Study Desk

But to the sons of the concubines he made grants while he was still living and sent them off to the east, to the land of Kedem, away from Yitz'chak his son.

Adonai appeared to him and said, "Don't go down into Egypt, but live where I tell you.

But one day, after he had lived there a long time, Avimelekh king of the P'lishtim happened to be looking out of a window when he spotted Yitz'chak caressing Rivkah his wife.

But the herdsmen of G'rar quarreled with Yitz'chak's herdsmen, claiming, "That water is ours!" So he called the well ‘Esek [quarrel], because they quarreled with him.

that you will not harm us, just as we have not caused you offense but have done you nothing but good and sent you on your way in peace. Now you are blessed by Adonai .'"

But they became a cause for embitterment of spirit to Yitz'chak and Rivkah.

Ya‘akov answered Rivkah his mother, "Look, ‘Esav is hairy, but I have smooth skin.

But his mother said, "Let your curse be on me. Just listen to me, and go get me the kids!"

Ya‘akov approached Yitz'chak his father, who touched him and said, "The voice is Ya‘akov's voice, but the hands are ‘Esav's hands."

But as soon as Yitz'chak had finished giving his blessing to Ya‘akov, when Ya‘akov had barely left his father's presence, ‘Esav his brother came in from his hunting.

You will live by your sword, and you will serve your brother. But when you break loose, you will shake his yoke off your neck."

But the words of ‘Esav her older son were told to Rivkah. She sent for Ya‘akov her younger son and said to him, "Here, your brother ‘Esav is comforting himself over you by planning to kill you.

So ‘Esav went to Yishma‘el and took, in addition to the wives he already had, Machalat the daughter of Yishma‘el Avraham's son, the sister of N'vayot, to be his wife. Haftarah Tol'dot: Mal'akhi (Malachi) 1:1–2:7 B'rit Hadashah suggested readings for Parashah Tol'dot: Romans 9:6–16; Messianic Jews (Hebrews) 11:20; 12:14–17 Ya‘akov went out from Be'er-Sheva and traveled toward Haran. He came to a certain place and stayed the night there, because the sun had set. He took a stone from the place, put it under his head and lay down there to sleep. He dreamt that there before him was a ladder resting on the ground with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of Adonai were going up and down on it. Then suddenly Adonai was standing there next to him; and he said, "I am Adonai , the God of Avraham your [grand]father and the God of Yitz'chak. The land on which you are lying I will give to you and to your descendants. Your descendants will be as numerous as the grains of dust on the earth. You will expand to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. By you and your descendants all the families of the earth will be blessed. Look, I am with you. I will guard you wherever you go, and I will bring you back into this land, because I won't leave you until I have done what I have promised you." Ya‘akov awoke from his sleep and said, "Truly, Adonai is in this place — and I didn't know it!" Then he became afraid and said, "This place is fearsome! This has to be the house of God! This is the gate of heaven!" Ya‘akov got up early in the morning, took the stone he had put under his head, set it up as a standing-stone, poured olive oil on its top and named the place Beit-El [house of God]; but the town had originally been called Luz. Ya‘akov took this vow: "If God will be with me and will guard me on this road that I am traveling, giving me bread to eat and clothes to wear, so that I return to my father's house in peace, then Adonai will be my God; and this stone, which I have set up as a standing-stone, will be God's house; and of everything you give me, I will faithfully return one-tenth to you."

and named the place Beit-El [house of God]; but the town had originally been called Luz.

Le'ah's eyes were weak; but Rachel was good-looking, with beautiful features.

So not only did Ya‘akov go in and sleep with Rachel, but he also loved Rachel more than Le'ah. Then he served Lavan another seven years.

Le'ah conceived and gave birth to a son, whom she named Re'uven [see, a son!], for she said, "It is because Adonai has seen how humiliated I have been, but now my husband will love me."

The few you had before I came have increased substantially; Adonai has blessed you wherever I went. But now, when will I provide for my own household?"

but he didn't set up the rods in front of the weaker animals. Thus the more feeble were Lavan's and the stronger Ya‘akov's.

But then he heard what Lavan's sons were saying: "Ya‘akov has taken away everything that our father once had. It's from what used to belong to our father that he has gotten so rich."