Readings for Celebrating Advent

² That night God spoke to Israel in a vision:^(A) “Jacob, Jacob!” he said.

And Jacob replied, “Here I am.”

³ God said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.^{(B) 4} I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you back.^(C) Joseph will close your eyes when you die.”^[a](D)

⁵ Jacob left Beer-sheba. The sons of Israel took their father Jacob in the wagons Pharaoh had sent to carry him,^(E) along with their dependents and their wives.