The Bible for Courageous Girls

Presented to

By

On the Occasion of

Date

for

A n Impr int of B ar bour P ublishin g, Inc.

The Bible for Courageous Girls © 2019 by Barbour Publishing, Inc. ISBN 978-1-64352-069-8 Illustrations by Heather Burns, Sara Foresti, Isabella Grott, Fabio Mancini, Bonnie Pang, Riley Stark, Lisa Manuzak Wiley, and Rea Zhai.

New Life Version © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes, except as noted below.

The New Life Version text may be quoted in any form (written, visual, electronic, or audio) up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, provided that the verses quoted do not account for more than 25 percent of the total work in which they are quoted, and provided that a complete book of the Bible is not quoted.

When the New Life Version is quoted, one of the following credit lines must appear on the copyright page or title page of the work: • Scripture quotations marked nlv are taken from the New Life Version, copyright © 1969 and 2003. Used by permission of Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio, 44683. All rights reserved.

• Scripture quotations are taken from the New Life Version, copyright © 1969 and 2003. Used by permission of Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio, 44683. All rights reserved.

• Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New Life Version, copyright © 1969 and 2003. Used by permission of Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio, 44683. All rights reserved.

When quotations from the nlv text are used in non-salable media, such as church bulletins, orders of service, newsletters, transparencies, or similar media, a complete copyright notice is not required, but the initials (NLV) must appear at the end of each quotation. Quotations in excess of five hundred (500) verses or 25 percent of the work, or other permission requests, must be approved in writing by Barbour Publishing, Inc. Published by Barbour Bibles, an imprint of Barbour Publishing, Inc., 1810 Barbour Drive, Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683, www.barbourbibles.com Our mission is to inspire the world with the life-changing message of the Bible.

Printed in China.

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Girls are world-changers!

And God gave us many stories of amazing women in His Word, the Bible.

Here is the entire Bible in the easy-to-read New Life Version, along with gorgeous, full-color artwork highlighting three dozen extraordinary women of faith—from Abigail to the widow of Zarephath. Older women, younger women, teenagers, and girls all played important roles in the big story that God recorded in scripture, and you’re about to meet several of them in The Bible for Courageous Girls.

Did you know that one Bible woman led an army into battle, while another one stopped a fight that her foolish husband had picked? Did you know that a twelve-year-old girl who died was brought back to life by Jesus, and that a woman was the first person to see Jesus after He Himself rose from the dead? Do you know the young woman whose beauty made her queen, but whose courageous faith in God saved her people from destruction? Or the teenager chosen by God to bring His own Son, Jesus, into the world? In the pages to come, you’ll meet all of them—Deborah, Abigail, Jairus’s daughter, Mary Magdalene, Esther, and Mary, the mother of Jesus—plus many more, including

·· ·· ·· ·· ·· ·· ·· ·

Anna Dorcas Elizabeth Hannah Huldah Jochebed Lois Martha Miriam Naaman’s servant girl Naomi Noah’s wife Peter’s mother-in-law Priscilla the Proverbs 31 woman

·· ·· ·· ·· ·· ·· ·

Rahab Rebekah Rhoda Ruth Salome Samson’s mother Sarah Shiphrah the Shunammite woman the widow who gave two mites the woman at the well the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet the woman who touched Jesus’ coat

These women and girls are highlighted on colorful pages inserted throughout the Bible text. Each feature describes the courageous woman and tells where in the Bible you can read more, offering both chapter-and-verse references and page numbers.

You’ll be empowered to understand how women have made a difference in the world.

May the stories of these women of faith inspire you to become the world-changer God created you to be!

The NLV Story The idea of a very readable and yet accurate version of the scriptures came to us in an igloo in the frozen Canadian Arctic many years ago. A few of the primitive Eskimos with whom we were working then were just starting to learn English. Although it was twenty years later before the new life Bible was published, the idea never left us. Instead, during those years, vocabulary and thought patterns were observed which helped set the course for a version that would eventually be used and appreciated in many parts of the world where English is used as a second language.

The secret of its readability is in the limited vocabulary. In most cases, each word uses only one meaning. Difficult biblical words found in other versions were broken down into simple, meaningful phrases. Other problems in Bible reading were researched, and the end result is a very readable and understandable version. Even educated adults who are familiar with the scriptures find themselves startled into new insights by its blunt simplicity.

Those of us who worked on this limited vocabulary new life Version were constantly watching to keep it understandable without sacrificing accuracy. There was no thought to change God’s holy Word to today’s street language. In fact, in many places, the wording and beauty of older versions have been retained. Paraphrasing, or man’s idea of what the Bible says, was ruled out. The careful and prayerful use of some basic words can be made to say what the original languages said, thus assuring the reader of an accurate text.

Two different times, the Bible speaks of the very words that were written by God and

by Christ. Exodus 31:18 says, “When the Lord had finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two stone writings of the Law, pieces of stone written on by the finger of God.” And John 8:6 says, “Jesus got down and began to write in the dust with His finger.” Both of these writings were soon destroyed. The pieces of stone with the written Law were broken in front of the children of Israel who were worshiping a false god, and it was not long before the people walked over what Jesus had written on the ground.

But it pleased God to have His law and the good news of life that lasts forever written by men He chose for that special job.

Those early men of God who copied the words given by the Holy Spirit that make up the 66 different books of the Bible used different languages than are used today. From Genesis to Revelation forty different men were used over a period of 1600 years. Four hundred years of time separated the Old Testament from the New. The way of life of the people living in Old Testament times was much different from those living during New Testament times. Hebrew was the language of the Old Testament, and Greek was used in the New Testament.

Those men did not write the Bible, but were led or guided by the Holy Spirit as to what they wrote and the words to use. “Understand this first: No part of the Holy Writings was

ever made up by any man. No part of the Holy Writings came long ago because of what men wanted to write. But holy men who belonged to God spoke (wrote) what the Holy Spirit told them” (2 Peter 1:20–21).

The first copies of the holy scriptures were perfect and without error. But man is not perfect, and because of changes in languages through the many years and translation from one language to another, no version can claim that same degree of perfection.

Since about 1900, many different versions have been printed in English—and hundreds in other major languages and tribal languages around the world. In all these languages, God’s written Word is alive today. Through the years, sinful men have tried to destroy it, but this living Book can never be destroyed. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35).

The Word of God contains many promises. This one tells what reading the Bible will do: “All the Holy Writings are God-given and are made alive by Him. Man is helped when he is taught God’s Word. It shows him how to be right with God. It gives the man who ­belongs to God everything he needs to work well for Him” (2 Timothy 3:16–17).

We dedicate this New Life Bible to Him in whose honor it has been published. May it give all who read it a greater understanding of the scriptures and a better knowledge of Jesus Christ, who came to save from the penalty and power of sin all who will put their trust in Him. G leason

and

K athryn L edyard

Wherever * is seen, the words that follow are not in all the early writings of the New Testament.

If part of a verse or more than one verse is missing in some of the early writings, it is marked [*].

Contents The OLD TESTAMENT Genesis. . . .

Exodus . . . .

Leviticus . . .

Numbers . . .

Deuteronomy Joshua . . . .

Judges . . . .

Ruth . . . . .

1 Samuel . . .

2 Samuel . . .

1 Kings. . . .

2 Kings. . . .

1 Chronicles .

2 Chronicles .

Ezra . . . . .

Nehemiah . .

Esther . . . .

Job . . . . . .

Psalms . . . .

Proverbs . . .

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Matthew . . . .

Mark . . . . . .

Luke . . . . . .

John . . . . . .

Acts . . . . . .

Romans . . . .

1 Corinthians .

2 Corinthians .

Galatians. . . .

Ephesians . . .

Philippians. . .

Colossians . . .

1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians

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Ecclesiastes . . .

Song of Solomon Isaiah. . . . . . .

Jeremiah . . . . .

Lamentations . .

Ezekiel . . . . . .

Daniel . . . . . .

Hosea . . . . . .

Joel . . . . . . . .

Amos. . . . . . .

Obadiah . . . . .

Jonah . . . . . . .

Micah . . . . . .

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Habakkuk . . . .

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The NEW TESTAMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus . . .

Philemon Hebrews .

James. . .

1 Peter . .

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1 John . .

2 John . .

3 John . .

Jude . . .

Revelation

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The OLD TESTAMENT

GE N E S I S The Beginning In the beginning God made from nothing the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was an empty waste and darkness was over the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was moving over the top of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good. He divided the light from the darkness. 5 Then God called the light day, and He called the darkness night.

There was evening and there was morning, one day.

6 Then God said, “Let there be an open space between the waters. Let it divide waters from waters.” 7 God made the open space, and divided the waters under the open space from the waters above the open space. And it was so. 8 Then God called the open space Heaven. There was evening and there was morning, the second day.

9 Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered into one place.

Let the dry land be seen.” And it was so. 10 Then God called the dry land Earth.

He called the gathering of the waters Seas.

And God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, “Let plants grow from the earth, plants that have seeds. Let fruit trees grow on the earth that bring their kind of fruit with their own seeds.” And it was so.

12 Plants grew out of the earth, giving their own kind of seeds. Trees grew with their fruit, and their kind of seeds. And God saw that it was good. 13 There was evening and there was morning, the third day.

14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the open space of the heavens to divide day from night. Let them tell the days and years and times of the year. 15 Let them be lights in the open space of the heavens to give light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 Then God made the two great lights, the brighter light to rule the day, and the smaller light to rule the night. He made the stars also.

17 God put them in the open space of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 to rule the day and the night. He divided the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 There was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

20 Then God said, “Let the waters be full of living things. Let birds fly above the earth in the open space of the heavens.”

21 God made the big animals that live in the sea, and every living thing that moves through the waters by its kind, and every winged bird after its kind. And God saw

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that it was good. 22 God wanted good to come to them, saying, “Give birth to many.

Grow in number. Fill the waters in the seas.

Let birds grow in number on the earth.”

23 There was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.

24 Then God said, “Let the earth bring into being living things after their kind: Cattle and things that move upon the ground, and wild animals of the earth after their kind.” And it was so. 25 Then God made the wild animals of the earth after their kind, and the cattle after their kind, and every thing that moves upon the ground after its kind. And God saw that it was good.

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man like Us and let him be head over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every thing that moves on the ground.”

27 And God made man in His own likeness. In the likeness of God He made him.

He made both male and female. 28 And God wanted good to come to them, saying, “Give birth to many. Grow in number. Fill the earth and rule over it. Rule over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

29 Then God said, “See, I have given you every plant that gives seeds that is on the earth, and every tree that has fruit that gives seeds. They will be food for you. 30 I have given every green plant for food to every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to every thing that moves on the earth that has life.” And it was so. 31 God saw all that He had made and it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

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So the heavens and the earth were completed, and all that is in them. 2 On the seventh day God ended His work which He had done. And He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God honored the seventh day and made it holy, because in it He rested from all His work which He had done.

The Garden of Eden 4 This is the story of the heavens and the earth when they were made, in the day the Lord God made the earth and the heavens. 5 Now no bush of the field was yet on the earth. And no plant of the field had started to grow. For the Lord God had not sent rain upon the earth. And there was no

Genesis 2:6 man to work the ground. 6 But a fog came from the earth and watered the whole top of the ground. 7 Then the Lord God made man from the dust of the ground. And He breathed into his nose the breath of life.

Man became a living being. 8 The Lord God planted a garden to the east in Eden.

He put the man there whom He had made.

9 And the Lord God made to grow out of the ground every tree that is pleasing to the eyes and good for food. And He made the tree of life grow in the center of the garden, and the tree of learning of good and bad.

10 Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden. And from there it divided and became four rivers. 11 The name of the first is Pishon. It flows around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold.

12 The gold of that land is good. Bdellium and onyx stone are there. 13 The name of the second river is Gihon. It flows around the whole land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is Tigris. It flows east of Assyria.

And the fourth river is the Euphrates.

15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work the ground and care for it. 16 The Lord God told the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden. 17 But do not eat from the tree of learning of good and bad. For the day you eat from it you will die for sure.”

18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper that is right for him.” 19 Out of the ground the Lord God made every animal of the field and every bird of the sky. He brought them to the man to find out what he would call them. And whatever the man called a living thing, that was its name.

20 Adam gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every animal of the field. But there was no helper found that was right for Adam. 21 So the Lord God put the man to sleep as if he were dead. And while he was sleeping, He took one of the bones from his side and closed up the place with flesh. 22 The Lord God made woman from the bone which He had taken from the man. And He brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. She will be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” 24 For this reason a man will leave his father and his mother, and will be joined to his wife. And they will become one flesh. 25 The man and his wife were both without clothes and were not ashamed.

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Man Does Not Obey God Now the snake was more able to fool others than any animal of the field which the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say that you should not eat from any tree in the garden?” 2 Then the woman said to the snake, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden. 3 But from the tree which is in the center of the garden, God has said, ‘Do not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” 4 The snake said to the woman, “No, you for sure will not die! 5 For God knows that when you eat from it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and bad.” 6 The woman saw that the tree was good for food, and pleasing to the eyes, and could fill the desire of making one wise. So she took of its fruit and ate.

She also gave some to her husband, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were without clothes. So they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves clothing.

8 Then they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the evening.

The man and his wife hid themselves from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man.

He said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And the man said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden. I was afraid because I was without clothes. So I hid myself.” 11 The Lord God said, “Who told you that you were without clothes? Have you eaten from the tree of which I told you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”

And the woman said, “The snake fooled me, and I ate.”

14 Then the Lord God said to the snake, “Because you have done this, you will be hated and will suffer more than all cattle, and more than every animal of the field.

You will go on your stomach and you will eat dust all the days of your life. 15 And I will make you and the woman hate each other, and your seed and her seed will hate each other. He will crush your head, and you will crush his heel.”

16 To the woman He said, “I will make your pain much worse in giving birth. You will give birth to children in pain. Yet your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”

17 Then He said to Adam, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and

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3 have eaten from the tree of which I told you, ‘Do not eat from it,’ the ground is cursed because of you. By hard work you will eat food from it all the days of your life.

18 It will grow thorns and thistles for you.

You will eat the plants of the field. 19 You will eat bread by the sweat of your face because of hard work, until you return to the ground, because you were taken from the ground. You are dust, and you will return to dust.”

20 The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.

21 And the Lord God made clothes of skins for Adam and his wife, and dressed them.

22 Then the Lord God said, “See, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and bad. Now then, he might put out his hand to take from the tree of life also, and eat and live forever.” 23 So the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to work the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove the man out. And He placed cherubim east of the garden of Eden with a sword of fire that turned every way. They kept watch over the path to the tree of life.

Cain Kills Abel The man lay with his wife Eve and she was going to have a child and she gave birth to Cain. She said, “I have given birth to a man with the help of the Lord.”

2 Next she gave birth to his brother Abel.

Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was one who worked the ground.

3 The day came when Cain brought a gift of the fruit of the ground to the Lord.

4 But Abel brought a gift of the firstborn of his flocks and of the fat parts.

The Lord showed favor to Abel and his gift. 5 But He had no respect for Cain and his gift. So Cain became very angry and his face became sad. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why are you looking down? 7 Will not your face be happy if you do well? If you do not do well, sin is waiting to destroy you. Its desire is to rule over you, but you must rule over it.”

8 Cain told this to his brother Abel. And when they were in the field, Cain stood up against his brother Abel and killed him.

9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”

10 The Lord said, “What have you done?

The voice of your brother’s blood is crying

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Genesis 5:1 to Me from the ground. 11 Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer give its strength to you. You will always travel from place to place on the earth.”

13 Then Cain said to the Lord, “I am being punished more than I can take! 14 See, this day You have made me go away from the land. And I will be hidden from Your face. I will run away and move from place to place. And whoever finds me will kill me.”

15 So the Lord said to him, “Whoever kills Cain will be punished by Me seven times worse.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain so that any one who found him would not kill him.

16 Then Cain went away from the face of the Lord, and stayed in the land of Nod, east of Eden. 17 Cain lay with his wife and she was going to have a child and she gave birth to Enoch. Cain built a city and gave it the name of Enoch, the name of his son.

18 Now Irad was born to Enoch. And Irad became the father of Mehujael. Mehujael became the father of Methushael. And Methushael became the father of Lamech.

19 Lamech took two wives for himself. The name of one was Adah. And the name of the other was Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal. He was the father of those who live in tents and have cattle. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal. He was the father of all those who play the harp and the horn.

22 Zillah gave birth to Tubal-cain who made things from brass and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

23 And Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, listen to my voice. Hear what I say, you wives of Lamech. For I have killed a man for hurting me, and a boy for hitting me. 24 If those who hurt Cain are punished seven times worse, then those who hurt Lamech will be punished seventy-seven times worse.”

25 And Adam lay with his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and gave him the name Seth. For she said, “God has let me have another son in the place of Abel, for Cain killed him.” 26 A son was born to Seth also, and he gave him the name Enosh. Then men began to call upon the name of the Lord.

The Families from Adam to Noah This is the book of the children of Adam and of their children’s children.

When God made man, He made him in

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Genesis 5:2 the likeness of God. 2 He made them male and female, and brought good to them.

And He gave them the name Man when they were made. 3 When Adam had lived 130 years, he gave birth to a son in his own likeness. And he gave him the name Seth.

4 Adam lived 800 years after he became the father of Seth. He had other sons and daughters. 5 So Adam lived 930 years, and he died.

6 When Seth had lived 105 years, he became the father of Enosh. 7 Seth lived 807 years after the birth of Enosh. He had other sons and daughters. 8 So Seth lived 912 years, and he died.

9 When Enosh had lived ninety years, he became the father of Kenan. 10 Enosh lived 815 years after the birth of Kenan. He had other sons and daughters. 11 So Enosh lived 905 years, and he died.

12 When Kenan had lived seventy years, he became the father of Mahalalel. 13 Kenan lived 840 years after the birth of Mahalalel. He had other sons and daughters.

14 So Kenan lived 910 years, and he died.

15 When Mahalalel had lived sixtyfive years, he became the father of Jared.

16 Mahalalel lived 830 years after the birth of Jared. He had other sons and daughters. 17 So Mahalalel lived 895 years, and he died.

18 When Jared had lived 162 years, he became the father of Enoch. 19 Jared lived 800 years after the birth of Enoch. He had other sons and daughters. 20 So Jared lived 962 years, and he died.

21 When Enoch had lived sixty-five years, he became the father of Methuselah.

22 Enoch walked with God 300 years after the birth of Methuselah. He had other sons and daughters. 23 So Enoch lived 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God, and he was seen no more, for God took him.

25 When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he became the father of Lamech.

26 Methuselah lived 782 years after the birth of Lamech. He had other sons and daughters. 27 So Methuselah lived 969 years, and he died.

28 When Lamech had lived 182 years, he became the father of a son. 29 He gave him the name Noah. He said, “This one will give us rest from our work, from the hard work of our hands because the ground was cursed by the Lord.” 30 Lamech lived 595 years after the birth of Noah. He had other sons and daughters. 31 So Lamech lived 777 years, and he died.

32 When Noah had lived 500 years, he

4 became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Sinful Man When men became many in number on the earth, and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful. And they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not stay in man forever, for he is flesh.

But yet he will live for 120 years.” 4 Very large men were on the earth in those days, and later also, when the sons of God lived with the daughters of men, who gave birth to their children. These were the powerful men of long ago, men of much strength.

5 Then the Lord saw that man was very sinful on the earth. Every plan and thought of the heart of man was sinful always.

6 The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth. He had sorrow in His heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have made from the land, man and animals, things that move upon the earth and birds of the sky. For I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

9 This is the story of Noah and his family. Noah was right with God. He was without blame in his time. Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah became the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

11 Now the earth was sinful in the eyes of God. The earth was filled with people hurting each other. 12 God looked at the earth and saw how sinful it was. For all who lived on the earth had become sinful in their ways.

13 Then God said to Noah, “I have decided to make an end to all the people on the earth. They are the cause of very much trouble. See, I will destroy them as I destroy the earth. 14 Make a large boat of gopher wood for yourself. Build rooms in the boat. And cover it inside and out with tar.

15 This is how you are to make it: The boat is to be as long as 150 long steps, as wide as twenty-five long steps, and eight times taller than a man. 16 Make a window for the boat, that goes down a cubit from the roof. Put a door in the side of the boat. And make it with first, second, and third floors.

17 See, I will bring a flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh under heaven that has the breath of life. Everything on earth will be destroyed. 18 But I will make My agreement with you. You will go into the large boat, you and your sons and your

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5 wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 19 You are to bring into the large boat two of every kind of living thing of all flesh, to keep them alive with you. They will be male and female. 20 Two of all the kinds of birds, and animals, and every thing that moves on the ground are to be with you to keep them alive. 21 And take with you every kind of food that is eaten, and store it. It will be food for you and for them.” 22 Noah did just what God told him to do.

The Flood Then the Lord said to Noah, “Go into the boat, you and all your family. For I have seen that you only are right and good at this time. 2 Take with you seven of every clean animal of each sex, and one of each sex of the animals that are unclean. 3 And take with you seven of every kind of bird of the sky of each sex, to keep their kind alive over all the earth. 4 In seven days I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights. I will destroy from the land every living thing that I have made.” 5 And Noah did all that the Lord told him to do.

6 Noah was 600 years old when the flood of water came upon the earth. 7 Then Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives all went into the large boat because of the water of the flood. 8 Clean animals and animals that were unclean and birds and every thing that moved on the ground 9 went into the large boat with Noah. They went two by two, male and female, just as God had told Noah.

10 After seven days the waters of the flood came upon the earth. 11 In the year 600 of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, all the wells of water under the earth broke open.

The windows of the heavens were opened.

12 And the rain fell upon the earth for forty days and forty nights.

13 On the very same day Noah and his sons, Shem and Ham and Japheth, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them, all went into the large boat. 14 With them went every kind of animal, and all the cattle, and every thing that moved on the earth, and every kind of bird. 15 They went into the large boat with Noah, two of every living thing.

16 Male and female of all flesh went in as God had told Noah. Then the Lord shut him in.

17 The flood came upon the earth for forty days. The water got deeper and raised up the large boat so that it was lifted above

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Genesis 8:13 the earth. 18 The water was very deep upon the earth. And the boat stayed upon the top of the water. 19 The water got higher and higher upon the earth until all the high mountains under heaven were covered. 20 But the water went about four times taller than a man above the tops of the mountains. 21 All flesh that moved on the earth was destroyed, birds and cattle and wild animals, and every man. 22 Every thing that had the breath of life and lived on dry land died. 23 God destroyed every living thing upon the land, from man to animals, from things that moved upon the ground to birds of the sky. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those that were with him in the large boat. 24 And the water covered the earth for 150 days.

The Flood Ends But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and all the cattle that were with him in the large boat. Then God made a wind blow over the earth until the water went down. 2 Also the wells of water under the earth and the windows of the heavens were shut. And it stopped raining.

3 The water kept moving away from the earth. At the end of 150 days the water was less. 4 And in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the large boat came to rest on Mount Ararat. 5 The water kept on going down until the tenth month. In the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains could be seen.

6 At the end of forty days, Noah opened the window of the large boat which he had made. 7 Then he sent out a raven, and it flew here and there until the water was dried up from the earth. 8 Then he sent out a dove, to see if the water was gone from the ground. 9 But the dove found no place to set her foot, so she returned to him in the boat. For the water was still over the earth. So Noah put out his hand and took her, and brought her into the boat with him. 10 He waited another seven days, and sent the dove from the boat again. 11 The dove returned to him in the evening. In her mouth was an olive leaf that had just been picked. So Noah knew that the water had gone from the earth. 12 Then he waited another seven days, and sent out the dove.

But she did not return to him again.

13 In the year 601, in the first month, on the first day of the month, the water was dried up from the earth. Then Noah took

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Genesis 8:14 the covering off the large boat, and looked out and saw that the earth was dry. 14 In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the ground was dry.

15 Then God said to Noah, 16 “Go out of the boat, you and your wife and your sons and your sons’ wives with you. 17 Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you, birds and animals and every­ thing that moves on the earth. So they may give birth and become many upon the earth.” 18 So Noah went out with his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives. 19 Every animal, every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out of the large boat by their families.

20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord.

He took of every clean animal and every clean bird, and gave burnt gifts in worship on the altar. 21 Then the Lord smelled a pleasing smell. And the Lord said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of man. For the desire of man’s heart is sinful from when he is young. I will never again destroy every living thing as I have done. 22 While the earth lasts, planting time and gathering time, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not end.”

God’s Agreement with Noah God made good come to Noah and his sons, and said to them, “Have many children, and cover the earth. 2 Every animal of the earth, every bird of the sky, everything that moves on the ground, and all the fish of the sea will be afraid of you. They are given into your hand.

3 Every moving thing that lives will be food for you. I give all to you as I gave you the green plants. 4 But you must not eat meat with blood in it because that is its life. 5 For sure, I will take the life of every animal and every person for taking a life. I will punish every man’s brother for taking the life of man. 6 Whoever takes the life of a man will have his life taken. For God made man to be like Him. 7 As for you, have many children. Cover the earth with many people.”

8 Then God said to Noah and his sons, 9 “See, I make My agreement with you, and with your children after you, 10 and with every living thing that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every animal of the earth, of all that came out of the large boat, every living thing on earth. 11 I make My agreement with you, that never again will all flesh be destroyed by the water of a

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6 flood. There will never again be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12 Then God said, “This is something special to see for all time, because of the agreement that I am making between Me and you and every living thing that is with you: 13 I will set My rainbow in the cloud, and it will be something special to see because of an agreement between Me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember My agreement that is between Me and you and every living thing of all flesh. Never again will the water become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the rainbow is in the cloud, I will look upon it to remember the agreement that will last forever between God and every living thing of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 God said to Noah, “This is the special thing to see because of the agreement I have made between Me and all flesh upon the earth.”

Noah and His Sons 18 The sons of Noah who came out of the large boat were Shem, Ham and Japheth.

Ham was the father of Canaan. 19 These three were the sons of Noah. And all the people of the earth came from them.

20 Then Noah became a farmer and planted a grape-field. 21 And he drank of the wine, and drank too much, and lay without covering himself in his tent.

22 Then Ham, the father of Canaan, saw that his father was without clothes. And he told his two brothers outside. 23 But Shem and Japheth took a coat and laid it upon their shoulders and walked in with their backs toward their father and covered him. Their faces were turned away, so that they did not see their father without clothes. 24 When Noah awoke from his wine, he knew what his youngest son had done to him. 25 So he said, “May Canaan be cursed! He will be a servant of servants to his brothers.” 26 He also said, “Honor and thanks be to the Lord, the God of Shem. Let Canaan be his servant. 27 May God make Japheth great. Let him live in the tents of Shem. And let Canaan be his servants.”

28 Noah lived 350 years after the flood.

29 So Noah lived 950 years, and he died.

The Families after Noah’s Sons These are the families of Shem, Ham and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and of their families. Sons were born to them after the flood.

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7 2 The

sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. 3 The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. 4 The sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. 5 From these the people who live beside the sea spread out into their lands, each one by his language, family, and nation.

6 The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. 7 The sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan. 8 Cush became the father of Nimrod, who was the first on earth to become a powerful man. 9 He was a powerful animal-killer in the eyes of the Lord.

So it is said, “Like Nimrod, a powerful animal-killer in the eyes of the Lord.”

10 The beginning of his nation was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 He went into Assyria from the land, and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah 12 and Resen between Nineveh and Calah. That is the great city. 13 Mizraim became the father of Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, 14 Pathrusim, Casluhim (from which came the Philistines), and Caphtorim.

15 Canaan became the father of Sidon, his first-born, and Heth, 16 and the Jebusite, the Amorite, the Girgashite, 17 the Hivite, the Arkite, the Sinite, 18 the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite.

Later the Canaanite families spread out.

19 So the land of the Canaanite was from Sidon toward Gerar as far as Gaza, then toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim as far as Lasha. 20 These are the sons of Ham, by their families, languages, lands and nations.

21 Children were born to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, and the older brother of Japheth. 22 The sons of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram. 23 The sons of Aram were Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash. 24 Arpachshad became the father of Shelah.

Shelah became the father of Eber. 25 Eber had two sons. The name of one was Peleg, for the earth was divided in his day. The name of his brother was Joktan. 26 Joktan became the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 27 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba, 29 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan. 30 The land where they lived was from Mesha toward Sephar to the hill country of the east. 31 These are

Genesis 11:19 the sons of Shem, by their families, languages, lands and nations.

32 These are the families of the sons of Noah. From these family groups, nations were spread over the earth after the flood.

The Tower at Babel Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words. 2 And as men traveled in the east, they found a valley in the land of Shinar and made their home there. 3 They said to one another, “Come, let us make blocks and burn them until they are hard.” They used blocks for stone, and tar to hold them together.

4 Then they said, “Come, let us build a city for ourselves, with a tower that touches the heavens. Let us make a name for ourselves, or else we may be sent everywhere over the whole earth.”

5 Then the Lord came down to see the city and the tower that the sons of men had built. 6 And the Lord said, “See, they are one people, and they all have the same language. This is only the beginning of what they will do. Now all they plan to do will be possible for them. 7 Come, let Us go down and mix up their language so they will not understand what each other says.” 8 So the Lord sent them everywhere over the whole earth. And they stopped building the city. 9 So the name of the city was Babel, because there the Lord mixed up the language of the whole earth. The Lord sent the people everywhere over the whole earth.

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The Families after Shem 10 These are the children of Shem. When Shem had lived 100 years, he became the father of Arpachshad, two years after the flood. 11 Shem lived 500 years after the birth of Arpachshad. He had other sons and daughters.

12 When Arpachshad had lived thirtyfive years, he became the father of Shelah.

13 Arpachshad lived 403 years after the birth of Shelah. He had other sons and daughters.

14 When Shelah had lived thirty years, he became the father of Eber. 15 Shelah lived 403 years after the birth of Eber. He had other sons and daughters.

16 When Eber had lived thirty-four years, he became the father of Peleg. 17 Eber lived 430 years after the birth of Peleg. He had other sons and daughters.

18 When Peleg had lived thirty years, he became the father of Reu. 19 Peleg lived

Genesis 11:20 209 years after the birth of Reu. He had other sons and daughters.

20 When Reu had lived thirty-two years, he became the father of Serug. 21 Reu lived 207 years after the birth of Serug. He had other sons and daughters.

22 When Serug had lived thirty years, he became the father of Nahor. 23 Serug lived 200 years after the birth of Nahor. He had other sons and daughters.

24 When Nahor had lived twenty-nine years, he became the father of Terah.

25 Nahor lived 119 years after the birth of Terah. He had other sons and daughters.

26 When Terah had lived seventy years, he became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran.

27 Now these are the children of Terah.

Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot. 28 Haran died with his father Terah beside him in the land of his birth, Ur of the Chaldeans. 29 Abram and Nahor both married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai. The name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah, the daughter of Haran. Haran was the father of Milcah and Iscah. 30 But Sarai could not give birth. She had no child. 31 Terah took his son Abram, and his grandson Lot, the son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram and they went together from Ur of the Chaldeans to the land of Canaan. But when they went as far as Haran, they made their home there. 32 Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Haran.

God Calls Abram Now the Lord said to Abram, “Leave your country, your family and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make you a great nation. I will bring good to you. I will make your name great, so you will be honored. 3 I will bring good to those who are good to you. And I will curse those who curse you.

Good will come to all the families of the earth because of you.”

4 So Abram left as the Lord told him to do, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. 5 Abram took his wife Sarai, and his brother’s son Lot, and all the things they had gathered, and the people who joined them in Haran. And they left to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan. 6 Abram passed through the land as far as the oak of Moreh at Shechem. The Canaanite people were

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8 living in the land at that time. 7 Then the Lord showed Himself to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your children and to your children’s children.” So Abram built an altar there to the Lord Who had shown Himself to him. 8 Then he went from there to the mountain east of Bethel. He put up his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord. 9 Then Abram traveled on, still going toward the Negev.

10 Now there was no food in the land. So Abram went south to Egypt to stay there, because it was very hard to live in the land with no food. 11 When he was about to go into Egypt, Abram said to his wife Sarai, “I know that you are a beautiful woman.

12 When the men of Egypt see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ And they will kill me, but they will let you live. 13 Say that you are my sister. Then it may go well with me because of you. And because of you they will not kill me.”

14 When Abram came into Egypt, the men of Egypt saw that the woman was very beautiful. 15 Pharaoh’s rulers saw her and told Pharaoh of her beauty. So the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.

16 And Pharaoh acted well toward Abram because of Sarai. He gave Abram sheep, cattle, male and female donkeys, and camels, and men and women servants. 17 But the Lord sent much sickness upon Pharaoh and his house because of Abram’s wife Sarai. 18 Then Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go.”

20 And Pharaoh told his men what to do with Abram. They led him away with his wife and all that belonged to him.

Abram and Lot Go Different Ways So Abram left Egypt and went to the Negev, with his wife and all that belonged to him. And Lot went with him.

2 Now Abram was very rich in cattle, silver and gold. 3 He traveled from the Negev as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 where he had made an altar. And there Abram called on the name of the Lord. 5 Now Lot, who went with Abram, had flocks and cattle and tents of his own. 6 There was not enough land to feed all the animals while they lived

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9 together. They owned so many things that they were not able to stay together. 7 There was fighting between those who cared for Abram’s animals and those who cared for Lot’s animals. The Canaanite and the Perizzite were living in the land at that time.

8 So Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no fighting between you and me or between the men who take care of our animals, for we are brothers. 9 Is not the whole land in front of you? Let each of us go a different way. If you go to the left, then I will go to the right. Or if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.”

10 Lot looked and saw that the Jordan valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)

11 So Lot chose all the Jordan valley for himself. And as Lot traveled east, they went apart from each other. 12 Abram made his home in the land of Canaan. Lot made his home in the cities of the valley and moved his tents as far as Sodom, 13 whose men were sinful, sinning against the Lord.

14 The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had left him, “Raise your eyes and look from where you are to the north and south and east and west. 15 For I will give all the land that you see to you and to your children and to your children’s children forever. 16 I will make your family after you like the dust of the earth. So if anyone could number the dust of the earth, then he could number your children’s children. 17 Rise up and walk far and wide upon the land. For I will give it to you.” 18 Then Abram moved his tent and came to live among the oaks of Mamre in Hebron. There he built an altar to the Lord.

Abram Keeps Lot from Being Killed It was in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, 2 that they made war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3 All these joined together in the valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). 4 They had been ruled by Chedorlaomer for twelve years. But in the thirteenth year they went against him.

5 Then in the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and won a war against the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham,

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Genesis 14:22 the Emim in Shavehkiriathaim, 6 and the Horites in their Mount Seir as far as Elparan near the desert. 7 Then they turned around and came to Enmishpat (that is, Kadesh). There they won a war against all the country of the Amalekites and the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.

8 Then the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim and Bela (that is, Zoar) went out and joined in war against them in the valley of Siddim. 9 They fought against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar, four kings against five. 10 Now the Siddim valley was full of deep holes with tar. The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah turned and ran, and some fell there. But the others ran away into the hill country. 11 Then those who won the war took all that belonged to Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their food, and left.

12 They also took Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, who lived in Sodom, and all that belonged to him, and left.

13 Then one who had run for his life came and told Abram the Hebrew. Abram was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and Aner, who were friends of Abram. 14 When Abram heard that one of his family had been taken away, he led 318 men who had been born in his house and whom he had taught to fight. They went after them as far as Dan. 15 Abram divided his army against them by night, he and his servants. They won the war against them, and followed them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 Then Abram returned with all the things they had taken. He also returned with his brother’s son Lot and all that belonged to him, and the women and the people.

17 After Abram returned from destroying Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s valley). 18 Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was a religious leader of God Most High. 19 And Melchizedek honored Abram and said, “May good come to Abram from God Most High, Maker of heaven and earth. 20 Honor and thanks be to God Most High, Who has given into your hand those who fought against you.”

Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all he had taken. 21 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, but take the riches and food for yourself.”

22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom,

Genesis 14:23 “I have promised the Lord God Most High, Maker of heaven and earth, 23 that I will not take a piece of string or piece of leather or anything that is yours. Or else you might say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’

24 I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol and Mamre take their share.”

God’s Agreement with Abram After these things, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a special dream, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram.

I am your safe place. Your reward will be very great.” 2 Then Abram said, “O Lord God, what will You give me? For I have no child. And the one who is to receive what belongs to me is Eliezer of Damascus.”

3 Abram said, “Because You have not given me a child, one born in my house will be given all I have.” 4 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This man will not be given what is yours. But he who will come from your own body will be given what is yours.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Now look up into the heavens and add up the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then He said to him, “Your children and your children’s children will be as many as the stars.” 6 Then Abram believed in the Lord, and that made him right with God. 7 God said to him, “I am the Lord Who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land for your own.” 8 And Abram said, “O Lord God, how may I know that it will be mine?” 9 So the Lord said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old cow, a three-year-old female goat, a threeyear-old ram, a turtle-dove and a young pigeon.” 10 Then Abram brought all these to Him, and cut them in two. And he laid each half beside the other. But he did not cut the birds. 11 When the meat-eating birds came down upon the dead animals, Abram made them go away.

12 When the sun was going down, Abram went into a sleep as if he were dead. And much fear and darkness came upon him.

13 God said to Abram, “Know for sure that your children and those born after them will be strangers in a land that is not theirs.

There they will be servants and suffer for 400 years. 14 But I will punish the nation they will serve. And later they will come out with many riches. 15 You will live many years, die in peace and be buried. 16 Then your great great-grandchildren will return

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10 here. For the sins of the Amorite are not yet finished.”

17 When the sun had gone down and it was very dark, a fire pot of smoke and a burning fire passed between these parts of animals. 18 The Lord made an agreement with Abram on that day. He said, “I have given this land to your children and to their children’s children, from the river of Egypt as far as the big Euphrates River, 19 the land of the Kenite, the Kenizzite, the Kadmonite, 20 the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Girgashite and the Jebusite.”

Hagar and Ishmael Now Abram’s wife Sarai had not given birth to any children. She had a woman servant from Egypt whose name was Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “Now see, the Lord has kept me from having children. Go in to the woman who serves me. It may be that I will get children through her.” Abram listened to what Sarai said. 3 So Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, who served her, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. That was after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan. 4 He went in to Hagar, and she was going to have a child. And when she saw that she was going to have a child, she began to hate Sarai. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be upon you. I gave the woman who served me into your arms. But when she saw that she was going to have a child, she began to hate me. May the Lord judge who is guilty or not between you and me.” 6 But Abram said to Sarai, “See, the woman who serves you is in your power. Do what you want with her.” So Sarai made it hard for Hagar. And Hagar ran away from her.

7 The angel of the Lord found Hagar by a well of water in the desert on the way to Shur. 8 He said, “Hagar, you who serve Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” And she said, “I am running away from Sarai, the one I serve.” 9 Then the angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your boss. Put yourself under her power.” 10 The angel of the Lord said to her, “I will give you so many people in your family through the years that they will be too many to number.” 11 The angel of the Lord also said to her, “See, you are going to have a child. And you will give birth to a son. You will give him the name Ishmael, because the Lord has heard how you have suffered. 12 He will be a wild

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11 donkey of a man. His hand will be against all people. And the hand of all people will be against him. He will live to the east of all his brothers.” 13 So Hagar gave this name to the Lord Who spoke to her, “You are a God Who sees.” For she said, “Have I even stayed alive here after seeing Him?” 14 So the well was called Beer-lahai-roi. It is between Kadesh and Bered.

15 Hagar gave birth to Abram’s son. And Abram gave his son who was born of Hagar the name Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar gave birth to his son Ishmael.

The Special Act of the Agreement When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord came to him and said, “I am God All-powerful. Obey Me, and be without blame. 2 And I will keep My agreement between Me and you. I will give you many children.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face. God said to him, 4 “See, My agreement is with you. You will be the father of many nations. 5 No more will your name be Abram.

But your name will be Abraham. For I will make you the father of many nations. 6 Many will come from you. I will make nations of you. Kings will come from you. 7 I will make My agreement between Me and you and your children after you through their whole lives for all time. I will be God to you and to your children’s children after you. 8 I will give to you and your children after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan for yourselves forever. And I will be their God.” 9 Then God said to Abraham, “You must keep My agreement, you and your children after you for all time. 10 This is My agreement between Me and you and your children after you, which you must obey: Every man among you must have this religious act done. 11 In this religious act the skin is cut off from the end of your sex part.

This will be the special act of the agreement between Me and you. 12 Every male child among you who is eight days old must have this religious act done, through all time. The same must be done to all the men born in your house or bought with your money from any stranger, who is not one of your family. 13 He that is born in your house and he that is bought with your money must have this religious act done. So will My agreement be marked in your flesh, an agreement that lasts forever.

14 But the man who has not had this religious act done, of cutting off his piece of

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Genesis 18:5 skin, will be cut off from his people. He has broken My agreement.”

15 Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, do not call her name Sarai.

But Sarah will be her name. 16 And I will bring good to her. I will give you a son by her. I will bring good to her. And she will be the mother of nations. Kings of many people will come from her.”

17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed. He said to himself, “Will a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? 18 Then Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live before You!” 19 But God said, “No, but your wife Sarah will give birth to your son. And you will give him the name Isaac. I will make My agreement with him and for his children after him, an agreement that will last forever. 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you.

I will bring good to him. I will make him grow in number. He will be the father of twelve rulers. I will make him a great nation. 21 But I will make My agreement with Isaac, who will be born to Sarah at this time next year.”

22 When He had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham. 23 Then Abraham took his son Ishmael, and all who were born in his house, and all who were bought with his money, and every man and boy who lived in his house. And he cut off their piece of skin that very day, as God had told him to do. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he had the religious act done of cutting off his piece of skin.

25 His son Ishmael was thirteen years old when he had the religious act done of cutting off his piece of skin. 26 Abraham and his son Ishmael had this religious act done that very day. 27 And all the men of his house, who were born in the house or bought with money from a stranger, had this religious act done with him.

Abraham Is Promised a Son The Lord showed Himself to Abraham by the oak trees of Mamre, as he sat at the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them. He put his face to the ground 3 and said, “My lord, if I have found favor in your eyes, please do not pass by your servant. 4 Let us have a little water brought to wash your feet. Rest yourselves under the tree. 5 And I will get a piece of bread so you may eat and get strength. After that you may go on your

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Genesis 18:6 way, since you have come to your servant.”

The men said, “Do as you have said.”

6 So Abraham ran into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Hurry and get three pails of fine flour, mix it well, and make bread.” 7 Then Abraham ran to the cattle and took out a young and good calf. He gave it to the servant to make it ready in a hurry. 8 He took milk and cheese and the meat which he had made ready, and set it in front of them. He stood by them under the tree while they ate.

9 Then they said to him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he said, “There in the tent.” 10 The Lord said, “I will be sure to return to you at this time next year. And your wife Sarah will have a son.” Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.

11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old.

They had lived many years. The way of women had stopped for Sarah. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “Will I have this joy after my husband and I have grown old?” 13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘How can I give birth to a child when I am so old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” 15 But Sarah said, “I did not laugh,” because she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

Abraham Cries Out for Sodom 16 Then the men got up from there and looked down toward Sodom. Abraham went with them to send them on their way. 17 And the Lord said, “Should I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 since Abraham will become a great and powerful nation, because good will come to all the nations of the earth through him? 19 For I have chosen him, so that he may teach his children and the sons of his house after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and fair. So the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has promised him.” 20 Then the Lord said, “The cry against Sodom and Gomorrah is loud. Their sin is very bad. 21 I will now go down and see if they have done as much wrong as the cry against them has told Me they have. And if not, I will know.”

22 Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom. But Abraham still stood before the Lord. 23 Abraham came near and said, “Will You destroy the good also, with the bad? 24 What if there are fifty good people within the city? Will You destroy the place and not

12 save it because of the fifty good people in it? 25 May You never do such a thing as to destroy the good with the bad! May the good never be punished like the bad!

You would never do such a thing! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?” 26 So the Lord said, “If I find fifty good people in the city of Sodom, I will save the whole place because of them.”

27 Abraham said, “Now see, I have taken upon myself to speak to the Lord, I who am only dust and ashes. 28 What if five of the fifty good people are not so good.

Will You destroy the whole city because of five?” The Lord said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five good people there.”

29 Abraham spoke to Him again and said, “What if only forty are found there?” The Lord said, “I will not destroy it if there are forty.” 30 Then Abraham said, “O may the Lord not be angry, and I will speak. What if only thirty are found there?” The Lord said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”

31 Abraham said, “Now see, I have taken upon myself to speak to the Lord. What if twenty are found there?” The Lord said, “I will not destroy it because of the twenty.”

32 Then Abraham said, “O may the Lord not be angry. And I may speak once more.

What if ten are found there?” The Lord said, “I will not destroy it because of the ten.” 33 Then the Lord went on His way when He finished speaking with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed The two angels came to Sodom in the evening. Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he got up to meet them. He put his face to the ground 2 and said, “My lords, come into the house of your servant. Stay the night, and wash your feet. Then you may rise early and go on your way.” But they said, “No, we will stay the night in the street.” 3 But he begged them, so they turned aside with him and went into his house. And he made a supper for them.

He made bread without yeast, and they ate.

4 Before they went to bed, all the men of the city of Sodom both young and old gathered around the house. 5 They called to Lot, saying, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so we may lie with them.” 6 Lot went out the door to the men, and shut the door behind him. 7 He said, “My brothers, please do not be so sinful. 8 See, I

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13 have two daughters who have never had a man. Let me bring them out to you.

And do to them whatever you want. But do nothing to these men, for they have come to be safe under my roof.” 9 But they said, “Get out of our way. This man came to live here from another land. And already he acts like a judge. Now we will do worse things to you than to them.” So they pushed hard against Lot and almost broke down the door. 10 But the two men put out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them, and shut the door.

11 Then they blinded the men who were at the door of the house, both small and big. So the men became tired trying to find the door.

Lot Leaves Sodom 12 Then the two men asked Lot, “Do you have any others here? Sons-in-law, your sons, your daughters, anyone you have in the city, bring them out of this place.

13 For we are about to destroy this place.

Because the cry against its people has become so loud to the Lord that the Lord has sent us to destroy it.” 14 So Lot went out to speak to his sons-in-law who were to marry his daughters. He said, “Get up!

Get out of this place! For the Lord will destroy the city!” But his sons-in-law thought he was only joking.

15 When morning came, the angels told Lot to hurry. They said, “Get up. Take your wife and your two daughters who are here. Or else you will be destroyed when the city is punished.” 16 But Lot was slow to move. So the men took him, his wife and two daughters by the hand and brought them out of the city. For the Lord had loving-pity for him. 17 When they had brought them out of the city, one of them said, “Run for your life! Do not look behind you. Do not stop until you are out of the valley. Run to the mountains or else you will be destroyed.” 18 But Lot said to them, “O, no, my lords! 19 See, your servant has found favor in your eyes. You have shown me great kindness in what you have done for me by saving my life. But I cannot run to the mountains. For I will run into danger and die. 20 See, this town is near enough to run to, and it is small.

Let me run there (is it not small?) and my life will be saved.” 21 The angel said to him, “See, I am doing what you ask. I will not destroy this town that you have spoken about. 22 Hurry and run there. For I cannot do anything until you get there.”

Genesis 20:2 So the name given to the town was Zoar.

23 The sun had moved over the earth when Lot came to Zoar. 24 Then the Lord poured fire from the heavens upon Sodom and Gomorrah. 25 He destroyed those cities, and all the valley, and all the people of the cities, and what grew on the ground.

26 But Lot’s wife behind him turned and looked toward the cities. And she was changed into salt.

27 Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord. 28 He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley. And he saw the smoke of the land going up like the smoke from a place where there is much fire. 29 But when God destroyed the cities of the valley, He remembered Abraham. He sent Lot out of the center of the danger, when He destroyed the cities where Lot lived.

30 Then Lot went up from Zoar with his two daughters, and lived in the mountains for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He lived in a cave in the side of a mountain with his two daughters. 31 Then the first-born daughter said to the younger one, “Our father is old. And there is not a man on earth to marry us. 32 Come, let us make our father drink wine. Let us lie with him, so we may keep our family through our father.” 33 So they made their father drink wine that night. And the first-born went in and lay with her father. He did not know when she lay down or when she got up. 34 On the next day, the first-born said to the younger, “See, I lay with my father last night. Let us make him drink wine tonight also, then you go in and lie with him. And we may keep our family through our father.” 35 So they made their father drink wine that night also, then the younger daughter went and lay with him.

He did not know when she lay down or when she got up. 36 So both the daughters of Lot were going to have a child by their father. 37 The first-born daughter gave birth to a son, and gave him the name Moab. He is the father of the Moabites to this day. 38 The younger daughter gave birth to a son also. She gave him the name Benammi. He is the father of the Ammonites to this day.

Abraham and Abimelech Abraham traveled from there to the land of the Negev, and made his home between Kadesh and Shur. Then he lived for a time in Gerar. 2 Abraham said about his

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Genesis 20:3 wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her for his wife. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said, “See, you are a dead man because of the woman you have taken. For she is already married.” 4 But Abimelech had not come near her. He said, “Lord, will You destroy a nation who is without blame? 5 Did the man not tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this with a heart of honor and with hands that are not guilty.”

6 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this with a heart of honor. And I kept you from sinning against Me. I did not let you touch her. 7 So now return the man’s wife. For he is one who speaks for Me. Then he will pray for you, and you will live. But if you do not return her, know that you and all who are yours will die for sure.”

8 So Abimelech got up early in the morning. He called all his servants and told them all these things. And the men were very much afraid. 9 Then Abimelech called Abraham and said, “What have you done to us? What wrong have I done to you, that made you bring a great sin upon me and my nation? You have done to me what should not have been done.” 10 Abimelech said to Abraham, “What made you do such a thing?” 11 Abraham said, “I did it because I thought there was no fear of God in this place. I thought they would kill me because of my wife. 12 And it is true she is my sister. She is the daughter of my father, but not of my mother. And she became my wife. 13 When God made me go from my father’s house, I said to Sarah, ‘This is the kindness you must show me.

Everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.” ’ ” 14 Then Abimelech gave to Abraham sheep and cattle, and men and women servants. And he returned his wife Sarah to him. 15 Abimelech said, “See, my land is in front of you. Make your home any place you want.” 16 He said to Sarah, “See, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is to pay you for all that has happened. Your honor is made right in the eyes of all men.”

17 So Abraham prayed to God. And God healed Abimelech, his wife and the women who served him, so that they gave birth to children. 18 For the Lord had stopped all births in the house of Abimelech because of Abraham’s wife Sarah.

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The Birth of Isaac Then the Lord visited Sarah as He had said and did for her as He had promised. 2 Sarah was able to have a child and she gave birth to a son when Abraham was very old. He was born at the time the Lord said it would happen. 3 Abraham gave the name Isaac to his son who was born to him by Sarah. 4 Then Abraham did the religious act of the Jews on Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had told him to do. 5 Abraham was one hundred years old when Isaac was born. 6 And Sarah said, “God has made me laugh. All who hear will laugh with me.” 7 She said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet when he is so old I have given him a son.” 8 When the child grew old enough to stop nursing, Abraham made a special supper on that day.

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Hagar and Ishmael Are Sent Away 9 But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian make fun of Isaac. Abraham was the father of Hagar’s son. 10 So Sarah said to Abraham, “Put this woman servant and her son out of your home. The son of this woman servant will never get any of the riches of the family as will my son Isaac.”

11 And the thing brought much sorrow to Abraham because of his son. 12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not be full of sorrow because of the boy and the woman who serves you. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you. For your children and all their children’s children after you will be given a name through Isaac. 13 But I will also make a nation of the son of the woman who serves you, because he is your son.”

14 So Abraham got up early in the morning. He took bread and a leather bag of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder. He gave her the boy, and sent her away. She left, and went from place to place in the desert in Beersheba. 15 When the water was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. 16 Then she sat down as far away from him as an arrow flies. For she said, “Do not let me see the boy die.” As she sat there, she cried a loud cry. 17 But God heard the voice of the boy. Then the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, and said, “Why are you so troubled, Hagar? Do not be afraid. For God has heard the cry of the boy. 18 Get up. Lift up the boy and hold him by the hand. For I will make a great nation of him.”

19 Then God opened Hagar’s eyes.

15 And she saw a well of water. She went and filled the leather bag with water and gave the boy a drink. 20 God was with the boy and he grew. He lived in the desert, and became very good in using the bow.

21 While living in the desert of Paran, his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

The Agreement at Beersheba 22 At that time, Abimelech with Phicol, the head of his army, said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do. 23 So promise me here by God that you will not work against me, or my son, or any children after me. I have shown you kindness. So return kindness to me and to the land where you have come.” 24 Abraham said, “I promise.” 25 But Abraham spoke to Abimelech about a well of water that the servants of Abimelech had taken.

26 Abimelech said, “I do not know who did this. You never told me. And I did not hear about it until today.” 27 So Abraham took sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech. Then the two men made an agreement. 28 Abraham set seven lambs of the flock away from the others. 29 Abimelech said to Abraham, “What do these seven lambs that you have set apart mean?”

30 Abraham said, “Take these seven lambs from me as an agreement to me that I dug this well.” 31 So he gave that place the name Beersheba because both of them made a promise there. 32 So they made an agreement at Beersheba. Then Abimelech and Phicol, the head of his army, returned to the land of the Philistines.

33 Abraham planted a tree at Beersheba.

He called there on the name of the Lord, the God Who lives forever. 34 And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for many days.

Abraham Is Tested Later God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” Abraham said, “Here I am.” 2 God said, “Take now your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love. And go to the land of Moriah. Give him as a burnt gift on the altar in worship, on one of the mountains I will show you.”

3 So Abraham got up early in the morning and got his donkey ready. He took two of his young men with him and his son Isaac.

He cut wood for the burnt gift. And he went to the place where God told him to go. 4 Abraham looked up on the third day and saw the place far away. 5 He said to his

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Genesis 22:23 young men, “Stay here with the donkey. I and the boy will go to that place and worship, and return to you.” 6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt gift and had Isaac carry it. He took in his hand the fire and the knife. And the two of them walked on together. 7 Then Isaac said to Abraham, “My father!” Abraham answered, “Here I am, my son.” Isaac said, “See, here is the fire and the wood. But where is the lamb for the burnt gift?” 8 Abraham said, “God will have for Himself a lamb ready for the burnt gift, my son.” So the two of them walked on together.

9 Then they came to the place that God told them about. Abraham built the altar there, and set the wood in place. Then he tied rope around his son Isaac, and laid him upon the wood on the altar. 10 And Abraham put out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, “Abraham! Abraham!” And Abraham said, “Here I am.” 12 The angel of the Lord said, “Do not put out your hand against the boy. Do nothing to him. For now I know that you fear God. You have not kept from Me your son, your only son.”

13 Then Abraham looked and saw a ram behind him, with his horns caught in the bushes. Abraham went and took the ram, and gave him as a burnt gift instead of his son. 14 Abraham gave that place the name “The Lord will give us what we need.”

And it is said to this day, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be given.”

15 The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time. 16 He said, “I have promised by Myself, says the Lord, because you have done this and have not kept from Me your son, your only son, 17 I will bring good to you. I will add many to the number of your children and all who come after them, like the stars of the heavens and the sand beside the sea.

They will take over the cities of those who hate them. 18 Good will come to all the nations of the earth by your children and their children’s children. Because you have obeyed My voice.” 19 So Abraham returned to his young men. And they got up and went with him to Beersheba.

Abraham made his home there.

20 Later it was told to Abraham, “Milcah also has given birth to the children of your brother Nahor: 21 Uz the first-born, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram, 22 Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” 23 Bethuel became the father of

Genesis 22:24 Rebekah. Milcah gave birth to these eight

by Nahor, Abraham’s brother. 24 And Reumah, the woman he kept who acted as his wife, gave birth to Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.

The Death of Sarah Sarah lived 127 years. These were the years of Sarah’s life. 2 Then Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. And Abraham had sorrow for Sarah and cried for her. 3 Then Abraham got up from beside his dead wife, and said to the sons of Heth, 4 “I am a stranger living among you for a time.

Give me some of your land so I may bury my wife.” 5 The sons of Heth answered Abraham, 6 “Listen to us, my lord. You are a powerful ruler among us. Bury your wife in the best of our graves. None of us will keep his grave from you for burying your wife.” 7 So Abraham stood up and bowed to the people of the land, the sons of Heth.

8 He said to them, “If you are willing to have me bury my wife, hear me, and ask Zohar’s son Ephron for me. 9 Ask him to give me the grave of Machpelah which he has at the other side of his field. Let him give it to me for the full price in front of you, for a place to bury my wife.”

10 Ephron was sitting among the sons of Heth. So Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham so what he said could be heard by the sons of Heth and all who came in through the gate of his city. 11 He said, “No, my lord. Listen to me. I give you the field. And I give you the grave that is in it.

I give it to you in front of the sons of my people. Bury your wife.”

12 Abraham bowed to the people of the land. 13 He said to Ephron so that all the people of the land heard it, “Listen to me if you will. I will give you the price of the field. Receive it from me, that I may bury my wife there.”

14 Ephron answered Abraham, 15 “My lord, listen to me. The land is worth four hundred pieces of silver. What is that between me and you? So bury your wife.”

16 Abraham listened to Ephron. And Abraham weighed for Ephron the silver which he had said and was heard by the sons of Heth to be the price, four hundred pieces of silver. He weighed it in the same way those who buy and sell weighed it at that time. 17 So Ephron’s field in Machpelah east of Mamre, the field and grave that was in it, and all the trees within the sides of the field, were handed over 18 to

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16 Abraham for his own. It was handed over in front of the sons of Heth and all who came in through the gate of his city. 19 After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the grave of the field of Machpelah east of Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20 The field and the grave in it were handed over to Abraham by the sons of Heth for a place to bury his wife.

Isaac and Rebekah Now Abraham was old. He had lived many years. And the Lord had brought good to Abraham in every way.

2 Abraham said to the oldest servant in his house and the one who took care of all that he owned, “Place your hand under my hip, 3 and I will have you promise by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth.

Promise that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, who live around me. 4 But go to my country and to those of my family.

Take a wife for my son Isaac from there.”

5 The servant said to Abraham, “What if the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land? Should I take your son to the land you came from?” 6 Abraham said to him, “Make sure that you do not take my son there. 7 The Lord, the God of heaven, Who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my birth, spoke to me and promised me. He said, ‘I will give this land to your children and to their children’s children.’ He will send His angel in front of you. And you will take a wife for my son from there. 8 But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this promise to me.

Only do not take my son there.” 9 So the servant placed his hand under the hip of Abraham, and he promised to do this.

10 Then the servant took ten of Abraham’s camels and left. He took with him all kinds of gifts from Abraham. Then he went to the city of Nahor in Mesopotamia. 11 He made the camels get down on their knees outside the city by the well of water in the evening. It was the time when women go out to get water. 12 He said, “O Lord, the God of my boss Abraham, let all go well for me today. Show loving-kindness to my boss Abraham.

13 See, I am standing here by the well of water. And the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to get water. 14 If I say to a girl, ‘Let down your jar so that I may drink,’ and she answers, ‘Drink, and I will give water to your camels also,’ let

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17 her be the one whom You have chosen for your servant Isaac. I will know by this that You have shown loving-kindness to my boss.”

15 Before he had finished speaking, Rebekah came out, the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah and Nahor, the brother of Abraham. She had a jar on her shoulder. 16 The girl was very beautiful and had never lain with a man. She went down to the well, filled her jar and came up.

17 Then the servant ran to meet her. He said, “Let me drink a little water from your jar.” 18 She said, “Drink, my lord.” And she was quick to lift her jar to her hand and give him a drink. 19 When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will get water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.” 20 She was quick to empty her jar into the animals’ drinking place. Then she ran to the well for more water, and got enough for all his camels.

21 The man was quiet and watched her, waiting to know if the Lord had made all go well or not during his visit. 22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a heavy gold ring and two heavy gold objects to wear on her arms. 23 He said, “Whose daughter are you? Tell me, is there a place for us to stay in your father’s house?” 24 She said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah and Nahor.” 25 She also said, “We have both enough straw and food, and a place to stay.” 26 Then the man bowed low and worshiped the Lord. 27 He said, “Honor and thanks be to the Lord, the God of my boss Abraham. He has not kept His loving-kindness and His truth from my boss. He has led me in the way to the house of my boss’s brothers.”

28 Then the girl ran and told about all this to those in her mother’s house.

29 Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban. And Laban ran outside to the man at the well. 30 When he saw the gold objects his sister was wearing, and heard his sister Rebekah saying, “This is what the man said to me,” he went to the man. He saw him standing by the camels at the well. 31 Laban said, “Come in, you who receive good from the Lord! Why do you stand outside? I have made the house ready, and a place for the camels.” 32 So the man came into the house. Laban took the load off the camels, and gave them straw and food. He got water to wash the feet of Abraham’s servant and the feet of the men who were with him. 33 Then food was set

Genesis 24:50 in front of the man to eat. But he said, “I will not eat until I have told you why I came here.” Laban said, “Tell it.” 34 So he said, “I am Abraham’s servant. 35 And the Lord has brought much good to my boss.

He has become rich. The Lord has given him flocks and cattle, silver and gold, men and women servants, and camels and donkeys. 36 My boss’s wife Sarah gave birth to my boss’s son when she was very old. And he has given him all he has.

37 “My boss made me promise, saying, ‘Do not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live. 38 But go to my father’s house, to those of my family, and take a wife for my son there.’ 39 I said to my owner, ‘What if the woman will not follow me?’

40 He said to me, ‘The Lord, Whom I have always obeyed, will send His angel with you to make all go well during your visit there. You will take a wife for my son from those of my family and from my father’s house. 41 Then you will be free from your promise to me. When you come to those of my family, and if they do not give her to you, then you will be free from your promise to me.’

42 “So I came to the well today. I said, ‘O Lord, the God of my boss Abraham, may all go well during my visit here. 43 See, I am standing by the well of water. If I say to the girl who comes out for water, “Let me drink a little water from your jar,” 44 and she says, “You drink, and I will get water for your camels also,” then let her be the woman whom the Lord has chosen for my boss’s son.’ 45 Before I had finished speaking in my heart, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the well and got water. I asked her, ‘Let me drink.’ 46 And she was quick to take down her jar from her shoulder. She said, ‘Drink, and I will give water to your camels also.’

So I drank and she gave water to the camels also. 47 Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah and Nahor.’

And I put the gold objects on her nose and arms. 48 Then I bowed low and worshiped the Lord. I gave honor and thanks to the Lord, the God of my boss Abraham. For He had led me in the right way to take the daughter of my boss’s brother for his son. 49 So now if you will show kindness and be true to my boss, tell me. And if not, tell me so I may know which way to turn.”

50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered, “This thing comes from the Lord. We

Genesis 24:51 c­ annot speak for or against it. 51 See, Rebekah is in front of you. Take her and go.

Let her be the wife of your boss’s son, as the Lord has spoken.” 52 When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he put his face to the ground before the Lord.

53 He brought out things made of silver and gold, and clothes, and gave them to Rebekah. He gave things of much worth to her brother and mother also. 54 Then he and the men with him ate and drank and stayed the night there. When they got up in the morning, he said, “Send me away to my boss.”

55 But her brother and her mother said, “Let the girl stay with us a few days, at least ten. Then she may go.” 56 But he said to them, “Do not make me stay any more days, since the Lord has made my way go well. Send me away so I may go to my boss.” 57 They said, “We will call the girl and ask her what she wants to do.” 58 They called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” And she said, “I will go.” 59 So they sent away their sister Rebekah and her nurse. They went with Abraham’s servant and the men who were with him. 60 They prayed that good would come to Rebekah, and said to her, “You are our sister. May you become the mother of millions. May your children and all their children’s children after them take over the cities of those who hate them.” 61 Then Rebekah and her servants got up on the camels and followed the man. So the servant of Abraham took Rebekah and left.

62 Now Isaac had come from Beer-lahairoi, and was living in the Negev. 63 Isaac had gone out to pray in the field in the evening. He looked up and saw that camels were coming. 64 And Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac. She got off the camel 65 and said to Abraham’s servant, “Who is that man walking in the field to meet us?”

Abraham’s servant said, “He is my boss.”

So she took a cloth and covered her face.

66 The servant told Isaac all the things he had done. 67 Then Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother Sarah’s tent, and she became his wife. And he loved her. So Isaac found comfort after his mother’s death.

The Death of Abraham Abraham took another wife whose name was Keturah. 2 She gave birth to his sons, Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3 Jokshan became the father of Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim,

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18 and Leummim. 4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah.

5 Abraham gave all he had to Isaac. 6 But while he was still living, Abraham gave gifts to the sons of the women he kept who acted as his wives. And he sent them to the land of the East, away from his son Isaac. 7 Abraham lived 175 years. 8 Then Abraham breathed his last and died, after living a long and full life of many good years, and was buried with his people.

9 His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the grave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre. 10 This was the field that Abraham bought from the sons of Heth.

Abraham was buried there with his wife Sarah. 11 After the death of Abraham, God brought good to his son Isaac. And Isaac lived at Beer-lahai-roi.

12 These are the children and their children’s children of Abraham’s son Ishmael, who was born to Abraham and Hagar, who was Sarah’s woman servant. 13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, the names of the first-born to the last: Nebaioth, Ishmael’s first-born, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their towns and by their groups of tents, twelve rulers and their families.

17 Ishmael lived 137 years. Then he breathed his last and died, and was buried with his people. 18 His people lived from Havilah as far as Shur, east of Egypt on the way toward Assyria. He lived away from all his brothers.

The Birth of Esau and Jacob 19 These are the children and their children’s children of Abraham’s son Isaac.

Abraham was the father of Isaac. 20 Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan-aram, and the sister of Laban the Syrian. 21 Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she could not give birth and the Lord answered him. Rebekah was able to give birth. 22 But the babies within her fought together. And she said, “If this is so, why am I like this?” She went to ask the Lord why. 23 The Lord said to her, “Two nations are within you. Two peoples will be divided from your body. One will be stronger than the other. And the older

19 will serve the younger.”

24 When the day came for her to give birth, there were two babies to be born.

25 The first to come out was red and he had hair all over his body. They gave him the name of Esau. 26 Then the brother was born. His hand was holding Esau’s heel.

So he was given the name of Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them.

Esau Sells His Birth-Right 27 When the boys grew older, Esau became a good hunter, a man of the field. But Jacob was a man of peace, living in tents.

28 Isaac showed favor to Esau, because he liked to eat the meat of the animals Esau killed. But Rebekah showed favor to Jacob.

29 As Jacob was getting food ready one day, Esau came in from the field and was very hungry. 30 Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red meat, for I am very hungry.” That is why his name was called Edom. 31 But Jacob said, “First, sell me your birth-right.” 32 Esau said, “See, I am about to die. So what good is my birth-right to me?” 33 Jacob said, “First give me your promise.” So Esau promised, and sold his birth-right to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and vegetables, and Esau ate and drank. Then Esau stood up and went on his way. So Esau hated his birth-right.

Isaac and Abimelech Now there was another time when there was no food in the land, after the time of no food in the days of Abraham. So Isaac went to Gerar, to Abimelech king of the Philistines. 2 The Lord showed Himself to Isaac, and said, “Do not go to Egypt. Stay in the land I will tell you about. 3 Live in this land and I will be with you and bring good to you. For I will give all these lands to you and your children. I will keep the promise I made to your father Abraham. 4 I will make your children and all your children’s children as many as the stars of heaven. I will give these lands to them. 5 For Abraham obeyed Me. He did what I told him to do.

He kept My Word and My Law.” 6 So Isaac stayed in Gerar. 7 When the men of the place asked him about his wife, he said, “She is my sister.” He was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” because he thought to himself, “The men of this place might kill me because of Rebekah, for she is beautiful.”

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Genesis 26:25 8 When

Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out of the window. And he saw Isaac loving his wife Rebekah. 9 So Abimelech called Isaac and said, “See, she is your wife! How could you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac said to him, “Because I thought I would die because of her.”

10 Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the men might have lain with your wife. And you would have brought guilt upon us.” 11 So Abimelech told all the people, “Whoever touches this man or his wife will be put to death.”

12 Isaac planted seeds in that land. And he gathered in the same year a hundred times as much as he had planted. The Lord brought good to him. 13 Isaac became rich and kept getting richer until he became a great man. 14 For he had flocks and many cattle and many people working in his house. The Philistines became jealous of him. 15 They filled all the wells with dirt that his father’s servants had dug in the days of his father Abraham. 16 Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us. For you are too powerful for us.”

17 So Isaac left that place. He put up his tents in the valley of Gerar, and lived there.

18 And Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham. For the Philistines had closed them up after the death of Abraham. And he gave them the same names that his father had given them. 19 Now Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found a well of flowing water there. 20 The men who took care of the cattle of Gerar argued with the men who took care of Isaac’s cattle. They said, “The water belongs to us!” So Isaac gave the well the name Esek, because they argued with him. 21 Then his servants dug another well. And they argued about it also. So he gave it the name Sitnah. 22 He moved away from there and dug another well. And they did not argue about it. So he gave it the name Rehoboth. For he said, “Now the Lord has made a large place for us. We will grow much in this land.”

23 Then he went from there to Beersheba. 24 The Lord showed Himself to Isaac that same night, and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bring good to you, and add many to the number of your children and their children’s children, because of My servant Abraham.” 25 So Isaac built an altar there. And he called upon the name of the Lord. He put up

Genesis 26:26 his tent there. And there Isaac’s servants dug a well.

26 Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar, with his friend Ahuzzath, and Phicol, the leader of his army. 27 Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me when you hate me and have sent me away from you?” 28 They said, “It is easy for us to see that the Lord is with you. So we said, ‘Let there now be a promise between us, between you and us. Let us make an agreement with you, 29 that you will not hurt us in any way. For we have not touched you, and have done nothing to you but good. We sent you away in peace. And you now have the Lord’s favor.’ ” 30 So Isaac made a special supper for them, and they ate and drank. 31 They got up early in the morning and made promises to each other.

Then Isaac sent them away, and they left him in peace.

32 That same day Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well they had dug.

They said to him, “We have found water.”

33 So he gave the well the name Shibah.

So the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.

34 When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite. 35 And they made life full of sorrow for Isaac and Rebekah.

Isaac Prays for Good to Come to Jacob Isaac was now old, and had become blind. He called to his older son Esau, saying, “My son.” And Esau answered, “Here I am.” 2 Isaac said, “See, I am old. I do not know when I will die.

3 Take your bow and arrows, and go out to the field to get meat for me. 4 Get some food ready for me that I love. Bring it to me to eat, so that before I die I will pray that good will come to you.”

5 And Rebekah was listening while Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for meat to bring home, 6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “I heard your father talking to your brother Esau. He said, 7 ’Bring me some meat.

Make good-tasting food for me to eat.

And before I die I will pray to the Lord for good to come to you.’ 8 So now, my son, listen to what I tell you to do. 9 Go to the flock and bring me two fat young goats.

I will cook them into good-tasting food, just what your father loves to eat. 10 Then you will take it to your father for him to

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20 eat. So before he dies he will pray for good to come to you.”

11 Jacob said to his mother Rebekah, “But my brother Esau has much hair. And my skin is smooth. 12 If my father touches me, he will think of me as one trying to fool him. Then he will bring a curse upon me instead of good.” 13 His mother said to him, “The curse will come upon me instead of you, my son. You do what I say, and go get them for me.” 14 So Jacob went and got them, and brought them to his mother. And his mother made goodtasting food, just what his father loved to eat. 15 Then Rebekah took the best clothes that belonged to her older son Esau, that were with her in the house. And she put them on her younger son Jacob. 16 She put the skins of the young goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck.

17 And she gave her son Jacob the bread and the good-tasting food she had made.

18 Then he went to his father and said, “My father.” Isaac said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” 19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau, your first-born. I have done as you told me. Sit up and eat the meat I brought, so you will pray that good will come to me.” 20 But Isaac said to his son, “How have you found it so fast, my son?” And Jacob said, “Because the Lord your God made it happen.”

21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come near so I can touch you, my son, to know for sure if you are my son Esau or not.”

22 So Jacob came near his father Isaac.

Isaac touched him, and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice. But the hands are Esau’s hands.” 23 He did not know who he was, because his hands were covered with hair like his brother Esau’s hands. So Isaac prayed that good would come to him.

24 Isaac said, “Is it true that you are my son Esau?” Jacob answered, “I am.” 25 So Isaac said, “Bring it to me so I may eat the meat my son has made ready. And I will pray that good will come to you.” He brought it to him, and he ate. He brought him wine also, and he drank.

26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near and kiss me, my son.” 27 So Jacob came near and kissed him. When Isaac smelled his clothes, he prayed that good would come to him. He said, “The smell of my son is like the smell of a field that has received good from the Lord.

28 May God give you from heaven water on the grass in the early morning, and the riches of the earth, and more than enough