So Lot chose to move east and live in the Jordan Valley. In this way Abram and Lot separated.

Abram Rescues Lot

When Abram learned that Lot had been captured, he called out his 318 trained men who had been born in his camp. He led the men and chased the enemy all the way to the town of Dan.

That night he divided his men into groups, and they made a surprise attack against the enemy. They chased them all the way to Hobah, north of Damascus.

Then the men got up to leave and started out toward Sodom. Abraham walked along with them a short time to send them on their way.

I have chosen him so he would command his children and his descendants to live the way the Lord wants them to, to live right and be fair. Then I, the Lord, will give Abraham what I promised him.”

The men around the house answered, “Move out of the way!” Then they said to each other, “This man Lot came to our city as a stranger, and now he wants to tell us what to do!” They said to Lot, “We will do worse things to you than to them.” They started pushing him back and were ready to break down the door.

The next day the older daughter said to the younger, “Last night I had sexual relations with my father. Let’s get him drunk again tonight so you can go and have sexual relations with him, too. In this way we can use our father to have children to continue our family.”

The angel said, “Don’t kill your son or hurt him in any way. Now I can see that you trust God and that you have not kept your son, your only son, from me.”

A Wife for Isaac

Abraham was now very old, and the Lord had blessed him in every way.

and said, “Blessed is the Lord, the God of my master Abraham. The Lord has been kind and truthful to him and has led me to my master’s relatives.”

Now, tell me, will you be kind and truthful to my master? And if not, tell me so. Then I will know what I should do.”

Go out to our goats and bring me two of the best young ones. I will prepare them just the way your father likes them.

So Jacob went out and got two goats and brought them to his mother, and she cooked them in the special way Isaac enjoyed.

In this way Jacob became very rich. He had large flocks, many male and female servants, camels, and donkeys.

Jacob Runs Away

One day Jacob heard Laban’s sons talking. They said, “Jacob has taken everything our father owned, and in this way he has become rich.”

Jacob Meets Esau

When Jacob also went his way, the angels of God met him.

Then Judah said to Er’s brother Onan, “Go and have sexual relations with your dead brother’s wife. It is your duty to provide children for your brother in this way.”

But I will give you a way to prove you are telling the truth. As surely as the king lives, you will not leave this place until your youngest brother comes here.

One of you must go and get your brother. The rest of you will stay here in prison. We will see if you are telling the truth. If not, as surely as the king lives, you are spies.”

Then bring your youngest brother back here to me. If you do this, I will know you are telling the truth, and you will not die.” The brothers agreed to this.

“Then the master of the land said to us, ‘Here is a way I can know you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain to feed your hungry families, and go.

Then their father Jacob said to them, “If it has to be that way, then do this: Take some of the best foods in our land in your packs. Give them to the man as a gift: some balm, some honey, spices, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds.

So God sent me here ahead of you to make sure you have some descendants left on earth and to keep you alive in an amazing way.

Then Joseph told his brothers to go. As they were leaving, he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way home.”

So Israel blessed them that day and said, “When a blessing is given in Israel, they will say: ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’” In this way he made Ephraim greater than Manasseh.