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G ENESIS 27
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a very rich man, and his wealth continued to
grow. 14 He acquired so many flocks of sheep
and goats, herds of cattle, and servants that the
Philistines became jealous of him. 15 So the Philistines filled up all of Isaac’s wells with dirt.
These were the wells that had been dug by the
servants of his father, Abraham.
16 Finally, Abimelech ordered Isaac to leave
the country. “Go somewhere else,” he said, “for
you have become too powerful for us.”
17 So Isaac moved away to the Gerar Valley,
where he set up their tents and settled down.
18 He reopened the wells his father had dug,
which the Philistines had filled in after Abraham’s death. Isaac also restored the names
Abraham had given them.
19 Isaac’s servants also dug in the Gerar Valley
and discovered a well of fresh water. 20 But then
the shepherds from Gerar came and claimed
the spring. “This is our water,” they said, and
they argued over it with Isaac’s herdsmen. So
Isaac named the well Esek (which means “argument”). 21 Isaac’s men then dug another well,
but again there was a dispute over it. So Isaac
named it Sitnah (which means “hostility”).
22 Abandoning that one, Isaac moved on and
dug another well. This time there was no dispute over it, so Isaac named the place Rehoboth
(which means “open space”), for he said, “At
last the Lord has created enough space for us to
prosper in this land.”
23 From there Isaac moved to Beersheba,
24 where the Lord appeared to him on the night
of his arrival. “I am the God of your father, Abraham,” he said. “Do not be afraid, for I am with
you and will bless you. I will multiply your descendants, and they will become a great nation.
I will do this because of my promise to Abraham,
my servant.” 25 Then Isaac built an altar there
and worshiped the Lord. He set up his camp at
that place, and his servants dug another well.
Isaac’s Covenant with Abimelech
26 One day King Abimelech came from Gerar
with his adviser, Ahuzzath, and also Phicol,
his army commander. 27 “Why have you come
here?” Isaac asked. “You obviously hate me,
since you kicked me off your land.”
28 They replied, “We can plainly see that the
Lord is with you. So we want to enter into a
sworn treaty with you. Let’s make a covenant.
29 Swear that you will not harm us, just as we
have never troubled you. We have always treated
you well, and we sent you away from us in peace.
And now look how the Lord has blessed you!”
30 So Isaac prepared a covenant feast to
celebrate the treaty, and they ate and drank together. 31 Early the next morning, they each took
a solemn oath not to interfere with each other.
Then Isaac sent them home again, and they left
him in peace.
32 That very day Isaac’s servants came and
told him about a new well they had dug. “We’ve
found water!” they exclaimed. 33 So Isaac named
the well Shibah (which means “oath”). And to
this day the town that grew up there is called
Beersheba (which means “well of the oath”).
34 At the age of forty, Esau married two Hittite
wives: Judith, the daughter of Beeri, and Basemath, the daughter of Elon. 35 But Esau’s wives
made life miserable for Isaac and Rebekah.
Jacob Steals Esau’s Blessing
One day when Isaac was old and turning blind, he called for Esau, his older
son, and said, “My son.”
“Yes, Father?” Esau replied.
2 “I am an old man now,” Isaac said, “and
I don’t know when I may die. 3 Take your bow
and a quiver full of arrows, and go out into the
open country to hunt some wild game for me.
4 Prepare my favorite dish, and bring it here for
me to eat. Then I will pronounce the blessing
that belongs to you, my firstborn son, before
I die.”
5 But Rebekah overheard what Isaac had said
to his son Esau. So when Esau left to hunt for
the wild game, 6 she said to her son Jacob, “Listen. I overheard your father say to Esau, 7 ‘Bring
me some wild game and prepare me a delicious
meal. Then I will bless you in the Lord’s presence before I die.’ 8 Now, my son, listen to me.
Do exactly as I tell you. 9 Go out to the flocks,
and bring me two fine young goats. I’ll use them
to prepare your father’s favorite dish. 10 Then
take the food to your father so he can eat it and
bless you before he dies.”
11 “But look,” Jacob replied to Rebekah, “my
brother, Esau, is a hairy man, and my skin is
smooth. 12 What if my father touches me? He’ll
see that I’m trying to trick him, and then he’ll
curse me instead of blessing me.”
13 But his mother replied, “Then let the curse
fall on me, my son! Just do what I tell you. Go
out and get the goats for me!”
14 So Jacob went out and got the young
goats for his mother. Rebekah took them and
prepared a delicious meal, just the way Isaac
liked it. 15 Then she took Esau’s favorite clothes,
which were there in the house, and gave them to
her younger son, Jacob. 16 She covered his arms
and the smooth part of his neck with the skin
of the young goats. 17 Then she gave Jacob the
delicious meal, including freshly baked bread.
18 So Jacob took the food to his father. “My
father?” he said.
“Yes, my son,” Isaac answered. “Who are
you—Esau or Jacob?”
19 Jacob replied, “It’s Esau, your firstborn son.
I’ve done as you told me. Here is the wild game.
Now sit up and eat it so you can give me your
blessing.”
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