We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen you and encourage you about your faith,

I have had great joy and encouragement because of your love, for the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

And regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as also our dear brother Paul wrote to you, according to the wisdom given to him,

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has an evil, unbelieving heart that forsakes the living God.

For this reason, if food causes my brother or sister to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I may not cause one of them to sin.

The Israelites regretted what had happened to their brother Benjamin. They said, “Today we cut off an entire tribe from Israel!

Though Judah was the strongest among his brothers and a leader descended from him, the right of the firstborn belonged to Joseph.)

When his brother came out with his hand clutching Esau’s heel, they named him Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.

You will live by your sword but you will serve your brother. When you grow restless, you will tear off his yoke from your neck.”

The messengers returned to Jacob and said, “We went to your brother Esau. He is coming to meet you and has four hundred men with him.”

Then Shechem said to Dinah’s father and brothers, “Let me find favor in your sight, and whatever you require of me I’ll give.

He built an altar there and named the place El Bethel because there God had revealed himself to him when he was fleeing from his brother.

Israel said to Joseph, “Your brothers are grazing the flocks near Shechem. Come, I will send you to them.” “I’m ready,” Joseph replied.

But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, ‘You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.’

“So now, please let your servant remain as my lord’s slave instead of the boy. As for the boy, let him go back with his brothers.

Now it was reported in the household of Pharaoh, “Joseph’s brothers have arrived.” It pleased Pharaoh and his servants.

Judah, your brothers will praise you. Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies, your father’s sons will bow down before you.

You are to speak everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh that he must release the Israelites from his land.

Of Asher he said: Asher is blessed with children, may he be favored by his brothers and may he dip his foot in olive oil.

So Jephthah left his half-brothers and lived in the land of Tob. Lawless men joined Jephthah’s gang and traveled with him.