Study Desk

For the LORD had closed up tight all the wombs of the house of Avimelekh, because of Sarah, Avraham's wife.

God said to Avraham, "Don't let it be grievous in your sight because of the boy, and because of your handmaid. In all that Sarah says to you, listen to her voice. For from Yitzchak will your seed be called.

Also of the son of the handmaid will I make a nation, because he is your seed."

Avraham complained to Avimelekh because of a water well, which Avimelekh's servants had violently taken away.

Therefore he called that place Be'er-Sheva, because they both swore there.

and said, "I have sworn by myself, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son,

In your seed will all the nations of the eretz be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice."

Yitzchak entreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren. The LORD was entreated by him, and Rivka his wife conceived.

Now Yitzchak loved Esav, because he ate his venison. Rivka loved Ya`akov.

because Avraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my mitzvot, my statutes, and my laws."

The men of the place asked him about his wife. He said, "She is my sister," for he was afraid to say, "My wife," lest, he thought, the men of the place might kill me for Rivka, because she was beautiful to look on.

Avimelekh called Yitzchak, and said, "Behold, surely she is your wife. Why did you say, 'She is my sister?'" Yitzchak said to him, "Because I said, 'Lest I die because of her.'"

The herdsmen of Gerar argued with Yitzchak's herdsmen, saying, "The water is ours." He called the name of the well `Esek, because they contended with him.

Yitzchak said to his son, "How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?" He said, "Because the LORD your God gave me success."

He didn't recognize him, because his hands were hairy, like his brother, Esav's hands. So he blessed him.

Esav hated Ya`akov because of the blessing with which his father blessed him. Esav said in his heart, "The days of mourning for my father are at hand. Then I will kill my brother Ya`akov."

Rivka said to Yitzchak, "I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Het. If Ya`akov takes a wife of the daughters of Het, such as these, of the daughters of the land, what good will my life do me?"

He came to a certain place, and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. He took one of the stones of the place, and put it under his head, and lay down in that place to sleep.

Lavan said to Ya`akov, "Because you are my brother, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what will your wages be?"

Le'ah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Re'uven. For she said, "Because the LORD has looked at my affliction. For now my husband will love me."