Chayei SarahThe life of Sarah

1Reading 1 Genesis 23:1–16Chapter page with footnotes →

The Death and Burial of Sarah

^23:1And the life of Sarah was a hundred years and twenty years and seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. ²And Sarah died in Kiriath-arba — it is Hebron — in the land of Canaan; and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.

³And Abraham rose up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying, ⁴"I am a stranger and a sojourner among you; give me a possession of a burying-place among you, that I may bury my dead from before me."

⁵And the sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him, ⁶"Hear us, my lord: you are a prince of God in our midst; in the choicest of our graves bury your dead; no man of us shall withhold from you his grave from burying your dead."

⁷And Abraham rose up, and bowed down to the people of the land, to the sons of Heth. ⁸And he spoke with them, saying, "If it is with your soul to bury my dead from before me, hear me, and entreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar, ⁹that he may give me the cave of Machpelah which is his, which is at the end of his field; for full silver let him give it to me in your midst for a possession of a burying-place."

¹⁰Now Ephron was sitting in the midst of the sons of Heth; and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the sons of Heth, of all who entered the gate of his city, saying, ¹¹"No, my lord, hear me: the field I give to you, and the cave that is in it, to you I give it; before the eyes of the sons of my people I give it to you; bury your dead."

¹²And Abraham bowed down before the people of the land. ¹³And he spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, saying, "Only, if you would — hear me: I give the silver of the field; take it from me, and I will bury my dead there."

¹⁴And Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him, ¹⁵"My lord, hear me: a land of four hundred shekels of silver, between me and you, what is it? And bury your dead."

¹⁶And Abraham hearkened to Ephron; and Abraham weighed out to Ephron the silver which he had spoken in the hearing of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver passing with the merchant.

2Reading 2 Genesis 23:17–24:9Chapter page with footnotes →

^23:17So the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre — the field and the cave which was in it, and every tree that was in the field, that was in all its border round about — was made to stand ¹⁸to Abraham for a purchase before the eyes of the sons of Heth, among all who entered the gate of his city. ¹⁹And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre — it is Hebron — in the land of Canaan. ²⁰And the field and the cave that was in it were made to stand to Abraham for a possession of a burying-place from the sons of Heth.

A Wife for Isaac

^24:1And Abraham was old, advanced in days; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. ²And Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, "Put, I pray, your hand under my thigh, ³and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of the heavens and the God of the earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanite, in whose midst I dwell; ⁴but to my land and to my kindred you shall go, and take a wife for my son, for Isaac."

⁵And the servant said to him, "Perhaps the woman will not be willing to go after me to this land; shall I indeed bring your son back to the land from which you came out?"

⁶And Abraham said to him, "Take heed to yourself, lest you bring my son back there. ⁷The LORD, the God of the heavens, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying, 'To your seed I will give this land' — he will send his messenger before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. ⁸And if the woman is not willing to go after you, then you shall be clear from this my oath; only do not bring my son back there."

⁹And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.

3Reading 3 Genesis 24:10–26Chapter page with footnotes →

^24:10And the servant took ten camels from the camels of his master, and went, with all the good of his master in his hand; and he arose and went to Aram-naharaim, to the city of Nahor. ¹¹And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, at the time the women who draw water go out.

¹²And he said, "The LORD, God of my master Abraham, cause it to happen before me, I pray, this day, and do kindness with my master Abraham. ¹³Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water; ¹⁴and let it be that the young woman to whom I say, 'Let down, I pray, your pitcher that I may drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and your camels also I will water' — her you have appointed for your servant, for Isaac; and by it I shall know that you have done kindness with my master."

Rebekah Is Chosen

¹⁵And it came to pass, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah was coming out — who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother — with her pitcher upon her shoulder. ¹⁶And the young woman was very good of appearance, a virgin, and no man had known her; and she went down to the spring and filled her pitcher and came up.

¹⁷And the servant ran to meet her, and said, "Let me sip, I pray, a little water from your pitcher."

¹⁸And she said, "Drink, my lord"; and she hastened and let down her pitcher upon her hand and gave him drink.

¹⁹And she finished giving him drink, and said, "Also for your camels I will draw, ad(עד) they have finished drinking." ²⁰And she hastened and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again to the well to draw, and drew for all his camels.

²¹And the man was gazing at her in silence, to know whether the LORD had prospered his way or not.

²²And it came to pass, when the camels had finished drinking, that the man took a golden nose-ring, half a shekel its weight, and two bracelets for her hands, ten of gold their weight, ²³and said, "Whose daughter are you? Tell me, I pray. Is there at your father's house a place for us to lodge?"

²⁴And she said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor." ²⁵And she said to him, "Both straw and fodder are plentiful with us, also a place to lodge."

²⁶And the man bowed and prostrated himself to the LORD.

4Reading 4 Genesis 24:27–52Chapter page with footnotes →

^24:27And he said, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his kindness and his truth from my master; as for me, the LORD has led me in the way to the house of my master's brothers."

²⁸And the young woman ran and told her mother's house according to these words. ²⁹And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban; and Laban ran to the man, outside to the spring. ³⁰And it came to pass, when he saw the nose-ring and the bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, "Thus the man spoke to me," that he came to the man; and behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring.

³¹And he said, "Come in, blessed of the LORD; why do you stand outside? For I have cleared the house, and a place for the camels." ³²And the man came into the house, and he ungirded the camels; and he gave straw and fodder for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.

³³And there was set before him to eat; but he said, "I will not eat ad(עד) I have spoken my words." And he said, "Speak."

³⁴And he said, "I am the servant of Abraham. ³⁵And the LORD has blessed my master greatly, and he has become great; and he has given to him flock and herd, and silver and gold, and menservants and maidservants, and camels and donkeys. ³⁶And Sarah, my master's wife, bore a son to my master after her old age; and he has given to him all that he has.

³⁷And my master made me swear, saying, 'You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanite, in whose land I dwell; ³⁸but to my father's house you shall go, and to my family, and take a wife for my son.'

³⁹And I said to my master, 'Perhaps the woman will not go after me.'

⁴⁰And he said to me, 'the LORD, before whom I have walked, will send his messenger with you and prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son from my family and from my father's house. ⁴¹Then you shall be clear from my oath, when you come to my family; and if they do not give her to you, you shall be clear from my oath.'

⁴²And I came this day to the spring, and said, 'the LORD, God of my master Abraham, if you are now prospering my way on which I am going — ⁴³behold, I am standing by the spring of water; and let it be that the maiden who comes out to draw, and I say to her, "Give me to drink, I pray, a little water from your pitcher," ⁴⁴and she says to me, "Both you drink, and also for your camels I will draw" — she is the woman whom the LORD has appointed for my master's son.'

⁴⁵I had not yet finished speaking to my heart, and behold, Rebekah was coming out with her pitcher upon her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew; and I said to her, 'Let me drink, I pray.'

⁴⁶And she hastened and let down her pitcher from upon her, and said, 'Drink, and your camels also I will water'; and I drank, and she watered the camels also.

⁴⁷And I asked her, and said, 'Whose daughter are you?' And she said, 'The daughter of Bethuel the son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him'; and I put the ring upon her nose and the bracelets upon her hands. ⁴⁸And I bowed and prostrated myself to the LORD, and blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who led me in the way of truth to take the daughter of my master's brother for his son.

⁴⁹And now, if you will do kindness and truth with my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand or to the left."

⁵⁰And Laban and Bethuel answered and said, "From the LORD the matter has gone forth; we are not able to speak to you bad or good. ⁵¹Behold, Rebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be a wife for the son of your master, as the LORD has spoken."

⁵²And it came to pass, when the servant of Abraham heard their words, that he bowed himself to the earth to the LORD.

5Reading 5 Genesis 24:53–67Chapter page with footnotes →

^24:53And the servant brought out vessels of silver and vessels of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah; and precious things he gave to her brother and to her mother. ⁵⁴And they ate and drank, he and the men who were with him, and lodged the night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, "Send me away to my master."

⁵⁵And her brother and her mother said, "Let the young woman remain with us days, or ten; afterward she shall go."

⁵⁶And he said to them, "Do not delay me, for the LORD has prospered my way; send me away, that I may go to my master."

⁵⁷And they said, "We will call the young woman, and ask her mouth."

⁵⁸And they called Rebekah, and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" And she said, "I will go."

⁵⁹And they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse, and the servant of Abraham and his men. ⁶⁰And they blessed Rebekah, and said to her, "Our sister, become thousands of ten thousands, and let your seed possess the gate of those who hate them."

⁶¹And Rebekah arose, and her young women, and they rode upon the camels and went after the man; and the servant took Rebekah and went.

Isaac Marries Rebekah

⁶²And Isaac had come from the way of Beer-lahai-roi; for he was dwelling in the land of the Negev. ⁶³And Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward the turning of evening; and he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, camels were coming.

⁶⁴And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and saw Isaac, and fell from upon the camel. ⁶⁵And she said to the servant, "Who is this man walking in the field to meet us?" And the servant said, "It is my master." And she took the veil and covered herself. ⁶⁶And the servant recounted to Isaac all the things that he had done.

⁶⁷And Isaac brought her to the tent of Sarah his mother, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother.

6Reading 6 Genesis 25:1–11Chapter page with footnotes →

Abraham and Keturah

^25:1And Abraham added and took a wife, and her name was Keturah. ²And she bore to him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.

³And Jokshan begot Sheba and Dedan; and the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.

⁴And the sons of Midian: Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah.

⁵And Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac. ⁶But to the sons of the concubines whom Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts; and he sent them away from Isaac his son, while he was yet living, eastward, to the land of the east.

The Death of Abraham

⁷And these are the days of the years of the life of Abraham which he lived: a hundred years and seventy years and five years. ⁸And Abraham expired and died in a good old age, old and full, and he was gathered to his peoples.

⁹And Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre, ¹⁰the field which Abraham bought from the sons of Heth; there Abraham was buried, and Sarah his wife.

¹¹And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed Isaac his son; and Isaac dwelt by Beer-lahai-roi.

7Reading 7 Genesis 25:12–18Chapter page with footnotes →

The Descendants of Ishmael

^25:12And these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bore to Abraham. ¹³And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, ¹⁴and Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa, ¹⁵Hadad, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.

¹⁶These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their villages and by their encampments; twelve princes according to their nations. ¹⁷And these are the years of the life of Ishmael: a hundred years and thirty years and seven years; and he expired and died, and was gathered to his peoples.

¹⁸And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, which is before Egypt, as you go toward Asshur; before the face of all his brothers he fell.

P1 Kings 1:1–31Chapter page with footnotes →

Abishag Cares for David

^1:1And king David was old, come into days; and they covered him with the garments, but he was not warm. ²And his servants said to him: "Let them seek for my lord the king a young woman, a virgin; and let her stand before the king, and let her become to him a companion; and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may be warm."

³And they sought a fair young woman in all the border of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king. ⁴And the young woman was very fair; and she became a companion to the king, and ministered to him; but the king knew her not.

Adonijah Usurps the Kingdom

⁵And Adonijah son of Haggith exalted himself, saying: "I will reign"; and he made for himself a chariot and horsemen, and fifty men running before him.

⁶And his father had not grieved him in his days, saying: "Why have you done so?" And he also was very good of form; and she bore him after Absalom.

⁷And his words were with Joab son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest; and following Adonijah they helped him. ⁸And Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.

⁹And Adonijah slaughtered sheep and oxen and fatlings by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En-rogel; and he called all his brothers the sons of the king, and all the men of Judah the servants of the king; ¹⁰but Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he did not call.

Nathan and Bathsheba before David

¹¹And Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying: "Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, and David our lord knows it not? ¹²And now come, let me give you counsel, please, that you may save your soul and the soul of your son Solomon. ¹³Go and come in to king David, and say to him: 'Have you not, my lord the king, sworn to your handmaid, saying: Surely Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? Why then does Adonijah reign?' ¹⁴Behold, while you are still speaking there with the king, I also will come in after you, and confirm your words."

¹⁵And Bathsheba came in to the king, into the chamber; and the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering to the king. ¹⁶And Bathsheba bowed and prostrated herself to the king. And the king said: "What is it to you?"

¹⁷And she said to him: "My lord, you swore by the LORD your God to your handmaid: Surely Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne. ¹⁸And now, behold, Adonijah has become king; and now, my lord the king, you know it not. ¹⁹And he has slaughtered ox and fatling and sheep in abundance, and has called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host; but Solomon your servant he has not called. ²⁰And you, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are upon you, to tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. ²¹And it will come to pass, when my lord the king lies down with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be offenders."

²²And behold, while she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in. ²³And they told the king, saying: "Behold Nathan the prophet." And he came in before the king, and bowed himself to the king upon his face to the ground.

²⁴And Nathan said: "My lord the king, have you said: 'Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne'? ²⁵For he has gone down today, and has slaughtered ox and fatling and sheep in abundance, and has called all the sons of the king, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and behold, they are eating and drinking before him, and they say: 'Let king Adonijah live!' ²⁶But me, your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and Solomon your servant, he has not called. ²⁷If this thing is from my lord the king, then you have not made known to your servant who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him."

David Renews His Oath to Bathsheba

²⁸And king David answered and said: "Call to me Bathsheba." And she came in before the king, and stood before the king.

²⁹And the king swore and said: "As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all distress, ³⁰surely as I swore to you by the LORD the God of Israel, saying: Surely Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my place; surely so will I do this day."

³¹And Bathsheba bowed with face to the earth, and prostrated herself to the king, and said: "Let my lord king David live forever."

AHebrews 11:13–16Chapter page with footnotes →

^11:13These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

¹⁴For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. ¹⁵If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had appointed time to return. ¹⁶But as it is, they desire a better homeland — that is, a heavenly one; therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.