Kedumah 73 (10873) 156

אָנֹכִי, אֶעֶרְבֶנּוּ--מִיָּדִי, תְּבַקְשֶׁנּוּ: אִם-לֹא הֲבִיאֹתִיו אֵלֶיךָ וְהִצַּגְתִּיו לְפָנֶיךָ, וְחָטָאתִי לְךָ כָּל-הַיָּמִים. כִּי, לוּלֵא הִתְמַהְמָהְנוּ--כִּי-עַתָּה שַׁבְנוּ, זֶה פַעֲמָיִם. וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲבִיהֶם, אִם-כֵּן אֵפוֹא זֹאת עֲשׂוּ--קְחוּ מִזִּמְרַת הָאָרֶץ בִּכְלֵיכֶם, וְהוֹרִידוּ לָאִישׁ מִנְחָה: מְעַט צֳרִי, וּמְעַט דְּבַשׁ, נְכֹאת וָלֹט, בָּטְנִים וּשְׁקֵדִים. וְכֶסֶף מִשְׁנֶה, קְחוּ בְיֶדְכֶם; וְאֶת-הַכֶּסֶף הַמּוּשָׁב בְּפִי אַמְתְּחֹתֵיכֶם, תָּשִׁיבוּ בְיֶדְכֶם--אוּלַי מִשְׁגֶּה, הוּא. וְאֶת-אֲחִיכֶם, קָחוּ; וְקוּמוּ, שׁוּבוּ אֶל-הָאִישׁ. וְאֵל שַׁדַּי, יִתֵּן לָכֶם רַחֲמִים לִפְנֵי הָאִישׁ, וְשִׁלַּח לָכֶם אֶת-אֲחִיכֶם אַחֵר, וְאֶת-בִּנְיָמִין; וַאֲנִי, כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׁכֹלְתִּי שָׁכָלְתִּי. וַיִּקְחוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים אֶת-הַמִּנְחָה הַזֹּאת, וּמִשְׁנֶה-כֶּסֶף לָקְחוּ בְיָדָם וְאֶת-בִּנְיָמִן; וַיָּקֻמוּ וַיֵּרְדוּ מִצְרַיִם, וַיַּעַמְדוּ לִפְנֵי יוֹסֵף. וַיַּרְא יוֹסֵף אִתָּם, אֶת-בִּנְיָמִין, וַיֹּאמֶר לַאֲשֶׁר עַל-בֵּיתוֹ, הָבֵא אֶת-הָאֲנָשִׁים הַבָּיְתָה; וּטְבֹחַ טֶבַח וְהָכֵן, כִּי אִתִּי יֹאכְלוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים בַּצָּהֳרָיִם. וַיַּעַשׂ הָאִישׁ, כַּאֲשֶׁר אָמַר יוֹסֵף; וַיָּבֵא הָאִישׁ אֶת-הָאֲנָשִׁים, בֵּיתָה יוֹסֵף. וַיִּירְאוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים, כִּי הוּבְאוּ בֵּית יוֹסֵף, וַיֹּאמְרוּ עַל-דְּבַר הַכֶּסֶף הַשָּׁב בְּאַמְתְּחֹתֵינוּ בַּתְּחִלָּה, אֲנַחְנוּ מוּבָאִים--לְהִתְגֹּלֵל עָלֵינוּ וּלְהִתְנַפֵּל עָלֵינוּ, וְלָקַחַת אֹתָנוּ לַעֲבָדִים וְאֶת-חֲמֹרֵינוּ. וַיִּגְּשׁוּ, אֶל-הָאִישׁ, אֲשֶׁר, עַל-בֵּית יוֹסֵף; וַיְדַבְּרוּ אֵלָיו, פֶּתַח הַבָּיִת. וַיֹּאמְרוּ, בִּי אֲדֹנִי; יָרֹד יָרַדְנוּ בַּתְּחִלָּה, לִשְׁבָּר-אֹכֶל

I will personally guarantee him; of my own hand you can demand him. If I do not bring him back to you and stand him before you, then I will have sinned to you for all time. For had we not delayed, by now we could have returned twice." Israel their father said to them, "If it must be so, then do this - Take of the land's glory in your baggage and bring it down to the man as a tribute — a bit of balsam, a bit of honey, wax, lotus, pistachios, and almonds. And take with you double the money, and the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks return in your hands; perhaps it was an oversight. Take your brother, and arise, return to the man. And may Almighty God grant you mercy before the man that he may release to you your other brother as well as Benjamin. And as for me, as I have been bereaved, so I am bereaved." So the men took this tribute and they took double money in their hand, as well as Benjamin. They set out and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph. Joseph saw Benjamin with them; so he said to the one in charge of his house, "Bring the men into the house. Have meat slaughtered, and prepare it, for with me will these men dine at noon." The man did as Joseph said, and the man brought the men to Joseph's house. But the men became frightened when they were brought to Joseph's house, and they said, "Because of the money replaced in our sacks originally are we being brought, so that a charge can be fabricated against us, that it crash down on us, and that we be taken as slaves along with our donkeys." They approached the man who was in charge of Joseph's house and spoke to him at the entrance of the house. And they said, "If you please, my lord - We had indeed come down originally to buy food.

Kedumah 72 (11517) 159

וַיְהִי, הֵם מְרִיקִים שַׂקֵּיהֶם, וְהִנֵּה-אִישׁ צְרוֹר-כַּסְפּוֹ, בְּשַׂקּוֹ; וַיִּרְאוּ אֶת-צְרֹרוֹת כַּסְפֵּיהֶם, הֵמָּה וַאֲבִיהֶם--וַיִּירָאוּ. וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם יַעֲקֹב אֲבִיהֶם, אֹתִי שִׁכַּלְתֶּם: יוֹסֵף אֵינֶנּוּ, וְשִׁמְעוֹן אֵינֶנּוּ, וְאֶת-בִּנְיָמִן תִּקָּחוּ, עָלַי הָיוּ כֻלָּנָה. וַיֹּאמֶר רְאוּבֵן, אֶל-אָבִיו לֵאמֹר, אֶת-שְׁנֵי בָנַי תָּמִית, אִם-לֹא אֲבִיאֶנּוּ אֵלֶיךָ; תְּנָה אֹתוֹ עַל-יָדִי, וַאֲנִי אֲשִׁיבֶנּוּ אֵלֶיךָ. וַיֹּאמֶר, לֹא-יֵרֵד בְּנִי עִמָּכֶם: כִּי-אָחִיו מֵת וְהוּא לְבַדּוֹ נִשְׁאָר, וּקְרָאָהוּ אָסוֹן בַּדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר תֵּלְכוּ-בָהּ, וְהוֹרַדְתֶּם אֶת-שֵׂיבָתִי בְּיָגוֹן, שְׁאוֹלָה

וְהָרָעָב, כָּבֵד בָּאָרֶץ. וַיְהִי, כַּאֲשֶׁר כִּלּוּ לֶאֱכֹל אֶת-הַשֶּׁבֶר, אֲשֶׁר הֵבִיאוּ, מִמִּצְרָיִם; וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם אֲבִיהֶם, שֻׁבוּ שִׁבְרוּ-לָנוּ מְעַט-אֹכֶל. וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו יְהוּדָה, לֵאמֹר: הָעֵד הֵעִד בָּנוּ הָאִישׁ לֵאמֹר לֹא-תִרְאוּ פָנַי, בִּלְתִּי אֲחִיכֶם אִתְּכֶם. אִם-יֶשְׁךָ מְשַׁלֵּחַ אֶת-אָחִינוּ, אִתָּנוּ--נֵרְדָה, וְנִשְׁבְּרָה לְךָ אֹכֶל. וְאִם-אֵינְךָ מְשַׁלֵּחַ, לֹא נֵרֵד: כִּי-הָאִישׁ אָמַר אֵלֵינוּ, לֹא-תִרְאוּ פָנַי, בִּלְתִּי, אֲחִיכֶם אִתְּכֶם. וַיֹּאמֶר, יִשְׂרָאֵל, לָמָה הֲרֵעֹתֶם, לִי--לְהַגִּיד לָאִישׁ, הַעוֹד לָכֶם אָח. וַיֹּאמְרוּ שָׁאוֹל שָׁאַל-הָאִישׁ לָנוּ וּלְמוֹלַדְתֵּנוּ לֵאמֹר, הַעוֹד אֲבִיכֶם חַי הֲיֵשׁ לָכֶם אָח, וַנַּגֶּד-לוֹ, עַל-פִּי הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה; הֲיָדוֹעַ נֵדַע--כִּי יֹאמַר, הוֹרִידוּ אֶת-אֲחִיכֶם. וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוּדָה אֶל-יִשְׂרָאֵל אָבִיו, שִׁלְחָה הַנַּעַר אִתִּי--וְנָקוּמָה וְנֵלֵכָה; וְנִחְיֶה וְלֹא נָמוּת, גַּם-אֲנַחְנוּ גַם-אַתָּה גַּם-טַפֵּנוּ

Then, as they were emptying their sacks, behold! — every man's bundle of money was in his sack. When they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were terrified. Their father Jacob said to them, "I am the one whom you bereaved! Joseph is gone, Simeon is gone, and now you would take away Benjamin? Upon me has it all fallen!" Then Reuben told his father, saying, "You may slay my two sons if I fail to bring him back to you. Put him in my care and I will return him to you." But he said, "My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead and he alone is left. Should disaster befall him on the journey which you shall take, then you will have brought down my hoariness in sorrow to the grave." The famine was severe in the land. When they had finished eating the provisions which they had brought from Egypt their father said to them, "Go back, buy us some food." But Judah told him, saying, "The man sternly warned us saying, 'Do not see my face unless your brother is with you.' If you are ready to send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. But if you do not send, we will not go down, for the man said to us, 'Do not see my face unless your brother is with you.' " Then Israel said, "Why did you treat me so ill by telling the man that you had another brother?" And they said, "The man persistently asked about us and our relatives saying, 'Is your father still alive? Have you a brother?' and we responded to him according to these words; could we possibly have known that he would say, 'Bring your brother down'?" Then Judah said to Israel his father, 'Send the lad with me, and let us arise and go, so we will live and not die, we as well as you as well as our children.

Kedumah 71 (11358) 162

וַיַּעַן רְאוּבֵן אֹתָם לֵאמֹר, הֲלוֹא אָמַרְתִּי אֲלֵיכֶם לֵאמֹר אַל-תֶּחֶטְאוּ בַיֶּלֶד--וְלֹא שְׁמַעְתֶּם; וְגַם-דָּמוֹ, הִנֵּה נִדְרָשׁ. וְהֵם לֹא יָדְעוּ, כִּי שֹׁמֵעַ יוֹסֵף: כִּי הַמֵּלִיץ, בֵּינֹתָם. וַיִּסֹּב מֵעֲלֵיהֶם, וַיֵּבְךְּ; וַיָּשָׁב אֲלֵהֶם, וַיְדַבֵּר אֲלֵהֶם, וַיִּקַּח מֵאִתָּם אֶת-שִׁמְעוֹן, וַיֶּאֱסֹר אֹתוֹ לְעֵינֵיהֶם. וַיְצַו יוֹסֵף, וַיְמַלְאוּ אֶת-כְּלֵיהֶם בָּר, וּלְהָשִׁיב כַּסְפֵּיהֶם אִישׁ אֶל-שַׂקּוֹ, וְלָתֵת לָהֶם צֵדָה לַדָּרֶךְ; וַיַּעַשׂ לָהֶם, כֵּן. וַיִּשְׂאוּ אֶת-שִׁבְרָם, עַל-חֲמֹרֵיהֶם; וַיֵּלְכוּ, מִשָּׁם. וַיִּפְתַּח הָאֶחָד אֶת-שַׂקּוֹ, לָתֵת מִסְפּוֹא לַחֲמֹרוֹ--בַּמָּלוֹן; וַיַּרְא, אֶת-כַּסְפּוֹ, וְהִנֵּה-הוּא, בְּפִי אַמְתַּחְתּוֹ. וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל-אֶחָיו הוּשַׁב כַּסְפִּי, וְגַם הִנֵּה בְאַמְתַּחְתִּי; וַיֵּצֵא לִבָּם, וַיֶּחֶרְדוּ אִישׁ אֶל-אָחִיו לֵאמֹר, מַה-זֹּאת עָשָׂה אֱלֹהִים, לָנוּ. וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל-יַעֲקֹב אֲבִיהֶם, אַרְצָה כְּנָעַן; וַיַּגִּידוּ לוֹ, אֵת כָּל-הַקֹּרֹת אֹתָם לֵאמֹר. דִּבֶּר הָאִישׁ אֲדֹנֵי הָאָרֶץ, אִתָּנוּ--קָשׁוֹת; וַיִּתֵּן אֹתָנוּ, כִּמְרַגְּלִים אֶת-הָאָרֶץ. וַנֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו, כֵּנִים אֲנָחְנוּ: לֹא הָיִינוּ, מְרַגְּלִים. שְׁנֵים-עָשָׂר אֲנַחְנוּ אַחִים, בְּנֵי אָבִינוּ; הָאֶחָד אֵינֶנּוּ, וְהַקָּטֹן הַיּוֹם אֶת-אָבִינוּ בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן. וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלֵינוּ, הָאִישׁ אֲדֹנֵי הָאָרֶץ, בְּזֹאת אֵדַע, כִּי כֵנִים אַתֶּם: אֲחִיכֶם הָאֶחָד הַנִּיחוּ אִתִּי, וְאֶת-רַעֲבוֹן בָּתֵּיכֶם קְחוּ וָלֵכוּ. וְהָבִיאוּ אֶת-אֲחִיכֶם הַקָּטֹן, אֵלַי, וְאֵדְעָה כִּי לֹא מְרַגְּלִים אַתֶּם, כִּי כֵנִים אַתֶּם; אֶת-אֲחִיכֶם אֶתֵּן לָכֶם, וְאֶת-הָאָרֶץ תִּסְחָרוּ

Reuben spoke up to them, saying, "Did I not speak to you saying, 'Do not sin against the boy,' but you would not listen! And his blood as well — behold! — is being avenged." Now they did not know that Joseph understood, for an interpreter was between them. He turned away from them and wept; he returned to them and spoke to them; he took Simeon from them and imprisoned him before their eyes. Joseph commanded that they fill their vessels with grain, and to return their money, each one's to his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. And so he did for them. Then they loaded their purchase onto their donkeys and departed from there. When the one of them opened his sack to give feed to his donkey at the inn, he saw his money, and behold! — it was in the mouth of his sack. So he said to his brothers, "My money has been returned and behold! it, too, is in my sack!" Their hearts sank, and they turned trembling one to another, saying, "What is this that God has done to us?" They came to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan and they told him of all that had happened to them, saying: "The man, the lord of the land, spoke harshly to us and considered us as if we were spying out the land. But we said to him, 'We are truthful men - We have never been spies. We are twelve brothers, sons of one father. One is gone and the youngest is now with our father in the land of Canaan.' Then the man, the lord of the land, said to us, 'By this I will ascertain whether you are truthful people - One of your brothers, leave with me; and what is needed for the hunger of your households take and go. And bring your youngest brother to me so I will know that you are not spies, but truthful people. I will restore your brother to you and you will be free to circulate about the land.' "

Kedumah 70 (11196) 156

וַיַּכֵּר יוֹסֵף, אֶת-אֶחָיו; וְהֵם, לֹא הִכִּרֻהוּ. וַיִּזְכֹּר יוֹסֵף--אֵת הַחֲלֹמוֹת, אֲשֶׁר חָלַם לָהֶם; וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם מְרַגְּלִים אַתֶּם, לִרְאוֹת אֶת-עֶרְוַת הָאָרֶץ בָּאתֶם. וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו, לֹא אֲדֹנִי; וַעֲבָדֶיךָ בָּאוּ, לִשְׁבָּר-אֹכֶל. כֻּלָּנוּ, בְּנֵי אִישׁ-אֶחָד נָחְנוּ; כֵּנִים אֲנַחְנוּ, לֹא-הָיוּ עֲבָדֶיךָ מְרַגְּלִים. וַיֹּאמֶר, אֲלֵהֶם: לֹא, כִּי-עֶרְוַת הָאָרֶץ בָּאתֶם לִרְאוֹת. וַיֹּאמְרוּ, שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר עֲבָדֶיךָ אַחִים אֲנַחְנוּ בְּנֵי אִישׁ-אֶחָד--בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן; וְהִנֵּה הַקָּטֹן אֶת-אָבִינוּ הַיּוֹם, וְהָאֶחָד אֵינֶנּוּ. וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם, יוֹסֵף: הוּא, אֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתִּי אֲלֵכֶם לֵאמֹר--מְרַגְּלִים אַתֶּם. בְּזֹאת, תִּבָּחֵנוּ: חֵי פַרְעֹה אִם-תֵּצְאוּ מִזֶּה, כִּי אִם-בְּבוֹא אֲחִיכֶם הַקָּטֹן הֵנָּה. שִׁלְחוּ מִכֶּם אֶחָד, וְיִקַּח אֶת-אֲחִיכֶם, וְאַתֶּם הֵאָסְרוּ, וְיִבָּחֲנוּ דִּבְרֵיכֶם הַאֱמֶת אִתְּכֶם; וְאִם-לֹא--חֵי פַרְעֹה, כִּי מְרַגְּלִים אַתֶּם. וַיֶּאֱסֹף אֹתָם אֶל-מִשְׁמָר, שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים. וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם יוֹסֵף בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי, זֹאת עֲשׂוּ וִחְיוּ; אֶת-הָאֱלֹהִים, אֲנִי יָרֵא. אִם-כֵּנִים אַתֶּם--אֲחִיכֶם אֶחָד, יֵאָסֵר בְּבֵית מִשְׁמַרְכֶם; וְאַתֶּם לְכוּ הָבִיאוּ, שֶׁבֶר רַעֲבוֹן בָּתֵּיכֶם. וְאֶת-אֲחִיכֶם הַקָּטֹן תָּבִיאוּ אֵלַי, וְיֵאָמְנוּ דִבְרֵיכֶם וְלֹא תָמוּתוּ; וַיַּעֲשׂוּ-כֵן. וַיֹּאמְרוּ אִישׁ אֶל-אָחִיו, אֲבָל אֲשֵׁמִים אֲנַחְנוּ עַל-אָחִינוּ, אֲשֶׁר רָאִינוּ צָרַת נַפְשׁוֹ בְּהִתְחַנְנוֹ אֵלֵינוּ, וְלֹא שָׁמָעְנוּ; עַל-כֵּן בָּאָה אֵלֵינוּ, הַצָּרָה הַזֹּאת

Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. Joseph recalled the dreams that he dreamed about them, so he said to them, "You are spies! To see the land's nakedness have you come!" They answered him, "Not so, my lord! For your servants have come to buy food. All of us, sons of one man are we; we are truthful people; your servants have never been spies." And he said to them, "No! But the land's nakedness have you come to see." And they replied, "We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the son of one man in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father and one is gone." But Joseph said to them, "It is just as I have declared to you - 'You are spies!' By this shall you be tested - By Pharaoh's life you will not leave here unless your youngest brother comes here. Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother while you shall remain imprisoned, so that your words may be tested whether truth is with you; but if not, by Pharaoh's life — surely you are spies!" Then he herded them into a ward for a three-day period. Joseph said to them on the third day, "Do this and live; I fear God. If you are truthful people, let one of your brothers be imprisoned in your place of confinement while you go and bring provisions for the hunger of your households. Then bring your youngest brother to me so your words will be verified and you will not die." And they did so. They then said to one another, "Indeed we are guilty concerning our brother inasmuch as we saw his heartfelt anguish when he pleaded with us and we paid no heed; that is why this anguish has come upon us."

Kedumah 69 (11040) 175

וּלְיוֹסֵף יֻלַּד שְׁנֵי בָנִים, בְּטֶרֶם תָּבוֹא שְׁנַת הָרָעָב, אֲשֶׁר יָלְדָה-לּוֹ אָסְנַת, בַּת-פּוֹטִי פֶרַע כֹּהֵן אוֹן. וַיִּקְרָא יוֹסֵף אֶת-שֵׁם הַבְּכוֹר, מְנַשֶּׁה: כִּי-נַשַּׁנִי אֱלֹהִים אֶת-כָּל-עֲמָלִי, וְאֵת כָּל-בֵּית אָבִי. וְאֵת שֵׁם הַשֵּׁנִי, קָרָא אֶפְרָיִם: כִּי-הִפְרַנִי אֱלֹהִים, בְּאֶרֶץ עָנְיִי. וַתִּכְלֶינָה, שֶׁבַע שְׁנֵי הַשָּׂבָע, אֲשֶׁר הָיָה, בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם. וַתְּחִלֶּינָה שֶׁבַע שְׁנֵי הָרָעָב, לָבוֹא, כַּאֲשֶׁר, אָמַר יוֹסֵף; וַיְהִי רָעָב בְּכָל-הָאֲרָצוֹת, וּבְכָל-אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם הָיָה לָחֶם. וַתִּרְעַב כָּל-אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, וַיִּצְעַק הָעָם אֶל-פַּרְעֹה לַלָּחֶם; וַיֹּאמֶר פַּרְעֹה לְכָל-מִצְרַיִם לְכוּ אֶל-יוֹסֵף, אֲשֶׁר-יֹאמַר לָכֶם תַּעֲשׂוּ. וְהָרָעָב הָיָה, עַל כָּל-פְּנֵי הָאָרֶץ; וַיִּפְתַּח יוֹסֵף אֶת-כָּל-אֲשֶׁר בָּהֶם, וַיִּשְׁבֹּר לְמִצְרַיִם, וַיֶּחֱזַק הָרָעָב, בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם. וְכָל-הָאָרֶץ בָּאוּ מִצְרַיְמָה, לִשְׁבֹּר אֶל-יוֹסֵף: כִּי-חָזַק הָרָעָב, בְּכָל-הָאָרֶץ

וַיַּרְא יַעֲקֹב, כִּי יֶשׁ-שֶׁבֶר בְּמִצְרָיִם; וַיֹּאמֶר יַעֲקֹב לְבָנָיו, לָמָּה תִּתְרָאוּ. וַיֹּאמֶר--הִנֵּה שָׁמַעְתִּי, כִּי יֶשׁ-שֶׁבֶר בְּמִצְרָיִם; רְדוּ-שָׁמָּה וְשִׁבְרוּ-לָנוּ מִשָּׁם, וְנִחְיֶה וְלֹא נָמוּת. וַיֵּרְדוּ אֲחֵי-יוֹסֵף, עֲשָׂרָה, לִשְׁבֹּר בָּר, מִמִּצְרָיִם. וְאֶת-בִּנְיָמִין אֲחִי יוֹסֵף, לֹא-שָׁלַח יַעֲקֹב אֶת-אֶחָיו: כִּי אָמַר, פֶּן-יִקְרָאֶנּוּ אָסוֹן. וַיָּבֹאוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, לִשְׁבֹּר בְּתוֹךְ הַבָּאִים: כִּי-הָיָה הָרָעָב, בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן. וְיוֹסֵף, הוּא הַשַּׁלִּיט עַל-הָאָרֶץ--הוּא הַמַּשְׁבִּיר, לְכָל-עַם הָאָרֶץ; וַיָּבֹאוּ אֲחֵי יוֹסֵף, וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ-לוֹ אַפַּיִם אָרְצָה. וַיַּרְא יוֹסֵף אֶת-אֶחָיו, וַיַּכִּרֵם; וַיִּתְנַכֵּר אֲלֵיהֶם וַיְדַבֵּר אִתָּם קָשׁוֹת, וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם מֵאַיִן בָּאתֶם, וַיֹּאמְרוּ, מֵאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן לִשְׁבָּר-אֹכֶל

Now to Joseph were born two sons — when the year of famine had not yet set in — whom Asenath daughter of Poti-phera, Chief of On, bore to him. Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh for, "God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's household." And the name of the second son he called Ephraim for, "God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering." The seven years of abundance that came to pass in the land of Egypt ended. And the seven years of famine began approaching just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. When all the land of Egypt hungered, the people cried out to Pharaoh for bread. So Pharaoh said to all of Egypt, "Go to Joseph. Whatever he tells you, you should do." When the famine spread over all the face of the earth, Joseph opened all the containers and sold provisions to Egypt; and the famine became severe in the land of Egypt. All the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy provisions, for the famine had become severe in all the earth.

Jacob perceived that there were provisions in Egypt; so Jacob said to his sons, "Why do you make yourselves conspicuous?" And he said, "Behold, I have heard that there are provisions in Egypt; go down there and purchase for us from there, that we may live and not die." So Joseph's brothers — ten of them — went down to buy grain from Egypt. But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob did not send along with his brothers, for he said, "Lest disaster befall him." So the sons of Israel came to buy provisions among the arrivals, for the famine was in the land of Canaan. Now Joseph — he was the viceroy over the land, he was the provider to all the people of the land. Joseph's brothers came and they bowed to him, faces to the ground. Joseph saw his brothers and he recognized them, but he acted like a stranger toward them and spoke with them harshly. He asked them, "From where do you come?" And they said, "From the land of Canaan to buy food."

Kedumah 68 (10865) 151

וְהָיָה הָאֹכֶל לְפִקָּדוֹן, לָאָרֶץ, לְשֶׁבַע שְׁנֵי הָרָעָב, אֲשֶׁר תִּהְיֶיןָ בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם; וְלֹא-תִכָּרֵת הָאָרֶץ, בָּרָעָב. וַיִּיטַב הַדָּבָר, בְּעֵינֵי פַרְעֹה, וּבְעֵינֵי, כָּל-עֲבָדָיו. וַיֹּאמֶר פַּרְעֹה, אֶל-עֲבָדָיו: הֲנִמְצָא כָזֶה--אִישׁ, אֲשֶׁר רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים בּוֹ. וַיֹּאמֶר פַּרְעֹה אֶל-יוֹסֵף, אַחֲרֵי הוֹדִיעַ אֱלֹהִים אוֹתְךָ אֶת-כָּל-זֹאת, אֵין-נָבוֹן וְחָכָם, כָּמוֹךָ. אַתָּה תִּהְיֶה עַל-בֵּיתִי, וְעַל-פִּיךָ יִשַּׁק כָּל-עַמִּי; רַק הַכִּסֵּא, אֶגְדַּל מִמֶּךָּ. וַיֹּאמֶר פַּרְעֹה, אֶל-יוֹסֵף: רְאֵה נָתַתִּי אֹתְךָ, עַל כָּל-אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם. וַיָּסַר פַּרְעֹה אֶת-טַבַּעְתּוֹ מֵעַל יָדוֹ, וַיִּתֵּן אֹתָהּ עַל-יַד יוֹסֵף; וַיַּלְבֵּשׁ אֹתוֹ בִּגְדֵי-שֵׁשׁ, וַיָּשֶׂם רְבִד הַזָּהָב עַל-צַוָּארוֹ. וַיַּרְכֵּב אֹתוֹ, בְּמִרְכֶּבֶת הַמִּשְׁנֶה אֲשֶׁר-לוֹ, וַיִּקְרְאוּ לְפָנָיו, אַבְרֵךְ; וְנָתוֹן אֹתוֹ, עַל כָּל-אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם. וַיֹּאמֶר פַּרְעֹה אֶל-יוֹסֵף, אֲנִי פַרְעֹה; וּבִלְעָדֶיךָ, לֹא-יָרִים אִישׁ אֶת-יָדוֹ וְאֶת-רַגְלוֹ--בְּכָל-אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם. וַיִּקְרָא פַרְעֹה שֵׁם-יוֹסֵף, צָפְנַת פַּעְנֵחַ, וַיִּתֶּן-לוֹ אֶת-אָסְנַת בַּת-פּוֹטִי פֶרַע כֹּהֵן אֹן, לְאִשָּׁה; וַיֵּצֵא יוֹסֵף, עַל-אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם. וַתַּעַשׂ הָאָרֶץ, בְּשֶׁבַע שְׁנֵי הַשָּׂבָע--לִקְמָצִים. וַיִּקְבֹּץ אֶת-כָּל-אֹכֶל שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים, אֲשֶׁר הָיוּ בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, וַיִּתֶּן-אֹכֶל, בֶּעָרִים: אֹכֶל שְׂדֵה-הָעִיר אֲשֶׁר סְבִיבֹתֶיהָ, נָתַן בְּתוֹכָהּ. וַיִּצְבֹּר יוֹסֵף בָּר כְּחוֹל הַיָּם, הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד--עַד כִּי-חָדַל לִסְפֹּר, כִּי-אֵין מִסְפָּר

The food will be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine which will befall the land of Egypt, so that the land will not perish in the famine." The matter appeared good in Pharaoh's eyes and in the eyes of all his servants. Pharaoh said to his servants, "Could we find another like him — a man in whom is the spirit of God?" Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has informed you of all this, there can be no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace and by your command shall all my people be sustained; only by the throne shall I outrank you." Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See! I have placed you in charge of all the land of Egypt." And Pharaoh removed his ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand. He then had him dressed in garments of fine linen and he placed a gold chain upon his neck. He also had him ride in his second royal chariot and they proclaimed before him - "Avrech!" Thus, he appointed him over all the land of Egypt. Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh. And without you no man may lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt." Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphenath-paneah and he gave him Asenath daughter of Poti-phera, priest of On, for a wife. Thus, Joseph emerged in charge of the land of Egypt. The earth produced during the seven years of abundance by the handfuls. He gathered all food of the seven years that came to pass in Egypt, and he placed food in the cities; the food of the field around each city he placed within it. Joseph amassed grain like the sand of the sea in great abundance until he ceased counting, for there was no number.

Kedumah 67 (10714) 161

וָאֵרֶא, בַּחֲלֹמִי; וְהִנֵּה שֶׁבַע שִׁבֳּלִים, עֹלֹת בְּקָנֶה אֶחָד--מְלֵאֹת וְטֹבוֹת. וְהִנֵּה שֶׁבַע שִׁבֳּלִים, צְנֻמוֹת דַּקּוֹת שְׁדֻפוֹת קָדִים--צֹמְחוֹת, אַחֲרֵיהֶם. וַתִּבְלַעְןָ הַשִּׁבֳּלִים הַדַּקֹּת, אֵת שֶׁבַע הַשִּׁבֳּלִים הַטֹּבוֹת; וָאֹמַר, אֶל-הַחַרְטֻמִּים, וְאֵין מַגִּיד, לִי. וַיֹּאמֶר יוֹסֵף אֶל-פַּרְעֹה, חֲלוֹם פַּרְעֹה אֶחָד הוּא: אֵת אֲשֶׁר הָאֱלֹהִים עֹשֶׂה, הִגִּיד לְפַרְעֹה. שֶׁבַע פָּרֹת הַטֹּבֹת, שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים הֵנָּה, וְשֶׁבַע הַשִּׁבֳּלִים הַטֹּבֹת, שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים הֵנָּה: חֲלוֹם, אֶחָד הוּא. וְשֶׁבַע הַפָּרוֹת הָרַקּוֹת וְהָרָעֹת הָעֹלֹת אַחֲרֵיהֶן, שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים הֵנָּה, וְשֶׁבַע הַשִּׁבֳּלִים הָרֵקוֹת, שְׁדֻפוֹת הַקָּדִים--יִהְיוּ, שֶׁבַע שְׁנֵי רָעָב. הוּא הַדָּבָר, אֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתִּי אֶל-פַּרְעֹה: אֲשֶׁר הָאֱלֹהִים עֹשֶׂה, הֶרְאָה אֶת-פַּרְעֹה. הִנֵּה שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים, בָּאוֹת--שָׂבָע גָּדוֹל, בְּכָל-אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם. וְקָמוּ שֶׁבַע שְׁנֵי רָעָב, אַחֲרֵיהֶן, וְנִשְׁכַּח כָּל-הַשָּׂבָע, בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם; וְכִלָּה הָרָעָב, אֶת-הָאָרֶץ. וְלֹא-יִוָּדַע הַשָּׂבָע בָּאָרֶץ, מִפְּנֵי הָרָעָב הַהוּא אַחֲרֵי-כֵן: כִּי-כָבֵד הוּא, מְאֹד. וְעַל הִשָּׁנוֹת הַחֲלוֹם אֶל-פַּרְעֹה, פַּעֲמָיִם--כִּי-נָכוֹן הַדָּבָר מֵעִם הָאֱלֹהִים, וּמְמַהֵר הָאֱלֹהִים לַעֲשֹׂתוֹ. וְעַתָּה יֵרֶא פַרְעֹה, אִישׁ נָבוֹן וְחָכָם; וִישִׁיתֵהוּ, עַל-אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם. יַעֲשֶׂה פַרְעֹה, וְיַפְקֵד פְּקִדִים עַל-הָאָרֶץ; וְחִמֵּשׁ אֶת-אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, בְּשֶׁבַע שְׁנֵי הַשָּׂבָע. וְיִקְבְּצוּ, אֶת-כָּל-אֹכֶל הַשָּׁנִים הַטֹּבוֹת, הַבָּאֹת, הָאֵלֶּה; וְיִצְבְּרוּ-בָר תַּחַת יַד-פַּרְעֹה, אֹכֶל בֶּעָרִים--וְשָׁמָרוּ

I then saw in my dream - Behold! — seven ears of grain were sprouting on a single stalk — full and good. And suddenly! — seven ears of grain, withered, thin and scorched by the east wind were growing after them. Then the thin ears of grain swallowed up the seven good ears; I said this to the necromancers, but no one could explain it to me." Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dream of Pharaoh is a single one; what God is about to do, He has told to Pharaoh. The seven good cows are seven years, and the good ears are seven years; it is a single dream. Now, the seven emaciated and bad cows who emerged after them — they are seven years; as are the seven emaciated ears scorched by the east wind. There shall be seven years of famine. It is this matter that I have spoken to Pharaoh - What God is about to do He has shown to Pharaoh. Behold! — seven years are coming — a great abundance throughout all the land of Egypt. Then seven years of famine will arise after them and all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten; the famine will ravage the land. And the abundance will be unknown in the land in the face of the subsequent famine — for it will be terribly severe. As for the repetition of the dream to Pharaoh — two times — it is because the matter stands ready before God, and God is hastening to accomplish it. Now let Pharaoh seek out a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh proceed and let him appoint overseers on the land, and he shall prepare the land of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. And let them gather all the food of those approaching good years; let them amass fine grain under Pharaoh's authority for food in the cities, and safeguard it.

Kedumah 66 (10553) 162

וַיְהִי בַבֹּקֶר, וַתִּפָּעֶם רוּחוֹ, וַיִּשְׁלַח וַיִּקְרָא אֶת-כָּל-חַרְטֻמֵּי מִצְרַיִם, וְאֶת-כָּל-חֲכָמֶיהָ; וַיְסַפֵּר פַּרְעֹה לָהֶם אֶת-חֲלֹמוֹ, וְאֵין-פּוֹתֵר אוֹתָם לְפַרְעֹה. וַיְדַבֵּר שַׂר הַמַּשְׁקִים, אֶת-פַּרְעֹה לֵאמֹר: אֶת-חֲטָאַי, אֲנִי מַזְכִּיר הַיּוֹם. פַּרְעֹה, קָצַף עַל-עֲבָדָיו; וַיִּתֵּן אֹתִי בְּמִשְׁמַר, בֵּית שַׂר הַטַּבָּחִים--אֹתִי, וְאֵת שַׂר הָאֹפִים. וַנַּחַלְמָה חֲלוֹם בְּלַיְלָה אֶחָד, אֲנִי וָהוּא: אִישׁ כְּפִתְרוֹן חֲלֹמוֹ, חָלָמְנוּ. וְשָׁם אִתָּנוּ נַעַר עִבְרִי, עֶבֶד לְשַׂר הַטַּבָּחִים, וַנְּסַפֶּר-לוֹ, וַיִּפְתָּר-לָנוּ אֶת-חֲלֹמֹתֵינוּ: אִישׁ כַּחֲלֹמוֹ, פָּתָר. וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר פָּתַר-לָנוּ, כֵּן הָיָה: אֹתִי הֵשִׁיב עַל-כַּנִּי, וְאֹתוֹ תָלָה. וַיִּשְׁלַח פַּרְעֹה וַיִּקְרָא אֶת-יוֹסֵף, וַיְרִיצֻהוּ מִן-הַבּוֹר; וַיְגַלַּח וַיְחַלֵּף שִׂמְלֹתָיו, וַיָּבֹא אֶל-פַּרְעֹה. וַיֹּאמֶר פַּרְעֹה, אֶל-יוֹסֵף, חֲלוֹם חָלַמְתִּי, וּפֹתֵר אֵין אֹתוֹ; וַאֲנִי, שָׁמַעְתִּי עָלֶיךָ לֵאמֹר, תִּשְׁמַע חֲלוֹם, לִפְתֹּר אֹתוֹ. וַיַּעַן יוֹסֵף אֶת-פַּרְעֹה לֵאמֹר, בִּלְעָדָי: אֱלֹהִים, יַעֲנֶה אֶת-שְׁלוֹם פַּרְעֹה. וַיְדַבֵּר פַּרְעֹה, אֶל-יוֹסֵף: בַּחֲלֹמִי, הִנְנִי עֹמֵד עַל-שְׂפַת הַיְאֹר. וְהִנֵּה מִן-הַיְאֹר, עֹלֹת שֶׁבַע פָּרוֹת, בְּרִיאוֹת בָּשָׂר, וִיפֹת תֹּאַר; וַתִּרְעֶינָה, בָּאָחוּ. וְהִנֵּה שֶׁבַע-פָּרוֹת אֲחֵרוֹת, עֹלוֹת אַחֲרֵיהֶן, דַּלּוֹת וְרָעוֹת תֹּאַר מְאֹד, וְרַקּוֹת בָּשָׂר: לֹא-רָאִיתִי כָהֵנָּה בְּכָל-אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, לָרֹעַ. וַתֹּאכַלְנָה, הַפָּרוֹת, הָרַקּוֹת, וְהָרָעוֹת--אֵת שֶׁבַע הַפָּרוֹת הָרִאשֹׁנוֹת, הַבְּרִיאֹת. וַתָּבֹאנָה אֶל-קִרְבֶּנָה, וְלֹא נוֹדַע כִּי-בָאוּ אֶל-קִרְבֶּנָה, וּמַרְאֵיהֶן רַע, כַּאֲשֶׁר בַּתְּחִלָּה; וָאִיקָץ

And it was in the morning - His spirit was agitated, so he sent and summoned all the necromancers of Egypt and all its wise men; Pharaoh related his dream to them, but none could interpret them for Pharaoh. Then the Chamberlain of the Cupbearers spoke up before Pharaoh, "My transgressions do I mention today. Pharaoh had become incensed at his servants and placed me in the ward of the house of the Chamberlain of the Butchers — me and the Chamberlain of the Bakers. We dreamt a dream on the same night, I and he; each of us according to the interpretation of his dream did we dream. And there, with us, was a Hebrew youth, a slave of the Chamberlain of the Butchers; we related it to him, and he interpreted our dreams for us; he interpreted for each in accordance with his dream. And it was that just as he interpreted for us so did it happen; me he restored to my post and him he hanged." So Pharaoh sent and summoned Joseph, and they rushed him from the dungeon. He shaved and changed his clothes, and he came to Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I dreamt a dream, but no one can interpret it. Now I heard it said of you that you comprehend a dream to interpret it." Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, "That is beyond me; it is God Who will respond with Pharaoh's welfare." Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "In my dream, behold! — I was standing upon the bank of the River. And behold, out of the River there emerged seven cows, of robust flesh and beautiful form, and they were grazing in the marshland. Suddenly, seven other cows emerged after them — scrawny and of very inferior form and of emaciated flesh; I have never seen inferiority like theirs in all the land of Egypt. And the emaciated and inferior cows ate up the first seven healthy cows. They came inside them, but it was not apparent that they had come inside them, for their appearance remained as inferior as at first. Then I awoke.

Kedumah 65 (10391) 170

וַיַּרְא שַׂר-הָאֹפִים, כִּי טוֹב פָּתָר; וַיֹּאמֶר, אֶל-יוֹסֵף, אַף-אֲנִי בַּחֲלוֹמִי, וְהִנֵּה שְׁלֹשָׁה סַלֵּי חֹרִי עַל-רֹאשִׁי. וּבַסַּל הָעֶלְיוֹן, מִכֹּל מַאֲכַל פַּרְעֹה--מַעֲשֵׂה אֹפֶה; וְהָעוֹף, אֹכֵל אֹתָם מִן-הַסַּל--מֵעַל רֹאשִׁי. וַיַּעַן יוֹסֵף וַיֹּאמֶר, זֶה פִּתְרֹנוֹ: שְׁלֹשֶׁת, הַסַּלִּים--שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים, הֵם. בְּעוֹד שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים, יִשָּׂא פַרְעֹה אֶת-רֹאשְׁךָ מֵעָלֶיךָ, וְתָלָה אוֹתְךָ, עַל-עֵץ; וְאָכַל הָעוֹף אֶת-בְּשָׂרְךָ, מֵעָלֶיךָ. וַיְהִי בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי, יוֹם הֻלֶּדֶת אֶת-פַּרְעֹה, וַיַּעַשׂ מִשְׁתֶּה, לְכָל-עֲבָדָיו; וַיִּשָּׂא אֶת-רֹאשׁ שַׂר הַמַּשְׁקִים, וְאֶת-רֹאשׁ שַׂר הָאֹפִים--בְּתוֹךְ עֲבָדָיו. וַיָּשֶׁב אֶת-שַׂר הַמַּשְׁקִים, עַל-מַשְׁקֵהוּ; וַיִּתֵּן הַכּוֹס, עַל-כַּף פַּרְעֹה. וְאֵת שַׂר הָאֹפִים, תָּלָה: כַּאֲשֶׁר פָּתַר לָהֶם, יוֹסֵף. וְלֹא-זָכַר שַׂר-הַמַּשְׁקִים אֶת-יוֹסֵף, וַיִּשְׁכָּחֵהוּ

וַיְהִי, מִקֵּץ שְׁנָתַיִם יָמִים; וּפַרְעֹה חֹלֵם, וְהִנֵּה עֹמֵד עַל-הַיְאֹר. וְהִנֵּה מִן-הַיְאֹר, עֹלֹת שֶׁבַע פָּרוֹת, יְפוֹת מַרְאֶה, וּבְרִיאֹת בָּשָׂר; וַתִּרְעֶינָה, בָּאָחוּ. וְהִנֵּה שֶׁבַע פָּרוֹת אֲחֵרוֹת, עֹלוֹת אַחֲרֵיהֶן מִן-הַיְאֹר, רָעוֹת מַרְאֶה, וְדַקּוֹת בָּשָׂר; וַתַּעֲמֹדְנָה אֵצֶל הַפָּרוֹת, עַל-שְׂפַת הַיְאֹר. וַתֹּאכַלְנָה הַפָּרוֹת, רָעוֹת הַמַּרְאֶה וְדַקֹּת הַבָּשָׂר, אֵת שֶׁבַע הַפָּרוֹת, יְפֹת הַמַּרְאֶה וְהַבְּרִיאֹת; וַיִּיקַץ, פַּרְעֹה. וַיִּישָׁן, וַיַּחֲלֹם שֵׁנִית; וְהִנֵּה שֶׁבַע שִׁבֳּלִים, עֹלוֹת בְּקָנֶה אֶחָד--בְּרִיאוֹת וְטֹבוֹת. וְהִנֵּה שֶׁבַע שִׁבֳּלִים, דַּקּוֹת וּשְׁדוּפֹת קָדִים--צֹמְחוֹת, אַחֲרֵיהֶן. וַתִּבְלַעְנָה, הַשִּׁבֳּלִים הַדַּקּוֹת, אֵת שֶׁבַע הַשִּׁבֳּלִים, הַבְּרִיאוֹת וְהַמְּלֵאוֹת; וַיִּיקַץ פַּרְעֹה, וְהִנֵּה חֲלוֹם

The Chamberlain of the Bakers saw that he had interpreted well, so he said to Joseph, "I, too! In my dream — behold! three wicker baskets were on my head. And in the uppermost basket were all kinds of Pharaoh's food — baker's handiwork — and the birds were eating them from the basket above my head." Joseph responded and said, "This is its interpretation - The three baskets are three days. In three days Pharaoh will lift your head from you and hang you on a tree; birds will eat your flesh from you." And it was on the third day, Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants and he counted the Chamberlain of the Cupbearers and the Chamberlain of the Bakers among his servants. He restored the Chamberlain of the Cupbearers to his cupbearing and he placed the cup on Pharaoh's palm. But the Chamberlain of the Bakers he hung, just as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet the Chamberlain of the Cupbearers did not remember Joseph, but he forgot him.

It happened at the end of two years to the day - Pharaoh was dreaming that behold! — he was standing over the River, when behold! out of the River there emerged seven cows, of beautiful appearance and robust flesh, and they were grazing in the marshland. Then behold! — seven other cows emerged after them out of the River — of ugly appearance and gaunt flesh; and they stood next to the cows on the bank of the River. The cows of ugly appearance and gaunt flesh ate the seven cows of beautiful appearance and robust, and Pharaoh awoke. He fell asleep and dreamt a second time, and behold! seven ears of grain were sprouting on a single stalk — healthy and good. And behold! seven ears, thin, and scorched by the east wind, were growing after them. Then the seven thin ears swallowed up the seven healthy and full ears; Pharaoh awoke and behold! — it had been a dream.

Kedumah 64 (10221) 147

וַיִּפְקֹד שַׂר הַטַּבָּחִים אֶת-יוֹסֵף, אִתָּם--וַיְשָׁרֶת אֹתָם; וַיִּהְיוּ יָמִים, בְּמִשְׁמָר. וַיַּחַלְמוּ חֲלוֹם שְׁנֵיהֶם אִישׁ חֲלֹמוֹ, בְּלַיְלָה אֶחָד--אִישׁ, כְּפִתְרוֹן חֲלֹמוֹ: הַמַּשְׁקֶה וְהָאֹפֶה, אֲשֶׁר לְמֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם, אֲשֶׁר אֲסוּרִים, בְּבֵית הַסֹּהַר. וַיָּבֹא אֲלֵיהֶם יוֹסֵף, בַּבֹּקֶר; וַיַּרְא אֹתָם, וְהִנָּם זֹעֲפִים. וַיִּשְׁאַל אֶת-סְרִיסֵי פַרְעֹה, אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ בְמִשְׁמַר בֵּית אֲדֹנָיו--לֵאמֹר: מַדּוּעַ פְּנֵיכֶם רָעִים, הַיּוֹם. וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו--חֲלוֹם חָלַמְנוּ, וּפֹתֵר אֵין אֹתוֹ; וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם יוֹסֵף, הֲלוֹא לֵאלֹהִים פִּתְרֹנִים--סַפְּרוּ-נָא, לִי. וַיְסַפֵּר שַׂר-הַמַּשְׁקִים אֶת-חֲלֹמוֹ, לְיוֹסֵף; וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ--בַּחֲלוֹמִי, וְהִנֵּה-גֶפֶן לְפָנָי. וּבַגֶּפֶן, שְׁלֹשָׁה שָׂרִיגִם; וְהִוא כְפֹרַחַת עָלְתָה נִצָּהּ, הִבְשִׁילוּ אַשְׁכְּלֹתֶיהָ עֲנָבִים. וְכוֹס פַּרְעֹה, בְּיָדִי; וָאֶקַּח אֶת-הָעֲנָבִים, וָאֶשְׂחַט אֹתָם אֶל-כּוֹס פַּרְעֹה, וָאֶתֵּן אֶת-הַכּוֹס, עַל-כַּף פַּרְעֹה. וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ יוֹסֵף, זֶה פִּתְרֹנוֹ: שְׁלֹשֶׁת, הַשָּׂרִגִים--שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים, הֵם. בְּעוֹד שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים, יִשָּׂא פַרְעֹה אֶת-רֹאשֶׁךָ, וַהֲשִׁיבְךָ, עַל-כַּנֶּךָ; וְנָתַתָּ כוֹס-פַּרְעֹה, בְּיָדוֹ, כַּמִּשְׁפָּט הָרִאשׁוֹן, אֲשֶׁר הָיִיתָ מַשְׁקֵהוּ. כִּי אִם-זְכַרְתַּנִי אִתְּךָ, כַּאֲשֶׁר יִיטַב לָךְ, וְעָשִׂיתָ-נָּא עִמָּדִי, חָסֶד; וְהִזְכַּרְתַּנִי, אֶל-פַּרְעֹה, וְהוֹצֵאתַנִי, מִן-הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה. כִּי-גֻנֹּב גֻּנַּבְתִּי, מֵאֶרֶץ הָעִבְרִים; וְגַם-פֹּה לֹא-עָשִׂיתִי מְאוּמָה, כִּי-שָׂמוּ אֹתִי בַּבּוֹר

The Chamberlain of the Butchers appointed Joseph to be with them, and he attended them and they remained in the ward for a period of days. The two of them dreamt a dream, each one had his dream on the same night, each one according to the interpretation of his dream — the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt who were confined in the prison. Joseph came to them in the morning. He saw them and behold! they were aggrieved. And he asked Pharaoh's courtiers who were with him in the ward of his master's house, saying, "Why do you appear downcast today?" And they said to him, "We dreamt a dream, but there is no interpreter for it." So Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Relate it to me, if you please." Then the Chamberlain of the Cupbearers recounted his dream to Joseph and said to him, "In my dream — behold! there was a grapevine in front of me. On the grapevine were three tendrils; and it was as though it budded — its blossoms bloomed and its clusters ripened into grapes. And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand and I took the grapes, pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I placed the cup on Pharaoh's palm." Joseph said to him, "This is its interpretation - The three tendrils are three days. In another three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and will restore you to your post, and you will place Pharaoh's cup in his hand as was the former practice when you were his cupbearer. If only you would think of me with yourself when he benefits you, and you will do me a kindness, if you please, and mention me to Pharaoh, then you would get me out of this building. For indeed I was kidnaped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing for them to have put me in the pit."

Kadumah 63 (10074) 163

וַתִּקְרָא לְאַנְשֵׁי בֵיתָהּ, וַתֹּאמֶר לָהֶם לֵאמֹר, רְאוּ הֵבִיא לָנוּ אִישׁ עִבְרִי, לְצַחֶק בָּנוּ: בָּא אֵלַי לִשְׁכַּב עִמִּי, וָאֶקְרָא בְּקוֹל גָּדוֹל. וַיְהִי כְשָׁמְעוֹ, כִּי-הֲרִימֹתִי קוֹלִי וָאֶקְרָא; וַיַּעֲזֹב בִּגְדוֹ אֶצְלִי, וַיָּנָס וַיֵּצֵא הַחוּצָה. וַתַּנַּח בִּגְדוֹ, אֶצְלָהּ, עַד-בּוֹא אֲדֹנָיו, אֶל-בֵּיתוֹ. וַתְּדַבֵּר אֵלָיו, כַּדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה לֵאמֹר: בָּא-אֵלַי הָעֶבֶד הָעִבְרִי, אֲשֶׁר-הֵבֵאתָ לָּנוּ--לְצַחֶק בִּי. וַיְהִי, כַּהֲרִימִי קוֹלִי וָאֶקְרָא; וַיַּעֲזֹב בִּגְדוֹ אֶצְלִי, וַיָּנָס הַחוּצָה. וַיְהִי כִשְׁמֹעַ אֲדֹנָיו אֶת-דִּבְרֵי אִשְׁתּוֹ, אֲשֶׁר דִּבְּרָה אֵלָיו לֵאמֹר, כַּדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, עָשָׂה לִי עַבְדֶּךָ; וַיִּחַר, אַפּוֹ. וַיִּקַּח אֲדֹנֵי יוֹסֵף אֹתוֹ, וַיִּתְּנֵהוּ אֶל-בֵּית הַסֹּהַר--מְקוֹם, אֲשֶׁר-אֲסִורֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲסוּרִים; וַיְהִי-שָׁם, בְּבֵית הַסֹּהַר. וַיְהִי יְהוָה אֶת-יוֹסֵף, וַיֵּט אֵלָיו חָסֶד; וַיִּתֵּן חִנּוֹ, בְּעֵינֵי שַׂר בֵּית-הַסֹּהַר. וַיִּתֵּן שַׂר בֵּית-הַסֹּהַר, בְּיַד-יוֹסֵף, אֵת כָּל-הָאֲסִירִם, אֲשֶׁר בְּבֵית הַסֹּהַר; וְאֵת כָּל-אֲשֶׁר עֹשִׂים שָׁם, הוּא הָיָה עֹשֶׂה. אֵין שַׂר בֵּית-הַסֹּהַר, רֹאֶה אֶת-כָּל-מְאוּמָה בְּיָדוֹ, בַּאֲשֶׁר יְהוָה, אִתּוֹ; וַאֲשֶׁר-הוּא עֹשֶׂה, יְהוָה מַצְלִיחַ

וַיְהִי, אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, חָטְאוּ מַשְׁקֵה מֶלֶךְ-מִצְרַיִם, וְהָאֹפֶה--לַאֲדֹנֵיהֶם, לְמֶלֶךְ מִצְרָיִם. וַיִּקְצֹף פַּרְעֹה, עַל שְׁנֵי סָרִיסָיו--עַל שַׂר הַמַּשְׁקִים, וְעַל שַׂר הָאוֹפִים. וַיִּתֵּן אֹתָם בְּמִשְׁמַר, בֵּית שַׂר הַטַּבָּחִים--אֶל-בֵּית הַסֹּהַר: מְקוֹם, אֲשֶׁר יוֹסֵף אָסוּר שָׁם

When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside; she called out to the men of her household and spoke to them saying, "Look! He brought us a Hebrew man to sport with us! He came to lie with me but I called out with a loud scream. And when he heard that I raised my voice and screamed, he left his garment beside me, fled, and went outside!" She kept his garment beside her until his master came home. Then she told him a similar account saying, "The Hebrew slave whom you brought to us came to me to sport with me. But it happened that when I raised my voice and screamed, he left his garment beside me, and ran outside." And it was, when his master heard his wife's words which she spoke to him, saying, "Your slave did things like these to me," his anger flared up. Then Joseph's master took him and placed him in the prison — the place where the king's prisoners were confined — and he remained there in prison. Hashem was with Joseph, and He endowed him with charisma, and He put his favor in the eyes of the prison warden. The prison warden placed all inmates of the prison in Joseph's custody, and everything that was done there, he would accomplish. The prison warden did not scrutinize anything that was in his charge inasmuch as Hashem was with him; and whatever he did Hashem made successful.

And it happened after these things that the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and the baker transgressed against their master, against the king of Egypt. Pharaoh was enraged at his two courtiers, the Chamberlain of the Cupbearers and the Chamberlain of the Bakers. And he placed them in the ward of the house of the Chamberlain of the Butchers, into the prison, the place where Joseph was confined.

Kedimah 62 (9911) 169

וְיוֹסֵף, הוּרַד מִצְרָיְמָה; וַיִּקְנֵהוּ פּוֹטִיפַר סְרִיס פַּרְעֹה שַׂר הַטַּבָּחִים, אִישׁ מִצְרִי, מִיַּד הַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִים, אֲשֶׁר הוֹרִדֻהוּ שָׁמָּה. וַיְהִי יְהוָה אֶת-יוֹסֵף, וַיְהִי אִישׁ מַצְלִיחַ; וַיְהִי, בְּבֵית אֲדֹנָיו הַמִּצְרִי. וַיַּרְא אֲדֹנָיו, כִּי יְהוָה אִתּוֹ; וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר-הוּא עֹשֶׂה, יְהוָה מַצְלִיחַ בְּיָדוֹ. וַיִּמְצָא יוֹסֵף חֵן בְּעֵינָיו, וַיְשָׁרֶת אֹתוֹ; וַיַּפְקִדֵהוּ, עַל-בֵּיתוֹ, וְכָל-יֶשׁ-לוֹ, נָתַן בְּיָדוֹ. וַיְהִי מֵאָז הִפְקִיד אֹתוֹ בְּבֵיתוֹ, וְעַל כָּל-אֲשֶׁר יֶשׁ-לוֹ, וַיְבָרֶךְ יְהוָה אֶת-בֵּית הַמִּצְרִי, בִּגְלַל יוֹסֵף; וַיְהִי בִּרְכַּת יְהוָה, בְּכָל-אֲשֶׁר יֶשׁ-לוֹ--בַּבַּיִת, וּבַשָּׂדֶה. וַיַּעֲזֹב כָּל-אֲשֶׁר-לוֹ, בְּיַד-יוֹסֵף, וְלֹא-יָדַע אִתּוֹ מְאוּמָה, כִּי אִם-הַלֶּחֶם אֲשֶׁר-הוּא אוֹכֵל; וַיְהִי יוֹסֵף, יְפֵה-תֹאַר וִיפֵה מַרְאֶה. וַיְהִי, אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, וַתִּשָּׂא אֵשֶׁת-אֲדֹנָיו אֶת-עֵינֶיהָ, אֶל-יוֹסֵף; וַתֹּאמֶר, שִׁכְבָה עִמִּי. וַיְמָאֵן--וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל-אֵשֶׁת אֲדֹנָיו, הֵן אֲדֹנִי לֹא-יָדַע אִתִּי מַה-בַּבָּיִת; וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר-יֶשׁ-לוֹ, נָתַן בְּיָדִי. אֵינֶנּוּ גָדוֹל בַּבַּיִת הַזֶּה, מִמֶּנִּי, וְלֹא-חָשַׂךְ מִמֶּנִּי מְאוּמָה, כִּי אִם-אוֹתָךְ בַּאֲשֶׁר אַתְּ-אִשְׁתּוֹ; וְאֵיךְ אֶעֱשֶׂה הָרָעָה הַגְּדֹלָה, הַזֹּאת, וְחָטָאתִי, לֵאלֹהִים. וַיְהִי, כְּדַבְּרָהּ אֶל-יוֹסֵף יוֹם יוֹם; וְלֹא-שָׁמַע אֵלֶיהָ לִשְׁכַּב אֶצְלָהּ, לִהְיוֹת עִמָּהּ. וַיְהִי כְּהַיּוֹם הַזֶּה, וַיָּבֹא הַבַּיְתָה לַעֲשׂוֹת מְלַאכְתּוֹ; וְאֵין אִישׁ מֵאַנְשֵׁי הַבַּיִת, שָׁם--בַּבָּיִת. וַתִּתְפְּשֵׂהוּ בְּבִגְדוֹ לֵאמֹר, שִׁכְבָה עִמִּי; וַיַּעֲזֹב בִּגְדוֹ בְּיָדָהּ, וַיָּנָס וַיֵּצֵא הַחוּצָה. וַיְהִי, כִּרְאוֹתָהּ, כִּי-עָזַב בִּגְדוֹ, בְּיָדָהּ; וַיָּנָס, הַחוּצָה

And Joseph had been brought down to Egypt. Potiphar, a courtier of Pharaoh, the Chamberlain of the Butchers, a prominent Egyptian, purchased him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. Hashem was with Joseph, and he became a successful man; and he remained in the house of his Egyptian master. His master perceived that Hashem was with him, and whatever he did Hashem made succeed through him. Joseph found favor in his eyes, and he attended him; he appointed him over his household, and whatever he had he placed in his custody. And it happened, that from the time he appointed him in his house and over whatever he had, Hashem blessed the Egyptian's house on Joseph's account, so that Hashem's blessing was in whatever he owned, in the house and in the field. He left all that he had in Joseph's custody and with him present he concerned himself with nothing except for the bread he ate. Now Joseph was handsome of form and handsome of appearance. After these things, his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph and she said, "Lie with me." But he adamantly refused; he said to his master's wife, "Look — with me here, my master concerns himself about nothing in the house, and whatever he has he placed in my custody. There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has denied me nothing but you, since you are his wife; how then can I perpetrate this great evil and have sinned against God!" And so it was — just as she coaxed Joseph day after day, so he would not listen to her to lie beside her, to be with her. Then there was an opportune day when he entered the house to do his work — no man of the household staff being there in the house; that she grasped him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me!" But he left his garment in her hand, and he fled, and went outside.

Kedumah 61 (9742) 146

וַתָּקָם וַתֵּלֶךְ, וַתָּסַר צְעִיפָהּ מֵעָלֶיהָ; וַתִּלְבַּשׁ, בִּגְדֵי אַלְמְנוּתָהּ. וַיִּשְׁלַח יְהוּדָה אֶת-גְּדִי הָעִזִּים, בְּיַד רֵעֵהוּ הָעֲדֻלָּמִי, לָקַחַת הָעֵרָבוֹן, מִיַּד הָאִשָּׁה; וְלֹא, מְצָאָהּ. וַיִּשְׁאַל אֶת-אַנְשֵׁי מְקֹמָהּ, לֵאמֹר, אַיֵּה הַקְּדֵשָׁה הִוא בָעֵינַיִם, עַל-הַדָּרֶךְ; וַיֹּאמְרוּ, לֹא-הָיְתָה בָזֶה קְדֵשָׁה. וַיָּשָׁב, אֶל-יְהוּדָה, וַיֹּאמֶר, לֹא מְצָאתִיהָ; וְגַם אַנְשֵׁי הַמָּקוֹם אָמְרוּ, לֹא-הָיְתָה בָזֶה קְדֵשָׁה. וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוּדָה תִּקַּח-לָהּ, פֶּן נִהְיֶה לָבוּז; הִנֵּה שָׁלַחְתִּי הַגְּדִי הַזֶּה, וְאַתָּה לֹא מְצָאתָהּ. וַיְהִי כְּמִשְׁלֹשׁ חֳדָשִׁים, וַיֻּגַּד לִיהוּדָה לֵאמֹר זָנְתָה תָּמָר כַּלָּתֶךָ, וְגַם הִנֵּה הָרָה, לִזְנוּנִים; וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוּדָה, הוֹצִיאוּהָ וְתִשָּׂרֵף. הִוא מוּצֵאת, וְהִיא שָׁלְחָה אֶל-חָמִיהָ לֵאמֹר, לְאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר-אֵלֶּה לּוֹ, אָנֹכִי הָרָה; וַתֹּאמֶר, הַכֶּר-נָא--לְמִי הַחֹתֶמֶת וְהַפְּתִילִים וְהַמַּטֶּה, הָאֵלֶּה. וַיַּכֵּר יְהוּדָה, וַיֹּאמֶר צָדְקָה מִמֶּנִּי, כִּי-עַל-כֵּן לֹא-נְתַתִּיהָ, לְשֵׁלָה בְנִי; וְלֹא-יָסַף עוֹד, לְדַעְתָּהּ. וַיְהִי, בְּעֵת לִדְתָּהּ; וְהִנֵּה תְאוֹמִים, בְּבִטְנָהּ. וַיְהִי בְלִדְתָּהּ, וַיִּתֶּן-יָד; וַתִּקַּח הַמְיַלֶּדֶת, וַתִּקְשֹׁר עַל-יָדוֹ שָׁנִי לֵאמֹר, זֶה, יָצָא רִאשֹׁנָה. וַיְהִי כְּמֵשִׁיב יָדוֹ, וְהִנֵּה יָצָא אָחִיו, וַתֹּאמֶר, מַה-פָּרַצְתָּ עָלֶיךָ פָּרֶץ; וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ, פָּרֶץ. וְאַחַר יָצָא אָחִיו, אֲשֶׁר עַל-יָדוֹ הַשָּׁנִי; וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ, זָרַח

Then she arose, left, and removed her veil from upon her, and she put on her widow's garb. Judah sent the kid of the goats through his friend the Adullamite to retrieve the pledge from the woman; but he did not find her. He inquired of the people of her place, "Where is the prostitute, the one at the crossroads by the road?" And they said, "There was no prostitute here." So he returned to Judah and said, "I did not find her; even the local men said, 'There was no prostitute here.' " So Judah said, "Let her keep them, lest we become a laughingstock; I really sent her this kid, but you could not find her." And it was when about three months had passed, that Judah was told, "Your daughterin-law has committed harlotry, and moreover, she has conceived by harlotry." Judah said, "Take her out and let her be burned!" As she was taken out, she sent word to her father-in-law, saying, "By the man to whom these belong I am with child." And she said, "Identify, if you please, whose are this seal, this wrap, and this staff." Judah recognized; and he said, "She is right; it is from me, inasmuch as I did not give her to Shelah my son," and he was not intimate with her anymore. And it came to pass at the time she gave birth that behold! There were twins in her womb. And it happened that as she gave birth, one put out a hand; the midwife took a crimson thread and tied it on his hand saying, "This one emerged first!" And it was, as he drew back his hand, that behold! his brother emerged. And she said, "With what strength you asserted yourself!" And he called his name Perez. Afterwards his brother on whose hand was the crimson thread came out; and he called his name Zerah.

Kedumah 60 (9696) 166

וַיִּקַּח יְהוּדָה אִשָּׁה, לְעֵר בְּכוֹרוֹ; וּשְׁמָהּ, תָּמָר. וַיְהִי, עֵר בְּכוֹר יְהוּדָה--רַע, בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה; וַיְמִתֵהוּ, יְהוָה. וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוּדָה לְאוֹנָן, בֹּא אֶל-אֵשֶׁת אָחִיךָ וְיַבֵּם אֹתָהּ; וְהָקֵם זֶרַע, לְאָחִיךָ. וַיֵּדַע אוֹנָן, כִּי לֹּא לוֹ יִהְיֶה הַזָּרַע; וְהָיָה אִם-בָּא אֶל-אֵשֶׁת אָחִיו, וְשִׁחֵת אַרְצָה, לְבִלְתִּי נְתָן-זֶרַע, לְאָחִיו. וַיֵּרַע בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה, אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה; וַיָּמֶת, גַּם-אֹתוֹ. וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוּדָה לְתָמָר כַּלָּתוֹ שְׁבִי אַלְמָנָה בֵית-אָבִיךְ, עַד-יִגְדַּל שֵׁלָה בְנִי--כִּי אָמַר, פֶּן-יָמוּת גַּם-הוּא כְּאֶחָיו; וַתֵּלֶךְ תָּמָר, וַתֵּשֶׁב בֵּית אָבִיהָ. וַיִּרְבּוּ, הַיָּמִים, וַתָּמָת, בַּת-שׁוּעַ אֵשֶׁת-יְהוּדָה; וַיִּנָּחֶם יְהוּדָה, וַיַּעַל עַל-גֹּזְזֵי צֹאנוֹ הוּא וְחִירָה רֵעֵהוּ הָעֲדֻלָּמִי--תִּמְנָתָה. וַיֻּגַּד לְתָמָר, לֵאמֹר: הִנֵּה חָמִיךְ עֹלֶה תִמְנָתָה, לָגֹז צֹאנוֹ. וַתָּסַר בִּגְדֵי אַלְמְנוּתָהּ מֵעָלֶיהָ, וַתְּכַס בַּצָּעִיף וַתִּתְעַלָּף, וַתֵּשֶׁב בְּפֶתַח עֵינַיִם, אֲשֶׁר עַל-דֶּרֶךְ תִּמְנָתָה: כִּי רָאֲתָה, כִּי-גָדַל שֵׁלָה, וְהִוא, לֹא-נִתְּנָה לוֹ לְאִשָּׁה. וַיִּרְאֶהָ יְהוּדָה, וַיַּחְשְׁבֶהָ לְזוֹנָה: כִּי כִסְּתָה, פָּנֶיהָ. וַיֵּט אֵלֶיהָ אֶל-הַדֶּרֶךְ, וַיֹּאמֶר הָבָה-נָּא אָבוֹא אֵלַיִךְ, כִּי לֹא יָדַע, כִּי כַלָּתוֹ הִוא; וַתֹּאמֶר, מַה-תִּתֶּן-לִי, כִּי תָבוֹא, אֵלָי. וַיֹּאמֶר, אָנֹכִי אֲשַׁלַּח גְּדִי-עִזִּים מִן-הַצֹּאן; וַתֹּאמֶר, אִם-תִּתֵּן עֵרָבוֹן עַד שָׁלְחֶךָ. וַיֹּאמֶר, מָה הָעֵרָבוֹן אֲשֶׁר אֶתֶּן-לָךְ, וַתֹּאמֶר חֹתָמְךָ וּפְתִילֶךָ, וּמַטְּךָ אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדֶךָ; וַיִּתֶּן-לָהּ וַיָּבֹא אֵלֶיהָ, וַתַּהַר לוֹ

Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn; her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah's firstborn, was evil in the eyes of Hashem, and Hashem caused him to die. Then Judah said to Onan, "Consort with your brother's wife and enter into levirate marriage with her, and establish offspring for your brother." But Onan knew that the seed would not be his; so it was, that whenever he would consort with his brother's wife, he would let it go to waste on the ground so as not to provide offspring for his brother. What he did was evil in the eyes of Hashem, and He caused him to die also. Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, "Remain a widow in your father's house until my son Shelah grows up" — for he thought, "Lest he also die like his brothers." — So Tamar went and lived in her father's house. Many days passed and Shua's daughter, the wife of Judah, died; when Judah was consoled, he went up to oversee his sheepshearers — he and his Adullamite friend, Hirah — to Timnah. And Tamar was told, as follows, "Behold your father-in-law is coming up to Timnah to shear his sheep." So she removed her widow's garb from upon her, covered herself with a veil, and wrapped herself up; she then sat by the crossroads which is on the road toward Timnah, for she saw that Shelah had grown, and she had not been given to him as a wife. When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot since she had covered her face. So he detoured to her by the road and said, "Come, if you please, let me consort with you," for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, "What will you give me if you consort with me?" He replied, "I will send you a kid of the goats from the flock." And she said, "Provided you leave a pledge until you send it." And he said, "What pledge shall I give you?" She replied, "Your signet, your wrap, and your staff that is in your hand." And he gave them to her, and consorted with her, and she conceived by him.

Kedumah 59 (9430) 161

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוּדָה, אֶל-אֶחָיו: מַה-בֶּצַע, כִּי נַהֲרֹג אֶת-אָחִינוּ, וְכִסִּינוּ, אֶת-דָּמוֹ. לְכוּ וְנִמְכְּרֶנּוּ לַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִים, וְיָדֵנוּ אַל-תְּהִי-בוֹ, כִּי-אָחִינוּ בְשָׂרֵנוּ, הוּא; וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ, אֶחָיו. וַיַּעַבְרוּ אֲנָשִׁים מִדְיָנִים סֹחֲרִים, וַיִּמְשְׁכוּ וַיַּעֲלוּ אֶת-יוֹסֵף מִן-הַבּוֹר, וַיִּמְכְּרוּ אֶת-יוֹסֵף לַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִים, בְּעֶשְׂרִים כָּסֶף; וַיָּבִיאוּ אֶת-יוֹסֵף, מִצְרָיְמָה. וַיָּשָׁב רְאוּבֵן אֶל-הַבּוֹר, וְהִנֵּה אֵין-יוֹסֵף בַּבּוֹר; וַיִּקְרַע, אֶת-בְּגָדָיו. וַיָּשָׁב אֶל-אֶחָיו, וַיֹּאמַר: הַיֶּלֶד אֵינֶנּוּ, וַאֲנִי אָנָה אֲנִי-בָא. וַיִּקְחוּ, אֶת-כְּתֹנֶת יוֹסֵף; וַיִּשְׁחֲטוּ שְׂעִיר עִזִּים, וַיִּטְבְּלוּ אֶת-הַכֻּתֹּנֶת בַּדָּם. וַיְשַׁלְּחוּ אֶת-כְּתֹנֶת הַפַּסִּים, וַיָּבִיאוּ אֶל-אֲבִיהֶם, וַיֹּאמְרוּ, זֹאת מָצָאנוּ: הַכֶּר-נָא, הַכְּתֹנֶת בִּנְךָ הִוא--אִם-לֹא. וַיַּכִּירָהּ וַיֹּאמֶר כְּתֹנֶת בְּנִי, חַיָּה רָעָה אֲכָלָתְהוּ; טָרֹף טֹרַף, יוֹסֵף. וַיִּקְרַע יַעֲקֹב שִׂמְלֹתָיו, וַיָּשֶׂם שַׂק בְּמָתְנָיו; וַיִּתְאַבֵּל עַל-בְּנוֹ, יָמִים רַבִּים. וַיָּקֻמוּ כָל-בָּנָיו וְכָל-בְּנֹתָיו לְנַחֲמוֹ, וַיְמָאֵן לְהִתְנַחֵם, וַיֹּאמֶר, כִּי-אֵרֵד אֶל-בְּנִי אָבֵל שְׁאֹלָה; וַיֵּבְךְּ אֹתוֹ, אָבִיו. וְהַמְּדָנִים--מָכְרוּ אֹתוֹ, אֶל-מִצְרָיִם: לְפוֹטִיפַר סְרִיס פַּרְעֹה, שַׂר הַטַּבָּחִים

וַיְהִי בָּעֵת הַהִוא, וַיֵּרֶד יְהוּדָה מֵאֵת אֶחָיו; וַיֵּט עַד-אִישׁ עֲדֻלָּמִי, וּשְׁמוֹ חִירָה. וַיַּרְא-שָׁם יְהוּדָה בַּת-אִישׁ כְּנַעֲנִי, וּשְׁמוֹ שׁוּעַ; וַיִּקָּחֶהָ, וַיָּבֹא אֵלֶיהָ. וַתַּהַר, וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן; וַיִּקְרָא אֶת-שְׁמוֹ, עֵר. וַתַּהַר עוֹד, וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן; וַתִּקְרָא אֶת-שְׁמוֹ, אוֹנָן. וַתֹּסֶף עוֹד וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן, וַתִּקְרָא אֶת-שְׁמוֹ שֵׁלָה; וְהָיָה בִכְזִיב, בְּלִדְתָּהּ אֹתוֹ

Judah said to his brothers, "What gain will there be if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites — but let our hand not be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh." His brothers agreed. Midianite men, traders, passed by; they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver; then they brought Joseph to Egypt. Reuben returned to the pit — and behold! — Joseph was not in the pit! So he rent his garments. Returning to his brothers he said, "The boy is gone! And I — where can I go?" They took Joseph's tunic, slaughtered a goatling, and dipped the tunic in the blood. They dispatched the fine woolen tunic and they brought it to their father, and said, "We found this; identify, if you please - Is it your son's tunic or not?" He recognized it and he said, "My son's tunic! A savage beast devoured him! Joseph has surely been torn to bits!" Then Jacob rent his garments and placed sackcloth on his loins; he mourned for his son many days. All his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him, but he refused to comfort himself, and said - "For I will go down to the grave mourning for my son." And his father bewailed him. Now the Medanites had sold him to Egypt, to Potiphar, a courtier of Pharaoh, the Chamberlain of the Butchers.
It was at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and turned away towards an Adullamite man whose name was Hirah. There Judah saw the daughter of a prominent merchant whose name was Shua; he married her and consorted with her. She conceived and bore a son and he called his name Er. She conceived again and bore a son and she called his name Onan. And yet again and she bore a son; and called his name Shelah; and it was in Chezib when she bore him.

Kedumah 58 (9269) 155

וַיֹּאמֶר יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל-יוֹסֵף, הֲלוֹא אַחֶיךָ רֹעִים בִּשְׁכֶם--לְכָה, וְאֶשְׁלָחֲךָ אֲלֵיהֶם; וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ, הִנֵּנִי. וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ, לֶךְ-נָא רְאֵה אֶת-שְׁלוֹם אַחֶיךָ וְאֶת-שְׁלוֹם הַצֹּאן, וַהֲשִׁבֵנִי, דָּבָר; וַיִּשְׁלָחֵהוּ מֵעֵמֶק חֶבְרוֹן, וַיָּבֹא שְׁכֶמָה. וַיִּמְצָאֵהוּ אִישׁ, וְהִנֵּה תֹעֶה בַּשָּׂדֶה; וַיִּשְׁאָלֵהוּ הָאִישׁ לֵאמֹר, מַה-תְּבַקֵּשׁ. וַיֹּאמֶר, אֶת-אַחַי אָנֹכִי מְבַקֵּשׁ; הַגִּידָה-נָּא לִי, אֵיפֹה הֵם רֹעִים. וַיֹּאמֶר הָאִישׁ, נָסְעוּ מִזֶּה--כִּי שָׁמַעְתִּי אֹמְרִים, נֵלְכָה דֹּתָיְנָה; וַיֵּלֶךְ יוֹסֵף אַחַר אֶחָיו, וַיִּמְצָאֵם בְּדֹתָן. וַיִּרְאוּ אֹתוֹ, מֵרָחֹק; וּבְטֶרֶם יִקְרַב אֲלֵיהֶם, וַיִּתְנַכְּלוּ אֹתוֹ לַהֲמִיתוֹ. וַיֹּאמְרוּ, אִישׁ אֶל-אָחִיו: הִנֵּה, בַּעַל הַחֲלֹמוֹת הַלָּזֶה--בָּא. וְעַתָּה לְכוּ וְנַהַרְגֵהוּ, וְנַשְׁלִכֵהוּ בְּאַחַד הַבֹּרוֹת, וְאָמַרְנוּ, חַיָּה רָעָה אֲכָלָתְהוּ; וְנִרְאֶה, מַה-יִּהְיוּ חֲלֹמֹתָיו. וַיִּשְׁמַע רְאוּבֵן, וַיַּצִּלֵהוּ מִיָּדָם; וַיֹּאמֶר, לֹא נַכֶּנּוּ נָפֶשׁ. וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם רְאוּבֵן, אַל-תִּשְׁפְּכוּ-דָם--הַשְׁלִיכוּ אֹתוֹ אֶל-הַבּוֹר הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר בַּמִּדְבָּר, וְיָד אַל-תִּשְׁלְחוּ-בוֹ: לְמַעַן, הַצִּיל אֹתוֹ מִיָּדָם, לַהֲשִׁיבוֹ, אֶל-אָבִיו. וַיְהִי, כַּאֲשֶׁר-בָּא יוֹסֵף אֶל-אֶחָיו; וַיַּפְשִׁיטוּ אֶת-יוֹסֵף אֶת-כֻּתָּנְתּוֹ, אֶת-כְּתֹנֶת הַפַּסִּים אֲשֶׁר עָלָיו. וַיִּקָּחֻהוּ--וַיַּשְׁלִכוּ אֹתוֹ, הַבֹּרָה; וְהַבּוֹר רֵק, אֵין בּוֹ מָיִם. וַיֵּשְׁבוּ, לֶאֱכָל-לֶחֶם, וַיִּשְׂאוּ עֵינֵיהֶם וַיִּרְאוּ, וְהִנֵּה אֹרְחַת יִשְׁמְעֵאלִים בָּאָה מִגִּלְעָד; וּגְמַלֵּיהֶם נֹשְׂאִים, נְכֹאת וּצְרִי וָלֹט--הוֹלְכִים, לְהוֹרִיד מִצְרָיְמָה

And Israel said to Joseph, "Your brothers are pasturing in Shechem, are they not? Come, I will send you to them." He said to him - "Here I am!" And he said to him, "Go now, look into the welfare of your brothers and the welfare of the flock, and bring me back word." So he sent him from the depth of Hebron, and he arrived at Shechem. A man discovered him, and behold! — he was blundering in the field; the man asked him, saying, "What do you seek?" And he said, "My brothers do I seek; tell me, please, where they are pasturing." The man said - "They have journeyed on from here, for I heard them saying, 'Let us go to Dothan.' " So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan. They saw him from afar; and when he had not yet approached them they conspired against him to kill him. And they said to one another, "Look! That dreamer is coming. So now, come and let us kill him, and throw him into one of the pits; and we will say, 'A wild beast devoured him.' Then we shall see what will become of his dreams." Reuben heard, and he rescued him from their hand; he said, "We will not strike him mortally!" And Reuben said to them - "Shed no blood! Throw him into this pit in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him!" — intending to rescue him from their hand, to return him to his father. And so it was, when Joseph came to his brothers they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the fine woolen tunic that was on him. Then they took him, and cast him into the pit; the pit was empty, no water was in it. They sat to eat food; they raised their eyes and they saw, behold! — a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, their camels bearing spices, balsam, and lotus — on their way to bring them down to Egypt.

Kedumah 57 (9114) 150

וַיֵּשֶׁב יַעֲקֹב, בְּאֶרֶץ מְגוּרֵי אָבִיו--בְּאֶרֶץ, כְּנָעַן. אֵלֶּה תֹּלְדוֹת יַעֲקֹב, יוֹסֵף בֶּן-שְׁבַע-עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה הָיָה רֹעֶה אֶת-אֶחָיו בַּצֹּאן, וְהוּא נַעַר אֶת-בְּנֵי בִלְהָה וְאֶת-בְּנֵי זִלְפָּה, נְשֵׁי אָבִיו; וַיָּבֵא יוֹסֵף אֶת-דִּבָּתָם רָעָה, אֶל-אֲבִיהֶם. וְיִשְׂרָאֵל, אָהַב אֶת-יוֹסֵף מִכָּל-בָּנָיו--כִּי-בֶן-זְקֻנִים הוּא, לוֹ; וְעָשָׂה לוֹ, כְּתֹנֶת פַּסִּים. וַיִּרְאוּ אֶחָיו, כִּי-אֹתוֹ אָהַב אֲבִיהֶם מִכָּל-אֶחָיו--וַיִּשְׂנְאוּ, אֹתוֹ; וְלֹא יָכְלוּ, דַּבְּרוֹ לְשָׁלֹם. וַיַּחֲלֹם יוֹסֵף חֲלוֹם, וַיַּגֵּד לְאֶחָיו; וַיּוֹסִפוּ עוֹד, שְׂנֹא אֹתוֹ. וַיֹּאמֶר, אֲלֵיהֶם: שִׁמְעוּ-נָא, הַחֲלוֹם הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר חָלָמְתִּי. וְהִנֵּה אֲנַחְנוּ מְאַלְּמִים אֲלֻמִּים, בְּתוֹךְ הַשָּׂדֶה, וְהִנֵּה קָמָה אֲלֻמָּתִי, וְגַם-נִצָּבָה; וְהִנֵּה תְסֻבֶּינָה אֲלֻמֹּתֵיכֶם, וַתִּשְׁתַּחֲוֶיןָ לַאֲלֻמָּתִי. וַיֹּאמְרוּ לוֹ, אֶחָיו, הֲמָלֹךְ תִּמְלֹךְ עָלֵינוּ, אִם-מָשׁוֹל תִּמְשֹׁל בָּנוּ; וַיּוֹסִפוּ עוֹד שְׂנֹא אֹתוֹ, עַל-חֲלֹמֹתָיו וְעַל-דְּבָרָיו. וַיַּחֲלֹם עוֹד חֲלוֹם אַחֵר, וַיְסַפֵּר אֹתוֹ לְאֶחָיו; וַיֹּאמֶר, הִנֵּה חָלַמְתִּי חֲלוֹם עוֹד, וְהִנֵּה הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ וְהַיָּרֵחַ וְאַחַד עָשָׂר כּוֹכָבִים, מִשְׁתַּחֲוִים לִי. וַיְסַפֵּר אֶל-אָבִיו, וְאֶל-אֶחָיו, וַיִּגְעַר-בּוֹ אָבִיו, וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ מָה הַחֲלוֹם הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר חָלָמְתָּ: הֲבוֹא נָבוֹא, אֲנִי וְאִמְּךָ וְאַחֶיךָ, לְהִשְׁתַּחֲו‍ֹת לְךָ, אָרְצָה. וַיְקַנְאוּ-בוֹ, אֶחָיו; וְאָבִיו, שָׁמַר אֶת-הַדָּבָר. וַיֵּלְכוּ, אֶחָיו, לִרְעוֹת אֶת-צֹאן אֲבִיהֶם, בִּשְׁכֶם

Jacob settled in the land of his father's sojournings, in the land of Canaan. These are the chronicles of Jacob - Joseph, at the age of seventeen, was a shepherd with his brothers by the flock, but he was a youth with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives; and Joseph would bring evil reports about them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons since he was a child of his old age, and he made him a fine woolen tunic. His brothers saw that it was he whom their father loved most of all his brothers so they hated him; and they could not speak to him peaceably. Joseph dreamt a dream which he told to his brothers, and they hated him even more. He said to them, "Hear, if you please, this dream which I dreamt. Behold! — we were binding sheaves in the middle of the field, when, behold! — my sheaf arose and remained standing; then behold! — your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf." His brothers said to him, "Would you then reign over us? Would you then dominate us?" And they hated him even more — because of his dreams and because of his talk. He dreamt another dream, and related it to his brothers. And he said, "Look, I dreamt another dream - Behold! the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me." And he related it to his father and to his brothers; his father scolded him, and said to him, "What is this dream that you have dreamt! Are we to come — I and your mother and your brothers — to bow down to you to the ground?" So his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind. Now, his brothers went to pasture their father's flock in Shechem.

Kedumah 56 (8964) 184

וַיְהִי-עוֹד כִּבְרַת-הָאָרֶץ לָבוֹא אֶפְרָתָה; וַתֵּלֶד רָחֵל, וַתְּקַשׁ בְּלִדְתָּהּ. וַיְהִי בְהַקְשֹׁתָהּ, בְּלִדְתָּהּ; וַתֹּאמֶר לָהּ הַמְיַלֶּדֶת אַל-תִּירְאִי, כִּי-גַם-זֶה לָךְ בֵּן. וַיְהִי בְּצֵאת נַפְשָׁהּ, כִּי מֵתָה, וַתִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ, בֶּן-אוֹנִי; וְאָבִיו, קָרָא-לוֹ בִנְיָמִין. וַתָּמָת, רָחֵל; וַתִּקָּבֵר בְּדֶרֶךְ אֶפְרָתָה, הִוא בֵּית לָחֶם. וַיַּצֵּב יַעֲקֹב מַצֵּבָה, עַל-קְבֻרָתָהּ--הִוא מַצֶּבֶת קְבֻרַת-רָחֵל, עַד-הַיּוֹם^*. וַיִּסַּע, יִשְׂרָאֵל; וַיֵּט אָהֳלֹה, מֵהָלְאָה לְמִגְדַּל-עֵדֶר. וַיְהִי, בִּשְׁכֹּן יִשְׂרָאֵל בָּאָרֶץ הַהִוא, וַיֵּלֶךְ רְאוּבֵן וַיִּשְׁכַּב אֶת-בִּלְהָה פִּילֶגֶשׁ אָבִיו, וַיִּשְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל

וְאֵלֶּה, הַמְּלָכִים, אֲשֶׁר מָלְכוּ, בְּאֶרֶץ אֱדוֹם--לִפְנֵי מְלָךְ-מֶלֶךְ, לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. וַיִּמְלֹךְ בֶּאֱדוֹם, בֶּלַע בֶּן-בְּעוֹר; וְשֵׁם עִירוֹ, דִּנְהָבָה. וַיָּמָת, בָּלַע; וַיִּמְלֹךְ תַּחְתָּיו, יוֹבָב בֶּן-זֶרַח מִבָּצְרָה. וַיָּמָת, יוֹבָב; וַיִּמְלֹךְ תַּחְתָּיו, חֻשָׁם מֵאֶרֶץ הַתֵּימָנִי. וַיָּמָת, חֻשָׁם; וַיִּמְלֹךְ תַּחְתָּיו הֲדַד בֶּן-בְּדַד, הַמַּכֶּה אֶת-מִדְיָן בִּשְׂדֵה מוֹאָב, וְשֵׁם עִירוֹ, עֲוִית. וַיָּמָת, הֲדָד; וַיִּמְלֹךְ תַּחְתָּיו, שַׂמְלָה מִמַּשְׂרֵקָה. וַיָּמָת, שַׂמְלָה; וַיִּמְלֹךְ תַּחְתָּיו, שָׁאוּל מֵרְחֹבוֹת הַנָּהָר. וַיָּמָת, שָׁאוּל; וַיִּמְלֹךְ תַּחְתָּיו, בַּעַל חָנָן בֶּן-עַכְבּוֹר. וַיָּמָת, בַּעַל חָנָן בֶּן-עַכְבּוֹר, וַיִּמְלֹךְ תַּחְתָּיו הֲדַר, וְשֵׁם עִירוֹ פָּעוּ; וְשֵׁם אִשְׁתּוֹ מְהֵיטַבְאֵל בַּת-מַטְרֵד, בַּת מֵי זָהָב. וְאֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת אַלּוּפֵי עֵשָׂו, לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם, לִמְקֹמֹתָם, בִּשְׁמֹתָם: אַלּוּף תִּמְנָע אַלּוּף עַלְוָה, אַלּוּף יְתֵת. אַלּוּף אָהֳלִיבָמָה אַלּוּף אֵלָה, אַלּוּף פִּינֹן. אַלּוּף קְנַז אַלּוּף תֵּימָן, אַלּוּף מִבְצָר. אַלּוּף מַגְדִּיאֵל, אַלּוּף עִירָם; אֵלֶּה אַלּוּפֵי אֱדוֹם, לְמֹשְׁבֹתָם בְּאֶרֶץ אֲחֻזָּתָם--הוּא עֵשָׂו, אֲבִי אֱדוֹם

There was still a stretch of land to go to Ephrath, when Rachel went into labor and had difficulty in her childbirth. And it was when she had difficulty in her labor that the midwife said to her, "Have no fear, for this one, too, is a son for you." And it came to pass, as her soul was departing — for she died — that she called his name Ben Oni, but his father called him Benjamin. Thus Rachel died, and was buried on the road to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. Jacob set up a monument over her grave; it is the monument of Rachel's grave until today. Israel journeyed on, and he pitched his tent beyond Migdal-eder^*. And it came to pass, while Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father's concubine, and Israel heard.

Now these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before a king reigned over the Children of Israel. Bela, son of Beor, reigned in Edom, and the name of his city was Dinhabah. And Bela died, and Jobab son of Zerah, from Bozrah, reigned after him. And Jobab died and Husham, of the land of the Temanites, reigned after him. And Husham died, and Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated the Midianites in the field of Moab, reigned after him, and the name of his city was Avith. And Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned after him. Samlah died, and Saul of Rehoboth nahar reigned after him. And Saul died, and Baal-hanan, son of Achbor, reigned after him. Baal-hanan, son of Achbor, died, and Hadar reigned after him; the name of his city was Pau, and his wife's name was Mehetabel, daughter of Matred, daughter of Me-zahab. Now these are the names of the chiefs of Esau, by their families, by their regions, by their names - the chief of Timna; the chief of Alvah; the chief of Jetheth; the chief of Oholibamah; the chief of Elah; the chief of Pinon; the chief of Kenaz; the chief of Teman; the chief of Mibzar; the chief of Magdiel and the chief of Iram; these are the chiefs of Edom by their settlements, in the land of their possession — he is Esau, father of Edom.

Kedumah 55 (8780) 113

וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים אֶל-יַעֲקֹב, קוּם עֲלֵה בֵית-אֵל וְשֶׁב-שָׁם; וַעֲשֵׂה-שָׁם מִזְבֵּחַ--לָאֵל הַנִּרְאֶה אֵלֶיךָ, בְּבָרְחֲךָ מִפְּנֵי עֵשָׂו אָחִיךָ. וַיֹּאמֶר יַעֲקֹב אֶל-בֵּיתוֹ, וְאֶל כָּל-אֲשֶׁר עִמּוֹ: הָסִרוּ אֶת-אֱלֹהֵי הַנֵּכָר, אֲשֶׁר בְּתֹכְכֶם, וְהִטַּהֲרוּ, וְהַחֲלִיפוּ שִׂמְלֹתֵיכֶם. וְנָקוּמָה וְנַעֲלֶה, בֵּית-אֵל; וְאֶעֱשֶׂה-שָּׁם מִזְבֵּחַ, לָאֵל הָעֹנֶה אֹתִי בְּיוֹם צָרָתִי, וַיְהִי עִמָּדִי, בַּדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר הָלָכְתִּי. וַיִּתְּנוּ אֶל-יַעֲקֹב, אֵת כָּל-אֱלֹהֵי הַנֵּכָר אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדָם, וְאֶת-הַנְּזָמִים, אֲשֶׁר בְּאָזְנֵיהֶם; וַיִּטְמֹן אֹתָם יַעֲקֹב, תַּחַת הָאֵלָה אֲשֶׁר עִם-שְׁכֶם. וַיִּסָּעוּ; וַיְהִי חִתַּת אֱלֹהִים, עַל-הֶעָרִים אֲשֶׁר סְבִיבוֹתֵיהֶם, וְלֹא רָדְפוּ, אַחֲרֵי בְּנֵי יַעֲקֹב. וַיָּבֹא יַעֲקֹב לוּזָה, אֲשֶׁר בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן--הִוא, בֵּית-אֵל: הוּא, וְכָל-הָעָם אֲשֶׁר-עִמּוֹ. וַיִּבֶן שָׁם, מִזְבֵּחַ, וַיִּקְרָא לַמָּקוֹם, אֵל בֵּית-אֵל: כִּי שָׁם, נִגְלוּ אֵלָיו הָאֱלֹהִים, בְּבָרְחוֹ, מִפְּנֵי אָחִיו. וַתָּמָת דְּבֹרָה מֵינֶקֶת רִבְקָה, וַתִּקָּבֵר מִתַּחַת לְבֵית-אֵל תַּחַת הָאַלּוֹן; וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ, אַלּוֹן בָּכוּת

God said to Jacob, "Arise — go up to Beth-el and dwell there, and make an altar there to God Who appeared to you when you fled from Esau your brother." So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Discard the alien gods that are in your midst; cleanse yourselves and change your clothes. Then come, let us go up to Beth-el; I will make there an altar to God Who answered me in my time of distress, and was with me on the road that I traveled." So they gave to Jacob all the alien gods that were in their possession, as well as the rings that were in their ears, and Jacob buried them underneath the terebinth near Shechem. They set out, and there fell a Godly terror on the cities which were around them, so that they did not pursue Jacob's sons. Thus Jacob came to Luz in the land of Canaan — it is Beth-el — he, and all the people who were with him. And he built an altar there and called the place El-beth-el, for it was there that God had been revealed to him during his flight from his brother. Deborah, the wet-nurse of Rebecca, died, and she was buried below Beth-el, below the plateau; and he named it Allon-bachuth.

Kedumah 54 (8667) 189

אַךְ-בְּזֹאת, נֵאוֹת לָכֶם: אִם תִּהְיוּ כָמֹנוּ, לְהִמֹּל לָכֶם כָּל-זָכָר. וְנָתַנּוּ אֶת-בְּנֹתֵינוּ לָכֶם, וְאֶת-בְּנֹתֵיכֶם נִקַּח-לָנוּ; וְיָשַׁבְנוּ אִתְּכֶם, וְהָיִינוּ לְעַם אֶחָד. וְאִם-לֹא תִשְׁמְעוּ אֵלֵינוּ, לְהִמּוֹל--וְלָקַחְנוּ אֶת-בִּתֵּנוּ, וְהָלָכְנוּ. וַיִּיטְבוּ דִבְרֵיהֶם, בְּעֵינֵי חֲמוֹר, וּבְעֵינֵי, שְׁכֶם בֶּן-חֲמוֹר. וְלֹא-אֵחַר הַנַּעַר לַעֲשׂוֹת הַדָּבָר, כִּי חָפֵץ בְּבַת-יַעֲקֹב; וְהוּא נִכְבָּד, מִכֹּל בֵּית אָבִיו. וַיָּבֹא חֲמוֹר וּשְׁכֶם בְּנוֹ, אֶל-שַׁעַר עִירָם; וַיְדַבְּרוּ אֶל-אַנְשֵׁי עִירָם, לֵאמֹר. הָאֲנָשִׁים הָאֵלֶּה שְׁלֵמִים הֵם אִתָּנוּ, וְיֵשְׁבוּ בָאָרֶץ וְיִסְחֲרוּ אֹתָהּ, וְהָאָרֶץ הִנֵּה רַחֲבַת-יָדַיִם, לִפְנֵיהֶם; אֶת-בְּנֹתָם נִקַּח-לָנוּ לְנָשִׁים, וְאֶת-בְּנֹתֵינוּ נִתֵּן לָהֶם. אַךְ-בְּזֹאת יֵאֹתוּ לָנוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים, לָשֶׁבֶת אִתָּנוּ--לִהְיוֹת, לְעַם אֶחָד: בְּהִמּוֹל לָנוּ כָּל-זָכָר, כַּאֲשֶׁר הֵם נִמֹּלִים. מִקְנֵהֶם וְקִנְיָנָם וְכָל-בְּהֶמְתָּם, הֲלוֹא לָנוּ הֵם; אַךְ נֵאוֹתָה לָהֶם, וְיֵשְׁבוּ אִתָּנוּ. וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ אֶל-חֲמוֹר וְאֶל-שְׁכֶם בְּנוֹ, כָּל-יֹצְאֵי שַׁעַר עִירוֹ; וַיִּמֹּלוּ, כָּל-זָכָר--כָּל-יֹצְאֵי, שַׁעַר עִירוֹ. וַיְהִי בַיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי בִּהְיוֹתָם כֹּאֲבִים, וַיִּקְחוּ שְׁנֵי-בְנֵי-יַעֲקֹב שִׁמְעוֹן וְלֵוִי אֲחֵי דִינָה אִישׁ חַרְבּוֹ, וַיָּבֹאוּ עַל-הָעִיר, בֶּטַח; וַיַּהַרְגוּ, כָּל-זָכָר. וְאֶת-חֲמוֹר וְאֶת-שְׁכֶם בְּנוֹ, הָרְגוּ לְפִי-חָרֶב; וַיִּקְחוּ אֶת-דִּינָה מִבֵּית שְׁכֶם, וַיֵּצֵאוּ. בְּנֵי יַעֲקֹב, בָּאוּ עַל-הַחֲלָלִים, וַיָּבֹזּוּ, הָעִיר--אֲשֶׁר טִמְּאוּ, אֲחוֹתָם. אֶת-צֹאנָם וְאֶת-בְּקָרָם, וְאֶת-חֲמֹרֵיהֶם, וְאֵת אֲשֶׁר-בָּעִיר וְאֶת-אֲשֶׁר בַּשָּׂדֶה, לָקָחוּ. וְאֶת-כָּל-חֵילָם וְאֶת-כָּל-טַפָּם וְאֶת-נְשֵׁיהֶם, שָׁבוּ וַיָּבֹזּוּ; וְאֵת, כָּל-אֲשֶׁר בַּבָּיִת. וַיֹּאמֶר יַעֲקֹב אֶל-שִׁמְעוֹן וְאֶל-לֵוִי, עֲכַרְתֶּם אֹתִי, לְהַבְאִישֵׁנִי בְּיֹשֵׁב הָאָרֶץ, בַּכְּנַעֲנִי וּבַפְּרִזִּי; וַאֲנִי, מְתֵי מִסְפָּר, וְנֶאֶסְפוּ עָלַי וְהִכּוּנִי, וְנִשְׁמַדְתִּי אֲנִי וּבֵיתִי. וַיֹּאמְרוּ: הַכְזוֹנָה, יַעֲשֶׂה אֶת-אֲחוֹתֵנוּ

Only on this condition will we acquiesce to you - If you become like us by letting every male among you become circumcised. Then we will give our daughters to you, and take your daughters to ourselves; we will dwell with you, and become a single people. But if you will not listen to us to be circumcised, we will take our daughter and go." Their proposal seemed good in the view of Hamor, and in the view of Shechem, Hamor's son. The youth did not delay doing the thing, for he wanted Jacob's daughter. Now he was the most respected of all his father's household. Hamor — with his son Shechem — came to the gate of their city and spoke to the people of their city, saying, "These people are peaceable with us; let them settle in the land and trade in it, for see, there is ample room in the land for them! Let us take their daughters for ourselves as wives and give our daughters to them. Only on this condition will the people acquiesce with us to dwell with us to become a single people - that all our males become circumcised as they themselves are circumcised. Their livestock, their possessions, and all their animals — will they not be ours? Let us acquiesce to them and they will settle with us." All the people who depart through the gate of his city listened to Hamor and his son Shechem, and all the males — all those who depart through the gate of his city — were circumcised. And it came to pass on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of Jacob's sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, each took his sword and they came upon the city confidently, and killed every male. And Hamor and Shechem his son they killed at the point of sword. Then they took Dinah from Shechem's house and left. The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and they plundered the city which had defiled their sister. Their flocks, their cattle, their donkeys, whatever was in the town and whatever was in the field, they took. All their wealth, all their children and wives they took captive and they plundered, as well as everything in the house. Jacob said to Simeon and to Levi, "You have discomposed me, making me odious among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanite and among the Perizzite; I am few in number and should they band together and attack me, I will be annihilated — I and my household." And they said, "Should he treat our sister like a harlot?"

Kedumah 53 (8478) 155

וַתֵּצֵא דִינָה בַּת-לֵאָה, אֲשֶׁר יָלְדָה לְיַעֲקֹב, לִרְאוֹת, בִּבְנוֹת הָאָרֶץ. וַיַּרְא אֹתָהּ שְׁכֶם בֶּן-חֲמוֹר, הַחִוִּי--נְשִׂיא הָאָרֶץ; וַיִּקַּח אֹתָהּ וַיִּשְׁכַּב אֹתָהּ, וַיְעַנֶּהָ. וַתִּדְבַּק נַפְשׁוֹ, בְּדִינָה בַּת-יַעֲקֹב; וַיֶּאֱהַב, אֶת-הַנַּעֲרָ, וַיְדַבֵּר, עַל-לֵב הַנַּעֲרָ. וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁכֶם, אֶל-חֲמוֹר אָבִיו לֵאמֹר: קַח-לִי אֶת-הַיַּלְדָּה הַזֹּאת, לְאִשָּׁה. וְיַעֲקֹב שָׁמַע, כִּי טִמֵּא אֶת-דִּינָה בִתּוֹ, וּבָנָיו הָיוּ אֶת-מִקְנֵהוּ, בַּשָּׂדֶה; וְהֶחֱרִשׁ יַעֲקֹב, עַד-בֹּאָם. וַיֵּצֵא חֲמוֹר אֲבִי-שְׁכֶם, אֶל-יַעֲקֹב, לְדַבֵּר, אִתּוֹ. וּבְנֵי יַעֲקֹב בָּאוּ מִן-הַשָּׂדֶה, כְּשָׁמְעָם, וַיִּתְעַצְּבוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים, וַיִּחַר לָהֶם מְאֹד: כִּי-נְבָלָה עָשָׂה בְיִשְׂרָאֵל, לִשְׁכַּב אֶת-בַּת-יַעֲקֹב, וְכֵן, לֹא יֵעָשֶׂה. וַיְדַבֵּר חֲמוֹר, אִתָּם לֵאמֹר: שְׁכֶם בְּנִי, חָשְׁקָה נַפְשׁוֹ בְּבִתְּכֶם--תְּנוּ נָא אֹתָהּ לוֹ, לְאִשָּׁה. וְהִתְחַתְּנוּ, אֹתָנוּ: בְּנֹתֵיכֶם, תִּתְּנוּ-לָנוּ, וְאֶת-בְּנֹתֵינוּ, תִּקְחוּ לָכֶם. וְאִתָּנוּ, תֵּשֵׁבוּ; וְהָאָרֶץ, תִּהְיֶה לִפְנֵיכֶם--שְׁבוּ וּסְחָרוּהָ, וְהֵאָחֲזוּ בָּהּ. וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁכֶם אֶל-אָבִיהָ וְאֶל-אַחֶיהָ, אֶמְצָא-חֵן בְּעֵינֵיכֶם; וַאֲשֶׁר תֹּאמְרוּ אֵלַי, אֶתֵּן. הַרְבּוּ עָלַי מְאֹד, מֹהַר וּמַתָּן, וְאֶתְּנָה, כַּאֲשֶׁר תֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָי; וּתְנוּ-לִי אֶת-הַנַּעֲרָ, לְאִשָּׁה. וַיַּעֲנוּ בְנֵי-יַעֲקֹב אֶת-שְׁכֶם וְאֶת-חֲמוֹר אָבִיו, בְּמִרְמָה--וַיְדַבֵּרוּ: אֲשֶׁר טִמֵּא, אֵת דִּינָה אֲחֹתָם. וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֲלֵיהֶם, לֹא נוּכַל לַעֲשׂוֹת הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה--לָתֵת אֶת-אֲחֹתֵנוּ, לְאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר-לוֹ עָרְלָה: כִּי-חֶרְפָּה הִוא, לָנוּ

Now Dinah — the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob — went out to look over the daughters of the land. Shechem, son of Hamor the Hivvite, the prince of the region, saw her; he took her, lay with her, and violated her. He became deeply attached to Dinah, daughter of Jacob; he loved the maiden and appealed to the maiden's emotions. So Shechem spoke to Hamor, his father, saying, "Take me this girl for a wife." Now Jacob heard that he had defiled his daughter Dinah, while his sons were with his cattle in the field; so Jacob kept silent until their arrival. Hamor, Shechem's father, went out to Jacob to speak to him. Jacob's sons arrived from the field, when they heard; the men were distressed, and were fired deeply with indignation, for he had committed an outrage in Israel by lying with a daughter of Jacob — such a thing may not be done. Hamor spoke with them, saying, "Shechem, my son, longs deeply for your daughter — please give her to him as a wife. And intermarry with us; give your daughters to us, and take our daughters for yourselves. And among us you shall dwell; the land will be before you — settle and trade in it, and acquire property in it." Then Shechem said to her father and brothers, "Let me gain favor in your eyes; and whatever you tell me — I will give. Inflate exceedingly upon me the marriage settlement and gifts and I will give whatever you tell me; only give me the maiden for a wife." Jacob's sons answered Shechem and his father Hamor cleverly and they spoke (because he had defiled their sister Dinah). They said to them, "We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to a man who is uncircumcised, for that is a disgrace for us.

Kedumah 52 (8323) 168

וַיִּשָּׂא אֶת-עֵינָיו, וַיַּרְא אֶת-הַנָּשִׁים וְאֶת-הַיְלָדִים, וַיֹּאמֶר, מִי-אֵלֶּה לָּךְ; וַיֹּאמַר--הַיְלָדִים, אֲשֶׁר-חָנַן אֱלֹהִים אֶת-עַבְדֶּךָ. וַתִּגַּשְׁןָ הַשְּׁפָחוֹת הֵנָּה וְיַלְדֵיהֶן, וַתִּשְׁתַּחֲוֶיןָ. וַתִּגַּשׁ גַּם-לֵאָה וִילָדֶיהָ, וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ; וְאַחַר, נִגַּשׁ יוֹסֵף וְרָחֵל--וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ. וַיֹּאמֶר, מִי לְךָ כָּל-הַמַּחֲנֶה הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר פָּגָשְׁתִּי; וַיֹּאמֶר, לִמְצֹא-חֵן בְּעֵינֵי אֲדֹנִי. וַיֹּאמֶר עֵשָׂו, יֶשׁ-לִי רָב; אָחִי, יְהִי לְךָ אֲשֶׁר-לָךְ. וַיֹּאמֶר יַעֲקֹב, אַל-נָא אִם-נָא מָצָאתִי חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ, וְלָקַחְתָּ מִנְחָתִי, מִיָּדִי: כִּי עַל-כֵּן רָאִיתִי פָנֶיךָ, כִּרְאֹת פְּנֵי אֱלֹהִים--וַתִּרְצֵנִי. קַח-נָא אֶת-בִּרְכָתִי אֲשֶׁר הֻבָאת לָךְ, כִּי-חַנַּנִי אֱלֹהִים וְכִי יֶשׁ-לִי-כֹל; וַיִּפְצַר-בּוֹ, וַיִּקָּח. וַיֹּאמֶר, נִסְעָה וְנֵלֵכָה; וְאֵלְכָה, לְנֶגְדֶּךָ. וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו, אֲדֹנִי יֹדֵעַ כִּי-הַיְלָדִים רַכִּים, וְהַצֹּאן וְהַבָּקָר, עָלוֹת עָלָי; וּדְפָקוּם יוֹם אֶחָד, וָמֵתוּ כָּל-הַצֹּאן. יַעֲבָר-נָא אֲדֹנִי, לִפְנֵי עַבְדּוֹ; וַאֲנִי אֶתְנָהֲלָה לְאִטִּי, לְרֶגֶל הַמְּלָאכָה אֲשֶׁר-לְפָנַי וּלְרֶגֶל הַיְלָדִים, עַד אֲשֶׁר-אָבֹא אֶל-אֲדֹנִי, שֵׂעִירָה. וַיֹּאמֶר עֵשָׂו--אַצִּיגָה-נָּא עִמְּךָ, מִן-הָעָם אֲשֶׁר אִתִּי; וַיֹּאמֶר לָמָּה זֶּה, אֶמְצָא-חֵן בְּעֵינֵי אֲדֹנִי. וַיָּשָׁב בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא עֵשָׂו לְדַרְכּוֹ, שֵׂעִירָה. וְיַעֲקֹב נָסַע סֻכֹּתָה, וַיִּבֶן לוֹ בָּיִת; וּלְמִקְנֵהוּ עָשָׂה סֻכֹּת, עַל-כֵּן קָרָא שֵׁם-הַמָּקוֹם סֻכּוֹת

וַיָּבֹא יַעֲקֹב שָׁלֵם עִיר שְׁכֶם; וַיִּחַן, אֶת-פְּנֵי הָעִיר. וַיִּקֶן אֶת-חֶלְקַת הַשָּׂדֶה, אֲשֶׁר נָטָה-שָׁם אָהֳלוֹ, מִיַּד בְּנֵי-חֲמוֹר, אֲבִי שְׁכֶם--בְּמֵאָה קְשִׂיטָה. וַיַּצֶּב-שָׁם, מִזְבֵּחַ; וַיִּקְרָא-לוֹ--אֵל, אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

He raised his eyes and saw the women and children, and he asked, "Who are these to you?" He answered, "The children whom God has graciously given your servant." Then the handmaids came forward — they and their children — and they bowed down. 7 Leah, too, came forward with her children and they bowed down; and afterwards, Joseph and Rachel came forward and bowed down. And he asked, "What did you intend by that whole camp that I met?" He answered, "To gain favor in my lord's eyes." Esau said, "I have plenty. My brother, let what you have remain yours." But Jacob said, "No, I beg of you! If I have now found favor in your eyes, then accept my tribute from me, inasmuch as I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of a Divine being, and you were appeased by me. Please accept my gift which was brought to you, inasmuch as God has been gracious to me and inasmuch as I have everything." He urged him, and he accepted. And he said, "Travel on and let us go — I will proceed alongside you." But he said to him, "My lord knows that the children are tender, and the nursing flocks and cattle are upon me; if they will be driven hard for a single day, then all the flocks will die. Let my lord go ahead of his servant; I will make my way at my slow pace according to the gait of the drove before me and the gait of the children, until I come to my lord at Seir." Then Esau said, "Let me assign to you some of the people who are with me." And he said, "To what purpose? Let me just have favor in my lord's eyes!" So Esau started back that day on his way toward Seir. But Jacob journeyed to Succoth and built himself a house, and for his livestock he made shelters; he therefore called the name of the place Succoth. Jacob arrived intact at the city of Shechem and he encamped before the city. He bought the parcel of land upon which he pitched his tent from the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for one hundred kesitahs. He set up an altar there and proclaimed, "God, the God of Israel."

Kedumah 51 (8155) 162

וַיָּקָם בַּלַּיְלָה הוּא, וַיִּקַּח אֶת-שְׁתֵּי נָשָׁיו וְאֶת-שְׁתֵּי שִׁפְחֹתָיו, וְאֶת-אַחַד עָשָׂר, יְלָדָיו; וַיַּעֲבֹר, אֵת מַעֲבַר יַבֹּק. וַיִּקָּחֵם--וַיַּעֲבִרֵם, אֶת-הַנָּחַל; וַיַּעֲבֵר, אֶת-אֲשֶׁר-לוֹ. וַיִּוָּתֵר יַעֲקֹב, לְבַדּוֹ; וַיֵּאָבֵק אִישׁ עִמּוֹ, עַד עֲלוֹת הַשָּׁחַר. וַיַּרְא, כִּי לֹא יָכֹל לוֹ, וַיִּגַּע, בְּכַף-יְרֵכוֹ; וַתֵּקַע כַּף-יֶרֶךְ יַעֲקֹב, בְּהֵאָבְקוֹ עִמּוֹ. וַיֹּאמֶר שַׁלְּחֵנִי, כִּי עָלָה הַשָּׁחַר; וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא אֲשַׁלֵּחֲךָ, כִּי אִם-בֵּרַכְתָּנִי. וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו, מַה-שְּׁמֶךָ; וַיֹּאמֶר, יַעֲקֹב. וַיֹּאמֶר, לֹא יַעֲקֹב יֵאָמֵר עוֹד שִׁמְךָ--כִּי, אִם-יִשְׂרָאֵל: כִּי-שָׂרִיתָ עִם-אֱלֹהִים וְעִם-אֲנָשִׁים, וַתּוּכָל. וַיִּשְׁאַל יַעֲקֹב, וַיֹּאמֶר הַגִּידָה-נָּא שְׁמֶךָ, וַיֹּאמֶר, לָמָּה זֶּה תִּשְׁאַל לִשְׁמִי; וַיְבָרֶךְ אֹתוֹ, שָׁם. וַיִּקְרָא יַעֲקֹב שֵׁם הַמָּקוֹם, פְּנִיאֵל: כִּי-רָאִיתִי אֱלֹהִים פָּנִים אֶל-פָּנִים, וַתִּנָּצֵל נַפְשִׁי. וַיִּזְרַח-לוֹ הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ, כַּאֲשֶׁר עָבַר אֶת-פְּנוּאֵל; וְהוּא צֹלֵעַ, עַל-יְרֵכוֹ. עַל-כֵּן לֹא-יֹאכְלוּ בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת-גִּיד הַנָּשֶׁה, אֲשֶׁר עַל-כַּף הַיָּרֵךְ, עַד, הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה: כִּי נָגַע בְּכַף-יֶרֶךְ יַעֲקֹב, בְּגִיד הַנָּשֶׁה. וַיִּשָּׂא יַעֲקֹב עֵינָיו, וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה עֵשָׂו בָּא, וְעִמּוֹ, אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת אִישׁ; וַיַּחַץ אֶת-הַיְלָדִים, עַל-לֵאָה וְעַל-רָחֵל, וְעַל, שְׁתֵּי הַשְּׁפָחוֹת. וַיָּשֶׂם אֶת-הַשְּׁפָחוֹת וְאֶת-יַלְדֵיהֶן, רִאשֹׁנָה; וְאֶת-לֵאָה וִילָדֶיהָ אַחֲרֹנִים, וְאֶת-רָחֵל וְאֶת-יוֹסֵף אַחֲרֹנִים. וְהוּא, עָבַר לִפְנֵיהֶם; וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ אַרְצָה שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים, עַד-גִּשְׁתּוֹ עַד-אָחִיו. וַיָּרָץ עֵשָׂו לִקְרָאתוֹ וַיְחַבְּקֵהוּ, וַיִּפֹּל עַל-צַוָּארָו וַיִּשָּׁקֵהוּ; וַיִּבְכּוּ

But he got up that night and took his two wives, his two handmaids, and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. And when he took them and had them cross over the stream, he sent over all his possessions. Jacob was left alone and a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn. When he perceived that he could not overcome him, he struck the socket of his hip; so Jacob's hip-socket was dislocated as he wrestled with him. Then he said, "Let me go, for dawn has broken." And he said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." He said to him, "What is your name?" He replied, "Jacob." He said, "No longer will it be said that your name is Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with the Divine and with man and have overcome." Then Jacob inquired, and he said, "Divulge, if you please, your name." And he said, "Why then do you inquire of my name?" And he blessed him there. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel — "For I have seen the Divine face to face, yet my life was spared." The sun rose for him as he passed Penuel and he was limping on his hip. Therefore the Children of Israel are not to eat the displaced sinew on the hip-socket to this day, because he struck Jacob's hip-socket on the displaced sinew. Jacob raised his eyes and saw — behold, Esau was coming, and with him were four hundred men — so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two handmaids. He put the handmaids and their children first, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. Then he himself went on ahead of them and bowed earthward seven times until he reached his brother. Esau ran toward him, embraced him, fell upon his neck, and kissed him; then they wept.

Kedumah 50 (7993) 169

וַיֹּאמֶר, יַעֲקֹב, אֱלֹהֵי אָבִי אַבְרָהָם, וֵאלֹהֵי אָבִי יִצְחָק: יְהוָה הָאֹמֵר אֵלַי, שׁוּב לְאַרְצְךָ וּלְמוֹלַדְתְּךָ--וְאֵיטִיבָה עִמָּךְ. קָטֹנְתִּי מִכֹּל הַחֲסָדִים, וּמִכָּל-הָאֱמֶת, אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתָ, אֶת-עַבְדֶּךָ: כִּי בְמַקְלִי, עָבַרְתִּי אֶת-הַיַּרְדֵּן הַזֶּה, וְעַתָּה הָיִיתִי, לִשְׁנֵי מַחֲנוֹת. הַצִּילֵנִי נָא מִיַּד אָחִי, מִיַּד עֵשָׂו: כִּי-יָרֵא אָנֹכִי, אֹתוֹ--פֶּן-יָבוֹא וְהִכַּנִי, אֵם עַל-בָּנִים. וְאַתָּה אָמַרְתָּ, הֵיטֵב אֵיטִיב עִמָּךְ; וְשַׂמְתִּי אֶת-זַרְעֲךָ כְּחוֹל הַיָּם, אֲשֶׁר לֹא-יִסָּפֵר מֵרֹב. וַיָּלֶן שָׁם, בַּלַּיְלָה הַהוּא; וַיִּקַּח מִן-הַבָּא בְיָדוֹ, מִנְחָה--לְעֵשָׂו אָחִיו. עִזִּים מָאתַיִם, וּתְיָשִׁים עֶשְׂרִים, רְחֵלִים מָאתַיִם, וְאֵילִים עֶשְׂרִים. גְּמַלִּים מֵינִיקוֹת וּבְנֵיהֶם, שְׁלֹשִׁים; פָּרוֹת אַרְבָּעִים, וּפָרִים עֲשָׂרָה, אֲתֹנֹת עֶשְׂרִים, וַעְיָרִם עֲשָׂרָה. וַיִּתֵּן, בְּיַד-עֲבָדָיו, עֵדֶר עֵדֶר, לְבַדּוֹ; וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל-עֲבָדָיו, עִבְרוּ לְפָנַי, וְרֶוַח תָּשִׂימוּ, בֵּין עֵדֶר וּבֵין עֵדֶר. וַיְצַו אֶת-הָרִאשׁוֹן, לֵאמֹר: כִּי יִפְגָשְׁךָ עֵשָׂו אָחִי, וּשְׁאֵלְךָ לֵאמֹר, לְמִי-אַתָּה וְאָנָה תֵלֵךְ, וּלְמִי אֵלֶּה לְפָנֶיךָ. וְאָמַרְתָּ, לְעַבְדְּךָ לְיַעֲקֹב--מִנְחָה הִוא שְׁלוּחָה, לַאדֹנִי לְעֵשָׂו; וְהִנֵּה גַם-הוּא, אַחֲרֵינוּ. וַיְצַו גַּם אֶת-הַשֵּׁנִי, גַּם אֶת-הַשְּׁלִישִׁי, גַּם אֶת-כָּל-הַהֹלְכִים, אַחֲרֵי הָעֲדָרִים לֵאמֹר: כַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה תְּדַבְּרוּן אֶל-עֵשָׂו, בְּמֹצַאֲכֶם אֹתוֹ. וַאֲמַרְתֶּם--גַּם הִנֵּה עַבְדְּךָ יַעֲקֹב, אַחֲרֵינוּ: כִּי-אָמַר אֲכַפְּרָה פָנָיו, בַּמִּנְחָה הַהֹלֶכֶת לְפָנָי, וְאַחֲרֵי-כֵן אֶרְאֶה פָנָיו, אוּלַי יִשָּׂא פָנָי. וַתַּעֲבֹר הַמִּנְחָה, עַל-פָּנָיו; וְהוּא לָן בַּלַּיְלָה-הַהוּא, בַּמַּחֲנֶה

Then Jacob said, "God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac; Hashem Who said to me, 'Return to your land and to your relatives and I will do good with you'. I have been diminished by all the kindnesses and by all the truth that You have done Your servant; for with my staff I crossed this Jordan and now I have become two camps. Rescue me, please, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him lest he come and strike me down, mother and children. And You had said, 'I will surely do good with you and I will make your offspring like the sand of the sea which is too numerous to count.' " He spent the night there, then he took, from that which had come in his hand, a tribute to Esau his brother. Two hundred she-goats and twenty he-goats; two hundred ewes and twenty rams; thirty nursing camels with their colts; forty cows and ten bulls; twenty she-donkeys and ten he-donkeys. He put in his servants' charge each drove separately and said to his servants, "Pass on ahead of me and leave a space between drove and drove." He instructed the first one, saying, "When my brother Esau meets you and asks you, saying, 'Whose are you, where are you going, and whose are these that are before you?' You shall say, 'Your servant Jacob's. It is a tribute sent to my lord, to Esau, and behold he himself is behind us. ' " He similarly instructed the second, also the third, as well as all who followed the droves, saying, "In this manner shall you speak to Esau when you find him. And you shall say, 'Moreover — behold your servant Jacob is behind us. ' " (For he said, "I will appease him with the tribute that precedes me, and afterwards I will face him; perhaps he will forgive me.") So the tribute passed on before him while he spent that night in the camp.

Kedumah 49 (7824) 155

וַיֹּאמֶר לָבָן, לְיַעֲקֹב: הִנֵּה הַגַּל הַזֶּה, וְהִנֵּה הַמַּצֵּבָה, אֲשֶׁר יָרִיתִי, בֵּינִי וּבֵינֶךָ. עֵד הַגַּל הַזֶּה, וְעֵדָה הַמַּצֵּבָה: אִם-אָנִי, לֹא-אֶעֱבֹר אֵלֶיךָ אֶת-הַגַּל הַזֶּה, וְאִם-אַתָּה לֹא-תַעֲבֹר אֵלַי אֶת-הַגַּל הַזֶּה וְאֶת-הַמַּצֵּבָה הַזֹּאת, לְרָעָה. אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם וֵאלֹהֵי נָחוֹר, יִשְׁפְּטוּ בֵינֵינוּ--אֱלֹהֵי, אֲבִיהֶם; וַיִּשָּׁבַע יַעֲקֹב, בְּפַחַד אָבִיו יִצְחָק. וַיִּזְבַּח יַעֲקֹב זֶבַח בָּהָר, וַיִּקְרָא לְאֶחָיו לֶאֱכָל-לָחֶם; וַיֹּאכְלוּ לֶחֶם, וַיָּלִינוּ בָּהָר. וַיַּשְׁכֵּם לָבָן בַּבֹּקֶר, וַיְנַשֵּׁק לְבָנָיו וְלִבְנוֹתָיו--וַיְבָרֶךְ אֶתְהֶם; וַיֵּלֶךְ וַיָּשָׁב לָבָן, לִמְקֹמוֹ. וְיַעֲקֹב, הָלַךְ לְדַרְכּוֹ; וַיִּפְגְּעוּ-בוֹ, מַלְאֲכֵי אֱלֹהִים. וַיֹּאמֶר יַעֲקֹב כַּאֲשֶׁר רָאָם, מַחֲנֵה אֱלֹהִים זֶה; וַיִּקְרָא שֵׁם-הַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא, מַחֲנָיִם

וַיִּשְׁלַח יַעֲקֹב מַלְאָכִים לְפָנָיו, אֶל-עֵשָׂו אָחִיו, אַרְצָה שֵׂעִיר, שְׂדֵה אֱדוֹם. וַיְצַו אֹתָם, לֵאמֹר, כֹּה תֹאמְרוּן, לַאדֹנִי לְעֵשָׂו: כֹּה אָמַר, עַבְדְּךָ יַעֲקֹב, עִם-לָבָן גַּרְתִּי, וָאֵחַר עַד-עָתָּה. וַיְהִי-לִי שׁוֹר וַחֲמוֹר, צֹאן וְעֶבֶד וְשִׁפְחָה; וָאֶשְׁלְחָה לְהַגִּיד לַאדֹנִי, לִמְצֹא-חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ. וַיָּשֻׁבוּ, הַמַּלְאָכִים, אֶל-יַעֲקֹב, לֵאמֹר: בָּאנוּ אֶל-אָחִיךָ, אֶל-עֵשָׂו, וְגַם הֹלֵךְ לִקְרָאתְךָ, וְאַרְבַּע-מֵאוֹת אִישׁ עִמּוֹ. וַיִּירָא יַעֲקֹב מְאֹד, וַיֵּצֶר לוֹ; וַיַּחַץ אֶת-הָעָם אֲשֶׁר-אִתּוֹ, וְאֶת-הַצֹּאן וְאֶת-הַבָּקָר וְהַגְּמַלִּים--לִשְׁנֵי מַחֲנוֹת. וַיֹּאמֶר, אִם-יָבוֹא עֵשָׂו אֶל-הַמַּחֲנֶה הָאַחַת וְהִכָּהוּ--וְהָיָה הַמַּחֲנֶה הַנִּשְׁאָר, לִפְלֵיטָה

And Laban said to Jacob, "Here is this mound, and here is the monument which I have cast between me and you. This mound shall be witness and the monument shall be witness that I may not cross over to you past this mound, nor may you cross over to me past this mound and this monument for evil. May the God of Abraham and the god of Nachor judge between us — the god of their father." And Jacob swore by the Dread of his father Isaac. Then Jacob slaughtered for a feast on the mountain and summoned his kinsmen to break bread; and they broke bread and spent the night on the mountain. And Laban awoke early in the morning; he kissed his sons and his daughters and blessed them; then Laban went and returned to his place. Jacob went on his way, and angels of God encountered him. Jacob said when he saw them, "This is a Godly camp!" So he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

Then Jacob sent angels ahead of him to Esau his brother to the land of Seir, the field of Edom. He charged them, saying - "Thus shall you say, 'To my lord, to Esau, so said your servant Jacob - I have sojourned with Laban and have lingered until now. I have acquired oxen and donkeys, flocks, servants, and maidservants and I am sending to tell my lord to find favor in your eyes.' " The angels returned to Jacob, saying, "We came to your brother, to Esau; moreover, he is heading toward you, and four hundred men are with him." Jacob became very frightened, and it distressed him. So he divided the people with him, and the cattle, herds, and camels, into two camps. For he said, "If Esau comes to the one camp and strikes it down, then the remaining camp shall survive."

Kedumah 48 (7669) 160

זֶה עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה אָנֹכִי עִמָּךְ, רְחֵלֶיךָ וְעִזֶּיךָ לֹא שִׁכֵּלוּ; וְאֵילֵי צֹאנְךָ, לֹא אָכָלְתִּי. טְרֵפָה, לֹא-הֵבֵאתִי אֵלֶיךָ--אָנֹכִי אֲחַטֶּנָּה, מִיָּדִי תְּבַקְשֶׁנָּה; גְּנֻבְתִי יוֹם, וּגְנֻבְתִי לָיְלָה. הָיִיתִי בַיּוֹם אֲכָלַנִי חֹרֶב, וְקֶרַח בַּלָּיְלָה; וַתִּדַּד שְׁנָתִי, מֵעֵינָי. זֶה-לִּי עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה, בְּבֵיתֶךָ, עֲבַדְתִּיךָ אַרְבַּע-עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה בִּשְׁתֵּי בְנֹתֶיךָ, וְשֵׁשׁ שָׁנִים בְּצֹאנֶךָ; וַתַּחֲלֵף אֶת-מַשְׂכֻּרְתִּי, עֲשֶׂרֶת מֹנִים. לוּלֵי אֱלֹהֵי אָבִי אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם וּפַחַד יִצְחָק, הָיָה לִי--כִּי עַתָּה, רֵיקָם שִׁלַּחְתָּנִי; אֶת-עָנְיִי וְאֶת-יְגִיעַ כַּפַּי, רָאָה אֱלֹהִים--וַיּוֹכַח אָמֶשׁ. וַיַּעַן לָבָן וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל-יַעֲקֹב, הַבָּנוֹת בְּנֹתַי וְהַבָּנִים בָּנַי וְהַצֹּאן צֹאנִי, וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר-אַתָּה רֹאֶה, לִי-הוּא; וְלִבְנֹתַי מָה-אֶעֱשֶׂה לָאֵלֶּה, הַיּוֹם, אוֹ לִבְנֵיהֶן, אֲשֶׁר יָלָדוּ. וְעַתָּה, לְכָה נִכְרְתָה בְרִית--אֲנִי וָאָתָּה; וְהָיָה לְעֵד, בֵּינִי וּבֵינֶךָ. וַיִּקַּח יַעֲקֹב, אָבֶן; וַיְרִימֶהָ, מַצֵּבָה. וַיֹּאמֶר יַעֲקֹב לְאֶחָיו לִקְטוּ אֲבָנִים, וַיִּקְחוּ אֲבָנִים וַיַּעֲשׂוּ-גָל; וַיֹּאכְלוּ שָׁם, עַל-הַגָּל. וַיִּקְרָא-לוֹ לָבָן, יְגַר שָׂהֲדוּתָא; וְיַעֲקֹב, קָרָא לוֹ גַּלְעֵד. וַיֹּאמֶר לָבָן, הַגַּל הַזֶּה עֵד בֵּינִי וּבֵינְךָ הַיּוֹם; עַל-כֵּן קָרָא-שְׁמוֹ, גַּלְעֵד. וְהַמִּצְפָּה אֲשֶׁר אָמַר, יִצֶף יְהוָה בֵּינִי וּבֵינֶךָ: כִּי נִסָּתֵר, אִישׁ מֵרֵעֵהוּ. אִם-תְּעַנֶּה אֶת-בְּנֹתַי, וְאִם-תִּקַּח נָשִׁים עַל-בְּנֹתַי--אֵין אִישׁ, עִמָּנוּ; רְאֵה, אֱלֹהִים עֵד בֵּינִי וּבֵינֶךָ

"These twenty years I have been with you, your ewes and she-goats never miscarried, nor did I eat rams of your flock. That which was mangled I never brought you — I myself would bear the loss, from me you would exact it, whether it was stolen by day or stolen by night. This is how I was - By day scorching heat consumed me, and frost by night; my sleep drifted from my eyes. This is my twenty years in your household - I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flocks; and you changed my wage a hundred times. Had not the God of my father — the God of Abraham and the Dread of Isaac — been with me, you would surely have now sent me away empty handed; God saw my wretchedness and the toil of my hands, so He admonished you last night." Then Laban spoke up and said to Jacob, "The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children and the flock is my flock, and all that you see is mine. Yet to my daughters — what could I do to them this day? Or to their children whom they have borne. So now, come, let us make a covenant, I and you, and He shall be a witness between me and you." Then Jacob took a stone and raised it up as a monument. And Jacob said to his brethren, "Gather stones!" So they took stones and made a mound, and they ate there on the mound. Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed. And Laban declared, "This mound is a witness between me and you today"; therefore he called its name Galeed. And as for the Mizpah — because he said, "May Hashem keep watch between me and you when we are out of each other's sight. If you will ill-treat my daughters or if you will marry wives in addition to my daughters — though no man may be among us — but see! God is a witness between me and you."

Kedumah 47 (7509) 160

וַיֹּאמֶר לָבָן, לְיַעֲקֹב, מֶה עָשִׂיתָ, וַתִּגְנֹב אֶת-לְבָבִי; וַתְּנַהֵג, אֶת-בְּנֹתַי, כִּשְׁבֻיוֹת, חָרֶב. לָמָּה נַחְבֵּאתָ לִבְרֹחַ, וַתִּגְנֹב אֹתִי; וְלֹא-הִגַּדְתָּ לִּי, וָאֲשַׁלֵּחֲךָ בְּשִׂמְחָה וּבְשִׁרִים בְּתֹף וּבְכִנּוֹר. וְלֹא נְטַשְׁתַּנִי, לְנַשֵּׁק לְבָנַי וְלִבְנֹתָי; עַתָּה, הִסְכַּלְתָּ עֲשׂוֹ. יֶשׁ-לְאֵל יָדִי, לַעֲשׂוֹת עִמָּכֶם רָע; וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבִיכֶם אֶמֶשׁ אָמַר אֵלַי לֵאמֹר, הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ מִדַּבֵּר עִם-יַעֲקֹב--מִטּוֹב עַד-רָע. וְעַתָּה הָלֹךְ הָלַכְתָּ, כִּי-נִכְסֹף נִכְסַפְתָּה לְבֵית אָבִיךָ; לָמָּה גָנַבְתָּ, אֶת-אֱלֹהָי. וַיַּעַן יַעֲקֹב, וַיֹּאמֶר לְלָבָן: כִּי יָרֵאתִי--כִּי אָמַרְתִּי, פֶּן-תִּגְזֹל אֶת-בְּנוֹתֶיךָ מֵעִמִּי. עִם אֲשֶׁר תִּמְצָא אֶת-אֱלֹהֶיךָ, לֹא יִחְיֶה--נֶגֶד אַחֵינוּ הַכֶּר-לְךָ מָה עִמָּדִי, וְקַח-לָךְ; וְלֹא-יָדַע יַעֲקֹב, כִּי רָחֵל גְּנָבָתַם. וַיָּבֹא לָבָן בְּאֹהֶל יַעֲקֹב וּבְאֹהֶל לֵאָה, וּבְאֹהֶל שְׁתֵּי הָאֲמָהֹת--וְלֹא מָצָא; וַיֵּצֵא מֵאֹהֶל לֵאָה, וַיָּבֹא בְּאֹהֶל רָחֵל. וְרָחֵל לָקְחָה אֶת-הַתְּרָפִים, וַתְּשִׂמֵם בְּכַר הַגָּמָל--וַתֵּשֶׁב עֲלֵיהֶם; וַיְמַשֵּׁשׁ לָבָן אֶת-כָּל-הָאֹהֶל, וְלֹא מָצָא. וַתֹּאמֶר אֶל-אָבִיהָ, אַל-יִחַר בְּעֵינֵי אֲדֹנִי, כִּי לוֹא אוּכַל לָקוּם מִפָּנֶיךָ, כִּי-דֶרֶךְ נָשִׁים לִי; וַיְחַפֵּשׂ, וְלֹא מָצָא אֶת-הַתְּרָפִים. וַיִּחַר לְיַעֲקֹב, וַיָּרֶב בְּלָבָן; וַיַּעַן יַעֲקֹב, וַיֹּאמֶר לְלָבָן, מַה-פִּשְׁעִי מַה חַטָּאתִי, כִּי דָלַקְתָּ אַחֲרָי. כִּי-מִשַּׁשְׁתָּ אֶת-כָּל-כֵּלַי, מַה-מָּצָאתָ מִכֹּל כְּלֵי-בֵיתֶךָ--שִׂים כֹּה, נֶגֶד אַחַי וְאַחֶיךָ; וְיוֹכִיחוּ, בֵּין שְׁנֵינוּ

Laban said to Jacob, "What have you done that you have deceived me and led my daughters away like captives of the sword? Why have you fled so stealthily, and cheated me? Nor did you tell me — for I would have sent you off with gladness, with songs, with timbrel, and with lyre. And you did not even allow me to kiss my sons and daughters; now you have acted foolishly. It is in my power to do you all harm; but the God of your father addressed me last night, saying, 'Beware of speaking with Jacob either good or bad.' Now — you have left because you longed greatly for your father's house; but why did you steal my gods?" Jacob answered and said to Laban, "Because I was afraid, for I thought, perhaps you might steal your daughters from me. With whomever you find your gods, he shall not live; in the presence of our kinsmen ascertain for yourself what is with me and take it back." (Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.) Laban came into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the tent of the two maidservants, but he found nothing. When he had left Leah's tent, he came into Rachel's tent. Now Rachel had taken the teraphim, put them into the camel's packsaddle and sat on them. Laban rummaged through the whole tent, but found nothing. She said to her father, "Let not my lord find it annoying that I cannot rise up before you, for the way of women is upon me." Thus he searched but did not find the teraphim. Then Jacob became angered and he took up his grievance with Laban; Jacob spoke up and said to Laban, "What is my transgression? What is my sin that you have hotly pursued me? When you rummaged through all my things, what did you find of all your household objects? Set it here before my kinsmen and your kinsmen, and let them decide between the two of us.

Kedumah 46 (7349) 156

וַיֹּאמֶר, שָׂא-נָא עֵינֶיךָ וּרְאֵה כָּל-הָעַתֻּדִים הָעֹלִים עַל-הַצֹּאן, עֲקֻדִּים נְקֻדִּים, וּבְרֻדִּים: כִּי רָאִיתִי, אֵת כָּל-אֲשֶׁר לָבָן עֹשֶׂה לָּךְ. אָנֹכִי הָאֵל, בֵּית-אֵל, אֲשֶׁר מָשַׁחְתָּ שָּׁם מַצֵּבָה, אֲשֶׁר נָדַרְתָּ לִּי שָׁם נֶדֶר; עַתָּה, קוּם צֵא מִן-הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת, וְשׁוּב, אֶל-אֶרֶץ מוֹלַדְתֶּךָ. וַתַּעַן רָחֵל וְלֵאָה, וַתֹּאמַרְנָה לוֹ: הַעוֹד לָנוּ חֵלֶק וְנַחֲלָה, בְּבֵית אָבִינוּ. הֲלוֹא נָכְרִיּוֹת נֶחְשַׁבְנוּ לוֹ, כִּי מְכָרָנוּ; וַיֹּאכַל גַּם-אָכוֹל, אֶת-כַּסְפֵּנוּ. כִּי כָל-הָעֹשֶׁר, אֲשֶׁר הִצִּיל אֱלֹהִים מֵאָבִינוּ--לָנוּ הוּא, וּלְבָנֵינוּ; וְעַתָּה, כֹּל אֲשֶׁר אָמַר אֱלֹהִים אֵלֶיךָ--עֲשֵׂה. וַיָּקָם, יַעֲקֹב; וַיִּשָּׂא אֶת-בָּנָיו וְאֶת-נָשָׁיו, עַל-הַגְּמַלִּים. וַיִּנְהַג אֶת-כָּל-מִקְנֵהוּ. וְלָבָן הָלַךְ, לִגְזֹז אֶת-צֹאנוֹ; וַתִּגְנֹב רָחֵל, אֶת-הַתְּרָפִים אֲשֶׁר לְאָבִיהָ. וַיִּגְנֹב יַעֲקֹב, אֶת-לֵב לָבָן הָאֲרַמִּי--עַל-בְּלִי הִגִּיד לוֹ, כִּי בֹרֵחַ הוּא. וַיִּבְרַח הוּא וְכָל-אֲשֶׁר-לוֹ, וַיָּקָם וַיַּעֲבֹר אֶת-הַנָּהָר; וַיָּשֶׂם אֶת-פָּנָיו, הַר הַגִּלְעָד. וַיֻּגַּד לְלָבָן, בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי: כִּי בָרַח, יַעֲקֹב. וַיִּקַּח אֶת-אֶחָיו, עִמּוֹ, וַיִּרְדֹּף אַחֲרָיו, דֶּרֶךְ שִׁבְעַת יָמִים; וַיַּדְבֵּק אֹתוֹ, בְּהַר הַגִּלְעָד. וַיָּבֹא אֱלֹהִים אֶל-לָבָן הָאֲרַמִּי, בַּחֲלֹם הַלָּיְלָה; וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ, הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ פֶּן-תְּדַבֵּר עִם-יַעֲקֹב--מִטּוֹב עַד-רָע. וַיַּשֵּׂג לָבָן, אֶת-יַעֲקֹב; וְיַעֲקֹב, תָּקַע אֶת-אָהֳלוֹ בָּהָר, וְלָבָן תָּקַע אֶת-אֶחָיו, בְּהַר הַגִּלְעָד

And he said, 'Raise your eyes, if you please, and see that all the he-goats mounting the flocks are ringed, speckled, and checkered, for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. I am the God of Bethel where you anointed a pillar and where you made Me a vow. Now — arise, leave this land and return to your native land.' " Then Rachel and Leah replied and said to him, "Have we then still a share and an inheritance in our father's house? Are we not considered by him as strangers? For he has sold us and even totally consumed our money. But, all the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children; so now, whatever God has said to you, do." Jacob arose and lifted his children and his wives onto the camels, and he led away all his livestock. Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole the teraphim that belonged to her father. Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was fleeing. It was told to Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled. So he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him a distance of seven days, catching up with him on Mount Gilead. But God had come to Laban the Aramean in a dream by night and said to him, "Beware lest you speak with Jacob either good or bad." Laban overtook Jacob. Jacob had pitched his tent on the mountain, while Laban had stationed his kinsmen on Mount Gilead. Thus, he fled with all he had. He arose and crossed the river, and he set up with his brothers on Mount Gilead.