Showing posts with label Laban. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Laban. Show all posts

Monday, December 16, 2024

Book of Jubilees 29

JUBILEES 29

After Rachel had borne Yoseph, Yacob leaves Laban secretly

1 And it came to pass when Rachel had borne Yoseph, that Laban went to shear his sheep; for they were distant from him a three days' journey.
2 And Yacob saw that Laban was going to shear his sheep, and Yacob called Leah and Rachel, and spoke kindly unto them that they should come with him to the land of Canaan.
3 For he told them how he had seen everything in a dream, even all that He had spoken unto him that he should return to his father's house, and they said: 'To every place where you go we will go with you.'
4 And Yacob blessed YAHWEH the ALMIGHTY of Yitschaq his father, and the ALMIGHTY of Abraham his father's father, and he arose and mounted his wives and his children, and took all his possessions and crossed the river, and came to the land of Gilead, and Yacob hid his intention from Laban and told him not.
5 And in the seventh year of the fourth week Yacob turned his face toward Gilead in the first month, on the twenty-first thereof. [2135 A.M.] And Laban pursued after him and overtook Yacob in the mountain of Gilead in the third month, on the thirteenth thereof.
6 And YAHWEH did not suffer him to injure Yacob; for he appeared to him in a dream by night.
7 And Laban spoke to Yacob. And on the fifteenth of those days Yacob made a feast for Laban, and for all who came with him, and Yacob swore to Laban that day, and Laban also to Yacob, that neither should cross the mountain of Gilead to the other with evil purpose.
8 And he made there a heap for a witness; wherefore the name of that place is called: 'The Heap of Witness,' after this heap.
9 But before they used to call the land of Gilead the land of the Rephaim; for it was the land of the Rephaim, and the Rephaim were born (there), giants whose height was ten, nine, eight down to seven cubits.
10 And their habitation was from the land of the children of Ammon to Mount Hermon, and the seats of their kingdom were Karnaim and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, and Misur, and Beon.
11 And YAHWEH destroyed them because of the evil of their deeds; for they were very malignant, and the Amorites dwelt in their stead, wicked and sinful, and there is no people to-day which has wrought to the full all their sins, and they have no longer length of life on the earth.
12 And Yacob sent away Laban, and he departed into Mesopotamia, the land of the East, and Yacob returned to the land of Gilead.
13 And he passed over the Jabbok in the ninth month, on the eleventh thereof. And on that day Esau, his brother, came to him, and he was reconciled to him, and departed from him to the land of Seir, but Yacob dwelt in tents.
14 And in the first year of the fifth week in this jubilee [2136 A.M.] he crossed the Jordan, and dwelt beyond the Jordan, and he pastured his sheep from the sea of the heap unto Bethshan, and unto Dothan and unto the forest of Akrabbim.
15 And he sent to his father Yitschaq of all his substance, clothing, and food, and meat, and drink, and milk, and butter, and cheese, and some dates of the valley.
16 And to his mother Rebecca also four times a year, between the times of the months, between ploughing and reaping, and between autumn and the rain (season) and between winter and spring, to the tower of Abraham.
17 For Yitschaq had returned from the ‘Well of the Oath’ and gone up to the tower of his father Abraham, and he dwelt there apart from his son Esau.
18 For in the days when Yacob went to Mesopotamia, Esau took to himself a wife Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael, and he gathered together all the flocks of his father and his wives, and went up and dwelt on Mount Seir, and left Yitschaq his father at the ‘Well of the Oath’ alone.
19 And Yitschaq went up from the ‘Well of the Oath’ and dwelt in the tower of Abraham his father on the mountains of Hebron,
20 And thither Yacob sent all that he did send to his father and his mother from time to time, all they needed, and they blessed Yacob with all their heart and with all their soul.

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Book of Jubilees 27, 28

JUBILEES 27

Rebecca calls Yacob and sends him to Laban

1 And the words of Esau, her elder son, were told to Rebecca in a dream, and Rebecca sent and called Yacob her younger son,
2 And said to him: 'Behold Esau your brother will take vengeance on you so as to kill you.
3 Now, therefore, my son, obey my voice, and arise and flee you to Laban, my brother, to Haran, and tarry with him a few days until your brother's anger turns away, and he remove his anger from you, and forget all that you have done; then I will send and fetch you from there.'
4,5 And Yacob said: 'I am not afraid; if he wishes to kill me, I will kill him.' But she said unto him: 'Let me not be bereft of both my sons on one day.'
6 And Yacob said to Rebecca his mother: 'Behold, you know that my father has become old, and does not see because his eyes are dull, and if I leave him it will be evil in his eyes, because I leave him and go away from you, and my father will be angry, and will curse me. I will not go; when he sends me, then only will I go.'
7 And Rebecca said to Yacob: 'I will go in and speak to him, and he will send you away.'
8 And Rebecca went in and said to Yitschaq: 'I loathe my life because of the two daughters of Heth, whom Esau has taken him as wives; and if Yacob take a wife from among the daughters of the land such as these, for what purpose do I further live, for the daughters of Canaan are evil.'
9 And Yitschaq called Yacob and blessed him, and admonished him and said to him:
10 'Do not take you a wife of any of the daughters of Canaan; arise and go to Mesopotamia, to the house of Bethuel, your mother's father, and take you a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban, your mother's brother.
11 And YAHWEH Almighty bless you and increase and multiply you that you may become a company of nations, and give you the blessings of my father Abraham, to you and to your seed after you, that you may inherit the land of your sojournings and all the land which YAHWEH gave to Abraham: go, my son, in shalom.'
12 And Yitschaq sent Yacob away, and he went to Mesopotamia, to Laban the son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebecca, Yacob's mother.
13 And it came to pass after Yacob had arisen to go to Mesopotamia that the spirit of Rebecca was grieved after her son, and she wept.
14 And Yitschaq said to Rebecca: 'My sister, weep not on account of Yacob, my son; for he goes in shalom, and in shalom will he return.
15 The Most High YAHWEH will preserve him from all evil, and will be with him; for He will not forsake him all his days;
16 For I know that his ways will be prospered in all things wherever he goes, until he return in shalom to us, and we see him in shalom.
17 Fear not on his account, my sister, for he is on the upright path and he is a perfect man: and he is faithful and will not perish. Weep not.'
18 And Yitschaq comforted Rebecca on account of her son Yacob, and blessed him.
19 And Yacob went from the “Well of the Oath” to go to Haran on the first year of the second week in the forty-fourth jubilee, and he came to Luz on the mountains, that is, Bethel, on the new month of the first month of this week, [2115 A.M.] and he came to the place at even and turned from the way to the west of the road that night: and he slept there; for the sun had set.
20 And he took one of the stones of that place and laid under the tree, and he was journeying alone, and he slept.
21 And he dreamt that night, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven, and behold, the malakim of YAHWEH ascended and descended on it: and behold, YAHWEH stood upon it.
22 And he spoke to Yacob and said: 'I am YAHWEH ALMIGHTY of Abraham, your father, and the ALMIGHTY of Yitschaq; the land whereon you are sleeping, to you will I give it, and to your seed after you.
23 And your seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and you shall increase to the west and to the east, to the north and the south, and in you and in your seed shall all the families of the nations be blessed.
24 And behold, I will be with you, and will keep you wheresoever’s you go, and I will bring you again into this land in shalom; for I will not leave you until I do everything that I told you of.'
25 And Yacob awoke from his sleep, and said, 'Truly this place is the house of YAHWEH, and I knew it not.' And he was afraid and said: 'Dreadful is this place which is none other than the house of YAHWEH, and this is the gate of heaven.'
26 And Yacob arose early in the morning, and took the stone which he had put under his head and set it up as a pillar for a sign, and he poured oil upon the top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of the place was Luz at the first.
27 And Yacob vowed a vow unto YAHWEH, saying: 'If YAHWEH will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and give me bread to eat and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father's house in shalom, then shall YAHWEH be my Sovereign Ruler, and this stone which I have set up as a pillar for a sign in this place, shall be YAHWEH's house, and of all that you give me, I shall give the tenth to you, my ALMIGHTY.'

JUBILEES 28

Laban gives Leah his elder daughter to Yacob as a wife

1 And he went on his journey, and came to the land of the east, to Laban, the brother of Rebecca, and he was with him, and served him for Rachel his daughter one week.
2 And in the first year of the third week [2122 A.M.] he said to him: 'Give me my wife, for whom I have served you seven years '; and Laban said to Yacob: 'I will give you your wife.'
3 And Laban made a feast, and took Leah his elder daughter, and gave (her) to Yacob as a wife, and gave her Zilpah his handmaid for an handmaid; and Yacob did not know, for he thought that she was Rachel.
4 And he went in unto her, and behold, she was Leah; and Yacob was angry with Laban, and said to him: 'Why have you dealt this way with me? Did not I serve you for Rachel and not for Leah? Why have you wronged me?
5 Take your daughter, and I will go; for you have done evil to me.' For Yacob loved Rachel more than Leah; for Leah's eyes were weak, but her form was very handsome; but Rachel had beautiful eyes and a beautiful and very handsome form.
6 And Laban said to Yacob: 'It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the elder.' And it is not right to do this; for thus it is ordained and written in the heavenly tablets, that no one should give his younger daughter before the elder; but the elder, one gives first and after her the younger -and the man who does so, they set down guilt against him in heaven, and none is righteous that does this thing, for this deed is evil before YAHWEH.
7 And command you the children of Yisrael that they do not this thing; let them neither take nor give the younger before they have given the elder, for it is very wicked.
8 And Laban said to Yacob: 'Let the seven days of the feast of this one pass by, and I shall give you Rachel, that you may serve me another seven years, that you may pasture my sheep as you didst in the former week.' And on the day when the seven days of the feast of Leah had passed, Laban gave Rachel to Yacob, that he might serve him another seven years, and he gave to Rachel Bilhah, the sister of Zilpah, as a handmaid.
10 And he served yet other seven years for Rachel, for Leah had been given to him for nothing.
11 And YAHWEH opened the womb of Leah, and she conceived and bare Yacob a son, and he called his name Reuben, on the fourteenth day of the ninth month, in the first year of the third week. [2122 A.M.]
12 But the womb of Rachel was closed, for YAHWEH saw that Leah was hated and Rachel loved.
13 And again Yacob went in unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Yacob a second son, and he called his name Simeon, on the twenty-first of the tenth month, and in the third year of this week. [2124 A.M.]
14 And again Yacob went in unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare him a third son, and he called his name Levi, in the new month of the first month in the sixth year of this week. [2127 A.M.]
15 And again Yacob went in unto her, and she conceived, and bare him a fourth son, and he called his name Yahudah, on the fifteenth of the third month, in the first year of the fourth week. [2129 A.M.]
16 And on account of all this Rachel envied Leah, for she did not bear, and she said to Yacob: 'Give me children'; and Yacob said: 'Have I withheld from you the fruits of your womb? Have I forsaken you?'
17 And when Rachel saw that Leah had borne four sons to Yacob, Reuben and Simeon and Levi and Yahudah, she said to him: 'Go in unto Bilhah my handmaid, and she will conceive, and bear a son unto me.'
18 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife. And he went in unto her, and she conceived, and bare him a son, and he called his name Dan, on the ninth of the sixth month, in the sixth year of the third week. [2127 A.M.]
19 And Yacob went in again unto Bilhah a second time, and she conceived, and bare Yacob another son, and Rachel called his name Napthali, on the fifth of the seventh month, in the second year of the fourth week. [2130 A.M.]
20 And when Leah saw that she had become sterile and did not bear, she envied Rachel, and she also gave her handmaid Zilpah to Yacob to wife, and she conceived, and bare a son, and Leah called his name Gad, on the twelfth of the eighth month, in the third year of the fourth week. [2131 A.M.]
21 And he went in again unto her, and she conceived, and bare him a second son, and Leah called his name Asher, on the second of the eleventh month, in the fifth year of the fourth week. [2133 A.M.]
22 And Yacob went in unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Issachar, on the fourth of the fifth month, in the fourth year of the fourth week,[2132 A.M.] and she gave him to a nurse.
23 And Yacob went in again unto her, and she conceived, and bare two (children), a son and a daughter, and she called the name of the son Zabulon, and the name of the daughter Dinah, in the seventh of the seventh month, in the sixth year of the fourth week. [2134 A.M.]
24 And YAHWEH was gracious to Rachel, and opened her womb, and she conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Yoseph, on the new month of the fourth month, in the sixth year in this fourth week. [2134 A.M.]
25 And in the days when Yoseph was born, Yacob said to Laban: 'Give me my wives and sons, and let me go to my father Yitschaq, and let me make me an house; for I have completed the years in which I have served you for your two daughters, and I will go to the house of my father.'
26 And Laban said to Yacob: 'Tarry with me for your wages, and pasture my flock for me again, and take your wages.'
27 And they agreed with one another that he should give him as his wages those of the lambs and kids which were born black and spotted and white, (these) were to be his wages.
28 And all the sheep brought forth spotted and speckled and black, variously marked, and they brought forth again lambs like themselves, and all that were spotted were Yacob's and those which were not were Laban's.
29 And Yacob's possessions multiplied exceedingly, and he possessed oxen and sheep and asses and camels, and menservants and maid-servants.
30 And Laban and his sons envied Yacob, and Laban took back his sheep from him, and he observed him with evil intent.

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Sunday, December 15, 2024

Book of Jubilees 24, 25

JUBILEES 24

YAHWEH blessed Yitschaq

1 And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that YAHWEH blessed Yitschaq his son, and he arose from Hebron and went and dwelt at the Well of the Vision in the first year of the third week [2073 A.M.] of this jubilee, seven years.
2 And in the first year of the fourth week a famine began in the land, [2080 A.M.] besides the first famine, which had been in the days of Abraham.
3 And Yacob sod lentil pottage, and Esau came from the field hungry. And he said to Yacob his brother: 'Give me of this red pottage.' And Yacob said to him: 'Sell to me your [primogeniture, this] birthright and I will give you bread, and also some of this lentil pottage.'
4 And Esau said in his heart: 'I shall die; of what profit to me is this birthright?
5 'And he said to Yacob: 'I give it to you.' And Yacob said: 'Swear to me, this day,' and he swore unto him.
6 And Yacob gave his brother Esau bread and pottage, and he eat till he was satisfied, and Esau despised his birthright; for this reason was Esau's name called Edom, on account of the red pottage which Yacob gave him for his birthright.
7 And Yacob became the elder, and Esau was brought down from his dignity.
8 And the famine was over the land, and Yitschaq departed to go down into Egypt in the second year of this week, and went to the king of the Philistines to Gerar, unto Abimelech.
9 And YAHWEH appeared unto him and said to him: 'Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land that I shall tell you of, and sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and bless you.
10 For to you and to your seed will I give all this land, and I will establish My oath which I swore unto Abraham your father, and I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and will give unto your seed all this land.
11 And in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because your father obeyed My voice, and kept My charge and My commandments, and My laws, and My ordinances, and My covenant; and now obey My voice and dwell in this land.'
12 And he dwelt in Gelar three weeks of years.
13 And Abimelech charged concerning him, [2080-2101 A.M.] and concerning all that was his, saying: 'Any man that shall touch him or aught that is his shall surely die.'
14 And Yitschaq waxed strong among the Philistines, and he got many possessions, oxen and sheep and camels and asses and a great household.
15 And he sowed in the land of the Philistines and brought in a hundred-fold, and Yitschaq became exceedingly great, and the Philistines envied him.
16 Now all the wells which the servants of Abraham had dug during the life of Abraham, the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham, and filled them with earth.
17 And Abimelech said to Yitschaq: 'Go from us, for you are much mightier than we', and Yitschaq departed there in the first year of the seventh week, and sojourned in the valleys of Gerar.
18 And they digged again the wells of water which the servants of Abraham, his father, had digged, and which the Philistines had closed after the death of Abraham his father, and he called their names as Abraham his father had named them.
19 And the servants of Yitschaq dug a well in the valley, and found living water, and the shepherds of Gerar strove with the shepherds of Yitschaq, saying: 'The water is ours'; and Yitschaq called the name of the well 'Perversity', because they had been perverse with us.
20 And they dug a second well, and they strove for that also, and he called its name 'Enmity'. And he arose from thence and they digged another well, and for that they strove not, and he called the name of it 'Room', and Yitschaq said: 'Now YAHWEH has made room for us, and we have increased in the land.'
21 And he went up from there to the “Well of the Oath” in the first year of the first week in the [2108 A.M.] forty-fourth jubilee.
22 And YAHWEH appeared to him that night, on the new month of the first month, and said to him: 'I am YAHWEH the ALMIGHTY of Abraham your father; fear not, for I am with you, and shall bless you and shall surely multiply your seed as the sand of the earth, for the sake of Abraham my servant.'
23 And he built an altar there, which Abraham his father had first built, and he called upon the NAME of YAHWEH, and he offered sacrifice to the ALMIGHTY of Abraham his father.
24 And they digged a well and they found living water.
25 And the servants of Yitschaq digged another well and did not find water, and they went and told Yitschaq that they had not found water, and Yitschaq said: 'I have sworn this day to the Philistines and this thing has been announced to us.'
26 And he called the name of that place the “Well of the Oath”; for there he had sworn to Abimelech and Ahuzzath his friend and Phicol the prefect Or his host.
27 And Yitschaq knew that day that under constraint he had sworn to them to make shalom with them.
28 And Yitschaq on that day cursed the Philistines and said: 'Cursed be the Philistines unto the day of wrath and indignation from the midst of all nations; may YAHWEH make them a derision and a curse and an object of wrath and indignation in the hands of the sinners the Gentiles and in the hands of the Kittim.
29 And whoever escapes the sword of the enemy and the Kittim, may the righteous nation root out in judgment from under heaven; for they shall be the enemies and foes of my children throughout their generations upon the earth.
30 And no remnant shall be left to them, Nor one that shall be saved on the day of the wrath of judgment; For destruction and rooting out and expulsion from the earth is the whole seed of the Philistines (reserved), And there shall no longer be left for these Caphtorim a name or a seed on the earth.
31 For though he ascend unto heaven, There shall he be brought down, And though he make himself strong on earth, There shall he be dragged forth, And though he hide himself amongst the nations, Even from there shall he be rooted out; And though he descend into Sheol, There also shall his condemnation be great, And there also he shall have no shalom.
32 And if he go into captivity, by the hands of those that seek his life shall they slay him on the way, And neither name nor seed shall be left to him on all the earth; for into eternal malediction shall he depart.'
33 And thus is it written and engraved concerning him on the heavenly tablets, to do to him on the Day of Judgment, so that he may be rooted out of the earth.

JUBILEES 25

Rebecca instructs Yacob her son

1 And in the second year of this week in this jubilee, Rebecca called Yacob her son, and spoke to [2109 A.M.] him, saying: 'My son, do not take you a wife of the daughters of Canaan, as Esau, your brother, who took him two wives of the daughters of Canaan, and they have embittered my soul with all their unclean deeds: for all their deeds are fornication and lust, and there is no righteousness with them, for (their deeds) are evil.
2 And I, my son, love you exceedingly, and my heart and my affection bless you every hour of the day and watch of the night.
3 And now, my son, hearken to my voice, and do the will of your mother, and do not take you a wife of the daughters of this land, but only of the house of my father, and of my father's kindred. You shall take you a wife of the house of my father, and the Most High YAHWEH will bless you, and your children shall be a righteous generation and a kodesh seed.'
4 And then spoke Yacob to Rebecca, his mother, and said to her: 'Behold, mother, I am nine weeks of years old, and I neither know nor have I touched any woman, nor have I betrothed myself to any, nor even think of taking me a wife of the daughters of Canaan.
5 For I remember, mother, the words of Abraham, our father, for he commanded me not to take a wife of the daughters of Canaan, but to take me a wife from the seed of my father's house and from my kindred.
6 I have heard before that daughters have been born to Laban, your brother, and I have set my heart on them to take a wife from amongst them.
7 And for this reason I have guarded myself in my spirit against sinning or being corrupted in all my ways throughout all the days of my life; for with regard to lust and fornication, Abraham, my father, gave me many commands.
8 And, despite all that he has commanded me, these two and twenty years my brother has striven with me, and spoken frequently to me and said: 'My brother, take to wife a sister of my two wives'; but I refuse to do as he has done.
9 I swear before you, mother, that all the days of my life I will not take me a wife from the daughters of the seed of Canaan, and I will not act wickedly as my brother has done.
10 Fear not, mother; be assured that I shall do your will and walk in uprightness, and not corrupt my ways forever.'
11 And thereupon she lifted up her face to heaven and extended the fingers of her hands, and opened her mouth and blessed the Most High YAHWEH, who had created the heaven and the earth, and she gave Him thanks and praise.
12 And she said: 'Blessed be YAHWEH ALMIGHTY, and may His Kodesh NAME be blessed forever and ever, who has given me Yacob as a pure son and a kodesh seed; for he is Yours, and Yours shall his seed be continually and throughout all the generations forevermore.
13 Bless him, O YAHWEH, and place in my mouth the blessing of righteousness, that I may bless him.'
14 And at that hour, when the Spirit of righteousness descended into her mouth, she placed both her hands on the head of Yacob, and said:
15 Blessed are you, YAHWEH of righteousness and Sovereign Ruler of the ages, and may He bless you beyond all the generations of men. May He give you, my Son, the path of righteousness, And reveal righteousness to your seed.
16 And may He make your sons many during your life, And may they arise according to the number of the months of the year. And may their sons become many and great beyond the stars of heaven, And their numbers be more than the sand of the sea.
17 And may He give them this goodly land -as He said He would give it to Abraham and to his seed after him always, And may they hold it as a possession forever.
18 And may I see (born) unto you, my son, blessed children during my life, And a blessed and kodesh seed may all your seed be.
19 And as you have refreshed your mother's spirit during her life, The womb of her that bare you blesses you thus, [My affection] and my breasts bless you, And my mouth and my tongue praise you greatly.
20 Increase and spread over the earth, And may your seed be perfect in the joy of heaven and earth forever; And may your seed rejoice, And on the great day of shalom may it have shalom.
21 And may your name and your seed endure to all the ages, And may the Most High YAHWEH be their Sovereign Ruler, And may the ALMIGHTY of righteousness dwell with them, And by them may His sanctuary be built unto all the ages.
22 Blessed be he that blesses you, And all flesh that curses you falsely, may it be cursed.'
23 And she kissed him, and said to him; 'May YAHWEH of the world love you as the heart of your mother and her affection rejoice in you and bless you.' And she ceased from blessing.

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Thursday, September 12, 2024

Jasher, Chapter 37

Year 2213
1 And in the one hundred and fifth year of the life of Yacob, that is the ninth year of Yacob's dwelling with his children in the land of Canaan, he came from Padan-aram.
2 And in those days Yacob journeyed with his children from Hebron, and they went and returned to the city of Shechem, they and all belonging to them, and they dwelt there, for the children of Yacob obtained good and fat pasture land for their cattle in the city of Shechem, the city of Shechem having then been rebuilt, and there were in it about three hundred men and women.
3 And Yacob and his children and all belonging to him dwelt in the part of the field which Yacob had bought from Hamor the father of Shechem, when he came from Padan-aram before Simeon and Levi had smitten the city.
4 And all those kings of the Canaanites and Amorites that surrounded the city of Shechem, heard that the sons of Yacob had again come to Shechem and dwelt there.
5 And they said, Shall the sons of Yacob the Hebrew again come to the city and dwell therein, after that they have smitten its inhabitants and driven them out? shall they now return and also drive out those who are dwelling in the city or slay them?
6 And all the kings of Canaan again assembled, and they came together to make war with Yacob and his sons.
7 And Jashub king of Tapnach sent also to all his neighboring kings, to Elan king of Gaash, and to Ihuri king of Shiloh, and to Parathon king of Chazar, and to Susi king of Sarton, and to Laban king of Bethchoran, and to Shabir king of Othnay-mah, saying,
8 Come up to me and assist me, and let us smite Yacob the Hebrew and his sons, and all belonging to him, for they are again come to Shechem to possess it and to slay its inhabitants as before.
9 And all these kings assembled together and came with all their camps, a people exceedingly plentiful like the sand upon the sea shore, and they were all opposite to Tapnach.
10 And Jashub king of Tapnach went forth to them with all his army, and he encamped with them opposite to Tapnach without the city, and all these kings they divided into seven divisions, being seven camps against the sons of Yacob.
11 And they sent a declaration to Yacob and his son, saying, Come you all forth to us that we may have an interview together in the plain, and revenge the cause of the men of Shechem whom you slew in their city, and you will now again return to the city of Shechem and dwell therein, and slay its inhabitants as before.
12 And the sons of Yacob heard this and their anger was kindled exceedingly at the words of the kings of Canaan, and ten of the sons of Yacob hastened and rose up, and each of them girt on his weapons of war; and there were one hundred and two of their servants with them equipped in battle array.
13 And all these men, the sons of Yacob with their servants, went toward these kings, and Yacob their father was with them, and they all stood upon the heap of Shechem.
14 And Yacob prayed to YAHWEH for his sons, and he spread forth his hands to YAHWEH, and he said, O YAHWEH, you are an Almighty YAHWEH, you are our father, you didst form us and we are the works of your hands; I pray you deliver my sons through your mercy from the hand of their enemies, who are this day coming to fight with them and save them from their hand, for in your hand is power and might, to save the few from the many.
15 And give unto my sons, your servants, strength of heart and might to fight with their enemies, to subdue them, and make their enemies fall before them, and let not my sons and their servants die through the hands of the children of Canaan.
16 But if it seems good in your eyes to take away the lives of my sons and their servants, take them in your great mercy through the hands of your ministers, that they may not perish this day by the hands of the kings of the Amorites.
17 And when Yacob ceased praying to YAHWEH the earth shook from its place, and the sun darkened, and all these kings were terrified and a great consternation seized them.
18 And YAHWEH hearkened to the prayer of Yacob, and YAHWEH impressed the hearts of all the kings and their hosts with the terror and awe of the sons of Yacob.
19 For YAHWEH caused them to hear the voice of chariots, and the voice of mighty horses from the sons of Yacob, and the voice of a great army accompanying them.
20 And these kings were seized with great terror at the sons of Yacob, and while they were standing in their quarters, behold the sons of Yacob advanced upon them, with one hundred and twelve men, with a great and tremendous shouting.
21 And when the kings saw the sons of Yacob advancing toward them, they were still more panic struck, and they were inclined to retreat from before the sons of Yacob as at first, and not to fight with them.
22 But they did not retreat, saying, It would be a disgrace to us thus twice to retreat from before the Hebrews.
23 And the sons of Yacob came near and advanced against all these kings and their armies, and they saw, and behold it was a very mighty people, numerous as the sand of the sea.
24 And the sons of Yacob called unto YAHWEH and said, Help us O YAHWEH, help us and answer us, for we trust in you, and let us not die by the hands of these uncircumcised men, who this day have come against us.
25 And the sons of Yacob girt on their weapons of war, and they took in their hands each man his shield and his javelin, and they approached to battle.
26 And Yahudah, the son of Yacob, ran first before his brethren, and ten of his servants with him, and he went toward these kings.
27 And Jashub, king of Tapnach, also came forth first with his army before Yahudah, and Yahudah saw Jashub and his army coming toward him, and Yahudah's wrath was kindled, and his anger burned within him, and he approached to battle in which Yahudah ventured his life.
28 And Jashub and all his army were advancing toward Yahudah, and he was riding upon a very strong and powerful horse, and Jashub was a very valiant man, and covered with iron and brass from head to foot.
29 And while he was upon the horse, he shot arrows with both hands from before and behind, as was his manner in all his battles, and he never missed the place to which he aimed his arrows.
30 And when Jashub came to fight with Yahudah, and was darting many arrows against Yahudah, YAHWEH bound the hand of Jashub, and all the arrows that he shot rebounded upon his own men.
31 And notwithstanding this, Jashub kept advancing toward Yahudah, to challenge him with the arrows, but the distance between them was about thirty cubits, and when Yahudah saw Jashub darting forth his arrows against him, he ran to him with his wrath-excited might.
32 And Yahudah took up a large stone from the ground, and its weight was sixty shekels, and Yahudah ran toward Jashub, and with the stone struck him on his shield, that Jashub was stunned with the blow, and fell off from his horse to the ground.
33 And the shield burst asunder out of the hand of Jashub, and through the force of the blow sprang to the distance of about fifteen cubits, and the shield fell before the second camp.
34 And the kings that came with Jashub saw at a distance the strength of Yahudah, the son of Yacob, and what he had done to Jashub, and they were terribly afraid of Yahudah.
35 And they assembled near Jashub's camp, seeing his confusion, and Yahudah drew his sword and smote forty-two men of the camp of Jashub, and the whole of Jashub's camp fled before Yahudah, and no man stood against him, and they left Jashub and fled from him, and Jashub was still prostrate upon the ground.
36 And Jashub seeing that all the men of his camp had fled from him, hastened and rose up with terror against Yahudah, and stood upon his legs opposite Yahudah.
37 And Jashub had a single combat with Yahudah, placing shield toward shield, and Jashub's men all fled, for they were greatly afraid of Yahudah.
38 And Jashub took his spear in his hand to strike Yahudah upon his head, but Yahudah had quickly placed his shield to his head against Jashub's spear, so that the shield of Yahudah received the blow from Jashub's spear, and the shield was split in too.
39 And when Yahudah saw that his shield was split, he hastily drew his sword and smote Jashub at his ankles, and cut off his feet that Jashub fell upon the ground, and the spear fell from his hand.
40 And Yahudah hastily picked up Jashub's spear, with which he severed his head and cast it next to his feet.
41 And when the sons of Yacob saw what Yahudah had done to Jashub, they all ran into the ranks of the other kings, and the sons of Yacob fought with the army of Jashub, and the armies of all the kings that were there.
42 And the sons of Yacob caused fifteen thousand of their men to fall, and they smote them as if smiting at gourds, and the rest fled for their lives.
43 And Yahudah was still standing by the body of Jashub, and stripped Jashub of his coat of mail.
44 And Yahudah also took off the iron and brass that was about Jashub, and behold nine men of the captains of Jashub came along to fight against Yahudah.
45 And Yahudah hastened and took up a stone from the ground, and with it smote one of them upon the head, and his skull was fractured, and the body also fell from the horse to the ground.
46 And the eight captains that remained, seeing the strength of Yahudah, were greatly afraid and they fled, and Yahudah with his ten men pursued them, and they overtook them and slew them.
47 And the sons of Yacob were still smiting the armies of the kings, and they slew many of them, but those kings daringly kept their stand with their captains, and did not retreat from their places, and they exclaimed against those of their armies that fled from before the sons of Yacob, but none would listen to them, for they were afraid of their lives lest they should die.
48 And all the sons of Yacob, after having smitten the armies of the kings, returned and came before Yahudah, and Yahudah was still slaying the eight captains of Jashub, and stripping off their garments.
49 And Levi saw Elon, king of Gaash, advancing toward him, with his fourteen captains to smite him, but Levi did not know it for certain.
50 And Elon with his captains approached nearer, and Levi looked back and saw that battle was given him in the rear, and Levi ran with twelve of his servants, and they went and slew Elon and his captains with the edge of the sword.

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Jasher, Chapter 36

1 At that time YAHWEH appeared unto Yacob (Jacob) saying, Arise, go to Bethel and remain there, and make there an altar to YAHWEH who appeares unto you, who delivered you and your sons from affliction.
2 And Yacob rose up with his sons and all belonging to him, and they went and came to Bethel according to the word of YAHWEH.
3 And Yacob was ninety-nine years old when he went up to Bethel, and Yacob and his sons and all the people that were with him, remained in Bethel in Luz, and he there built an altar to YAHWEH who appeared unto him, and Yacob and his sons remained in Bethel six months.
4 At that time died Deborah the daughter of Uz, the nurse of Rebecca, who had been with Yacob; and Yacob buried her beneath Bethel under an oak that was there.
Year 2208
5 And Rebecca the daughter of Bethuel, the mother of Yacob, also died at that time in Hebron, the same is Kireath-arba, and she was buried in the cave of Machpelah which Abraham had bought from the children of Heth.
6 And the life of Rebecca was one hundred and thirty-three years, and she died and when Yacob heard that his mother Rebecca was dead he wept bitterly for his mother, and made a great mourning for her, and for Deborah her nurse beneath the oak, and he called the name of that place Allon-bachuth.
7 And Laban the Syrian died in those days, for YAHWEH smote him because he transgressed the covenant that existed between him and Yacob.
8 And Yacob was a hundred years old when YAHWEH appeared unto him, and blessed him and called his name Yisrael, and Rachel the wife of Yacob conceived in those days.
9 And at that time Yacob and all belonging to him journeyed from Bethel to go to his father's house, to Hebron.
10 And while they were going on the road, and there was yet but a little way to come to Ephrath, Rachel bare a son and she had hard labor and she died.
11 And Yacob buried her in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem, and he set a pillar upon her grave, which is there unto this day; and the days of Rachel were forty-five years and she died.
12 And Yacob called the name of his son that was born to him, which Rachel bare unto him, Benjamin, for he was born to him in the land on the right hand.
13 And it was after the death of Rachel, that Yacob pitched his tent in the tent of her handmaid Bilhah.
14 And Reuben was jealous for his mother Leah on account of this, and he was filled with anger, and he rose up in his anger and went and entered the tent of Bilhah and he thence removed his father's bed.
15 At that time the portion of birthright, together with the kingly and priestly offices, was removed from the sons of Reuben, for he had profaned his father's bed, and the birthright was given unto Yoseph, the kingly office to Yahudah, and the priesthood unto Levi, because Reuben had defiled his father's bed.
16 And these are the generations of Yacob who were born to him in Padan-aram, and the sons of Yacob were twelve.
17 The sons of Leah were Reuben the first born, and Simeon, Levi, Yahudah, Issachar, Zebulun, and their sister Dinah; and the sons of Rachel were Yoseph and Benjamin.
18 The sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, were Gad and Asher, and the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid, were Dan and Naphtali; these are the sons of Yacob which were born to him in Padan-aram.
19 And Yacob and his sons and all belonging to him journeyed and came to Mamre, which is Kireath-arba, that is in Hebron, where Abraham and Yitschaq sojourned, and Yacob with his sons and all belonging to him, dwelt with his father in Hebron.
20 And his brother Esau and his sons, and all belonging to him went to the land of Seir and dwelt there, and had possessions in the land of Seir, and the children of Esau were fruitful and multiplied exceedingly in the land of Seir.
21 And these are the generations of Esau that were born to him in the land of Canaan, and the sons of Esau were five.
22 And Adah bare to Esau his first born Eliphaz, and she also bare to him Reuel, and Ahlibamah bare to him Jeush, Yaalam and Korah.
23 These are the children of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan; and the sons of Eliphaz the son of Esau were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, Kenaz and Amalex, and the sons of Reuel were Nachath, Zerach, Shamah and Mizzah.
24 And the sons of Jeush were Timnah, Alvah, Jetheth; and the sons of Yaalam were Alah, Phinor and Kenaz.
25 And the sons of Korah were Teman, Mibzar, Magdiel and Eram; these are the families of the sons of Esau according to their dukedoms in the land of Seir.
26 And these are the names of the sons of Seir the Horite, inhabitants of the land of Seir, Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishan, Ezer and Dishon, being seven sons.
27 And the children of Lotan were Hori, Heman and their sister Timna, that is Timna who came to Yacob and his sons, and they would not give ear to her, and she went and became a concubine to Eliphaz the son of Esau, and she bare to him Amalek.
28 And the sons of Shobal were Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam, and the sons of Zibeon were Ajah, and Anah, this was that Anah who found the Yemim in the wilderness when he fed the asses of Zibeon his father.
29 And while he was feeding his father's asses he led them to the wilderness at different times to feed them.
30 And there was a day that he brought them to one of the deserts on the sea shore, opposite the wilderness of the people, and while he was feeding them, behold a very heavy storm came from the other side of the sea and rested upon the asses that were feeding there, and they all stood still.
31 And afterward about one hundred and twenty great and terrible animals came out from the wilderness at the other side of the sea, and they all came to the place where the asses were, and they placed themselves there.
32 And those animals, from their middle downward, were in the shape of the children of men, and from their middle upward, some had the likeness of bears, and some the likeness of the keephas, with tails behind them from between their shoulders reaching down to the earth, like the tails of the ducheephath, and these animals came and mounted and rode upon these asses, and led them away, and they went away unto this day.
33 And one of these animals approached Anah and smote him with his tail, and then fled from that place.
34 And when he saw this work he was exceedingly afraid of his life, and he fled and escaped to the city.
35 And he related to his sons and brothers all that had happened to him, and many men went to seek the asses but could not find them, and Anah and his brothers went no more to that place from that day following, for they were greatly afraid of their lives.
36 And the children of Anah the son of Seir, were Dishon and his sister Ahlibamah, and the children of Dishon were Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran and Cheran, and the children of Ezer were Bilhan, Zaavan and Akan, and the children of Dishon were Uz and Aran.
37 These are the families of the children of Seir the Horite, according to their dukedoms in the land of Seir.
38 And Esau and his children dwelt in the land of Seir the Horite, the inhabitant of the land, and they had possessions in it and were fruitful and multiplied exceedingly, and Yacob and his children and all belonging to them, dwelt with their father Yitschaq in the land of Canaan, as YAHWEH had commanded Abraham their father.

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Monday, September 9, 2024

Jasher, Chapter 32

1 And at that time Yacob sent messengers to his brother Esau toward the land of Seir, and he spoke to him words of supplication.
2 And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye say to my lord, to Esau, Thus saith your servant Yacob, Let not my lord imagine that my father's blessing with which he did bless me has proved beneficial to me.
3 For I have been these twenty years with Laban, and he deceived me and changed my wages ten times, as it has all been already told unto my lord.
4 And I served him in his house very laboriously, and YAHWEH afterward saw my affliction, my labor and the work of my hands, and he caused me to find free unmerited love and favor and favor in his sight.
5 And I afterward through YAHWEH's great mercy and kindness acquired oxen and asses and cattle, and men servants and maid servants.
6 And now I am coming to my land and my home to my father and mother, who are in the land of Canaan; and I have sent to let my lord know all this in order to find favor in the sight of my lord, so that he may not imagine that I have of myself obtained wealth, or that the blessing with which my father blessed me has benefited me.
7 And those messengers went to Esau, and found him on the borders of the land of Edom going toward Yacob, and four hundred men of the children of Seir the Horite were standing with drawn swords.
8 And the messengers of Yacob told Esau all the words that Yacob had spoken to them concerning Esau.
9 And Esau answered them with pride and contempt, and said unto them, Surely I have heard and truly it has been told unto me what Yacob has done to Laban, who exalted him in his house and gave him his daughters for wives, and he begat sons and daughters, and abundantly increased in wealth and riches in Laban's house through his means.
10 And when he saw that his wealth was abundant and his riches great he fled with all belonging to him, from Laban's house, and he led Laban's daughters away from the face of their father, as captives taken by the sword without telling him of it.
11 And not only to Laban has Yacob done thus but also unto me has he done so and has twice supplanted me, and shall I be silent?
12 Now therefore I have this day come with my camps to meet him, and I will do unto him according to the desire of my heart.
13 And the messengers returned and came to Yacob and said unto him, We came to your brother, to Esau, and we told him all your words, and thus has he answered us, and behold he comes to meet you with four hundred men.
14 Now then know and see what you shall do, and pray before YAHWEH to deliver you from him.
15 And when he heard the words of his brother which he had spoken to the messengers of Yacob, Yacob was greatly afraid and he was distressed.
16 And Yacob prayed to YAHWEH his ALMIGHTY, and he said, O YAHWEH the ALMIGHTY of my fathers, Abraham and Yitschaq, you didst say unto me when I went away from my father's house, saying,
17 I am YAHWEH the ALMIGHTY of your father Abraham and the ALMIGHTY of Yitschaq, unto you do I give this land and your seed after you, and I will make your seed as the stars of heaven, and you shall spread forth to the four sides of heaven, and in you and in your seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
18 And you didst establish your words, and didst give unto me riches and children and cattle, as the utmost wishes of my heart didst you give unto your servant; you didst give unto me all that I asked from you, so that I lacked nothing.
19 And you didst afterward say unto me, Return to your parents and to your birth place and I will still do well with you.
20 And now that I have come, and you didst deliver me from Laban, I shall fall in the hands of Esau who will slay me, yea, together with the mothers of my children.
21 Now therefore, O YAHWEH the ALMIGHTY, deliver me, I pray you, also from the hands of my brother Esau, for I am greatly afraid of him.
22 And if there is no righteousness in me, do it for the sake of Abraham and my father Yitschaq.
23 For I know that through kindness and mercy have I acquired this wealth; now therefore I beseech you to deliver me this day with your kindness and to answer me.
24 And Yacob ceased praying to YAHWEH, and he divided the people that were with him with the flocks and cattle into two camps, and he gave the half to the care of Damesek, the son of Eliezer, Abraham's servant, for a camp, with his children, and the other half he gave to the care of his brother Elianus the son of Eliezer, to be for a camp with his children.
25 And he commanded them, saying, Keep yourselves at a distance with your camps, and do not come too near each other, and if Esau come to one camp and slay it, the other camp at a distance from it will escape him.
26 And Yacob tarried there that night, and during the whole night he gave his servants instructions concerning the forces and his children.
27 And YAHWEH heard the prayer of Yacob on that day, and YAHWEH then delivered Yacob from the hands of his brother Esau.
28 And YAHWEH sent three heavenly messengers of the heavenly messengers of heaven, and they went before Esau and came to him.
29 And these heavenly messengers appeared unto Esau and his people as two thousand men, riding upon horses furnished with all sorts of war instruments, and they appeared in the sight of Esau and all his men to be divided into four camps, with four chiefs to them.
30 And one camp went on and they found Esau coming with four hundred men toward his brother Yacob, and this camp ran toward Esau and his people and terrified them, and Esau fell off the horse in alarm, and all his men separated from him in that place, for they were greatly afraid.
31 And the whole of the camp shouted after them when they fled from Esau, and all the warlike men answered, saying,
32 Surely we are the servants of Yacob, who is the servant of YAHWEH, and who then can stand against us? And Esau said unto them, O then, my lord and brother Yacob is your lord, whom I have not seen for these twenty years, and now that I have this day come to see him, do you treat me in this manner?
33 And the heavenly messengers answered him saying, As YAHWEH liveth, were not Yacob of whom you speaks your brother, we had not let one remaining from you and your people, but only on account of Yacob we will do nothing to them.
34 And this camp passed from Esau and his men and it went away, and Esau and his men had gone from them about a league when the second camp came toward him with all sorts of weapons, and they also did unto Esau and his men as the first camp had done to them.
35 And when they had left it to go on, behold the third camp came toward him and they were all terrified, and Esau fell off the horse, and the whole camp cried out, and said, Surely we are the servants of Yacob, who is the servant of YAHWEH, and who can stand against us?
36 And Esau again answered them saying, O then, Yacob my lord and your lord is my brother, and for twenty years I have not seen his countenance and hearing this day that he was coming, I went this day to meet him, and do you treat me in this manner?
37 And they answered him, and said unto him, As YAHWEH liveth, were not Yacob your brother as you didst say, we had not left a remnant from you and your men, but on account of Yacob of whom you speak being your brother, we will not meddle with you or your men.
38 And the third camp also passed from them, and he still continued his road with his men toward Yacob, when the fourth camp came toward him, and they also did unto him and his men as the others had done.
39 And when Esau beheld the evil which the four heavenly messengers had done to him and to his men, he became greatly afraid of his brother Yacob, and he went to meet him in peace.
40 And Esau concealed his hatred against Yacob, because he was afraid of his life on account of his brother Yacob, and because he imagined that the four camps that he had lighted upon were Yacob's servants.
41 And Yacob tarried that night with his servants in their camps, and he resolved with his servants to give unto Esau a present from all that he had with him, and from all his property; and Yacob rose up in the morning, he and his men, and they chose from amongst the cattle a present for Esau.
42 And this is the amount of the present which Yacob chose from his flock to give unto his brother Esau: and he selected two hundred and forty head from the flocks, and he selected from the camels and asses thirty each, and of the herds he chose fifty kine.
43 And he put them all in ten droves, and he placed each sort by itself, and he delivered them into the hands of ten of his servants, each drove by itself.
44 And he commanded them, and said unto them, Keep yourselves at a distance from each other, and put a space between the droves, and when Esau and those who are with him shall meet you and ask you, saying, Whose are you, and whither do you go, and to whom belongs all this before you, you shall say unto them, We are the servants of Yacob, and we come to meet Esau in peace, and behold Yacob comes behind us.
45 And that which is before us is a present sent from Yacob to his brother Esau.
46 And if they shall say unto you, Why doth he delay behind you, from coming to meet his brother and to see his face, then you shall say unto them, Surely he comes joyfully behind us to meet his brother, for he said, I will appease him with the present that goes to him, and after this I will see his face, peradventure he will accept of me.
47 So the whole present passed on in the hands of his servants, and went before him on that day, and he lodged that night with his camps by the border of the brook of Jabuk, and he rose up in the midst of the night, and he took his wives and his maid servants, and all belonging to him, and he that night passed them over the ford Jabuk.
48 And when he passed all belonging to him over the brook, Yacob was left by himself, and a man met him, and he wrestled with him that night until the breaking of the day, and the hollow of Yacob's thigh was out of joint through wrestling with him.
49 And at the break of day the man left Yacob there, and he blessed him and went away, and Yacob passed the brook at the break of day, and he halted upon his thigh.
50 And the sun rose upon him when he had passed the brook, and he came up to the place of his cattle and children.
51 And they went on till midday, and while they were going the present was passing on before them.
52 And Yacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold Esau was at a distance, coming along with many men, about four hundred, and Yacob was greatly afraid of his brother.
53 And Yacob hastened and divided his children unto his wives and his handmaids, and his daughter Dinah he put in a chest, and delivered her into the hands of his servants.
54 And he passed before his children and wives to meet his brother, and he bowed down to the ground, yea he bowed down seven times until he approached his brother, and YAHWEH caused Yacob to find free unmerited love and favor in the sight of Esau and his men, for YAHWEH had heard the prayer of Yacob.
55 And the fear of Yacob and his terror fell upon his brother Esau, for Esau was greatly afraid of Yacob for what the heavenly messengers of YAHWEH had done to Esau, and Esau's anger against Yacob was turned into kindness.
56 And when Esau saw Yacob running toward him, he also ran toward him and he embraced him, and he fell upon his neck, and they kissed and they wept.
57 And YAHWEH put fear and kindness toward Yacob in the hearts of the men that came with Esau, and they also kissed Yacob and embraced him.
58 And also Eliphaz, the son of Esau, with his four brothers, sons of Esau, wept with Yacob, and they kissed him and embraced him, for the fear of Yacob had fallen upon them all.
59 And Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women with their offspring, the children of Yacob, walking behind Yacob and bowing along the road to Esau.
60 And Esau said unto Yacob, Who are these with you, my brother? are they your children or your servants? and Yacob answered Esau and said, They are my children which YAHWEH hath graciously given to your servant.
61 And while Yacob was speaking to Esau and his men, Esau beheld the whole camp, and he said unto Yacob, Whence didst you get the whole of the camp that I met yesternight? and Yacob said, To find favor in the sight of my lord, it is that which YAHWEH graciously gave to your servant.
62 And the present came before Esau, and Yacob pressed Esau, saying, Take I pray you the present that I have brought to my lord, and Esau said, Wherefore is this my purpose? keep that which you hast unto thyself.
63 And Yacob said, It is incumbent upon me to give all this, since I have seen your face, that you still live in peace.
64 And Esau refused to take the present, and Yacob said unto him, I beseech you my lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, then receive my present at my hand, for I have therefore seen your face, as though I had seen a god-like face, because you wast pleased with me.
65 And Esau took the present, and Yacob also gave unto Esau silver and gold and bdellium, for he pressed him so much that he took them.
66 And Esau divided the cattle that were in the camp, and he gave the half to the men who had come with him, for they had come on hire, and the other half he delivered unto the hands of his children.
67 And the silver and gold and bdellium he gave in the hands of Eliphaz his eldest son, and Esau said unto Yacob, Let us remain with you, and we will go slowly along with you until you come to my place with me, that we may dwell there together.
68 And Yacob answered his brother and said, I would do as my lord speaks unto me, but my lord knows that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with their young who are with me, go but slowly, for if they went swiftly they would all die, for you know their burdens and their fatigue.
69 Therefore let my lord pass on before his servant, and I will go on slowly for the sake of the children and the flock, until I come to my lord's place to Seir.
70 And Esau said unto Yacob, I will place with you some of the people that are with me to take care of you in the road, and to bear your fatigue and burden, and he said, What needs it my lord, if I may find free unmerited favor in your sight?
71 Behold I will come unto you to Seir to dwell there together as you hast spoken, go you then with your people for I will follow you.
72 And Yacob said this to Esau in order to remove Esau and his men from him, so that Yacob might afterward go to his father's house to the land of Canaan.
73 And Esau hearkened to the voice of Yacob, and Esau returned with the four hundred men that were with him on their road to Seir, and Yacob and all belonging to him went that day as far as the extremity of the land of Canaan in its borders, and he remained there some time.

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Jasher, chapter 31

Year 2193
1 And in the seventh year, Yacob's service which he served Laban was completed, and Yacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for the days of my service are fulfilled; and Laban did so, and Laban and Yacob assembled all the people of that place and they made a feast.
2 And in the evening Laban came to the house, and afterward Yacob came there with the people of the feast, and Laban extinguished all the lights that were there in the house.
3 And Yacob said unto Laban, Wherefore dost you do this thing unto us? and Laban answered, Such is our custom to act in this land.
4 And afterward Laban took his daughter Leah, and he brought her to Yacob, and he came to her and Yacob did not know that she was Leah.
5 And Laban gave his daughter Leah his maid Zilpah for a handmaid.
6 And all the people at the feast knew what Laban had done to Yacob, but they did not tell the thing to Yacob.
7 And all the neighbors came that night to Yacob's house, and they ate and drank and rejoiced, and played before Leah upon timbrels, and with dances, and they responded before Yacob, Heleah, Heleah.
8 And Yacob heard their words but did not understand their meaning, but he thought such might be their custom in this land.
9 And the neighbors spoke these words before Yacob during the night, and all the lights that were in the house Laban had that night extinguished.
10 And in the morning, when daylight appeared, Yacob turned to his wife and he saw, and behold it was Leah that had been lying in his bosom, and Yacob said, Behold now I know what the neighbors said last night, Heleah, they said, and I knew it not.
11 And Yacob called unto Laban, and said unto him, What is this that you didst unto me? Surely I served you for Rachel, and why didst you deceive me and didst give me Leah?
12 And Laban answered Yacob, saying, Not so is it done in our place to give the younger before the elder now therefore if you desire to take her sister likewise, take her unto you for the service which you wilt serve me for another seven years.
13 And Yacob did so, and he also took Rachel for a wife, and he served Laban seven years more, and Yacob also came to Rachel, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and Laban gave her his maid Bilhah for a handmaid.
14 And when YAHWEH saw that Leah was hated, YAHWEH opened her womb, and she conceived and bare Yacob four sons in those days.
15 And these are their names, Reuben Simeon, Levi, and Yahudah, and she afterward left bearing.
16 And at that time Rachel was barren, and she had no offspring, and Rachel envied her sister Leah, and when Rachel saw that she bare no children to Yacob, she took her handmaid Bilhah, and she bare Yacob two sons, Dan and Naphtali.
17 And when Leah saw that she had left bearing, she also took her handmaid Zilpah, and she gave her to Yacob for a wife, and Yacob also came to Zilpah, and she also bare Yacob two sons, Gad and Asher.
18 And Leah again conceived and bare Yacob in those days two sons and one daughter, and these are their names, Issachar, Zebulon, and their sister Dinah.
19 And Rachel was still barren in those days, and Rachel prayed unto YAHWEH at that time, and she said, O YAHWEH the ALMIGHTY remember me and visit me, I beseech you, for now my husband will cast me off, for I have borne him no children.
20 Now O YAHWEH the ALMIGHTY, hear my supplication before you, and see my affliction, and give me children like one of the handmaids, that I may no more bear my reproach.
Year 2199
21 And YAHWEH heard her and opened her womb, and Rachel conceived and bare a son, and she said, YAHWEH has taken away my reproach, and she called his name Yoseph, saying, May YAHWEH add to me another son; and Yacob was ninety-one years old when she bare him.
22 At that time Yacob's mother, Rebecca, sent her nurse Deborah the daughter of Uz, and two of Yitschaq's servants unto Yacob.
23 And they came to Yacob to Haran and they said unto him, Rebecca has sent us to you that you shall return to your father's house to the land of Canaan; and Yacob hearkened unto them in this which his mother had spoken.
24 At that time, the other seven years which Yacob served Laban for Rachel were completed, and it was at the end of fourteen years that he had dwelt in Haran that Yacob said unto Laban, give me my wives and send me away, that I may go to my land, for behold my mother did send unto me from the land at Canaan that I should return to my father's house.
25 And Laban said unto him, Not so I pray you; if I have found favor in your sight do not leave me; appoint me your wages and I will give them, and remain with me.
26 And Yacob said unto him, This is what you shall give me for wages, that I shall this day pass through all your flock and take away from them every lamb that is speckled and spotted and such as are brown amongst the sheep, and amongst the goats, and if you wilt do this thing for me I will return and feed your flock and keep them as at first.
27 And Laban did so, and Laban removed from his flock all that Yacob had said and gave them to him.
28 And Yacob placed all that he had removed from Laban's flock in the hands of his sons, and Yacob was feeding the remainder of Laban's flock.
29 And when the servants of Yitschaq which he had sent unto Yacob saw that Yacob would not then return with them to the land of Canaan to his father, they then went away from him, and they returned home to the land of Canaan.
30 And Deborah remained with Yacob in Haran, and she did not return with the servants of Yitschaq to the land of Canaan, and Deborah resided with Yacob's wives and children in Haran.
31 And Yacob served Laban six years longer, and when the sheep brought forth, Yacob removed from them such as were speckled and spotted, as he had determined with Laban, and Yacob did so at Laban's for six years, and the man increased abundantly and he had cattle and maid servants and men servants, camels, and asses.
32 And Yacob had two hundred drove of cattle, and his cattle were of large size and of beautiful appearance and were very productive, and all the families of the sons of men desired to get some of the cattle of Yacob, for they were exceedingly prosperous.
33 And many of the sons of men came to procure some of Yacob's flock, and Yacob gave them a sheep for a man servant or a maid servant or for an ass or a camel, or whatever Yacob desired from them they gave him.
34 And Yacob obtained riches and honor and possessions by means of these transactions with the sons of men, and the children of Laban envied him of this honor.
35 And in the course of time he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Yacob has taken away all that was our father's, and of that which was our father's has he acquired all this splendor and honor.
36 And Yacob beheld the countenance of Laban and of his children, and behold it was not toward him in those days as it had been before.
37 And YAHWEH appeared to Yacob at the expiration of the six years, and said unto him, Arise, go forth out of this land, and return to the land of your birthplace and I will be with you.
38 And Yacob rose up at that time and he mounted his children and wives and all belonging to him upon camels, and he went forth to go to the land of Canaan to his father Yitschaq.
39 And Laban did not know that Yacob had gone from him, for Laban had been that day sheep-shearing.
40 And Rachel stole her father's images, and she took them and she concealed them upon the camel upon which she sat, and she went on.
41 And this is the manner of the images; in taking a man who is the first born and slaying him and taking the hair off his head, and taking salt and salting the head and anointing it in oil, then taking a small tablet of copper or a tablet of gold and writing the name upon it, and placing the tablet under his tongue, and taking the head with the tablet under the tongue and putting it in the house, and lighting up lights before it and bowing down to it.
42 And at the time when they bow down to it, it speaks to them in all matters that they ask of it, through the power of the name which is written in it.
43 And some make them in the figures of men, of gold and silver, and go to them in times known to them, and the figures receive the influence of the stars, and tell them future things, and in this manner were the images which Rachel stole from her father.
44 And Rachel stole these images which were her father's, in order that Laban might not know through them where Yacob had gone.
45 And Laban came home and he asked concerning Yacob and his household, and he was not to be found, and Laban sought his images to know where Yacob had gone, and could not find them, and he went to some other images, and he inquired of them and they told him that Yacob had fled from him to his father's, to the land of Canaan.
46 And Laban then rose up and he took his brothers and all his servants, and he went forth and pursued Yacob, and he overtook him in mount Gilead.
47 And Laban said unto Yacob, What is this you hast done to me to flee and deceive me, and lead my daughters and their children as captives taken by the sword?
48 And you didst not suffer me to kiss them and send them away with joy, and you didst steal my gods and didst go away.
49 And Yacob answered Laban, saying, Because I was afraid lest you wouldst take your daughters by force from me; and now with whomsoever you find your gods he shall die.
50 And Laban searched for the images and he examined in all Yacob's tents and furniture, but could not find them.
51 And Laban said unto Yacob, We will make a covenant together and it shall be a testimony between me and you; if you shall afflict my daughters, or shall take other wives besides my daughters, even YAHWEH shall be a witness between me and you in this matter.
52 And they took stones and made a heap, and Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and you, therefore he called the name thereof Gilead.
53 And Yacob and Laban offered sacrifice upon the mount, and they ate there by the heap, and they tarried in the mount all night, and Laban rose up early in the morning, and he wept with his daughters and he kissed them, and he returned unto his place.
54 And he hastened and sent off his son Beor, who was seventeen years old, with Abichorof the son of Uz, the son of Nahor, and with them were ten men.
55 And they hastened and went and passed on the road before Yacob, and they came by another road to the land of Seir.
56 And they came unto Esau and said unto him, Thus saith your brother and relative, your mother's brother Laban, the son of Bethuel, saying, 57 Hast you heard what Yacob your brother has done unto me, who first came to me naked and bare, and I went to meet him, and brought him to my house with honor, and I made him great, and I gave him my two daughters for wives and also two of my maids.
58 And YAHWEH blessed him on my account, and he increased abundantly, and had sons, daughters and maid servants.
59 He has also an immense stock of flocks and herds, camels and asses, also silver and gold in abundance; and when he saw that his wealth increased, he left me while I went to shear my sheep, and he rose up and fled in secrecy.
60 And he lifted his wives and children upon camels, and he led away all his cattle and property which he acquired in my land, and he lifted up his countenance to go to his father Yitschaq, to the land of Canaan.
61 And he did not suffer me to kiss my daughters and their children, and he led my daughters as captives taken by the sword, and he also stole my gods and he fled.
62 And now I have left him in the mountain of the brook of Jabuk, him and all belonging to him; he lacks nothing.
63 If it be your wish to go to him, go then and there wilt you find him, and you canst do unto him as your soul desireth; and Laban's messengers came and told Esau all these things.
64 And Esau heard all the words of Laban's messengers, and his anger was greatly kindled against Yacob, and he remembered his hatred, and his anger burned within him.
65 And Esau hastened and took his children and servants and the souls of his household, being sixty men, and he went and assembled all the children of Seir the Horite and their people, being three hundred and forty men, and took all this number of four hundred men with drawn swords, and he went unto Yacob to smite him.
66 And Esau divided this number into several parts, and he took the sixty men of his children and servants and the souls of his household as one head, and gave them in care of Eliphaz his eldest son.
67 And the remaining heads he gave to the care of the six sons of Seir the Horite, and he placed every man over his generations and children.
68 And the whole of this camp went as it was, and Esau went amongst them toward Yacob, and he conducted them with speed.
69 And Laban's messengers departed from Esau and went to the land of Canaan, and they came to the house of Rebecca the mother of Yacob and Esau.
70 And they told her saying, Behold your son Esau has gone against his brother Yacob with four hundred men, for he heard that he was coming, and he is gone to make war with him, and to smite him and to take all that he has.
71 And Rebecca hastened and sent seventy two men from the servants of Yitschaq to meet Yacob on the road; for she said, Peradventure, Esau may make war in the road when he meets him.
72 And these messengers went on the road to meet Yacob, and they met him in the road of the brook on the opposite side of the brook Jabuk, and Yacob said when he saw them, This camp is destined to me from YAHWEH, and Yacob called the name of that place Machnayim.
73 And Yacob knew all his father's people, and he kissed them and embraced them and came with them, and Yacob asked them concerning his father and mother, and they said, They were well.
74 And these messengers said unto Yacob, Rebecca your mother has sent us to you, saying, I have heard, my son, that your brother Esau has gone forth against you on the road with men from the children of Seir the Horite.
75 And therefore, my son, hearken to my voice and see with your counsel what you wilt do, and when he comes up to you, supplicate him, and do not speak rashly to him, and give him a present from what you possessest, and from what YAHWEH has favored you with.
76 And when he asks you concerning your affairs, conceal nothing from him, perhaps he may turn from his anger against you and you wilt thereby save your soul, you and all belonging to you, for it is your duty to honor him, for he is your elder brother.
77 And when Yacob heard the words of his mother which the messengers had spoken to him, Yacob lifted up his voice and wept bitterly, and did as his mother then commanded him.

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Sunday, September 8, 2024

Jasher, Chapter 30

1 And Yacob went forth continuing his road to Haran, and he came as far as mount Moriah, and he tarried there all night near the city of Luz; and YAHWEH appeared there unto Yacob on that night, and he said unto him, I am YAHWEH the ALMIGHTY of Abraham and the ALMIGHTY of Yitschaq your father; the land upon which you lie I will give unto you and your seed.
2 And behold I am with you and will keep you wherever you goest, and I will multiply your seed as the stars of Heaven, and I will cause all your enemies to fall before you; and when they shall make war with you they shall not prevail over you, and I will bring you again unto this land with joy, with children, and with great riches.
3 And Yacob awoke from his sleep and he rejoiced greatly at the vision which he had seen; and he called the name of that place Bethel.
4 And Yacob rose up from that place quite rejoiced, and when he walked his feet felt light to him for joy, and he went from there to the land of the children of the East, and he returned to Haran and he set by the shepherd's well.
5 And he there found some men; going from Haran to feed their flocks, and Yacob made inquiries of them, and they said, We are from Haran.
6 And he said unto them, Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor? and they said, We know him, and behold his daughter Rachel is coming along to feed her father's flock.
7 Whilst he was yet speaking with them, Rachel the daughter of Laban came to feed her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess.
8 And when Yacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, he ran and kissed her, and lifted up his voice and wept.
9 And Yacob told Rachel that he was the son of Rebecca, her father's sister, and Rachel ran and told her father, and Yacob continued to cry because he had nothing with him to bring to the house of Laban.
10 And when Laban heard that his sister's son Yacob had come, he ran and kissed him and embraced him and brought him into the house and gave him bread, and he ate.
11 And Yacob related to Laban what his brother Esau had done to him, and what his son Eliphaz had done to him in the road.
12 And Yacob resided in Laban's house for one month, and Yacob ate and drank in the house of Laban, and afterward Laban said unto Yacob, Tell me what shall be your wages, for how canst you serve me for nought?
13 And Laban had no sons but only daughters, and his other wives and handmaids were still barren in those days; and these are the names of Laban's daughters which his wife Adinah had borne unto him; the name of the elder was Leah and the name of the younger was Rachel; and Leah was tender-eyed, but Rachel was beautiful and well favored, and Yacob loved her.
14 And Yacob said unto Laban, I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter; and Laban consented to this and Yacob served Laban seven years for his daughter Rachel.
Year 2187
15 And in the second year of Yacob's dwelling in Haran, that is in the seventy ninth year of the life of Yacob, in that year died Eber the son of Shem, he was four hundred and sixty-four years old at his death.
16 And when Yacob heard that Eber was dead he grieved exceedingly, and he lamented and mourned over him many days.
17 And in the third year of Yacob's dwelling in Haran, Bosmath, the daughter of Ishmael, the wife of Esau, bare unto him a son, and Esau called his name Reuel.
18 And in the fourth year of Yacob's residence in the house of Laban, YAHWEH visited Laban and remembered him on account of Yacob, and sons were born unto him, and his first born was Beor, his second was Alib, and the third was Chorash.
19 And YAHWEH gave Laban riches and honor, sons and daughters, and the man increased greatly on account of Yacob.
20 And Yacob in those days served Laban in all manner of work, in the house and in the field, and the blessing of YAHWEH was in all that belonged to Laban in the house and in the field.
21 And in the fifth year died Jehudith, the daughter of Beeri, the wife of Esau, in the land of Canaan, and she had no sons but daughters only.
22 And these are the names of her daughters which she bare to Esau, the name of the elder was Marzith, and the name of the younger was Puith.
23 And when Jehudith died, Esau rose up and went to Seir to hunt in the field, as usual, and Esau dwelt in the land of Seir for a long time.
24 And in the sixth year Esau took for a wife, in addition to his other wives, Ahlibamah, the daughter of Zebeon the Hivite, and Esau brought her to the land of Canaan.
25 And Ahlibamah conceived and bare unto Esau three sons, Yeush, Yaalan, and Korah.
26 And in those days, in the land of Canaan, there was a quarrel between the herdsmen of Esau and the herdsmen of the inhabitants of the land of Canaan, for Esau's cattle and goods were too abundant for him to remain in the land of Canaan, in his father's house, and the land of Canaan could not bear him on account of his cattle.
27 And when Esau saw that his quarreling increased with the inhabitants of the land of Canaan, he rose up and took his wives and his sons and his daughters, and all belonging to him, and the cattle which he possessed, and all his property that he had acquired in the land of Canaan, and he went away from the inhabitants of the land to the land of Seir, and Esau and all belonging to him dwelt in the land of Seir.
28 But from time to time Esau would go and see his father and mother in the land of Canaan, and Esau intermarried with the Horites, and he gave his daughters to the sons of Seir, the Horite.
29 And he gave his elder daughter Marzith to Anah, the son of Zebeon, his wife's brother, and Puith he gave to Azar, the son of Bilhan the Horite; and Esau dwelt in the mountain, he and his children, and they were fruitful and multiplied.

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Jasher, Chapter 29

1 And Yitschaq (Isaac) the son of Abraham became old and advanced in days, and his eyes became heavy through age; they were dim and could not see.
2 At that time Yitschaq called unto Esau his son, saying, Get I pray you your weapons, your quiver and your bow, rise up and go forth into the field and get me some venison, and make me savory meat and bring it to me, that I may eat in order that I may bless you before my death, as I have now become old and gray- headed.
3 And Esau did so; and he took his weapon and went forth into the field to hunt for venison, as usual, to bring to his father as he had ordered him, so that he might bless him.
4 And Rebecca heard all the words that Yitschaq had spoken unto Esau, and she hastened and called her son Yacob (Jacob), saying, Thus did your father speak unto your brother Esau, and thus did I hear, now therefore hasten you and make that which I shall tell you.
5 Rise up and go, I pray you, to the flock and fetch me two fine kids of the goats, and I will get the savory meat for your father, and you shall bring the savory meat that he may eat before your brother shall have come from the chase, in order that your father may bless you.
6 And Yacob hastened and did as his mother had commanded him, and he made the savory meat and brought it before his father before Esau had come from his chase.
7 And Yitschaq said unto Yacob, Who are you, my son? And he said, I am your first born Esau, I have done as you didst order me, now therefore rise up I pray you, and eat of my hunt, in order that your soul may bless me as you didst speak unto me.
8 And Yitschaq rose up and he ate and he drank, and his heart was comforted, and he blessed Yacob and Yacob went away from his father; and as soon as Yitschaq had blessed Yacob and he had gone away from him, behold Esau came from his hunt from the field, and he also made savory meat and brought it to his father to eat thereof and to bless him.
9 And Yitschaq said unto Esau, And who was he that has taken venison and brought it me before you came and whom I did bless? And Esau knew that his brother Yacob had done this, and the anger of Esau was kindled against his brother Yacob that he had acted thus toward him.
10 And Esau said, Is he not rightly called Yacob? for he has supplanted me twice, he took away my birthright and now he has taken away my blessing; and Esau wept greatly; and when Yitschaq heard the voice of his son Esau weeping, Yitschaq said unto Esau, What can I do, my son, your brother came with subtlety and took away your blessing; and Esau hated his brother Yacob on account of the blessing that his father had given him, and his anger was greatly roused against him.
Year 2171
11 And Yacob was very much afraid of his brother Esau, and he rose up and fled to the house of Eber the son of Shem, and he concealed himself there on account of his brother, and Yacob was sixty-three years old when he went forth from the land of Canaan from Hebron, and Yacob was concealed in Eber's house fourteen years on account of his brother Esau, and he there continued to learn the ways of YAHWEH and his commandments.
12 And when Esau saw that Yacob had fled and escaped from him, and that Yacob had cunningly obtained the blessing, then Esau grieved exceedingly, and he was also vexed at his father and mother; and he also rose up and took his wife and went away from his father and mother to the land of Seir, and he dwelt there; and Esau saw there a woman from amongst the daughters of Heth whose name was Bosmath, the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and he took her for a wife in addition to his first wife, and Esau called her name Adah, saying the blessing had in that time passed from him.
13 And Esau dwelt in the land of Seir six months without seeing his father and mother, and afterward Esau took his wives and rose up and returned to the land of Canaan, and Esau placed his two wives in his father's house in Hebron.
14 And the wives of Esau vexed and provoked Yitschaq and Rebecca with their works, for they walked not in the ways of YAHWEH, but served their father's gods of wood and stone as their father had taught them, and they were more wicked than their father.
15 And they went according to the evil desires of their hearts, and they sacrificed and burnt incense to the Baalim, and Yitschaq and Rebecca became weary of them.
16 And Rebecca said, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth; if Yacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good then is life unto me?
Year 2173
17 And in those days Adah the wife of Esau conceived and bare him a son, and Esau called the name of the son that was born unto him Eliphaz, and Esau was sixty-five years old when she bare him.
Year 2172
18 And Ishmael the son of Abraham died in those days, in the sixty-forth year of the life of Yacob, and all the days that Ishmael lived were one hundred and thirty-seven years and he died.
19 And when Yitschaq heard that Ishmael was dead he mourned for him, and Yitschaq lamented over him many days.
Year 2185
20 And at the end of fourteen years of Yacob's residing in the house of Eber, Yacob desired to see his father and mother, and Yacob came to the house of his father and mother to Hebron, and Esau had in those days forgotten what Yacob had done to him in having taken the blessing from him in those days.
21 And when Esau saw Yacob coming to his father and mother he remembered what Yacob had done to him, and he was greatly incensed against him and he sought to slay him.
22 And Yitschaq the son of Abraham was old and advanced in days, and Esau said, Now my father's time is drawing nigh that he must die, and when he shall die I will slay my brother Yacob.
23 And this was told to Rebecca, and she hastened and sent and called for Yacob her son, and she said unto him, Arise, go and flee to Haran to my brother Laban, and remain there for some time, until your brother's anger be turned from you and then shall you come back.
24 And Yitschaq called unto Yacob and said unto him, Take not a wife from the daughters of Canaan, for thus did our father Abraham command us according to the word of YAHWEH which he had commanded him, saying, Unto your seed will I give this land; if your children keep my covenant that I have made with you, then will I also perform to your children that which I have spoken unto you and I will not forsake them.
25 Now therefore my son hearken to my voice, to all that I shall command you, and refrain from taking a wife from amongst the daughters of Canaan; arise, go to Haran to the house of Bethuel your mother's father, and take unto you a wife from there from the daughters of Laban your mother's brother.
26 Therefore take heed lest you shouldst forget YAHWEH your ALMIGHTY and all his ways in the land to which you goest, and shouldst get connected with the people of the land and pursue vanity and forsake YAHWEH your ALMIGHTY.
27 But when you come to the land serve there YAHWEH, do not turn to the right or to the left from the way which I commanded you and which you didst learn.
28 And may the Almighty YAHWEH grant you favor in the sight of the people of the earth, that you may take there a wife according to your choice; one who is good and upright in the ways of YAHWEH.
29 And may YAHWEH give unto you and your seed the blessing of your father Abraham, and make you fruitful and multiply you, and may you become a multitude of people in the land whither you goest, and may YAHWEH cause you to return to this land, the land of your father's dwelling, with children and with great riches, with joy and with pleasure.
30 And Yitschaq finished commanding Yacob and blessing him, and he gave him many gifts, together with silver and gold, and he sent him away; and Yacob hearkened to his father and mother; he kissed them and arose and went to Padan-aram; and Yacob was seventy-seven years old when he went out from the land of Canaan from Beersheba.
31 And when Yacob went away to go to Haran Esau called unto his son Eliphaz, and secretly spoke unto him, saying, Now hasten, take your sword in your hand and pursue Yacob and pass before him in the road, and lurk for him, and slay him with your sword in one of the mountains, and take all belonging to him and come back.
32 And Eliphaz the son of Esau was an active man and expert with the bow as his father had taught him, and he was a noted hunter in the field and a valiant man.
33 And Eliphaz did as his father had commanded him, and Eliphaz was at that time thirteen years old, and Eliphaz rose up and went and took ten of his mother's brothers with him and pursued Yacob.
34 And he closely followed Yacob, and he lurked for him in the border of the land of Canaan opposite to the city of Shechem.
35 And Yacob saw Eliphaz and his men pursuing him, and Yacob stood still in the place in which he was going, in order to know what this was, for he did not know the thing; and Eliphaz drew his sword and he went on advancing, he and his men, toward Yacob; and Yacob said unto them, What is to do with you that you have come hither, and what means it that you pursue with your swords.
36 And Eliphaz came near to Yacob and he answered and said unto him, Thus did my father command me, and now therefore I will not deviate from the orders which my father gave me; and when Yacob saw that Esau had spoken to Eliphaz to employ force, Yacob then approached and supplicated Eliphaz and his men, saying to him,
37 Behold all that I have and which my father and mother gave unto me, that take unto you and go from me, and do not slay me, and may this thing be accounted unto you a righteousness.
38 And YAHWEH caused Yacob to find favor in the sight of Eliphaz the son of Esau, and his men, and they hearkened to the voice of Yacob, and they did not put him to death, and Eliphaz and his men took all belonging to Yacob together with the silver and gold that he had brought with him from Beersheba; they left him nothing.
39 And Eliphaz and his men went away from him and they returned to Esau to Beersheba, and they told him all that had occurred to them with Yacob, and they gave him all that they had taken from Yacob.
40 And Esau was indignant at Eliphaz his son, and at his men that were with him, because they had not put Yacob to death.
41 And they answered and said unto Esau, Because Yacob supplicated us in this matter not to slay him, our pity was excited toward him, and we took all belonging to him and brought it unto you; and Esau took all the silver and gold which Eliphaz had taken from Yacob and he put them by in his house.
42 At that time when Esau saw that Yitschaq had blessed Yacob, and had commanded him, saying, You shall not take a wife from amongst the daughters of Canaan, and that the daughters of Canaan were bad in the sight of Yitschaq and Rebecca,
43 Then he went to the house of Ishmael his uncle, and in addition to his older wives he took Machlath the daughter of Ishmael, the sister of Nebayoth, for a wife.

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