Study Desk

Then Esau looked up and saw the women and the children. He said, "Who are these with you?" Jacob said, "They are the children whom God, in His loving-favor, has given your servant."

Let my lord go in front of his servant. And I will be slow in coming to my lord at Seir. I will go as fast as the cattle in front of me and as the children are able."

So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.

But Jacob traveled to Succoth. He built his house there, and put up small buildings for his animals. So the name of the place is Succoth.

Now Jacob came in peace from Paddan-aram to the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan. And he put up his tents near the city.

He bought the piece of land where he had put up his tents for one hundred pieces of money from the sons of Hamor, Shechem's father.

So Shechem said to his father Hamor, "Get me this young girl for a wife."

Now Jacob heard that Shechem had put his daughter Dinah to shame. But his sons were with the flocks in the field, so Jacob kept quiet until they returned.

But Jacob's sons lied in their answer to Shechem and his father Hamor because he had put their sister Dinah to shame.

They said to them, "We cannot do this. We cannot give our sister to one who has not gone through the religious act of having his flesh cut. For that would be a shame to us.

Their words pleased Hamor and his son Shechem.

The young man did not wait to do what they asked, because he was in love with Jacob's daughter. And he was the most honored of all his family.

So Hamor and his son Shechem came to the gate of their city. And they said to the men of their city,

All who went out of the gate of his city listened to Hamor and his son Shechem. And every man went through the religious act of having his flesh cut, all who went out of the gate of his city.

They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with the sword. And they took Dinah from Shechem's house and went away.

So Jacob said to those of his house and all who were with him, "Put away the strange gods that are among you. Make yourselves clean and change your clothes.

He built an altar there, and gave the place the name El-bethel. Because God had shown Himself to him there, when Jacob ran away from his brother.

God said to him, "Your name is Jacob. You will not be called Jacob any longer, but Israel will be your name." So his name was Israel.

As Rachel's soul was leaving, for she died, she gave him the name Benoni. But his father gave him the name Benjamin.

Then Israel traveled on, and put up his tent on the other side of the tall building of Eder.