Part 8

And God said unto Iacob, arise and get thee up to Bethel, and dwell there. And make there an altar unto God that appeared unto thee, when thou fleddest from Esau thy brother. Then said Iacob unto his household and to all that were with him, put away the strange gods that are among you and make your selves clean, and change your garments, and let us arise and go up to Bethel, that I may make an altar there, unto God which heard me in the day of my tribulation and was with me in the way which I went. And they gave unto Iacob all the strange gods which were under their hands, and all their earings which were in their ears, and Iacob hid them under an oak at Sichem. And they departed. And the fear of God fell upon the cities that were round about them, that they durst not follow after the sons of Iacob. So came Iacob to Lus in the land of Canaan, otherwise called Bethel, with all the people that was with him. And he builded there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because that God {|the LORDe|} appeared unto him there, when he fled from his brother. Then died Debora Rebecca's nurse, and was buried beneath Bethel under an oak. And the name of it was called the oak of lamentation. And God appeared unto Iacob again after he came out of Mesopotamia, and blessed him and said unto him: Thy name is Iacob. Notwithstanding thou shalt be no more called Iacob, but Israel shall be thy name. And so was his name called Israel. And God said unto him: I am God allmighty, grow and multiply: for people and a multitude of people shall spring of thee, yea and kings shall come out of thy loins. And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, will I give unto thee, and unto thy seed after thee will I give it also. And God departed from him in the place where he talked with him. And Iacob set up a mark in the place where he talked with him: even a pillar of stone, and poured drink offering thereon and poured also oil thereon, and called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel. And they departed from Bethel, and when he was but a field brede from Ephrath, Rahel began to travail. And in travailing she was in peril. And as she was in pains of her labour, the midwife said unto her: fear not, for thou shalt have this son also. Then as her soul was departing, that she must die: she called his name Ben Oni. But his father called him Ben Iamin. and thus died Rahel and was buried in the way to Ephrath which now is called Bethlehem. And Iacob set up a pillar upon her grave, which is called Rahel's grave pillar unto this day. And Israel went thence and pitched up his tent beyond the tower of Eder. And it chanced as Israel dwelt in that land, that Ruben went and lay with Bilha his father's concubine, and it came to Israel's ear. The sons of Iacob were twelve in number. The sons of Lea: Ruben, Iacob's eldest son, and Simeon, Levi, Iuda, Isachar, and Zabulon. The sons of Rahel: Ioseph and Ben Iamin. The sons of Bilha Rahel's maid: Dan and Nephtali. The sons of Zilpha Lea's maid Gad and Asser. These are the sons which were born him in Mesopotamia. Then Iacob went unto Isaac his father to Mamre a principal city, otherwise called Hebron: where Abraham and Isaac sojourned as strangers. And the days of Isaac were an hundred and eighty years: and then fell he sick and died, and was put unto his people being old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Iacob buried him.

Chapter .xxxvi.

These are the generations of Esau which is called Edom. Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan Ada the daughter of Elon an Hethite, and Ahalibama the daughter of Ana, which Ana was the son of Zibeon an Hevite; And Basmath Ismael's daughter and sister of Nebaioth. And Ada bare unto Esau, Eliphas: and Basmath bare Reguel: And Ahalibama bare Ieus, Iaelam and Korah. These are the sons of Esau which were born him in the land of Canaan. And Esau took his wives, his sons and daughters and all the souls of his house: his goods and all his cattle and all his substance which he had got in the land of Canaan, and went into a country away from his brother Iacob: for their riches was so much, that they could not dwell together, and that the land wherein they were strangers, could not receive them: because of their cattle. Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir, which Esau is called Edom. These are the generations of Esau father of the Edomites in mount Seir, and these are the names of Esau's sons: Eliphas the son of Ada the wife of Esau, and Reguel the son of Basmath the wife of Esau also. And the sons of Eliphas were: Theman, Omar, Zepho, Gaetham and Kenas. And Thimna was concubine to Eliphas Esau's son, and bare unto Eliphas, Amalek. And these, be the sons of Ada Esau's wife. And these are the sons of Reguel: Nahath, Serah, Samma and Misa: these were the sons of Basmath Esau's wife. And these were the sons of Ahalibama Esau's wife the daughter of Ana son of Zebeon, which she bare unto Esau: Ieus, Iaelam and Korah. These were dukes of the sons of Esau. The children of Eliphas the first son of Esau were these: duke Theman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenas, duke Korah, duke Gaetham and duke Amaleck: these are the dukes that came of Eliphas in the land of Edom, and these were the sons of Ada. These were the children of Reguel Esau's sonne: duke Nahath, duke Serah, duke Samma, duke Misa. These are the dukes that came of Reguel in the land of Edom, and these were the sons of Basmath Esau's wife. These were the children of Ahalibama Esau's wife: duke Ieus, duke Gaelam, duke Korah these dukes came of Ahalibama the daughter of Ana Esau's wife. These are the children of Esau, and these are the dukes of them: which Esau is called Edom: These are the children of Seir the Horite, the inhabiter of the land: Lothan, Sobal, Zibeon, Ana, Dison, Eser and Disan. These are the dukes of the Horites the children of Seir in the land of Edom. And the children of Lothan were: Hori and Hemam. And Lothan's sister was called Thimna. The children of Sobal were these: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Sepho and Onam. These were the children of Zibeon. Aia and Ana, this was that Ana that found the mules in the wilderness, as he fed his father Zibeon's asses. The children of Ana were these. Dison and Ahalibama the daughter of Ana. These are the children of Dison. Hemdan, Esban, Iethran, and Cheran. The children of Ezer were these, Bilhan, Seavan and Akan. The children of Disan were: Ur and Aran. These are the dukes that came of Hori: duke Lothan, duke Sobal, duke Zibeon, duke Ana, duke Dison, duke Ezer, duke Disan. These be the dukes that came of Hori in their dukedoms in the land of Seir. These are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom before there reigned any king among the children of Israel. Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edomea, and the name of his city was Dinhaba. And when Bela died, Iobab the son of Serah out of Bezara, reigned in his stead. When Iobab was dead, Husam of the land of Themany reigned in his stead. And after the death of Husam, Hadad the son of Bedad which slew the Madianites in the field of the Moabites, reigned in his stead, and the name of his city was Avith. When Hadad was dead, Samla of Masreka reigned in his stead. When Samla was dead, Saul of the river Rehoboth reigned in his stead. When Saul was dead, Baal Hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead. And after the death of Baal Hanan the son of Achbor, Hadad reigned in his stead, and the name of his city was Pagu. And his wife's name Mehetabeel the daughter of Matred the daughter of Mesaab. These are the names of the dukes that came of Esau, in their kindreds, places and names: Duke Thimma, duke Alua, duke Ietheth, duke Ahalibama, duke Ela, duke Pinon, duke Kenas, duke Theman, duke Mibzar, duke Magdiel, duke Iram. These be the dukes of Edomea in their habitations, in the land of their possessions. This Esau is the father of the Edomites.

Chapter .xxxvij.

And Iacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, that is to say in the land of Canaan. And these are the generations of Iacob: when Ioseph was seventeen years old, he kept sheep with his brethren, and the lad was with the sons of Bilha and of Zilpha his father's wives. And he brought unto their father an evil saying that was of them. And Israel loved Ioseph more than all his children, because he begat him in his old age, and he made him a coat of many colours. When his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him and could not speak one kind word unto him. Moreover Ioseph dreamed a dream and told it his brethren: wherefore they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them hear I pray yow this dream which I have dreamed: Behold we were making sheaves in the field: and lo, my sheaf arose and stood upright, and yours stood round about and made obeisance to my sheaf. Then said his brethren unto him: what, shalt thou be our king or shalt thou reign over us? And they hated him yet the more, because of his dream and of his words. And he dreamed yet another dream and told it his brethren saying: behold, I have had one dream more: me thought the sonne and the moon and eleven stars made obeisance to me. And when he had told it unto his father and his brethren, his father rebuked him and said unto him: what meaneth this dream which thou hast dreamed: shall I and thy mother and thy brethren come and fall on the ground before thee? And his brethren hated him, but his father noted the saying. His brethren went to keep their father's sheep in Sichem, and Israel said unto Ioseph: do not thy brethren keep in Sichem? come that I may send thee to them. And he answered here am I. And he said unto him: go and see whether it be well with thy brethren and the sheep, and bring me word again: And sent him out of the vale of Hebron, for to go to Sichem. And a certain man found him wandering out of his way in the field, and asked him what he sought. And he answered: I seek my brethren, tell me I pray thee where they keep sheep. And the man said, they are departed hence, for I heard them say, let us go unto Dothan. Thus went Ioseph after his brethren, and found them in Dothan. And when they saw him afar off before he came at them, they took counsel {councell} against him, for to slay him, and said one to another: Behold this dreamer cometh, come now and let us slay him and cast him into some pit, and let us say that sonne wicked beast hath devoured him, and let us see what his dreams will come to. When Ruben heard that, he went about to rid him out of their hands and said, let us not kill him. And Ruben said moreover unto them, shed not his blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hands upon him: for he would have rid him out of their hands and delivered him to his father again. And as soon as Ioseph was come unto his brethren, they stripped him out, of his gay coat that was upon him, and they took him and cast him into a pit. But the pit was empty and had no water therein. And they sat them down to eat bread. And as they lift up their eyes and looked about, there came a company of Ismaelites from Gilead, and their camels laden with spicery, balm, and myrrh, and were going down into Egypt. Then said Iuda to his brethren, what availeth it that we slay our brother, and keep his blood secret? come on, let us sell him to the Ismaelites, and let not our hands be defiled upon him: for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content. Then as the Madianites merchant men passed by, they drew Ioseph out of the pit and sold him unto the Ismaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they brought him into Egypt. And when Ruben came again unto the pit and found not Ioseph there, he rent his clothes and went again unto his brethren saying: the lad is not yonder, and whither shall I go? And they took Ioseph's coat and killed a goat, and dipped the coat in the blood. And they sent that gay coat and caused it to be brought unto their father and said: This have we found: see, whether it be thy son's coat or no. And he knew it saying: it is my son's coat: a wicked beast hath devoured him, and Ioseph is rent in pieces. And Iacob rent his clothes, and put sack cloth about his loins, and sorrowed for his son a long season. Then came all his sons and all his daughters to comfort him. And he would not be comforted, but said: I will go down into the grave unto my son, mourning. And thus his father wept for him. And the Madianites sold him in Egypt unto Putiphar a lord of Pharao's: and his chief marshal.

Chapter .xxxviij.

And it fortuned at that time that Iudas went from his brethren and gat him to a man called Hira of Odollam, and there he saw the daughter of a man called Sua a Cananite. And he took her and went in unto her. And she conceived and bare a son and called his name Er. And she conceived again and bare a son and called him Onan. And she conceived the third time and bare a son, whom she called Sela: and he was at Chesib when she bare him. And Iudas gave Er his eldest son, a wife whose name was Thamar. But this Er Iuda's eldest son was wicked in the sight of the LORD, wherefore the LORD slew him. Then said Iudas unto Onan: go in to thy brother's wife and marry her, and stir up seed unto thy brother. And when Onan perceived that the seed should not be his: therefore when he went in to his brother's wife, he spilled it on the ground, because he would not give seed unto his brother. And the thing which he did, displeased the LORD, wherefore he slew him also. Then said Iuda to Thamar his daughter-in-law: remain a widow at thy father's house, till Sela my son be grown: for he feared lest he should have died also, as his brethren did. Thus went Thamar and dwelt in her father's house. And in process of time, the daughter of Sua Iuda's wife died. Then Iudas when he had left mourning, went unto his sheep shearers to Thimnath with his friend Hira of Odollam. And one told Thamar saying: behold, thy father-in-law goeth up to Thimnath, to shear his sheep. And she put her widow's garments off from her and covered her with a cloak, and disguised herself: And sat her down at the entering of Enaim which is by the high way's side to Thimnath, for because she saw that Sela was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife. When Iuda saw her he thought it had been an whore, because she had covered her face. And turned to her unto the way and said, come I pray thee, let me lie with thee, for he knew not that it was his daughter-in-law. And she said what wilt thou give me, for to lie with me? Then said he, I will send thee a kid from the flock. She answered: Then give me a pledge till thou send it. Then said he, what pledge shall I give thee? And she said: thy signet, thy necklace, and thy staff that is in thy hand. And he gave it her and lay by her, and she was with child by him. And she gat her up and went and put her mantle from her, and put on her widow's raiment again. And Iudas sent the kid by his neighbour of Odollam, for to fetch out his pledge again from the wife's hand. But he found her not. Then asked he the men of the same place saying: where is the whore that sat at Enaim in the way? And they said: there was no whore here. And he came to Iuda again saying: I can not find her, and also the men of the place said: that there was no whore there. And Iuda said: let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: for I sent the kid and thou couldest not find her. And it came to pass that after three months, one told Iuda saying: Thamar thy daughter-in-law hath played the whore, and with playing the whore is become great with child. And Iuda said: bring her forth and let her be brent. And when they brought her forth, she sent to her father-in-law saying: by the man unto whom these things pertain, am I with child. And said also: look whose are this seal, necklace, and staff. And Iuda knew them saying: she is more righteous than I, because I gave her not to Sela my son. But he lay with her no more. When time was come that she should be delivered, behold there was two twins in her womb. And as she travailed, the one put out his hand and the midwife took and bound a red thread about it saying: this will come out first. But he plucked his hand back again, and his brother came out. And she said: wherefore hast thou rent a rent upon thee? and called him Pharez. And afterward came out his brother that had the red thread about his hand, which was called Zarah.

Chapter .xxxix.

Ioseph was brought unto Egypt, and Putiphar a lord of Pharao's: and his chief marshal an Egyptian, bought him of the Ismaelites which brought him thither. And the LORD was with Ioseph, and he was a lucky fellow and continued in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all that he did prosper in his hand: Wherefore he found grace in his master's sight, and served him. And his master made him ruler of his house, and put all that he had in his hand. And as soon as he had made him ruler over his house and over all that he had, the LORD blessed this Egyptian's house for Ioseph's sake, and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had: both in the house and also in the fields. And therefore he left all that he had in Ioseph's hand, and looked upon nothing that was with him, save only on the bread which he ate. And Ioseph was a goodly person and a well favored. And it fortuned after this, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Ioseph and said come lie with me. But he denied and said to her: Behold, my master woteth not what he hath in the house with me, but hath committed all that he hath to my hand. He himself is not greater in the house than I, and hath kept nothing from me, but only thee because thou art his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, for to sin against God? And after this manner spake she to Ioseph day by day: but he hearkened not unto her, to sleep near her or to be in her company. And it fortuned about the same season, that Ioseph entered into the house, to do his business: and there was none of the household by, in the house. And she caught him by the garment saying: come sleep with me. And he left his garment in her hand and fled and got him out. When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled out, she called unto the men of the house, and told them saying: See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to do us shame: for he came in to me, for to have slept with me. But I cried with a loud voice. And when he heard, that I lift up my voice and cried, he left his garment with me and fled away and got him out. And she laid up his garment by her, until her lord came home. And she told him according to these words saying. This Hebrews' servant which thou hast brought unto us came in to me to do me shame. But as soon as I lift up my voice and cried, he left his garment with me and fled out. When his master heard the words of his wife which she told him saying: after this manner did thy servant to me, he waxed wroth. And he took Ioseph and put him in prison: even in the place where the king's prisoners lay bound. And there continued he in prison, but the LORD was with Ioseph and shewed him mercy, and got him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison which committed to Ioseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison house. And whatsoever was done there, that did he. And the keeper of the prison looked unto nothing that was under his hand, because the LORD was with him, and because that whatsoever he did, the LORD made it come luckily to pass.

Chapter .xl.