jacob came from the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said: "Thou must come in unto me; for I have surely hired thee with my son's mandrakes.' And he lay with her that night. And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bore Jacob a fifth son. a Heb dan, he judged. b Heb. niphtal, he wrestled. Heb. suchar. i Heb. zabal, he dwelt. 15 25 And it came to pass, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban: 'Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country. 26Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served thee, and let me go; for thou knowest my service wherewith I have served thee.' 27And Laban said unto him: 'If now I have found favour in thine eyes-I have observed the signs, and the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake. 28 And he said: 'Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it. 29And he said unto him: 'Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle have fared with me. 30For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it hath increased abundantly; and the LORD hath blessed thee whithersoever I turned. And now when shall I provide for mine own house also?' 31 And he said: 'What shall I give thee?' And Jacob said: "Thou shalt not give me aught; if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed thy flock and keep it. I will pass through all thy flock to-day, removing That is, Fortune. That is, Happy. Heb. asaph. Heb. joseph. |