Study Desk

Jacob answered Laban, "Because I was afraid you might take your daughters from me and make them stay.

So to this day the sons of Israel do not eat the meat from inside the joint of the thigh, because he touched this part of the joint on Jacob's leg.

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

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.

Then Jacob's sons went over the dead men and robbed the city of its riches because its men had put their sister to shame.

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.

For they owned too much for them to live together. The land where they were staying could not keep them alive, because of all their animals.

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because Joseph was born when he was an old man. And Israel made him a long coat of many colors.

Judah saw that they belonged to him. He said, "She is more right than I, because I did not give her to my son Shelah." And he did not lie with her again.

And from the time that he watched over his house and all he owned, the Lord brought good to the Egyptian's house because of Joseph. The Lord brought good upon all that he owned in the house and in the field.

There is no one more important in this house than I. And he has held nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this sinful thing, and sin against God?"

The head of the prison put all the men who were in prison into Joseph's care. So whatever was done there was because of Joseph.

The head of the prison did not worry about anything under Joseph's care, because the Lord was with him. The Lord made all go well with whatever Joseph did.

Then I saw seven heads of grain come after them. They were small and were dry because of the east wind.

So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Because God has shown you all this, there is no one as understanding and wise as you are.

The people of all the earth came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph because the time without food was hard everywhere.

The men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph's house. They said, "We are being brought in because of the money that was returned in our bags the first time we came. He is looking for something against us. He will come down on us and take us for servants with our donkeys."

So they brought food to Joseph by himself, and to them by themselves, and to the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves. The Egyptians could not eat bread with the Hebrews because they thought it would be sinful.

But do not be troubled or angry with yourselves because you sold me here. For God sent me before you to save your life.

They told him, "Joseph is still alive! He is ruler of all the land of Egypt!" Jacob's heart almost stopped, because he did not believe them.