Jacob Returns to Bethel

35 God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and settle there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”^{(A) 2} So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, and purify yourselves, and change your clothes;^{(B) 3} then come, let us go up to Bethel, that I may make an altar there to the God who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.”^{(C) 4} So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods that they had and the rings that were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under the oak that was near Shechem.^(D)

⁵ As they journeyed, a terror from God fell upon the cities all around them, so that no one pursued them.^{(E) 6} Jacob came to Luz, that is, Bethel, which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him,^{(F) 7} and there he built an altar and called the place El-bethel,^[a] because it was there that God had revealed himself to him when he fled from his brother.^{(G) 8} And Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried under an oak below Bethel. So it was called Allon-bacuth.^[b](H)

⁹ God appeared to Jacob again when he came from Paddan-aram, and he blessed him.^{(I) 10} God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; no longer shall you be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name.” So he was called Israel.^{(J) 11} God said to him, “I am God Almighty:^[c] be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall spring from you.^{(K) 12} The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give the land to your offspring after you.”^{(L) 13} Then God went up from him at the place where he had spoken with him.^{(M) 14} Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with him, a pillar of stone, and he poured out a drink offering on it and poured oil on it.^{(N) 15} So Jacob called the place where God had spoken with him Bethel.^(O)

The Birth of Benjamin and the Death of Rachel

¹⁶ Then they journeyed from Bethel, and when they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel was in childbirth, and she had hard labor. ¹⁷ When she was in her hard labor, the midwife said to her, “Do not be afraid, for now you have another son.”^{(P) 18} As her soul was departing, for she was dying, she named him Ben-oni,^[d] but his father called him Benjamin.^{[e] 19} And Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath, that is, Bethlehem,^{(Q) 20} and Jacob set up a pillar at her grave; it is the pillar of Rachel’s tomb, which is there to this day.^{(R) 21} Israel journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder.

²² While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it.

Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.^{(S) 23} The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. ²⁴ The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. ²⁵ The sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s maid: Dan and Naphtali. ²⁶ The sons of Zilpah, Leah’s maid: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram.

The Death of Isaac

²⁷ Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac had resided as aliens.^{(T) 28} Now the days of Isaac were one hundred eighty years. ²⁹ And Isaac breathed his last; he died and was gathered to his people, old and full of days, and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.^(U)

Esau’s Descendants

36 These are the descendants of Esau, that is, Edom.^{(V) 2} Esau took his wives from the Canaanites: Adah daughter of Elon the Hittite, Oholibamah daughter of Anah son^[f] of Zibeon the Hivite,^{(W) 3} and Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebaioth. ⁴ Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau; Basemath bore Reuel; ⁵ and Oholibamah bore Jeush, 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, his sons, his daughters, and all the members of his household, his cattle, all his livestock, and all the property he had acquired in the land of Canaan, and he moved to a land some distance from his brother Jacob.^{(X) 7} For their possessions were too great for them to live together; the land where they were staying could not support them because of their livestock.^{(Y) 8} So Esau settled in the hill country of Seir; Esau is Edom.^(Z)

⁹ These are the descendants of Esau, ancestor of the Edomites, in the hill country of Seir. ¹⁰ These are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz, the son of Adah the wife of Esau; Reuel, the son of Esau’s wife Basemath.^{(AA) 11} The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz. ¹² Timna was a concubine of Eliphaz, Esau’s son; she bore Amalek to Eliphaz. These were the sons of Adah, Esau’s wife.^{(AB) 13} These were the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife. ¹⁴ These were the sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah, daughter of Anah son^[g] of Zibeon; she bore to Esau Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.

Clans and Kings of Edom

¹⁵ These are the clans^[h] of the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau: the clans^[i] Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz,^{(AC) 16} Korah, Gatam, and Amalek; these are the clans^[j] of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; they are the sons of Adah. ¹⁷ These are the sons of Esau’s son Reuel: the clans^[k] Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah; these are the clans^[l] of Reuel in the land of Edom; they are the sons of Esau’s wife Basemath.^{(AD) 18} These are the sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah: the clans^[m] Jeush, Jalam, and Korah; these are the clans^[n] born of Esau’s wife Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah.^{(AE) 19} These are the sons of Esau, that is, Edom, and these are their clans.^[o]

²⁰ These are the sons of Seir the Horite, the inhabitants of the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,^{(AF) 21} Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan; these are the clans^[p] of the Horites, the sons of Seir in the land of Edom. ²² The sons of Lotan were Hori and Heman, and Lotan’s sister was Timna. ²³ These are the sons of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam. ²⁴ These are the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah; he is the Anah who found the springs^[q] in the wilderness as he pastured the donkeys of his father Zibeon. ²⁵ These are the children of Anah: Dishon and Oholibamah daughter of Anah.^{(AG) 26} These are the sons of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran. ²⁷ These are the sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.^{(AH) 28} These are the sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran. ²⁹ These are the clans^[r] of the Horites: the clans^[s] Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, ³⁰ Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan; these are the clans^[t] of the Horites, clan by clan^[u] in the land of Seir.

³¹ These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites.^{(AI) 32} Bela son of Beor reigned in Edom, the name of his city being Dinhabah. ³³ Bela died, and Jobab son of Zerah of Bozrah succeeded him as king. ³⁴ Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites succeeded him as king. ³⁵ Husham died, and Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, succeeded him as king, the name of his city being Avith. ³⁶ Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah succeeded him as king. ³⁷ Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth on the Euphrates succeeded him as king. ³⁸ Shaul died, and Baal-hanan son of Achbor succeeded him as king. ³⁹ Baal-hanan son of Achbor died, and Hadar succeeded him as king, the name of his city being Pau; his wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, daughter of Me-zahab.^(AJ)

⁴⁰ These are the names of the clans^[v] of Esau, according to their families and their localities by their names: the clans^[w] Timna, Alvah, Jetheth,^{(AK) 41} Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, ⁴² Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, ⁴³ Magdiel, and Iram; these are the clans^[x] of Edom, that is, Esau, the father of Edom, according to their settlements in the land that they held.

Joseph Dreams of Greatness

37 Jacob settled in the land where his father had lived as an alien, the land of Canaan.^{(AL) 2} These are the descendants of Jacob.

Joseph, being seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers; he was a helper to the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives, and Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. ³ Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children because he was the son of his old age, and he made him an ornamented robe.^{[y](AM) 4} But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.^(AN)

⁵ Once Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. ⁶ He said to them, “Listen to this dream that I dreamed. ⁷ There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright; then your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.”^{(AO) 8} His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Are you indeed to have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more because of his dreams and his words.^(AP)

⁹ He had another dream and told it to his brothers, saying, “Look, I have had another dream: the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” ¹⁰ But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What kind of dream is this that you have had? Shall we indeed come, I and your mother and your brothers, and bow to the ground before you?”^{(AQ) 11} So his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.^(AR)

Joseph Is Sold by His Brothers

¹² Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. ¹³ And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” He answered, “Here I am.” ¹⁴ So he said to him, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock, and bring word back to me.” So he sent him from the valley of Hebron.

He came to Shechem,^{(AS) 15} and a man found him wandering in the fields; the man asked him, “What are you seeking?” ¹⁶ “I am seeking my brothers,” he said; “tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.” ¹⁷ The man said, “They have gone away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’ ” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.^{(AT) 18} They saw him from a distance, and before he came near to them they conspired to kill him.^{(AU) 19} They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. ²⁰ Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild animal has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams.” ²¹ But when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.”^{(AV) 22} Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hand and restore him to his father. ²³ So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the ornamented robe^[z] that he wore, ²⁴ and they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.

²⁵ Then they sat down to eat, and looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels carrying gum, balm, and resin, on their way to carry it down to Egypt.^{(AW) 26} Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood?^{(AX) 27} Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers agreed.^{(AY) 28} When some Midianite traders passed by, they drew Joseph up, lifting him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.^(AZ)

²⁹ When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes.^{(BA) 30} He returned to his brothers and said, “The boy is gone, and I, where can I turn?”^{(BB) 31} Then they took Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a goat, and dipped the robe in the blood.^{(BC) 32} They had the ornamented robe^[aa] taken to their father, and they said, “This we have found; see now whether it is your son’s robe or not.” ³³ He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! A wild animal has devoured him; Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.”^{(BD) 34} Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days.^{(BE) 35} All his sons and all his daughters sought to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, “No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” Thus his father bewailed him.^{(BF) 36} Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard.^(BG)

Psalm 12

Plea for Help in Evil Times

To the leader: according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.

The Plot to Kill Jesus

14 It was two days before the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus^[a] by stealth and kill him,^{(A) 2} for they said, “Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.”

The Anointing at Bethany

³ While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,^[b] as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head.^{(B) 4} But some were there who said to one another in anger, “Why was the ointment wasted in this way? ⁵ For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her. ⁶ But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. ⁷ For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish, but you will not always have me.^{(C) 8} She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial.^{(D) 9} Truly I tell you, wherever the good news^[c] is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.”

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

¹⁰ Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them.^{(E) 11} When they heard it, they were greatly pleased and promised to give him money. So he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.

The Passover with the Disciples

¹² On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?”^{(F) 13} So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, ¹⁴ and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ ¹⁵ He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” ¹⁶ So the disciples set out and went to the city and found everything as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover meal.

¹⁷ When it was evening, he came with the twelve. ¹⁸ And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.”^{(G) 19} They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, “Surely, not I?” ²⁰ He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread^[d] into the bowl^[e] with me. ²¹ For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.”

The Institution of the Lord’s Supper

²² While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.”^{(H) 23} Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it.^{(I) 24} He said to them, “This is my blood of the^[f] covenant, which is poured out for many.^{(J) 25} Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

Peter’s Denial Foretold

²⁶ When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.^{(K) 27} And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away,^[g] for it is written,

²⁸ “But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”^{(M) 29} Peter said to him, “Even though all fall away,^[h] I will not.”^{(N) 30} Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.”^{(O) 31} But he said vehemently, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And all of them said the same.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

³² They went to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” ³³ He took with him Peter and James and John and began to be distressed and agitated. ³⁴ And he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.”^{(P) 35} And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.^{(Q) 36} He said, “Abba,^[i] Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me, yet not what I want but what you want.”^{(R) 37} He came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? ³⁸ Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial;^[j] the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”^{(S) 39} And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. ⁴⁰ And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to say to him. ⁴¹ He came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.^{(T) 42} Get up, let us be going. Look, my betrayer is at hand.”

The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

⁴³ Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived, and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. ⁴⁴ Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” ⁴⁵ So when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him.^{(U) 46} Then they laid hands on him and arrested him. ⁴⁷ But one of those who stood near drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. ⁴⁸ Then Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a rebel? ⁴⁹ Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled.”^{(V) 50} All of them deserted him and fled.^(W)

⁵¹ A certain young man was following him, wearing nothing but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him, ⁵² but he left the linen cloth and ran off naked.

Jesus before the Council

⁵³ They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes were assembled. ⁵⁴ Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest, and he was sitting with the guards, warming himself at the fire.^{(X) 55} Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. ⁵⁶ For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony did not agree. ⁵⁷ Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying, ⁵⁸ “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’ ”^{(Y) 59} But even on this point their testimony did not agree. ⁶⁰ Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?” ⁶¹ But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah,^[k] the Son of the Blessed One?”^{(Z) 62} Jesus said, “I am, and

⁶³ Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses?^{(AB) 64} You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?” All of them condemned him as deserving death.^{(AC) 65} Some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” The guards also took him and beat him.^(AD)

Peter Denies Jesus

⁶⁶ While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the female servants of the high priest came by.^{(AE) 67} When she saw Peter warming himself, she stared at him and said, “You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.”^{(AF) 68} But he denied it, saying, “I do not know or understand what you are talking about.” And he went out into the forecourt.^[l] Then the cock crowed.^{[m](AG) 69} And the female servant, on seeing him, began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” ⁷⁰ But again he denied it. Then after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean, and you talk like one.”^{[n](AH) 71} But he began to curse, and he swore an oath, “I do not know this man you are talking about.” ⁷² At that moment the cock crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, “Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.^(AI)