Run there quickly, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” (This incident explains why the town was called Zoar.)

After this Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah next to Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.

But the children struggled inside her, and she said, “If it is going to be like this, I’m not so sure I want to be pregnant!” So she asked the Lord,

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.

So Esau said to Jacob, “Feed me some of the red stuff – yes, this red stuff – because I’m starving!” (That is why he was also called Edom.)

Jacob did as Laban said. When Jacob completed Leah’s bridal week, Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.

She became pregnant again and had another son. She said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” That is why she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.

Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me. He has responded to my prayer and given me a son.” That is why she named him Dan.

Laban said, “This pile of stones is a witness of our agreement today.” That is why it was called Galeed.

But Jacob traveled to Succoth where he built himself a house and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place was called Succoth.

Judah recognized them and said, “She is more upright than I am, because I wouldn’t give her to Shelah my son.” He did not have sexual relations with her again.

The previous abundance of the land will not be remembered because of the famine that follows, for the famine will be very severe.

If you are honest men, leave one of your brothers confined here in prison while the rest of you go and take grain back for your hungry families.

Then Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to return each man’s money to his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. His orders were carried out.

He replied, “You have suggested your own punishment! The one who has it will become my slave, but the rest of you will go free.”

So the sons of Israel did as he said. Joseph gave them wagons as Pharaoh had instructed, and he gave them provisions for the journey.

Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.”

They took forty days, for that is the full time needed for embalming. The Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.

God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: plants yielding seeds according to their kinds, and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds.” It was so.

And to all the animals of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to all the creatures that move on the ground – everything that has the breath of life in it – I give every green plant for food.” It was so.