Beginning
Jacob Returns to Bethel
35 God said to Jacob, “Get ready and go to Bethel to live. Make an altar there to God, Who showed Himself to you when you ran away from your brother Esau.” 2 So Jacob said to those of his house and all who were with him, “Put away the strange gods that are among you. Make yourselves clean and change your clothes. 3 Then let us get ready and go to Bethel. I will make an altar there to God, Who answered me in the day of my trouble, and was with me every place I went.” 4 So they gave to Jacob all the strange gods they had, and the gold objects which they wore in their ears. And Jacob hid them under the tree near Shechem. 5 As they traveled, much fear from God came upon the cities around them. So the people of the land did not go against the sons of Jacob.
6 So Jacob and all the people who were with him came to Luz (that is, Bethel) in the land of Canaan. 7 He built an altar there, and gave the place the name El-bethel. Because God had shown Himself to him there, when Jacob ran away from his brother. 8 Then Rebekah’s nurse Deborah died. She was buried below Bethel under a tree. It was given the name of Allon-bacuth.
9 When Jacob came from Paddan-aram, God showed Himself to him again and brought good to him. 10 God said to him, “Your name is Jacob. You will not be called Jacob any longer, but Israel will be your name.” So his name was Israel. 11 Then God said to him, “I am the All-powerful God. Have many children and add to your number. A nation and a group of nations will come from you. Kings will come from you. 12 I will give you the land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac. This land I will give to your children and their children’s children after you.” 13 Then God went up from him in the place where He had spoken with him. 14 Jacob set up a pillar of stone in the place where He had spoken with him. And he poured a drink offering and also oil on it. 15 So Jacob gave the place where God had spoken with him the name Bethel.
16 Then they traveled from Bethel. When there was still a long way to go before coming to Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth. She suffered much pain. 17 And while she was suffering, the woman who was helping her said to her, “Do not be afraid. For now you have another son.” 18 As Rachel’s soul was leaving, for she died, she gave him the name Benoni. But his father gave him the name Benjamin. 19 So Rachel died, and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 20 Jacob set up a stone on her grave. And that is the stone of Rachel’s grave to this day.
21 Then Israel traveled on, and put up his tent on the other side of the tall building of Eder. 22 While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, the woman who acted as his father’s wife. And Israel heard about it.
The Sons of Jacob
There were twelve sons of Jacob. 23 The sons of Leah were Reuben, Jacob’s first-born, then Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. 24 The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin. 25 The sons of Bilhah, the woman who served Rachel, were Dan and Naphtali. 26 The sons of Zilpah, the woman who served Leah, were Gad and Asher. These are the sons who were born to Jacob in Paddan-aram.
The Death of Isaac
27 Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre of Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had been living. 28 Now Isaac had lived 180 years. 29 And Isaac breathed his last and died, and was joined to his people who died before him. He was an old man who had a long life, and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
The Families of Esau
36 These are the children of Esau (that is, Edom).
2 Esau took his wives from the women of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite, 3 and Ishmael’s daughter Basemath, the sister of Nebaioth. 4 Adah gave birth to Esau’s son Eliphaz. Basemath gave birth to Reuel. 5 And Oholibamah gave birth to Jeush, Jalam and Korah. These are the sons who were born to Esau in the land of Canaan.
6 Then Esau took his wives and sons and daughters and all those of his house, and his flocks and cattle, and all his riches from the land of Canaan. And he went to another land away from his brother Jacob. 7 For they owned too much for them to live together. The land where they were staying could not keep them alive, because of all their animals. 8 So Esau lived in the hill country of Seir. Esau is Edom.
9 These are the children, and their children, of Esau the father of the Edomites in the hill country of Seir. 10 These are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz the son of Esau’s wife Adah, and Reuel the son of Esau’s wife Basemath. 11 The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz. 12 Timna acted as the wife of Esau’s son Eliphaz. And she gave birth to Eliphaz’s son Amalek. These are the sons of Esau’s wife Adah. 13 These are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. They are the sons of Esau’s wife Basemath.
14 These are the sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon: She gave birth to Esau’s sons, Jeush, Jalam and Korah.
15 These are the leaders of the sons of Esau. The sons of Esau’s first-born, Eliphaz, are leaders Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz, 16 Korah, Gatam, and Amalek. These are the leaders of Eliphaz in the land of Edom. They are the sons of Adah.
17 These are the sons of Esau’s son Reuel: Leaders Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These are the leaders of Reuel in the land of Edom. They are the sons of Esau’s wife Basemath.
18 These are the sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah: Leaders Jeush, Jalam and Korah. These are the leaders of Esau’s wife Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah. 19 These are the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and these are their leaders.
20 These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who lived in that land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 21 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These are the leaders of the Horites, the sons of Seir in the land of Edom.
22 The sons of Lotan are Hori and Hemam. Lotan’s sister was Timna. 23 The sons of Shobal are Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam. 24 The sons of Zibeon are Aiah and Anah. He is the Anah who found the hot water well in the desert when he was caring for the donkeys of his father Zibeon. 25 The children of Anah are Dishon and Oholibamah, Anah’s daughter. 26 The sons of Dishon are Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran. 27 The sons of Ezer are Bilhan, Zaavan and Akan. 28 And the sons of Dishan are Uz and Aran.
29 These are the leaders of the Horites: Leaders Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 30 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These are the leaders of the Horites, by their families in the land of Seir.
The Kings of Edom
31 These are the kings who ruled in the land of Edom before any king ruled the sons of Israel. 32 Bela the son of Beor ruled in Edom. The name of his city was Dinhabah. 33 Then Bela died. And Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah became king in his place. 34 Then Jobab died. And Husham of the land of the Temanites became king in his place. 35 Then Husham died. And Hadad the son of Bedad, who won the fight against Midian in the field of Moab, became king in his place. The name of his city was Avith. 36 Then Hadad died. And Samlah of Masrekah became king in his place. 37 Then Samlah died. And Shaul of Rehoboth on the Euphrates River became king in his place. 38 Then Shaul died. And Achbor’s son Baalhanan became king in his place. 39 Then Achbor’s son died. And Hadar became king in his place. The name of his city was Pau. His wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, daughter of Mezahab.
40 These are the names of the leaders of Esau, by family, place and name: Leaders Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, 41 Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 42 Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, 43 Magdiel, and Iram. These are the leaders of Edom (that is, Esau, the father of the Edomites), who lived in the land that belonged to them.
Joseph’s Dream
37 Jacob lived in the land where his father had lived as a stranger, in the land of Canaan. 2 This is the story of the children of Jacob and of their children.
When Joseph was seventeen years old, he was caring for the flock with his brothers. The boy was with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph told his father about how bad they were. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because Joseph was born when he was an old man. And Israel made him a long coat of many colors. 4 His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers. So they hated Joseph and could not speak a kind word to him.
5 Then Joseph had a dream. When he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Listen to the dream that I have had. 7 We were gathering grain in the field. My bundle of grain stood up. Your bundles of grain gathered around it and bowed down to my bundle.” 8 Then his brothers said to him, “Are you going to be our king? Are you going to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for what he said.
9 Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. He said, “I have had another dream. The sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10 He told it to his father and to his brothers. His father spoke sharp words to him, saying, “What is this dream you have had? Will I and your mother and brothers come to bow ourselves down to the ground in front of you?” 11 Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him. But his father thought about what he said.
Joseph Is Sold and Taken to Egypt
12 Then his brothers went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem. 13 Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” And Joseph said to him, “I will go.” 14 Then Israel said, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock. Then come and tell me.” So he sent him from the valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. 15 A man found him walking through a field, and asked him, “What are you looking for?” 16 Joseph said, “I am looking for my brothers. Tell me where they are feeding the flock.” 17 And the man said, “They have moved from here. For I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” So Joseph followed his brothers and found them at Dothan.
18 When they saw him far away, before he came near them, they made plans to kill him. 19 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer! 20 Now come and let us kill him and throw him into one of the deep holes. Then we will say that a wild animal ate him. And we will see what becomes of his dreams!”
21 But Reuben heard this and saved him from their hands, saying, “Let us not kill him.” 22 Reuben then said, “Do not put him to death. Throw him into this hole here in the desert. But do not lay a hand on him.” He wanted to be able to save Joseph and return him to his father.
23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they tore off his coat, the coat of many colors that he was wearing. 24 And they took him and threw him into the hole. The hole was empty and had no water in it.
25 Then they sat down to eat. When they looked up, they saw a group of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. They were taking spices and perfumes on their camels to Egypt. 26 Judah said to his brothers, “What do we get by killing our brother and covering his blood? 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 listened to him. 28 Some Midianite traders were passing by. So the brothers pulled Joseph up out of the hole. And they sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver, and they took Joseph to Egypt.
29 Then Reuben returned to the hole. When he saw that Joseph was not in the hole, he tore his clothes. 30 He returned to his brothers and said, “The boy is not there! What can I do?” 31 So they took Joseph’s coat, killed a male goat, and put the blood on the coat. 32 They sent the coat of many colors to their father. And they said, “We found this. Is it your son’s coat or not?”
33 Jacob looked at it and said, “It is my son’s coat! A wild animal has eaten him! For sure Joseph has been torn to pieces!” 34 So Jacob tore his clothes and dressed in clothes made from hair. He had sorrow for his son many days. 35 All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him. But he would not be comforted. He said, “I will go down to the grave in sorrow for my son.” And his father cried for him.
36 The Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, the head of the soldiers of Pharaoh’s house.
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.