The man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob but Israel [He Struggles With God], because you have struggled with Elohim and with men—and you have won.”

(Therefore, even today the people of Israel do not eat the muscle of the thigh attached to the hip socket because Elohim touched the socket of Jacob’s hip at the muscle of the thigh.)

He set up an altar there and named it El Is the Elohim of Israel.

Jacob’s sons came in from the open country as soon as they heard the news. The men felt outraged and very angry because Shechem had committed such a godless act against Israel’s family by raping Jacob’s daughter. This shouldn’t have happened.

Jacob’s Sixth Encounter with God—His Name Changed to Israel

Then Elohim appeared once more to Jacob after he came back from Paddan Aram, and he blessed him.

Elohim said to him, “Your name is Jacob. You will no longer be called Jacob, but your name will be Israel.” So he named him Israel.

Jacob’s [Israel’s] Sons

Then they moved on from Bethel. When they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel went into labor and was having severe labor pains.

Israel moved on again and put up his tent beyond Migdal Eder.

While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went to bed with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had 12 sons.

These were the kings who ruled Edom before any king ruled the people of Israel:

Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons because Joseph had been born in Israel’s old age. So he made Joseph a special robe with long sleeves.

Israel then said to Joseph, “Your brothers are taking care of the flocks at Shechem. I’m going to send you to them.” Joseph responded, “I’ll go.”

So Israel said, “See how your brothers and the flocks are doing, and bring some news back to me.” Then he sent Joseph away from the Hebron Valley. When Joseph came to Shechem,

Jacob [Israel] Sends Ten Sons to Egypt

When Jacob found out that grain was for sale in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you keep looking at each other?

Israel’s sons left with the others who were going to buy grain, because there was also famine in Canaan.

Jacob’s [Israel’s] Sons Report to Him

When they came to their father Jacob in Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them. They said,

Jacob [Israel] Sends Ten Sons Back to Egypt

The famine was severe in the land.

When they finished eating the grain they had brought from Egypt, Israel said to his sons, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”

Israel asked, “Why have you made trouble for me by telling the man you had another brother?”

Then Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy along with me. Let’s get going so that we won’t starve to death.

Then their father Israel said to them, “If that’s the way it has to be, then take the man a gift. Put some of the best products of the land in your bags. Take a little balm, a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds.

Pharaoh Invites Jacob’s [Israel’s] Family to Live in Egypt

When Pharaoh’s household heard the news that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and his officials were pleased.

Israel’s sons did as they were told. Joseph gave them wagons and supplies for their trip as Pharaoh had ordered.

“You have convinced me!” Israel said. “My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

Jacob’s [Israel’s] Seventh Encounter with God

Israel moved with all he had. When he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the Elohim of his father Isaac.