So Sarah became pregnant and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the appointed time that God had told him.

God was with the boy as he grew. He lived in the wilderness and became an archer.

But Rebekah’s brother and her mother replied, “Let the girl stay with us a few more days, perhaps ten. Then she can go.”

“You know how I have worked for you,” Jacob replied, “and how well your livestock have fared under my care.

Intermarry with us. Let us marry your daughters, and take our daughters as wives for yourselves.

You may live among us, and the land will be open to you. Live in it, travel freely in it, and acquire property in it.”

If we do so, won’t their livestock, their property, and all their animals become ours? So let’s consent to their demand, so they will live among us.”

Jacob named the place where God spoke with him Bethel.

The Lord was with Joseph. He was successful and lived in the household of his Egyptian master.

His master observed that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made everything he was doing successful.

The captain of the guard appointed Joseph to be their attendant, and he served them. They spent some time in custody.

Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I recall my failures.

“The man, the lord of the land, spoke harshly to us and treated us as if we were spying on the land.

If you send our brother with us, we’ll go down and buy food for you.

If one of us has it, he will die, and the rest of us will become my lord’s slaves!”

“So now, when I return to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us – his very life is bound up in his son’s life.

He kissed all his brothers and wept over them. After this his brothers talked with him.

Bring out with you all the living creatures that are with you. Bring out every living thing, including the birds, animals, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. Let them increase and be fruitful and multiply on the earth!”

went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).

When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the servant who was over his household, “Bring the men to the house. Slaughter an animal and prepare it, for the men will eat with me at noon.”