# verses

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<n>{ The First Book of the Law}</n> <n>{ Genesis}</n> d <n>{The Creation}</n> d In the beginning, God created the universe. <n>{Lit. the heavens and the earth ; i.e. space and matter}</n> 


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When the earth <n>{Or 1 When God began to create the universe, 2 the earth}</n> was as yet unformed and desolate, with the surface of the ocean depths shrouded <n>{The Heb. lacks shrouded}</n> in darkness, and while the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters, 


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God saw that the light was beautiful. <n>{Or good}</n> He <n>{Lit. God}</n> separated the light from the darkness, 


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calling the light "day," and the darkness <n>{Lit. darkness he called}</n> "night." The twilight and the dawn were day one. 


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Then God said, "Let there be a canopy <n>{Or an expanse}</n> between bodies of water, <n>{Lit. between waters}</n> separating bodies of water <n>{Lit. separating waters}</n> from bodies of water!" <n>{Lit. from waters}</n> 


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So God made a canopy <n>{Or made an expanse}</n> that separated the water beneath the canopy <n>{Or expanse}</n> from the water above it. <n>{Lit. above the canopy}</n> And that is what happened: <n>{Lit. And so it was}</n> 


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God called the canopy <n>{Or expanse}</n> "sky." <n>{Or Heaven}</n> The twilight and the dawn were the second day. 


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Then God said, "Let the water beneath the sky come together into one area, and let dry ground appear!" And that is what happened: <n>{Lit. And so it was}</n> 


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God called the dry ground "land," <n>{Or Earth}</n> and he called the water that had come together "oceans." And God saw how good it was. 


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Then God said, "Let vegetation sprout all over the earth, including <n>{The Heb. lacks including}</n> seed-bearing plants and fruit trees, each kind containing its own seed!" And that is what happened: <n>{Lit. And so it was}</n> 


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Vegetation sprouted all over the earth, including seed-bearing plants and fruit trees, each kind containing its own seed. And God saw that it was good. 


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Then God said, "Let there be lights across <n>{Lit. lights in the expanse of}</n> the sky to distinguish day from night, to act as signs for seasons, days, and years, 


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to serve as lights in <n>{Lit. lights in the expanse of}</n> the sky, and to shine on the earth!" And that is what happened: <n>{Lit. And so it was}</n> 


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God fashioned two great lights the larger light to shine during <n>{Lit. to govern}</n> the day and the smaller light to shine during <n>{Lit. to govern}</n> the night as well as the stars. 


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to shine <n>{Lit. to govern}</n> both day and night, and to distinguish <n>{Or separate}</n> light from darkness. And God saw how good it was. 


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Then God said, "Let the oceans swarm <n>{Lit. swarm with a swarm}</n> with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth throughout <n>{Lit. earth in the expanse of}</n> the sky!" 


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So God created every kind of magnificent marine creature, every kind of living marine crawler <n>{Lit. living thing that crawls}</n> with which the waters swarmed, and every kind of flying bird. <n>{Lit. winged bird}</n> And God saw how good it was. 


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God blessed them by saying, "Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the oceans. Let the birds multiply throughout the earth!" 


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Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth each kind of living creature, each kind of livestock and crawling thing, and each kind of earth's animals!" <n>{I.e., non-domesticated animals, as opposed to domesticated livestock; and so through 2:25}</n> And that is what happened: <n>{Lit. And so it was}</n> 


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God made each kind of the earth's animals, along with every kind of livestock and crawling thing. <n>{Lit. thing of the earth}</n> And God saw how good it was. 


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Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, to be like us. <n>{Lit. image, according to our likeness}</n> Let them be masters over the fish in the ocean, the birds that fly, <n>{Lit. birds of the sky ; and so through 2:25}</n> the livestock, everything that crawls on the earth, and over the earth itself!" 


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So God created mankind in his own image; in his own image God created them; <n>{Lit. him}</n> he created them male and female. 


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God blessed these humans by saying to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it! Be masters over the fish in the ocean, the birds that fly, and every living thing that crawls on the earth!" 


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God also told them, <n>{The Heb. lacks them}</n> "Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant that grows throughout <n>{Lit. plant that is on the surface of}</n> the earth, along with every tree that grows seed-bearing fruit. They will produce your food. 


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I have given all green plants as food for every wild animal <n>{I.e., non-domesticated animals, as opposed to domesticated livestock}</n> of the earth, every bird that flies, and to every living thing <n>{Lit. soul}</n> that crawls on the earth." And that is what happened. <n>{Lit. And so it was}</n> 


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Now God saw all that he had made, and indeed, it was very good! The twilight and the dawn were the sixth day. 


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<n>{The Seventh Day}</n> d With this the heavens and the earth were completed, including all of their vast array. <n>{Lit. hosts ; i.e. armies of sentient beings or stars (if referring to the night sky)}</n> 


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By the seventh day God had completed the work he had been doing, so on the seventh day he stopped working on <n>{Or he rested from}</n> everything that he had done. 


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Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God stopped working on <n>{Or God rested from}</n> everything that he had been creating. 


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<n>{Humans in the Garden}</n> d These are the records of how the heavens and the earth were created. On the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, 


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no shrubs had yet grown in the meadows of the earth and no vegetation had sprouted, <n>{Lit. sprouted in the fields}</n> because the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there were no human beings <n>{Lit. no man}</n> to work the ground. 


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Instead, an underground stream <n>{Or mist}</n> would rise from the earth and water the surface of the ground. 


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So the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground, breathed life into his lungs, <n>{Lit. nostrils}</n> and the man became a living being. 


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The Lord God planted a garden in Eden, toward <n>{Lit. in}</n> the east, where he placed the man whom he had formed. 


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The Lord God caused every tree that is both beautiful <n>{Lit. is pleasing to the eyes}</n> and suitable for food to spring up out of the ground. The tree of life was also in the middle of the garden, along with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 


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The name of the first one is Pishon it winds through the entire land of Havilah, <n>{Possibly a reference to Nubia, a source of gold for ancient Egypt}</n> where there is gold. 


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The gold of that land is pure; <n>{Lit. good}</n> bdellium <n>{I.e. a gum resin; or pearl}</n> and onyx are also found <n>{The Heb. lacks also found}</n> there. 


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The name of the second river is Gihon <n>{Possibly an ancient reference to one of the branches of the Nile River}</n> it winds through the entire land of Cush. <n>{Possibly a portion of northeast Africa}</n> 


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The third river is named the Tigris it flows to the east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates. 


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The Lord God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden in order to have him work it and guard <n>{Or and watch over}</n> it. 


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but you are not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, because you will certainly die during the day that you eat from it." 


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<n>{The Creation of the Woman}</n> d Later, the Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a companion that is suitable <n>{Or him an authority corresponding}</n> for him." 


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After the Lord God formed from the ground every wild animal <n>{Lit. every animal of the field ; i.e., non-domesticated animals, as opposed to domesticated livestock}</n> and every bird that flies, he brought each of them <n>{The Heb. lacks each of them}</n> to the man to see what he would call it. Whatever the man called each living creature became its name. 


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The man gave names to all the livestock, to the birds that fly, and to each of earth's animals, <n>{I.e., non-domesticated animals, as opposed to domesticated livestock}</n> but there was not found for the man any companion that was suitable <n>{Or authority corresponding}</n> for him, 


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so the Lord God caused a deep sleep to overshadow the man. When the man <n>{Lit. When he}</n> was asleep, he removed one of the man's <n>{Lit. of his}</n> ribs and closed up the flesh where it had been. 


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Then the Lord God formed the rib that he had taken from the man into a woman and brought her to the man. 


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So the man exclaimed, "At last! This is bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh. This one will be called «Woman,'because she was taken from Man." <n>{The Heb. roots for Man and Woman are identical.}</n> 


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(Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother and cling to his wife, and they will become one flesh.) 


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Even though both the man and his wife were naked, they were not ashamed about it. <n>{The Heb. lacks about it}</n> 


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<n>{The Temptation and Fall}</n> d Now the Shining One <n>{The Heb. word Ha-Nachash means the Shining One ; or the Diviner ; i.e. one who falsely claims to reveal God's word; or the Serpent ; cf. Isa 14:12; Eze 28:13-14}</n> was more clever than any animal of the field that the Lord God had made. It <n>{Lit. And it}</n> asked the woman, "Did God actually say, «You are not to eat from any tree of the garden'?" 


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"but as for the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, God has said, «You are not to eat from it, nor are you to touch it, or you will die.»" 


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"You certainly will not die!" the Shining One <n>{Or the Serpent ; cf. Gen 3:1; Isa 14:12; Eze 28:13-14}</n> told the woman. 


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"Even God knows that on the day you eat from it, your eyes will be opened and you'll become like God, <n>{Or gods}</n> knowing good and evil." 


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When the woman saw that the tree produced good food, was attractive in appearance, <n>{Lit. was pleasing to the eyes}</n> and was desirable for making one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate it. <n>{The Heb. lacks it}</n> Then she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate some, too. <n>{The Heb. lacks some, too}</n> 


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As a result, they both understood what they had done, <n>{Lit. the eyes of both of them were opened}</n> and they became aware that they were naked. So they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. 


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When they heard the voice of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden during the breeze of the day, the man and his wife concealed themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 


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"I heard your voice in the garden," the man <n>{Lit. he}</n> answered, "and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid from you." <n>{The Heb. lacks from you}</n> 


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"Who told you that you are naked?" God <n>{Lit. he}</n> asked. "Did you eat fruit <n>{The Heb. lacks fruit}</n> from the tree that I commanded you not to eat?" 


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The man answered, "The woman whom you provided for <n>{Or you gave}</n> me gave me fruit <n>{The Heb. lacks fruit}</n> from the tree, and I ate some of it." <n>{The Heb. lacks some of it}</n> 


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Then the Lord God asked the woman, "What did you do?" <n>{Lit. What is this you did?}</n> "The Shining One <n>{Or the Serpent ; cf. Gen 3:1; Isa 14:12; Eze 28:13-14}</n> misled me," the woman answered, "so I ate." 


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<n>{The Penalty of Sin}</n> d The Lord God told the Shining One, <n>{Or the Serpent ; cf. Gen 3:1; Isa 14:12; Eze 28:13-14}</n> "Because you have done this, you are more cursed than all the livestock, and more than all the earth's animals, <n>{I.e., non-domesticated animals, as opposed to domesticated livestock}</n> You'll crawl on your belly and eat dust as long as you live. 


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"I'll place hostility between you and the woman, between your offspring and her offspring. He'll strike you on the head, and you'll strike him on the heel." 


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He told the woman, "I'll greatly increase the pain of your labor during childbirth; it will be painful for you to bear children. "Your trust turns <n>{Or Your desire is}</n> toward your husband, and he will dominate you." 


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He told the man, "Because you have listened to what your wife said, <n>{Lit. to the voice of your wife}</n> and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, <n>{Lit. you when I said}</n> «You must not eat from it,'cursed is the ground because of you. You'll eat from it through pain-filled labor for the rest of your life. 


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You will eat food by the sweat of your brow until you're buried in <n>{Lit. you return to}</n> the ground, because you were taken from it. You're made from dust and you'll return to dust." 


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Now Adam <n>{Or the man}</n> had named his wife "Eve," <n>{The Heb. name Hawwa ( Eve ) means life .}</n> because she was to become the mother of everyone who was living. 


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Later, the Lord God said, "Look! The man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, so he won't reach out, also take from the tree of life, eat, and then live forever" 


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therefore the Lord God expelled the man <n>{Lit. expelled him}</n> from the garden of Eden so he would work the ground from which he had been taken. 


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After he had expelled the man, the Lord God <n>{Lit. man, he}</n> placed winged angels at the eastern end of the garden of Eden, along with a fiery whirling sword, to prevent access to <n>{Or to watch over}</n> the tree of life. 


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<n>{Cain and Abel}</n> d Later, Adam <n>{Or the man}</n> had sexual relations with <n>{Lit. Adam knew}</n> his wife Eve. She became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, "I have given birth to <n>{Or have acquired ; the Heb. verb resembles the word for Cain}</n> a male child with <n>{Or child the Lord ; the Heb. lacks with}</n> the Lord ." 


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She also gave birth to his brother Abel. Abel shepherded flocks and Cain became a farmer. <n>{Lit. a worker of the ground}</n> 


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Later, Cain brought an offering to the Lord from the fruit that he had harvested, <n>{Lit. fruit of the ground}</n> 


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while Abel offered <n>{Lit. brought}</n> the best parts <n>{Lit. the fatty portions}</n> of some of the firstborn from his flock. The Lord looked favorably upon Abel and his offering, 


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but he did not look favorably upon Cain and his offering. When Cain became very upset and <n>{Lit. and his face was}</n> depressed, 


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If you do what is appropriate, <n>{Or good}</n> you'll be accepted, won't you? But if you don't do what is appropriate, <n>{Or good}</n> sin is crouching near your doorway, turning toward you. Now as for you, will you take dominion over it?" <n>{Or However, you must take dominion over it.}</n> 


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Instead, Cain told his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the wilderness." <n>{So with SP, LXX, Vg, and Syr; the Heb. lacks Let's go out to the wilderness.}</n> When they were outside in the fields, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. 


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Later, the Lord asked Cain, "Where's your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he answered. "Am I my brother's guardian?" 


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"What did you do?" God <n>{Lit. he}</n> asked. "Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. 


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Now you're more cursed than the ground, which has opened <n>{Lit. opened its mouth}</n> to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 


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Whenever you work the ground, it will no longer yield its produce to you, and you'll wander throughout the earth as a fugitive." 


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"You're driving me from the soil <n>{Lit. the face of the ground}</n> today. I'll be hidden from you, and I'll wander throughout the earth as a fugitive. In the future, <n>{Lit. So it will be that}</n> whoever finds me will kill me." 


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The Lord told him, "This won't happen, because whoever kills you <n>{Lit. Cain}</n> will suffer seven times the vengeance." Then the Lord placed a sign on Cain so that no one finding him would kill him. 


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<n>{From Cain to Lamech}</n> d Later, Cain had sexual relations with <n>{Lit. Cain knew}</n> his wife. She became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain <n>{Lit. He}</n> founded a city and named it after <n>{Lit. called its name after the name of}</n> his son Enoch. 


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Irad was born to Enoch. Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 


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Later, Lamech married two wives. One was named Adah and the other was named <n>{Lit. the name of the second was}</n> Zillah. 


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Adah gave birth to Jabal, who became the ancestor of those who live in tents and herd <n>{The Heb. lacks herd}</n> livestock. 


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Zillah gave birth to Tubal-cain, who became a forger of bronze and iron work. Tubal-cain's sister was Naamah. 


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Lamech told his wives, "Adah and Zillah, listen to what I have to say: You wives of Lamech, hear what I'm announcing! I've killed a man for wounding me, a young man for bruising me. 


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For if Cain is being avenged seven times, then Lamech will be avenged <n>{The Heb. lacks will be avenged}</n> 77 times." 


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Later on, after Adam had sexual relations with <n>{Lit. Adam knew}</n> his wife, she gave birth to a son and named him <n>{Lit. called his name}</n> Seth, because "God granted <n>{The Heb. verb granted resembles the word Seth}</n> me another offspring to replace Abel, since Cain murdered him." 


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Seth also fathered a son, whom he named Enosh. At that time, profaning <n>{Or invoking; lit. calling on}</n> the name of the Lord began. 


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<n>{From Adam to Noah}</n> d This is the historical record <n>{Or the generations scroll}</n> of Adam's <n>{Or mankind's}</n> generations. When <n>{Lit. On the day that}</n> God created mankind, <n>{Lit. Adam}</n> he made them in his own likeness. <n>{Lit. in the likeness of God}</n> 


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Creating them male and female, he blessed them and called them humans <n>{Lit. called their name Adam}</n> when <n>{Lit. on the day he created them}</n> he created them. 


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After Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son just like him, <n>{Lit. son in his likeness}</n> that is, <n>{The Heb. lacks that is}</n> according to his own likeness, and named him Seth. 


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Adam lived another 800 years, fathering other <n>{The Heb. lacks other ; and so throughout the chapter}</n> sons and daughters after he had fathered Seth. 


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Adam lived a total <n>{Lit. all the days ; and so throughout the chapter}</n> of 930 years and then died. 


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After he fathered Methuselah, Enoch communed <n>{Lit. walked}</n> with God for 300 years and fathered other sons and daughters. 


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whom he named Noah, <n>{The Heb. name Noah sounds like the word comfort}</n> because he said, "May this one comfort us from our work, from pain that is caused by our manual labor, and from the ground that the Lord has cursed." 


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<n>{Human Corruption}</n> d Now after the population of human beings had increased throughout the <n>{Lit. increase on the surface of the}</n> earth, and daughters had been born to them, 


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some divine beings <n>{Lit. them, 2 the sons of God}</n> noticed how attractive human women <n>{Lit. attractive daughters of Adam}</n> were, so they took wives for themselves from a selection that pleased them. <n>{Lit. from all whom they had selected}</n> 


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So the Lord said, "My Spirit won't remain <n>{Or contend}</n> with human beings forever, because they're truly mortal. <n>{Lit. flesh}</n> Their lifespan <n>{Lit. days}</n> will be 120 years." 


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The Nephilim <n>{MT reads The Fallen Ones ; LXX and Aram. read Giants ; cf. Num 13:33}</n> were on the earth at that time <n>{Lit. earth in those days}</n> (and also immediately afterward), when those divine beings <n>{Or after, the sons of God}</n> were having sexual relations with <n>{Lit. beings went in to}</n> those human women, <n>{Lit. with Adam's daughters}</n> who gave birth to children for them. These children <n>{The Heb. lacks children}</n> became the heroes and legendary figures of ancient times. <n>{Lit. heroes of ancient times, men of renown}</n> 


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<n>{God Decides to Destroy the World}</n> d The Lord saw that human evil was growing more and more throughout the earth, with every inclination of people's thoughts <n>{Lit. hearts}</n> becoming only evil on a continuous basis. 


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Then the Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and he was deeply grieved about that. <n>{Lit. was grieved to the heart}</n> 


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So the Lord said, "I will annihilate these human beings whom I've created from the <n>{Lit. the surface of the}</n> earth, including people, animals, crawling things, and flying birds, because I'm grieving that I made them." 


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<n>{Noah Obeys God}</n> d These are the family records <n>{Or the generations}</n> of Noah: Noah was a righteous man. Blameless during his times, <n>{Or generations}</n> Noah communed <n>{Lit. lifetime, Noah walked}</n> with God. 


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By this time, the earth had become ruined in God's opinion <n>{Lit. sight}</n> and filled with violence. 


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God looked at the earth, observing how corrupt its population had become, because the entire human race <n>{Lit. all the flesh on the earth}</n> had corrupted itself. <n>{Lit. corrupted their ways}</n> 


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So God announced to Noah, "I've decided to destroy every living thing on earth, <n>{Lit. The end of all flesh has come before me}</n> because it has become filled with violence due to them. Look! I'm about to annihilate them, along with the earth. 


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So make yourself an ark out of cedar, <n>{Or cypress}</n> constructing compartments in it, and cover it inside and out with tar. 


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Make the ark like this: 450 feet <n>{Lit. 300 cubits ; or about 140 meters}</n> long, 75 feet <n>{Lit. fifty cubits ; or about 23 meters}</n> wide, and 45 feet <n>{Lit. thirty cubits ; or about 13.5 meters}</n> high. 


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Make a roof <n>{Or cupola}</n> for the ark, and finish the walls <n>{The Heb. lacks the walls}</n> to within one and a half feet <n>{Lit. one cubit ; or about half a meter}</n> from the top. <n>{I.e. for a skylight}</n> Place the entrance in the side of the ark, and build a lower, a middle, and an upper deck. 


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"For my part, I'm about to flood the earth with water and destroy every living thing <n>{Lit. thing under heaven}</n> that breathes. Everything on earth will die. 


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However, I will establish my own covenant with you, and you are to enter the ark you, your sons, your wife, and your sons'wives. 


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You are to bring two of every living thing <n>{Lit. every kind of flesh}</n> into the ark so they may remain alive with you. They are to be male and female. 


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From birds according to their species, <n>{Lit. kind}</n> from domestic animals according to their species, <n>{Lit. kind}</n> and from everything that crawls on the ground according to their species <n>{Lit. kind}</n> two of everything will come to you so they may remain alive. 


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For your part, take some of the edible food and store it away these stores will be food for you and the animals." <n>{Lit. and them}</n> 


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<n>{Entering the Ark}</n> d Then the Lord told Noah, "Come you and all your household into the ark, because I've seen that you alone are righteous <n>{Lit. righteous before me}</n> in this generation. 


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You are to take with you seven pairs <n>{Lit. seven seven}</n> of every clean animal, a male and its mate, and two of the unclean animals, a male and its mate; 


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along with seven pairs <n>{Lit. seven seven}</n> of the flying birds, male and female, in order to keep their offspring alive on the surface of all the earth. 


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Seven days from now I'll send rain on the earth for 40 days and 40 nights, and I'll destroy every living creature that I've made." 


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Noah, his sons, his wife, and his sons'wives entered the ark with him before the flood waters arrived. <n>{The Heb. lacks arrived}</n> 


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On the seventeenth day of the second month, when Noah was 600 years old, all the springs of the great deep burst open, the floodgates of the heavens were opened, 


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On that very day, Noah entered the ark with his <n>{Lit. Noah's}</n> sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, Noah's wife, his sons'three wives with them, 


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along with every species of wild animal, <n>{I.e., non-domesticated animals, as opposed to domesticated livestock}</n> livestock, crawling creature, bird, and every creature that has wings. 


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Two of each living creature <n>{Lit. each of all flesh in which there was life}</n> entered the ark with Noah. 


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The males and females of each living creature <n>{Lit. of all flesh}</n> entered the ark, <n>{The Heb. lacks the ark}</n> just as God had commanded. Then the Lord sealed them inside. 


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The flood continued throughout the earth for 40 days, while the flood waters increased, lifting the ark so that it rose above the surface of the <n>{The Heb. lacks surface of the}</n> earth. 


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The flood waters continued to surge, increasing throughout the earth, while the ark floated on the surface of the flood water. 


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The flood water surged even higher throughout the earth, until all the highest mountains under the sky were covered. 


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The flood waters rose 22 and a half feet <n>{Lit. rose fifteen cubits ; i.e. about 6.5 meters}</n> above the mountains. 


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Every living thing <n>{Lit. flesh that moves}</n> on earth died birds, livestock, wildlife, all creatures that swarm over the earth, and all human beings. 


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Everything that breathed <n>{Lit. that had breath in its nostrils}</n> and everything that had lived on dry land died. 


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All existing creatures that had lived on the surface of the ground were annihilated, from humans to livestock, from crawling creatures to birds of the sky. They were wiped off the earth. Only Noah remained, along with those who were with him in the ark. 


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<n>{The Waters Recede}</n> d God kept Noah in mind, along with all the wildlife <n>{I.e., non-domesticated animals, as opposed to domesticated livestock}</n> and livestock that were with him in the ark. God's Spirit <n>{Or wind}</n> moved throughout the earth, causing the flood waters to subside. 


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The water sources from the ocean depths were blocked and the floodgates of the heavens were closed. 


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Then the flood waters steadily receded, <n>{Lit. receded from the dry land}</n> diminishing completely by the end of the 150 days. 


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The ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat <n>{I.e. ancient Urartu}</n> on the seventeenth day of the seventh month. 


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The flood water continued to recede until the tenth month, when, on the first of that month, the tops of the mountains could be seen. 


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and sent out a raven. It went back and forth as the flood water continued to evaporate throughout the earth. 


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Later, he sent a dove out from the ark <n>{Lit. from his presence}</n> to see whether the water that covered the land's surface had completely <n>{The Heb. lacks completely}</n> receded, 


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but the dove could not yet find a place to rest, <n>{Lit. rest for its foot}</n> so it returned to Noah <n>{Lit. him}</n> on the ark, since water still covered the land. Noah reached out his hand and took the dove back <n>{Lit. took it}</n> into the ark with him. 


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The dove returned to him in the evening, and there in its beak was an olive leaf that it had plucked! So Noah knew that the flood waters had decreased on the land. 


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In the six hundred and first year of Noah's life, <n>{The Heb. lacks of Noah's life}</n> during the first month, the flood water began to evaporate from the land. Noah then removed the ark's cover and saw that the surface of the land was drying. 


text:
Bring out with you every living creature including the birds, animals, and everything that crawls on the ground so they may disperse throughout the land, be fruitful, and multiply throughout the earth." 


text:
Every animal, every crawling thing, every bird, and everything that moves on the earth emerged from the ark by groups. <n>{Lit. by their groups}</n> 


text:
Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings on it <n>{Lit. on the altar}</n> from every clean animal and every clean bird. 


text:
When the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, he told himself, "I will never again curse the land because of human beings even though human inclinations remain evil from youth nor will I destroy every living being ever again, as I've done. 


text:
"Never <n>{The Heb. lacks Never}</n> again, as long as the earth exists, will sowing and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night ever cease." 


text:
<n>{The Covenant with Noah}</n> d God blessed Noah and his sons and ordered them, "Be productive, multiply, and fill the earth. 


text:
All the living creatures of the earth will be filled with fear and terror of you from now on, including all the birds of the sky, everything that crawls on the ground, and all the fish of the ocean. They've been assigned to live under your dominion. <n>{Lit. your hand}</n> 


text:
"Every living, moving creature will be food for you. Just as I gave you green plants before, so now you have everything. 


text:
Also, I will certainly demand an accounting regarding bloodshed, from every animal and from every human being. I'll demand an accounting from every human being for the life of another human being. 


text:
"Whoever sheds human blood, by a human his own blood is to be shed; because God made human beings in his own image. 


text:
and with every living creature that is with you the birds, the livestock, and all the wildlife of the earth that are with you all the earth's animals that came out of the ark. 


text:
I will establish my covenant with you: No living beings will ever be cut off again by flood waters, and there will never again be a flood that destroys the earth." 


text:
<n>{The Sign of God's Covenant}</n> d God also said, "Here's the symbol that represents the covenant that I'm making between me and you and every living being with you, for all future generations: 


text:
I've set my rainbow in the sky <n>{Lit. cloud}</n> to symbolize the covenant between me and the earth. 


text:
I'll remember my covenant between me and you and every living creature, so that water will never again become a flood to destroy all living beings. 


text:
When the rainbow is in the clouds, I will observe it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living beings on the earth." 


text:
God also told Noah, "This is the symbol of the covenant that I've established between me and everything <n>{Lit. all flesh}</n> that lives on the earth." 


text:
<n>{Noah and His Family}</n> d Noah's sons who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Ham later fathered Canaan.) 


text:
He drank some of the wine, got drunk, and lay down naked <n>{Or and exposed himself}</n> right in the middle of his tent. 


text:
Then Shem and Japheth took their father's <n>{Lit. took the}</n> cloak, laid it across both their shoulders, and walking backwards, they both covered their father's genitals. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father's genitals. 


text:
May God make room for <n>{Or God extend ; the Heb. verb sounds like the name Japheth}</n> Japheth; may God <n>{Lit. he}</n> live in Shem's tents, and may Canaan serve him." 


text:
<n>{Descendants and Nations from Noah}</n> d These are the records <n>{Or generations}</n> of Noah's sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, to whom descendants <n>{Lit. s ons , and so throughout the chapter}</n> were born after the flood. 


text:
Japheth's descendants included <n>{The Heb. lacks included ; and so throughout the chapter}</n> Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. 


text:
Javan's descendants included Elisha, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim, <n>{So MT; LXX and a Heb. mss. read Rodanim; Cf. 1Chr 1:7}</n> 


text:
from whom the coastal peoples spread into their own lands and nations, each with their own language and family groups. 


text:
Cush's descendants included Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. Raamah's descendants included Sheba and Dedan. 


text:
Cush fathered Nimrod, who became the first fearless <n>{Or valiant}</n> leader throughout the land. 


text:
He became a fearless <n>{Or valiant}</n> hunter in defiance of <n>{Lit. hunter before}</n> the Lord . That is why it is said, "Like Nimrod, a fearless hunter in defiance of <n>{Lit. hunter before}</n> the Lord ." 


text:
His kingdom began in the region <n>{Lit. land}</n> of Shinar <n>{I.e. southern Mesopotamia or Babylonia}</n> with the cities of <n>{The Heb. lacks the cities of}</n> Babylon, Erech, <n>{Or Uruk}</n> Akkad, and Calneh. 


text:
From there <n>{Lit. from that land}</n> he went north <n>{The Heb. lacks north}</n> to Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-ir, and Calah, 


text:
the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Later, the Canaanite families were widely scattered. 


text:
The Canaanite border extended south <n>{The Heb. lacks south}</n> from Sidon toward Gerar as far as Gaza, and east <n>{The Heb. lacks east}</n> toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha. 


text:
These are Ham's descendants, listed by their families, each with their own lands, language, and family groups. 


text:
<n>{Shem's Descendants}</n> d Shem, Japheth's older brother, also had descendants. <n>{Lit. sons}</n> Shem was the father of the descendants of Eber. 


text:
Arpachshad fathered Cainan, Cainan fathered Shelah, and Shelah fathered Eber. <n>{So with LXX (cf. Gen. 11:12-13 & Luke 3:35-36); the Heb. lacks Cainan, Cainan fathered.}</n> 


text:
To Eber were born two sons. One was named Peleg, <n>{The Heb. name Peleg sounds like the Heb. verb divided}</n> because the earth was divided during his lifetime. His brother was named Joktan. 


text:
These are Shem's descendants, listed by their families, each with their own lands, language, and family groups. 


text:
These are the families of Noah's sons, according to their records, by their nations. From these people, the nations on the earth spread out after the flood. 


text:
<n>{The Tower in Babylon}</n> d There was a time when the entire earth spoke a common language with an identical vocabulary. 


text:
As people <n>{Lit. they}</n> migrated westward, <n>{Lit. migrated from the east ; i.e. from the mountains of Ararat}</n> they came across a plain in the region of Shinar <n>{I.e. Babylonia or ancient Sumer}</n> and settled there. 


text:
They told each other, "Come on! Let's burn bricks thoroughly." They used bricks for stone and tar for mortar. 


text:
Then they said, "Come on! Let's build ourselves a city and a tower, with its summit in the heavens, and let's make a name for ourselves <n>{The Heb. lacks for ourselves}</n> so we won't be scattered over the surface of the whole earth." 


text:
The Lord said, "Look! They are one people with the same language for all of them, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. <n>{The Heb. lacks of what they will do}</n> Nothing that they have a mind to do will be impossible for them! 


text:
Come on! Let's go down there and confuse their language, so that they won't understand each other's speech." 


text:
So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the surface of the whole earth, so that they had to stop building the city. 


text:
Therefore it was called Babylon, <n>{The Heb. name Babel means confusion}</n> because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth, and from there the Lord scattered them over the surface of the entire earth. 


text:
<n>{Descendants of Shem}</n> d These are the family records <n>{Or generations}</n> of Shem. When Shem had lived 100 years, he fathered Arpachshad two years after the flood. 


text:
Shem lived 500 years after he fathered Arpachshad and had other <n>{The Heb. lacks other}</n> sons and daughters. 


text:
After he fathered Cainan, Arpachshad lived 430 years and had other <n>{The Heb. lacks other}</n> sons and daughters, and then died. Cainan lived 130 years and fathered Shelah. After he fathered Shelah, Cainan lived 330 years and had other <n>{The Heb. lacks other}</n> sons and daughters, and then died. <n>{11:12-13 So with LXX (cf. Gen. 10:24 & Luke 3:35-36). MT reads Arpachshad lived 403 years after fathering Shelah, and had sons and daughters.}</n> 


text:
After he fathered Eber, Shelah lived 403 years and had other <n>{The Heb. lacks other}</n> sons and daughters. 


text:
After he fathered Peleg, Eber lived 430 years and had other <n>{The Heb. lacks other}</n> sons and daughters. 


text:
After he fathered Reu, Peleg lived 209 years and had other <n>{The Heb. lacks other}</n> sons and daughters. 


text:
After he fathered Serug, Reu lived 207 years and had other <n>{The Heb. lacks other}</n> sons and daughters. 


text:
After he fathered Nahor, Serug lived 200 years and had other <n>{The Heb. lacks other}</n> sons and daughters. 


text:
After he fathered Terah, Nahor lived 119 years and had other <n>{The Heb. lacks other}</n> sons and daughters. 


text:
<n>{Descendants of Terah}</n> d Now these are the family records <n>{Or generations}</n> of Terah: Terah fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran fathered Lot. 


text:
Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. The name of Abram's wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor's wife was Milcah. She was the daughter of Haran, who was the father of Milcah and Iscah. 


text:
Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot (Haran's son), and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram's wife, and they journeyed together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan. But when they had gone as far as Haran, they settled there, 


text:
<n>{God Calls Abram}</n> d The Lord told Abram, "You are to leave your land, your relatives, and your father's house and go to the land that I'm going to show you. 


text:
I'll make a great nation of your descendants, I'll bless you, and I'll make your reputation great, so that you will be a blessing. 


text:
I'll bless those who bless you, but I'll curse the one who curses you, and through you all the people <n>{Lit. families}</n> of the earth will be blessed." 


text:
So Abram left there, as the Lord had directed him, and Lot accompanied him. Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran. 


text:
Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated, and the servants <n>{Lit. the living beings}</n> he had acquired while living <n>{The Heb. lacks while living}</n> in Haran. Then they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they arrived in the land of Canaan, 


text:
Abram traveled through the land to the place called Shechem, as far as the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 


text:
Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, "I'll give this land to your descendants." <n>{Lit. seed}</n> So Abram <n>{Lit. he}</n> built an altar to the Lord , who had appeared to him. 


text:
From there Abram <n>{Lit. he}</n> traveled on to the hill country east of Bethel and set up his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord . 


text:
Then Abram traveled on, continuing on into the Negev. <n>{I.e. the southern regions of the Sinai peninsula; cf. Josh 10:40}</n> 


text:
<n>{Abram and Sarai in Egypt}</n> d There was a famine in the land, so Abram went down to Egypt to live because the famine was so severe. 


text:
When he was about to enter Egypt, he told his wife Sarai, "Look, I'm aware that you're a beautiful woman. 


text:
When the Egyptians see you, they will say, «She is his wife.'Then they'll kill me, but allow you to live. 


text:
Please say that you are my sister, so things will go well for me for your sake. That way, you'll be saving my life." 


text:
As Abram was entering Egypt, the Egyptians noticed how beautiful Sarai <n>{Lit. that the woman}</n> was. 


text:
When Pharaoh's officials saw her, they brought her to the attention of Pharaoh and took the woman to Pharaoh's palace. 


text:
He treated Abram well because of her, so Abram acquired sheep, oxen, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels. 


text:
But the Lord afflicted Pharaoh and his household with severe plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife. 


text:
Pharaoh summoned Abram and asked, "What have you done to me! Why didn't you tell me that she was your wife? 


text:
Why did you say, «She is my sister,'so that I took her as a wife for myself? Now, here is your wife! Take her and get out!" 


text:
So Pharaoh assigned men to Abram, <n>{Lit. him}</n> and they escorted him, his wife, and all that he had out of the country. <n>{The Heb. lacks out of the country}</n> 


text:
<n>{Abram and Lot Part Ways}</n> d Abram traveled from Egypt, along with his wife and everyone who belonged to his household <n>{Lit. who pertained to him}</n> including Lot to the Negev. <n>{I.e. the southern regions of the Sinai peninsula; cf. Josh 10:40}</n> 


text:
He journeyed by stages from the Negev <n>{I.e. the southern regions of the Sinai peninsula; cf. Josh 10:40}</n> to Bethel, the place where his tent had formerly been, between Bethel and Ai, 


text:
Lot, who was traveling with Abram, also had flocks of sheep, other <n>{The Heb. lacks other}</n> herds, and tents. 


text:
But the land could not support them living together, because they had so many livestock that they could not stay together. 


text:
There was strife between the herdsmen in charge of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen in charge of Lot's livestock. Also, at that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land. 


text:
So Abram told Lot, "Please, let's not have strife between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, since we are relatives. <n>{Lit. brothers}</n> 


text:
Isn't the whole land available to you? Let's separate: If you go <n>{The Heb. lacks you go}</n> to the left, then I will go to the right; if you go <n>{The Heb. lacks you go}</n> to the right, then I will go to the left." 


text:
Lot looked around and noticed that the whole Jordan plain as far as Zoar was well-watered like the garden of the Lord or like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 


text:
So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan plain. Then Lot traveled eastward, and they separated from each other. 


text:
So Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the plain, setting up his tent in the vicinity of Sodom. 


text:
Now the men of Sodom were particularly evil and sinful in their defiance of <n>{Lit. sinful before}</n> the Lord . 


text:
After Lot had separated from Abram, the Lord told Abram, "Look off to the north, south <n>{Lit. the Negev}</n> , east, and west <n>{Lit. the sea}</n> from where you're living, 


text:
I'll make your descendants as plentiful as <n>{The Heb. lacks plentiful as}</n> the specks of <n>{The Heb. lacks the specks of}</n> dust of the earth, so that if one could count the specks of <n>{The Heb. lacks the specks of}</n> dust of the earth, then your descendants could also be counted. 


text:
So Abram moved his tent and settled beside the oaks of Mamre that are by Hebron, where he built an altar to the Lord . 


text:
<n>{Abram Battles Kings for Lot}</n> d At the time when Amraphel was king of Shinar, Arioch was king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer was king of Elam, and Tidal was king of the Goiim, 


text:
they engaged in war against King Bera of Sodom, King Birsha of Gomorrah, King Shinab of Admah, King Shemeber of Zeboiim, along with the king of Bela (which was also known as Zoar). 


text:
All of this latter group of kings <n>{Lit. All of these}</n> allied together in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea <n>{I.e. the Dead Sea}</n> ). 


text:
In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 


text:
Next they turned back and came to En-mishpat (which was also known as Kadesh) and conquered all the territory of the Amalekites, along with the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar. 


text:
Then the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (which was also known as Zoar) prepared for battle in the Valley of Siddim 


text:
against King Chedorlaomer of Elam, King Tidal of Goiim, King Amraphel of Shinar, and King Arioch of Ellasar four kings against five. 


text:
Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, so when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of their people <n>{The Heb. lacks of their people}</n> fell into them, while the rest fled to the hill country. 


text:
The conquerors <n>{Lit. They}</n> captured all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, including their entire food supply, and then left. 


text:
Someone escaped, arrived, and reported what had happened <n>{The Heb. lacks what had happened}</n> to Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks belonging to Mamre the Amorite, whose brothers Eshcol and Aner were allied with Abram. 


text:
When Abram heard that his nephew <n>{Lit. brother}</n> had been taken prisoner, he gathered together 318 of his trained men, who had been born in his household, and they went out in pursuit as far as Dan. 


text:
During the night, Abram <n>{Lit. he}</n> and his servants divided his forces, <n>{The Heb. lacks his forces}</n> conquered his enemies, <n>{Lit. conquered them}</n> and pursued them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 


text:
He recovered all the goods and brought back his nephew Lot, together with his possessions, the women, and the other <n>{The Heb. lacks other}</n> people. 


text:
<n>{The Blessing of Melchizedek}</n> d After Abram's return <n>{Lit. his return}</n> from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with them, the king of Sodom went out to meet with him in the Shaveh Valley (that is, the King's Valley). 


text:
King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine, since he was serving as <n>{The Heb. lacks serving as}</n> the priest of God Most High. 


text:
Melchizedek <n>{Lit. He}</n> blessed Abram <n>{Lit. him}</n> and said, "Abram is blessed by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 


text:
and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your control." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 


text:
<n>{Conversation with the King of Sodom}</n> d The king of Sodom told Abram, "Return the people to me, and you take the possessions for yourself." 


text:
But Abram answered the king of Sodom, "I have made an oath to the Lord God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 


text:
that I will not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that belongs to you, so you won't be able to say, «I made Abram rich.'


text:
I will take nothing except what my warriors have eaten. But as for what belongs to the men who were allied <n>{Lit. who came}</n> with me, including Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre, let them take their share." 


text:
<n>{The Abrahamic Covenant}</n> d Some time later, a message came from the Lord to Abram in a vision: "Don't be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward will be very great." 


text:
But Abram replied, "Lord G od , what can you give me since I continue to be childless, and the heir of my household is Eliezer from Damascus? 


text:
Look!" Abram said, "You haven't given me any offspring, so a servant born in <n>{Lit. a son of}</n> my house is going to be my heir." 


text:
A message came from the Lord to him again: "This one will not be your heir. Instead, the child who will be born to you <n>{Lit. the one who will come from your loins}</n> will be your heir." 


text:
Then the Lord <n>{Lit. he}</n> took him outside. "Look up at the sky and count the stars if you can!" he said. "Your descendants will be that numerous. <n>{Lit. will be so}</n> " 


text:
The Lord <n>{Lit. He}</n> spoke to him, "I am the Lord, who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land as an inheritance." 


text:
The Lord responded, "Bring me a three-year-old cow, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon." 


text:
So Abram brought him all these animals and cut each of them in half, down the middle, placing the pieces opposite each other, but he did not cut the birds in half. 


text:
As the sun began to set, Abram was overcome with deep sleep, and suddenly a frightening and terrifying darkness descended on him. 


text:
Then the Lord told Abram, "You can be certain about this: Your descendants will be foreigners in a land that isn't theirs. They will be slaves there and will be oppressed for 400 years. 


text:
However, I will judge the nation that they serve, and later they will leave there with many possessions. 


text:
Your descendants <n>{Lit. They}</n> will return here in the fourth generation, since the iniquity of the Amorites has not yet run its course." 


text:
When the sun had fully set and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a fiery torch passed between the animal pieces <n>{Lit. these pieces}</n> . 


text:
That very day the Lord made this covenant with Abram: "I'm giving <n>{Or have given}</n> this land to your descendants, from the river of Egypt to the great Euphrates River 


text:
<n>{Sarai, Hagar, and Ishmael}</n> d Now Abram's wife Sarai had not borne a child for him. She had an Egyptian servant girl whose name was Hagar. 


text:
So Sarai told Abram, "You are well aware that the Lord has prevented me from giving birth to a child. Go have sex with my servant, so that I may possibly bear a son <n>{Lit. possibly be built up}</n> through her." Abram listened to Sarai's suggestion, 


text:
so Abram's wife Sarai took her Egyptian servant, Hagar, and gave her as a wife to her husband Abram. This took place <n>{The Heb. lacks This took place}</n> ten years after Abram had settled in the land of Canaan. 


text:
He had sex with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When she realized that she was pregnant, she looked with contempt on her mistress. 


text:
Then Sarai told Abram, "My suffering is your fault! I gave you my servant so you could have sex with her <n>{Lit. my servant your bosom}</n> , and when she discovered that she was pregnant, she looked on me with contempt. May the Lord judge between you and me!" 


text:
Abram answered Sarai, "Look, your servant is under your control, so do to her as you wish." <n>{Lit. her what is good in your eyes}</n> So Sarai dealt so harshly with Hagar <n>{Lit. her}</n> that she ran away from Sarai. <n>{Lit. her}</n> 


text:
"Hagar, servant of Sarai," he asked, "Where are you coming from and where are you going?" She answered, "I am running away from my mistress Sarai." 


text:
The angel of the Lord also told her, "I will greatly multiply your offspring, who will be too many to count. 


text:
"Look, you are pregnant and will give birth to a son," the angel of the Lord continued to say to her. "You will name him Ishmael, <n>{I.e. God hears}</n> because the Lord has heard your cry of <n>{The Heb. lacks cry of}</n> misery. 


text:
He'll be a wild donkey of a man. He'll <n>{Lit. His hand}</n> be against everyone, and everyone will be against him. <n>{Lit. against his hand}</n> He will live in conflict with <n>{Lit. in the face of}</n> all of his relatives." 


text:
So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, "You are «God who sees,'because I have truly seen the one who looks after me." 


text:
That's why the spring was called, "The Well of the Living One who looks after me." It was between Kadesh and Bered. 


text:
<n>{God Appears to Abram}</n> d When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and announced, "I am God Almighty. Live in constant awareness that I'm always with you, <n>{Lit. in my presence}</n> and be blameless. 


text:
Your name is no longer to be Abram. <n>{The Heb. name means exalted father}</n> Instead your name will be Abraham, <n>{The Heb. name means father of many}</n> since I'll make you the father of many nations. 


text:
I'm going to cause you to have many descendants, and I'll bring nations from you. Kings will come from you. 


text:
I'm establishing my covenant between me and you, and with your descendants who come after you, generation after generation, as an eternal covenant, to be your God and your descendants'God after you. 


text:
I'll give to you and to your descendants the land to which you have traveled all the land of Canaan as an eternal possession. I will be their God." 


text:
<n>{The Sign of the Covenant}</n> d God continued to speak to Abraham, "You and your descendants who are born in the future are to keep my covenant that is, you and your descendants, generation after generation. 


text:
Here is my covenant that you are to observe, between me and you and your descendants: Every male among you is to be circumcised. 


text:
"You are all to be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and this is to be the sign of the covenant between me and you. 


text:
Generation after generation, every male among you is to be circumcised on the eighth day after his birth, <n>{The Heb. lacks after his birth}</n> including the servant born in your house or the one purchased from a foreigner, who is not of your offspring. 


text:
The servant born in your house or the one purchased with money is to be circumcised. My covenant is to remain in your flesh as an eternal covenant. 


text:
Any uncircumcised male who does not have the foreskin of his flesh circumcised on the eighth day <n>{So LXX, SP, Jubilees; the Heb. lacks on the eighth day}</n> after his birth <n>{The Heb. lacks after his birth}</n> is to be eliminated from his people because he has broken my covenant." 


text:
<n>{Sarah's Pregnancy Foretold}</n> d God told Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you are not to call her Sarai any longer, <n>{The Heb. lacks any longer}</n> because her name is to be Sarah. <n>{The Heb. name means princess}</n> 


text:
I will bless her. Furthermore, I will give you a son from her. I will bless her, so that nations, kings, and people will come from her." 


text:
Abraham fell to the ground, <n>{Lit. fell on his face}</n> laughed, and told himself, "Can a child be born to a 100-year-old man? Can a 90-year-old Sarah give birth?" 


text:
So Abraham responded to God, "If only Ishmael would live in constant awareness that you're always with him!" <n>{Lit. in your presence}</n> 


text:
But God replied, "No, but your wife Sarah will give birth to your son, and you are to name him Isaac. <n>{The Heb. name means laughter}</n> I'll confirm my covenant with him as an eternal covenant for his descendants. 


text:
And as for Ishmael, I've heard you. I'll bless him, and he'll have many descendants. <n>{Lit. he'll be fruitful}</n> I will multiply him greatly, he'll father twelve tribal leaders, and I'll cause his descendants <n>{Lit. cause him}</n> to become a great nation. 


text:
Now as to Isaac, I'll confirm my covenant with him, to whom Sarah will give birth as your son at this time next year." 


text:
Abraham took his son Ishmael and all the servants born in his house or purchased with his money every male among the men of his household and circumcised them <n>{Lit. them in the flesh of their foreskins}</n> that very day, just as God had spoken to him. 


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Abraham was 99 years old when he was circumcised, <n>{Lit. circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin}</n> 


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and his son Ishmael was thirteen years old when he was circumcised. <n>{Lit. circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin}</n> 


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Every man born in his household, as well as those who had been purchased with money from a foreigner, was circumcised with him. 


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<n>{Abraham's Three Visitors}</n> d Later, the Lord appeared to Abraham <n>{Lit. him}</n> by the oaks <n>{Or terebinths}</n> of Mamre. As Abraham <n>{Lit. he}</n> was sitting near the entrance to his tent during the hottest part of the day, 


text:
he glanced up and saw three men standing there not far from him. As soon as he noticed them, Abraham <n>{Lit. he}</n> ran from the tent entrance to greet them and bowed low to the ground. 


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"My lords," he told them, "if I have found favor with you, <n>{Lit. favor in your eyes}</n> please don't leave your servant. 


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I'll bring some food for you, <n>{Lit. you, that you may nourish yourselves}</n> and after that you may continue your journey, since you have come to visit your servant." So they replied, "Okay! Do what you've proposed." 


text:
Abraham hurried into the tent and told Sarah, "Quick! Take three measures <n>{Lit. seahs}</n> of the best flour, knead it, and make some flat bread." 


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Next, Abraham ran to the herd, found a choice and tender calf, and gave it to the young men, who went off in a hurry to prepare it. 


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Then he took curds, milk, and the calf that had been prepared, placed the food in front of them, and stood near them under the tree while they ate. 


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<n>{Sarah Laughs at the Promise}</n> d The men asked him, "Where is your wife Sarah?" "There, in the tent," he replied. 


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Then one of them said, "I will certainly return to you in about a year's time. <n>{Lit. you according to the time of life}</n> By then, your wife Sarah will have borne a son." Now Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. 


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Abraham and Sarah were old really old <n>{Lit. well advanced in days}</n> and Sarah was beyond the age of childbearing. <n>{Lit. The way of women has ceased for Sarah}</n> 


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That's why Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, "After I'm so old and my husband is old, too, am I going to have sex?" <n>{Lit. pleasure}</n> 


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The Lord asked Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and think, «Am I really going to bear a child, since I'm so old? '


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Is anything impossible <n>{Lit. wonderful}</n> for the Lord ? At the time set for it, I will return to you about a year from now and Sarah will have a son." 


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But Sarah denied it. "I didn't laugh," she claimed, because she was afraid. The Lord <n>{Lit. He}</n> replied, "No! You did laugh!" 


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<n>{God Reveals His Plans to Abraham}</n> d After this, the men set out from there and looked out over Sodom. Abraham went with them to send them off. 


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"since Abraham's descendants will become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him? 


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Indeed, I've made myself known to him in order that he may encourage his sons and his household that is born after him to keep the way of the Lord , and to do what is right and just, so that the Lord may bring about for Abraham what he has promised." 


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The Lord also said, "How great is the disapproval of Sodom and Gomorrah! Their sin is so very serious! 


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I'm going down to see whether they've acted according to the protests that have reached me. If not, I wish to know." 


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Then two of <n>{The Heb. lacks two of}</n> the men turned away from there and walked toward Sodom, while Abraham remained standing in the presence of the Lord . 


text:
<n>{Abraham Negotiates with God}</n> d Abraham approached and asked, "Will you actually destroy the righteous along with the wicked? 


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Perhaps there are 50 righteous ones within the city. Will you actually destroy it and not forgive the place for the sake of the 50 righteous that are found there? 


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Far be it from you to do such a thing to kill the righteous along with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike! The Judge of all the earth will do what is right, won't he?" 


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The Lord said, "If I find 50 righteous people within Sodom, I'll forgive the whole place for their sake." 


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What if there are five less than 50 righteous ones? Will you bring destruction upon the city because of those five?" The Lord <n>{Lit. He}</n> said, "I won't destroy it if I find 45 there." 


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Abraham <n>{Lit. He}</n> continued to speak to him, asking, "What if 40 are found there?" The Lord <n>{Lit. He}</n> replied, "I won't do it for the sake of those 40." 


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Abraham <n>{Lit. He}</n> then asked, "I hope my Lord will not be angry if I speak. What if 30 are found there?" The Lord <n>{Lit. He}</n> answered, "I won't do it for the sake of those 30." 


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"Look," Abraham <n>{Lit. He}</n> said, "I've presumed to speak to my Lord so what if 20 are found there?" "For the sake of those 20," the Lord <n>{Lit. He}</n> responded, "I won't destroy it." 


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Finally, Abraham <n>{Lit. He}</n> inquired, "I hope my Lord will not be angry if I speak only once more. What if ten are found there?" He replied, "For the sake of those ten I won't destroy it." 


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As soon as he finished talking to Abraham, the Lord left and Abraham returned to where he had been sitting. <n>{Lit. to his place}</n> 


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<n>{Sodom's Depravity}</n> d The two angels entered Sodom at sunset while Lot was sitting in the gate area of the city. <n>{Lit. of Sodom}</n> When Lot saw them, <n>{The Heb. lacks them}</n> he got up, greeted them, bowed low with his face to the ground, 


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and said, "Look, my lords! Please come inside your servant's house, wash your feet, and spend the night. Then you can get up early and be on your way." But they responded, "No, we would rather spend the night in the town square." 


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But Lot <n>{Lit. he}</n> kept urging them strongly, so they turned aside and entered his house. He prepared a festival and baked unleavened flat bread for them, and they ate. 


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Before they could lie down, all the men of Sodom and its outskirts, both young and old, surrounded the house. 


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They called out to Lot and asked, "Where are the men who came to visit <n>{The Heb. lacks visit}</n> you tonight? Bring them out to us so we can have sex with <n>{Lit. can know}</n> them!" 


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Look here, I have two daughters who are virgins. <n>{Lit. have not known a man}</n> Let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them whatever you wish, <n>{Lit. seems good in your eyes}</n> only don't do anything to these men, because they're here under my protection." <n>{Lit. under the shadow of my roof}</n> 


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But they replied, "Get out of our <n>{Lit. the}</n> way! This man came here as a foreigner, and now he's acting like a judge! So we're going to deal more harshly with you than with them." Then they pushed hard against the man (that is, against Lot), intending to break down the door. 


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But the angels <n>{Lit. men}</n> inside reached out, dragged Lot back into the house with them, shut the door, 


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and blinded the men who were at the entrance of the house, from the least important to the greatest, so they were unable to find the doorway. 


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<n>{Lot Negotiates with the Angels}</n> d "Do you have anyone else here in the city?" the angels <n>{Lit. men}</n> asked Lot. "A son-in-law? Sons? Daughters? Get them out of this place, 


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because we're going to destroy it. The Lord knows how their behavior stinks, <n>{Lit. how great is their outcry}</n> so he <n>{Lit. so the Lord}</n> sent us here to destroy it!" 


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Lot then went out and told his sons-in-law (they had married his daughters), "Get out of here! The Lord is going to destroy this city!" But his sons-in-law thought he was joking. 


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As dawn was breaking, the angels pressured Lot. "Get going!" they told him. "Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be engulfed by the devastation that's coming to this city." 


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But Lot kept lingering in the city, <n>{The Heb. lacks in the city}</n> so the men <n>{Or angels}</n> grabbed his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters (because of the Lord's compassion for him!), brought them out of the city, and left them outside. 


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Then one of them said, "Flee for your lives! Don't look back or stop anywhere on the plain. Escape to the hills, or you'll be swept away!" 


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"Your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me your gracious love in how you have dealt with me by keeping me alive. I cannot escape to the hills, because I'm afraid the disaster will overtake me, and I'll die. 


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Look, there is a town nearby where I can flee, and it's a small one. Let me escape there! It's a small one, isn't it? That way I'll stay alive!" 


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"All right," the angel replied to Lot, <n>{Lit. him}</n> "I'll agree with your request! <n>{Lit. I'll lift up your face in this matter as well!}</n> I won't overthrow the town that you mentioned. 


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Hurry up and flee there, because I cannot do anything until you get to that town." Therefore the name of the town was called Zoar. <n>{The Heb. name Zoar means small}</n> 


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<n>{Lot's Wife Becomes a Pillar of Salt}</n> d The sun had risen over the land about the time Lot reached Zoar. 


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overthrowing those cities, all of the plain, and everyone who lived in the cities. He also destroyed the plants that grew out of the ground. 


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But Lot's <n>{Lit. his}</n> wife looked back as she lingered behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. 


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He looked off toward Sodom, Gomorrah, and the entire <n>{Lit. entire land of the}</n> plain, and he saw smoke rising from the land like smoke from a furnace. 


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And so it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham and brought Lot out from the midst of the destruction when he overthrew the cities where Lot had lived. 


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<n>{The Origin of Moab and Ammon}</n> d Later on, Lot and his two daughters abandoned Zoar and settled in the hills because Lot was afraid to live in Zoar. He lived there in a cave, along with his two daughters. 


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One day the firstborn told the younger one, "Our father is old, and there's no man in the land to have sex with us, <n>{Lit. to come in to us}</n> as everybody else throughout all the earth does. 


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Come on! Let's make our father drink wine, and then we'll have sex with him so we can preserve our father's lineage." 


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So they had their father drink wine that night, and the older one had sexual relations with her father, but he was not aware when she lay down or when she got up. 


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The next day the firstborn told the younger one, "Look! I had sex with my father last night. Let's make him drink wine tonight again as well. Then you have sex with him, too. That way we'll preserve our father's lineage." 


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So they made their father drink wine that night as well, so he was not aware when she lay down or when she got up. 


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The firstborn gave birth to a son and named him Moab, <n>{The Heb. name Moab means from my father}</n> and he is the ancestor of the Moabites to this day. 


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The younger daughter also gave birth to a son and named him Ben-ammi, <n>{The Heb. name Ben-ammi means son of my people}</n> and he is the ancestor of the Ammonites to this day. 


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<n>{Abraham and Abimelech}</n> d Abraham traveled from there to the Negev <n>{I.e. the southern regions of the Sinai peninsula; cf. Josh 10:40}</n> and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was living in Gerar as an outsider, 


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because Abraham kept saying about his wife Sarah, "She is my sister," King Abimelech of Gerar summoned them and took Sarah into his household. <n>{The Heb. lacks into his household}</n> 


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But God came to Abimelech in a dream during the night and spoke to him, "Pay attention! You're about to die, because the woman you have taken is a man's wife!" 


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Didn't he say to me, «She's my sister'? And she also said, «He's my brother.'I did this with pure intentions and clean hands." 


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Then God replied to him in the dream, "I know that you did this with pure intentions, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore, I didn't allow you to touch her. 


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Now then, return the man's wife. As a matter of fact, he's a prophet and can intercede for you so you'll live. But if you don't return her, be aware that you and all who are yours will certainly die." 


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So Abimelech got up early the next morning, summoned all his servants, and told them all these things. The men became terrified. 


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Then Abimelech called Abraham and asked him, "What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such great sin against me and my kingdom? You've done things to me that ought not to have been done." 


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"I thought that there is no fear of God in this place," Abraham replied, "and that they would kill me because of my wife. 


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Besides, she really is my sister she's my father's daughter, but not my mother's daughter so she could become my wife. 


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When God caused me to journey from my father's house, I asked her to do me this favor and say, <n>{Lit. say about me}</n> «He is my brother.»" 


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So Abimelech took some sheep and oxen, and some male and female servants, gave them to Abraham, returned his wife Sarah to him, 


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Abimelech also told Sarah, "Look! I am giving your brother 1,000 pieces of silver to vindicate <n>{Lit. to serve as a cloak for}</n> you in the eyes of all who are with you. As a result, you will be completely vindicated." 


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Then Abraham interceded with God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants so they could bear children, 


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since the Lord had made all the women barren <n>{Lit. had closed all the wombs}</n> in Abimelech's household on account of Abraham's wife Sarah. 


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<n>{Isaac is Born}</n> d The Lord came to Sarah, just as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. 


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Sarah conceived and gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age, at the very time that God had predicted. <n>{Lit. had told him}</n> 


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On the eighth day after his son Isaac had been born, <n>{Lit. Isaac was a son of eight days when}</n> Abraham circumcised him, just as God had commanded him. 


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Now Sarah had said, "God has caused me to laugh, <n>{The Heb. name Isaac means laughter}</n> and all who hear about it <n>{The Heb. lacks about it}</n> will laugh with me." 


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She also said, "Who would have told Abraham that Sarah would nurse sons? Yet I have given birth to a son in my husband's <n>{Lit. in his}</n> old age!" 


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<n>{Hagar and Ishmael Leave}</n> d The child grew and eventually was weaned, so Abraham threw a tremendous banquet on the very day Isaac was weaned. 


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Nevertheless, when Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian whom Hagar had borne to Abraham making fun of Isaac, <n>{The Heb. lacks of Isaac}</n> 


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she told Abraham, "Throw out this slave girl, along with her son, because this slave's son will never be a co-heir with my son Isaac!" 


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but God told Abraham, "Don't be troubled about the youth and your slave girl. Pay attention to Sarah in everything she tells you, because your offspring are to be named through Isaac. 


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So early the next morning, Abraham got up, took bread and a leather bottle of water, gave them to Hagar, and placed them on her shoulder. He then sent her away, along with the child. She went off and roamed in the Beer-sheba wilderness. 


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Eventually, the water in the leather bottle ran out, so she placed the child under one of the bushes. 


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Then she went and sat by herself about a distance of a bowshot away, because she kept saying to herself, "I can't bear to watch the child die!" That's why she sat a short distance away, crying aloud and weeping. 


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<n>{The Lord Rescues Hagar and Ishmael}</n> d God heard the boy's voice, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven. He asked her, "What's wrong with you, Hagar? Don't be afraid, because God has heard the voice of the youth where he is. 


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Get up! Pick up the youth and grab his hand, because I will make a great nation of his descendants." <n>{Lit. of him}</n> 


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Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. So she went, filled the skin with water, and gave the boy a drink. 


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Later he settled in the desert area of Paran, and his mother chose a wife for him from the land of Egypt. 


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<n>{A Covenant with Abimelech}</n> d About that time, Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, told Abraham, "God is with you in everything that you're doing. 


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Therefore swear an oath here by God that you won't deal falsely with me, my sons, or my descendants. Just as I've dealt graciously with you, won't you do so with me and with the land in which you live as a foreigner?" 


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But then Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well of water that Abimelech's servants had seized. 


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"I don't know who did this thing," Abimelech replied. "You didn't report this to me, and I didn't hear about it until today." 


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So Abraham took sheep and oxen and presented them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant. 


text:
so Abimelech asked Abraham, "What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set aside?" 


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He replied, "You are to accept from me these seven ewe lambs as a witness that I have dug this well." 


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Therefore that place was called Beer-sheba, because the two of them swore an oath. <n>{The name Beer-sheba in Heb. means well of the seven-fold oath}</n> 


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So after they had made a covenant in Beer-sheba, Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, left and returned to Philistine territory. 


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Abraham <n>{Lit. He}</n> planted a tamarisk tree in Beer-sheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord God Everlasting. 


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<n>{The Command to Offer Isaac}</n> d Sometime later, God tested Abraham. He called out to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am!" he answered. 


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God <n>{Lit. He}</n> said, "Please take your son, your unique son whom you love Isaac and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him as a burnt offering there on one of the mountains that I will point out to you." 


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So Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his male servants <n>{Or young men}</n> with him, along with his son Isaac. He cut the wood for the burnt offering and set out to go to the place about which God had spoken to him. 


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Abraham ordered his two servants, <n>{Or young men}</n> "Both of you are to stay here with the donkey. Now as for the youth and me, we'll go up there, we'll worship, and then we'll return to you." 


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Then Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac. Abraham <n>{Lit. He}</n> carried the fire and the knife. And so the two of them went on together. 


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<n>{Abraham Answers Isaac's Question}</n> d Isaac addressed his father Abraham: "My father!" "I'm here, my son," Abraham replied. Isaac asked, "The fire and the wood are here, but where's the lamb for the burnt offering?" 


text:
Abraham answered, "God will provide <n>{Or will see to}</n> himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." The two of them went on together 


text:
and came to the place about which God had spoken. Abraham built an altar there, arranged the wood, tied up his son Isaac, and placed him on the altar on top of the wood. 


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<n>{The Angel of the Lord Intervenes}</n> d Just then, an angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven and said, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Here I am," he answered. 


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"Don't lay your hand on the youth!" he said. "Don't do anything to him, because I've just demonstrated <n>{Lit. because now I know}</n> that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only unique one, from me." 


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Then Abraham looked up and behind him to see a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. So Abraham went over, grabbed the ram, and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 


text:
Abraham named that place, "The Lord Will Provide," <n>{Or Will See To It}</n> as it is told this day, "On the Lord» s mountain, he will provide." <n>{Or will see to it}</n> 


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and said, "I have taken an oath to swear by myself," declares the Lord, "that since you have carried this out and have not withheld your only unique <n>{Or only}</n> son, 


text:
I will certainly bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in heaven and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the gates <n>{I.e. the centers of power in their cities}</n> of their enemies. 


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Furthermore, through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed, <n>{Or gain blessing for themselves}</n> because you have obeyed my command." 


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After this, Abraham returned to his servants <n>{Or young men}</n> and they set out together for Beer-sheba, where Abraham settled. 


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<n>{Nahor's Children}</n> d Now after these things somebody told Abraham, "Look, Milcah has given birth to sons for your brother Nahor. 


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She died in Kiriath-arba (that is, in Hebron) in the land of Canaan. Abraham went in <n>{I.e. into Sarah's tent}</n> to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. 


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Then Abraham rose up from beside his dead wife <n>{The Heb. lacks wife}</n> and addressed the Hittites. He said, 


text:
"I am an alien and an outsider among you. Give me a cemetery among you where I can bury my dead away from my presence." 


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"Listen to us, sir. <n>{Lit. us, my lord}</n> You are a mighty prince <n>{MT reads a prince of God; LXX reads a king of God}</n> among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our burial tombs. None of us would refuse you his tomb for burying your dead." 


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and addressed them, "If you are willing that I should bury my dead out of my sight, listen to me and make a request of Zohar's son Ephron on my behalf. 


text:
Give me the cave of Machpelah that belongs to him, at the end of his field. He should sell <n>{Lit. give}</n> it to me in your presence at full price for a burial site." 


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Now since Ephron the Hittite had taken a seat there among the Hittites, he responded publicly to Abraham where the Hittites and everyone who was entering the gate of his city could hear him: 


text:
"No, sir. <n>{Lit. No, my lord}</n> Listen to me! I'll give you the field, and I'll give you the cave that's in it. I give it to you publicly, in the sight of my people. Bury your dead." 


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and then addressed Ephron so all the people of the land could hear him: "Please listen to me! I'm willing to pay the price of the field. Accept it from me, so I may bury my dead there." 


text:
"Sir, <n>{Lit. My lord}</n> listen to me! The land is worth 400 shekels of silver, but what's that between us? You may bury your dead." 


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Abraham agreed with Ephron, so he <n>{Lit. Abraham}</n> weighed out to Ephron the money to which he had agreed publicly while the Hittites were listening: 400 shekels of silver at the current merchant rate. 


text:
That's how Ephron's field in Machpelah, east of <n>{Lit. which faces or is before}</n> Mamre the field, the cave that was in it, and all the trees that were within the boundaries of <n>{Lit. within the area around}</n> the field came to be deeded 


text:
After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave at the field of Machpelah, east of Mamre (that is, in Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 


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<n>{Finding a Bride for Isaac}</n> d Now Abraham had grown old, was well advanced in age, and the Lord had blessed Abraham in every way. 


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So Abraham instructed his servant, who was the oldest member of his household and in charge of everything he owned, "Make this solemn oath to me <n>{Lit. Place your hand under my thigh ; i.e., to make a solemn promise based on the sanctity of the family and commitment to the family line}</n> 


text:
as a promise to the Lord , the God of heaven and earth, that you won't acquire a wife for my son from the Canaanite women among whom I'm living. 


text:
"What if the woman doesn't want to come back with me to this land?" the servant asked. "Shouldn't I have your son go to the land from which you came?" 


text:
"The Lord God of heaven, who brought me from my father's house and from my family's land, who spoke to me and promised me «I will give this land to your descendants,'will send his angel ahead of you, and you are to acquire a wife for my son from there. 


text:
If the woman isn't willing to follow you, then you'll be free from this oath to me. Just don't take my son back there!" 


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So the servant made a solemn oath <n>{Lit. servant placed his hand under Abraham's thigh ; i.e., to make a solemn promise based on the sanctity of the family and commitment to the family line}</n> to his master Abraham regarding this matter. 


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<n>{The Servant Encounters Rebekah}</n> d Then Abraham's servant took ten camels from his master's herd of <n>{The Heb. lacks herd of}</n> camels and left on his journey with all kinds of gifts from his master's inventory. Eventually, he traveled as far as Aram-naharaim, Nahor's home town. 


text:
As evening approached, he had the camels kneel outside the town at the water well, right about the time when women customarily went out to draw water. 


text:
That's when he prayed, "Lord God of my master Abraham, help me to succeed today. Please show your gracious love to my master Abraham. 


text:
May it be that the young woman to whom I ask, «Please, lower your jug so that I may drink,'responds, «Have a drink, and I'll water your camels as well.'May she be the one whom you have chosen for your servant Isaac. This is how I'll know that you have shown your gracious love to my master." 


text:
Before he had finished speaking, Rebekah appeared. She was a daughter of Milcah's son Bethuel. (Milcah was the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor.) She approached the well, carrying a jug on her shoulder. 


text:
The woman was very beautiful, young, and had not had intimate relations with a man. Going down to the spring, she filled her jug and returned home. 


text:
Then Abraham's servant ran to meet her and asked her, "Please, let me have a sip of water from your jug." 


text:
When she had finished giving him a drink, she also said, "I'll also draw water <n>{The Heb. lacks water}</n> for your camels until they've had enough to drink." 


text:
She quickly emptied her jug into the trough and ran to the well to draw again until she had drawn enough water <n>{The Heb. lacks enough water}</n> for all ten of the servant's <n>{Lit. of his}</n> camels. 


text:
The man stared at her in silence, waiting to see whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful. 


text:
When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a half shekel and two bracelets for her wrists, weighing 10 shekels and presented them to her. <n>{The Heb. lacks and presented them to her}</n> 


text:
He asked her, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?" 


text:
"Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hasn't held back his gracious love and faithfulness from my master! The Lord has led me to the house of my master's relatives!" 


text:
<n>{Rebekah's Brother Laban}</n> d Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, who ran out to the man and met him <n>{The Heb. lacks and met him}</n> at the spring. 


text:
And so it was, as soon as he saw the nose ring and bracelets on his sister's wrists, and as soon as he heard what his sister Rebekah was saying about what the man had spoken to her, <n>{Lit. saying, "This is what the man spoke to me!"}</n> he went out to the man who was still standing by the camels at the spring! 


text:
"Come on," Laban <n>{Lit. he}</n> said. "The Lord has blessed you! So why are you standing out here when I've prepared some space in the house and a place for the camels?" 


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So the servant went to the house and unbridled the camels. They provided straw and feed for the camels and water for washing his feet and those of the men with him. 


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But when they had prepared a meal and set it in front of him, he said, "I'm not eating until I've spoken." "Speak up!" Laban <n>{Lit. He}</n> exclaimed. 


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"The Lord has greatly blessed my master, so that he has become wealthy. He has provided him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, camels and donkeys. 


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My master's wife Sarah gave birth to my master's son in her old age, and Abraham <n>{Lit. he}</n> has given him everything that belongs to him. 


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My master made me swear this oath: «You are not to select a wife for my son from among the daughters of the Canaanites in this land where I live. 


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Instead, you are to go to my father's household, to my relatives, and choose a wife for my son there.'


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"Abraham <n>{Lit. He}</n> told me, «The Lord , who is with me wherever I go, will send his angel with you to make your journey successful. So you are to choose a wife for my son from my family, from my father's household. 


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Only then will you be released from fulfilling <n>{The Heb. lacks fulfilling}</n> my oath. However, when you come to my family, if they don't give her to you, you'll be released from fulfilling <n>{The Heb. lacks fulfilling}</n> my oath.'


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"So today I arrived at the spring and prayed, «Lord God of my master Abraham, if you wish to make the journey that I have traveled successful, 


text:
here I am standing by the spring. May it be that the young woman who comes out to draw water, from whom I request a little water from her <n>{Lit. your}</n> jug to drink, 


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if she tells me to drink and also draws water for the <n>{Lit. your}</n> camels, may she be the woman that the Lord has chosen for my master's son.'


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"Before I had finished praying, along came Rebekah with her jug on her shoulder! She went to the spring and drew some water. I asked her to please let me have a drink. 


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She quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder <n>{The Heb. lacks shoulder}</n> and told me, «Have a drink while I also water your camels.'So I drank, and she also gave my camels water <n>{The Heb. lacks water}</n> to drink. 


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"That's when I asked, «Whose daughter are you? '"She replied, «I'm the daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore for him. '"So I gave her a ring for her nose and bracelets for her wrists. 


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I bowed down and worshipped the Lord , and I praised the Lord God of my master Abraham, who led me on the true way to request <n>{Lit. to take}</n> the daughter of my master's brother for his son. 


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So now, if you wish to show gracious love and truth toward my master, tell me so. But if not, tell me, so that I may go elsewhere." <n>{Lit. turn to the right or the left}</n> 


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<n>{Laban and Bethuel Acquiesce}</n> d "Since this has come from the Lord ," Laban and Bethuel both replied, "we cannot speak one way or another. <n>{Lit. speak bad or good}</n> 


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So here's Rebekah she's right in front of you. Take her and go, so she can become a wife for your master's son, just as the Lord has decreed." 


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Then the servant brought out some silver and gold items, along with some clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave gifts to her brother and to her mother. 


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He and the men with him ate and drank, and then they spent the night. <n>{The Servant Prepares to Leave}</n> d When they got up the next morning, the servant <n>{Lit. he}</n> requested, "Send me off to my master." 


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But her brother and mother said, "Let the young lady stay with us a few days at least ten and after that she may go." 


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"Please don't delay me," the servant <n>{Lit. he}</n> answered them. "The Lord has made my journey successful. Send me off so I can return to my master." 


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But they said, "We'll call the young lady and see what she has to say about this." <n>{The Heb. lacks about this}</n> 


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So they sent off their sister Rebekah, along with her personal assistant, <n>{Lit. nurse ; or cook}</n> Abraham's servant, and his men. 


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As they were leaving, they all blessed Rebekah by <n>{The Heb. lacks by}</n> saying, "Our sister, may you become the mother of tens of millions! <n>{Lit. of thousands upon ten thousands}</n> May your descendants take over the city gates <n>{I.e. the centers of power in their cities}</n> of those who hate them." <n>{Lit. him}</n> 


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Then Rebekah and her young servant women got up, mounted their camels, and followed Abraham's servant, who took Rebekah and went on his way. 


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<n>{Isaac Marries Rebekah}</n> d Later on, as Isaac was returning one evening from Beer-lahai-roi <n>{Lit. The Well of the Living One Who Looks After Me, cf. Gen. 16:13-14}</n> (he had been living in the Negev <n>{I.e. the southern regions of the Sinai peninsula; cf. Josh 10:40}</n> ), 


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Isaac <n>{Lit. he}</n> went out walking <n>{Or meditating}</n> in a field. He looked up, and all of a sudden there were some camels coming. 


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and asked the servant, "Who is that man coming in the field to meet us?" "That's my master," the servant told her. So she reached for a veil and covered herself. 


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Later, Isaac brought Rebekah into the tent that had belonged to his mother Sarah and married her. Isaac loved her, and that's how he was comforted following the loss of <n>{The Heb. lacks the loss of}</n> his mother. 


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<n>{Abraham Names Isaac to be His Heir}</n> d Abraham had taken another wife whose name was Keturah. 


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Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. Dedan's sons were the Asshurites, Letushites, and Leummites. 


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Midian's sons were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All of these were Keturah's descendants. 


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While he was still alive, Abraham gave gifts to his concubines <n>{Lit. concubines whom Abraham had.}</n> and sent them to the east country in order to keep them away from his son Isaac. 


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then passed away, dying at a ripe old age, having lived a full life, and joined his ancestors. <n>{Lit. and he was gathered to his people}</n> 


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His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field that used to belong to Zohar the Hittite's son Ephron. 


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This was the same field that Abraham had bought from the son of Heth, where Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried. 


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<n>{A Summary of Ishmael's Life}</n> d Now this is what happened to Ishmael, whom Sarah's Egyptian servant Hagar bore for Abraham. 


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Here's a list of the names of Ishmael's sons, recorded by their names and descendants: Nebaioth was the firstborn, followed by <n>{The Heb. lacks followed by}</n> Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 


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These were Ishmael's children, listed by their names according to their villages and their camps. There were a total of twelve tribal chiefs, according to their clans. 


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Ishmael lived <n>{Lit. These are the years of Ishmael's life}</n> for 137 years, then he took his last breath, died, and joined his ancestors. <n>{Lit. and he was gathered to his people}</n> 


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His descendants <n>{Lit. They}</n> settled from Havilah to Shur (that's near Egypt), all the way to Assyria, in defiance <n>{Lit. in the face of}</n> of all of his relatives. 


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<n>{The Births of Esau and Jacob}</n> d This is the account of Isaac, Abraham's son. Abraham fathered Isaac. 


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Isaac was forty years old when he married <n>{Lit. took}</n> Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, the Aramean <n>{In later centuries this region would be called Syria}</n> from Paddan-aram <n>{Paddan-aram was located in northwest Mesopotamia}</n> and sister of Laban the Aramean. <n>{In later centuries this region would be called Syria}</n> 


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Later, Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, since she was unable to conceive children, and the Lord responded to him his wife Rebekah became pregnant. 


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But when the infants <n>{Lit. sons}</n> kept on wrestling each other inside her womb, <n>{Or within her}</n> she asked herself, "Why is this happening?" <n>{Lit. If so . . . why this I ?}</n> So she asked the Lord for an explanation. <n>{The Heb. lacks for an explanation}</n> 


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"Two nations <n>{Or two infants}</n> are in your womb," the Lord responded, "and two separate people will emerge. One people will be the stronger, and the older one will serve the younger." 


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The first son came out reddish his entire body was covered with hair so they named him Esau. <n>{The Heb. name Esau means hairy}</n> 


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After that, his brother came out with his hand clutching Esau's heel, so they named him Jacob. <n>{The Heb. name Jacob means heel grabber}</n> Isaac was 60 years old when they were born. 


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As the boys were growing up, Esau became skilled at hunting and was a man of the outdoors, but Jacob was the quiet type who tended to stay indoors. 


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One day, while Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau happened to come in from being outdoors, and he was feeling famished. 


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Esau told Jacob, "Let me gobble down some of this red stuff, since I'm starving." (That's how Esau got his nickname "Edom" .) <n>{The Heb. name Edom means red}</n> 


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But Jacob insisted, "Swear it by an oath right now." So he swore an oath to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. 


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Then Jacob gave Esau some of his food, along with some boiled stew. So Esau ate, drank, got up, and left, after having belittled his own birthright. 


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<n>{Isaac Lives in Philistia for a While}</n> d Later on, a famine swept through the land. This famine was different from the previous famine that had occurred earlier, during Abraham's lifetime. So Isaac went to Abimelech, king of the Philistines, at Gerar. 


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That's when the Lord appeared to Isaac. <n>{Lit. him}</n> "You are not to go down to Egypt," he said. "Instead, you are to settle down in an area within this land where I'll tell you. 


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Remain in this land, and I'll be with and bless you by giving all these lands to you and to your descendants in fulfillment of my solemn promise that I made to your father Abraham. 


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"I'll cause you to have as many descendants as the stars of the heavens, and I'll certainly give all these lands to your descendants. Later on, through your descendants all the nations of the earth will bless one another. 


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I'm going to do this because Abraham did what I told him to do. He kept my instructions, commands, statutes, and laws." 


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<n>{Isaac Lies about His Wife}</n> d Later on, the men of that place asked about his wife, so he replied, "She's my sister," because he was afraid to call her "my wife." He kept thinking, otherwise, the men around here will kill me on account of Rebekah, since she's very beautiful." 


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After he had been there awhile, Abimelech, king of the Philistines, looked out through a window and saw Isaac caressing <n>{Or fondling ; the Heb. verb is a word play on the name Isaac and sounds like it.}</n> his wife Rebekah. 


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So Abimelech called Isaac and confronted him. "She is definitely your wife!" he accused him, "So why did you claim, «She's my sister?»" Isaac responded, "Because I had thought otherwise, I'll die on account of her.»" 


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"What have you done to us?" Abimelech asked. "Any minute now, one of the people could have had sex with your wife and you would have caused all of us to be guilty." 


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<n>{Isaac Grows Wealthy}</n> d Isaac received a 100-fold return on what he planted that year in the land he received, <n>{Lit. found}</n> because the Lord blessed him. 


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He <n>{Lit. The man}</n> became very wealthy and lived a life of wealth, <n>{Lit. and walked}</n> becoming more and more wealthy. 


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He owned so many sheep, cattle, and servants that the Philistines eventually became envious of him. 


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They <n>{Lit. The Philistines .}</n> filled in with sand all of the wells that Isaac's <n>{Lit. his}</n> father Abraham's servants had dug during his lifetime. 


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<n>{Disputes over Water Rights}</n> d Isaac re-excavated some wells that his father had first dug during his lifetime, because the Philistines had filled them with sand <n>{The Heb. lacks with sand}</n> after Abraham's death. Isaac <n>{Lit. He}</n> renamed those wells with the same names that his father had called them. 


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But the herdsmen who lived in Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen. "The water is ours," they said. As a result, Isaac named the well Esek, <n>{The Heb. name Esek means disputed}</n> for they had fiercely disputed with him about it. 


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When his workers started digging another well, those herdsmen <n>{Lit. well, they}</n> quarreled about that one, too, so Isaac <n>{Lit. he}</n> named it Sitnah. <n>{The Heb. name Sitnah means strife}</n> 


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Then he left that area and dug still another well. Because they did not quarrel over that one, Isaac <n>{Lit. he}</n> named it Rehoboth, <n>{The Heb. name Rehoboth means wide places}</n> because he used to say, "The Lord has enlarged the territory <n>{The Heb. lacks the territory}</n> for us. We will prosper in the land." 


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where one night the Lord appeared to him. "I am the God of your father Abraham," he told him. "Don't be afraid, because I'm with you. I'm going to bless you and multiply your descendants on account of my servant Abraham." 


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In response, Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord. He also pitched his tents there and his servants dug a well. 


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<n>{Abimelech Requests a Covenant}</n> d Later, Abimelech traveled to visit Isaac <n>{Lit. him}</n> from Gerar. He arrived with Ahuzzath, his staff advisor, and Phicol, the commanding officer of his army. 


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"Why have you come to see me," Isaac asked them, "since you hate me so much that you sent me away from you?" 


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"We've seen that the Lord is with you," they responded, "so we're proposing an agreement <n>{Lit. oath}</n> between us between us and you. Allow us to make a treaty with you 


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by which you'll agree not to do us any harm, just as we haven't harmed <n>{Lit. touched}</n> you, since we've done nothing but good for you after we sent you away in peace. As a result, you've been tremendously blessed by the Lord ." 


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They woke up early the next morning and made the treaty. <n>{Lit. and swore an oath one to another.}</n> After this, Isaac sent them off and they left on peaceful terms. 


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That very same day, Isaac's servants arrived and reported to him about a well that they had just completed digging. "We've found water!" they said. 


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So Isaac <n>{Lit. he}</n> named the well Shebah, <n>{The Heb. name Shebah means oath}</n> which is why the city is named Beer-sheba <n>{The Heb. name Beer-sheba means Well of the Oath}</n> to this day. 


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<n>{Esau Causes Trouble for Isaac}</n> d When Esau was 40 years old, he married <n>{Lit. he took as a wife}</n> Judith, the daughter of Beeri the Hittite and Basemath, the daughter of Elon the Hittite. 


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<n>{The Theft of Esau's Blessing}</n> d Eventually, Isaac grew so old that he could not see. <n>{Lit. that his eyes were dim}</n> One day, he called his eldest son Esau. "My son," he called out to him. 


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Then prepare some food, just the way I like it, and bring it to me so that I can eat and bless you before I die." 


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Now Rebekah overheard Isaac while he was speaking to his son Esau. When Esau had gone out to the field to hunt and bring in some game, 


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Rebekah gave these instructions to her son Jacob: "Quick! Pay attention!" she said. "I heard your father talking to your brother Esau. He told him, 


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«Bring me some game and then prepare some food for me so I can eat and bless you in the presence of the Lord before I die.'


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Go to the flock and bring me two healthy young goats. I'll prepare some delicious food for your father, just the way he loves it. 


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"But look!" Jacob pointed out to his mother Rebekah, "My brother Esau is a hairy man, but I'm smooth skinned. 


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My father might touch me and he'll realize that I'm deceiving him. Then, I'll bring a curse on myself instead of a blessing." 


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"My son," she replied, "let any curse against you fall on me. Just listen to me, then go and get them for me." 


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So out he went, got them, and brought them to his mother, who then prepared some delicious food, just the way his father liked it. 


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<n>{Rebekah and Jacob Deceive Isaac}</n> d Then Rebekah took some garments that belonged to her elder son Esau the best ones available and put them on her younger son Jacob. 


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"I'm Esau, your firstborn!" Jacob told his father. "I've done what you asked, so please sit up and eat what I caught so you can bless me." 


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"How did you get it so quickly, my son?" Isaac asked. Jacob <n>{Lit. He}</n> responded, because the Lord your God made me successful." 


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So Isaac told Jacob, "Come here, my son, so I can feel you and know for sure whether or not you're my son Esau." 


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He didn't recognize Jacob, <n>{Lit. him}</n> because his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau, so Isaac <n>{Lit. he}</n> blessed him. 


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"Come closer to me," Isaac replied, "so I can eat some of the game, my son, and then bless you." So Jacob came closer, and Isaac ate. Jacob also brought wine so his father <n>{Lit. so he}</n> could drink. 


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So Jacob <n>{Lit. he}</n> drew closer to kiss him. When Isaac <n>{Lit. he}</n> smelled the scent of his son's <n>{The Heb. lacks son's}</n> clothes, he blessed him and said, "How my son's scent is the fragrance of the field that the Lord has blessed. 


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May the Lord grant you dew from the skies, <n>{Or from heaven}</n> and from the fertile land; may he grant you <n>{The Heb. lacks may he grant you}</n> abundant grain and fresh wine. 


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May people serve and bow before you; may you be master over your brothers; may your mother's sons bow before you; may anyone who curses you be cursed; and may anyone who blesses you be blessed." 


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<n>{Esau Learns of Isaac's Deception}</n> d Just after Isaac had finished blessing Jacob and Jacob had left his father Isaac, Jacob's <n>{Lit. his}</n> brother Esau returned from hunting, 


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prepared some delicious food, brought it to his father, and told him, "Can you get up now, father, so you may eat some of your son's game and then bless me?" 


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At this, Isaac began to tremble violently. "Who then," he asked, "hunted some game and brought it to me to eat before you arrived, so that I've blessed him? Indeed, he is blessed." 


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When Esau realized <n>{Lit. heard}</n> what his father Isaac was saying, he began to wail out loud bitterly. "Bless me," he cried, "even me, too, my father!" 


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Then he said, "Isn't his name rightly called Jacob?" <n>{The Heb. name Jacob means heel grabber}</n> Esau asked. "He has circumvented me this second time. First, <n>{The Heb. lacks First}</n> he took away my birthright, and now, look how he also stole my blessing." Then he added, "Haven't you reserved a blessing for me?" 


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In response, Isaac told Esau, "Look! I've predicted that he's going <n>{Lit. I've set him}</n> to become your master, and I've assigned all his brothers to be his servants. What then can I do for you, my son?" 


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Then Esau implored his father, "Don't you have even one blessing for me, my father? Bless me, even me too, my father!" Then Esau lifted his voice and wept bitterly. 


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At this, his father Isaac replied to him, "Look! Away from the fertile land will be your dwellings; away from the dew of the skies above. 


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By your sword you'll live; but you'll serve your brother. But when you've become restless, you'll break off his yoke from your neck." 


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So Esau harbored animosity toward Jacob because of the way his father had blessed him. Esau kept saying to himself, <n>{Lit. saying in his heart}</n> "The time <n>{Lit. days}</n> to mourn for my father is very near. That's when I'm going to kill my brother Jacob." 


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Eventually, what Rebekah's older son Esau had been saying was reported to her, so she sent for her younger son Jacob and warned him, "Look! Your brother is planning to get even by killing you. <n>{Lit. is comforting himself concerning you to kill you}</n> 


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After that happens <n>{27 :45 Lit. After your brother's anger subsides}</n> and he has forgotten what you've done to him, I'll send for you so you can return from there. Why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?" 


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Rebekah also told herself, <n>{The Heb. lacks herself}</n> "Heth's daughters are making me tired of living. If Jacob marries one of Heth's daughters, and she turns out to be just like these other local women, <n>{Lit. these daughters}</n> what kind of life would there be left for me?" 


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<n>{Isaac Sends Jacob to Paddan-aram}</n> d Later, Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, instructing him, "Don't marry a wife from the local Canaanite women. 


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Instead, get up, travel to Paddan-aram, <n>{Paddan-aram was located in northwest Mesopotamia}</n> and visit the household of Bethuel, your mother's father. Marry one of Laban's daughters, since he's your mother's brother. 


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May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful so that your descendants <n>{Lit. that you}</n> become a whole group of people. 


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May he give you and your descendants the blessings that he gave Abraham. May you possess the land where you have lived <n>{Lit. land of your journeying}</n> that God gave to Abraham." 


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So Isaac sent Jacob off toward Paddan-aram <n>{Paddan-aram was located in northwest Mesopotamia}</n> to visit Bethuel's son Laban, the Aramean <n>{In later centuries this region would be called Syria}</n> and brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau. 


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<n>{Esau Marries a Canaanite Woman}</n> d Esau noticed that after Isaac had blessed Jacob as he was sending him off to Paddan-aram <n>{Paddan-aram was located in northwest Mesopotamia}</n> to marry a wife from there, he had instructed Jacob, <n>{Lit. him}</n> "Don't marry a Canaanite woman." 


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After Jacob had obeyed his father and mother's instructions to set out for Paddan-aram, <n>{Paddan-aram was located in northwest Mesopotamia}</n> 


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so he went to Abraham's son Ishmael and married Ishmael's daughter Mahalath, who was the sister of Nebaioth. 


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<n>{God Visits Jacob in a Dream}</n> d Meanwhile, Jacob had left <n>{Lit. went out from}</n> Beer-sheba and was on his way to Haran. 


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He reached a certain place and spent the night there, because the sun was setting. He found a stone there, used it for a pillow, <n>{Lit. for his head.}</n> and slept there for the night, 


text:
when he had a dream! He saw a raised highway that had been built with its ending point on earth and its beginning point in heaven. God's angels were ascending and descending on it. 


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And there was the Lord , standing above it and telling Jacob, "I am the Lord God of your grandfather Abraham. I'm Isaac's God, too. I'm giving you and your descendants the ground on which you're sleeping. 


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Your descendants are going to become like the dust of the earth and spread out to the west, east, north, and south. All the families of the earth <n>{Or land}</n> will be blessed through you and your descendants. 


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Now pay attention! I'm here with you, and I'm going to be watching over you wherever you go. I'm going to bring you back to this land, because I won't ever leave you until I've accomplished what I've promised about you." 


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<n>{Jacob Worships God in Bethel}</n> d Then Jacob woke up during the night <n>{Lit. woke from his sleep}</n> and told himself, <n>{The Heb. lacks to himself}</n> "Surely, the Lord is in this place and I never knew it!" 


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In mounting terror, he cried out, "How scary this place is! This is nothing less than God's house and the gateway to heaven!" 


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When Jacob got up early the next morning, he took the stone that he had used for his pillow, <n>{Lit. for his head}</n> set it up as a pillar, drenched it with oil, 


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and named <n>{Lit. called the name of}</n> the place Beth-el, although previously <n>{Lit. at the first}</n> the city had been named Luz. 


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Then he made this solemn vow: <n>{Lit. vowed a vow}</n> "If God remains with me, watches over me throughout this journey that I'm taking, gives me food to eat and clothes to wear, 


text:
this stone that I've erected in the form of a pillar will be God's house, and I'll give you a tenth of everything that you give to me." 


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<n>{Jacob Meets Rachel}</n> d Jacob journeyed on and reached the territory that belonged to the people who lived in the east. <n>{Lit. sons of the east}</n> 


text:
As he was observing a well that had been dug out on the open range, all of a sudden he noticed three flocks of sheep lying there, because shepherds watered their flocks from that well. There was a very large stone that covered the opening of the well, 


text:
and when all the flocks had been gathered there, they would roll away the stone from the opening of the well, water their flocks, and then return the stone to its place covering the opening of the well. 


text:
So he asked them, "How's he doing?" "Very well," they answered. "As a matter of fact, look over there! That's his daughter Rachel, coming here with his sheep." 


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"Look!" Jacob replied. "The sun <n>{Lit. day}</n> is still high. It's not yet time for the flocks to be gathered. Let's water the sheep, then let them graze." 


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But they responded, "We can't do that until all the sheep have been gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the opening of the well. Only then can we water the flock." 


text:
While he was still talking with them, Rachel arrived with her father's sheep, since she was a shepherdess. 


text:
When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, accompanied by Laban's sheep, Jacob approached the well, rolled the stone from the opening of the well, and then watered his mother's brother Laban's flock. 


text:
Jacob told Rachel that he was related to her father, since he was Rebekah's son, so she ran and told her father. 


text:
When Laban heard the news about his sister's son Jacob, he ran out to meet him. He embraced him, kissed him, and brought him back to his house. Then Jacob told Laban about everything that had happened. 


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Laban responded, "You certainly are my flesh and blood!" <n>{Lit. bones}</n> So Jacob <n>{Lit. he}</n> stayed with him for about a month. <n>{Lit. for days of a new month}</n> 


text:
<n>{Jacob Agrees to Work in Order to Marry Rachel}</n> d Later, Laban asked Jacob, "Should you serve me for free, just because you're my nephew? <n>{Lit. brother}</n> Let's talk about what your wages should be." 


text:
Now Laban happened to have two daughters. The older one was named Leah and the younger was named Rachel. 


text:
Leah looked rather plain, <n>{Or Leah had weak eyes}</n> but Rachel was lovely in form and appearance. 


text:
Jacob loved Rachel, so he made this offer to Laban: "I'll serve you for seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter." 


text:
Jacob served seven years for Rachel, but it seemed like only a few days because of his love for her. 


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Eventually, Jacob told Laban, "Bring me my wife, now that my time of service <n>{The Heb. lacks of service}</n> has been completed, so I can go be with her." 


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<n>{Laban Deceives Jacob}</n> d That night Laban took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob. <n>{Lit. him}</n> He had marital relations with her. 


text:
The next morning, Jacob <n>{Lit. he}</n> realized that it was Leah! "What have you done to me?" he demanded of Laban. "Didn't I serve you for seven years in order to marry Rachel? Why did you deceive me?" 


text:
But Laban responded, "It's not the practice of our place to give the younger one in marriage <n>{The Heb. lacks in marriage}</n> before the firstborn. 


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Fulfill the week for this daughter, <n>{Lit. one}</n> then we'll give you the other one in exchange for serving me another seven years." 


text:
So Jacob completed another seven years'work, and then Laban <n>{Lit. he}</n> gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. 


text:
Jacob <n>{Lit. he}</n> also married Rachel, since he loved her. He served Laban another full seven years'work for Rachel. 


text:
<n>{Leah's Children}</n> d Later, the Lord noticed that Leah was being neglected, <n>{Lit. hated}</n> so he made her fertile, while Rachel remained childless. 


text:
Leah conceived, bore a son, and named him Reuben, <n>{The Heb. name Reuben means See, a son}</n> because she was saying, "The Lord had looked on my torture, so now my husband will love me." 


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Later, she conceived again, bore a son, and declared, "Because the Lord heard that I'm neglected, he gave me this one, too." So she named him Simeon. <n>{The Heb. name Simeon means heard}</n> 


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Later, she conceived again and said, "This time my husband will become attached to me, now that I've borne him three sons." So he named him Levi. <n>{The Heb. name Levi means joined}</n> 


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Then she conceived yet again, bore a son, and said, "This time I'll praise the Lord ." So she named him Judah. <n>{The Heb. name Judah means praise}</n> Then she stopped bearing children. 


text:
<n>{Rachel's Children by Bilhah}</n> d Rachel noticed that she was not bearing children for Jacob, so because she envied her sister Leah, she told Jacob, "If you don't give me sons, I'm going to die!" 


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That made Jacob angry with Rachel, so he asked her, "Can I take God's place, who has not allowed you to conceive?" <n>{Lit. has withheld from you fruit of the womb}</n> 


text:
Rachel <n>{Lit. She}</n> responded, "Here's my handmaid Bilhah. Go have sex with her. She can bear children <n>{Lit. them}</n> on my knees so I can have children through her." 


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So Rachel <n>{Lit. she}</n> gave Jacob <n>{Lit. him}</n> her woman servant Bilhah to be his wife, and Jacob had sex with her. 


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Then Rachel said, "God has vindicated me! He has heard my voice and has given me a son." Therefore, she named him Dan. <n>{The Heb. name Dan means judge}</n> 


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so Rachel said, "I've been through a mighty struggle with my sister and won." She named him Naphtali. <n>{The Heb. name Naphtali means my struggle}</n> 


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When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing children, she took her woman servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. 


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She said, "How happy I am, because women will call me happy!" So she named him Asher. <n>{The Heb. name Asher means happy}</n> 


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<n>{Jacob and the Mandrakes}</n> d Some time later, during the wheat harvest season, Reuben went out and found some mandrakes <n>{I.e. a plant native to Canaan thought to facilitate procreation}</n> in the field and brought them back for his mother Leah. Then Rachel <n>{Lit. she}</n> told Leah, "Please give me your son's mandrakes." 


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In response, Leah asked her, "Wasn't it enough that you've taken away my husband? Now you also want to take my son's mandrakes!" But Rachel replied, "Okay, let's let Jacob sleep with you tonight in exchange for your son's mandrakes." 


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When Jacob came in from the field that evening, Leah went to meet him and told him, "You're having sex with me tonight. I traded my son's mandrakes for you!" So he slept with her that night. 


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Then Leah said, "God has paid me for giving my servant to my husband as his wife." So she named him Issachar. <n>{The Heb. name Issachar means wages}</n> 


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Then Leah said, "God has given me a good gift. This time my husband will exalt me, because I've borne him six sons." So she named him Zebulun. <n>{The Heb. name Zebulun means exalted}</n> 


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<n>{Rachel's Son Joseph is Born}</n> d Then God remembered Rachel. He listened to her and opened her womb, 


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Because she had been asking, "May God give me another son," she named him Joseph. <n>{The Heb. name Joseph means added}</n> 


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<n>{Jacob and Laban's Livestock}</n> d After Rachel had given birth to Joseph, Jacob told Laban, "Send me off so that I can go back to my place and country. 


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Give me my wives and children for whom I've served you. Then I'll leave, since you're aware of my service to you." 


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Then Laban responded, "If I've found favor in your sight, please stay with me, because I've learned through divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you. 


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But Jacob replied to Laban, "You know how I've served you and how your cattle thrived under my care. 


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What you had previously was only a few head, but the herd has now multiplied, because the Lord has blessed you through my efforts. <n>{Lit. my foot}</n> But now, when am I going to be able to provide for my own household?" 


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"What do I have to give you?" Laban asked. Jacob responded, "You don't have to give me anything. Just do this for me: Let me tend your flock again and watch over it. 


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Let me walk among your flocks today and remove every speckled or spotted sheep, along with every black lamb, and let me do the same with the speckled and spotted goats. These will be my wages. 


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In the future, you'll be able to verify my honesty because, when you come to check <n>{The Heb. lacks check}</n> what I've earned, if you find a goat that's not speckled or spotted or a sheep that's not black, then it will have been stolen by me." 


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That very day, Laban <n>{The Heb. lacks Laban}</n> removed the male goats that were striped or spotted, all the female goats that were speckled or spotted that is, every one that had white on them and all the black lambs and placed them into the care <n>{Lit. hand}</n> of his sons. 


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He sent them as far away from Jacob as a three days'journey could take them. Meanwhile, Jacob kept tending the rest of Laban's flock. 


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Jacob took branches <n>{The Heb. has rod}</n> from white poplar trees, freshly cut almond trees, and some other trees, <n>{Or and plane trees ; i.e. a species of trees that could readily be stripped of their bark}</n> stripped off their bark to make white streaks, and uncovered the white part inside the branches. 


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Then he placed the branches that he had stripped bare in all the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink. He placed the branches in front of the flock, and they went into heat as they came to drink. 


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When the flocks mated in front of the branches, they would bear offspring <n>{The Heb. lacks offspring}</n> that were striped, speckled, or spotted. 


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Jacob kept the lambs separate, facing the striped and entirely black ones that belonged to Laban's flock. He set his own herd by itself and would not let them be with Laban's flock. 


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Whenever the more vigorous of the flock came into heat, Jacob would place the branches in the troughs in front of the flock to make them mate by the branches. 


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But he didn't put the branches in front of any of the feeble members of the flock. As a result, the feeble ones belonged to Laban, but the stronger ones belonged to Jacob. 


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Therefore the man Jacob <n>{The Heb. lacks Jacob}</n> prospered so much that he had large flocks, female and male servants, as well as camels and donkeys. 


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<n>{Jacob Decides to Leave Laban}</n> d Now Jacob <n>{Lit. He}</n> used to listen while Laban's sons kept on complaining, <n>{Lit. saying}</n> "Jacob has taken over everything our father owns! He made himself wealthy from what belongs to our father!" 


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Jacob also noticed that the way <n>{Lit. face}</n> Laban had been looking at him wasn't as nice as it had been just two days earlier. <n>{Lit. been the day before yesterday}</n> 


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Then the Lord ordered Jacob, "Go back to your father's territory and to your relatives. I'll be with you." 


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and informed them, "I've noticed that the way <n>{Lit. the face of}</n> your father has been looking at us hasn't been as nice as it was just two days ago. <n>{Lit. was the day before yesterday}</n> But my father's God has been with me. 


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Even so, your father has cheated me. He broke our wage agreement ten times. However, God didn't allow him to harm me. 


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"When Laban said, «The speckled ones will be your wages,'then all the flock gave birth to speckled ones. Then when he said, «The streaked ones will be your wages,'all the flock gave birth to streaked offspring. 


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As it was, when it was time for the livestock to breed, I once looked up in a dream, and the male goats that were mating <n>{Lit. climbing up}</n> with the flock were producing streaked, speckled, and spotted offspring. 


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«Look around!'he said. «Go ahead, look! All the male goats have been mating with the flock, producing offspring that are streaked, speckled, and spotted, because I've been watching everything that Laban has done to you. 


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I am the God of Bethel, the place where you consecrated that stone and made a vow to me. Now get up, leave this territory, and return to your native land.»" <n>{Lit. to the land of your birth}</n> 


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<n>{Rachel and Leah Consent to Leave}</n> d Then Rachel and Leah asked him, "Do we have anything left of inheritance <n>{Lit. portion and inheritance}</n> remaining in our father's house? 


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He's treating us like foreigners. He sold us and spent all of the money <n>{Lit. silver}</n> that rightfully belonged to us. 


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Furthermore, all of the wealth that God has stripped away from our father belongs to us now and to our children. So do everything that God tells you to do." 


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and drove all his livestock ahead of him, with everything that belonged to him, including the livestock that he had bought and accumulated in Paddan-aram, <n>{Paddan-aram was located in northwest Mesopotamia}</n> intending to deliver them to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan. 


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<n>{Laban Pursues Jacob}</n> d Meanwhile, Laban had been out shearing his sheep. While he was away, Rachel stole her father's personal idols. <n>{Lit. father's teraphim ; i.e. personal idols typically stored inside a small household shrine}</n> 


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Moreover, Jacob had deceived <n>{Lit. had stolen away the heart of}</n> Laban the Aramean, <n>{In later centuries this region would be called Syria}</n> because he had never told him that he was intending to leave. 


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Jacob fled, taking everything that he owned. He got up, crossed the Euphrates <n>{The Heb. lacks Euphrates}</n> River, and headed to the hill country of Gilead. 


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so he took his relatives with him and pursued Jacob. Laban <n>{Lit. He}</n> was on the road for seven days when he finally caught up with Jacob <n>{Lit. him}</n> in the hill country of Gilead. 


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<n>{God Warns Laban}</n> d That night, God appeared to Laban the Aramean <n>{In later centuries this region would be called Syria}</n> in a dream and warned him, "Be careful what you say to Jacob, whether it's one word good or bad." 


text:
Meanwhile, Jacob had pitched his tent on the mountain, where Laban had caught up with him. <n>{Lit. Jacob}</n> Laban and his relatives encamped on that same mountain in the hill country of Gilead, too. 


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Then Laban asked Jacob, "What did you do? You deceived me, <n>{Lit. You stole my heart}</n> carried off my daughters like you would war captives, <n>{Lit. captives of the sword}</n> 


text:
ran away from me secretly, <n>{Lit. me, hiding yourself}</n> and stole from me by not keeping me informed. Otherwise, I could have sent you off with a party and singing, accompanied by a band playing tambourines and harps. 


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As it is, you didn't even allow me to kiss my grandchildren <n>{Lit. sons}</n> and daughters goodbye! You've acted foolishly. 


text:
It's actually in my power to do some serious <n>{The Heb. lacks some serious}</n> evil to you, but last night the God of your father told me, «Be careful what you say to Jacob whether good or evil.'


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Now, you can go if you must go, because you certainly are longing to go to your father's house. But why did you steal my gods?" 


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<n>{Laban Searches for His Idols}</n> d "I was afraid," Jacob replied. "I thought you might take your daughters from me. 


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Now as to your gods, if you find someone has them in their possession, he's a dead man. <n>{Lit. he is not to live}</n> Take our relatives as witnesses, search through our belongings, and take whatever belongs to you that's in my possession." But Jacob didn't know that Rachel had stolen the idols. <n>{Lit. them}</n> 


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So Laban entered Jacob's tent, Leah's tent, and the tents of the two maid servants, but he didn't find them. <n>{The Heb. lacks them}</n> Then he left Leah's tent and entered Rachel's tent. 


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Meanwhile, Rachel had taken the idols, <n>{Lit. teraphim ; i.e. personal idols typically stored inside a small household shrine}</n> placed them inside the saddle of her camel, and sat on them. Laban searched through the whole tent, but found nothing. 


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Then Rachel told her father, "Sir, please don't be angry that I cannot stand up in your presence. It's that time of the month." <n>{Lit. that manner of women for me}</n> So Laban <n>{Lit. he}</n> searched for the idols, <n>{Lit. teraphim ; i.e. personal idols typically stored inside a small household shrine}</n> but never did find them. <n>{The Heb. lacks them}</n> 


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<n>{Jacob Rebukes Laban}</n> d Then Jacob got angry and started an argument with Laban. "What have I done?" he demanded. "What's my crime that would cause you to come pursue me so violently? 


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Now that you've searched all my belongings, what did you find that belongs to your house? Set it here in front of our relatives <n>{Lit. my relatives and your relatives}</n> and we'll let them judge between us! 


text:
"Meanwhile, these past 20 years that I've been with you, your sheep and goats never had miscarriages, I never once ate any of the rams from your flock, 


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and whatever was torn by beasts, I never bothered to bring to you. Instead, I bore the losses myself. Even so, you demanded that I provide restitution for anything that was stolen, whether during the day or the night. 


text:
"As it was, I was attacked by drought during the day and by cold at night. I never got any decent rest. 


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I've lived in your house these 20 years serving fourteen years for your two daughters and another six years for your flocks. During all that time you changed <n>{Lit. you cut through}</n> my wages ten times. 


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If the God of my father the God of Abraham, the God whom Isaac feared had not been with me, you would have sent me away empty handed. But God saw my misery and how hard I've worked with my own hands and he rebuked you last night." 


text:
But Laban answered Jacob, "These women are my daughters. These children are my children. The flocks are mine. In fact, everything that you see belongs to me. But what would I do today to my daughters and the children they have borne? 


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Come, let's make a covenant just between you and me. And let it serve as a witness between you and me." 


text:
Then Jacob told his relatives, "Go gather some stones." So they picked up stones and stacked them one on top of the other. Then they had a meal together there by the stack of stones. 


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Laban named the place Jegar-sahadutha, <n>{The Aram. name Jegar-sahadutha means stack of witness}</n> but Jacob named it Galeed. <n>{The Heb. name Galeed means stack of witness}</n> 


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Then Laban said, "This stack will serve as a witness between you and me today." That's how the place came to be named Galeed. 


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It was also called Mizpah, <n>{The Heb. word Mizpah means watchtower}</n> because Laban <n>{Lit. he}</n> said, "May the Lord watch between you and me, when we are estranged <n>{Or concealed}</n> from each other. 


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If you mistreat my daughters or if you take other wives besides them, though no one is watching <n>{Lit. with}</n> us, keep in mind that God stands as a witness between you and me." 


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"Look!" Laban added, "Here is the stack of stones and here is the pillar that I've set up between you and me. 


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This stack is a witness, and so is this pillar, reminding me not to cross beyond this stack of stones, and reminding you not to pass by this stack in my direction, intending to cause harm. 


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May Abraham's God and Nahor's god judge between us." So Jacob made an oath by his father's Fear, <n>{I.e. the Lord}</n> 


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offered sacrifices there on the mountain, and called on his relatives to eat some food. So they ate the food and spent the night on the mountain. 


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<n>{This v. is 32:1 in MT}</n> Early the next morning, Laban woke up, kissed his grandchildren and daughters, blessed them, and then left for home. <n>{Lit. for his place}</n> 


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<n>{Jacob Prepares to Meet Esau}</n> d <n>{This v. is 32 :2 in MT, and so through v. 33}</n> As Jacob went on his way, angels from God met him. 


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As he was watching them, Jacob said, "This must be God's camp," so he named that place Mahanaim. <n>{The Heb. name Mahanaim means two camps}</n> 


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Then Jacob sent messengers ahead of him into the land of Seir (that is, into the territory of Edom) to meet his brother Esau. 


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He instructed them, "This is what you are to say to my master Esau: «Your servant Jacob told me to tell you, "I've journeyed to stay with Laban and I've remained there until now. 


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I now have cattle, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants. I'm sending this message to you, sir, <n>{Lit. to my lord}</n> so that you'll show favor to me."»" 


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Later, the messengers returned to Jacob and reported, "We went to your brother Esau. He's now coming to meet you and he has 400 men with him!" 


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Feeling mounting terror and distress, Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups, doing the same with the flocks, the cattle, and the camels. 


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Jacob was thinking, "If Esau comes to one group and attacks it, then the remaining group may escape." 


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Then Jacob prayed, <n>{Lit. said}</n> "O God of my father Abraham, O God of my father Isaac, O Lord, you who told me, «Return to your country and to your relatives and I'll cause things to go well for you.'


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I'm unworthy of all your gracious love, your faithfulness, and everything that you've done for your servant. When I first crossed over this Jordan River, <n>{The Heb. lacks River}</n> I had only my staff. But now I've become two groups. 


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Deliver me from my brother Esau's control, because I'm terrified of him, and I fear that he's coming to attack me, the mothers, and their children. 


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Now, you promised me that «I'm certainly going to cause things to go well with you, and I'm going to make your offspring <n>{Lit. seed}</n> as numerous as the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.»" 


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Jacob spent the night there. Out of everything that he had brought with him, he chose a gift for his brother Esau 


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30 milking camels with their young, 40 cows with ten bulls, and 20 female donkeys with ten male donkeys. 


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He entrusted them into the care of his servants, one herd at a time. <n>{Lit. herd by herd}</n> Then he told his servants, "Go in front of me, making sure there's plenty of space between herds." 


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To the first group he said, "When you meet my brother Esau, if he asks, «To whom do you belong? Where are you going? And to whom do these herds <n>{The Heb. lacks herds}</n> belong? '


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then you are to reply, «We're from <n>{Lit. To}</n> your servant Jacob. The herds <n>{Lit. They}</n> are a gift. He's sending them to my master, Esau. Look! There he is, coming along behind us.»" 


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He issued similar instructions to the second and third group, as well as to all the others who drove the herds that followed: "This is how you are to speak to Esau when you find him. 


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You are to tell him, «Look! Your servant Jacob is coming along behind us.»" Jacob was thinking, "I'll pacify him with the presents that are being sent ahead of me. Then, when I meet him, <n>{Lit. I see his face}</n> perhaps he'll accept me." <n>{Lit. he'll lift my face}</n> 


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Later that night, he woke up, quickly took his two wives, his <n>{The Heb. lacks his}</n> two women servants, and his eleven children, and forded the river at Jabbok. 


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<n>{Jacob Struggles with God}</n> d And so Jacob was left alone, and he struggled with a man until daybreak. 


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When the man realized that he hadn't yet won the struggle, he injured the socket <n>{Or hollow and so throughout the chapter}</n> of Jacob's thigh, dislocating it as he wrestled with him, 


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and said, "Let me go, because the dawn has come." <n>{Lit. has ascended.}</n> "I won't let you go," Jacob <n>{Lit. he}</n> replied, "unless you bless me." 


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"Your name won't be <n>{Lit. be called}</n> Jacob anymore," the man <n>{Lit. anymore," he}</n> replied, "but Israel, because you exerted yourself against both God and men, and you've emerged victorious." 


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"Please," Jacob inquired, "Tell me your name." But he asked, "Why are you asking about my name?" And he blessed Jacob <n>{Lit. him}</n> there. 


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Jacob would later call that place Peniel, <n>{The Heb. name means facing God}</n> because "I saw God face to face, but my life was spared." 


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The sun was rising above Jacob <n>{Lit. him}</n> as he crossed over from Peniel, limping due to his wounded thigh. 


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Therefore, to this day the Israelis do not eat the hip tendon that connects to the thigh socket, because he had injured the socket of the thigh where the tendon connected to Jacob's hip. 


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<n>{Jacob Meets Esau}</n> d When Jacob looked off in the distance, there was Esau coming toward him, accompanied by 400 men! So Jacob divided Leah's children, Rachel, and the children of the two servants into separate groups. <n>{The Heb. lacks into separate groups}</n> 


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Then he positioned the women servants and their children first, then Leah and her children next, and then Rachel and Joseph after them. 


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Then he went out to meet Esau, <n>{The Heb. lacks went out to meet Esau}</n> passing in front of all of them, and bowed low to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. 


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When Esau eventually looked around, he saw the women and the children. So he asked, "Who are these people <n>{The Heb. lacks people}</n> with you?" "The children, whom God has graciously given <n>{The Heb. lacks given}</n> your servant," he answered. 


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Leah also approached, and she and her children bowed low. After this, Joseph and Rachel approached and bowed low. 


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Then Esau asked, "What are all these livestock for?" "To solicit favor from you, <n>{Lit. from your eyes}</n> sir," <n>{Lit. you, my lord}</n> Jacob answered. 


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"Please," Jacob implored him, "don't refuse. If I'm to receive favor from you, then receive this gift from me, because seeing your face is like seeing the face of God, since you have favorably accepted me. 


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So receive my blessing, which has been sent to you, since God has been gracious to me. Besides, I have enough." Because Jacob kept pressing him, Esau accepted the gifts. 


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"Sir, you know <n>{Lit. M y lord knows}</n> that the children are frail," Jacob suggested, "and the ewes and cows with me are still nursing their young. If they're driven even for a day, the entire flock will die. 


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So allow yourself to <n>{Lit. So let my lord}</n> go ahead of his servant while I travel more slowly, letting the herds set their own pace <n>{Lit. feet}</n> with the children until I arrive to see my lord in Seir." 


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Esau said, "Let me leave with you some of the people who are with me." "Why do that?" Jacob asked. "I've already found favor in your sight, sir." <n>{Lit. sight, my lord}</n> 


text:
but Jacob set out for Succoth, built a house there, and constructed some cattle shelters. He named the place Succoth. <n>{The Heb. name Succoth means shelters}</n> 


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<n>{Jacob Buys Land in Shechem}</n> d After Jacob had arrived safely from Paddan-aram, <n>{Paddan-aram was located in northwest Mesopotamia}</n> he entered the city of Shechem, which was located in the territory of Canaan, and encamped facing that city. 


text:
Then he bought a parcel of land for 100 pieces of silver from the descendants of Hamor, Shechem's father. He pitched his tent there, 


text:
set up an altar, and named it El-elohe-israel. <n>{The Heb. name El-elohe-israel means God, the God of Israel}</n> 


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<n>{Jacob's Daughter Dinah is Raped}</n> d Some time later, Dinah, Leah's daughter whom she has borne to Jacob, went out to visit the women <n>{Lit. daughters}</n> of the land. 


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When Hamor the Hivite's son Shechem, the regional leader, saw her, he grabbed her and raped her, humiliating her. 


text:
He was attached to <n>{Lit. His soul clung}</n> Dinah, Jacob's daughter, since he loved the young woman and spoke tenderly to her. <n>{Lit. to the heart of the young lady}</n> 


text:
Because Jacob learned that Shechem had dishonored his daughter Dinah while his sons were still out with their cattle on the open range, he remained silent until they returned. 


text:
Just then Jacob's sons arrived from the field. When they heard what had happened, they were distraught with grief and livid with anger toward Shechem, <n>{Lit. toward the man}</n> because he had committed a disgraceful deed in Israel by forcing Jacob's daughter to have sex, an act that never should have happened. 


text:
But Hamor said this: "My son is deeply attracted to your daughter. Please give her to him as his wife. 


text:
Live with us anywhere you want. <n>{Lit. us, since the land lays open before you}</n> Live, trade, and grow rich in it." 


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Shechem also addressed Dinah's <n>{Lit. her}</n> father and brothers, saying to them, "If you'll just approve me, I'll give whatever you ask of me. 


text:
No matter how big or how extensive your demands are for a dowry and wedding presents from me, I'll provide whatever you ask. Only give me the young lady to be my wife." 


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<n>{Jacob's Sons Plot Revenge}</n> d But Jacob's sons answered Shechem and his father Hamor deceptively, because Shechem had dishonored their sister Dinah. 


text:
They told them, "We can't do this. We can't give our sister to a man who isn't circumcised, because that would be insulting to us. 


text:
But we'll agree to your request, only if you will become like us by circumcising every male among you. 


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Then we'll give our daughters to you and take your daughters for ourselves, live among you, and be as a united people. 


text:
so the young man did not delay the matter any further, since he was delighted with Jacob's daughter. Now Shechem was the most important person in his father's household. 


text:
"These men are at peace with us," they announced. "Therefore, let them live in the land and trade in it. Look! The land is large enough for them. Let's take their daughters as wives for ourselves and let's give our sons to them. 


text:
"However," they added, "only on this condition will the men consent to live with us and be united as a single people with us: every male among us will have to be circumcised just as they are. 


text:
Shouldn't all their cattle, acquisitions, and animals belong to us? So, let's give our consent to them, and then they'll live with us." 


text:
<n>{Simeon and Levi Attack Shechem}</n> d All of the males who heard Hamor and his son Shechem, who had gone out to the city gate, were circumcised. 


text:
Three days later, while they were still in pain, Jacob's sons Simeon and Levi, two of Dinah's brothers, each grabbed a sword and entered the city unannounced, intending to kill all the males. 


text:
They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with their swords, took back Dinah from Shechem's house, and left. 


text:
Jacob's other sons came along afterward and plundered the city where their sister had been defiled, 


text:
seizing all of their flocks, herds, donkeys, and whatever else was in the city or had been left out in the field. 


text:
They carried off all their wealth, their children, and their wives as captives, plundering everything that remained in the houses. 


text:
Then Jacob told Simeon and Levi, "You have certainly stirred up trouble for me! You've made me despised by <n>{Lit. me stink in the eyes of}</n> the Canaanites and the Perizzites who live in this territory. Because I have only a few men with me, they're going to gather themselves together and attack me until I am totally destroyed, along with my entire household!" 


text:
<n>{Jacob Moves to Bethel}</n> d Later, God told Jacob, "Get up, move to Bethel, and live there. Build an altar to the God who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau." 


text:
Jacob announced to his household and to everyone with him, "Throw away the foreign gods that you've kept among you, purify yourselves, and change your clothes. 


text:
Then let's get up and go to Bethel, where I'll build an altar to the God who answered me when I was in distress and who was with me on the road, wherever I went." 


text:
So they handed over to Jacob all their foreign gods on which they had been depending, <n>{Lit. gods that were in their hands}</n> along with the rings that they were wearing on their ears. Jacob buried them under the oak that grew near Shechem. 


text:
As they set out on their journey, because the people who lived in the <n>{The Heb. lacks people who lived in the}</n> cities around them feared God, they did not pursue Jacob's sons. 


text:
Eventually, Jacob and everyone with him arrived at Luz (also called Beth-el) in the territory of Canaan. 


text:
He built an altar there to God and named the place El Beth-el, because God had revealed himself there when he was fleeing from his brother. 


text:
Rebekah's nurse Deborah died and was buried there, under the oak tree that was below Beth-el. That's why the place was named Allon-bacuth. <n>{The Heb. name Allon-bacuth means Weeping Oak}</n> 


text:
<n>{God Appears Again to Jacob}</n> d God appeared again to Jacob after he had arrived from Paddan-aram <n>{Paddan-aram was located in northwest Mesopotamia}</n> and blessed him. 


text:
Then God told him, "Your name is Jacob. No longer are you to be called Jacob. Instead, your name will be Israel." So God called his name Israel 


text:
and also told him, "I am God Almighty. You are to be fruitful and multiply. You will become a nation in fact, an assembly of nations! Kings will come from you they'll emerge from your own loins! 


text:
Now as for the land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I'm giving it to you and to your descendants who come after you. I'm giving the land to you!" 


text:
Jacob erected a pillar of stone at that very place where God had spoken to him. He poured a drink offering over it, anointed it with oil, 


text:
<n>{Rachel Dies in Childbirth}</n> d Later, they set out from Beth-el. While still a long way <n>{Lit. a distance of land}</n> from Ephrathah, Rachel started to have trouble giving birth. 


text:
While she was suffering due to her difficult labor, the midwife told her, "Don't fear! You're going to have another son." 


text:
Just before she died, <n>{Lit. As her soul was departing while she was dying}</n> Rachel called her son's <n>{Lit. called his}</n> name Ben-oni, <n>{The Heb. name Ben-oni means child of my pain}</n> but his father Jacob <n>{The Heb. lacks Jacob}</n> named him Benjamin. <n>{The Heb. name Benjamin means child of my right hand}</n> 


text:
<n>{Jacob Settles Near Migdal Eder}</n> d Jacob continued his travels, and eventually pitched his tent facing Migdal Eder. 


text:
But while Israel lived in that land, Reuben went inside his father's tent <n>{The Heb. lacks his father's tent}</n> and had sexual relations with his father's concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Now Jacob had twelve sons. 


text:
Leah's servant Zilpah's sons were Gad and Asher. These were Jacob's sons who were born to him while he lived in Paddan-aram. <n>{Paddan-aram was located in northwest Mesopotamia}</n> 


text:
<n>{The Death of Isaac}</n> d So Jacob reached his father Isaac at Mamre, in Kiriath-arba (also known as Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had lived. 


text:
Esau had married Canaanite women, including: Elon the Hittite's daughter Adah, Oholibamah the daughter of Anah (who was Zibeon the Hivite's daughter), and 


text:
Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These were Esau's sons, who were born to him in the territory of Canaan. 


text:
Later, Esau took his wives, his children, everyone in his household, his livestock, all his animals, and all his possessions that he had acquired in the territory of Canaan and moved far away from his brother Jacob, 


text:
because their holdings were too vast to allow them to stay together, since the land where they had settled was not able to support all of their livestock. 


text:
So Esau lived in Mount Seir. <n>{This mountain, the modern Jebel esh-sher, is located in the mountain range that extends south of the Dead Sea toward the Gulf of Aqaba, and is bordered by the Arabah Valley to the west.}</n> (Esau was also known as Edom.) 


text:
The names of Esau's sons were Eliphaz (the son of Esau's wife Adah) and Reuel (the son of Esau's wife Basemath). 


text:
These were the sons of Esau's wife Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah, who was the daughter of Zibeon. She bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah for Esau. 


text:
<n>{Leaders of Esau's Descendants}</n> d These were the tribal leaders of Esau's descendants; that is, the children of Eliphaz, who was Esau's firstborn: tribal leaders <n>{This term precedes each name listed through v. 18}</n> Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz, 


text:
Korah, Gatam, and Amalek. These were the tribal leaders who descended <n>{The Heb. lacks who descended .}</n> from Eliphaz in the territory of Edom. These were Adah's sons. 


text:
These were the descendants of Esau's son Reuel: tribal leaders Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the tribal leaders who descended from Reuel in the territory of Edom. These were the sons of Esau's wife Basemath. 


text:
These were the descendants of Esau's wife Oholibamah: tribal leaders Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These tribal leaders descended from Esau's wife Oholibamah, Anah's daughter. 


text:
<n>{Leaders of Seir's Descendants}</n> d These were the descendants of Seir the Horite, who lived in the territory: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 


text:
Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These were the tribal leaders who descended from the Horites, the descendants of Seir in the territory of Edom. 


text:
Zibeon's children were Aiah and Anah. Anah discovered the hot springs in the wilderness while grazing his father Zibeon's donkeys. 


text:
These were the tribal leaders who descended from the Horites: tribal leaders Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 


text:
Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These were the tribal leaders who descended from the Horites, according to their tribal leaders in the territory of Seir. 


text:
This is a list of the kings who ruled the territory of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelis. 


text:
After Husham died, Bedad's son Hadad, who killed Midian in the field of Moab, ruled in his place. His city's name was Avith. 


text:
After Achbor's son Baal-hanan died, Hadar ruled in his place. His city's name was Pau. And his wife's name was Mehetabel, who was the daughter of Matred, and granddaughter of Me-zahab. 


text:
These were the names of the chiefs who descended from Esau according to their clans, territories, and names: tribal leaders Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, 


text:
Magdiel, and Iram. These were the chiefs who descended from Edom, according to their territories in their own land. <n>{Or land of their possession}</n> This was the dynasty of Esau, who was the ancestor of the Edomites. 


text:
<n>{Joseph's Life before His Captivity}</n> d Jacob continued to live in the land they were occupying, where his father had journeyed in the territory of Canaan. 


text:
This is a record of Jacob's descendants. When Joseph was seventeen years old, he was helping his brothers tend their flocks. He was a young man at that time, as were the children of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. But Joseph would come back and tell his father that his brothers were doing bad things. 


text:
Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his brothers, since he was born to him in his old age, so he had made a richly-embroidered <n>{Or long-sleeved ; LXX reads multi-colored}</n> tunic for him. 


text:
When Joseph's <n>{Lit. his}</n> brothers realized that their father loved him more than all of his brothers, they hated him so much that they were unable to speak politely to him. 


text:
<n>{Joseph's Dreams}</n> d Right about this time, Joseph had a dream and then told it to his brothers. As a result, his brothers hated him all the more! 


text:
"We were tying sheaves together out in the middle of the fields, when all of a sudden, my sheaf stood up erect! And then your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf!" 


text:
At this, his brothers replied, "Do you really think you're going to rule us or lord it over us?" So they hated him even more because of his dreams and his interpretations of them. 


text:
But then he had another dream, and he proceeded to tell his brothers about that one, too. "I had another dream," he said. "The sun, moon, and eleven of the stars were bowing down before me!" 


text:
When Joseph told his father about this, his father rebuked him and asked him, "What kind of dream is that? Will I, your mother, and your brothers really come to you and bow down to the ground in front of you?" 


text:
As a result, his brothers became more envious of him. But his father kept thinking about all of this. 


text:
<n>{Joseph is Sent to Visit His Brothers}</n> d Some time later, his brothers left to tend their father's flock in Shechem. 


text:
And Israel instructed Joseph, "Your brothers are tending the flock in Shechem. Come here, because I'm going to send you to them." "Here I am!" he responded. 


text:
"Go and see how things are with your brothers," Israel <n>{Lit. he}</n> ordered him. "And see how things are with the flock. Bring back a report for me." Then he sent Joseph <n>{Lit. him}</n> from the valley of Hebron. When Joseph reached Shechem, 


text:
"I'm searching for my brothers," he responded. "Tell me, where are they tending the flock?" <n>{The Heb. lacks the flock}</n> 


text:
"They've already left," the man answered. "I heard them saying that they were headed to Dothan." So Joseph followed his brothers to Dothan and found them there. 


text:
<n>{Joseph's Brothers Plot to Kill Him}</n> d Now as soon as they saw him approaching from a distance, before he arrived they plotted together to kill him. 


text:
Come on! Let's kill him and toss him into one of the cisterns. Then we'll report that some wild animal devoured him and wait to see what becomes of his dreams!" 


text:
When Reuben heard about it, he tried to save Joseph <n>{Lit. him}</n> from their plot. "Let's not do any killing," <n>{Lit. Let's not kill a soul}</n> 


text:
Reuben told them. "And no blood shedding, either. Instead, let's toss him into this cistern that's way out here in the wilderness. But don't lay a hand on him" (Reuben <n>{Lit. He}</n> intended to free Joseph <n>{Lit. him from their control}</n> and return him to his father.) 


text:
<n>{Joseph is Sold into Slavery}</n> d As it was, when Joseph arrived where his brothers were, they stripped off the tunic that Jacob had given him, that is, the richly-embroidered <n>{Or long-sleeved ; LXX reads multi-colored}</n> tunic that he was wearing. 


text:
They seized him and tossed him into the cistern, but the cistern was empty. (There was no water in it.) 


text:
After this, while they were seated, eating their food, they looked around and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead with camels carrying spices, balm, and myrrh for sale down in Egypt. 


text:
Then Judah suggested to his brothers, "Where's the profit in just killing our brother and shedding his blood? 


text:
Come on! Let's sell him to the Ishmaelites! That way, we won't have laid our hands on him. After all, he's our brother, our own flesh." So Judah's <n>{Lit. his}</n> brothers listened to him. 


text:
As the Midianite merchants were passing through, they extracted Joseph from the cistern and sold Joseph for 20 pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites, who then took Joseph down to Egypt. 


text:
Later, when Reuben returned to the cistern, Joseph wasn't there! In mounting panic, he tore his clothes, 


text:
returned to his brothers, and shouted, "He's <n>{Lit. The young man is}</n> not there! Now what? Where am I to go?" 


text:
Then they stretched out the richly-embroidered <n>{Or long-sleeved ; LXX reads multi-colored}</n> tunic to dry, <n>{The Heb. lacks to dry}</n> and brought it to their father. "We've found this," they reported. "Look at it and see if this is or isn't your son's tunic." 


text:
Examining it, he cried out, "It's my son's tunic! A wild animal has no doubt torn Joseph to pieces." 


text:
All his sons and daughters showed <n>{Lit. rose}</n> up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. He kept saying, "Leave me alone! I'll go down to the next world, <n>{Lit. to Sheol ; i.e. the realm of the dead}</n> still mourning for my son." So Joseph's father wept for him. 


text:
<n>{Joseph is Enslaved to Potiphar}</n> d Meanwhile, down in Egypt, the Midianites sold Joseph <n>{Lit. him}</n> to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's court officials, who was also Commander-in-Chief of the imperial guards. 


text:
<n>{Judah's Life among the Adullamites}</n> d Right about then, Judah left his brothers and went to live with an Adullamite man named Hirah. 


text:
There Judah met <n>{Lit. saw}</n> the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shua. He married <n>{Lit. took}</n> her, had sexual relations with her, 


text:
So Judah instructed Onan, "You are to have sexual relations with your dead brother's wife, performing the duty of a brother-in-law with her, and have offspring for your brother." 


text:
But Onan knew that the offspring wouldn't be his own heir, so whenever he had sexual relations with his brother's wife, he would spill his semen on the ground to avoid fathering offspring for his brother. 


text:
After this, Judah told his daughter-in-law Tamar, "Go live as a widow in your father's house until my son Shelah grows up." But he was really thinking, otherwise, Shelah <n>{Lit. he}</n> might die like his brothers." So Tamar left and lived in her father's house. 


text:
Some years later, Shua's daughter, that is, Judah's wife, died. As Judah was grieving, he visited the shearers of his flock in Timnah, accompanied by his Adullamite friend Hirah. 


text:
<n>{Tamar Avenges Judah's Treachery}</n> d "Look!" somebody reported to Tamar, "Your father-in-law is going to Timnah to shear his sheep." 


text:
So she took off her mourning apparel, covered herself with a shawl, and concealed her outward appearance. Then she went out and sat at the entrance of Enaim, which is on the way to Timnah, because she knew that even though Shelah had grown up, she wasn't being given to him as his wife. 


text:
So on the way, he turned aside, approached her, and said, "Come on! Let's have some sex!" But he didn't realize that he was talking to his own daughter-in-law. "What will you give me," she asked, "in order to have sex with me?" 


text:
"I'll send you a young goat from the flock," he responded. But she pressed him, asking, "What security will you put up until you've sent it?" 


text:
Then he asked, "What pledge do you want me to give you?" "Your signet ring, cord, and the staff in your hand," she suggested. So he gave them to her, had sex with her, and she became pregnant by him. 


text:
Later on, Judah sent his Adullamite friend to take her a young goat, intending to retrieve what he had put up as security from the woman, but he could not find her. 


text:
He asked the men who lived in that area, "Where's that temple prostitute who was sitting alongside the road at Enaim?" But they replied, "There's been no temple prostitute here." 


text:
So he returned to Judah and said, "I haven't found her. Also, the men who are from there said, «There's been no prostitute here.»" 


text:
Then Judah said, "Let her have those things. <n>{Lit. it}</n> Otherwise, we'll become contemptible. I sent this young goat, but you didn't find her." 


text:
<n>{Tamar's Pregnancy Rebukes Judah}</n> d Three months later, it was reported to Judah, "Your daughter-in-law Tamar has turned to prostitution! <n>{Lit. has been acting like a whore}</n> And look! She's pregnant because of it!" "Bring her out," Judah responded. "Let's burn her to death!" 


text:
While they were bringing her out, she sent this message to her father-in-law: "I am pregnant by the man to whom these things belong. Furthermore," she added, "tell me to whom this signet ring, cord, and staff belongs." 


text:
When Judah recognized them, he admitted, "She is more upright than I, because I never did give her my son Shelah." And he never had sex with her again. 


text:
Later, when it was time for Tamar <n>{Lit. her}</n> to give birth, she was carrying twins in her womb! 


text:
While she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand, so the midwife grabbed it and tied something scarlet around his hand, observing, "This one came out first." 


text:
As it was, he withdrew his hand, and then his brother was born. Amazed, the midwife <n>{Lit. Amazed, she}</n> cried out loud, "What's this? A breach birth?" So that boy <n>{Lit. So he}</n> was named Perez. <n>{The Heb. name Perez means breach}</n> 


text:
Afterwards, his brother came out, and around his hand was the scarlet. So they named him Zerah. <n>{The Heb. name Zerah means rising}</n> 


text:
<n>{Joseph is Delivered to Potiphar}</n> d Meanwhile, Joseph had been delivered to Egypt and turned over to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's court officials and the Commander-in-Chief of the imperial guards. An Egyptian, he bought Joseph from the Ishmaelites, who had brought him down there. 


text:
But the Lord was with Joseph. He became a very prosperous man while in the house of his Egyptian master, 


text:
who could see that the Lord was with Joseph, <n>{Lit. him}</n> because the Lord made everything prosper that Joseph <n>{Lit. him}</n> did. 


text:
That's how Joseph pleased Potiphar <n>{Lit. Joseph found favor in his sight}</n> as he served him. Eventually, Potiphar appointed Joseph as overseer of his entire household. Moreover, he entrusted everything that he owned into his care. <n>{Lit. hand and so throughout the chapter}</n> 


text:
From the time he appointed Joseph to be overseer over his entire household and everything that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The Lord's blessing rested on Joseph, <n>{Lit. him}</n> whether in Potiphar's household or in Potiphar's fields. 


text:
Everything that he owned, he entrusted into Joseph's care. He never concerned himself about anything, except for the food he ate. <n>{Potiphar's Wife Accuses Joseph}</n> d Now Joseph was well built and good looking. 


text:
That's why, sometime later, Joseph's master's wife looked straight at Joseph and propositioned him: "Come on! Let's have a little sex!" <n>{Lit. Lie down with me .}</n> 


text:
But he refused, telling his master's wife, "Look! My master doesn't have to worry about anything in the house with me in charge, and he has entrusted everything into my care. 


text:
No one has more authority in this house than I do. He has withheld nothing from me, except you, and that's because you're his wife. So how can I commit such a horrible evil? How can I sin against God?" 


text:
She kept on talking to him like this day after day, but he wouldn't listen to her. Not only would he refuse to have sex with her, he refused even to stay around her. 


text:
One day, though, <n>{Lit. About this time}</n> he went into the house to do his work. None of the household servants <n>{Lit. men}</n> were inside, 


text:
so she grabbed Joseph <n>{Lit. him}</n> by his outer garment and demanded "Let's have some sex!" Instead, Joseph ran outside, leaving his outer garment still in her hand. 


text:
and yelled for her household servants. "Look!" she cried out. "My husband <n>{Lit. He}</n> brought in a Hebrew man to humiliate us. He came in here to have sex with me, but I screamed out loud! 


text:
and then this is what she told him: "That Hebrew slave whom you brought to us came in here to rape <n>{Or humiliate}</n> me. 


text:
<n>{Joseph is Locked in Prison}</n> d When Joseph's master heard his wife's claim to the effect that "This is how your servant treated me," he flew into a rage, 


text:
arrested Joseph, and locked him up in the same prison where the king's prisoners were confined. So Joseph remained there in prison. 


text:
But the Lord was with Joseph. He extended gracious love to him, causing the prison warden to be pleased with Joseph. <n>{Lit. him}</n> 


text:
So the prison warden entrusted into Joseph's care all the prisoners who were confined in prison. Whatever they did, Joseph was in charge of the work detail. <n>{Lit. was the one who did it}</n> 


text:
The prison warden did not have to worry about anything under Joseph's care, because the Lord was with him. That's why Joseph prospered in everything he did. 


text:
<n>{Pharaoh's Two Servants}</n> d Some time later, both the senior security advisor <n>{Lit. the cupbearer ; a servant who tested food and beverages for poison; and so throughout the chapter; cf. Neh 1:11}</n> to the king of Egypt and his head chef <n>{Lit. baker ; and so throughout the chapter}</n> offended their master, Egypt's king. 


text:
that he locked them up in the prison dungeon operated by the captain of the guard, the very place where Joseph was imprisoned. 


text:
The captain of the guard entrusted them to Joseph's custody, who took care of them, since they were to remain there in custody for a number of days. 


text:
Then the two of them each had a dream. They both had their dreams the same night, and there were separate interpretations for each dream the senior security advisor and the head chef to the king of Egypt, who had confined them in prison. 


text:
When Joseph came to see them in the morning, he noticed how downcast they looked! They were both very sad. 


text:
So he asked Pharaoh's officers, who were with him in prison in his master's house, "Why are you so sad today?" 


text:
"We had a dream," they replied, "but there's no one to interpret it." "Interpretations belong to God," Joseph told them, "so please tell me your stories." 


text:
<n>{The Security Advisor's Dream}</n> d So the senior security advisor related his dream to Joseph. "In my dream," he said, "all of a sudden there was a vine in front of me! 


text:
On the vine were three branches that budded. Blossoms shot out, and clusters grew up that produced ripe grapes. 


text:
Then, with Pharaoh's cup in my hand, I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh's cup, then handed the cup directly to Pharaoh." 


text:
Then Joseph told him, "This is what your dream means: <n>{Lit. is its interpretation}</n> The three branches are three days. 


text:
Within three days, Pharaoh will encourage you <n>{Lit. will lift up your head}</n> and return you to your responsibilities. You'll attend to Pharaoh's personal wine cup, just as you did when you were his senior security advisor. 


text:
But keep me in mind when things go well for you. Be sure to extend kindness to me by remembering me to Pharaoh. Bring me out of this prison, <n>{Lit. house}</n> 


text:
because I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews. Not only that, I haven't done anything that deserves me being confined to this pit." 


text:
<n>{The Head Chef's Dream}</n> d When the head chef heard that the interpretation was good, he told Joseph, "I was also in my dream. All of a sudden, there were three baskets with white bread stacked on top of my head. 


text:
There was all kinds of food in the basket that was on top, including baked food for Pharaoh. The birds were eating them from the basket on my head." 


text:
Joseph replied, "This is what your dream means: <n>{Lit. is its interpretation}</n> The three baskets are also three days. 


text:
Within three more days, Pharaoh will behead you and hang you on gallows, <n>{Lit . a tree}</n> where birds will eat your flesh from you." 


text:
<n>{The Dreams are Fulfilled}</n> d On the third day, which just happened to be Pharaoh's birthday, he threw a party for all his servants. He lifted the head of both his senior security advisor and of his head chef in front of his servants 


text:
that is, he restored his senior security advisor to his former responsibilities, including attending to Pharaoh's personal wine cup, 


text:
but he beheaded and <n>{The Heb. lacks beheaded and}</n> hanged the head chef, just as Joseph had interpreted for them. 


text:
Despite all of this, the senior security advisor not only didn't remember Joseph, he deliberately forgot him. 


text:
<n>{Pharaoh's Dream}</n> d Two years later to the day Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile River, <n>{The Heb. lacks River , and so throughout the chapter}</n> 


text:
when all of a sudden seven healthy, plump cows emerged from the Nile to graze in the grass that grew in the reeds that lined the bank. <n>{The Heb. lacks that lined the bank}</n> 


text:
Right after that, seven more cows came up out of the Nile. Ugly and gaunt, they stood next to the other cows on the bank of the Nile River. 


text:
After he had fallen back to sleep, he had a second dream, in which seven ears of plump, fruit-filled grain grew up on a single stalk. 


text:
Suddenly seven thin ears of grain that had been scorched by an east wind sprouted up right after them 


text:
and ate up the seven plump, fruit-filled ears. Then Pharaoh woke up a second time, <n>{The Heb. lacks a second time}</n> and it had been a very vivid <n>{Lit. and behold, it was a}</n> dream! 


text:
<n>{Pharaoh Seeks an Interpretation}</n> d The very next morning, he <n>{Lit. morning, his spirit}</n> was frustrated <n>{Or troubled}</n> about the dream, so he sent word to summon all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them what he had dreamed, but no one could interpret them. <n>{Lit. interpret the dreams for Pharaoh}</n> 


text:
Then Pharaoh's senior security advisor <n>{Lit. Pharaoh's cupbearer ; a servant who tested the Pharaoh's food and beverages for poison; cf. Neh 1:11}</n> spoke up. "Maybe I should make a confession. 


text:
When Pharaoh was angry with some of his servants, he incarcerated me in custody of the captain of the bodyguard, along with Pharaoh's senior chef. <n>{Lit. baker}</n> 


text:
There was a Hebrew young man incarcerated with us, who was also working as a servant to the captain of the bodyguard. "We each related our dreams, <n>{The Heb. lacks our dreams}</n> and then he interpreted them for us. He provided specific meanings for each of our dreams. 


text:
And what he interpreted for each of us came true! Pharaoh <n>{Lit. He}</n> restored me to my responsibilities, but he executed <n>{Lit. hanged}</n> the other man." 


text:
<n>{Pharaoh Tells Joseph His Dream}</n> d Pharoah sent word to summon Joseph quickly from the dungeon, so they shaved his beard, changed his clothes, and then sent him straight to Pharaoh. 


text:
"I've had a dream," Pharaoh told Joseph, "but nobody can interpret it. I've heard that you can interpret dreams." 


text:
and all of a sudden seven healthy, plump, beautiful cows emerged from the Nile and began to graze among the reeds that line the bank. <n>{The Heb. lacks that lined the bank}</n> 


text:
Just then, seven other cows emerged after them, poor, ugly, and appearing very gaunt in their flesh. I've never seen anything as ugly as those cows anywhere in the entire land of Egypt! 


text:
"Not only that," Pharaoh continued, <n>{The Heb. lacks Pharaoh continued}</n> "after they had finished devouring the cows, nobody could tell that they had gobbled them up, because they were just as ugly as before. Then I woke up. 


text:
Later, I also dreamed about seven plump, fruit-filled ears of grain <n>{The Heb. lacks of grain}</n> that grew up out of a single stalk. 


text:
All of a sudden, seven thin, withered ears of grain, <n>{The Heb. lacks of grain}</n> scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them. 


text:
But the thin ears gobbled up the seven good ears. I told all this to my advisors, but nobody was able to explain it to me." 


text:
<n>{Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dream}</n> d "Pharaoh's dreams are identical," Joseph replied. "God has told Pharaoh what he is getting ready to do. 


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The seven healthy cows represent seven years, as do the seven healthy ears. The dreams are identical. 


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The seven gaunt cows that arose after the healthy cows <n>{Lit. after them}</n> are seven years, as are the seven gaunt ears scorched by the east wind. There will be seven years of famine. 


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So the message that I have for Pharaoh is that God is telling Pharaoh what he is getting ready to do. 


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but after them seven years of famine are ahead, during which all of the abundance will be forgotten throughout the land of Egypt. The famine will ravage the land so severely that <n>{The Heb. lacks so severely that}</n> 


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"Now since Pharaoh had that dream twice, it means that this event has been scheduled by God, and God will bring it to pass very soon. 


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Also, let Pharaoh immediately proceed to appoint supervisors over the land of Egypt, who will collect one fifth of its agricultural production <n>{Lit. of the land}</n> during the coming seven years of abundance. 


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"Let them collect all the food during the coming fruitful years, store up the grain in cities governed by Pharaoh's authority, <n>{Lit. cities in Pharaoh's hand}</n> and place it under guard. 


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Let the food be kept in reserve to feed <n>{Lit. reserve for}</n> the land for the seven years of famine that will occur throughout Egypt, so the people don't <n>{Lit. land doesn't}</n> die during the famine." 


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<n>{Pharaoh Appoints Joseph as Regent}</n> d What Joseph proposed pleased Pharaoh and all of his advisors, 


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so Pharaoh asked his servants, "Can we find anyone else like this someone in whom the Spirit of God lives?" 


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"Since God has revealed all of this to you," Pharaoh told Joseph, "there is no one so wise and discerning as you. 


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So you are to be appointed in charge over my palace, and all of my people are to do whatever you command them to do. Only the throne will have greater authority than you." 


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"Look!" Pharaoh confirmed <n>{Lit. said}</n> to Joseph, "I've put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt!" 


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Then Pharaoh <n>{Lit. he}</n> removed his signet ring from his hand, placed it on Joseph's hand, had him clothed in fine linen garments, and placed a gold chain around his neck. 


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Then he provided him with a chariot as his second-in-command, outfitted with a group of people who shouted out in front of him, "Bow your knees!" And that's how Pharaoh set Joseph over the entire land of Egypt. 


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<n>{Pharaoh Rewards Joseph}</n> d Pharaoh also told Joseph, "I'm still Pharaoh, but without your permission nobody in all of the land of Egypt will so much as lift up their hands or take a step!" 


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Pharaoh also changed Joseph's name to Zaphenath-paneah <n>{The Heb. name means the God who speaks and lives}</n> and gave Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On, to him as his wife. And that's how Joseph gained authority over the land of Egypt. 


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<n>{Joseph Begins Gathering Grain}</n> d Joseph was 30 years old when he began to serve Pharaoh, king of Egypt, by traveling throughout the land of Egypt, independent from Pharaoh's oversight. <n>{Lit. presence}</n> 


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Joseph <n>{Lit. he}</n> collected the surplus food throughout the land of Egypt, storing food in cities; that is, he gathered the food from fields that surrounded every city and stored it there. 


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Joseph stored up so much grain like sand on the seashore in so much abundance! that he stopped keeping records because it was proving to be impossible to measure how much they were gathering. 


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<n>{Joseph's Children are Born}</n> d Before the years of famine arrived, Joseph fathered two sons with Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On. 


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Joseph named his firstborn son <n>{The Heb. lacks son}</n> Manasseh because, he said, "God has made me forget all of my hard life and my father's house." 


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He named his second son Ephraim because, he said, "God has made me fruitful in the land of my troubles." 


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<n>{The Famine Begins}</n> d As soon as the seven years of abundance throughout the land of Egypt ended, 


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the seven years of famine started, just as Joseph had predicted. <n>{Lit. said}</n> It was an international famine, but there was food everywhere throughout the land of Egypt. 


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Eventually, the land of Egypt began to feel the effects of the famine, so the people <n>{Lit. so they}</n> cried out to Pharaoh for food. "Go see Joseph," Pharaoh announced to all the Egyptians, "and do whatever he tells you to do." 


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Joseph opened all of the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, because the famine was beginning to be severe throughout the land of Egypt. 


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In addition, all of the surrounding nations <n>{Lit. the world}</n> came to Joseph to buy grain from Egypt, because the famine had become severe throughout the world. 


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<n>{Joseph's Brothers Visit Egypt}</n> d Eventually, Jacob observed that there was grain in Egypt, so he asked his sons, "Why do you keep on staring at one another? 


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Pay attention now! I've heard that there is grain in Egypt, so go down there and buy some grain for us, so we can live, instead of dying." 


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Jacob would not send Joseph's brother Benjamin to accompany them, because he was saying, "I'm afraid that he'll come to some kind of harm." 


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Israel's sons went in a caravan that included others who were going to Egypt to buy grain, because the famine pervaded the land of Canaan, too. 


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<n>{Joseph's Brothers Encounter Joseph}</n> d Meanwhile, Joseph continued to be ruler over the land, in charge of selling to everyone in the land. Joseph's brothers appeared and bowed down to him, face down. <n>{Lit. faces to the ground}</n> 


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As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he knew who they were, but he remained disguised and asked them gruffly, "Where are you from?" "From the land of Canaan," they replied. "We're here <n>{The Heb. lacks We're here}</n> to buy food." 


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Furthermore, Joseph remembered the dreams that he had about them. So he accused them, "You're spies! You've come here to spy on our undefended territories!" <n>{Lit. to scout the nakedness of the land}</n> 


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We're all sons of a common father. We're honest men, your majesty. We're <n>{Lit. Your servants are}</n> not spies!" 


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But Joseph <n>{Lit. he}</n> kept insisting, "It's just as I've said you've come here to spy on our unguarded <n>{Lit. naked}</n> territories!" 


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"But your majesty," they pleaded, "your servants include twelve brothers, the sons of a common father back in the land of Canaan. Please! Our youngest brother <n>{The Heb. lacks brother}</n> remains with our father, and the other one <n>{The Heb. lacks one}</n> is no longer alive." 


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So here's how we'll test you. You can bet the life of Pharaoh that you're not leaving here until your youngest brother comes here! 


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One of you is to be sent back so he can get your brother while the rest of <n>{The Heb. lacks the rest of}</n> you remain in custody. That way, we'll test whether or not you're telling the truth. If you're not, as surely as the Pharaoh lives, you're spies!" 


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If you're honest men, leave one of your brothers here in custody, then the rest of <n>{The Heb. lacks the rest of}</n> you can leave and take some grain with you <n>{The Heb. lacks with you}</n> to alleviate the famine that's affecting your households. 


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Just be sure to bring your youngest brother back to me so what you've claimed can be verified. That way, you won't die." 


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<n>{Joseph's Brothers Mull over Their Predicament}</n> d "We're all guilty because of what we did to <n>{The Heb. lacks what we did to}</n> our brother!" they told each other. "We kept on watching his suffering while he pleaded with us! We're in this mess because we wouldn't listen!" 


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"Didn't I tell you!" Reuben replied. «Don't wrong the kid!'I said, but would you listen? No! Now it's payback time!" 


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Meanwhile, they had no idea that Joseph could understand them, since he was talking to them through an interpreter. 


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He turned away from them and began to weep. <n>{Joseph Arrests Simeon}</n> d When he returned, he spoke with them, but then he took Simeon away from them and had him placed under arrest <n>{Lit. him bound}</n> right in front of them. 


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After this, Joseph gave orders to fill up their sacks with grain, to return each man's money to his own sack, and to supply each of them with provisions for their return journey. All of this was done for them. 


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<n>{Joseph's Brothers Leave for Canaan}</n> d Then they each mounted up, their donkeys having been loaded with grain, and left from there. 


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Later on, one of them opened up his sack to give his donkey some fodder after they had stopped at the place where they intended to lodge for the night. There, in the mouth of his sack, was all of his money! 


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He reported to his brothers, "My money has been returned! It's right here in my sack!" Trembling with mounting consternation, each of them asked one another, "What is God doing to us?" 


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<n>{Jacob Learns What Happened in Egypt}</n> d As soon as they had returned to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they told him everything that had happened to them. 


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"The man who was in charge <n>{Lit. was lord ; and so in v. 33}</n> of the land spoke harshly to us," they said. "He accused us of being spies! <n>{Lit. spies of the land}</n> 


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Our father has twelve sons, but one of us isn't alive anymore, and our youngest brother is with our father today back home in <n>{Lit. today in the land of}</n> Canaan.'


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"But the man who was in charge of the land responded, «I'm going to test your honesty. Leave one of your brothers with me, take some grain for the famine that's afflicting your households, and leave. 


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But bring your youngest brother back to me so I can be sure that you're honest men, and not spies. Then I'll return your brother to you, and you'll be allowed to trade anywhere in the land.»" 


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Later on, as they went about unloading their sacks, each man's bundle of money was found in each man's sack. When they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were greatly distressed. 


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Their father Jacob told them, "You're causing me to lose my children! Joseph is gone. Now Simeon is gone, and you're planning to take Benjamin, too. Everything's going against me!" 


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"Feel free to put my own two sons to death," Reuben responded to his father, "if I don't bring him back to you. Trust me I'll bring him back to you." 


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But Jacob replied, "My son isn't going back with you, since his brother is dead and he's the only one left. If something should harm him as you travel, then it'll be death for me and my sad, gray hair!" <n>{Lit. then you'll send me and my gray hair to Sheol ; i.e. to the realm of the dead}</n> 


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<n>{Preparing to Return to Egypt}</n> d Meanwhile, the famine remained severe throughout the region. 


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As a result, when Jacob's family <n>{Lit. As they}</n> was beginning to eat the last of the grain that they had brought back from Egypt, their father Jacob <n>{The Heb. lacks Jacob}</n> told his sons, "Go back to Egypt and buy us some food." 


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But Judah reminded him, "The man distinctly warned us: «You'll never see my face unless your brother comes with you.'


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But if you don't send him, we're not going, because the man told us, «You'll never see my face unless your brother is with you.»" 


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Israel replied, "Why did you make all this trouble by telling the man that you have another brother?" 


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"The man specifically asked about us and our relatives," they responded. "He asked us, «Is your father still alive? 'and «Do you have another brother? 'So we answered his questions. How could we have known that he would tell us to bring our brother back with us?" 


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"Send the young man with me," Judah told his father Israel, "and we'll get up and go so we can survive and not die and that includes all of us, you and our families. <n>{Lit our defenseless ones ; i.e. their wives and children}</n> 


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I'll even offer myself to guarantee that I'll be responsible for him. If I don't bring him back and present him to you, I'll personally bear the consequences forever. 


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After all, if we hadn't delayed, we could have been there and back <n>{Lit. have returned}</n> twice by now!" 


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<n>{Jacob Gives Instructions for the Trip}</n> d "If that's the way it has to be," their father Israel replied, "then do this: take some of the best produce of the land in your containers and take them to the man as a gift some resin ointment, some honey, fragrant resins, myrrh, pistachios, and almonds. 


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Also take twice as much money with you so you can return the money that had been replaced in the mouth of your sacks. Maybe it was an accounting <n>{The Heb. lacks accounting}</n> mistake on his part. 


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and may God Almighty cause the man to show compassion toward you. May he send all of you back, including your other brother and Benjamin. Now as for me, if I lose my children, I lose them." 


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So the men took their gift and double the money. Then they got up, took Benjamin with them, and set out for Egypt, and eventually appeared before Joseph. 


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<n>{Joseph Sees Benjamin}</n> d As soon as Joseph noticed that Benjamin had come with them, he ordered his palace manager, "Bring the men into the palace. <n>{Lit. house , and so through v. 26}</n> Slaughter an animal and prepare it, because these men will be dining with me for lunch." <n>{Or me at midday ; i.e. at noon}</n> 


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The men were terrified as they were being taken to Joseph's palace. "It's because of that money that was returned to our sacks the first time we were brought to him," they reasoned. "He's seeking an excuse to attack us, enslave us, and confiscate our donkeys!" 


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when we arrived at our overnight lodging place, we opened our sacks and discovered each man's money was still in the mouth of his sack. All of our money was there! We've brought it back with us in full. 


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We've also brought along some more money to buy supplies, but we don't know who put our money back into our sacks." 


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"Relax," the manager said. "You can stop being afraid, now. Your God, the God of your father, has placed hidden treasure within those sacks for you. I've been paid in full." Then he brought Simeon out to them, 


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ushered the men into Joseph's palace, gave them water to wash their feet, and provided <n>{The Heb. lacks provided}</n> fodder for their donkeys. 


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Then off he went to prepare the honorary meal that was to be made ready for Joseph's arrival at noon, since they had been informed that they were going to be eating there. 


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<n>{Joseph Inquires about His Family}</n> d When Joseph arrived at his palace, his brothers <n>{Lit. palace, they}</n> brought to him their gifts that they had carried with them and bowed to the ground in front of him. 


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Joseph asked them how they had been doing. "Is your father well, the older gentleman about whom you spoke?" he inquired. "Is he still alive?" 


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"Your servant, our father, is doing well," they replied. "He is still alive." Then they bowed down in humility. 


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As Joseph looked up and recognized his brother Benjamin, his own mother's son, he asked, "Is this your youngest brother about whom you spoke to me?" And he addressed him directly, "May God be gracious to you, my son." <n>{Or you, Benny ; i.e., perhaps a nickname for Joseph's brother Benjamin}</n> 


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At this, Joseph hurried out, deeply moved because of his brother, and looked for a place to weep by himself. He entered his personal quarters, wept there awhile, <n>{The Heb. lacks awhile}</n> 


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then washed his face and came out. Barely controlling himself, he ordered his staff to serve the meal. 


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Joseph's staff <n>{Lit. They}</n> served him by himself, his brothers <n>{Lit. and them}</n> separately, and the Egyptian staff members by themselves, because the Egyptians wouldn't take their meal with the Hebrews, since doing so was detestable for the Egyptians. 


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Meanwhile, the brothers <n>{Lit. they}</n> were seated in front of Joseph in birth order, from firstborn to youngest. The men stared at one another in astonishment. 


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Joseph <n>{Lit. He}</n> himself brought portions to them from his own table, except that he provided to Benjamin five times as much as he did for each of the others. So they feasted together and drank freely with Joseph. <n>{Lit. him}</n> 


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<n>{The Brothers Leave for Canaan}</n> d Later, Joseph <n>{Lit. he}</n> commanded his palace manager, "Fill the men's sacks to full capacity with food and replace each man's money at the top of the sack. 


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Then place my cup the silver one in the top of the sack belonging to the youngest one, along with the money he brought to buy <n>{The Heb. lacks he brought to buy}</n> grain." So the manager <n>{Lit. So he}</n> did precisely what Joseph told him to do. 


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They had not traveled far from the city when Joseph ordered his palace manager, "Get up, follow those men, and when you've caught up with them, ask them, «Why did you repay evil for good? 


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Don't you have <n>{Lit. Isn't this}</n> the cup that my master uses to drink from and also uses to practice divination? You're wrong to have done this.»" 


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"Your Excellency," they replied, "Why do you speak like this? Far be it from your servants to act like this. 


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Look, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan the money that we found at the top of our sacks. How, then, could we have stolen silver or gold from your master's palace? 


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Go ahead and execute whichever one of your servants is discovered to have it, and we'll remain as your master's slaves." 


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"Agreed," he responded. "Just as you've said, the one who is found to have it in his possession will become my slave, and the rest of <n>{The Heb. lacks the rest of}</n> you will be innocent." 


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So they quickly dismounted, unloaded their sacks onto the ground, and each one of them opened his own sack. 


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The palace manager <n>{Lit. Then he}</n> searched for the cup, beginning with the oldest brother's sack and ending with the youngest brother's sack, and there it was! in Benjamin's sack. 


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At this, they all tore their clothes, <n>{I.e., a response of despair}</n> reloaded their donkeys, and returned to the city. 


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<n>{Joseph Confronts His Brothers}</n> d Joseph was waiting for them back at his palace when his brothers returned. They fell to the ground in front of him, 


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<n>{Judah Explains Their Predicament}</n> d "What can we say, Your Excellency," Judah replied. "How can we explain this or justify ourselves? God has discovered the sin of your servants, and now we've become slaves to you, Your Excellency, both we and the one in whose possession the cup has been discovered." 


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"Far be it from me to do this," Joseph <n>{Lit. he}</n> responded. "The man in whose possession the cup was discovered will be my slave, but the rest of you may leave in peace to be with your father." 


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But Judah approached him and begged him, "Your Excellency, please allow your servant to speak to you privately. <n>{Lit. speak a word in your ears}</n> Please don't be angry with your servant, since you are equal to Pharaoh. 


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and we answered Your Excellency, «We have an aged father and a younger child who was born when he was old. His brother is now dead, so he's the only surviving son of his mother. His father loves him.'


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"So we told Your Excellency, «The young man cannot leave his father, because if he were to do so, his father would die.'


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But then you told your servants, «Unless your youngest brother comes back with you, you won't see my face again.'


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"Later on, after we had gone back to your servant, my father, we told him what Your Excellency had said. 


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"But we told him, «We can't go back there. If our youngest brother accompanies us, we'll go back, but we cannot see the man's face again unless our youngest brother accompanies us.'


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One of them left me, so I concluded "I'm certain that he has been torn to pieces," and I haven't seen him since then. 


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If you take this one from me, too, and then something harmful happens to him, then it will be death for me and my sad, gray hair!'<n>{Lit. then you'll send me and my gray hair to Sheol ; i.e. to the realm of the dead}</n> 


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"So when I go back to your servant, my father, and the young man isn't with us, since he's constantly living life focused on his son, <n>{Lit. since his soul is bound to his son's soul}</n> 


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when he notices that the young man hasn't come back with us, he'll die, and your servants really will have brought death to your servant, our father, <n>{Lit. have brought your servant, our father, to Sheol ; i.e. to the realm of the dead}</n> along with his sad, gray hair! 


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Also, your servant pledged his own life as <n>{The Heb. lacks his own life as}</n> a guarantee of the young man's safety. I told my father, «If I don't bring him back to you, you can blame me forever.'


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"Therefore, please allow your servant to remain as a slave to Your Excellency, instead of the young man, and let the young man go back home with his brothers. 


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After all, how can I go back to my father if the young man doesn't accompany me? I'm afraid of what might happen to my father." 


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<n>{Joseph Reveals Himself}</n> d At this point, Joseph could not control his emotions any longer, so he cried out to everyone who was standing nearby, "Everybody! Leave me!" As a result, none of his staff <n>{Lit. result, no man}</n> was anywhere near <n>{Lit. was standing nearby}</n> him when he revealed himself to his brothers. 


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Joseph blurted out, "I'm Joseph! Is my father really alive?" But his brothers could not answer him, because they had become terrified <n>{Or dismayed}</n> to be in his presence. 


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Joseph implored his brothers, "Please come close to me." So they did. "I'm your brother Joseph, whom you sold into slavery in <n>{The Heb. lacks slavery in}</n> Egypt!" he told them. 


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"But <n>{Or So}</n> don't be distressed or angry at yourselves because you sold me here, because God sent me ahead of you all in order to deliver us. <n>{The Heb. lacks us}</n> 


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That's because this famine has been going on for two years now in this region, and there are still five years left, during which there won't be any plowing or harvesting. 


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"God sent me ahead of you to keep you alive on the earth, and to save you all in a magnificent way. 


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As a result, it wasn't you who sent me here, but God himself! He established me as a father-figure to Pharaoh himself! I'm in charge of his entire palace and ruler over the entire land of Egypt. 


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So hurry up, go back to my father, and tell him that his son Joseph tells him, «God has made me master of all of Egypt. Hurry up! Come live with me!'


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"You are to live in the land of Goshen, near where I am you, your children, your grandchildren, your flocks, your herds, and everything that you own. 


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I'll provide for you there, since there are still five years of famine left to go, and you, your households, and everything you own would have otherwise become impoverished. 


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"Look, now! All of you can see me! And my own brother Benjamin can tell that it's really me <n>{Lit. it's my mouth}</n> speaking to you! 


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So go tell my father about all of my splendor in Egypt. Tell him about everything that you've seen. Be quick about it, and bring my father down here!" 


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Then he threw his arms around Benjamin <n>{Lit. he collapsed on Benjamin's neck}</n> and wept as they embraced. <n>{Lit. as Benjamin wept on his neck}</n> 


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He kissed all of his brothers and wept with them, too, and then his brothers were able to talk with him. 


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<n>{Pharaoh is Pleased}</n> d As soon as the news reached Pharaoh's palace that Joseph's brothers had arrived, Pharaoh and his servants were ecstatic. 


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Pharaoh told Joseph, "Be sure to tell your brothers, «Do this: load up your livestock, go back to the land of Canaan, 


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get your father and your households, and come back to me. I'll give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can live off the abundance of the land.'


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"In addition," Pharaoh ordered, "Do this: take some transport wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones to ride in, along with your wives, and bring your father and come! 


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<n>{Joseph's Brothers Go Back Home}</n> d So Israel's sons did what they were asked to do, and Joseph provided wagons for them, as Pharaoh had commanded. He also gave them provisions for the journey. 


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He gave each of them some changes of clothes, but he also gave Benjamin 300 pieces of silver and five changes of clothes. 


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He sent his father ten male donkeys loaded with the best of Egyptian goods and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provisions for his father during the journey. 


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Then Joseph <n>{Lit. he}</n> sent his brothers away, and they left for home. <n>{The Heb. lacks for home}</n> As they were leaving, Joseph admonished them, "Don't quarrel on the way back!" 


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So Joseph's brothers <n>{Lit. So they}</n> left Egypt and returned to the land of Canaan and to their father Jacob, 


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where they informed their father, "Joseph is still alive! As a matter of fact, he's ruling the entire land of Egypt." But Jacob didn't believe them, because he had become cynical. <n>{Lit. because his heart had become numb}</n> 


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However, as soon as his sons <n>{Lit. as they}</n> had told him everything Joseph had said, and after he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent along to carry him, their father Jacob's spirit was encouraged. 


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"It's enough," Israel replied. "My son Joseph is still alive. I'm going to go see him before I die!" 


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<n>{The Move to Egypt}</n> d Later, Israel began his journey, taking along everything that he owned, and arrived at Beer-sheba, where he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 


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God spoke to Israel through night visions, addressing him, "Jacob! Jacob!" "Here I am!" Jacob <n>{Lit. he}</n> replied. 


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"I'm God, your father's God. Don't be afraid to move down to Egypt, because I'm going to turn you into a mighty nation there. 


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I'm going down with you to Egypt, and I'm certainly going to bring you back again. And Joseph himself will be with you when you die." <n>{Lit. will place his hand over your eyes}</n> 


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So Jacob got up and left Beer-sheba, and Israel's sons carried their father Jacob, their little ones, and their wives in the transport wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry them. 


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They took their livestock and their household property that they had acquired in the land of Canaan and traveled to Egypt. Jacob and all of his descendants went with him 


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including his sons, his grandsons, his daughters, and his granddaughters every one of his descendants accompanied him to Egypt. 


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<n>{List of Those who Went to Egypt}</n> <n>{ (Ex 1:1-4; Num 26:4, 5; 1Chron 2:1ff)}</n> d Here's a list of the names of Israel's sons, that is, of Jacob and his sons who moved to Egypt: Reuben, Jacob's firstborn; 


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Simeon's sons Jemuel, <n>{Cf. Num 26:12 and 1Chr 4:24, where his name is spelled Nemuel.}</n> Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, <n>{Cf. 1Chr 4:24, where his name is spelled Jarib.}</n> Zohar, <n>{Cf. Num 26:13 and 1Chr 4:24, where his name is spelled Zerah.}</n> and Shaul, who was the son of a Canaanite woman; 


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Levi's sons Gershon, <n>{Cf. 1Chr 6:16, where his name is spelled Gershom.}</n> Kohath, and Merari; 


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and Judah's sons Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah. (Technically, <n>{Lit. but}</n> Er and Onan had died in the land of Canaan.) Perez's sons were Hezron and Hamul. 


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Also included were Issachar's sons Tola, Puvvah, <n>{Cf. Num 26:23, where his name is spelled Puvah , and 1Chr 7:1, where his name is spelled Puah.}</n> Job, <n>{Cf. Num 26:24 and 1Chr 7:1, where his name is spelled Jashub.}</n> and Shimron; 


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These were all sons from Leah, whom she bore for Jacob in Paddan-aram, <n>{Paddan-aram was located in northwest Mesopotamia}</n> along with his daughter Dinah. He had 33 sons and daughters. 


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Asher's sons Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah. Beriah's sons Heber and Malchiel were also included. <n>{The Heb. lacks were also included}</n> 


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These were all sons from Zilpah, whom Laban had given to his daughter Leah. She bore these sixteen children for Jacob. 


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Joseph's sons born in the land of Egypt were Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On, bore for him. 


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These were sons of Bilhah, whom Laban had given to his daughter Rachel. She bore these children for Jacob seven in all. 


text:
All of these people, who belonged to Jacob's family, traveled to Egypt. All of Jacob's <n>{Lit. his}</n> direct descendants, not including his sons'wives, numbered 66 persons in all. 


text:
Joseph had two sons born to him in Egypt, and all of Jacob's household who went to Egypt numbered 70. 


text:
<n>{Jacob Arrives in Goshen}</n> d Jacob <n>{Lit. He}</n> sent Judah ahead of them to meet with Joseph, who would be guiding them to Goshen, and so they arrived. 


text:
Joseph prepared his chariot and went to meet his father Israel in Goshen. As soon as Jacob <n>{Lit. he}</n> appeared in his presence, he embraced him <n>{Lit. he fell on his neck}</n> and wept for a long time as he held on to him. <n>{Lit. to his neck}</n> 


text:
"Now let me die," Israel told Joseph, "since I've seen your face and confirmed that you're still alive!" 


text:
But Joseph addressed his brothers and his father's household and told them, "I'll go up and tell Pharaoh that my brothers and my father's household have arrived from Canaan to be with me. 


text:
I'll mention that <n>{The Heb. lacks I'll mention that}</n> the men are shepherds. Because they've been taking care of livestock, they brought along their flocks, their herds, and everything else that they own. 


text:
you are to tell him, «Your servants have been taking care of livestock since we were youths. We and our ancestors have taken care of livestock.'That way, you'll be able to live in the Goshen territory, since shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians." 


text:
<n>{Joseph's Family Settles in Goshen}</n> d After this, Joseph went to inform Pharaoh. "My father and brothers have come here from Canaan," <n>{Lit. from the land of Canaan , and so throughout the chapter}</n> he said, "and they've come with their flocks, herds, and everything else they have. I settled them in the Goshen territory!" 


text:
Pharaoh asked his brothers, "What are your occupations?" "Your servants are shepherds," they replied, "both we and our ancestors. 


text:
We've come to live for a while <n>{The Heb. lacks for a while}</n> in this region, since there is no pasture back in Canaan <n>{The Heb. lacks back in Canaan}</n> for your servants'flocks. May your servants please live in the Goshen territory?" 


text:
Egypt <n>{Lit. from the land of Egypt , and so throughout the chapter}</n> is at your disposal, <n>{Lit. is before you}</n> so settle your father and brothers in the best part of the land! Let them live in the Goshen territory. If you learn that any of them are especially skilled, put them in charge of my livestock." 


text:
"I'm 130 years old," Jacob replied. "My years have turned out to be few and unpleasant, but I haven't yet reached the age my ancestors did during their travels on earth." <n>{The Heb. lacks on earth}</n> 


text:
Joseph settled his father and brothers, assigning them their own land in the best part of Egypt (in the territory of Rameses), just as Pharaoh had ordered. 


text:
Joseph provided food for his father, his brothers, and all of his father's household, proportionate to the number of young children. 


text:
<n>{The Famine Continues}</n> d Meanwhile, there continued to be no food throughout the land, because the famine remained very severe. As a result, both Egypt and Canaan languished under the effects of the famine. 


text:
So Joseph kept on accumulating all the money that was to be found throughout Egypt and Canaan in exchange for the grain that was being purchased. He stored the money in Pharaoh's palace. 


text:
After all the money had been spent throughout Egypt and Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and demanded, "Give us food! Why should we die right in front of you? Our money is spent!" 


text:
"You can surrender your livestock," Joseph replied. "I'll feed them in exchange, since your money is gone." 


text:
So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph traded food in exchange for horses, various flocks and herds, and donkeys. He fed them with food in exchange for their livestock during that year. 


text:
The following year, they came to him and reminded him, "We won't hide from you, your Excellency, that we've spent all of our money, and that our livestock all belong to you. There's nothing left to trade with you, your Excellency, except our bodies and our territories. 


text:
So why should we and our land die right in front of you? Buy us and our land in exchange for food, and we and our land will be slaves to Pharaoh. Give us seed, so we can survive and not die, and so the land won't stay desolate." 


text:
<n>{Pharaoh Gains Control of All of Egypt}</n> d So Joseph purchased all of the Egyptian territory for Pharaoh. Every Egyptian sold his field, because the famine's effect was so severe. That's how Pharaoh came to own the land. 


text:
However, he did not purchase land belonging to the priests, because the priests held an allotment, previously provided to them by Pharaoh, from which they lived. That's why they did not sell their land. 


text:
After this, Joseph addressed the people. "Pay attention," he said. "I've bought you and your land for Pharaoh today, in exchange for seed for you. Now go sow the land. 


text:
When harvest season arrives, you are to provide a fifth of the harvest to Pharaoh. The remaining four fifths are to be for your use, for seed, and to feed you, your households, and your little ones." 


text:
"You've saved our lives," they replied. "If it pleases you, your Excellency, we'll be Pharaoh's slaves." 


text:
So Joseph crafted a statute concerning Egypt that remains valid to this day that Pharaoh should own a fifth of the produce, excluding the land belonging to the priests, which remained outside of Pharaoh's control. 


text:
Israel remained in Egypt's Goshen territory, acquired land there, became prosperous, and his descendants <n>{The Heb. lacks his descendants}</n> grew very numerous. 


text:
As the time approached for Israel to die, he called for his son Joseph and addressed him. "Please," he asked, "if you're happy with me, make a solemn promise <n>{Lit. me, place your hand under my thigh ; i.e., make a solemn promise based on the sanctity of the family and commitment to the family line}</n> that you'll treat me fairly and kindly by not burying me in Egypt. 


text:
Instead, when I've died, as my ancestors have, you are to carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their tomb." <n>{Lit. place}</n> "I'll do what you've asked," Joseph <n>{Lit. he}</n> replied. 


text:
"Promise me," Israel <n>{Lit. he}</n> insisted. So Joseph promised. Then Israel collapsed <n>{Lit. Israel bent low}</n> on his bed. 


text:
<n>{Joseph Visits His Ill Father}</n> d Some time later, somebody informed Joseph, "Your father is ill!" So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him to visit Jacob. <n>{The Heb. lacks to visit Jacob}</n> 


text:
As soon as Jacob was informed, "Look! Your son Joseph has come to visit you," Israel rallied his strength and sat up in bed. 


text:
He told me, «Pay attention! I'm going to make you fruitful and numerous. I'm going to build you into a vast nation of people and then I'll give this land to your descendants <n>{Lit. descendants who come after you}</n> for an eternal possession.'


text:
"You have two sons who were born to you in Egypt before I came to be with you, whom I now take as my own. Ephraim and Manasseh are mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are. 


text:
Your descendants <n>{Lit. descendants who come after you}</n> are to be reckoned as yours, but are to be referred to among the names of their brothers in their respective <n>{The Heb. lacks respective}</n> inheritances. 


text:
"Now as for me, Rachel died after I arrived in Canaan from Paddan, much to my sorrow. While I was on my journey to Ephrathah (also known as Bethlehem), I buried her there." 


text:
<n>{Joseph Seeks Blessings for His Sons}</n> d Just then, Israel saw Joseph's sons and asked, "Who are these?" 


text:
"These are my sons," Joseph replied. <n>{Lit. replied to his father}</n> "God gave them to me here in Egypt." <n>{The Heb. lacks in Egypt}</n> "Please bring them close to me," Jacob <n>{Lit. he}</n> said, "so I can bless them." 


text:
Now Israel's eyesight had become poor <n>{Lit. dim}</n> from age. Because he couldn't see well, Joseph brought them close to him, and Israel <n>{Lit. he}</n> kissed them both and embraced them. 


text:
Then he told Joseph, "I never thought I'd see you again, and now God has allowed me to see your children as well!" 


text:
Then he brought them both close to his father, <n>{The Heb. lacks to his father}</n> placing Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel's left and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel's right. 


text:
But Israel stretched out his right hand, laying it on Ephraim's head (he was the younger son) and laying his left hand on Manasseh's head (even though Manasseh was the firstborn). 


text:
<n>{Israel Blesses Joseph's Sons}</n> d Then Israel blessed Joseph by saying: "May the God in whose presence my ancestors Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has continued shepherding me my whole life even until today, 


text:
the angel who has been rescuing <n>{Or redeeming}</n> me from all sorts of evil, bless these young men. May my name continue to live on within them, including the names of my ancestors Abraham and Isaac, and may they grow into a vast multitude throughout the earth." 


text:
But Joseph observed that his father had laid his right hand on Ephraim's head. That displeased him, so he grabbed his father's hand and started to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. 


text:
But his father refused. "I know," he said. "I know. He's going to produce a large nation, and he's going to be very great. However, his younger brother will become even greater than he, and his descendants will become a multitude of nations." 


text:
That very day, Jacob <n>{Lit. he}</n> blessed them with this blessing: <n>{The Heb. lacks with this blessing}</n> "By you Israel will extend this blessing: «May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!»" By doing this, he placed Ephraim before Manasseh. 


text:
Then Israel told Joseph, "Pay attention! I'm about to die, but God will be with you. He'll bring you back to the land that belongs to your ancestors. 


text:
I'm assigning you one portion more than your brothers from the land that I confiscated from the control <n>{Lit. hand}</n> of the Amorites in battle." <n>{48:31Lit. Amorites with my sword and my bow}</n> 


text:
<n>{Jacob's Final Blessings}</n> d After this, Jacob called his sons together and told them, "Assemble yourselves around me <n>{The Heb. lacks around me}</n> so I can tell you all what is going to happen to you in the last days. <n>{Or in days to come}</n> 


text:
<n>{On the Future of Reuben}</n> d "Reuben, you're my firstborn, my strength, and the first fruit of my vitality. You excel in rank and excel in power. 


text:
But you're as undisciplined as a roaring river, so eventually you won't succeed, because you got in your father's bed, <n>{Cf. Gen 35:22}</n> defiled it, and then approached my couch." 


text:
<n>{On the Future of Simeon and Levi}</n> d "Simeon and Levi are brothers; their swords are violent weapons. 


text:
I'll <n>{Lit. Let my soul}</n> never join their council; I'll never enter their assembly. In their anger they committed murder and lamed cattle just for fun. 


text:
Their anger is cursed, because it is so fierce, as is their vehemence, because it is so cruel. I will separate them throughout Jacob's territory <n>{The Heb. lacks «s territory}</n> and disperse them throughout Israel." 


text:
<n>{On the Future of Judah}</n> d "Your brothers will praise you, Judah. <n>{The Heb. verb praise is a word play on the name Judah}</n> Your hand will be at the throat of your enemies, and your father's children will bow down to you. 


text:
Judah is a lion cub. My son, you have gone up from the prey. Crouching like a lion, he lies down, Like a lioness, who would dare rouse him? 


text:
The scepter will never depart from Judah, nor a ruler's staff from between his feet, until the One <n>{Or until Shiloh}</n> comes, who owns them both, <n>{Lit. comes to whom it belongs ; i.e. the authority represented by the scepter and ruler's staff}</n> and to him will belong the allegiance <n>{Or obedience}</n> of nations. 


text:
Binding his donkey to the vine and his mare's foal to its thick tendrils, he will wash his garments in wine and his robe in the juice of grapes. 


text:
<n>{On the Future of Zebulun}</n> d "Zebulun will settle down near the sea shore and become a safe haven for shipping, bordering Sidon." 


text:
He observed that his resting place was excellent, and that the land was pleasant; he bent down, picked up his burdens, and became a slave at forced labor." 


text:
<n>{On the Future of Dan}</n> d "Dan will judge <n>{The Heb. name Dan means judge}</n> his people as one of Israel's tribes. 


text:
Dan will be a snake on the path, a viper on the road that snaps at the heels of horses, causing their riders to fall off. 


text:
<n>{On the Future of Gad}</n> d "Bandits will raid Gad, but Gad will raid them back." <n>{Lit. raid the heel}</n> 


text:
<n>{On the Future of Asher}</n> d "Asher's food will be delicious; he will be a provider of delicacies fit for royalty." 


text:
<n>{On the Future of Naphtali}</n> d "Naphtali is a free running deer who produces eloquent literature." 


text:
<n>{On the Future of Joseph}</n> d "Joseph is descended from a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine planted near springs of water. His branches climb over walls. 


text:
Even though enemies <n>{The Heb. lacks enemies}</n> attacked him, shooting at him and pursuing him viciously, 


text:
nevertheless his bow remained steady and his arms kept in shape by the strength of Jacob's Mighty One, in the name of the Shepherd, Israel's Rock, 


text:
by your father's God, who will continually help you, by the Almighty, who will keep on blessing you with blessings from heaven above, with blessings from the deepest ocean, with blessing from the breasts and the womb. 


text:
Your father's blessings will prove to be stronger than blessings from the eternal mountains or bounties from the everlasting hills. May they come to rest on Joseph's head, May they be set upon the brow of the one who was separated from his own brothers." 


text:
<n>{On the Future of Benjamin}</n> d "Benjamin is vicious like a wolf; what he kills in the morning he devours in the evening." 


text:
<n>{Jacob Dies and is Buried}</n> d That's how Israel blessed these <n>{Lit. All these are the}</n> twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father told them when he pronounced his blessing for them, blessing each one with a blessing suitable for them. 


text:
In his last words, Jacob <n>{Lit. he}</n> issued this set of instructions to them all: "I'm about to join <n>{Lit. to be gathered to}</n> our ancestors. Bury me alongside my ancestors in the cave in the field that used to belong to Ephron the Hittite. 


text:
It's the cave in the field near Mamre at Machpelah in the land of Canaan that Abraham bought to serve as a cemetery. 


text:
It's where Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried, where Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried, and where I buried Leah. 


text:
After concluding this set of instructions to his sons, Jacob <n>{Lit. he}</n> tucked his feet up into bed, quit breathing, and was gathered to his ancestors. 


text:
<n>{Joseph Mourns for His Father}</n> d Then Joseph embraced his father, <n>{Lit. Joseph fell on his father's face}</n> cried over him, and kissed him. 


text:
After this, he issued orders to his physician servants to embalm his father. So they embalmed Israel. 


text:
It took 40 days to complete the process, the normal period required for embalming. Meanwhile, the Egyptians mourned for him for 70 days. 


text:
At the conclusion of the mourning period, Joseph addressed Pharaoh's household. "If you're satisfied with me, would you please take this message to Pharaoh for me? Tell him, 


text:
«My father told me, "Look! I'm about to die. Bury me in my grave that I dug for myself in the land of Canaan." So please let me travel to bury my father. I'll be right back.»" 


text:
<n>{Joseph Mourns in Canaan}</n> d So Joseph got up and went to bury his father, accompanied by all of Pharaoh's servants, all of the elders of Egypt, 


text:
all of Joseph's household, his brothers, and his father's household. They left behind in the territory of Goshen only their youngest children, their flocks, and their herds. 


text:
When they arrived at Atad's threshing floor, which is located beyond the Jordan River, <n>{The Heb. lacks River}</n> they held a great and mournful memorial service, during which Joseph <n>{Lit. he}</n> spent seven days mourning for his father. 


text:
As soon as the Canaanites who lived in the land observed the mourning going on at Atad's threshing floor, they commented "This is a significant time of mourning for the Egyptians." That's why the place, which is located beyond the Jordan River, <n>{The Heb. lacks River}</n> became known as Abel-mizraim. <n>{The Heb. name Abel-mizraim means Mourning of the Egyptians}</n> 


text:
<n>{The Burial at Machpelah}</n> d And so Israel's <n>{Lit. so his}</n> sons did what he had instructed them to do: 


text:
they carried him to the territory of Canaan and buried him in the cave in Machpelah field near Mamre that Abraham had purchased <n>{Lit. purchased along with the field}</n> as a cemetery from Ephron the Hittite. 


text:
After he had buried his father, Joseph and his brothers returned to Egypt, along with everyone who had gone with him to attend the burial. 


text:
Later, after Joseph's brothers faced the reality of their father's death, they asked themselves, "What happens if Joseph decides to hold a grudge against us? What if he pays us back in full for all the wrong things we did to him?" 


text:
"Before he died, your father left some instructions. He told us, «Tell Joseph, "Please forgive your brothers'offenses. I beg you, forgive their sins, because they wronged you."'So please forgive the transgression of the servants of your father's God." Joseph wept when they talked to him. 


text:
So Joseph's <n>{Lit. his}</n> brothers went to visit him, fell prostrate in front of him, and declared, "Look! We're your servants." 


text:
As far as you're concerned, you were planning evil against me, but God intended it for good, planning to bring about the present result so that many people would be preserved alive. 


text:
So don't be afraid! I'll take care of you and your little ones." So Joseph <n>{Lit. he}</n> kept on comforting them, speaking to the needs of <n>{The Heb. lacks the needs of}</n> their hearts. 


text:
<n>{Joseph's Death and Burial}</n> d Joseph continued to live in Egypt, along with his father's household, until he was 110 years old. 


text:
Joseph saw the third generation of Ephraim's children, as well as the children who had been born to Manasseh's son Machir, whom he adopted as his own. <n>{Lit. Machir, who were born on Joseph's knees ; i.e. they were placed in a special position of inheritance rights}</n> 


text:
Later, Joseph told his brothers, "I'm going to die soon, but God will certainly provide for you and bring you up from this land to the land that he promised with an oath to give <n>{The Heb. lacks to give}</n> to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." 


text:
So Joseph made all of Israel's other <n>{The Heb. lacks other}</n> children make this promise: "Because God is certainly going to take care of you, you are to carry my bones up from here." 


text:
Some time later, Joseph died at the age of 110 years, and he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt. 


text:
<n>{ The Second Book of the Law}</n> <n>{ Exodus}</n> d <n>{The Israelis Prosper in Egypt}</n> d These are the names of the Israelis <n>{Lit. sons of Israel and so throughout the book}</n> who entered Egypt with Jacob, each one having come with his family: <n>{Or household}</n> 


text:
All those who descended from <n>{Lit. came out of the loins of}</n> Jacob totaled 75 persons. <n>{So with DSS and LXX. MT reads 70}</n> Now Joseph was already <n>{The Heb. lacks already}</n> in Egypt. 


text:
But the Israelis were fruitful and increased abundantly. <n>{Lit. swarmed}</n> They multiplied in numbers and became very, very strong. As a result, the land was filled with them. 


text:
<n>{The Israelis Become Slaves}</n> d Eventually a new king who was unacquainted with Joseph came to power in <n>{Lit. arose over}</n> Egypt. 


text:
Come on, let's be careful how we treat them, so that when they grow numerous, if a war breaks out they won't join our enemies, fight against us, and leave our land." 


text:
So the Egyptians <n>{Lit. they}</n> placed supervisors over them, oppressing them with heavy burdens. The Israelis <n>{Lit. They}</n> built the supply cities of Pithom and Rameses for Pharaoh. 


text:
But the more the Egyptians afflicted the Israelis, <n>{Lit. them}</n> the more they multiplied and flourished, so that the Egyptians <n>{Lit. they}</n> became terrified of <n>{Or came to loathe}</n> the Israelis. 


text:
making their lives bitter through hard labor with mortar, bricks, and all kinds of outdoor labor. They ruthlessly imposed all this <n>{Lit. their}</n> work on them. 


text:
<n>{Pharaoh Orders Male Children Killed}</n> d Later, the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah. 


text:
"When you help the Hebrew women give birth," he said, "watch them as they deliver. <n>{Lit. them on the birth stool}</n> If it's a son, kill him; but if it's a daughter, let her live." 


text:
But the midwives feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt told them. Instead, <n>{The Heb. lacks Instead}</n> they let the boys live. 


text:
When the king of Egypt called for the midwives, he asked them, "Why have you done this <n>{Lit. this thing}</n> and allowed the boys to live?" 


text:
"Hebrew women aren't like Egyptian women," the midwives replied to Pharaoh. "They're so healthy that they give birth before the midwives arrive to help <n>{The Heb. lacks to help}</n> them." 


text:
Because the midwives feared God, he provided families <n>{Or households ; lit. houses}</n> for them. 


text:
Meanwhile, Pharaoh continued commanding all of his people, "You're to throw every Hebrew <n>{The Heb. lacks Hebrew}</n> son who is born into the Nile River, <n>{The Heb. lacks River}</n> but you're to allow every Hebrew <n>{The Heb. lacks Hebrew}</n> daughter to live." 


text:
Later, the woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw that he was a beautiful <n>{Or good}</n> child, and hid him for three months. 


text:
But when she was no longer able to hide him, she took a papyrus container, coated it with asphalt and pitch, placed the child in it, and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. 


text:
Then his sister positioned herself some distance away in order to find out what would happen to him. 


text:
<n>{Pharaoh's Daughter Adopts Moses}</n> d Then Pharaoh's daughter came down to the Nile to bathe while her maids walked along the river bank. She saw the container among the reeds and sent a servant girl to get it. 


text:
When she opened it and saw the child, the little boy suddenly began crying. Filled with compassion for him, she exclaimed, "This is one of the Hebrew children!" 


text:
Then his sister asked Pharaoh's daughter, "Shall I go and call one of the nursing Hebrew women so she can nurse the child for you?" 


text:
Pharaoh's daughter instructed her, "Take this child and nurse him for me, and I'll pay you a salary." So the woman took the child and nursed him. 


text:
After the child had grown older, <n>{The Heb. lacks older}</n> she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, <n>{The Heb. name Moses sounds like the Heb. verb draw out}</n> because she said, "I drew him out of the water." 


text:
<n>{Moses Kills an Egyptian}</n> d Years later, after <n>{Lit. It happened in those days that}</n> Moses had grown up, he went out to his own people, <n>{Lit. brothers}</n> and took notice of their heavy burdens. He saw an Egyptian beating up a Hebrew, one of his own people. <n>{Lit. brothers}</n> 


text:
Looking around and seeing no one else, he killed <n>{Lit. struck}</n> the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 


text:
Going out the next day, Moses noticed <n>{The Heb. lacks noticed}</n> two Hebrew men fighting right in front of him. He told the one who was at fault, "Why did you strike your companion?" 


text:
The man <n>{Lit. He}</n> replied, "Who appointed you to be an official judge over us? Are you planning <n>{Lit. saying}</n> to kill me like you killed the Egyptian?" Then Moses became terrified and told himself, <n>{The Heb. lacks to himself}</n> "Surely this event has become known!" 


text:
<n>{Moses Flees to Midian}</n> d When Pharaoh heard about this matter, he tried to kill Moses. So Moses fled from Pharaoh, settled in the land of Midian, and sat down by a well. 


text:
Meanwhile, the seven daughters of a certain Midianite priest would come to draw water in order to fill water troughs for their father's sheep. 


text:
Some shepherds came to drive them away, but Moses got up, came to their rescue, and watered their sheep. 


text:
When they returned to their father Reuel, <n>{I.e. another name for Jethro}</n> he asked, "Why have you returned so quickly today?" 


text:
"An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds," <n>{Lit. the hand of the shepherds}</n> they replied, "and he even drew water for us and watered the sheep!" 


text:
"Then where is he?" He asked his daughters. "Why did you leave the man behind? Go invite him to have something to eat." <n>{Lit. to eat bread}</n> 


text:
Moses agreed to stay with the man, and he gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage. <n>{The Heb. lacks in marriage}</n> 


text:
Later she gave birth to a son, and Moses <n>{Lit. he}</n> named him Gershom, <n>{Gershom sounds like Heb. for alien}</n> because he used to say, "I became an alien in a foreign land." 


text:
<n>{The Israelis Cry Out to God}</n> d The king of Egypt eventually <n>{Lit. It happened after those many days that the king of Egypt}</n> died, and the Israelis groaned because of the bondage. They cried out, and their cry for deliverance from slavery ascended to God. 


text:
<n>{God Calls Moses}</n> d Meanwhile, Moses continued tending the sheep that belonged to his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the sheep to the western <n>{Or the back part of the}</n> desert and came to Horeb, God's mountain, where <n>{The Heb. lacks where}</n> 


text:
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flaming fire from the center of a bush. As Moses <n>{Lit. He}</n> continued to watch, amazingly the bush kept on burning but was not consumed. 


text:
Then Moses told himself, <n>{The Heb. lacks to himself}</n> "I'll go over and see this remarkable <n>{Or great}</n> sight. Why isn't the bush burning up?" 


text:
When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from the center of the bush, "Moses! Moses!" He said, "Here I am." 


text:
"Do not come any closer," God <n>{Lit. he}</n> said. "Remove your sandals from your feet, because the place where you are standing is holy ground." 


text:
Then he said, "I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." At this, Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God. 


text:
The Lord said, "I have certainly seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and I have heard their cry caused by their slave masters. I really do understand their pain, 


text:
so I have come down to deliver them from their domination by <n>{Lit. from the hand of}</n> the Egyptians and to bring them out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the territory <n>{Lit. place}</n> of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 


text:
Now, listen carefully! The cry of the Israelis has come to my attention about how severely the Egyptians have been oppressing them. 


text:
Then God <n>{Lit. he}</n> said, "I certainly will be with you. And this will be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, all of you will serve God on this mountain." 


text:
Moses told God, "Look, when I go to the Israelis and tell them, «The God of your ancestors sent me to you,'they'll say to me, «What is his name? 'What should I say to them?" 


text:
God replied to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM," <n>{Or I WILL BE WHO I WILL BE or I AM THE ONE WHO IS}</n> and then said, "Tell the Israelis: «I AM sent me to you.»" 


text:
God also told Moses, "Tell the Israelis, «The Lord , the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob sent me to you.'This is my name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered from generation to generation. 


text:
Go and gather the elders of Israel. Tell them, «The Lord , the God of your ancestors, appeared to me the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and he said, "I have paid close attention to you and to what has been done to you in Egypt. 


text:
I have said that I will bring you out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites to a land flowing with milk and honey."'


text:
"The elders of Israel <n>{Lit. They}</n> will listen to you, <n>{Lit. to your voice}</n> and then you and they <n>{Lit. and the elders of Israel}</n> are to go to the king of Egypt and say to him, «The Lord , the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Now, let us take a three-day journey into the desert to sacrifice to the Lord our God.'


text:
I know that the king of Egypt won't allow you to go unless compelled to do so by force, <n>{Lit. with a strong hand}</n> 


text:
so I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all my wonders that I will do there. After that he will release you. 


text:
I will grant this people public favor with the Egyptians, and as a result, when you leave you won't go empty-handed. 


text:
Each woman is to ask her neighbor or any foreign <n>{Lit. resident alien}</n> woman in her house for articles of gold and for clothing, and use them to clothe your sons and daughters. You will plunder the Egyptians." 


text:
<n>{Moses Argues with God}</n> d Then Moses answered, "Look, they won't believe me and they won't listen to me. <n>{Lit. to my voice. And so through the passage}</n> Instead, they'll say, «The Lord didn't appear to you.»" 


text:
"What's that in your hand?" the Lord asked him. Moses <n>{Lit. he}</n> answered, "A staff." <n>{Or rod}</n> 


text:
Then God <n>{Lit. he}</n> said, "Throw it on the ground." He threw it on the ground and it became a snake. Moses ran away from it. 


text:
Then God told Moses, "Reach out <n>{Lit. Stretch out your hand}</n> and grab its tail." So he reached out, grabbed it, and it became a staff <n>{Or rod}</n> in his hand. 


text:
God said, "I've done this <n>{The Heb. lacks God said, "I have done this}</n> so that they may believe that the Lord , the God of their ancestors the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob has appeared to you." 


text:
Again the Lord told him, "Put your hand into your bosom." <n>{I.e. under the folds of the garment at the chest}</n> He put his hand into his bosom and as soon as he brought it out it was leprous, like snow. <n>{I.e. his hand was white}</n> 


text:
Then God <n>{Lit. He}</n> said, "Put your hand back into your bosom." He returned it <n>{Lit. his hand}</n> to his bosom and as soon as he brought it out, <n>{Lit. out from his bosom}</n> it was restored like the rest of <n>{The Heb. lacks the rest of}</n> his skin. <n>{Lit. flesh}</n> 


text:
"Then if they don't believe you and respond to the first sign, they may respond to the second <n>{Lit. latter}</n> sign. 


text:
But if they don't believe even these two signs, and won't listen to you, then take some water out of the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. The water you took from the Nile will turn into blood on the dry ground." 


text:
Then Moses told the Lord , "Please, Lord , I'm not eloquent. <n>{Lit. a man of words}</n> I never was in the past <n>{Lit. either yesterday or the day before}</n> nor am I now since you spoke to your servant. In fact, I talk too slowly <n>{Lit. heavy of mouth}</n> and I have a speech impediment." <n>{Lit. heavy}</n> 


text:
Then God asked him, "Who gives a person a mouth? Who makes him unable to speak, or deaf, or able to see, or blind, or lame? Is it not I, the Lord ? 


text:
Now, go! I myself will help you with your speech, <n>{Lit. will be with your mouth}</n> and I'll teach you what you are to say." 


text:
Moses said, "Please, Lord , send somebody else." <n>{Lit. by a hand send ; i.e. by someone else's hand send}</n> 


text:
Then the Lord was angry with Moses and said, "There is your brother Aaron, the descendant of Levi, isn't there? I know that he certainly is eloquent. <n>{Lit. he certainly speaks}</n> Right now he's coming to meet you and he will be pleased to see you. 


text:
You're to speak to him and tell him what to say. <n>{Lit. put the words in his mouth}</n> I'll help both you and him with your speech, <n>{Lit. I'll be with your mouth and with his mouth}</n> and I'll teach both of you what you are to do. 


text:
He is to speak to the people for you as your spokesman <n>{Lit. be your mouth}</n> and you are to act in the role of <n>{Lit. be}</n> God for him. 


text:
<n>{Moses Decides to Return to Egypt}</n> d Moses left and returned to his father-in-law Jethro. Moses <n>{Lit. he}</n> told him, "Please let me go and return to my own people <n>{Lit. my brothers}</n> in Egypt so I can see whether they're still alive." Jethro told Moses, "Go in peace." 


text:
The Lord told Moses in Midian, "Go back to Egypt, because all the men who wanted to kill you are dead." 


text:
So Moses took his wife and son, put them on the donkey, and headed back to the land of Egypt. Moses took the staff of God in his hand. 


text:
Then the Lord told Moses, "When you set out to return to Egypt, keep in mind <n>{Lit. see, watch}</n> all the wonders that I've put in your power, <n>{Lit. hand}</n> so that you may do them before Pharaoh. But I'll harden his heart so that he won't let the people go. 


text:
And I say to you, «Let my son go so he may serve me.'If you refuse to let him go, then I will kill your firstborn son."»" 


text:
<n>{Zipporah Circumcises Moses'Son}</n> d But later on, at the lodging place along the way, the Lord met Moses <n>{Lit. him}</n> and was about to kill him. 


text:
Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son's foreskin, and touched Moses'<n>{Lit. his}</n> feet with it, saying while doing so, <n>{Lit. touched to his feet}</n> because you are a bridegroom of blood to me." 


text:
Then the Lord <n>{Lit. Then he}</n> withdrew from him, and she said, a bridegroom of blood because of circumcision." 


text:
<n>{Moses and Aaron Meet and Return to Egypt}</n> d The Lord told Aaron, "Go meet Moses in the desert." So Aaron <n>{Lit. he}</n> went, found <n>{Lit. encountered}</n> him at the mountain of God, and kissed him. 


text:
Moses told Aaron all of the Lord's messages that he had sent with Moses, and all of the signs that he commanded him to do. <n>{The Heb. lacks to do}</n> 


text:
Aaron spoke everything that the Lord had spoken to Moses, and Moses <n>{Lit. he}</n> performed the miracles <n>{Lit. signs}</n> before the very eyes of the people. 


text:
The people believed and understood <n>{Or they heard}</n> that the Lord had paid attention to the Israelis and had seen their affliction. They bowed their heads and prostrated themselves in worship. 


text:
<n>{Pharaoh Refuses to Let the People Go}</n> d After Moses and Aaron arrived, they told Pharaoh, "This is what the Lord God of Israel says: «Let my people go so they may make a pilgrimage for me in the desert." 


text:
Pharaoh said, "Who is the Lord that I should listen to <n>{Or obey}</n> him and let Israel go? I don't know about <n>{The Heb. lacks about}</n> the Lord , nor will I let Israel go!" 


text:
Then they said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God so he does not strike us with pestilence or sword. 


text:
The king of Egypt replied to them, "Moses and Aaron, why are you keeping the people from their labor? Go back to your work!" <n>{Lit. burdens}</n> 


text:
Then Pharaoh said, "Look, the people in the land are now numerous, and you are stopping them from working." <n>{Lit. from their burdens}</n> 


text:
<n>{Pharaoh Increases the Israelis'Work}</n> d That day Pharaoh ordered the taskmasters of the people and their officials, 


text:
"You're no longer to give the people straw for making bricks, as in the past. <n>{Lit. like yesterday and the day before}</n> They must gather straw for themselves. 


text:
But you're to impose the previous quota <n>{Lit. as yesterday and the day before}</n> of bricks that they're making. You're not to reduce it! It is because they're lazy that they're crying out, «Let's go offer sacrifices to our God.'


text:
So increase the work load on the people, <n>{Or men}</n> and let them do it so they don't pay attention to deceptive speeches." 


text:
Then the taskmasters of the people and their officials went out and told the people, "This is Pharaoh's response: «I'll no longer give you any <n>{The Heb. lacks any}</n> straw. 


text:
Go get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work quotas won't be reduced at all.»" <n>{Lit. from your labor}</n> 


text:
So the people scattered throughout the entire land of Egypt to collect stubble <n>{I.e. the stalks left in the field after grain is harvested}</n> for straw. 


text:
The taskmasters pressured them by saying, "Finish your work each day's quota <n>{Lit. matter}</n> just as when you were given straw." <n>{Lit. when there was straw.}</n> 


text:
The Israeli supervisors whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had appointed over them were beaten and told, <n>{Lit. saying.}</n> "Why didn't you, both yesterday and today, fulfill <n>{Lit. complete}</n> your quota <n>{Lit. prescribed amount}</n> for making bricks as before?" 


text:
<n>{The Israelis'Appeal Rejected by Pharaoh}</n> d The Israeli supervisors came and cried out to Pharaoh, "Why are you doing this to us? <n>{Lit. your servants ; and so throughout the book}</n> 


text:
No straw is being given to us, yet they're saying to us, «Make bricks!'Look, we are being beaten. It's wrong how you are treating your people!" 


text:
Then Pharaoh <n>{Lit. he}</n> said, "You are lazy, lazy! That's why <n>{Lit. therefore}</n> you're saying, «Let's go offer sacrifices to the Lord .'


text:
Now, go! Work! And straw won't be given to you, but you will deliver the same <n>{The Heb. lacks same}</n> number of bricks!" 


text:
The Israeli supervisors realized they were in trouble when he said, <n>{Lit. saying}</n> "You won't reduce each day's quota of bricks!" <n>{Lit. your bricks}</n> 


text:
<n>{The Israelis Blame Moses and Moses Complains to God}</n> d As they left Pharaoh's presence, <n>{Lit. from with}</n> they met Moses and Aaron standing there. <n>{The Heb. lacks there}</n> 


text:
The supervisors <n>{Lit. they}</n> told them, "May the Lord look on you and judge you! <n>{The Heb. lacks you}</n> You have made us repulsive to <n>{Lit. made our odor stink in the eyes of}</n> Pharaoh and his servants. You have put <n>{Lit. servants to give}</n> a sword in their hands to kill us." 


text:
So Moses returned to the Lord and asked him, "Lord , why have you caused trouble for this people? Why have you sent me here? 


text:
Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has caused trouble for this people, and you have done nothing to deliver your people." 


text:
<n>{God Promises to Deliver Israel}</n> d The Lord told Moses, "Now you will see what I'll do to Pharaoh. Indeed, he'll send them out under compulsion <n>{Lit. out by a strong hand}</n> and he'll drive them out of his land violently." <n>{Lit. land by a strong hand}</n> 


text:
I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, <n>{Heb. El Shaddai}</n> and did I not reveal to them my name «Lord'? 


text:
I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land where they lived as resident aliens for a time. 


text:
Also, I've heard the groaning of the Israelis whom the Egyptians have forced to labor for them, and I've remembered my covenant. 


text:
Therefore, say to the Israelis, «I am the Lord . I'll bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I'll deliver you from their bondage. I'll redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. <n>{Lit. great judgments}</n> 


text:
I'll take you for my own people, <n>{Lit. for Myself for a people}</n> and I'll be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 


text:
I'll bring you to the land that I swore <n>{Lit. I lifted my hand}</n> to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I'll give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord .»" 


text:
Then Moses reported this to the Israelis, but they did not listen to Moses due to their irritation and impatience because there was no deliverance <n>{Lit. due to shortness of spirit}</n> and because of the cruel bondage. 


text:
Then Moses said right in front of the Lord , "Look, the Israelis didn't listen to me, so how will Pharaoh? I'm not a persuasive speaker" <n>{Lit. uncircumcised of lip ; i.e. an unrefined speaker}</n> 


text:
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, issuing orders to them regarding the Israelis for delivery to Pharaoh, king of Egypt; that is, to bring the Israelis out of the land of Egypt. 


text:
<n>{Genealogies of Moses and Aaron}</n> d These are the heads of their ancestors'households: the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch and Pallu; Hezron and Carmi. These are the families of Reuben, including 


text:
Simeon's sons Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the Canaanite woman's son. These are the families of Simeon. 


text:
These are the names of Levi's sons according to their genealogies: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Levi lived <n>{Lit. Now the years of Levi's life were}</n> 137 years. 


text:
The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the descendants of Levi according to their genealogies. 


text:
Amram married Jochebed, his father's sister, and she bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived for 137 years. 


text:
Then Aaron married Elisheba daughter of Amminadab, sister of Nahshon. She bore him Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 


text:
The sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. These were the families of the descendants of Korah. 


text:
Aaron's son Eleazar married one of Putiel's daughters, and she bore him Phineas. These are the heads of the ancestors of the descendants of Levi, according to their families. 


text:
This is the same Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said, "Bring the Israelis out of the land of Egypt by their tribal divisions." 


text:
They were the ones speaking to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to bring the Israelis out of Egypt; this is the same Moses and Aaron. 


text:
<n>{Moses Doubts that Pharaoh will Listen}</n> d And it happened when the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt 


text:
that the Lord told Moses, "I am the Lord . Tell Pharaoh, king of Egypt, everything that I'm saying to you." 


text:
Moses said in the presence of the Lord , "Look, I'm not a persuasive speaker, <n>{Lit. I'm uncircumcised of lips}</n> so how will Pharaoh listen to me?" 


text:
<n>{God Appoints Aaron to Assist Moses}</n> d The Lord told Moses, "Listen! I've positioned you as God <n>{Or as a god}</n> to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. 


text:
You are to speak all that I've commanded you, and then your brother Aaron will speak to Pharaoh, telling him to let the Israelis go out of his land. 


text:
I'll harden Pharaoh's heart and I'll add more and more of my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. 


text:
When Pharaoh won't listen to you, I'll let loose my power <n>{Or I'll put my hand}</n> upon Egypt. I'll bring out my tribal divisions my people the Israelis from the land of Egypt with great acts of judgment. <n>{Lit. great judgments}</n> 


text:
The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand over Egypt to bring the Israelis out from among them." 


text:
"When Pharaoh says to you, «Perform a miraculous sign,'then you are to say to Aaron, «Take your staff and throw it in front of Pharaoh.'It will become a serpent." 


text:
Then Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh and did what the Lord had commanded them. Aaron threw his staff in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a serpent. 


text:
Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and sorcerers, and they along with the Egyptian magicians did the same thing with their secret arts. 


text:
So each one threw down his staff and it became a serpent, but Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs. 


text:
Yet Pharaoh's heart was stubborn <n>{Lit. strong}</n> and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had said would happen. 


text:
<n>{Water is Turned into Blood}</n> d Then the Lord told Moses, "Pharaoh's heart is hard. He has refused to let the people go. 


text:
Go to Pharaoh in the morning as he's going down to the water. Stand on the bank of the Nile and meet him. Be sure to take with you <n>{Lit. in your hand}</n> the staff that was turned into a snake. 


text:
Then say to him, «The Lord , the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to you. He says, "Let my people go so they may serve <n>{Or worship}</n> me in the desert, but until now you haven't obeyed." <n>{Or listened}</n> 


text:
«This is what the Lord says: "This is how you'll know that I am the Lord : Right now I'm going to strike the water of the Nile with the staff that's in my hand, and it will be turned to blood. 


text:
The fish in the Nile will die and the river <n>{Or the Nile}</n> will stink. The Egyptians will be unable <n>{Or weary themselves}</n> to drink water from the Nile."»" 


text:
The Lord also told Moses, "Tell Aaron, «Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their Nile, over their ponds, and over their reservoirs, <n>{Lit. every collection of their waters}</n> and they'll become blood. There will be blood throughout the land of Egypt, even in their <n>{The Heb. lacks their}</n> wood and stone containers.»" <n>{The Heb. lacks containers}</n> 


text:
Moses and Aaron did just what the Lord had commanded. Aaron <n>{Lit. He}</n> raised his staff and struck the water in the Nile in front of <n>{Lit. before the eyes of}</n> Pharaoh and his <n>{Lit. before the eyes of his}</n> officials, <n>{Or servants}</n> and all the water in the Nile turned to blood. 


text:
The fish in the Nile died and the river <n>{Or the Nile}</n> stank. The Egyptians were not able to drink water from the Nile, and blood was throughout the land of Egypt. 


text:
But the Egyptian magicians did the same thing <n>{Lit. did thus}</n> with their secret arts. Pharaoh's heart was stubborn, <n>{Lit. strong}</n> and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had said. 


text:
All the Egyptians dug around the Nile for water to drink because they could not drink from the water in the Nile. 


text:
<n>{The Plague of Frogs}</n> d Seven days after <n>{Lit. days were filled after}</n> the Lord had struck the Nile, 


text:
<n>{This verse is 7:26 in MT}</n> he told Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and tell him, «This is what the Lord says: "Let my people go so they may serve <n>{Or worship}</n> me. 


text:
The Nile will swarm with frogs. They'll come up and enter your house, your bedroom, your bed, and your servants'houses. They'll jump on your people, into your ovens, and into your kneading troughs. 


text:
<n>{This verse is 8:1 in MT}</n> Then the Lord told Moses, "Tell Aaron, «Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the Nile, and over the ponds, and bring up frogs over the land of Egypt.»" 


text:
So Aaron stretched his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. 


text:
But the magicians did the same thing <n>{Lit. thus}</n> with their secret arts, and they brought up frogs on the land of Egypt. 


text:
Then Pharaoh called to Moses and Aaron and said, "Plead with the Lord so that he may remove the frogs from me and my people. I'll let the people go so they can offer sacrifices to the Lord ." 


text:
Moses told Pharaoh, "You decide <n>{Lit. you have honor over me. i.e. I'll defer to your decision}</n> when I should plead for you, your servants, and your people to remove <n>{Lit. cut off}</n> the frogs from you and your household. They'll remain only in the Nile." 


text:
Pharaoh <n>{Lit. he}</n> said, "Tomorrow." Moses <n>{Lit. he}</n> said, "It will be just as you say, <n>{Lit. according to your word}</n> so that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God. 


text:
The frogs will leave you, your house, your officials, <n>{Or servants}</n> and your people. They'll remain only in the Nile." 


text:
Then Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh's presence, and Moses cried out to the Lord about the frogs which he had sent <n>{Lit. put}</n> on Pharaoh. 


text:
The Lord did just as Moses asked, <n>{Lit. according to the word of}</n> and the frogs died in the houses, in the courtyards, and in the fields. 


text:
But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, just as the Lord had said. 


text:
<n>{The Plague of Gnats}</n> d Then the Lord told Moses, "Tell Aaron, «Stretch out your staff, strike the dust of the ground, and the dust <n>{Lit. it}</n> will become gnats throughout the land of Egypt.»" 


text:
They did this. <n>{Lit. thus}</n> Aaron stretched his hand out with his staff, struck the dust of the land, and gnats came on people and animals all the dust of the ground became gnats throughout the land of Egypt. 


text:
The magicians tried <n>{Lit. they did}</n> to do the same thing <n>{Lit. thus}</n> with their secret arts, but they were unable to bring out the gnats. The gnats were on the people and the animals. 


text:
The magicians told Pharaoh, "It is the finger of God!" <n>{I.e. an act of God}</n> But Pharaoh's heart was stubborn <n>{Lit. strong}</n> and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had said. 


text:
The Lord told Moses, "Get up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as he's going down to the water. You are to say to him, «This is what the Lord says: "Let my people go so they can serve <n>{Or worship}</n> me. 


text:
But if you don't let my people go, I'll send swarms of insects upon you, your servants, your people, and your households. The houses of Egypt and even the ground on which they stand will be filled with swarms of insects. 


text:
On that day I'll treat the land of Goshen where my people live <n>{Lit. are standing}</n> differently so that swarms of insects won't be there. As a result, you will know that I the Lord am in the midst of the land. 


text:
The Lord did this, and dense swarms of insects came into the house of Pharaoh and into the houses of his servants. The land was ruined throughout <n>{The Heb. lacks throughout}</n> Egypt because of the swarms of insects. 


text:
Moses said, "It wouldn't be right to sacrifice in this way <n>{Lit. thus}</n> because if we do, <n>{The Heb. lacks if we do}</n> we will sacrifice to the Lord our God what is offensive to the Egyptians. <n>{Lit. an abomination to the Egyptians}</n> If we offer sacrifices that are offensive to the Egyptians <n>{Lit. an abomination to the Egyptians}</n> in front of them, they'll stone us, won't they? 


text:
We must go a three-day journey into the desert, and we'll offer sacrifices to the Lord our God just as he has told us." 


text:
Then Pharaoh said, "I'll let you go so you can offer sacrifices to the Lord your God in the desert. But you must not go very far away. Pray for me." 


text:
Moses said, "Right now I'm going to leave you, and I'll pray to the Lord that the swarms of insects may depart from Pharaoh, from his officials, and from his people tomorrow. But Pharaoh, don't continue lying by not letting the people go to offer sacrifices to the Lord ." 


text:
The Lord did what Moses asked, <n>{Lit. did according to the word of Moses}</n> and the swarms of insects departed from Pharaoh, his officials, and his people. Not one remained. 


text:
<n>{The Plague on the Egyptian Cattle}</n> d Then the Lord told Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and say to him, «This is what the Lord God of the Hebrews says: "Let my people go so they may serve <n>{Or worship}</n> me. 


text:
then the hand of the Lord will come <n>{Lit. be}</n> with a very severe plague on your livestock in the fields, on horses, on donkeys, on camels, on cattle, and on sheep. 


text:
The Lord will distinguish between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of the Egyptians, so that nothing that belongs to the Israelis will die."»" 


text:
The Lord did this thing the next day, and all the livestock of the Egyptians died. But not one of the livestock died that belonged to the Israelis. 


text:
Then Pharaoh inquired and discovered <n>{Lit. sent and behold}</n> that not a single one of the livestock of Israel had died, but Pharaoh's heart was stubborn <n>{Lit. strong}</n> and he would not let the people go. 


text:
<n>{The Plague of Boils}</n> d Then the Lord told Moses and Aaron, "Take handfuls of soot from a kiln, and let Moses throw it into the air <n>{Lit. toward heaven}</n> in front of Pharaoh. 


text:
The soot <n>{Lit. it}</n> will become dust over the entire land of Egypt, and it will become boils erupting into sores on people and animals throughout the land of Egypt." 


text:
So they took soot from the kiln and stood before Pharaoh. Then Moses threw it into the air, <n>{Lit. toward heaven}</n> and it became boils producing running sores on people and animals. 


text:
The magicians were not able to stand before Moses because of the boils, because the boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians. 


text:
The Lord made Pharaoh's heart stubborn <n>{Lit. strong ; i.e. determined}</n> so that he would not listen to them, just as the Lord had told Moses. 


text:
<n>{The Plague of Hail}</n> d The Lord told Moses, "Get up early in the morning, present yourself to Pharaoh, and say to him, «This is what the Lord God of the Hebrews says: "Let my people go so they may serve <n>{Or worship}</n> me. 


text:
Indeed, this time I'm sending all my plagues against you <n>{Lit. to your heart}</n> , your officials, <n>{Or servants}</n> and your people, so you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth. 


text:
Indeed, by now I could have sent forth my hand and struck you and your people with a plague, and you would have been destroyed from the earth. 


text:
However, I've kept you standing <n>{Or allowed you to live ; Lit. caused you to stand}</n> in order to show you my power and to declare my name in all the earth. 


text:
Look! About this time tomorrow, I'll send a severe hail storm, such as has not happened in Egypt from the day it was founded until now. 


text:
So send for your livestock and everything that belongs to you that's out in the field, because <n>{Lit. and}</n> every person and animal found in the field that has not been brought inside to shelters will die when the hail comes down on them."»" 


text:
Whoever feared the message from the Lord among Pharaoh's officials <n>{Or servants}</n> made his servants and livestock flee into shelters. 


text:
But whoever did not pay attention <n>{Lit. set his heart}</n> to the message from the Lord left his servants and his livestock outside in the fields. 


text:
Then the Lord told Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward heaven, and there will be hail in all the land of Egypt, on people, animals, and all the vegetation of the field throughout the land of Egypt. 


text:
When Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, the Lord sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. The Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt. 


text:
There was very heavy hail, and lightning was continually flashing in the midst of the hail. There had not been anything like it in the land of Egypt since it had become a nation. 


text:
The hail struck everything, including people and animals, outside in the fields throughout the land of Egypt. The hail struck all the vegetation of the fields and shattered all the trees in the orchards. 


text:
Pharaoh sent word <n>{The Heb. lacks word}</n> and called for Moses and Aaron. "I've sinned this time," he told them. "The Lord is righteous, but I and my people are wicked. 


text:
Pray to the Lord ! There has been enough of God's thunder and hail! I'll let you go, and you need not stay any longer." 


text:
Moses told him, "When I leave the city I'll spread out my hands to the Lord . The thunder will cease and the hail won't continue, so that you may know that the earth belongs to the Lord . 


text:
But as for you and your officials, <n>{Or servants}</n> I know that you don't yet fear the Lord God." 


text:
Then Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh and spread out his hands to the Lord . The thunder and hail stopped, and the rain no longer poured out on the land. 


text:
When Pharaoh saw that the rain, hail, and thunder had stopped, he continued to sin. He, along with his officials, <n>{Or servants}</n> hardened his heart. 


text:
Pharaoh's heart was stubborn, <n>{Lit. strong}</n> and he did not let the Israelis go, just as the Lord had said through Moses. 


text:
<n>{The Plague of Locusts}</n> d Then the Lord told Moses, "Go to Pharaoh, for I've hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials <n>{Or servants}</n> in order to perform <n>{Lit. put}</n> these signs of mine among them, <n>{Lit. him}</n> 


text:
so you may tell <n>{Lit. declare in the ears of}</n> your children and your grandchildren how I toyed with the Egyptians and about my miraculous signs that I performed among them, so all of you <n>{Lit. you (pl.)}</n> may know that I am the Lord . 


text:
Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and told him, "This is what the Lord God of the Hebrews says: «How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, so they may serve <n>{Or worship}</n> me. 


text:
They'll cover the surface of the land so a person <n>{Lit. he}</n> cannot see the ground, and they'll eat what is left for you of the residue from the hail. They'll also eat all your trees that grow in the orchards. 


text:
Your houses will be filled along with the houses of all your officials <n>{Or servants}</n> and the houses of all the Egyptians something that neither your fathers nor your ancestors ever saw from the time they were on earth until now.»" Then Moses <n>{Lit. he}</n> turned and left Pharaoh's presence. 


text:
Then the officials <n>{Or servants}</n> of Pharaoh told him, "How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go so they may serve the Lord their God! Don't you realize yet that Egypt is about to be destroyed?" 


text:
Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh and he told them, "Go, serve <n>{Or worship}</n> the Lord your God. But exactly who <n>{Lit. who and who}</n> will go?" 


text:
Moses said, "We will go with our young and with our old. We will go with our sons and our daughters, with our sheep and our cattle, because it's a festival to the Lord for us." 


text:
Then Pharaoh <n>{Lit. he}</n> told them, "The Lord will certainly <n>{Lit. it will be thus that}</n> be with you if I let you and your little ones go. I know <n>{Lit. See!}</n> some evil plan is in your mind. <n>{Lit. is before you}</n> 


text:
No! Let the men go and serve <n>{Or worship}</n> the Lord , for that is what you were seeking." Then they were driven out from the presence of Pharaoh. 


text:
The Lord told Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt to bring <n>{Lit. for}</n> the locusts, and they'll come up over the land of Egypt and eat all the vegetation of the land, everything that the hail left." 


text:
Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and the Lord sent an east wind into the land all that day and throughout <n>{Lit. all}</n> the night. When morning came, the east wind brought the locusts. 


text:
The locusts came up over all the land of Egypt and settled on all the territory of Egypt in great swarms. <n>{Lit. it was very heavy}</n> There had never been locusts like this before nor would there ever be again. 


text:
They covered the surface of the entire land so that it <n>{Lit. the land}</n> was dark. They ate all the vegetation of the land and the fruit from the trees that the hail left. Nothing green was left on the trees or on the vegetation in all the land of Egypt. 


text:
Pharaoh quickly called Moses and Aaron and said, "I've sinned against the Lord your God and against you. 


text:
Now, please forgive my sin only this time, and pray to the Lord your God that he would at least remove this <n>{Lit. this death}</n> from me." 


text:
Then the Lord brought <n>{Lit. turned}</n> a very strong west wind that took the locusts and drove them into the Reed <n>{So MT; LXX reads Red}</n> Sea. Not one locust remained in all the territory of Egypt. 


text:
But the Lord made Pharaoh's heart stubborn <n>{Lit. strong}</n> and he would not let the Israelis go. 


text:
<n>{The Plague of Darkness}</n> d Then the Lord told Moses, "Stretch your hand toward the sky and there will be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness that one can feel." 


text:
So Moses stretched his hand toward the sky, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. 


text:
No one could see anyone else, nor could anyone get up from his place for three days. But there was light for all the Israelis in their dwellings. 


text:
Pharaoh called Moses and said, "Go serve <n>{Or worship}</n> the Lord , but your flocks and your cattle are to remain. Even your little ones can go with you!" 


text:
Moses said, "You must let us have <n>{Lit. give into our hand}</n> sacrifices and burnt offerings to offer to the Lord our God. 


text:
And even our livestock must go with us. Not a hoof will be left behind because we will use <n>{Lit. take}</n> some of them to serve the Lord our God, and until we get there we won't know what we need to serve <n>{Lit. what (or how) we will serve}</n> the Lord ." 


text:
Then Pharaoh told him, "Get away from me! Watch out that you never see my face again, because on the day you see my face, you will die!" 


text:
<n>{Warning of the Death of the Firstborn}</n> d Then the Lord told Moses, "I'll bring one more plague on Pharaoh and Egypt. After that he'll let you leave from here, and when he lets you go, he will certainly drive you out from here. 


text:
Tell <n>{Lit. Say in the ears of}</n> the people that each man is to ask his neighbor and each woman her neighbor for articles of silver and gold." 


text:
The Lord made the Egyptians look on the people with favor. Also the man Moses was highly regarded <n>{Lit. very great}</n> in the land of Egypt, both in the opinion <n>{Lit. sight}</n> of Pharaoh's officials <n>{Or servants}</n> and in the opinion <n>{Lit. sight}</n> of the people. 


text:
So Moses announced to Pharaoh, <n>{The Heb. lacks to Pharaoh}</n> "This is what the Lord says: «About midnight I'm going throughout Egypt, 


text:
and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne to the firstborn of the slave girl who operates <n>{Lit. is behind}</n> the hand mill, along with the firstborn of the animals. 


text:
There will be a great cry throughout the land of Egypt, like there has never been and never will be again. 


text:
But among the Israelis, from people to animals, not even a dog will bark, <n>{Lit. won't sharpen its tongue}</n> so you may know that the Lord is distinguishing between the Egyptians and the Israelis.'


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All these officials <n>{Or servants}</n> of yours will come down to me, prostrate themselves to me, and say, «Get out, you and all the people following <n>{Lit. at your feet}</n> you!'After that I'll go out." Then Moses <n>{Lit. he}</n> angrily left Pharaoh. 


text:
The Lord told Moses, "Pharaoh won't listen to you. As a result, my wonders will increase throughout the land of Egypt. 


text:
Then Moses and Aaron did all these wonders in front of Pharaoh, but the Lord made Pharaoh's heart stubborn, <n>{Lit. strong}</n> and he would not let the Israelis go out from his land. 


text:
"This month will mark the beginning of months for you. It will be the first month of the year for you. 


text:
Tell the entire congregation of Israel, «On the tenth of this month they're each to take a lamb for themselves, according to their ancestors'households, one lamb for each household. 


text:
If a household is too small for a lamb, then it and its closest neighbor are to obtain one based on the number of individuals dividing <n>{Lit. calculate}</n> the lamb based on what each person can eat. 


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Your lamb is to be a year old male without blemish. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 


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It is to remain under your care until the fourteenth day of this month, and then the entire assembly of the congregation of Israel is to slaughter it at twilight. 


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They're to take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat the lamb. <n>{Lit. it}</n> 


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That very night they're to eat the meat, roasted over the fire, with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 


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Don't eat any of it raw or boiled in water. Instead, roast it over the fire, with its head, legs, and internal organs. 


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Don't leave any of it until morning, and whatever does remain of it until morning you are to burn in the fire. 


text:
«This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. You are to eat it hurriedly it's the Lord's Passover. 


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I'll pass through the land of Egypt that night and strike every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both people and animals. I'll execute judgments on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord . 


text:
The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are. I'll see the blood and pass over you. There will be no plague to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. 


text:
«This day is to be a memorial for you, and you are to celebrate it as a festival to the Lord . You are to celebrate it as a perpetual ordinance from generation to generation. 


text:
You are to eat unleavened bread for seven days. On the first day be sure to remove all the leaven from your houses, because any person who eats anything leavened from the first day until the seventh will be cut off from Israel. 


text:
Also, on the first day you're to hold a holy assembly, and on the seventh day you're to hold a holy assembly. No work is to be done during those days, except for preparing what is to be eaten by each person. 


text:
«You are to observe the Festival of Unleavened Bread, since on this very day I brought your tribal divisions from the land of Egypt. You are to observe this day from generation to generation as a perpetual ordinance. 


text:
In the first month, from the evening of the fourteenth day of the month until the evening of the twenty-first day of the month, you are to eat unleavened bread. 


text:
For seven days leaven is not to be found in your houses. Indeed, any person who eats anything leavened, is to be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether an alien or a native of the land. 


text:
Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and told them, "Choose sheep for your families, and slaughter the Passover lamb. 


text:
Take a bundle of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and apply some of the blood in the basin to the lintel and the two doorposts. None of you is to go out of the doorway of his house until morning, 


text:
because the Lord will pass through to strike down the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the doorway, and won't allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you down. 


text:
When you enter the land that the Lord will give you, just as he promised, you are to observe this ritual. 


text:
you are to say, «It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord , who passed over the houses of the Israelis in Egypt when he struck down the Egyptians but spared our houses.»" Then the people bowed down and worshipped. 


text:
<n>{The Death of the Firstborn in Egypt}</n> d And so at midnight the Lord struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the prisoner who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock. 


text:
Pharaoh got up during the night, he, all his officials, <n>{Or servants}</n> and all the Egyptians, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead in it. 


text:
Then he summoned Moses and Aaron during the night and told them: "Get up, go out from among my people, both you and the Israelis! Go, serve <n>{Or worship}</n> the Lord as you have said. 


text:
Take both your sheep and your cattle, just as you demanded <n>{Lit. said}</n> and go! And bless me too!" 


text:
The Egyptian officials <n>{The Heb. lacks officials}</n> urged the people to send them out of the land quickly, because they were saying, "We'll all be dead!" 


text:
So the people took their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading bowls wrapped up in their cloaks on their shoulders. 


text:
Meanwhile, the Israelis had done as Moses said; <n>{Lit. according to the word of Moses}</n> they had asked the Egyptians for objects of silver and objects of gold, and for clothes. 


text:
The Lord had given the people favor in the eyes of the Egyptians, so that they gave them what they requested; and so they plundered the Egyptians. 


text:
<n>{The Exodus Begins}</n> d About 600,000 Israeli men traveled from Rameses to Succoth on foot, not counting children. 


text:
A mixed multitude also went up with them, along with a very large number of livestock, including sheep and cattle. 


text:
They baked the dough that they brought out of Egypt into thin cakes of unleavened bread. It had not been leavened because they were driven out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared provisions for themselves. 


text:
At the end of 430 years, to the very day, all the tribal divisions of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. 


text:
That was for the Lord a night of vigil <n>{Or watching, guarding}</n> to bring them out of the land of Egypt. This same night belongs to the Lord , and is to be a vigil for all the Israelis from generation to generation. 


text:
<n>{Instructions for the Passover}</n> d The Lord told Moses and Aaron, "These are the regulations for the Passover: No foreigner is to eat it, 


text:
though any slave <n>{Lit. of a man}</n> purchased with money may eat it after you have circumcised him. 


text:
It is to be eaten in one house, and you are not to take any of the meat outside the house, nor are you to break any of its bones. 


text:
If an alien who resides with you wants to observe the Passover to the Lord , every male in his household <n>{Lit. belonging to him}</n> must be circumcised, and then he may come near to observe it. He is to be like a native of the land, but no uncircumcised person is to eat it. 


text:
And on that very day, the Lord brought the Israelis out of the land of Egypt by their tribal divisions. 


text:
"Consecrate to me every firstborn male. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the Israelis, both of humans and of animals, belongs to me." 


text:
<n>{The Festival of Unleavened Bread}</n> d Then Moses told the people, "Remember this day on which you came out of Egypt, from the house of bondage, because the Lord brought you out from this place with a strong show of force. <n>{Lit. strong hand}</n> Moreover, nothing leavened is to be eaten. 


text:
When the Lord brings you to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which he swore to your ancestors to give you a land flowing with milk and honey you are to observe this ritual in this month. 


text:
You are to eat unleavened bread for seven days, and on the seventh day there is to be a festival to the Lord . 


text:
Unleavened bread is to be eaten for seven days, and nothing leavened is to be seen among you, nor is leaven to be seen among you throughout your territory. 


text:
And you are to tell your child on that day, «This is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.'


text:
It is to be a sign for you on your hand and a reminder on your forehead, <n>{Lit. between your eyes}</n> so that you may speak about the instruction <n>{Or Law}</n> of the Lord; for the Lord brought you out of Egypt with a strong show of force. <n>{Lit. strong hand}</n> 


text:
<n>{The Redemption of the Firstborn}</n> d "When the Lord brings you to the land of the Canaanite and gives it to you, just as he promised you and your ancestors, 


text:
you are to dedicate to the Lord everything that first opens the womb. All the firstborn males <n>{Lit. Whatever first opens the womb}</n> of your livestock belong to the Lord . 


text:
You are to redeem every firstborn donkey <n>{Lit. Whatever first opens the womb}</n> with a lamb, and if you don't redeem it, you are to break its neck. You are to redeem every firstborn <n>{Lit. firstborn of man}</n> among your sons. 


text:
"Then when your child asks you in the future, «What is this? ', you are to say to him, «The Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of bondage with a strong show of force. <n>{Lit. strong hand}</n> 


text:
And when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of humans to the firstborn of animals. Therefore, I sacrifice to the Lord every male that first opens the womb, but I redeem every firstborn of my sons.'


text:
It is to be a sign on your hand and an emblem <n>{Or phylacteries}</n> on your forehead, <n>{Lit. between your eyes}</n> because the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a strong show of force." <n>{Lit. strong hand}</n> 


text:
<n>{God Guides the People in the Desert}</n> d When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them along the road through the land of the Philistines, even though it was nearer, because God had said, "If the people face war, they may change their minds and return to Egypt." 


text:
So God led the people the roundabout way of the desert toward the Reed <n>{So MT; LXX reads Red}</n> Sea. The Israelis went up from the land of Egypt in military formation. <n>{Or prepared for battle}</n> 


text:
Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, because Joseph <n>{Lit. he}</n> had made the Israelis take this solemn oath: "God will certainly take notice of you, and then you must carry my bones up with you from here." 


text:
The Lord went in front of them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so they could travel both day and night. 


text:
Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. 


text:
"Tell the Israelis that they are to turn back and camp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. You are to camp in front of Baal-zephon, opposite it by the sea. 


text:
Pharaoh will say about the Israelis, «They're wandering aimlessly in the land, and the desert has closed in on them.'


text:
I've made Pharaoh's heart stubborn <n>{Lit. strong}</n> so he will pursue them. But I'll receive honor by means of <n>{Or over}</n> Pharaoh and his army, so that the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord ." So this is what the Israelis <n>{Lit. they}</n> did. 


text:
When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the minds <n>{Lit. heart}</n> of Pharaoh and his officials <n>{Or servants}</n> changed toward the people, and they said, "What have we done in releasing Israel from serving us?" 


text:
So Pharaoh <n>{Lit. he}</n> had his chariot prepared and took his troops <n>{Or people}</n> with him. 


text:
He took 600 of the best chariots, and all the other <n>{The Heb. lacks other}</n> chariots of Egypt with officers in charge of each one. 


text:
The Lord made the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, stubborn, <n>{Lit. strong}</n> and he defiantly <n>{Lit. with a high hand}</n> pursued the Israelis as they were leaving. 


text:
The Egyptians pursued them all the chariot-horses of Pharaoh, along with his horsemen and army and they overtook them camped by the sea, near Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal Zephon. 


text:
As Pharaoh approached, the Israelis looked up, and there were the Egyptians bearing down on them! Extremely frightened, the Israelis cried out to the Lord . 


text:
They also <n>{The Heb. lacks also}</n> told Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you took us out to die in the desert? What have you done to us, by bringing us out of Egypt? 


text:
Is this not what we told you in Egypt, when we said, «Leave us alone!'<n>{Lit. cease from us}</n> and «Let us serve the Egyptians!'? Indeed, it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!" 


text:
Moses told the people, "Don't be afraid! Stand still and watch how the Lord will deliver you today, because you will never again see the Egyptians whom you're looking at today. 


text:
You are to raise your staff, stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it, so the Israelis may go into the middle of the sea on dry land. 


text:
Even now I'm hardening the heart of the Egyptians so they'll go after the Israelis. <n>{Lit. them}</n> Then I'll receive honor by means of <n>{Or over}</n> Pharaoh and all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen. 


text:
Then the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I receive honor by means of <n>{Or over}</n> Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen." 


text:
Then the angel of God, who was going in front of the camp of Israel, moved behind them. The pillar of cloud also <n>{The Heb. lacks also}</n> moved from in front of them and stood behind them, 


text:
coming between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. The cloud remained there even <n>{The Heb. lacks even}</n> in the darkness, <n>{Lit. and the darkness}</n> illuminating the night, so that the one side did not come near the other all night. 


text:
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord caused the water to retreat by a strong east wind all night, turning the sea into dry land. As the waters were divided, 


text:
the Israelis went into the middle of the sea on dry land, and the waters formed a wall for them on their right and on their left. 


text:
The Egyptians pursued all the horses of Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen and they went into the middle of the sea after them. 


text:
In the morning watch, the Lord looked down on the Egyptian camp through the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw the Egyptian camp into confusion. 


text:
He made the wheels of their chariots wobble <n>{Or fall off}</n> so that they drove them with difficulty. The Egyptians said, "Let's flee from Israel because the Lord is fighting for them and against us." <n>{Lit. for them against the Egyptians}</n> 


text:
<n>{The Egyptians Drown in the Sea}</n> d Then the Lord told Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea and the waters will come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots, and over their horsemen." 


text:
Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the water returned to its normal depth at daybreak. The Egyptians tried to retreat in front of the advancing water, <n>{Lit. of it}</n> but the Lord destroyed <n>{Lit. shook off}</n> the Egyptians in the middle of the sea. 


text:
The waters returned, covering the chariots and the horsemen of Pharaoh's entire army that had pursued the Israelis into the sea. Not a single one of them remained. 


text:
But the Israelis walked through the middle of the sea on dry land, and the waters stood like a wall for them on their right and on their left. 


text:
On that day the Lord delivered Israel from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead along the seashore. 


text:
When Israel saw the great force <n>{Lit. hand}</n> by which the Lord had acted against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord , and they believed the Lord and Moses his servant. 


text:
<n>{The Song of Moses}</n> d Then Moses and the Israelis sang this song to the Lord : "I'll sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has thrown into the sea. 


text:
The Lord is my strength and song, <n>{Some mss. read my song}</n> and he has become my salvation. This is my God and I'll praise him, the God of my father and I'll exalt him. 


text:
"Pharaoh's chariots and his army he has hurled into the sea; his best officers sank in the Reed <n>{So MT; LXX reads Red}</n> Sea. 


text:
In the greatness of your majesty you broke down your enemies. You sent forth your anger, it consumed them like stubble. 


text:
By the breath <n>{Or wind}</n> of your nostrils the waters were piled up, the flowing waters stood up like a hill, the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea. 


text:
"The enemy said, «I'll pursue them, <n>{The Heb. lacks them}</n> I'll overtake them, <n>{The Heb. lacks them}</n> I'll divide the spoil. I'll satisfy my anger <n>{Lit. my soul}</n> on them, I'll draw my sword, and my hand will bring them to ruin.'


text:
"You blew with your breath, <n>{Or wind}</n> and the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters. 


text:
"Who is like you among the gods, Lord? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in splendor, <n>{I.e. in acts deserving of praise}</n> and working wonders? 


text:
"You have led with your gracious love this people whom you redeemed. You have guided them with your strength to your holy dwelling. 


text:
"The people heard and they quaked, anguish <n>{Lit. writhing}</n> has seized the inhabitants of Philistia. 


text:
Then the chiefs of Edom were terrified, the nobles of Moab trembled uncontrollably, and all the inhabitants of Canaan melted away. 


text:
Dread and fear have fallen on them, because of the strength <n>{Lit. greatness}</n> of your arm. They have become silent as a stone, until your people pass by, Lord , until this people you acquired pass by. 


text:
"You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance. You have made a place where you will reside, Lord. Your own hands have established a sanctuary, Lord . 


text:
When the horses of Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen went into the sea, the Lord caused the waters of the sea to come back over them, but the Israelis walked through the middle of the sea on dry land. 


text:
<n>{The Song of Miriam}</n> d Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand and went out with all the women behind her with tambourines and dancing. 


text:
Miriam sang to them, "Sing to the Lord , for he is highly exalted! The horse and its rider he has thrown into the sea." 


text:
<n>{God Provides Water for the People}</n> d Then Moses led Israel from the Reed <n>{So MT; LXX reads Red}</n> Sea and they went to the desert of Shur. They traveled into the desert for three days and did not find water. 


text:
When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water at Marah because it was bitter. (That is why it's called <n>{Lit. why one calls its name}</n> Marah.) <n>{ Marah means bitter in Heb.}</n> 


text:
Moses <n>{Lit. He}</n> cried out to the Lord , and the Lord showed him a tree, which he threw into the water, and the water became sweet. There the Lord <n>{Lit. he}</n> presented to them a statute and an ordinance, and there he tested them. 


text:
He said, "If you will carefully obey the Lord your God, do what is right in his eyes, listen to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, then I won't inflict on you all the diseases that I inflicted on the Egyptians, because I am the Lord your healer." 


text:
Then they came to Elim where there were twelve springs of water and 70 palm trees, and they camped there by the water. 


text:
<n>{Manna and Quail Provided}</n> d Later, they left Elim, and the whole congregation of the Israelis came to the desert <n>{Or wilderness}</n> of Sin, which lay between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departure from the land of Egypt. 


text:
The Israelis told them, "If only we had died by the Lord's hand in the land of Egypt when we sat by the cooking pots, <n>{Lit. pots for cooking meat}</n> when we ate bread until we were filled because you brought us to this desert to kill this entire congregation with hunger." 


text:
The Lord told Moses, "Listen very carefully! I'll cause food to rain down for you from heaven, and the people are to go out and gather each day's portion on that day. In this way I'll test them to demonstrate whether or not they'll live according to my instructions. 


text:
On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be double what they gather on other days." <n>{Lit. gather daily}</n> 


text:
So Moses and Aaron addressed the entire congregation of the Israelis, "This evening you will know that the Lord has brought you out of the land of Egypt, 


text:
and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord , for he has heard your complaints against him. <n>{Lit. against the Lord}</n> After all, who are we that you complain against us?" 


text:
Moses also said, "When the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening, and bread in the morning to satisfy you, the Lord will hear your complaints directed <n>{Lit. complained}</n> against him. Who are we? Your complaints aren't against us, but rather against the Lord ." 


text:
Then Moses instructed Aaron, "Say to the whole congregation of the Israelis, «Come near into the Lord's presence, because he has heard your complaints.»" 


text:
While Aaron was speaking to all the congregation of the Israelis, they turned toward the desert, and there the glory of the Lord was seen in the cloud. 


text:
"I've heard the complaints of the Israelis. Tell them, «At twilight you are to eat meat and in the morning you are to be filled with bread, so you may know that I am the Lord your God.»" 


text:
Later that evening quail came up and covered the camp, and then in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 


text:
When the layer of dew evaporated, <n>{Lit. went up}</n> on the surface of the desert a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost, appeared on the ground. 


text:
When the Israelis saw it, they asked one another, "What is it?" , <n>{Heb. man hu; cf. vs. 31}</n> because they did not know what it was. Moses told them, "It's the food that the Lord has given you to eat. 


text:
This is what the Lord has commanded: «You are to gather from it what each person is to eat, <n>{Lit. each according to his eating}</n> about two quarts <n>{Lit. an omer ; and so throughout the book}</n> per person according to the number of your people, and one person is to gather for everyone in his tent.»" 


text:
When they measured it with two quart vessels, <n>{Lit. with an omer}</n> the one who gathered much did not have an excess, while the one who gathered little did not lack. They gathered exactly what each needed to eat. <n>{Lit. each according to his eating}</n> 


text:
But they did not listen to Moses some people left part of it until morning, and it produced maggots and smelled bad, so Moses got angry at them. 


text:
Every morning they gathered it, according to what each needed to eat; and when the sun became hot, it melted. 


text:
On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, about four quarts <n>{Lit. two omers}</n> per person. Then all the leaders of the congregation came and reported to Moses, 


text:
and he told them, "This is what the Lord said: «Tomorrow is a Sabbath observance, a holy Sabbath to the Lord . Bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil, and put aside whatever remains to be kept for yourselves until morning.»" 


text:
They put it away until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not smell bad, and there were no maggots in it. 


text:
Moses said, "Eat it today, since today is a Sabbath to the Lord , and today you won't find it in the field. 


text:
For six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there won't be any." <n>{Lit. any on it}</n> 


text:
Then the Lord asked Moses, "How long will you people <n>{Lit. you (plural); the Heb. lacks people}</n> refuse to keep my commandments and my instructions? <n>{Or laws}</n> 


text:
You see that the Lord has given you the Sabbath, and so on the sixth day he gives you food for two days. Let each person stay where he is; let no one leave his place on the seventh day." 


text:
The Israelis named it <n>{Lit. called its name}</n> "manna" . <n>{Manna sounds like the Heb. term What is it? ; cf. vs. 15}</n> It was white like coriander seed, and tasted like a wafer made with honey. 


text:
Moses said, "This is what the Lord has commanded: «Set aside about two quarts of it for future generations, so that they may see the food with which I fed you in the desert when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.»" 


text:
Then Moses told Aaron, "Take a jar, fill it with about two quarts of manna, and place it in the Lord's presence, to be preserved throughout future generations." 


text:
So Aaron placed it before the Testimony <n>{I.e. the tablets on which the ten commandments were written and which were placed in the Ark of the Covenant; cf. Exod 25:16 and 31:18}</n> to be kept, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 


text:
The Israelis ate manna for 40 years until they came to a land where they could settle. <n>{Or an inhabited land}</n> They ate manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan. 


text:
Now two quarts <n>{Lit. an omer}</n> is a tenth of an ephah. <n>{An ephah is about one half bushel.}</n> 


text:
<n>{God Provides Water from a Rock}</n> <n>{ (Numbers 20:1-13)}</n> d The whole congregation of the Israelis set out from the desert <n>{Or wilderness}</n> of Sin, traveling from place to place according to the command <n>{Lit. mouth}</n> of the Lord . They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 


text:
The people quarreled with Moses: "Give us water to drink." Moses told them, "Why are you quarreling with me? Why are you testing the Lord ?" 


text:
But the people were thirsty there for water and they <n>{Lit. the people}</n> complained against Moses: "Why did you bring us up from Egypt to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?" 


text:
So Moses cried out to the Lord : "What am I to do with these people? Just a little more and they'll stone me." 


text:
Then the Lord told Moses, "Go over in front of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 


text:
I'll be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. You are to strike the rock and water will come out of it, so the people can drink." Moses did this in front of the elders of Israel. 


text:
He named the place Massah <n>{The Heb. name Massah means Testing}</n> and Meribah, <n>{The Heb. name Meribah means Quarreling}</n> because the Israelis quarreled and tested the Lord by saying: "Is the Lord really among us or not?" 


text:
<n>{The Amalekites Fight the Israelis}</n> d Then the Amalekites came and fought with the Israelis at Rephidim. 


text:
Moses told Joshua, "Choose some men for us and go out to fight against the Amalekites. Tomorrow I'll stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand." 


text:
So Joshua did as Moses told him and fought against the Amalekites, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 


text:
Whenever Moses raised his hand, the Israelis prevailed, but when his hand remained at his side, <n>{Lit. rested}</n> then the Amalekites prevailed. 


text:
When Moses'hands became heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other, and so his hands were steady until the sun went down. 


text:
Then the Lord told Moses, "Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to <n>{Lit. put it in the ear of}</n> Joshua: «I'll certainly wipe out the memory of the Amalekites from under heaven.»" 


text:
He said, "Because a fist has been raised in defiance <n>{The Heb. lacks in defiance}</n> against the throne of the Lord , the Lord will wage war against Amalek from generation to generation." 


text:
<n>{Jethro Visits Moses}</n> d Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses'father-in-law, heard all that God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 


text:
along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom, for he said, "I was an alien <n>{The Heb. word for alien ( ger ) sounds like Gershom}</n> in a foreign land," 


text:
while the name of the other was Eliezer, <n>{The Heb. name Eliezer means My God helps}</n> for he said, <n>{The Heb. lacks he said}</n> "My father's God helped me and delivered me from Pharaoh's sword." 


text:
Moses'father-in-law Jethro, together with Moses'two sons and his wife, came to Moses in the desert where he was camped at the mountain of God. <n>{I.e. Mount Sinai}</n> 


text:
He told Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you along with your wife and her two sons." 


text:
When Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, he bowed low and kissed him, and they greeted one another. Then they went into the tent. 


text:
Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians on Israel's behalf, all the hardships that they had encountered along the way, and how the Lord had delivered them. 


text:
Jethro rejoiced over all the good that the Lord had done for Israel in delivering them from the hand of the Egyptians. 


text:
Jethro said, "Blessed be the Lord , who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from the oppression <n>{Lit. from under the hand of}</n> of the Egyptians. 


text:
Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods, <n>{Lit. all the gods}</n> because of what happened to <n>{Lit. the matter in which}</n> the Egyptians when <n>{The Heb. lacks when}</n> they acted arrogantly against Israel." 


text:
Jethro, Moses'father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to dine with Moses'father-in-law in the presence of God. 


text:
<n>{Jethro Advises Moses to Appoint Judges}</n> d The next day Moses sat down to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning until evening. 


text:
When Moses'father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, "What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, <n>{The Heb. lacks as judge}</n> with all the people standing around you from morning until evening?" 


text:
Moses told his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to seek God's will. <n>{Lit. to inquire of God}</n> 


text:
When they have a dispute, it comes to me and I decide between a person and his neighbor, and make known the statutes of God and his instructions." 


text:
You will surely wear yourself out, both you and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot do it by yourself. 


text:
Now listen to me. I'll advise you, and may God be with you. You are to represent the people before God and bring the disputes to God. 


text:
You are to teach them the statutes and instructions and make known to them the way they're to go and the things they're to do. 


text:
"You are to look for capable men among the people, men who fear God, men of integrity who hate dishonest gain. You are to set these men over them as officials over thousands, hundreds, <n>{Lit. officials over hundreds}</n> fifties, <n>{Lit. officials over fifties}</n> and tens. <n>{Lit. officials over tens}</n> 


text:
They are to judge the people at all times. Let them bring every major matter to you, but let them judge every minor matter. It will lighten your burden, and they'll bear it with you. 


text:
If you do this, <n>{Lit. this thing}</n> and God so commands you, you will be able to stand the strain, <n>{Lit. stand}</n> and all these people will also go to their homes in peace." 


text:
Moses chose capable men from all Israel and appointed them as heads over the people, as officials over thousands, hundreds, <n>{Lit. officials over hundreds}</n> fifties, <n>{Lit. officials over fifties}</n> and tens. <n>{Lit. officials over tens}</n> 


text:
They judged the people at all times; the difficult matters they brought to Moses, but every minor matter they judged. 


text:
<n>{The Israelis Reach Mount Sinai}</n> d On the third New Moon after the Israelis went out of the land of Egypt, on that very day, <n>{Lit. on this day}</n> they came to the desert of Sinai. 


text:
They had set out from Rephidim and arrived at the desert of Sinai where they camped in the desert. Israel camped there in front of the mountain. 


text:
Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain: "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and declare to the sons of Israel, 


text:
«You saw what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagles'wings and brought you to myself. 


text:
And now if you carefully obey me and keep my covenant, you are to be my special possession out of all the peoples. For the whole earth belongs to me, 


text:
but you are to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation to me.'These are the words you are to declare to the Israelis." 


text:
When Moses came, he summoned the elders of the people and told them everything that the Lord had commanded him. 


text:
All the people answered together: "All that the Lord has said, we will do!" Then Moses reported all the words of the people back to the Lord . 


text:
The Lord told Moses, "Look, I'm coming to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and believe you always." Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord . 


text:
<n>{Preparation for the Covenant}</n> d The Lord told Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes, 


text:
and be ready for the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 


text:
You are to set boundaries for the people all around: «Be very careful that you don't go up on the mountain or touch the side of it. Anyone who touches the mountain will surely be put to death. 


text:
No hand is to touch that person, <n>{Lit. him}</n> but he is surely to be stoned or shot with arrows; <n>{The Heb. lacks with arrows}</n> whether animal or person, he is not to live.'They are to approach <n>{Or go up to}</n> the mountain only when the ram's horn sounds a long blast." 


text:
When Moses went down from the mountain to the people, he consecrated the people, and they washed their clothes. 


text:
He told the people, "Be ready for the third day; don't go near a woman." <n>{I.e. to have sexual relations}</n> 


text:
<n>{The Lord Appears on Mount Sinai}</n> d When morning came on the third day, there was thunder and lightning with a heavy cloud over the mountain and the very loud sound of a ram's horn. All the people in the camp trembled. 


text:
Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke because the Lord had come down in fire on it. Smoke went up from it like smoke from a kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently. 


text:
As the sound of the ram's horn grew louder and louder, Moses would speak and God would answer with thunder. <n>{Or in a voice}</n> 


text:
When the Lord came down on Mount Sinai to the top of the mountain, he <n>{Lit. the LORD}</n> summoned Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. 


text:
The Lord told Moses, "Go down and warn the people so they don't break through to look at the Lord , and many of them perish. <n>{Lit. fall}</n> 


text:
Even the priests who approach the Lord must consecrate themselves. Otherwise, the Lord will attack them." 


text:
Moses told the Lord , "The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai because you warned us: «Set boundaries around the mountain and consecrate it.»" <n>{I.e. set it apart as holy}</n> 


text:
The Lord told him, "Go down, and come back up with Aaron, but the priests and the people must not break through to go up to the Lord . Otherwise, he will attack them." 


text:
"You are not to make for yourselves an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above, or on earth below, or in the water under the earth. 


text:
You are not to bow down to them in worship or serve them; because I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children <n>{Or sons}</n> for the iniquity of the parents, <n>{Or fathers}</n> to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, 


text:
but showing gracious love to the thousandth <n>{Lit. thousands}</n> generation <n>{The Heb. lacks generation}</n> of those who love me and keep my commandments. 


text:
"You are not to misuse <n>{Or take in vain}</n> the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave the one who misuses <n>{Or takes in vain}</n> his name unpunished. 


text:
but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. You are not to do any work, neither you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your livestock, nor the alien who is within your gates, 


text:
because the Lord made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, in six days, then he rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. <n>{I.e. set it apart}</n> 


text:
"Honor your father and your mother so that you may live long <n>{Lit. so your days may increase}</n> in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. 


text:
"You are not to covet your neighbor's house. <n>{Or neighbor's family dynasty}</n> You are not to covet your neighbor's wife, or his male or female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." 


text:
<n>{The People are Terrified in God's Presence}</n> d All the people experienced the thunder and lightning, the sound of the ram's horn, and the smoking mountain. And as the people experienced it, they trembled and stood at a distance. 


text:
They told Moses, "You speak to us and we will listen, but don't let God speak with us, or we may die. 


text:
Moses told the people, "Don't be afraid, for God has come to test you, so that you may fear him in order that you don't sin." 


text:
<n>{Instruction about Idols and Altars}</n> d The Lord told Moses, "This is what you are to say to the Israelis, «You have seen for yourselves that I spoke to you from heaven. 


text:
«You are to make an altar of earth for me, and you are to sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and peace offerings, your sheep, and your cattle. Everywhere I cause my name to be remembered, I'll come to you and bless you. 


text:
If you make an altar of stone for me, you must not build it of cut stones, because if you strike it with your chisel, you will profane it. 


text:
"When you acquire a Hebrew servant he is to serve for six years, and in the seventh he is to go out a free man without paying anything. 


text:
If he came in by himself, <n>{Lit. with his body ; i.e. single, and so throughout the chapter}</n> he is to go out by himself. If he was married, his wife is to go out with him. 


text:
If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and children belong to her master, and he is to go out by himself. 


text:
"But if the servant, in fact, says, «I love my master, my wife, and my children and I won't go out a free man,'


text:
then his master is to bring him before the judges <n>{Or before God}</n> and he is to bring him to the door or the doorpost. His master is to pierce his ear with an awl, and he is to serve him permanently. 


text:
"When a man sells his daughter as a servant, she won't go out as the male servants do. <n>{The Heb. lacks as the male servants do}</n> 


text:
If she's displeasing to <n>{Lit. bad in the eyes of}</n> her master who selected her for himself, <n>{I.e. as a secondary wife also called a mistress or concubine}</n> he must let her be redeemed. He does not have the right to sell her to foreign people because he has dealt unfairly <n>{Or treacherously}</n> with her. 


text:
If he has selected her for his son, <n>{I.e. as a secondary wife also called a mistress or concubine}</n> he is to treat her according to the ordinance for daughters. 


text:
If he takes another woman for himself, he may not withhold from the first <n>{The Heb. lacks from the first}</n> her food, her clothing, or her marital rights. 


text:
If he does not do these three things for her, she may go out without paying anything at all. <n>{The Heb. lacks at all}</n> 


text:
<n>{Laws Concerning Personal Injury and Homicide}</n> d "Whoever strikes a man so that he dies is surely to be put to death. 


text:
If he didn't lie in wait, but God let him fall into his control, <n>{Lit. hand ; i.e. the event was not premeditated by the accused}</n> then I'll appoint for you a place to which he may flee. 


text:
If a man acts deliberately against his neighbor to kill him by treachery, you are to take him to die even if he's at <n>{Lit. even from}</n> my altar. 


text:
"Whoever kidnaps a person, whether he has sold him or whether the victim <n>{Lit. he}</n> is still in his possession, is surely to be put to death. 


text:
"If people quarrel and one strikes the other with a rock or his fist, and he does not die but ends up <n>{Lit. falls}</n> in bed, 


text:
and the injured person <n>{Lit. he}</n> then gets up and walks around outside with the help of his staff, <n>{Lit. with his staff}</n> the one who struck him is not liable, except that he is to compensate him for his loss of time <n>{Lit. his rest}</n> and take care of his complete recovery. 


text:
"If a man strikes his male or female servant with a stick and he or she dies as a direct result, <n>{Lit. under his hand}</n> the master must be punished. <n>{Lit. suffer vengeance}</n> 


text:
But if the servant <n>{Lit. he}</n> survives a day or two, the master <n>{Lit. he}</n> is not to be punished because the servant <n>{Lit. he}</n> is his property. 


text:
"If two men are fighting and they strike a pregnant woman and her children are born prematurely <n>{Lit. children come out}</n> but there is no harm, he is surely to be fined as the husband of the woman demands of him, and he will pay as the court decides. <n>{Or according to the assessment}</n> 


text:
"If a man strikes the eye of his male or female servant and destroys it, he is to release him as a free man in exchange for his eye. 


text:
If he knocks out the tooth of his male <n>{Lit. male servant}</n> or female servant, <n>{Lit. tooth of his female servant}</n> he is to release him as a free man in exchange for his tooth. 


text:
"If an ox gores a man or woman so that they die, the ox is surely to be stoned and its flesh may not be eaten, but the owner of the ox is free from liability. 


text:
But if the ox has gored previously, and its owner has been warned about it but didn't restrain it, and it kills a man or woman, the ox is to be stoned and its owner also is to be put to death. 


text:
This same ordinance applies <n>{Lit. It shall be done to him according to this ordinance}</n> if it gores a son or daughter. 


text:
"If the ox gores a male or female servant, the owner is to give 30 shekels of silver to the servant's <n>{Lit. his}</n> master, and the ox is to be stoned. 


text:
If a man opens a pit or digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or donkey falls into it, <n>{Lit. there}</n> 


text:
the owner of the pit is to make restitution. He is to pay money to its owner, and the dead animal will become his. 


text:
"If a man's ox strikes his neighbor's ox and it dies, they are to sell the live ox and divide the money. They also are to divide the dead animal. 


text:
But if it was known that the ox had gored previously, and its owner didn't restrain it, he shall surely repay ox for ox, and the dead ox will become his. 


text:
<n>{Laws Concerning Theft of Personal Property}</n> d <n>{This verse is 21:37 in MT}</n> "If a man steals an ox or sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he is to repay five oxen <n>{Or cattle}</n> for the ox and four sheep for the sheep. 


text:
"If a thief is found while breaking into a house, <n>{Lit. while breaking in}</n> and is struck down and dies, it is not a capital crime <n>{Lit. dies, there is no bloodguilt}</n> in that case, <n>{Lit. for him or for it}</n> 


text:
but if the sun has risen on him, then it is a capital crime <n>{Lit. then there is bloodguilt}</n> in that case. <n>{Lit. for him or for it}</n> "A thief <n>{Lit. He}</n> shall surely make restitution, but if he has nothing, he is to be sold <n>{I.e. sold into slavery}</n> for his theft. 


text:
If what was stolen is actually found alive in his possession, whether an ox, a donkey or a sheep, he is to repay double. 


text:
"When a man lets a field or vineyard be grazed over or releases his livestock so that they graze in another man's field, he is to make restitution from the best of his field or vineyard. <n>{Lit. or the best of his vineyard}</n> 


text:
"When a fire breaks out and spreads into thorn bushes and consumes stacked grain or standing grain or the field, the one who started the fire surely is to make restitution. 


text:
"When a man gives his neighbor money or goods for safekeeping and it's stolen from the neighbor's house, the thief, if found, is to repay double. 


text:
If the thief is not found, the owner of the house is to appear before the judges <n>{Or God}</n> to see <n>{The Heb. lacks to see}</n> whether or not the thief took <n>{Lit. not he laid his hands on}</n> his neighbor's property. 


text:
"In every ownership dispute <n>{Lit. matter of transgression}</n> involving an ox, donkey, sheep, garment, or anything that is lost where a person says, «This is mine,'<n>{Lit. This is it}</n> the case between the two of them is to come before the judges, <n>{Or God}</n> and the one that the judges <n>{Or God}</n> declare guilty is to repay double to his neighbor. 


text:
"When a man gives a donkey or ox or sheep or any animal to his neighbor for safe keeping, and it dies or is injured or is driven away when no one is looking, 


text:
the two of them are to take an oath in the Lord's presence that the accused <n>{Lit. that he}</n> has not taken <n>{Lit. not laid his hands on}</n> his neighbor's property. Its owner is to accept this, and the neighbor <n>{Lit. he}</n> is not to make restitution. 


text:
But if it was actually stolen from him, the neighbor <n>{Lit. he}</n> is to make restitution to its owner. 


text:
If it was torn to pieces, let the neighbor <n>{Lit. him}</n> bring the remains <n>{Lit. bring it}</n> as evidence, and he is not to make restitution for what was torn apart. 


text:
"When a man borrows <n>{Lit. asks}</n> an animal from his neighbor, and it's injured or dies while its owner was not with it, he is surely to make restitution. 


text:
If its owner was with it, he is not to make restitution. If it was hired, its fee covers the loss." <n>{Lit. its fee comes ; i.e. the fee compensates the owner for the loss}</n> 


text:
<n>{Various Other Laws}</n> d "When a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged to be married and has sexual relations with her, he must pay her bride-price, and she is to become his wife. 


text:
If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he is to pay an amount <n>{Lit. silver}</n> equal to the bride-price for virgins. 


text:
And I'll be angry and will kill you with the sword, and your wives will become widows and your children orphans. 


text:
"If you loan money to my people, to the poor among you, don't be like a creditor to them and don't impose interest on them. 


text:
for it's his only covering; it's his outer garment, <n>{Lit. his coat for his skin}</n> for what else can he sleep in? And when he cries out to me, I'll hear him, for I am gracious. 


text:
"You are not to hold back the fullness of your harvest <n>{Lit. your fullness}</n> and the outflow of your wine presses. <n>{Lit. your outflow}</n> You are to give to me the firstborn of your sons. 


text:
You are to do the same with your oxen and your sheep. They shall be with their mother for seven days and then on the eighth day you are to give them to me. 


text:
"You are to be people set apart <n>{Lit. holy}</n> for me. You are not to eat flesh torn apart in the field; you are to throw it to the dogs." 


text:
<n>{Laws about Truthful Testimony}</n> d "You are not to spread a false report, nor are you to join forces <n>{Lit. set your hand}</n> with the wicked to be a malicious witness. 


text:
You are not to follow the majority <n>{Or many}</n> in doing wrong, and you are not to testify in a lawsuit so as to follow the majority and pervert justice. 


text:
"If you come across your enemy's ox or donkey wandering off, you are to certainly return it to him. 


text:
If you see your enemy's donkey lying helpless under its load, you must not abandon it, rather, you are surely to return it to him. <n>{Lit. leave it with him}</n> 


text:
"You are not to pervert justice for the poor among you <n>{Lit. your poor}</n> in their lawsuits. <n>{Lit. in his lawsuit}</n> 


text:
Stay far away from a false charge, and don't kill the innocent or the righteous, because I won't acquit the guilty. 


text:
You are not to take a bribe because a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and distorts the words of the righteous. 


text:
<n>{Instructions for Sabbaths and Sabbatical Years}</n> d "You are to sow your land and gather its crops for six years, 


text:
but you are to let it rest the seventh year, leaving it unplanted. The poor of your people may eat from it, <n>{Lit. shall eat}</n> and the wild animals may eat what they leave. You are to do the same with your vineyards and olive groves. 


text:
You are to do your work for six days, but on the seventh day you are to refrain from work so that your ox and donkey <n>{Lit. your donkey}</n> may rest, and so the son of your maidservant and the alien may be refreshed. 


text:
"Be careful about everything I've told you, and don't mention the name of other gods. Don't let them be heard in your mouth! 


text:
You are to observe the Festival of Unleavened Bread. As I commanded you, you are to eat unleavened bread for seven days at the appointed time in the month Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. No one is to appear before me empty handed. 


text:
You are to observe <n>{The Heb. lacks You are to observe}</n> the Festival of Harvest, <n>{I.e. the Festival of Weeks or Pentecost}</n> celebrating <n>{Lit. of}</n> the first fruits of your work in planting the field, and the Festival of Ingathering <n>{Also known as the Festival of Tents}</n> at the end of the year, when you gather the fruit of your work from the field. 


text:
<n>{Various Laws}</n> d "You are not to offer the blood of my sacrifice with anything leavened, and you are not to let the fat portion of my sacrifice remain overnight until morning. 


text:
"You are to bring the best of the first fruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God. "You are not to boil a young goat in its mother's milk." 


text:
<n>{God Promises Help as the Israelis Enter Canaan}</n> d "Look, I'm sending an angel in front of you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place I've prepared. 


text:
Be careful! Be sure to obey him. Don't rebel against him, for he won't forgive your transgression, since my Name is in him. 


text:
Indeed, if you carefully obey him and do everything that I say, then I'll be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. 


text:
For my angel will go ahead of you and will bring you to the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, and I'll annihilate them. 


text:
You are not to bow down to their gods or serve them. You are not to follow their practices, <n>{Lit. do their deeds}</n> but you are to completely overthrow them and smash their sacred stones <n>{Or pillars}</n> to pieces. 


text:
You are to serve the Lord your God, and he will bless your food <n>{Or bread}</n> and water, and I'll remove sickness from you. 


text:
No woman will miscarry or be barren in your land, and I'll make every day of your life complete. <n>{Lit. make the number of your days full}</n> 


text:
"I'll go ahead of you and terrorize all the people to whom you are coming. I'll confuse your enemies and make them turn their backs on you and run away. <n>{The Heb. lacks and run away}</n> 


text:
I'll send hornets ahead of you and they'll drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites before you. 


text:
I won't drive them out before you in a single year, so that the land does not become desolate and so that wild animals do not overrun you. 


text:
I'll drive them out ahead of you little by little until you increase in numbers <n>{Lit. you are fruitful}</n> and possess the land. 


text:
"I'll set your borders from the Reed <n>{So MT; LXX reads Red}</n> Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, <n>{I.e. Mediterranean Sea}</n> and from the desert to the Euphrates <n>{The Heb. lacks Euphrates}</n> River, for I'll bring <n>{Lit. give}</n> the inhabitants of the land under your control, <n>{Lit. into your hand}</n> and you are to drive them out ahead of you. 


text:
They are not to live in your land. Otherwise they will cause you to sin against me. If you worship their gods, it will become a snare for you." 


text:
<n>{The Covenant is Sealed with Blood}</n> d The Lord <n>{Lit. He}</n> told Moses, "Come up to the Lord , you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship <n>{Or bow down in worship}</n> at a distance. 


text:
Only Moses is to approach the Lord , but the others <n>{Lit. but they}</n> are not to approach; the people are not to come up with him." 


text:
Then Moses came and reported all the words of the Lord and all the statutes to the people, and they all <n>{Lit. all the people}</n> answered with one voice, "All the things that the Lord has spoken, we will do." 


text:
So Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord . He got up early in the morning and built an altar with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel at the bottom of the mountain. 


text:
He sent young Israeli men to offer up burnt offerings and sacrifice bulls as peace offerings to the Lord . 


text:
Moses took half the blood and put it in bowls, while he sprinkled the other half <n>{Lit. half of the blood}</n> on the altar. 


text:
He took the Book of the Covenant and read it to <n>{Lit. in the ears of}</n> the people. They said, "All that the Lord has spoken we will do and obey." 


text:
Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, "This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord made with you based on all these words." 


text:
and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire, and as clear as the sky. 


text:
Because <n>{Lit. But}</n> God <n>{Lit. He}</n> did not punish <n>{Lit. not send forth his hand against}</n> the Israeli leaders, they looked at God, yet lived <n>{The Heb. lacks lived}</n> to eat and drink. 


text:
<n>{Moses Receives the Law on the Mountain}</n> d Then the Lord told Moses, "Go up to me on the mountain and stay <n>{Lit. be}</n> there. I'll give you stone tablets with the instruction and law that I've written to teach the people." <n>{Lit. them}</n> 


text:
He told the elders, "Wait here for us until we return to you. Look, Aaron and Hur are with you, and whoever has a dispute, let him come to them." 


text:
The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. Then on the seventh day he called to Moses from within the cloud. 


text:
To the Israelis <n>{Lit. in the sight of}</n> the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. 


text:
When Moses went up on the mountain, he went into the center of the cloud and was on the mountain for 40 days and 40 nights. 


text:
"Tell the Israelis to take an offering for me, and you are to accept my offering from every person whose heart moves him to give. <n>{Lit. moves him}</n> 


text:
blue, purple, and scarlet material; <n>{The Heb. lacks material ; and so throughout the book}</n> fine linen and goat hair; 


text:
ram skins dyed <n>{Or tanned}</n> red, dolphin <n>{Or dugong, a marine animal similar to a walrus or manatee}</n> skins, and acacia wood; 


text:
onyx stones, stones for setting on the ephod and the breast piece. <n>{Or the pouch on the breast piece}</n> 


text:
This is how you are to make it: according to all that I'm showing you, according to the pattern for the tent and the pattern for all its furnishings." 


text:
<n>{The Ark of the Covenant}</n> d "They are to make an ark of acacia wood, 45 inches <n>{Lit. two and a half cubits ; or about 1.1 meters}</n> long, 27 inches <n>{Lit. one and a half cubits ; or about 0.7 meters}</n> wide, and 27 inches <n>{Lit. one and a half cubits ; or about 0.7 meters}</n> high. 


text:
You are to overlay it with pure gold you are to overlay it inside and outside and you are to make a gold molding around it. 


text:
You are to cast four rings for it and put them on its four feet, two rings on one side of it and two rings on its other side. 


text:
You are to put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark with which to carry it. <n>{The Heb. lacks it}</n> 


text:
You are to put the Testimony <n>{I.e. the tablets on which the ten commandments were written and which were placed in the Ark of the Covenant; and so through chapter 31.}</n> that I will give you into the ark. 


text:
"You are to make a Mercy Seat <n>{Or atonement cover ; and so through chapter 31}</n> of pure gold, 45 inches <n>{Lit. two and a half cubits ; or about 1.1 meters}</n> long and 27 inches <n>{Lit. one and a half cubits ; or about 0.7 meters}</n> wide. 


text:
You are to make two cherubim <n>{I.e. representations of certain angelic beings}</n> of gold; you are to make them of hammered work at the two ends of the Mercy Seat. 


text:
Place one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end. You are to make the cherubim at the two ends of the Mercy Seat, and of one piece with it. 


text:
The cherubim shall spread their wings upward, covering the Mercy Seat with their wings and facing each other. The faces of the cherubim shall be turned toward the Mercy Seat. 


text:
You are to put the Mercy Seat on top of the ark, and put the Testimony that I'll give you into the ark. 


text:
I'll meet with you there, and I'll tell you all my commandments <n>{Lit. all that I have commanded you}</n> for the Israelis from above the Mercy Seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the Ark of the Testimony. 


text:
<n>{The Table of Showbread}</n> d "You are to make a table of acacia wood, three feet <n>{Lit. two cubits ; or about one meter}</n> long, a foot and a half <n>{Lit. one cubit ; or about half a meter}</n> wide, and 27 inches <n>{Lit. one and a half cubits ; or about 0.7 meters}</n> high. 


text:
You are to make a three-inch <n>{Lit. a handbreadth ; or about 0.1 meter}</n> wide rim around it, and you are to make a gold molding around the rim. 


text:
You are to make four gold rings for it, and put the rings on the four corners where its four feet are. 


text:
You are to make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold so the table can be carried with them. 


text:
You are to make its plates, dishes, jars, and bowls from which libations will be poured, and you are to make them of pure gold. 


text:
<n>{The Lamp Stand}</n> <n>{ (Numbers 3:1-10)}</n> d "You are to make a lamp stand of pure gold: the lamp stand and its base and stem shall be of hammered work, and its cups, calyxes, <n>{Or buds ; i.e. the round base at the bottom of a flower; and so through chapter 31}</n> and flowers shall be of one piece with it. 


text:
Six branches shall extend from its sides, three branches of the lamp stand from one side of it and three branches of the lamp stand from its other side. 


text:
Three cups shaped like almond blossoms with calyxes and flowers shall be on one branch and three cups shaped like almond blossoms with calyxes and flowers shall be on the other branch, and so for the six branches extending from the lamp stand. 


text:
"On the lamp stand itself there shall be four cups shaped like almond blossoms with their calyxes and flowers. 


text:
A calyx <n>{Or bud ; i.e. the round base at the bottom of a flower; and so through chapter 31}</n> is to be under the two branches that extend out of the stem; <n>{Lit. out of it}</n> a calyx is to be under the next pair of branches <n>{Lit. under the two branches}</n> that extend out of the stem; <n>{Lit. out of it}</n> and a calyx is to be under the last pair of branches <n>{Lit. under the two branches}</n> that extend out of the stem, <n>{Lit. out of it}</n> and so for the six <n>{The Heb. lacks six}</n> branches extending from the lamp stand. 


text:
Their calyxes and their branches shall be of one piece with it; all of it is to be made of one piece of hammered work of pure gold. 


text:
"You are to make seven lamps for it, and its lamps shall be mounted so as to give light in front of it. 


text:
The lamp stand <n>{Lit. It}</n> and all its furnishings shall be made from a talent <n>{I.e. 75 pounds; a talent weighed about 75 pounds}</n> of pure gold. 


text:
Now see that you make them according to the pattern for them which you are being shown on the mountain." 


text:
<n>{The Tent}</n> d "You are to make the tent with ten curtains of fine woven <n>{Or twisted ; and so through chapter 31}</n> linen and with blue, purple, and scarlet material. You are to make them with cherubim skillfully worked into them. 


text:
The length of each curtain is to be 42 feet, <n>{Lit. 28 cubits ; or about 12.8 meters}</n> the width of each curtain six feet, <n>{Lit. four cubits ; or about 1.8 meters}</n> and all the curtains shall have the same measurements. <n>{Lit. and the measure of one shall be for every curtain}</n> 


text:
"Five of the curtains shall be joined together, and the other five curtains shall be joined together. 


text:
You are to make loops of blue material along the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set, and likewise you are to make loops along the edge of the outermost curtain in the second set. 


text:
You are to make 50 loops in the one curtain, and you are to make 50 loops along the edge of the curtain that is in the second set, with the loops opposite each other. 


text:
Then you are to make 50 gold clasps, and join the curtains to each other with the clasps so that the tent will be one piece. 


text:
The length of each curtain is to be 45 feet, <n>{Lit. 30 cubits ; or about 13.7 meters}</n> and the width of each curtain six feet; <n>{Lit. four cubits ; or about 1.8 meters}</n> the measurements of each of the 11 curtains is to be the same. <n>{Lit. and the measure of one shall be for the eleven curtains}</n> 


text:
You are to join five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and you are to double over the sixth curtain at the front of the tent. 


text:
You are to make 50 loops along the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set, and 50 loops along the edge of the curtain of the other set. 


text:
You are to make 50 bronze clasps, put the clasps into the loops, and join the tent together so that it will be one piece. 


text:
As for the excess that remains of the curtains of the tent the half curtain that remains is to hang over the back of the tent. 


text:
The nine inches <n>{Lit. a half cubit ; or about 0.23 meters}</n> that remain on either end of the length of the curtains of the tent is to hang over each side of the tent to cover it. 


text:
"You are to make a cover for the tent of ram skins dyed red <n>{Or tanned}</n> and a covering of dolphin <n>{Or dugong , a marine animal resembling a walrus or manatee}</n> skins above that. 


text:
Each board is to be fifteen feet <n>{Lit. ten cubits ; or about 4.6 meters}</n> long and 27 inches wide. <n>{Lit. one and a half cubits the width of each board ; or about 0.7 meters}</n> 


text:
Each board is to have two pegs joined to one another, and you are to do this for all the boards of the tent. 


text:
You are to make the boards for the tent: twenty boards for the south side. <n>{Lit. toward the Negev (south), toward Teman (a city to the south)}</n> 


text:
And you are to make 40 silver sockets <n>{Or bases ; and so through chapter 27}</n> under the twenty boards: two sockets under the one board for its two pegs and two sockets under the next <n>{Lit. the one ; and so through chapter 27}</n> board for its two pegs. 


text:
"For the second side of the tent to the north you are to make <n>{The Heb. lacks you are to make}</n> twenty boards 


text:
They shall be interlocked together <n>{Lit. twins; perhaps designed with interlocking pieces}</n> at the bottom and connected <n>{Lit. complete ; perhaps the tops were joined together by a metal ring}</n> on top by one ring. Do this for the two of them, and they are to be the two corners. 


text:
There shall be eight boards with their sixteen silver sockets, two sockets under one board and two sockets under the next board. 


text:
five bars for the boards on the second side of the tent, and five bars for the boards on the back side of the tent to the west. 


text:
You are to overlay the boards with gold, and you are to make gold rings for them as holders for the bars, and you are to overlay the bars with gold. 


text:
"You are to make a curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet material, and fine woven linen. You are to make it with cherubim skillfully worked into it. 


text:
You are to hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, which have hooks of gold, and are set on four sockets of silver. 


text:
You are to hang the curtain from <n>{Or under}</n> the clasps and bring the Ark of the Testimony there inside the curtain. The curtain is to separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. 


text:
You are to put the table outside the curtain. You are to put the table on the north side with the lamp stand opposite the table on the south side of the tent. 


text:
For the doorway of the tent you are to make a screen of blue, purple, and scarlet material, and fine woven linen, the work of an embroiderer. 


text:
You are to make five pillars of acacia for the screens and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold, and you are to cast five bronze sockets for them." 


text:
<n>{The Altar}</n> d "You are to make the altar of acacia wood. It is to be seven and a half feet <n>{Lit. five cubits ; or about 2.3 meters}</n> long, seven and a half feet <n>{Lit. five cubits ; or about 2.3 meters}</n> wide; the altar is to be a square, and it is to be four and a half feet <n>{Lit. three cubits ; or about 1.4 meters}</n> high. 


text:
You are to make horns <n>{Lit. its horns}</n> on its four corners. Its corners shall be of one piece with it, and you are to overlay it with bronze. 


text:
You are to make pans for removing its ashes, shovels, bowls, forks, and fire-pans for it, and you are to make all its utensils of bronze. 


text:
You are to make a lattice, a netting of bronze for it, and you are to make four bronze rings on the netting at its four corners. 


text:
You are to make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and you are to overlay them with bronze. 


text:
The poles for it shall be put through the rings, so the poles will be on the two sides of the altar when it's carried. 


text:
You are to make it hollow out of boards just as it was shown you on the mountain, so they are to make it." 


text:
<n>{The Court of the Tent}</n> d "You are to make the court of the tent. On the south <n>{Lit. toward the Negev, southward}</n> side there shall be hangings of fine woven linen for the court, 150 feet <n>{Lit. 100 cubits ; or about 45.7 meters}</n> long on one side. 


text:
It is to have twenty pillars, with twenty bronze sockets, and the hooks of the pillars and their bands <n>{Perhaps a kind of connecting rod joining the pillars together}</n> shall be of silver. 


text:
Likewise for the length of the north side there shall be hangings 150 feet <n>{Lit. a hundred ; i.e. a hundred cubits ; or about 45.7 meters; the Heb. lacks cubits}</n> long, and it is to have twenty pillars with twenty bronze sockets, and the hooks of the pillars and their bands <n>{Perhaps a kind of connecting rod joining the pillars together}</n> shall be of silver. 


text:
"The width of the court on the west side is to have hangings 75 feet <n>{Lit. 50 cubits ; or about 22.9 meters}</n> long with ten pillars and ten sockets. 


text:
The width of the court on the east side <n>{Lit. on the east side toward the rising (of the sun)}</n> is to be 75 feet. <n>{Lit. 50 cubits ; or about 22.9 meters}</n> 


text:
The hangings for the one section <n>{Lit. the shoulder}</n> shall be twenty-two and a half feet, <n>{Lit. 15 cubits ; or about 6.9 meters}</n> with their three pillars and three sockets. 


text:
"For the second section there shall be hangings of twenty-two and a half feet <n>{Lit. 15 cubits ; or about 6.9 meters}</n> with their three pillars and three sockets. 


text:
There is to be a screen of 30 feet <n>{Lit. 20 cubits ; or about 9.1 meters}</n> of blue, purple, and scarlet material and fine woven linen, the work of an embroiderer, for the gate of the court, and it is to have four pillars and four sockets. 


text:
All the pillars around the court shall be banded with silver. Their hooks shall be of silver and their sockets of bronze. 


text:
The length of the court is to be 150 feet, <n>{Lit. 100 cubits ; or about 45.7 meters}</n> the width 75 feet, <n>{Lit. the width 50 by 50 (I.e. 50 cubits on the east side and 50 cubits on the west side)}</n> and the height seven and a half feet, <n>{Lit. five cubits ; or about 2.3 meters}</n> with the hangings <n>{The Heb. lacks with the hangings}</n> of fine woven linen, and the sockets of bronze. 


text:
All the utensils of the tent for its service, all its pegs, and all the pegs for the court shall be of bronze." 


text:
<n>{The Oil for the Lamp}</n> d "And you are to command the Israelis to bring you pure olive oil, extracted by hand, <n>{Lit. beaten ; i.e. the olives were crushed in a mortar rather than pressed in an olive press}</n> for the light in order to keep the lamp burning <n>{Lit. going up}</n> continually. 


text:
In the Tent of Meeting, outside the curtain that is before the Testimony, Aaron and his sons shall maintain <n>{Lit. arrange}</n> the lamp stand <n>{Lit. it}</n> from evening until morning in the Lord's presence. It is to be a perpetual ordinance from generation to generation among the Israelis." 


text:
<n>{The Garments for the Priests}</n> d "You are to bring your brother Aaron, along with his sons, from among the Israelis so they can serve as priests for me: Aaron and his sons, <n>{Lit. Aaron's sons}</n> Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 


text:
You are to speak to all who are skilled, <n>{Lit. wise (or skilled) of heart}</n> whom I've endowed <n>{Lit. filled}</n> with talent, <n>{Lit. a spirit of wisdom (or skill)}</n> that they should make Aaron's garments for consecrating him to serve me as priest. 


text:
These are the garments that they are to make: a breast piece, an ephod, a robe, a checkered tunic, a turban, and a sash. They shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and for his sons to serve me as priests. 


text:
They shall use <n>{Lit. take}</n> gold, blue, purple, and scarlet material, as well as fine linen." 


text:
<n>{The Ephod}</n> d "They shall make the ephod of gold, along with blue, purple, and scarlet material and fine woven linen, all of it <n>{The Heb. lacks all of it}</n> skillfully worked. 


text:
The skillfully woven band that is on it is to be made like it, of one piece with it: of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet material, and fine woven linen. 


text:
six of their names on one stone, and the six remaining names on the other stone. Engrave them <n>{The Heb. lacks Engrave them}</n> according to their order of birth. 


text:
With work like a jeweler engraves on a signet, <n>{I.e. a type of seal used to indicate ownership}</n> you are to inscribe the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel, and you are to mount them in settings of gold filigree. 


text:
You are to put the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel, and Aaron is to carry their names into the Lord's presence on his two shoulders for remembrance. 


text:
and you are to make two chains of pure gold twisted like cords, and then fasten the twisted chains to the filigree settings." 


text:
<n>{The Breast Piece}</n> d "You are to make a breast piece to be worn by the high priest when he makes legal decisions. <n>{Lit. breast piece of judgment}</n> It is to be skillfully worked, made like the work of the ephod from gold, blue, purple, and scarlet material, and from fine woven linen. 


text:
It is to be square when folded double, nine inches <n>{Lit. a span ; or about 0.2 meters}</n> long and nine inches wide. <n>{Lit. a span ; or about 0.2 meters}</n> 


text:
You are to mount on it a setting for four rows of stones. The first row is to contain carnelian, <n>{The meaning of MT is uncertain.}</n> topaz, and emerald; 


text:
The stones shall correspond to the names of the sons of Israel, twelve stones <n>{The Heb. lacks stones}</n> corresponding to their names. They shall be engraved like a signet, <n>{Lit. the engravings of a seal ( or signet ring)}</n> each with the name of one of the twelve tribes. 


text:
You are to make two gold rings for the breast piece, and put the two rings on the two edges of the breast piece. 


text:
and you are to attach the other two ends of the two cords to the filigree settings and attach them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod in front. 


text:
"You are to make two gold rings and attach them to the two edges of the breast piece, on the side of it which is toward the inner side of the ephod. 


text:
You are to make two gold rings and attach them in front on the lower part of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod close to the place where it's joined, above the skillfully woven band of the ephod. 


text:
They shall fasten the rings on the breast piece to the rings on the ephod with a blue cord so it will rest <n>{Lit. be}</n> on the skillfully woven band of the ephod and so the breast piece won't come loose from the ephod. 


text:
"Aaron is to carry the names of Israel's sons on his heart on the breast piece to be worn by the high priest when he makes legal decisions <n>{Lit. breast piece of judgment}</n> whenever he goes into the Holy Place in order to remember them in the Lord's presence continually. 


text:
You are to put the Urim and Thummim <n>{I.e. the jewel-encrusted breastplate worn by the high priest by which the will of God could be revealed; cf. Ezra 2:63, Neh 7:65}</n> into the breast piece of judgment, and they are to be on Aaron's heart when he goes into the Lord's presence. He is to carry the breast piece <n>{Lit. breast piece of judgment}</n> of Israel's sons on his heart in the Lord's presence continually. 


text:
There is to be an opening at its top, in the middle, with a woven binding around the opening like the opening of a coat of mail so that it cannot be torn. 


text:
On its hem you are to make blue and purple and scarlet pomegranates, all around the skirt, with gold bells between them all the way <n>{The Heb. lacks the way}</n> around. 


text:
You are to have a gold bell and a pomegranate, then <n>{The Heb. lacks then}</n> a gold bell and a pomegranate, on the hem of the robe all the way <n>{The Heb. lacks the way}</n> around it. 


text:
Aaron is to wear the robe when he ministers <n>{Lit. for ministering}</n> so its sound may be heard when he enters and leaves the Holy Place in the Lord's presence, so that he won't die. 


text:
"You are to make a medallion <n>{Or plate}</n> of pure gold, and engrave on it «Holy to the Lord ,'like the engravings of a signet. 


text:
You are to put it on a blue cord and place it on the turban. It is to be on the front of the turban 


text:
and worn on Aaron's forehead in order to take away any guilt contained in the holy things which the Israelis consecrate as holy gifts. It is to remain on his forehead continually, so they may be accepted in the Lord's presence. 


text:
You are to weave the checkered tunic of fine linen, you are to make a turban of fine linen, and you are to make an embroidered sash. 


text:
"You are to make tunics for the sons of Aaron, you are to make sashes for them, and you are to make head coverings for them for dignity and beauty. 


text:
You are to put them on Aaron your brother, and on his sons with him, and shall anoint them and ordain them <n>{Lit. fill their hand}</n> and consecrate them to serve as my priests. 


text:
You are to make linen undergarments for them to cover their naked flesh, and they are to reach <n>{Lit. be}</n> from the loins to the thighs. 


text:
They shall be on Aaron and his sons when they enter the Tent of Meeting or when they approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place so they don't incur guilt and die. This is to be a perpetual ordinance for him and his descendants <n>{Lit. seed}</n> after him." 


text:
<n>{The Consecration of the Priests}</n> d "This is what you are to do to them to consecrate them to serve me as priests: Take a young bull, two rams without blemish, 


text:
unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers spread <n>{Or anointed}</n> with oil, which you are to make from fine wheat flour. 


text:
You are to put them <n>{I.e. the bread, cakes, and wafers}</n> in one basket and bring them in the basket along with the bull and the two rams. 


text:
You are to bring Aaron and his sons to the doorway of the Tent of Meeting, and wash them with water. 


text:
Take the garments and clothe Aaron with the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod, and the breast piece, and then gird him with the skillfully woven band of the ephod. 


text:
You are to gird Aaron and his sons with sashes and tie headdresses on them. The priesthood is to belong to them by perpetual ordinance, and you are to ordain <n>{Lit. fill the hand of}</n> Aaron and his sons. 


text:
"You are to bring the bull in front of the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the bull. 


text:
Take some of the blood of the bull, put it on the horns of the altar with your finger, and pour out the rest <n>{Lit. all}</n> of the blood at the base of the altar. 


text:
You are to take all the fat that covers the entrails, the lobe of the liver, the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them and send them up in smoke on the altar. 


text:
You are to burn the flesh of the bull, its hide, and its refuse with fire outside the camp. It is a sin offering. 


text:
"You are to take one of the rams, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on its <n>{Lit. the head of the ram}</n> head. 


text:
You are to cut the ram into pieces, <n>{Lit. its pieces}</n> wash its entrails and legs, put them on the altar along <n>{The Heb. lacks on the altar along}</n> with the pieces <n>{Lit. its pieces}</n> and its head, 


text:
and send up the whole ram in smoke on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the Lord ; it's a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the Lord . 


text:
"You are to take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram. 


text:
You are to slaughter the ram, take some of its blood, and put it on the lobe of Aaron's right ear, the lobe of his sons'right ears, the thumbs of their right hands, and the big toes of their right feet. Then you are to scatter the rest of the blood around the altar. 


text:
You are to take some of the blood which is on the altar, along with some of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aaron and his garments, and on his sons and their <n>{Lit. on his sons'garments}</n> garments. He is to be consecrated with his garments, along with his sons and their garments 


text:
"You are to take the fat from the ram, the fat tail, the fat that covers the entrails, the lobe of the liver, the two kidneys and the fat that is on them, the right thigh (for it's a ram of ordination), 


text:
and one loaf of bread, one cake of bread mixed with oil, and one wafer out of the basket of unleavened bread that is in the Lord's presence. 


text:
You are to put all of these in the hands of Aaron and in the hands of his sons, and present them as a wave offering in the Lord's presence. 


text:
Then you are to take them from their hands and send them up in smoke on the altar on top of the burnt offering for a soothing aroma in the Lord's presence. It is an offering by fire to the Lord . 


text:
"You are to take the breast of the ram of Aaron's ordination, and present it as a wave offering in the Lord's presence, and it is to be your portion. 


text:
You are to consecrate the portion of the ram of ordination that belongs to Aaron and his sons: <n>{Lit. from what was for Aaron and from what was for his sons}</n> the breast of the wave offering that was waved and the thigh of the presented offering that was presented. <n>{Or lifted up}</n> 


text:
These offerings <n>{Lit. it}</n> from the Israelis shall be a perpetual ordinance for Aaron and his sons. They are presented offerings, and they are to be presented offerings from the Israelis out of their peace offerings. They are presented offerings to the Lord . 


text:
"The holy garments of Aaron shall be for his sons after him <n>{I.e. descendants}</n> so that they may be anointed in them and ordained in them. 


text:
Aaron's son who is priest in his place is to wear them for seven days when he comes into the Tent of Meeting to minister in the Holy Place. 


text:
Then Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram along with the bread that is in the basket at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting. 


text:
They shall eat these things by which atonement was made at their ordination to consecrate them, but an unqualified person <n>{Lit. a stranger ; i.e. one not qualified to serve as a priest}</n> is not to eat because these things are holy. 


text:
If any of the flesh of the ordination ram <n>{The Heb. lacks ram}</n> or any of the bread is left until morning, you are to burn what is left with fire. Because it's holy, what remains is not to be eaten. 


text:
You are to do this for Aaron and his sons, just as I've commanded you. You are to ordain them for seven days, 


text:
and every day you are to offer a bull as a sin offering for atonement. Offer the sin offering on the altar when you make atonement for it and anoint the altar to consecrate it. 


text:
You are to make atonement for the altar for seven days and consecrate it. It will be most holy, and whatever touches it will be holy." 


text:
<n>{The Altar for Burnt Offering}</n> <n>{ (Numbers 28:1-8)}</n> d "This is what you are to offer on the altar continually: two one year old lambs each day. 


text:
"You are to offer one lamb in the morning and the other <n>{Lit. and you are to offer the other lamb}</n> at twilight, 


text:
and there is to be a tenth measure of choice flour mixed with one quart <n>{Lit. one-fourth of a hin ; a hin was about one gallon}</n> of oil extracted by hand, <n>{Lit. beaten ; i.e. the olives were crushed in a mortar rather than pressed in an olive press}</n> and one quart <n>{Lit. one-fourth of a hin ; a hin was about one gallon}</n> of wine as a drink offering for one lamb. 


text:
You are to offer the other lamb at twilight with the same grain offering and drink offering as in the morning. You are to offer it as a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the Lord . 


text:
It is to be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the doorway to the Tent of Meeting in the Lord's presence, where I'll meet with you to speak to you there. 


text:
I'll consecrate the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and I'll consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve as my priests. 


text:
They shall know that I am the Lord their God who brought them out of Egypt so I might dwell among them. I am the Lord your God." 


text:
<n>{The Altar of Incense}</n> d "You are to make an altar for burning incense. You are to make it of acacia wood. 


text:
It is to be a square, one and a half feet <n>{Lit. one cubit ; or about 0.46 meters}</n> long and one and a half feet <n>{Lit. one cubit ; or about 0.46 meters}</n> wide, and it is to be three feet <n>{Lit. two cubits ; or about 0.9 meters}</n> high, with its horns of one piece with it. 


text:
You are to overlay it with pure gold, its top, its sides all around, and its horns, and you are to make a molding of gold all around it. 


text:
"You are to make two gold rings for it under its molding; you are to make them on its two opposite sides, and they are to be holders for poles by which to carry it. 


text:
You are to put the altar <n>{Lit. it}</n> in front of the curtain that is over the Ark of the Testimony, in front of the Mercy Seat <n>{Or atonement place , and so throughout the book}</n> that is over the Testimony where I'll meet with you. 


text:
and when Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he is to offer it as a continual incense offering in the Lord's presence throughout your generations. 


text:
You are not to offer strange incense, a burnt offering, or a grain offering on it, nor are you to pour out a libation on it. 


text:
Each year Aaron is to make atonement on its horns with the blood of the sin offering of atonement. He is to make atonement on it each year throughout your generations. It is most holy to the Lord . 


text:
"When you take a census of the Israelis to register them, each is to give a ransom for himself <n>{Or his life}</n> to the Lord when they're registered so there won't be a plague among them when they're registered. 


text:
This is what everyone who is registered <n>{Lit. the one who passes over to those who have been registered}</n> is to give: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs), <n>{I.e., a unit of weight measurement equal to about 16 barley grains; about 0.025 ounces or 0.5 grams; cf. Num 3:47; Num 18:16}</n> half a shekel as a contribution to the Lord . 


text:
The rich is not to give more <n>{Lit. increase from}</n> nor shall the poor give less <n>{Lit. decrease from}</n> than the half shekel, when you give a contribution to the Lord to make atonement for yourselves. <n>{Or for your lives}</n> 


text:
You are to take the atonement money from the Israelis and give it for the service of the Tent of Meeting, and it is to be a memorial for the Israelis in the Lord's presence to make atonement for yourselves." <n>{Or for your lives}</n> 


text:
"You are to make a bronze basin with a bronze base for washing. You are to put it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar and put water in it, <n>{Lit. there}</n> 


text:
When they enter the Tent of Meeting or when they approach the altar to minister to make an offering by fire to the Lord , they are to wash with water so they don't die. 


text:
They shall wash their hands and their feet so that they don't die, and it is to be for them a perpetual ordinance for Aaron <n>{Lit. for him}</n> and his seed from generation to generation." 


text:
"You are to take for yourself the finest spices: 500 shekels <n>{The Heb. lacks shekels ; Five hundred shekels is about 12 pounds or six kilograms}</n> of liquid myrrh, half as much fragrant cinnamon (250 shekels), 250 shekels of fragrant reeds, 


text:
500 shekels of cassia all according to the shekel of the sanctuary and a gallon <n>{Lit. hin ; a hin was about one gallon.}</n> of olive oil. 


text:
You are to make them into a holy anointing oil, a perfume mixture made by a perfumer. It is to be a holy anointing oil. 


text:
You are to speak to the Israelis saying, «This is to be holy anointing oil for me from generation to generation. 


text:
It is not to be poured out on a person's body, <n>{I.e. used for ordinary anointing purposes}</n> nor are you to make anything like it with similar formulations. It is holy, and it is to be holy to you. 


text:
Anyone who mixes anything like it or who puts any of it on an unqualified person <n>{Lit. a stranger ; i.e. a person not qualified to serve as a priest}</n> is to be cut off from his people.»" 


text:
<n>{The Incense}</n> d The Lord told Moses, "Take for yourself spices: stacte, onycha, galbanum, and spices with pure frankincense, all in equal amounts. 


text:
You are to make it into a fragrant incense, expertly <n>{Lit. the work of a perfumer}</n> blended, <n>{Or salted}</n> pure, and holy. 


text:
You are to grind some of it fine, and put some before the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting where I shall meet with you. It is to be most holy to you. 


text:
You are not to make the incense that you make in this formulation for your own use. It is to be holy to the Lord for you. 


text:
"Look, I've called <n>{Lit. called by name}</n> Uri's son Bezalel, grandson of Hur from Judah's tribe 


text:
and I've filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and all kinds of craftsmanship 


text:
"I'm now appointing with him Ahisamach's son Oholiab from the tribe of Dan, and I've given wisdom <n>{Or ability}</n> to all who are skilled <n>{Lit. wise of heart}</n> so they can make everything that I've commanded you, 


text:
including the Tent of Meeting, the Ark of the Testimony, the Mercy Seat <n>{Or atonement cover}</n> that is on it, all the furnishings of the tent 


text:
the table and its furnishings, the lamp stand of pure gold, <n>{Lit. the pure lamp stand}</n> all its furnishings, the altar of incense, 


text:
the woven garments, the holy garments of Aaron the priest, the garments of his sons as they serve as priests, 


text:
the anointing oil, and the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them in accordance with everything that I commanded you." 


text:
"You are to speak to the Israelis: «You are to surely observe my Sabbaths because it's a sign between me and you from generation to generation, so you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. 


text:
You are to observe the Sabbath, because it's holy for you. Whoever profanes it shall surely die; indeed, whoever does work on it is to be cut off from among his people. 


text:
Work may be done for six days, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, holy to the Lord . Whoever does work on the Sabbath shall surely die. 


text:
The Israelis shall keep the Sabbath to make the Sabbath observance a perpetual covenant from generation to generation. 


text:
It is a sign forever between me and the Israelis, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.»" 


text:
When he finished speaking with Moses <n>{Lit. him}</n> on Mount Sinai, he gave him <n>{Lit. to Moses}</n> the two Tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone written by the finger of God. 


text:
<n>{Aaron Makes the Golden Calf}</n> d When the people saw that Moses took a long time to come down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and told him, "Come here and make us a god <n>{Or gods ; and so throughout the chapter}</n> who will go before us, because, as for this fellow Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt, we don't know what has become of him." 


text:
Aaron told them, "Tear off the gold rings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters and bring them to me." 


text:
He took them from them <n>{Lit. from their hand}</n> and, using a tool, fashioned them into a molten calf. <n>{I.e. an image made by pouring hot, liquid metal into a mold}</n> The people <n>{Lit. They}</n> said, "This, Israel, is your god who brought you out of the land of Egypt." 


text:
When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of it, and then he proclaimed, "Tomorrow is to be a festival to the Lord ." 


text:
They got up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. Then the people sat down to eat and drink, and then they got up to play. 


text:
<n>{Moses Intercedes for Israel}</n> d The Lord told Moses, "Go down immediately, <n>{Lit. Go, go down}</n> for your people whom you led out of Egypt have behaved corruptly. 


text:
They have been quick to turn aside from the way I commanded them, and they have made for themselves a molten calf. They have bowed down to it in worship, they have offered sacrifices to it, and they have said, «This, Israel, is your god who brought you out of the land of Egypt.»" 


text:
Then the Lord told Moses, "I've seen these people and indeed they're obstinate. <n>{Lit. stiff-necked}</n> 


text:
Now let me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may consume them, but I'll make a great nation of you." 


text:
But Moses implored the Lord his God: "Lord , why are you angry with your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a show of force? <n>{Lit. a mighty hand}</n> 


text:
Why should the Egyptians say, «He brought them out with an evil intention to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them from the face of the earth'? Turn from your anger and change your mind about the calamity against your people. 


text:
Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants to whom you swore by yourself as you told them, «I'll increase the number of your descendants like the stars of the heavens, I'll give your descendants all of this land about which I have spoken, and they are to possess <n>{Or inherit}</n> it forever.»" 


text:
<n>{Moses Destroys the Golden Calf and the Tablets of the Law}</n> d Then Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two Tablets of the Testimony in his hand, tablets which were written on both sides. They were written on one side and the other. 


text:
When Joshua heard the sound of the people as they shouted, he told Moses, "The sound of war is coming from <n>{Lit. is in}</n> the camp." 


text:
Moses <n>{Lit. He}</n> said, "It is not the sound of a victory shout, and it's not the sound of a shout of defeat, but it's the sound of singing that I hear." 


text:
As Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, he became angry. He threw the tablets from his hands and shattered them at the base of the mountain. 


text:
He took the calf that they had made, burned it with fire, and ground it into powder. He scattered it on the water and made the Israelis drink it. 


text:
Aaron said, "Sir, <n>{Lit. My lord}</n> don't be angry. You know the people that they're intent on evil. 


text:
They told me, «Make a god for us who will go before us because, as for this fellow Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we don't know what has become of him.'


text:
So I told them, «Whoever has gold ornaments, tear them off.'When they gave it to me, I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf." 


text:
<n>{The Descendants of Levi Punish the Guilty Israelis}</n> d When Moses saw that the people were out of control for Aaron had let them get out of control, something that brought ridicule from their enemies <n>{Lit. for ridicule among their enemies}</n> 


text:
he stood in the gate of the camp and called out: "Whoever is for the Lord come over <n>{The Heb. lacks come over}</n> to me," and all the sons of Levi gathered around him. 


text:
He told them, "This is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says, «Every man put his sword on his thigh, and go back and forth from gate to gate in the camp, and each of you kill his brother and friend and neighbor.»" 


text:
The descendants of Levi did just as Moses told them, <n>{Lit. according to the word of Moses}</n> and about 3,000 people died that day. 


text:
Moses said, "You have been ordained <n>{Or Consecrate yourselves}</n> to serve the Lord <n>{Lit. ordained for the LORD}</n> today, and you have brought a blessing on yourselves today because every man opposed his son or brother." <n>{Or today at the cost of his son or brother}</n> 


text:
<n>{Moses Again Intercedes for the People}</n> d The next day Moses told the people, "You committed a great sin, and now I'll go up to the Lord , and perhaps I can make atonement for your sin." 


text:
Moses returned to the Lord and said, "Please, Lord , this people committed a great sin by making a god of gold for themselves. 


text:
Now, go, and lead the people where I told you, and now my angel will go before you, but on the day when I do punish, I'll punish them for their sin." 


text:
<n>{The Lord Instructs Israel to Leave}</n> d The Lord told Moses, "Go up <n>{Lit. go, go up}</n> from here, you and the people whom you brought out of Egypt, to the land about which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob saying, «I'll give it to your descendants.'<n>{Lit. your seed}</n> 


text:
I'll send an angel in front of you and I'll drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 


text:
Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey, but I won't go up among you, because you are an obstinate <n>{Lit. stiff-necked}</n> people, and otherwise I might consume you along the way." 


text:
The Lord had told Moses, "Say to the Israelis, «You are an obstinate people, <n>{Lit. stiff-necked}</n> and if for one moment I went up among you, I would put an end to you. Now take off your ornaments so I may decide <n>{Lit. know}</n> what to do with you.»" 


text:
So the Israelis did not wear <n>{Lit. stripped themselves of}</n> their ornaments from Mount Horeb onward. 


text:
<n>{God's Presence at the Tent of Meeting}</n> d Moses used to take the tent and set it up outside the camp at a distance from the camp, and he called it the Tent of Meeting. When anyone sought the Lord , he would go out to the Tent of Meeting which was outside the camp. 


text:
When Moses would go out to the tent, all the people would get up, and each would stand in the doorway of his tent, watching Moses until he entered the tent. 


text:
When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stand at the doorway of the tent while God <n>{Lit. he}</n> spoke with Moses. 


text:
When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the doorway of the tent, all of them <n>{Lit. all the people}</n> would get up and prostrate themselves in worship, each one at the doorway of his tent. 


text:
The Lord would speak to Moses face to face just as a man speaks with his friend. When Moses <n>{Lit. he}</n> returned to the camp, Nun's son Joshua, his young servant, would not leave the tent. 


text:
<n>{The Promise of God's Presence on the Journey}</n> d Moses told the Lord , "Look, you have told me, «Bring up this people,'but you haven't let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, «I know you by name,'and also, «You have found favor in my sight.'


text:
Now, if I've found favor in your sight, please show me your ways so I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. And remember, <n>{Or consider ; Lit. see}</n> this nation is your people." 


text:
Then Moses <n>{Lit. he}</n> told the Lord , <n>{Lit. to him}</n> "If your presence does not go with us, <n>{Lit. does not go}</n> don't bring us up from here. 


text:
For how shall it be known that your people and I have received favor from you, unless you go with us and that we, your people and I, are distinguished from all the people on the face of the earth?" 


text:
<n>{Moses Sees God's Glory}</n> d The Lord told Moses, "I'll do the very <n>{Lit. this}</n> thing that you have said, because you have found favor in my sight and I know you by name." 


text:
God <n>{Lit. He}</n> said, "I'll cause all my goodness to pass before you, and I'll proclaim the name «the Lord'before you. I'll be gracious to whom I'll be gracious, and I'll show compassion on whom I'll show compassion. 


text:
and as my glory passes by, I'll put you in a crevice in the rock, and cover you with my hand until I've passed by. 


text:
<n>{The Tablets of the Law Replaced}</n> d The Lord told Moses, "Cut out for yourself two stone tablets like the first ones, and I'll write on the tablets the words which were on the first tablets which you broke. 


text:
Be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning on Mount Sinai, where you are to present yourself to me there on the top of the mountain. 


text:
No one is to come up with you, nor shall anyone be seen anywhere on the mountain. Also, the sheep and cattle are not to graze in front of that mountain." 


text:
Moses <n>{Lit. He}</n> cut out the two stone tablets like the first ones, got up early in the morning, and climbed Mount Sinai, just as the Lord had commanded him. He took with him the two stone tablets. 


text:
The Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed the name of the Lord . <n>{Or and he called on the name of the LORD}</n> 


text:
The Lord passed in front of him and proclaimed, "The Lord , the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and filled with <n>{Or and abundant in}</n> gracious love and truth. 


text:
He graciously loves thousands, and forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin. But he does not leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of the ancestors on their children, and on their children's children to the third and fourth generation." 


text:
He said, "If I've found favor in your sight, Lord , please, Lord , walk among us. Certainly this is an obstinate people, but pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your own inheritance." 


text:
<n>{The Covenant Promises Repeated}</n> d Then the Lord said, "Now I'm going to make a covenant. Before all your people I'll do miraculous deeds that haven't been done <n>{Lit. created}</n> in all the earth or in any nation. All the people among whom you live will see the work of the Lord , for it's an awesome thing that I'll do with you. 


text:
Obey <n>{Lit. keep}</n> what I am commanding you today. I'll drive out from before you the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 


text:
Be very careful not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which you are going, so they won't be a snare among you. 


text:
Rather, you are to tear down their altars, you are to smash their sacred pillars, and you are to cut down their sacred poles <n>{Heb. Asherim ; wooden symbols of the chief female Canaanite deity}</n> 


text:
indeed, you are not to bow down in worship to any other god, because the Lord's name is Jealous he's a jealous God 


text:
Otherwise, you may make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land and when they prostitute themselves with their gods and offer sacrifices to their gods, someone may invite you and then you may eat some of their sacrifices. 


text:
You are not to take any of their daughters for your sons. Otherwise, when their daughters prostitute themselves with their gods, they may cause your sons to prostitute themselves with their gods." 


text:
"You are to observe the Festival of Unleavened Bread. For seven days, at the appointed time in the month Abib, you are to eat unleavened bread as I commanded you, for in the month Abib you came out of Egypt. 


text:
"Everything firstborn <n>{Lit. Everything that first opens the womb}</n> belongs to me: all the males of your herds, the firstborn of both cattle and sheep. 


text:
You are to redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a sheep, and if you don't redeem it, you are to break its neck. You are to redeem every firstborn of your sons, and no one is to appear before me empty-handed. 


text:
"For six days you are to work, but on the seventh day you are to rest; even during plowing time and harvest you are to rest. 


text:
"You are to observe the Festival of Weeks, the first fruits of the wheat harvest, and the Festival of Ingathering at the turn of the year. 


text:
For I'll drive out nations before you, and enlarge your borders, and no one will covet your land when you go up to appear in the presence of the Lord your God three times a year. 


text:
"You are not to offer the blood of my sacrifice with anything leavened, nor are you to allow the sacrifice of the Festival of Passover to remain until morning. 


text:
"You are to bring the best <n>{Or the first}</n> of the first fruits of the ground to the house of the Lord your God. "You are not to boil a young goat in its mother's milk." 


text:
Then the Lord told Moses, "Write down these words, for I'm making a covenant with you and with Israel according to these words." 


text:
While Moses <n>{Lit. he}</n> was there with the Lord for 40 days and 40 nights, he did not eat or drink. <n>{Lit. eat bread or drink water}</n> He wrote the Ten Commandments, the words of the covenant, on the tablets. 


text:
<n>{Moses'Face Shines}</n> d When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, he had the two tablets in his hand, <n>{Lit. hand as he came down from the mountain}</n> and he did not know that the skin of his face was ablaze with light because he had been speaking with God. <n>{Lit. him}</n> 


text:
Aaron and all the Israelis saw Moses and immediately noticed that the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him. 


text:
When Moses called to them, Aaron and the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and he spoke to them. 


text:
Afterwards all the Israelis came near and he gave them everything the Lord told him on Mount Sinai as commandments. 


text:
and then whenever Moses would come in the Lord's presence to speak with him, he would remove the veil until he left the Lord's presence. <n>{The Heb. lacks the Lord's presence}</n> When he went out, he would tell the Israelis what he had been commanded. 


text:
The Israelis would see the face of Moses and that the skin of his face shone; then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with God. <n>{Lit. him}</n> 


text:
<n>{The Israelis Collect Material for the Tent}</n> d Moses assembled the entire congregation of the Israelis and told them, "These are the things that the Lord has commanded you to do: <n>{Lit. to do them}</n> 


text:
For six days work is to be done, but on the seventh day you are to have a holy day, a Sabbath of complete rest in dedication to the Lord . Anyone who does work on that day is to be executed. 


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«Take from among yourselves an offering for the Lord . Everyone whose heart is willing is to bring it as an offering for the Lord : gold, silver, and bronze; 


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ram skins dyed red, <n>{Or tanned}</n> dolphin <n>{Or dugong ; i.e. a marine animal similar to a walrus or manatee}</n> skins, acacia wood, 


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«Let everyone who is skilled <n>{Lit. wise of heart}</n> among you come and make everything that the Lord has commanded: 


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the ark, its poles, the Mercy Seat, the curtain, <n>{I.e. the one that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place}</n> 


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the altar of incense, its poles, the anointing oil, the aromatic incense, and the screen for the doorway at the entrance to the tent, 


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the altar for burnt offerings, the bronze lattice for it, its poles, and all its furnishings, the basin and its base, 


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the hangings for the court, its pillars, its sockets, <n>{Or its bases}</n> the screen for the gate of the court, 


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the woven garments for ministering in the Holy Place, the holy garments of Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons for serving as priests.»" 


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and every person whose heart moved him and all whose spirits prompted them, brought an offering to the Lord for constructing <n>{Lit. for the work of}</n> the Tent of Meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments. 


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Both the men and women came, all whose hearts prompted them, and brought brooches, earrings, rings, pendants, and all kinds of gold jewelry. Every person presented a wave offering of gold to the Lord . 


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Everyone who had blue, purple, and scarlet material, fine linen, goat hair, ram skins dyed red, <n>{Or tanned}</n> and dolphin <n>{Or dugong , a marine animal similar to a walrus or manatee}</n> skins brought them. 


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Everyone who could give an offering of silver and bronze brought it as a contribution for the Lord . Also all who had acacia wood for any use in the work <n>{Lit. work of the service}</n> brought it. 


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Every skilled <n>{Lit. wise of heart}</n> woman spun with her hands, and brought what she spun: blue, purple, and scarlet material, and fine linen. 


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All the women who were skilled artisans <n>{Lit. whose hearts stirred them with skill (or wisdom )}</n> spun the goat hair. 


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Each Israeli man and woman whose heart was prompted brought something <n>{The Heb. lacks something}</n> as a freewill offering to the Lord for all the work which the Lord had commanded them to do through <n>{Lit. by the hand of}</n> Moses. 


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<n>{Craftsmen for Building the Tent}</n> d Moses told the Israelis, "Look, the Lord has called <n>{Lit. called by name}</n> Uri's son Bezalel, grandson of Hur, from the tribe of Judah, 


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and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, and with knowledge of all kinds of work, 


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He has equipped them <n>{Lit. has given them wisdom of heart}</n> to do all kinds of work done by an engraver, designer, embroider in blue, purple and scarlet material and in fine linen, or as a weaver. They were able to do <n>{Lit. doers of}</n> all kinds of work and were skilled designers. 


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Bezalel and Oholiab and all the skilled craftsmen to whom the Lord gave wisdom and understanding to know how to do all the work in constructing <n>{Lit. for the service of}</n> the sanctuary shall do everything that the Lord has commanded." 


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<n>{Contributions for Building the Tent}</n> d Then Moses summoned Bezalel, Oholiab, and all the skilled <n>{Lit. wise of heart}</n> people to whom the Lord had given ability, <n>{Lit. wisdom in his heart}</n> including everyone whose hearts stirred them to come forward to do the work. 


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They received from Moses all the offerings that the Israelis had brought for doing the work of constructing <n>{Lit. for the service of}</n> the sanctuary, and the people <n>{Lit. they}</n> continued to bring freewill offerings every morning. 


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and told Moses, "The people are bringing much more than enough for the work that the Lord has commanded us to do." 


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Then Moses issued an order, and the message was taken throughout the camp, "Men and women, don't bring more offerings for the sanctuary." The people were restrained from bringing any more, <n>{The Heb. lacks any more}</n> 


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All the skilled craftsmen among the workers made the tent with ten curtains of fine woven <n>{Or twisted}</n> linen, blue, purple, and scarlet material. <n>{The Heb. lacks material}</n> He <n>{Perhaps Bezalel as the head of the skilled workers; and so through the rest of the book}</n> made them with cherubim skillfully worked into them. 


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The length of each curtain was 42 feet, <n>{Lit. 28 cubits ; or about 12.8 meters}</n> and the width of each curtain six feet. <n>{Lit. four cubits ; or about 1.8 meters}</n> All the curtains had the same measurements. <n>{Lit. the measure of one for every curtain}</n> 


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He made loops of blue material <n>{The Heb. lacks material}</n> along the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set, and likewise, he made loops along the edge of the outermost curtain in the second set. 


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He made 50 loops in the one curtain, and he made 50 loops along the edge of the curtain that is in the second set, with the loops opposite each other. 


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Then he made 50 gold clasps, and joined the curtains to each other with the clasps so the tent was one piece. 


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The length of each curtain was 45 feet, <n>{Lit. 30 cubits ; or about 13.7 meters}</n> and the width of each curtain six feet; <n>{Lit. four cubits ; or about 1.83 meters}</n> the measurements of each of the eleven curtains was the same. <n>{Lit. the measure of one for the eleven curtains}</n> 


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He made 50 loops along the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set, and 50 loops along the edge of the curtain of the other set. 


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Then he made a cover for the tent of ram skins dyed red <n>{Or tanned}</n> and a covering of dolphin <n>{Or dugong , a marine animal resembling a walrus or manatee}</n> skins above that. 


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Each <n>{Lit. the one}</n> board was fifteen feet <n>{Lit. ten cubits ; or about 4.6 meters}</n> long, and 27 inches wide. <n>{Lit. one and a half cubits the width of each board ; or about 0.7 meters}</n> 


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He made the boards for the tent: twenty boards for the south side. <n>{Lit. toward the Negev (south), toward Teman (a city to the south)}</n> 


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He made 40 silver sockets under the twenty boards: two sockets under one board for its two pegs and two sockets <n>{Or bases}</n> under the next <n>{Lit. the one}</n> board for its two pegs. 


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For the second side of the tent to the north he made twenty boards, <n>{The Heb. lacks he made}</n> 


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and 40 silver sockets for them, two sockets under one board and two sockets under the next <n>{Lit. the one}</n> board. 


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They were joined together <n>{Lit. twins ; perhaps designed with interlocking pieces}</n> at the bottom and they were connected <n>{Lit. complete ; Perhaps the tops were joined together by a metal ring.}</n> on top, by one ring. He did this for the two of them, and they were the two corners. 


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He overlaid the boards with gold, and made gold rings for them as holders for the bars, and he overlaid the bars with gold. 


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He made a curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet material, and fine woven linen. He made it with cherubim skillfully worked into it. 


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He made four pillars of acacia for it and overlaid them with gold, along with their gold hooks, and he cast four silver sockets for them. 


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For the doorway of the tent, he made a screen of blue, purple, and scarlet material and fine woven linen, the work of an embroiderer, 


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and five pillars of acacia along with their hooks. He overlaid their tops and their bands <n>{Perhaps a kind of connecting rod joining the pillars together}</n> with gold. Their five sockets were of bronze. 


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<n>{The Ark of the Covenant}</n> d Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood 45 inches <n>{Lit. two and a half cubits ; or about 1.1 meters}</n> long, 27 inches <n>{Lit. one and a half cubits ; or about 0.7 meters}</n> wide, and 27 inches <n>{Lit. one and a half cubits ; or about 0.7 meters}</n> high. 


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He cast four rings for it on its four feet, two rings on one side of it and two rings on its other side. 


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He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry <n>{Lit. with which to carry}</n> the ark. 


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He made a Mercy Seat of pure gold 45 inches <n>{Lit. two and a half cubits ; or about 1.1 meters}</n> long and 27 inches <n>{Lit. one and a half cubits ; or about 0.7 meters}</n> wide. 


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One cherub was at one end and one cherub at the other end. He made the cherubim at the two ends of the Mercy Seat and of one piece with it. 


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The cherubim had their wings spread upward, covering the Mercy Seat with their wings and facing each other. The faces of the cherubim were turned toward the Mercy Seat. 


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<n>{The Table of Showbread}</n> d Then he made a table of acacia wood three feet <n>{Lit. two cubits ; or about 0.9 meters}</n> long, one and a half feet <n>{Lit. one cubit ; or about 0.46 meters}</n> wide, and 27 inches <n>{Lit. one and a half cubits ; or about 0.7 meters}</n> high. 


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He made a three-inch <n>{Lit. a handbreadth ; or about 0.1 meter}</n> wide rim around it, and made a gold molding around the rim. 


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He made the utensils which were on the table, its plates, dishes, bowls, and jars out of which libations are poured. He made them of pure gold. 


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<n>{The Lampstand}</n> d He made the lamp stand of pure gold. He made the lamp stand, its base, and stem of hammered work and its cups, calyxes, and flowers were of one piece with it. 


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Six branches extended from its sides, three branches of the lamp stand from one side of it, and three branches of the lamp stand from its other side. 


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Three cups shaped like almond blossoms with calyxes and flowers were on one branch and three cups shaped like almond blossoms with calyxes and flowers were on the other branch, and so on for the six branches extending from the lamp stand. 


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On the lamp stand itself there were four cups shaped like almond blossoms each with their calyxes and flowers. 


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A calyx was under the two branches that extended out of the stem; <n>{Lit. out of it}</n> a calyx was under the next pair of <n>{Lit. under two}</n> branches that extended out of the stem; <n>{Lit. out of it}</n> and a calyx was under the last pair of <n>{Lit. under two}</n> branches that extended out of the stem, <n>{Lit. out of it}</n> and so on for the six branches extending from the lamp stand. 


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Their calyxes and their branches were of one piece with it, all of it was of one piece of hammered work of pure gold. 


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He made it and all of its furnishings from a talent <n>{I.e. 75 pounds; a talent weighed about 75 pounds}</n> of pure gold. 


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<n>{The Altar for Incense}</n> d He made the altar for burning incense of acacia wood, a square, one and a half feet <n>{Lit. one cubit ; or about 0.46 meters}</n> long, one and a half feet <n>{Lit. one cubit ; or about 0.46 meters}</n> wide, and three feet <n>{Lit. two cubits ; or about 0.9 meters}</n> high, with its horns of one piece with it. 


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He overlaid it with pure gold, its top, its sides all around, and its horns, and he made a gold molding around it. 


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He made two gold rings for it under its molding, on its two opposite sides as holders for poles by which to carry it. 


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<n>{The Altar for Burnt Offerings}</n> d Then he made the altar for burnt offerings of acacia wood. It was a square, seven and a half feet <n>{Lit. five cubits ; or about 2.3 meters}</n> long and seven and a half feet <n>{Lit. five cubits ; or about 2.3 meters}</n> wide, and it was four and a half feet <n>{Lit. three cubits ; or about 1.37 meters}</n> high. 


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He made horns <n>{Lit. its horns}</n> on its four corners. Its horns were of one piece with it, and he overlaid it with bronze. 


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He made all the utensils for the altar, the pans, the shovels, the bowls, the forks, and the fire-pans, and he made all its utensils of bronze. 


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He made a lattice, a netting of bronze, for the altar. It was under its ledge, extending halfway up. 


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And he put the poles through rings on the sides of the altar to carry it. <n>{Lit. by which to carry it}</n> He made it hollow, out of boards. 


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<n>{The Bronze Basin}</n> d He made the bronze basin and its bronze base from <n>{Lit. with}</n> mirrors contributed by the women who served in the doorway of the Tent of Meeting. 


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<n>{The Court of the Tent}</n> d Then he made the court. On the south <n>{Lit. toward the Negev, southward}</n> side the hangings for the court were of fine woven linen, 150 feet <n>{Lit. 100 cubits ; or about 45.7 meters}</n> long. <n>{The Heb. lacks long}</n> 


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He made their twenty pillars <n>{The Heb. lacks 20 pillars}</n> and their twenty sockets of bronze, while the hooks of the pillars and their bands <n>{Perhaps a kind of connecting rod joining the pillars together}</n> were of silver. 


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The north side was 150 feet <n>{Lit. 100 cubits ; or about 45.7 meters}</n> long, <n>{The Heb. lacks long}</n> and its <n>{Lit. their}</n> 20 pillars <n>{The Heb. lacks 20 pillars}</n> and 20 sockets were of bronze, and the hooks of the pillars and their bands <n>{Perhaps a kind of connecting rod joining the pillars together}</n> were of silver. 


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For the west side there were hangings 75 feet <n>{Lit. 50 cubits ; or about 22.9 meters}</n> long with their ten pillars and ten sockets. The hooks of the pillars and their bands were of silver. 


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The east side <n>{Lit. on the east side toward the rising (of the sun)}</n> was 75 feet <n>{Lit. 50 cubits ; or about 22.9 meters}</n> long. <n>{The Heb. lacks long}</n> 


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The hangings for one section <n>{Lit. the shoulder}</n> were 22 and a half feet <n>{Lit. 15 cubits ; or about 6.9 meters}</n> with their three pillars and three sockets, 


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and also for the second section. On either side of the gate of the court were hangings of 22 and a half feet <n>{Lit. 15 cubits ; or about 6.9 meters}</n> with their three pillars and three sockets. 


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The sockets for the pillars were of bronze and the hooks of the pillars and their bands <n>{Perhaps a kind of connecting rod joining the pillars together}</n> were of silver. Their tops were overlaid with silver, and all the pillars of the court were banded with silver. 


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The screen of the gate of the court was the work of an embroiderer of blue, purple and scarlet material, and fine woven linen. The length was 30 feet <n>{Lit. 20 cubits ; or about 9.1 meters}</n> and it was seven and a half feet <n>{Lit. five cubits ; or about 2.29 meters}</n> high along its width, corresponding to the hangings of the court. 


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Their four pillars and their four sockets were of bronze, and their hooks were of silver. Their tops were overlaid with silver and their bands were of silver. 


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<n>{The Record of Materials}</n> d Here is a summary of materials for the Tent of Meeting that was compiled at Moses'direction, the work of the descendants of Levi under the direction of Aaron the priest's son Ithamar. 


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Now Uri's son Bezalel, grandson of Hur from the tribe of Judah, made everything that the Lord had ordered Moses to build. <n>{The Heb. lacks to build}</n> 


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With him was Ahisamach's son Oholiab from the tribe of Dan, an engraver, designer, and embroiderer in blue, purple, and scarlet material, and of fine linen. 


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All the gold that was used in the work, in all the work on the sanctuary, including <n>{Lit. it was}</n> the gold from the wave offering, totaled <n>{Lit. was}</n> 29 talents, <n>{I.e. 2,175 pounds; a talent weighed about 75 pounds}</n> 730 shekels, <n>{3,000 shekels made one talent.}</n> according to the standard used in <n>{Lit. the shekel of the}</n> the sanctuary. 


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The silver from those of the congregation who were recorded <n>{Or numbered}</n> totaled <n>{Lit. was}</n> 100 talents <n>{I.e. 7,500 pounds; a talent weighed about 75 pounds}</n> and 1,775 shekels, according to the standard used in <n>{Lit. the shekel of the}</n> the sanctuary; 


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a beka a head (a beka is half a shekel, according to the standard used in <n>{Lit. the shekel of the}</n> the sanctuary) for everyone who went through the registration <n>{Or who were numbered}</n> process <n>{Lit. who passed over to those who were registered}</n> from 20 years old and older. The total numbered 603,550 bekas. 


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One hundred talents <n>{I.e. 7,500 pounds; a talent weighed about 75 pounds}</n> of silver were used to cast the sockets for the sanctuary and the sockets for the curtain, 100 sockets for 100 talents, <n>{I.e. 7,500 pounds; a talent weighed about 75 pounds}</n> a talent <n>{I.e. 75 pounds; a talent weighed about 75 pounds}</n> per socket. 


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And with 1,775 talents <n>{The Heb. lacks talents}</n> he made hooks for the pillars, overlaid their tops, and made bands for them. 


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The bronze from the wave offering totaled <n>{Lit. was}</n> 70 talents <n>{I.e. 5,250 pounds; a talent weighed about 75 pounds}</n> and 2,400 shekels. 


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With it he made the sockets for the doorway to the Tent of Meeting, the bronze altar, the bronze lattice for it, all the furnishings <n>{Or utensils}</n> for the altar, 


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the sockets for all around the court, the sockets for the gate to the court, all the pegs for the sanctuary, and all the pegs for all around the court. 


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<n>{The Priestly Garments}</n> d From the blue, purple, and scarlet material they made finely woven garments for ministering in the Holy Place, and they made the holy garments for Aaron, just as the Lord commanded Moses. 


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<n>{The Ephod}</n> d He made the ephod out of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet material and fine woven linen. 


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They hammered out gold sheets and cut off threads to work into the blue, purple, and scarlet material and into the fine linen, a work of skillful design. 


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They made connecting shoulder pieces for the ephod <n>{Lit. for it}</n> and attached them to its two edges. 


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The skillfully woven band that was on it was made like it, of one piece with it: of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet material, and fine woven linen, just as the Lord commanded Moses. 


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They prepared the onyx stones, engraved with the names of the sons of Israel like the engraving on a signet, <n>{I.e. a type of seal used to indicate ownership}</n> and mounted them in settings of gold filigree. 


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He put them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel, just as the Lord commanded Moses. 


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<n>{The Breast Piece}</n> d He made a breast piece, skillfully worked, like the work of the ephod: of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet material, and fine woven linen. 


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They made the breast piece square when folded double: nine inches <n>{Lit. a span ; or about 0.23 meters}</n> in length and nine inches <n>{Lit. a span ; or about 0.23 meters}</n> in width when folded double. 


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The stones corresponded to the names of the sons of Israel, twelve stones <n>{The Heb. lacks stones}</n> corresponding to their names, with the engraving of a signet, <n>{I.e. A type of seal used to indicate ownership}</n> each with the name of one of the twelve tribes. 


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They made two settings of gold filigree and two gold rings, and they put the two rings on the two edges of the breast piece. 


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and they attached the other two ends of the two cords to the filigree settings, and then attached them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod in front. 


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They made two gold rings and attached them to the two edges of the breast piece, on the side of it which is toward the inner side of the ephod. 


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They made two gold rings and attached them in front on the lower part of the two shoulder-pieces of the ephod close to the place where it's joined, above the skillfully woven band of the ephod. 


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They tied the breast piece by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a blue cord so it would rest on the skillfully woven band of the ephod and so the breast piece would not come loose from the ephod. 


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The opening of the robe was in the middle, like the opening of a coat of mail, with a binding around the opening so it would not be torn. 


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On the hem of the robe they made pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet material and woven linen. 


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They made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between <n>{Lit. among}</n> the pomegranates on the hem of the robe; all around between <n>{Lit. among}</n> the pomegranates. 


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There was a bell and a pomegranate, then <n>{The Heb. lacks then}</n> a bell and a pomegranate, all around the hem of the robe for when the High Priest ministered, <n>{Lit. for ministering}</n> just as the Lord commanded Moses. 


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<n>{The Other Priestly Garments}</n> d For Aaron and his sons, they made tunics, woven of fine linen, 


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the turban of fine linen, decorated head coverings of fine linen, linen undergarments of fine woven linen, 


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the sash of fine woven linen, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet material, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 


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They made the medallion <n>{Or plate}</n> for the holy crown of pure gold, and they wrote on it an inscription like the engraving on a seal: "Holy to the Lord ." 


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They fastened a blue cord to it in order to fasten it on the turban above, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 


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<n>{Moses Inspects the Completed Work}</n> d All the work on the tent of the Tent of Meeting was completed, and the Israelis had crafted it according to everything that the Lord had commanded Moses, as they should have. <n>{Lit. Moses. So they had done.}</n> 


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They brought to Moses the tent, the tent, all its furnishings, its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, 


text:
the covering of ram skins dyed red, <n>{Or of tanned ram skins}</n> the covering of dolphin <n>{Or dugong ; i.e. a marine animal similar to a walrus or manatee}</n> skins, the curtain, <n>{I.e. the one that separates the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place}</n> 


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the lamp stand of pure gold, <n>{Lit. the pure lamp stand}</n> its lamps (with the lamps in order), its furnishings, its oil for lighting, 


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the bronze altar and the bronze lattice for it, its poles, all its furnishings, the basin and its base, 


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the hangings for the court, its pillars, its sockets, the screen for the gate of the court, its cords, its pegs, all the furnishings for the service of the tent, for the Tent of Meeting, 


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the woven garments for Aaron the priest for ministering in the Holy Place, and the garments for his sons for serving as priests. 


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Moses blessed them when he saw all the work, and that they had done it. They had done it just as the Lord had commanded. 


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You are to bring in the table and properly arrange what goes on it. <n>{Lit. arrange its arrangement}</n> Then you are to bring in the lamp stand and set up its lamps. 


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"You are to put the golden altar for incense in front of the Ark of the Testimony and then set up the screen for the doorway to the tent. 


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You are to put the altar for burnt offerings in front of the doorway of the tent of the Tent of Meeting. 


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You are to put the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar and put water in it. <n>{Lit. there}</n> 


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You are to take the anointing oil and anoint the tent and all that is in it. You are to consecrate it and all its furnishings and it will be holy. 


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"You are to anoint the altar for burnt offerings and all its utensils. You are to consecrate the altar and the altar will be most holy. 


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Then you are to bring Aaron and his sons to the doorway of the Tent of Meeting, and wash them with water. 


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You are to clothe Aaron with the holy garments, you are to anoint him, and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest. 


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You are to anoint them just as you anointed their father so they may serve me as priests. Their anointing is to qualify them <n>{Lit. shall be to them}</n> to belong to a perpetual priesthood from generation to generation." 


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<n>{Moses Obeys God's Instructions}</n> d Moses did everything that the Lord had commanded him, so he did. 


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Moses set up the tent. He installed its sockets and set its boards in place. He inserted its bars and set up its pillars. 


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He spread the tent over the tent and put the covering of the tent on top of it, just as the Lord had commanded him. <n>{Lit. Moses}</n> 


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Then he took the Testimony, put it into the ark, and placed the poles on the ark. He then put the Mercy Seat on top of the ark. 


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He brought the ark into the tent, set up the curtain, and screened off the Ark of the Testimony, just as the Lord had commanded him. <n>{Lit. Moses}</n> 


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and properly arranged the bread on it in the Lord's presence, just as the Lord had commanded him. <n>{Lit. Moses}</n> 


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Then he put the lamp stand in the Tent of Meeting, opposite the table on the south side of the tent, 


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and set up the lamps in the Lord's presence, just as the Lord had commanded him. <n>{Lit. Moses}</n> 


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He put the altar for burnt offerings at the doorway of the tent of the Tent of Meeting, and offered the burnt offering and the grain offering on it, just as the Lord had commanded him. <n>{Lit. Moses}</n> 


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When they entered the Tent of Meeting and approached the altar, they washed, just as the Lord had commanded him. <n>{Lit. Moses}</n> 


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He set up the court all around the tent and the altar, and hung up the screen for the gate of the court. And so Moses finished the work. 


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<n>{The Glory of the Lord Fills the Completed Tent}</n> d The cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tent. 


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Moses was not able to enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tent. 


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but if the cloud was not lifted up, they would not set out until <n>{Lit. until the time when}</n> it was lifted up. 


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For the cloud of the Lord was over the tent by day, and the fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel in all their journeys. 


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<n>{ The Third Book of the Law}</n> <n>{ Leviticus}</n> d <n>{Burnt Offerings}</n> d The Lord spoke to Moses from the midst of the Tent of Meeting: 


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"Speak to the Israelis and tell them, When any person <n>{Lit. man}</n> brings an offering to the Lord from among you, whether he brings on offering of animals from either cattle or flock, 


text:
if his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to bring a male without any defect. He is to present it at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. At the appointed time it is to be presented in the presence of the Lord so that he may be accepted. 


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He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted for him as an atonement on his behalf. 


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Then he is to slaughter the young bull <n>{Or calf}</n> in the Lord's presence." <n>{General Instructions}</n> d"Aaron's sons, the priests, are to bring the blood and sprinkle it <n>{Lit. the blood}</n> around the altar that stands at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 


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They <n>{Lit. Then Aaron's sons, the priests,}</n> are to arrange the pieces of meat including the head and the fat on the wood over the fire that burns on the altar. 


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Then he is to wash its entrails and legs with water. After this, the priest is to offer all of it on the altar a burnt offering by fire, an aroma that will be pleasing to the Lord ." 


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<n>{Burnt Offerings of Livestock}</n> d "If his offering is a burnt offering from the flock, whether lamb or goat, he is to bring a male without any defect 


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and slaughter it at the north side of the altar in the Lord's presence. Then Aaron's sons, the priests, are to sprinkle its blood around the altar. 


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He is to cut up its head and fat into separate pieces. Then the priest is to arrange them in rows on the wood over the fire that burns on the altar. 


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<n>{Burnt Offerings of Birds}</n> d "If his offering is a burnt offering of birds to the Lord , he is to bring turtledoves or young doves. 


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The priest is to bring it to the altar to offer it up in smoke. He is to decapitate it, drain its blood on the side <n>{Lit. wall}</n> of the altar, 


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and then he is to eviscerate it, and throw the viscera and the feathers to the east side of the altar, where the fatty ashes are located. 


