God’s Covenant with Abram

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.”

So it came to pass, when he saw the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and when he heard the words of his sister Rebekah, saying, “Thus the man spoke to me,” that he went to the man. And there he stood by the camels at the well.

And it came to pass, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, that he worshiped the Lord, bowing himself to the earth.

When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, “Bless me—me also, O my father!”

And the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said to him, “Surely your brother Esau comforts himself concerning you by intending to kill you.

And Laban said, “Oh, that it were according to your word!”

Jacob Flees from Laban

Now Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has acquired all this wealth.”

And their words pleased Hamor and Shechem, Hamor’s son.

And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

Then he said to him, “Please go and see if it is well with your brothers and well with the flocks, and bring back word to me.” So he sent him out of the Valley of Hebron, and he went to Shechem.

Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, “The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me;

So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, “Your servant did to me after this manner,” that his anger was aroused.

You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”

Send one of you, and let him bring your brother; and you shall be kept in prison, that your words may be tested to see whether there is any truth in you; or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies!”

And bring your youngest brother to me; so your words will be verified, and you shall not die.” And they did so.

But they said, “The man asked us pointedly about ourselves and our family, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ And we told him according to these words. Could we possibly have known that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?”

Also put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his grain money.” So he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.

So he overtook them, and he spoke to them these same words.

And they said to him, “Why does my lord say these words? Far be it from us that your servants should do such a thing.

And he said, “Now also let it be according to your words; he with whom it is found shall be my slave, and you shall be blameless.”

Judah Intercedes for Benjamin

Then Judah came near to him and said: “O my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s hearing, and do not let your anger burn against your servant; for you are even like Pharaoh.

“So it was, when we went up to your servant my father, that we told him the words of my lord.

But when they told him all the words which Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived.

Jacob’s Last Words to His Sons

And Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days: