Bereishis
Book 1: Genesis
CHAYEI SARAH
Chapter 23
Verse 1: The lifetime of Sarah consisted of
one hundred years, twenty years and seven years.
[These were] the years of Sarah's life.
Verse 2: Sarah died in Kiryas Arba,
which is Chevron, in the land of Canaan.
Avraham came to eulogize Sarah
and to weep for her.
Verse 3: Avraham rose from the
presence of his dead,
and spoke to the sons of Cheis saying,
Verse 4: "I am a foreigner and a resident among you.
Grant me the possession of a grave site with you,
so that I may bury my dead from my presence."
Verse 5: The sons of Cheis replied to Avraham saying to him,
Verse 6: "Hear us my master,
you are a prince of G-d in our midst.
Bury your dead in the choicest of our grave sites.
No man among us will deny his grave site from you
to bury your dead."
Verse 7: Avraham rose and
bowed
to the people of the land, the sons of Cheis.
Verse 8: Avraham spoke to them, saying,
"If it is really your will
that I bury my dead from my presence,
listen to me and intercede for me
with Ephron, son of Tzochar.
Verse 9: Let him give me the Machpeilah [double] cave,
which belongs to him, which is at the end of his field.
Let him give [sell] it to me for its full value,
as a grave site among you."
Verse 10: Ephron lived in the midst of the sons of Cheis,
Ephron the Chitite
replied to Avraham
in the ears [audience] of the sons of Cheis,
for all who came to the city gate, saying,
Verse 11: "No, my master, hear me:
I have given you the field,
and the cave that is in it, I have [also] given to you.
Before the eyes of the sons of my people
I have given it to you. Bury your dead."
Verse 12: Avraham bowed to the people of the land.
Verse 13: He spoke to Ephron
in the ears [audience] of the people of the land saying,
"If you will only listen to me.
I have given the money for the field.
Take it from me and I
will bury my dead there."
Verse 14: Ephron replied to Avraham, saying to him,
Verse 15: "My master, hear me.
A land [worth] four hundred silver shekel---
what is that between me and you?
Bury your dead."
Verse 16: Avraham listened to Ephron,
and Avraham weighed-out for Ephron the silver
that he spoke of in the hearing of the sons of Cheis,
four hundred silver shekel, negotiable currency.
Sheini (Second Aliyah)
Verse 17: The field of Ephron was established
[as Avraham's possession],
[the field] which was in Machpeilah, facing Mamrei;
[this included]
the field, the cave that was in it,
and all the trees that were in the field
that were in the entire circumference of its boundaries.
Verse 18: This became Avraham's [possession]
through a purchase
before the eyes of the sons of Cheis,
all who had come to the gate of his city.
Verse 19: After that
Avraham buried his wife Sarah
in the cave of the Machpeilah field,
which faces Mamrei, which is Chevron,
in the land of Canaan.
Verse 20: The field and its cave was established
as Avraham's possession as a gravesite,
by the sons of Cheis.
Chapter 24
Verse 1: Avraham was old, advanced in days [years],
and Ad-noy had blessed Avraham in all things.
Verse 2: Avraham said to his servant,
the senior [servant] of his household,
who was in charge of all that he owned,
"Place your hand under my thigh.
Verse 3: I will have you swear
by Ad-noy,
G-d of heaven and G-d of earth,
that you will not take a wife for my son
from the daughters of the Canaanites,
among whom I live.
Verse 4: Instead, to my [native] land, to my birthplace,
shall you go,
and take a wife for my son, for Yitzchok,"
Verse 5: The servant said to him,
"Perhaps the woman will not want
to come back with me to this land?
Shall I bring your son back
to the land from where you came?"
Verse 6: Avraham said to him, "Take care,
not to bring my son back there.
Verse 7: Ad-noy, G-d of heaven,
Who took me from my father's house,
and from the land of my
birth,
Who spoke to me, and Who swore to me, saying,
'To your descendants I will give this land'---
He will send His angel before you,
and you shall take a wife for my son from there.
Verse 8: If the woman does not want to come back with you,
you are absolved from this oath to me.
But do not bring my son back there."
Verse 9: The servant placed
his hand
under the thigh of Avraham, his master,
and swore to him regarding this matter.
Sh'lishi (Third Aliyah)
Verse 10: The servant took ten camels
from his master's camels and departed.
All the best of his master was in his hand.
He rose and went to Aram Naharayim;
to the city of Nachor.
Verse 11: He made the camels kneel outside the city,
beside a well of water,
in the evening,
at the time the women go out to draw water.
Verse 12: He said,
"Ad-noy, G-d of my master, Avraham,
be present before me today,
and act kindly with my master, Avraham.
Verse 13: Behold, here I stand by this well of water,
and the daughters of the townsmen
are coming out to draw water.
Verse 14: Let it be that the girl to whom I say,
'Please, tip over your pitcher that I may drink'
and she will say 'Drink,
and I will also give your camels to drink,'
will be the one whom You have determined
for your servant, Yitzchok.
With her I will know
that You have dealt kindly with my master."
Verse 15: He had not yet finished speaking,
and behold Rivkah came out.
She had been born to Besueil, the son of Milkah,
the wife of Nachor, Abraham's brother.
Her pitcher was on her shoulder.
Verse 16: The girl was very good looking---
a virgin---no man had known her.
She went down to the
well, filled her pitcher,
and came up.
Verse 17: The servant ran toward her
and said,
"Please let me sip a little water from your pitcher."
Verse 18: She said, "Drink, my master,"
and she quickly lowered her pitcher to her hand,
and let him drink.
Verse 19: When she had finished giving him to drink,
she said,
"I will also draw water for your camels,
until they will have finished drinking."
Verse 20: She quickly
emptied her pitcher into the trough
and she ran to the well again to draw water.
and she drew water for all his camels.
Verse 21: The man, wondering at her,
remained silent,
waiting to determine
whether Ad-noy had made his mission successful,
or not.
Verse 22: When the camels had finished drinking,
the man took a gold nose ring,
weighing half a shekel,
and two bracelets for her arms,
weighing ten gold shekel.
Verse 23: He said to her,
"Whose daughter are you?
Please tell me,
is there place in your fathers house
for us to spend the night."
Verse 24: She said to him, "I am the daughter of Besueil,
the son of Milkah, whom she bore to Nachor."
Verse 25: She said to him,
"We have plenty of straw and fodder,
and also a place to spend the night."
Verse 26: The man bowed [his head]
and prostrated himself to Ad-noy.
Revi'i (Fourth Aliyah)
Verse 27: He said,
"Blessed is Ad-noy, G-d of my master, Avraham,
Who has not abandoned His kindness and truth
[in dealing] with my master.
I am still on the road and Ad-noy has led me
to the house of my master's brethren."
Verse 28: The girl ran and told her mother's household
of these these happenings.
Verse 29: Rivkah had a brother whose name was Lavan,
and Lavan ran outside to the man
[standing] at the well.
Verse 30: When he had seen the nose ring
and the bracelets on the hands of his sister,
and heard the words of
his sister, Rivkah saying,
this is what the man spoke to me,
that he [then] came to the man,
who was still standing beside the camels at the well.
Verse 31: He [Lavan] said,
"Come, you who are blessed of Ad-noy,
why are you standing outside?
I have cleaned the house
and [prepared] a place for the camels."
Verse 32: The man came into the house
and unmuzzled the camels.
[Lavan] gave the camels straw and fodder,
and water to wash his [the man's] feet
and the feet of the men who were with him.
Verse 33: Food was set before him, but he said,
"I will not eat until I have spoken my words."
He replied,
"Speak."
Verse 34: He said, "I am the servant of Avraham.
Verse 35: Ad-noy blessed my master greatly and he prospered.
He gave him sheep, cattle, silver, gold,
male slaves, female slaves, camels and donkeys.
Verse 36: Sarah, the wife of my master gave birth
to a son to my master, after she had grown old,
and he has given him all that he possesses.
Verse 37: My master placed me under oath, saying,
'Do not take a wife for my son
from the daughter of the Canaanites,
in whose land I live.
Verse 38: Instead, you must go to my fathers house,
and to my family,
and take a wife for my son.'
Verse 39: I said to my master,
'Perhaps the woman will not come back with me?'
Verse 40: He said to me,
'Ad-noy, before Whom I have walked,
will send His angel with you,
and make your journey successful.
You will then take a wife for my son
from my family and from my fathers house.
Verse 41: You will then be absolved from my oath,
if when you come to my family,
and they will not give her to you.
You will be absolved from my oath.'
Verse 42: I came this day to the well,
and I said, 'Ad-noy, G-d of my master, Avraham,
if You will grant success to my journey
on which I am going.
Verse 43: Behold, here I
stand at the well of water.
When a girl comes out to draw water,
I will say to her,
'Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher.'
Verse 44: If she says to me, 'You too may drink,
and I will also draw water for your camels,'
then she is the one whom Ad-noy has determined
for the son of my master.
Verse 45: Before I had finished speaking thus in my heart,
when suddenly Rivkah came out
with her pitcher on her shoulder.
She went down to the well and drew water;
and I said to her, 'Please give me a drink,'
Verse 46: She quickly lowered her pitcher
and said,
'Drink,
and I will also give your camels to drink.'
I drank and she also gave the camels to drink.
Verse 47: I asked her and said, 'Whose daughter are you?'
She replied, 'The daughter of Besueil, son of Nachor,
whom Milkah bore unto him.'
I [then] placed a nose ring on her face
and bracelets upon her hands.
Verse 48: I bowed and prostrated myself to Ad-noy,
and I blessed Ad-noy, G-d of my master Avraham,
Who led me on the true path [in order]
to take the daughter of my master's brother
for his son.
Verse 49: Now if you want to do
what is kind and true to my master, tell me.
If not, tell me,
and I will turn to the right or to the left."
Verse 50: Lavan and Besueil answered and said,
"This is from Ad-noy,
we cannot say anything to you, bad or good.
Verse 51: Here, Rivkah is
before you, take her and go.
Let her be a wife to your master's son,
as Ad-noy has spoken."
Verse 52: When Avraham's servant heard
their words,
he prostrated himself to the ground to Ad-noy.
Chamishi (Fifth Aliyah)
Verse 53: The servant took out articles of silver,
articles of gold and garments, and gave them to Rivkah.
To her brother and mother, he gave precious fruits.
Verse 54: They [then] ate and drank,
he and the men that were with him,
and they stayed over night.
They got up in the morning and he said,
"Send me off to my master."
Verse 55: Her brother and
mother said,
"Let the girl abide with us a year or ten months,
then she can go."
Verse 56: He said to them, "Do not detain me,
for Ad-noy has made my journey successful.
Send me off, so that I can go to my master."
Verse 57: They said, "Let us call the girl
and ask her."
Verse 58: They called
Rivkah and said to her,
"Will you go with this man?"
She said, "I will go."
Verse 59: They sent off Rivkah their sister,
along with her nurse,
and with Avraham's servant and his men.
Verse 60: They blessed Rivkah and said to her,
"Our sister, may you become thousands of myriads,
and may your descendants inherit the gate of his foes."
Verse 61: Rivkah and her maidens set off.
They rode on the camels
and followed the man.
The servant took Rivkah and left.
Verse 62: Yitzchok had just come
from the well [called] Lachai Ro'i,
for he lived in the land of the Negev.
Verse 63: Yitzchok went out
to meditate in the field towards evening.
He raised his eyes
and suddenly saw camels approaching.
Verse 64: Rivkah raised her eyes
and saw Yitzchok.
She let herself down from the camel.
Verse 65: She said to the servant, "Who is that man
walking through the field towards us?"
The servant said, "He is my master."
She then took the
veil and covered herself.
Verse 66: The servant told Yitzchok
all the things he had done.
Verse 67: Yitzchok brought her
into the tent of his mother, Sarah.
He married Rivkah, and she became his wife,
and he loved her.
Yitzchok was then consoled for the loss of his mother.
Shishi (Sixth Aliyah)
Chapter 25
Verse 1: Avraham
again took a wife.
Her name was Keturah.
Verse 2: She bore him Zimran, Yokshon,
Medan, Midian,
Yishbok, and Shuach.
Verse 3: Yokshon fathered Shevah and Dedan.
The sons of Dedan were
Ashurim, Letushim and Leumim.
Verse 4: The sons of Midian
were Eiphah, Eipher, Chanoch,
Avidah and Eldoah.
All these were children of Keturah.
Verse 5: Avraham gave all that he possessed
to Yitzchok.
Verse 6: To the sons of the concubines that Avraham had,
Avraham gave gifts.
He sent them away from Yitzchok, his son,
while he [Avraham] was still alive.
[He sent them] eastward to the Land of the East.
Verse 7: These are the days of the years of Avraham
which he lived,
one hundred years, seventy years and five years.
Verse 8: Avraham expired and died in a good old age,
old and satisfied,
and he was gathered to his people.
Verse 9: His sons Yitzchok and Yishmael buried him
in the Machpeilah cave,
in the field of Ephron, son of Tzochar, the Chitite,
which faces Mamrei.
Verse 10: [This was] the field that Avraham purchased
from the sons of Cheis.
Avraham and his wife, Sarah, were buried there.
Verse 11: After Avraham died,
El-him blessed his son Yitzchok.
Yitzchok lived near Be'er Lachai Ro'i.
Shevi'i (Seventh Aliyah)
Verse 12: These are the descendants
of Yishmael son of Avraham,
whom Hagar, the Egyptian, Sarah's slave, bore
to Avraham.
Verse 13: These are the names of Yishmael's sons,
by their names according to their birth.
Nevayos was Yishmael's first born,
[he also had] Keidar, Adbeil and Mivsom,
Verse 14: Mishma, Dumah and Masa,
Verse 15: Chadad, Teima,
Yetur, Nofish and Keidmah.
Maftir
Verse 16: These are the sons of Yishmael,
and these are their names in their open villages
and in their fortified strongholds,
twelve princes in their nations.
Verse 17: These are the years of Yishmael's life,
one hundred years, thirty years and seven years.
He expired and died and was gathered to his people.
Verse 18: They lived from Chavilah
to Shur,
which borders on Egypt, going towards Asshur.
He lived in the presence of all his brethren.
Return to Main Search Form
Sources