Study Desk

Thus for twenty years I have served in your household-fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks-and you have changed my wages ten times!

Please deliver me from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid that he may come and attack me, and also the mothers and their children with me.

Jacob spent the night there, and from what he had brought with him, he selected a gift for his brother Esau:

You are also to say, 'Look, your servant Jacob is right behind us.'" For he thought, "I will appease Esau with the gift that is going before me. After that I can face him, and perhaps he will accept me."

Then the man said, "Let Me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let You go unless You bless me."

But Jacob insisted, "No, please! If I have found favor in your sight, then receive this gift from my hand. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing the face of God, since you have received me favorably.

But Jacob replied, "My lord knows that the children are frail, and I must care for sheep and cattle that are nursing their young. If they are driven hard for even a day, all the animals will die.

Please let my lord go ahead of his servant. I will continue on slowly, at a comfortable pace for the livestock and children, until I come to my lord at Seir."

but Jacob went on to Succoth, where he built a house for himself and shelters for his livestock; that is why the place was called Succoth.

And the plot of ground where he pitched his tent, he purchased from the sons of Hamor, Shechem's father, for a hundred pieces of silver.

But Hamor said to them, "My son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him as his wife.

Intermarry with us; give us your daughters, and take our daughters for yourselves.

Then we will give you our daughters and take your daughters for ourselves. We will dwell among you and become one people.

"These men are at peace with us. Let them live and trade in our land; indeed, it is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters in marriage and give our daughters to them.

During her severe labor, the midwife said to her, "Do not be afraid, for you are having another son."

And with her last breath-for she was dying-she named him Ben-oni. But his father called him Benjamin.

For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together; the land where they stayed could not support them because of their livestock.

a man found him wandering in the field and asked, "What are you looking for?"

"I am looking for my brothers," Joseph replied. "Can you please tell me where they are pasturing their flocks?"

Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him; for he is our brother, our own flesh." And they agreed.