Jacob

1Israel set out with everything he had. He came to a place called Beersheba. There he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.

And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.

NoteIsrael is another name for Jacob. God gave him that second name. A sacrifice was a gift of an animal given to God. Beersheba was a town at the far south edge of Jacob's land.

2That night God spoke to Israel in a vision. God said, "Jacob, Jacob." Jacob said, "Here I am."

And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.

NoteA vision is like a dream. God shows a person something and speaks to them.

3God said, "I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt. There I will make your family into a great nation.

And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:

NoteA nation is a very big group of people who belong together, like a whole country.

4"I will go down with you to Egypt. And I will surely bring you up again. Joseph will put his hand on your eyes."

I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.

NoteLong ago, when a person died, someone who loved them gently closed their eyes. God is telling Jacob that Joseph will be there at the end of his life.

5Jacob got up and left Beersheba. His sons carried their father Jacob, their little children, and their wives. They rode in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent for him.

And Jacob rose up from Beersheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.

NotePharaoh was the king of Egypt. Wagons were wooden carts pulled by animals. Old people and small children rode in them.

6They also took their animals and the things they had gotten in the land of Canaan. So Jacob went to Egypt, and everyone in his family line went with him.

And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him:

NoteCanaan was the land where Jacob's family had been living. Egypt was far away to the south.

7He brought his sons and his sons' sons with him. He brought his daughters and his sons' daughters. He brought his whole family into Egypt.

His sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.

1Joseph went to Pharaoh and told him something. He said, "My father and my brothers have come from the land of Canaan. They brought their sheep, their cows, and everything they own. They are now in the land of Goshen."

Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen.

NotePharaoh was what Egypt called its king. It was a title, like saying "the king." Canaan was the land where Jacob's family lived. It was far from Egypt, many days of walking. Goshen was a part of Egypt with good grass for animals.

2Joseph took five of his brothers with him. He brought them to meet Pharaoh.

And he took some of his brethren, even five men, and presented them unto Pharaoh.

3Pharaoh asked the brothers, "What work do you do?" They said, "We keep sheep, sir, just like our fathers did before us."

And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What is your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers.

4They also said to Pharaoh, "We came to live in this land for a while. There is no grass left for our sheep to eat. The hunger in Canaan is very bad. So please let us live in the land of Goshen."

They said moreover unto Pharaoh, For to sojourn in the land are we come; for thy servants have no pasture for their flocks; for the famine is sore in the land of Canaan: now therefore, we pray thee, let thy servants dwell in the land of Goshen.

NoteA famine is a long time when food will not grow. Rain does not come, so plants die and people go hungry.

5Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Your father and your brothers have come to you.

And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, saying, Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee:

6All the land of Egypt is open to you. Give your father and brothers the best part of it. Let them live in the land of Goshen. And if any of them are good workers, put them in charge of my animals."

The land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest any men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle.

7Then Joseph brought his father Jacob in to meet Pharaoh. Jacob asked God to be good to Pharaoh.

And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

NoteTo bless someone was to ask God to be good to them. Older people often did this for others as a kind gift.

8Pharaoh asked Jacob, "How old are you?"

And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou?

9Jacob said, "I have been traveling from place to place for 130 years. My years have been few and hard. I have not lived as many years as my fathers did in their travels."

And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.

NoteJacob lived in tents his whole life. He moved from place to place to find grass and water for his sheep.

10Jacob asked God to be good to Pharaoh again. Then he left Pharaoh and went out.

And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh.

11So Joseph gave his father and his brothers a place to live. He gave them land of their own in Egypt, in the best part, in the land of Rameses. He did this just as Pharaoh had told him.

And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.

NoteRameses was a town in the Goshen part of Egypt. The land around it was good for growing things.

12Joseph gave food to his father, his brothers, and everyone in his father's house. He gave food to each family by the number of their little ones.

And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father’s household, with bread, according to their families.

NoteThe old words say "bread." Long ago, bread could mean food of every kind, not just loaves.

27Israel and his family lived in Egypt, in the part called Goshen. They got land of their own there. They had many children and grew into a very large family.

And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.

NoteIsrael was Jacob's other name. Here it means Jacob and his whole family together.

28Jacob lived in Egypt for seventeen years. In all, Jacob lived 147 years.

And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years.

29The time came near for Israel to die. He called his son Joseph and said, "If you are pleased with me, put your hand under my leg. Promise to be kind and true to me. Please do not bury me in Egypt.

And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt:

NotePutting your hand under someone's leg was an old way to make a promise. It showed the promise was very serious and would not be broken.

30When I lie down in death with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt. Bury me where they are buried." Joseph said, "I will do what you have said."

But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their buryingplace. And he said, I will do as thou hast said.

NoteJacob's family was buried in a cave back in Canaan. His grandfather Abraham and his father Isaac were buried there.

31Jacob said, "Make a promise to me." So Joseph made the promise. Then Israel bowed down at the head of his bed.

And he said, Swear unto me. And he sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed’s head.

NoteJacob was very old and weak, so he bowed where he lay. Bowing your head was a way to show thanks and respect.

1Some time later, someone told Joseph, "Your father is sick." Joseph took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, with him.

And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

NoteJoseph was a ruler in Egypt. His father and brothers had moved there to live near him.

2Someone told Jacob, "Your son Joseph is coming to see you." So Israel, who is Jacob, gathered his strength and sat up on the bed.

And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.

NoteThis man has two names. God gave Jacob the second name, Israel. The story uses both names for him.

3Jacob said to Joseph, "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz, in the land of Canaan. He blessed me there.

And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me,

Note"God Almighty" means God is stronger than anyone. Luz was a town in Canaan. Later people called it Bethel.

4He said to me, 'I will give you many children. Your family will grow into a great crowd of people. I will give this land to your family after you, to keep forever.'

And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.

NoteThe land is Canaan, where Jacob's family lived before they moved to Egypt.

5Now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, are mine. They were born to you in Egypt before I came to you here. They will be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine.

And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.

NoteIn this family, each son got a share of the land. Jacob is saying these two grandsons count as his own sons. So they get a share too, like Joseph's older brothers Reuben and Simeon.

6Any children born to you after them will be yours. When land is handed out, they will be listed under their brothers' names.

And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance.

NoteLater the family's land was divided up. Each of Jacob's sons had a piece named after him.

7As for me, I was coming back from Padan when Rachel died beside me. It happened in the land of Canaan, on the road, not far from Ephrath. I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem."

And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem.

NoteRachel was Jacob's wife and Joseph's mother. She died long ago, when Joseph was still a boy. Ephrath is the town later called Bethlehem.

8Israel looked at Joseph's sons. He asked, "Who are these?"

And Israel beheld Joseph’s sons, and said, Who are these?

9Joseph said to his father, "They are my sons. God gave them to me here." Jacob said, "Please bring them to me. I will bless them."

And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.

NoteTo bless someone is to speak good words over them. It asks God to be kind to them. A father's blessing mattered very much in this family.

10Israel's eyes were weak because he was old, and he could not see. Joseph brought the boys close to him. Jacob kissed them and hugged them.

Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.

11Israel said to Joseph, "I never thought I would see your face again. And now God has let me see your children too."

And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed.

12Then Joseph took the boys from between his father's knees. He bowed down with his face to the ground.

And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.

NoteThe boys stood close by their grandfather's knees. This showed they now belonged to his family. Joseph bowed low to show great respect.

13Joseph took both boys. He held Ephraim in his right hand, toward Israel's left hand. He held Manasseh in his left hand, toward Israel's right hand. He brought them close to his father.

And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near unto him.

NotePeople then thought the right hand was the stronger hand. The older son usually got the right hand.

14Israel reached out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim's head. Ephraim was the younger boy. He laid his left hand on Manasseh's head. He crossed his hands on purpose, though Manasseh was the older son.

And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.

NoteThe oldest son usually got the best blessing and the biggest share. Jacob crossed his arms on purpose. He gave the stronger hand to the younger boy.

15He blessed Joseph and said, "My fathers Abraham and Isaac walked with God. That same God has fed me all my life, right up to today.

And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,

NoteTo "walk with God" means to live close to God and obey him. Saying God "fed me" pictures God as a shepherd caring for his sheep.

16He is the Angel who has saved me from all harm. May he bless these boys. May they carry my name, and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac. May they grow into a great crowd of people on the earth."

The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

NoteAn angel is a messenger God sends. To "carry my name" means to be counted as part of Jacob's family.

17Joseph saw his father's right hand on Ephraim's head. This did not please him. He took hold of his father's hand to move it to Manasseh's head.

And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head.

18Joseph said to his father, "Not that way, my father. This one is the older son. Put your right hand on his head."

And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.

19But his father said no. He said, "I know, my son, I know. He will also become a people, and he will also be great. But his younger brother will be greater than he is. His family will become many nations."

And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.

Note"Nations" here means very large groups of people, like whole countries.

20That day he blessed them. He said, "The people of Israel will use your names when they bless. They will say, 'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.'" So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.

And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.

NotePeople would say these names when they wished good things for their children. Ephraim and Manasseh became the names used in that blessing.

21Israel said to Joseph, "Look, I am about to die. But God will be with you. He will bring you back to the land of your fathers.

And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.

Note"The land of your fathers" is Canaan. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had all lived there.

22And I have given you one piece of land more than your brothers. I took it from the Amorite with my sword and my bow."

Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.

NoteThe Amorites were a people who lived in Canaan then. Jacob gave Joseph an extra piece of land, more than his brothers got.

1Jacob called his sons to him. He said, "Come together. I will tell you what will happen to you in the days to come."

And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.

NoteJacob was very old and about to die. Fathers often blessed their children before they died. He told each son what would happen to his family.

2"Come together and listen, sons of Jacob. Listen to Israel, your father."

Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.

NoteIsrael was Jacob's other name. God gave it to him, and the whole people were called by it after him.

3"Reuben, you are my first son. You are my might. You are the first sign of my strength. You were highest in honor and highest in power."

Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:

NoteThe oldest son was called the firstborn. He usually got the biggest share and led the family.

4"But you are wild like rushing water. You will not be first anymore. You went up onto your father's bed. You made it unclean. He went up onto my couch."

Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.

NoteLong ago Reuben slept with one of his father's wives. That was very wrong. Because of it he lost his special place as oldest son.

5"Simeon and Levi are brothers. Cruel weapons are in the places where they live."

Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.

NoteSimeon and Levi once killed the men of a town called Shechem. They did it to pay back a wrong done to their sister.

6"My soul, do not go into their secret plans. My honor, do not join their meeting. In their anger they killed a man. Because they wanted to, they hamstrung an ox."

O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall.

NoteTo hamstring an ox is to cut its back leg. After that the ox can never walk or work again.

7"A curse is on their anger, for it was wild. A curse is on their rage, for it was cruel. I will split them up among Jacob's family. I will scatter them in Israel."

Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.

NoteA curse is the opposite of a blessing. Jacob meant their families would be spread apart. They would not all live in one place.

8"Judah, your brothers will praise you. Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies. Your father's children will bow down to you."

Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee.

NoteJudah's name sounds like the word for praise. A hand on the neck means winning a fight. Bowing down showed that someone was the leader.

9"Judah is a young lion. My son, you have come up from the animal you caught. He bent down. He lay down like a lion, like an old lion. Who will wake him up?"

Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?

NoteNobody wants to wake a sleeping lion. Jacob means Judah's family will be strong and brave.

10"The scepter will not leave Judah. The one who gives the law will stay between his feet. This will last until Shiloh comes. The people will gather to him."

The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

NoteA scepter is a fancy stick a king holds. It shows everyone that he is the king. Nobody is sure what the name Shiloh means here. It may mean the one it belongs to.

11"He ties his young donkey to the vine. He ties his donkey's colt to the best vine. He washed his clothes in wine. He washed his robes in the red juice of grapes."

Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:

NoteWine is made from grapes. Washing clothes in wine sounds silly on purpose. It is a picture of having more grapes than you can use.

12"His eyes will be red from wine. His teeth will be white from milk."

His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.

NotePlenty of wine and milk means the land grows lots of food. It is a picture of a rich, happy place.

13"Zebulun will live where ships come in from the sea. He will be a safe place for ships. His land will reach to Zidon."

Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon.

NoteZidon was a busy city by the sea. Today we spell the name Sidon.

14"Issachar is a strong donkey. He lies down between two heavy loads."

Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens:

NoteDonkeys carried heavy bags on their backs. Issachar's family would work hard like that.

15"He saw that rest was good. He saw that the land was pleasant. He bent his shoulder to carry the load. He became a servant who must work for others."

And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.

NoteThis kind of work was work he could not say no to. Stronger people made him work for them.

16"Dan will judge his people. He will be one of the tribes of Israel."

Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.

NoteDan's name sounds like the word for judge. To judge is to decide who is right when people argue. A tribe is one of the big family groups of Israel, all of them coming from one of Jacob's sons.

17"Dan will be a snake beside the road. He will be a snake in the path. He bites the horse's heels. Then the rider falls off backward."

Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.

NoteA snake is small, but it can stop a big horse. Dan's family would be small and still strong.

18"LORD, I have waited for you to save me."

I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.

NoteLORD in big letters stands for God's own special name.

19"Gad, a band of fighters will beat him. But in the end he will beat them."

Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.

NoteA band of fighters came to attack and steal things. Gad's name sounds like the words for attack.

20"Asher's food will be rich. He will give fine food that a king would eat."

Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.

NoteAsher's land was good for growing food, like olives and grain. His family would always have plenty to eat.

21"Naphtali is a deer let loose. He says lovely words."

Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.

NoteThe old word here is hind, which means a mother deer. A deer running free is fast and lovely to watch.

22"Joseph is a branch full of fruit. He is a branch full of fruit by a well of water. Its smaller branches climb over the wall."

Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:

NoteThis is a picture of a plant covered in fruit. It means Joseph's family will grow big.

23"Men with bows hurt him badly. They shot at him. They hated him."

The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:

NoteMen with bows are archers, who shoot arrows. Joseph's brothers and others hurt him badly.

24"But his bow stayed strong. The hands of the mighty God of Jacob made his arms strong. From there comes the shepherd, the stone of Israel."

But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)

NoteCalling God a shepherd means he cares for people like a shepherd cares for sheep. Calling God a stone means he is strong and safe to lean on.

25"The God of your father will help you. The Almighty, the God who can do anything, will bless you. He gives blessings from the heavens above. He gives blessings from the deep water below. He gives blessings of children and of mother's milk."

Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:

NoteThe deep water below means springs under the ground. That water helped the land grow food.

26"Your father's blessings are greater than the blessings of my parents before me. They are more than all the good things of the hills that last forever. Let them rest on Joseph's head. Let them rest on the head of the one who was set apart from his brothers."

The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.

NoteThe hills that last forever are hills that have always stood there. Set apart means Joseph was taken away from his brothers. Later he became a leader over them.

27"Benjamin will tear like a wolf. In the morning he eats what he catches. At night he shares out what he has taken."

Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.

NoteA wolf hunting is the picture Jacob uses. Benjamin's family became brave fighters.

28These are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them. He blessed them. He gave each son the blessing that fit him.

All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them.

NoteEach son's family grew into a tribe, a big family group. Later each tribe got its own part of the land.

29Then he told them what to do. He said, "I am going to join my people who died before me. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite."

And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,

NoteFamilies were buried together in one place. Jacob wanted to rest with his father and grandfather.

30"The cave is in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre, in the land of Canaan. Abraham bought that field from Ephron the Hittite to own a burial place."

In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a buryingplace.

NoteCanaan was the land God promised to Abraham. A cave was used as a family grave.

31"They buried Abraham and his wife Sarah there. They buried Isaac and his wife Rebekah there. And I buried Leah there."

There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.

NoteAbraham and Sarah were Jacob's grandparents. Isaac and Rebekah were his father and mother. Leah was his wife.

32"The field and the cave in it were bought from the children of Heth."

The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth.

NoteThe children of Heth were also called Hittites. They lived in that land and sold Abraham the field.

33Jacob finished telling his sons what to do. He pulled his feet up into the bed. He took his last breath and died. He joined his people who died before him.

And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.

NoteThe old words here are "yielded up the ghost." Ghost meant a person's breath or life. So the words simply mean he died.

1Joseph leaned over his father's face. He cried over him and kissed him.

And Joseph fell upon his father’s face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.

NoteCrying over a dead person and kissing them was how people said goodbye.

2Joseph told the doctors who worked for him to embalm his father. That means treating the body so it would keep. So the doctors embalmed Israel, who was also called Jacob.

And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.

NoteTo embalm a body is to rub it with oils and salt. That kept the body from rotting. In Egypt this was done for important people. Israel was Jacob's other name, so both names mean the same man.

3It took forty days to finish, because that is how long embalming takes. The people of Egypt cried for him for seventy days.

And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.

NoteSeventy days is more than two months. In Egypt people cried out loud in public for that long when a great person died. It was a way to show honor.

4When the days of crying were over, Joseph spoke to the people of Pharaoh's house. Joseph said, "If you are pleased with me, please tell Pharaoh this for me.

And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying,

NotePharaoh was the word for the king of Egypt. The King James says "if now I have found grace in your eyes." That means "if you are happy with me."

5My father made me promise. He said, 'Look, I am going to die. Bury me in the grave I dug for myself in the land of Canaan.' So please let me go and bury my father. Then I will come back."

My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again.

NoteCanaan was the land far away where Jacob's family used to live. People there cut graves out of rock in a hillside. A man might get his grave ready long before he died.

6Pharaoh said, "Go and bury your father, just as he made you promise."

And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear.

7So Joseph went to bury his father. All of Pharaoh's servants went with him. So did the leaders of Pharaoh's house and all the leaders of Egypt.

And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,

NoteThe King James calls them "elders." Elders were older men who were leaders and helped decide things.

8All of Joseph's family went too, and his brothers, and his father's family. They left only their little children, their sheep, and their cattle in the land of Goshen.

And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father’s house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen.

NoteGoshen was the part of Egypt where Jacob's family lived. It had good grass for their animals.

9Chariots also went with him, which are carts pulled by horses. Men on horses went too. It was a very large group.

And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company.

NoteThe chariots and horsemen were the king's soldiers. Pharaoh sent them along to show honor to Joseph's father.

10They came to the threshing floor of Atad, a flat place where grain is beaten. It is across the Jordan River. There they cried out loud with deep sadness. Joseph mourned for his father seven days.

And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days.

NoteA threshing floor was hard flat ground out in the open. Farmers beat grain there to knock the seeds loose. It was wide, so a big crowd could stand on it. The Jordan was the main river of that land.

11The people who lived in that land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning at the floor of Atad. They said, "This is a very sad mourning for the Egyptians." So the place was named Abel-mizraim. It is across the Jordan River.

And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abelmizraim, which is beyond Jordan.

NoteThe Canaanites were the people who already lived in the land of Canaan. The name Abel-mizraim means "the crying of the Egyptians" in their language.

12Jacob's sons did for him just what he had told them to do.

And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them:

13They carried him to the land of Canaan. They buried him in the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre. Abraham had bought that field from Ephron the Hittite to use as a burial place.

For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a buryingplace of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre.

NoteThis cave was the family burying place. Abraham had paid for it long before, and his wife Sarah was buried there. Isaac and Jacob's wife Leah were buried there too. A Hittite was a man from one of the groups living in that land.

14After he buried his father, Joseph went back to Egypt. His brothers went back too, and everyone else who had gone up with him.

And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.

2The LORD has a complaint against Judah too. He will punish the people of Jacob for the way they live. He will pay them back for the things they do.

The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.

NoteIn many Bibles "LORD" in big letters is God's own special name. Judah was the southern part of the land. It had its own king. Jacob was the grandfather of the whole nation. His family grew into the people of Israel. So "Jacob" can mean all those people.

3Before Jacob was born, he grabbed his brother's heel. When he was strong and grown, he wrestled with God.

He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:

NoteJacob and his brother Esau were twins. Esau came out first, just a moment before Jacob. The old story says Jacob was holding Esau's heel.

4Yes, he wrestled with the angel and won. He cried and begged the angel to be kind to him. He met God at a town called Bethel. God talked with us there.

Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us;

NoteOne night, long before this, Jacob wrestled with a stranger sent from God. Bethel was a town. Its name means "house of God." Jacob met God there.

5That God is the LORD, the God who leads armies. "The LORD" is his name, the name people remember.

Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial.

NoteThe old words are "the LORD God of hosts." "Hosts" meant armies. It was a way of saying God is very, very strong.

6So you must come back to your God. Keep loving others and keep being fair. Wait for your God all the time.

Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.

8Then God made an agreement with Abraham about circumcision, a small cutting mark on baby boys. Abraham became the father of Isaac. He circumcised Isaac when the baby was eight days old. Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob became the father of the twelve men whose families became Israel.

And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.

NoteAn agreement like this is called a covenant. It is a strong promise between God and people. Circumcision was a small cut made on baby boys. It was a sign that the boy belonged to God's family. Jacob's twelve sons each started a big family. Those twelve families together were called Israel. It showed that they belonged to God.

9Those brothers were jealous of Joseph. They sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with Joseph.

And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,

NoteJoseph was one of Jacob's twelve sons. His brothers did not like him, so they sold him to traders. The traders took him to Egypt, far from home.

10God saved him out of all his troubles. God helped him please Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and act wisely. Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of Egypt and of his whole house.

And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

11Then food ran out all over Egypt and Canaan. People suffered a great deal. Our fathers could not find food.

Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.

NoteWhen food runs out over a whole country, it is called a famine. Rain does not come, so plants do not grow. Canaan was the land where Jacob's family lived. Later it was called Israel.

12Jacob heard there was grain in Egypt. So he sent our fathers there the first time.

But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.

NoteGrain means seeds like wheat. People ground them up to make bread.

13On the second trip, Joseph told his brothers who he was. Then Pharaoh learned about Joseph's family.

And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph’s kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.

14Joseph sent for his father Jacob. He called all his relatives too, seventy-five people in all.

Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.

15So Jacob went down to Egypt. He died there, and our fathers died there too.

So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,

16Their bones were carried back to Shechem. They were laid in the grave that Abraham had bought there. He had paid silver for it to the sons of Hamor.

And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.

NoteLong ago people were buried in caves or rooms cut into rock. Shechem was a town in Canaan. Before there were coins, people paid by weighing out pieces of silver.