Study Desk

But I will make the son also of the bondwoman a great nation, because he is thy seed.

Therefore that place was called Bersabee; because there both of them did swear.

By my own self have I sworn, saith the Lord: because thou hast done this thing, and hast not spared thy only begotten son for my sake:

And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Stay me not, said he, because the Lord hath prospered my way: send me away, that I may go to my master.

And Isaac besought the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and he heard him, and made Rebecca to conceive.

Isaac loved Esau, because he ate of his hunting: and Rebecca loved Jacob.

Because Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my precepts and commandments, and observed my ceremonies and laws.

And when he was asked by the men of that place, concerning his wife, he answered: She is my sister: for he was afraid to confess that she was his wife, thinking lest perhaps they would kill him because of her beauty.

And he knew him not, because his hairy hands made him like to the elder. Then blessing him,

And Rebecca said to Isaac: I am weary of my life, because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the stock of this land, I choose not to live.

He said to him: Because thou art my brother, shalt thou serve me without wages? Tell me what wages thou wilt have.

So Jacob served seven years for Rachel: and they seemed but a few days, because of the greatness of his love.

And again she conceived and bore a son, and said: Because the Lord heard that I was despised, he hath given this also to me: and she called his name Simeon.

And she conceived the third time, and bore another son, and said: Now also my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons: and therefore she called his name Levi.

And when Jacob returned at even from the field, Lia went out to meet him, and said: Thou shalt come in unto me, because I have hired thee for my son’s mandrakes. And he slept with her that night.

And said: God hath given me a reward, because I gave my handmaid to my husband. And she called his name Issachar.

And said: God hath endowed me with a good dowry; this turn also my husband will be with me, because I have borne him six sons: and therefore she called his name Zabulon.

She said: Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise up before thee, because it has now happened to me according to the custom of women. So his careful search was in vain.

Therefore the children of Israel, unto this day, eat not the sinew, that shrank in Jacob’s thigh: because he touched the sinew of his thigh and it shrank.