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 carts Pharaoh had sent to carry him,^(E) along with their dependents and their wives.