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HEBREW NAMES 'PLUS' VERSION of the TANAKH
A Hebrew Beginner's Primer

B'REISHIT
In Beginning
Part 2 - Chapters 26-50
(Part 1 - Chapters 1-25)

Brief notes on Hebrew pronunciation
can be found at GLOSSARY
or at the bottom of Yirmeyahu.
[♦] See footnotes at the bottom of this page.
Footnotes for the B'rit Chadashah are HERE.
It may help with the pronunciation (or it may be confusing
because of the syntax) to follow along with the reading at
Mechon-Mamre.
Click on "Listen to this chapter in Hebrew" for each chapter.


PEREQ ‏כו‎
CHAPTER 26
26:1 Va'y'hi a famine ba-aretz, besides ha-rishon famine asher hayah bi'y'mei Avraham.  Yitzchak went to Avimelekh, melekh P'lishtim, to Gerar.  2 YHWH appeared to him, vayomer, "Don't go down into Mitzrayim.  Dwell ba-aretz which I will tell you of.  3 Sojourn ba-aretz hazot, and I will be with you, and will bless you.  For to you, and to your zera, I will give kol ha-artzot ha-el, and I will establish the oath which I swore to Avraham avikha.  4 I will multiply your z'ro'im as kokhvei ha-shamayim, and will give to your z'ro'im kol ha-artzot ha-el.  In your z'ro'im will kol goyei ha-aretz be blessed,  5 because Avraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my mitzvot, my chukkim, and my torot."

26:6 V'Yitzchak lived bi'G'rar.  7 Anshei ha-maqom asked him about ishto.  Vayomer, "Achoti hi," for he was afraid lemor, "Ishti," lest, he thought, anshei ha-maqom might kill me for Rivkah, because tovah hi to look on.  8 It happened, when he had been there a long time, that Avimelekh, melekh P'lishtim, looked out at a window, and saw, v'hinneh, Yitzchak was caressing Rivkah, ishto.  9 Avimelekh called Yitzchak vayomer, "Hinneh, surely she is your ishshah.  Why did you say, 'Achoti hi?'"  Vayomer Yitzchak to him, "Because I said, 'Lest I die because of her.'"  10 Vayomer Avimelekh, "Mazot you have done to us?  Achad ha`am might easily have lain with your ishshah, and you would have brought guilt on us!"  11 Avimelekh charged kol ha`am, lemor, "He who touches ba-ish hazeh u'v'ishto will surely be put to death."

26:12 V'Yitzchak sowed ba-aretz ha-hi, and reaped in the same year one hundred times what he planted, v'YHWH blessed him.  13 Ha-ish grew great, and grew more and more until he became gadal me'od.  14 He had possessions of flocks, possessions of herds, and a great household.  The P'lishtim envied him.  15 V'kol ha-be'erot which `avdei aviv had dug bi'y'mei Avraham aviv, the P'lishtim had stopped and filled with dirt.  16 Vayomer Avimelekh el-Yitzchak, "Go from us, for you are much mightier than we."

26:17 Mi-sham Yitzchak departed, and encamped in the valley of G'rar, and dwelt there.  18 Yitzchak dug again be'erot ha-mayim which they had dug bi'y'mei Avraham aviv.  For the P'lishtim had stopped them acharei mot Avraham.  He called their names after the names by which aviv had called them.  19 `Avdei Yitzchak dug in the valley, and found there be'er mayim chayyim.  20 Ro`ei G'rar argued with ro`ei Yitzchak, lemor, "Ha-mayim is ours." He called sh'mo ha-be'er `Esek [contention], because they contended with him.  21 They dug be'er acheret, and they argued over that, also.  He called sh'mo Sitnah [hostility].  22 He left mi-sham, and dug be'er acheret.  They didn't argue over that one.  He called it R'chovot [broad places], vayomer, "For now YHWH has made room for us, and we will be fruitful ba-aretz."

26:23 He went mi-sham Be'er-Shava.  24 YHWH appeared to him ba-lailah ha-hu, vayomer, "Anochi Elohim Avraham avikha.  Don't be afraid, for I am with you, and will bless you, and multiply your zera for the sake of Avraham my `eved."  25 He built a mizbeach there, and called b'shem YHWH, and pitched his ohel there.  There `avdei Yitzchak dug a well.

26:26 Then Avimelekh went to him mi-G'rar, and Achuzzat his friend, and Pikhol the captain of his host.  27 Vayomer Yitzchak to them, "Why have you come to me, since you hate me, and have sent me away from you?"  28 They said, "We saw plainly that YHWH was with you.  We said, 'Let there now be an oath between us, even between us and you, and let us make a b'rit with you,  29 that you will do us no harm, as we have not touched you, and as we have done to you nothing but good, and have sent you away b'shalom.'  You are now barukh YHWH."  30 He made them a feast, and they ate and drank.  31 They rose up some time ba-boker, and swore one to another.  Yitzchak sent them away, and they departed from him b'shalom.  32 Va'y'hi ba-yom ha-hu, that `avdei Yitzchak came and told him concerning ha-be'er which they had dug, and said to him, "We have found mayim."  33 He called it Shiv`ah.  Therefore shem ha`ir Be'er-Sheva ad ha-yom hazeh.

26:34 Va'y'hi `Esav ben arbaim shanah, he took ishshah et Yehudit, bat Be'eri ha-Chitti, v'et Bas'mat, bat Elon ha-Chitti.  35 They grieved ruach l'Yitzchak ul'Rivkah.



PEREQ ‏כז‎
CHAPTER 27
27:1 Va'y'hi zaqen Yitzchak, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called `Esav b'no ha-gadol, vayomer to him, "B'ni?" Vayomer to him, "Hinneni."  2 Vayomer, "Hinneh now, I am zaqen.  I don't know the day of my death.  3 Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to ha-sadeh, and take me venison.  4 Make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat, and that my nefesh may bless you before I die.

27:5 V'Rivkah heard when Yitzchak spoke el`Esav b'no.  `Esav went to ha-sadeh to hunt for venison, and to bring it.  6 V'Rivkah spoke to Ya`akov b'nah, lemor, "Hinneh, I heard avikha speak to `Esav your ach, lemor,  7 'Bring me venison, and make me savory food, that I may eat, and bless you lifnei YHWH before my death.'  8 Now therefore, b'ni, obey my voice according to that which I command you.  9 Go now to the flock, and get me from there two good kids of the goats.  I will make them savory food for avikha, such as he loves.  10 You shall bring it to avikha, that he may eat, so that he may bless you before his death."  11 Vayomer Ya`akov el-Rivkah imo, "Behold, `Esav achi is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man.  12 What if avi touches me?  I will seem to him as a deceiver, and I would bring a curse on myself, and not a blessing."  13 Vatomer imo to him, "Let your curse be on me, b'ni.  Only obey my voice, and go get them for me."  14 He went, and got them, and brought them to imo, v'imo made savory food, such as aviv loved.  15 Rivkah took the good clothes of `Esav, b'nah ha-gadol, which were with her ba-bayit, and put them on Ya`akov, b'nah ha-qatan.  16 She put the skins of the kids of the goats on his hands, and on the smooth of his neck.  17 She gave the savory food and ha-lechem, which she had prepared, b'yad Ya`akov b'nah.

27:18 Va'yavo el-aviv vayomer, "Avi?"   Vayomer, "Hinneni.  Mi attah, b'ni?"  19 Vayomer Ya`akov el-aviv, "Anochi `Esav, your firstborn.  I have done what you asked me to do.  Please arise, sit and eat of my venison, that your nefesh may bless me."  20 Vayomer Yitzchak el-b'no, "How is it that you have found it so quickly, b'ni?"  Vayomer, "Because YHWH Eloheikha gave me success."  21 Vayomer Yitzchak el-Ya`akov, "Please come near, that I may feel you, b'ni, whether you are really b'ni `Esav or not."  22 V'Ya`akov went near to Yitzchak aviv.  He felt him, vayomer, "Ha-qol qol Ya`akov, v'ha-yadayim y'dei `Esav."  23 He didn't recognize him, because yadav were hairy, ki-y'dav `Esav achiv.  So he blessed him.  24 Vayomer, "Attah zeh b'ni `Esav?"  Vayomer, "Ani (am)."  25 Vayomer, "Bring it near to me, and I will eat of the venison of b'ni, that my nefesh may bless you."  He brought it near to him, and he ate.  He brought him yayin, and he drank.  26 Vayomer Yitzchak aviv to him, "Come near now, and kiss me, b'ni."  27 He came near, and kissed him.  He smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him, vayomer,
"Behold, the smell of b'ni
is as the smell of a sadeh which YHWH has blessed.
28 Elohim give you of the dew of ha-shamayim,
of the fatness of ha-aretz,
and plenty of grain v'tirosh.
29 Let `ammim serve you,
nations bow down to you.
Be lord over your achim,
let your mother's sons bow down to you.
Cursed be everyone who curses you;
blessed be everyone who blesses you."
27:30 Va'y'hi, as soon as Yitzchak had made an end of blessing Ya`akov, and Ya`akov had just gone out me-et p'nei Yitzchak aviv, v`Esav achiv came in from his hunting.  31 He also made savory food, and brought it to aviv, vayomer l'aviv, "Let avi arise and eat of the venison of b'no, that your nefesh may bless me."  32 Vayomer Yitzchak aviv to him, "Mi attah?"  Vayomer, "Ani binkha, your firstborn, `Esav."  33 Yitzchak trembled violently, vayomer, "Who, then, is he who has taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before you came, and have blessed him?  Yes, he will be blessed."  34 When `Esav heard divrei aviv, he cried with an exceeding great and bitter cry, vayomer l'aviv, "Bless me, gam ani, avi."  35 Vayomer, "Achikha came with deceit, and has taken away your blessing."  36 Vayomer, "Isn't he rightly named Ya`akov?  For he has supplanted me these two times.  He took away my birthright.  See, now he has taken away my blessing."  Vayomer, "Haven't you reserved a blessing for me?"  37 Yitzchak answered vayomer l`Esav, "Behold, I have made him your master, and all his brothers have I given to him for `avadim.  With grain and tirosh have I sustained him.  What then will I do for you, b'ni?"  38 Vayomer `Esav el-aviv, "Have you but one blessing, avi?  Bless me, gam ani, avi."  `Esav lifted up his voice, and wept.

27:39 Yitzchak aviv answered vayomer to him,
"Hinneh, of the fatness of ha-aretz will be your dwelling,
and of the dew of ha-shamayim from above.
40 By your sword will you live,
and you will serve achikha.
It will happen, when you will break loose,
that you shall shake his yoke from off your neck."
27:41 `Esav hated Ya`akov because of the blessing with which aviv blessed him.  Vayomer `Esav in his heart, "The days of mourning for avi are at hand.  Then I will kill Ya`akov achi."  42 Divrei `Esav b'nah ha-gadol were told to Rivkah.  She sent and called Ya`akov b'nah ha-qatan vatomer to him, "Hinneh, `Esav achikha comforts himself about you by planning to kill you.  43 Now therefore, b'ni, obey my voice.  Arise, flee to Lavan [white] achi in Charan [crossroads].  44 Stay with him a few days, until your brother's fury turns away;  45 until your brother's anger turn away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him.  Then I will send, and get you mi-sham.  Why should I be bereaved of you both in yom echad?"

27:46 Vatomer Rivkah el-Yitzchak, "I am weary of my life because of b'not Chet.  If Ya`akov takes an ishshah mi-b'not Chet [terror?], such as these, mi-b'not ha-aretz, what is chayyim to me?"


PEREQ ‏כח‎
CHAPTER 28
28:1 Vayikra Yitzchak el Ya`akov, blessed him, and commanded him vayomer, "You shall not take an ishshah mi-b'not K'na`an.  2 Arise, go to Paddan Aram, to beit B'tu'el, avi imekha.  Take for you mi-sham ishshah mi-b'not Lavan achi imekha.  3 May El Shaddai bless you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, that you may be a qahal `ammim,  4 and give you the blessing of Avraham, to you, and to your zera with you, that you may inherit eretz where you travel, which Elohim gave l'Avraham."  5 Yitzchak sent Ya`akov away.   He went to Paddan Aram el Lavan, ben B'tu'el ha-Arammi, achi Rivkah, em Ya`akov v`Esav.

28:6 Now `Esav saw that Yitzchak had blessed Ya`akov and sent him away to Paddan Aram, to take from there an ishshah, and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, "You shall not take mi-sham an ishshah mi-b'not K'na`an,"  7 and that Ya`akov obeyed el-aviv v'el imo, and was gone to Paddan Aram.  8 `Esav saw that b'not K'na`an didn't please Yitzchak aviv.  9 `Esav went to Yishma'el and took, besides the wives that he had, Machalat bat Yishma'el ben Avraham, achot N'vayot to be his ishshah.

HAFTARAH TOLEDOT:  Malakhi (Malachi) 1:1-2:7

(7) PARASHAT VA'YETZE 28-10
And he went out
28:10 - 32:2

28:10 Ya`akov went out mi-Be'er-Shava and went toward Charan.  11 He came to a certain place, and stayed there (all night), because ha-shemmesh had set.  He took one of the stones of ha-maqom, and put it under his head, and lay down ba-maqom ha-hu (to sleep).  12 He dreamed, v'hinneh, a stairway set up on aretz, and the top of it reached to ha-shamayim, v'hinneh, malakhei Elohim ascending and descending on it.  13 V'hinneh, YHWH stood above it, and said, "Ani YHWH, Elohei Avraham avikha v'Elohei Yitzchak.  Ha-aretz whereon you lie, to you will I give it, and to your zera.  14 Your zera will be as the dust of ha-aretz, and you will spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south, and in you and in your zera will kol mishp'chot ha-adamah be blessed.  15 V'hinneh, I am with you, and will keep you, wherever you go, and will bring you again el-ha-adamah hazot, for I will not leave you, until I have done that which I have spoken of to you."  16 Ya`akov awakened out of his sleep, vayomer, "Surely YHWH ba-maqom hazeh, and I didn't know it."  17 He was afraid, vayomer, "How dreadful is ha-maqom hazeh! This is none other than beit Elohim, and this is the gate of ha-shamayim."

28:18 Ya`akov rose up early ba-boker and took ha-even that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar, and poured shemen on the top of it.  19 Va-yiqra et-shem ha-maqom ha-hu Beit-El; but Luz shem ha-ir la-rishonah.  20 Ya`akov vowed a vow, lemor, "If Elohim will be with me, and will keep me ba-derekh hazeh that I go, and will give me lechem to eat, and clothing to put on,  21 and I come again ba-shalom el beit avi, v'haya YHWH will be to me l'Elohim,  22 v'ha-even ha-zot, which I have set up for a pillar, will be Beit Elohim.  Of all that you will give me I will surely give the tenth to you."



PEREQ ‏כט‎
CHAPTER 29
29:1 Then Ya`akov went on his journey [lit. "lifted his feet"], and came to eretz b'nei kedem.  2 He looked, v'hinneh be'er ba-sadeh, v'hinneh, three flocks of sheep lying there by it, for out of that well they watered the flocks.  Ha-even g'dolah `al-pi ha-be'er.  3 There all the flocks were gathered.  They rolled ha-even me`al pi ha-be'er, and watered the sheep, and put ha-even `al-pi ha-be'er again in its maqom.

29:4 Vayomer Ya`akov to them, "My brothers, where are you from?"  They said, "Me-Charan anachnu."  5 Vayomer to them, "Do you know Lavan ben Nachor?"  They said, "We know him."  6 Vayomer to them, "Is it well with him?"  They said, "It is well.  V'hinneh, Rachel bitto is coming with the sheep."  7 Vayomer, "Behold, od ha-yom gadol [the day is still great (long)], not time to gather the cattle together.  Water the sheep, and go and feed them."  8 They said, "We can't, until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll ha-even me`al pi ha-be'er.  Then we water the sheep."

29:9 While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she kept them.  10 Va'y'hi, when Ya`akov saw Rachel, bat Lavan achi imo, and the sheep of Lavan achi imo, that Ya`akov went near, and rolled ha-even me`al pi ha-be'er, and watered the flock of Lavan achi imo.  11 Ya`akov kissed Rachel and lifted up his voice and wept.  12 Ya`akov told Rachel that he was achi aviha hu, and that ben Rivkah hu.  She ran and told aviha.

29:13 Va'y'hi, when Lavan heard the news of Ya`akov, ben achoto, that he ran to meet Ya`akov and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house.  Ya`akov told Lavan kol ha-d'varim ha-eleh.  14 Vayomer Lavan to him, "Surely you are my bone and my flesh."  He lived with him for a month.

29:15 Vayomer Lavan l'Ya`akov, "Because achi attah, should you therefore serve me for nothing?  Tell me, what will your wages be?"  16 Lavan had two banot.  Shem ha-g'dolah Le'ah [weary], v'shem ha-k'tanah Rachel [ewe].  17 The eyes of Le'ah were weak, but Rachel was yafeh and well favored.  18 Ya`akov loved Rachel.  Vayomer, "I will serve you sheva shanim b'Rachel, bitkhah ha-q'tanah."  19 Vayomer Lavan, "It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to ish acher.  Stay with me."  20 Ya`akov served sheva shanim b'Rachel.  They seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her.

29:21 Vayomer Ya`akov el-Lavan, "Give me ishti, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her."  22 Lavan gathered together kol anshei ha-maqom, and made a feast.  23 Va'y'hi va-erev, that he took Le'ah bitto, and brought her to him.  He went in to her.  24 Lavan gave Zilpah his handmaid l'Le'ah vitto for a handmaid.  25 Va'y'hi va-boker, v'hinneh, hi Le'ah, va-yomer el-Lavan, "Ma-zot you have done to me?  Didn't I serve with you for Rachel?  Why then have you deceived me?"  26 Vayomer Lavan, "It is not done so in our maqom, to give the younger before the first-born.  27 Fulfill sh'vuah hazot, and we will give you the other also for the service which you will serve with me yet sheva shanim acherot."  28 Ya`akov did so, and fulfilled sh'vuah zot.  He gave Rachel bitto as ishshah.  29 Lavan gave to Rachel bitto Bilhah, his handmaid, to be her handmaid.  30 He went in also to Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Le'ah, and served with him `od sheva shanim acherot.

29:31 YHWH saw that Le'ah was hated, and he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.  32 Le'ah conceived and bore a son, vatikrah sh'mo Re'uven ["behold, a son;" to see], for she said, "Because YHWH has looked at my affliction.  For now ishi will love me."  33 She conceived again and bore a son, vatomer, "Because YHWH has heard that I am hated, he has also given me this one."  vatikrah sh'mo Shim`on [heard].  34 She conceived again and bore a son vatomer, "Now this time will ishi be joined to me, because I have borne him shloshah vanim."  Therefore was his name called Levi [joined].  35 She conceived again and bore a son vatomer, "This time will I praise YHWH."  Therefore she called his name Yehudah [praise].  Then she stopped bearing.



PEREQ ‏ל‎
CHAPTER 30
30:1 When Rachel saw that she bore Ya`akov no children, Rachel envied achotah vatomer el-Ya`akov, "Give me banim, or else I will die."  2 Ya`akov's anger was kindled against Rachel, vayomer, "Am I in place of Elohim, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?"  3 Vatomer, "Hinneh, my maid Bilhah.  Go in to her, that she may bear on my knees, and let me be built up, me also, by her."  4 She gave him Bilhah her handmaid as ishshah, and Ya`akov went in to her.  5 Bilhah conceived, and bore l'Ya`akov ben.  6 Vatomer Rachel, "Elohim has judged me, and has also heard my voice, and has given me a son."  Therefore she called his name Dan [judge].  7 Bilhah, handmaid of Rachel, conceived again and bore ben sheni l'Ya`akov.  8 Vatomer Rachel, "With mighty wrestlings have I wrestled im-achoti, and have prevailed."  Vatikrah sh'mo Naftali [wrestled].

30:9 When Le'ah saw that she had finished bearing, she took Zilpah, her handmaid, and gave her l'Ya`akov l'ishshah.  10 Zilpah, handmaid of Le'ah, bore l'Ya`akov ben.  11 Vatomer Le'ah, "How fortunate!"  Vatikrah et-sh'mo Gad [fortune].  12 Zilpah, handmaid of Le'ah, bore ben sheni l'Ya`akov.  13 Vatomer Le'ah, "Happy am I, for the daughters will call me happy."  Vatikrah et-sh'mo Asher [happy one].

30:14 Re'uven went in the days of wheat harvest, and found dudaim [mandrakes; love apples] ba-sadeh and brought them el-Le'ah imo.  Vatomer Rachel el-Le'ah, "Please give me mi-duda'ei b'nekh."  15 Vatomer to her, "Is it a small matter that you have taken away ishi?  Would you take away duda'ei b'ni also?"  Vatomer Rachel, "Therefore he will lie with you ba-lailah for duda'ei b'nekh."  16 Ya`akov came min-ha-sadeh ba-erev, and Le'ah went out to meet him, vatomer, "You must come in to me; for I have surely hired you with duda'ei b'ni."  He lay with her ba-lailah hu.  17 Elohim listened to Le'ah, and she conceived, and bore to Ya`akov ben chamishi.  18 Vatomer Le'ah, "Elohim has given me my hire, because I gave my handmaid l'ishi." Vatikra sh'mo Yissakhar [recompense].  19 Le'ah conceived again, and bore ben shishi l'Ya`akov.  20 Vatomer Le'ah, "Elohim has endowed me with a good dowry.  Now ishi will live with me, because I have borne to him shishah banim."  Vatikra et-sh'mo Z'vulun [dwell].  21 V'achar she bore a daughter, vatikra et-sh'mah Dinah [judgment].  22 Elohim remembered Rachel and Elohim listened to her, and opened her womb.  23 She conceived, bore a son vatomer, "Elohim has taken away my reproach.  24 Vatikra et-sh'mo Yosef [he increases], lemor, "May YHWH add to me ben acher."

30:25 Va'y'hi, when Rachel had borne Yosef, that Ya`akov said to Lavan, "Send me away, that I may go to my own place, and to my country.  26 Give me my nashim and my y'ladim for whom I have served you, and let me go: for you know my service with which I have served you."  27 Vayomer Lavan to him, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, stay here, for I have divined that YHWH has blessed me for your sake."  28 He said, "Appoint me your wages, and I will give it."  29 Vayomer to him, "You know how I have served you, and how your cattle have fared with me.  30 For it was little which you had before I came, and it has increased to a multitude.  YHWH has blessed you wherever I turned.  Now when will I provide for my own house also?"  31 Vayomer, "What shall I give you?"  Vayomer Ya`akov, "You shall not give me anything.  If you will do this thing for me, I will again feed your flock and keep it.  32 I will pass through all your flock today, removing from there every speckled and spotted one, and every black one among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats.  This will be my hire.  33 So my tz'dakah will answer for me hereafter, when you come concerning my hire that is before you.  Everyone that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and black among the sheep, that might be with me, will be counted stolen."  34 Vayomer Lavan, "Behold, I desire it to be according to your davar."  35 Ba-yom ha-hu, he removed the male goats that were streaked and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white in it, and all the black ones among the sheep, and gave them ba-yad banav.  36 He set three days' journey between himself and Ya`akov, and Ya`akov fed the rest of the flocks of Lavan.

30:37 Ya`akov took to himself rods of fresh poplar, almond, plane tree, peeled white streaks in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.  38 He set the rods which he had peeled opposite the flocks in the gutters in the watering-troughs where the flocks came to drink.  They conceived when they came to drink.  39 The flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks brought forth streaked, speckled, and spotted.  40 Ya`akov separated the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the streaked and all the black in the flock of Lavan: and he put his own droves apart, and didn't put them into the flocks of Lavan.  41 V'haya, whenever the stronger of the flock conceived, that Ya`akov laid the rods before the eyes of the flock in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods;  42 but when the flock were feeble, he didn't put them in.  So the feebler were of Lavan, and the stronger of Ya`akov.  43 The man increased exceedingly, and had large flocks, maid-servants va`avadim u'g'malim va'chamorim.



PEREQ ‏לא‎
CHAPTER 31
31:1 He heard divrei b'nei Lavan, lemor,"Ya`akov has taken away kol asher l'avinu.  U'Me-asher l'avinu has he gotten all this wealth."  2 Ya`akov saw p'nei Lavan, v'hinneh, it was not toward him as before.  3 Vayomer YHWH el-Ya`akov, "Return el-eretz avoteikha, and to your relatives, and I will be with you."  4 Ya`akov sent vayikra l'Rachel u'l'Le'ah (to) ha-sadeh to his flock,  5 vayomer to them, "I see (the expression on) your father's face, that it is not toward me as before; but Elohei avi has been with me.  6 You know that I have served your father with all of my strength.  7 Your father has deceived me, and changed my wages ten times, but Elohim didn't allow him to hurt me.  8 If he said this, 'The speckled will be your wages,' then all the flock bore speckled.  If he said this, 'The streaked will be your wages,' then all the flock bore streaked.  9 Thus Elohim has taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.  10 It happened at the time that the flock conceive, that I lifted up my eyes, and saw in a dream, v'hinneh, the male goats which leaped on the flock were streaked, speckled, and grizzled.  11 Malakh Elohim said to me in the dream, 'Ya`akov,' and I said, 'Hinneni.'  12 Vayomer, 'Now lift up your eyes, and see, all the male goats which leap on the flock are streaked, speckled, and grizzled, for I have seen all that Lavan does to you.  13 Anokhi El Beit-El, where you anointed a pillar, where you vowed a vow to me.  Now arise, get out min-ha-aretz hazot, and return el-eretz of your birth."  14 Rachel v'Le'ah answered him, "Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us b'veit avinu?  15 Aren't we accounted by him as foreigners?  For he has sold us, and has also quite devoured our money.  16 For all the riches which Elohim has taken away me-avinu, that is ours and our children's.  Now then, whatever Elohim has said to you, do."

31:17 Then Ya`akov rose up, and set his banim and his nashim al ha-g'malim,  18 and he carried away all his cattle, and all his substance which he had gathered, the cattle of his getting, which he had gathered in Paddan Aram, to go to Yitzchak aviv to eretz K'na`an.  19 Now Lavan had gone to shear his sheep: and Rachel stole ha-t'rafim that were her father's.  20 Ya`akov deceived [lit. stole the heart of] Lavan ha-Arammi, in that he didn't tell him that he was running away.  21 So he fled with all that he had.  He rose up, passed over ha-nahal [Euphrates (P'rat)], and set his face toward har ha-Gil`ad.

31:22 Lavan was told on the third day that Ya`akov had fled.  23 He took his relatives with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey.  He overtook him ba-har ha-Gil`ad.  24 Va-yavo Elohim el-Lavan ha-Arammi in a dream ha-lailah vayomer to him, "Take heed to yourself that you don't speak im-Ya`akov mi-tov `ad-ra."

31:25 Lavan caught up with Ya`akov.  Now Ya`akov had pitched his ohel ba-har, v'Lavan with his relatives encamped ba-har ha-Gil`ad.  26 Vayomer Lavan l'Ya`akov, "What have you done, that you have deceived me, and carried away my banot like captives of the sword?  27 Why did you flee secretly, and deceive me, and didn't tell me, that I might have sent you away b'simcha u'v'shirim, with tambourine u'v'kinnor;  28 and didn't allow me to kiss my banim and my banot?  Now have you done foolishly.  29 It is in the power of my hand to hurt you, v'Elohei avikhem spoke to me last night, saying, 'Take heed to yourself that you don't speak im-Ya`akov mi-tov ad`ra.'  30 Now, you want to be gone, because you sore longed after beit avikha, but why have you stolen my elohim?"  31 Ya`akov answered vayomer l'Lavan, "Because I was afraid, for I said, 'Lest you should take your batim from me by force.'  32 With whoever you find your elohim, he shall not live.  Before our relatives, discern what is yours with me, and take it."  For Ya`akov didn't know that Rachel had stolen them.

31:33 Va-yavo Lavan b'ohel Ya`akov u'v'ohel Le'ah u'v'ohel of the two maid-servants; but he didn't find them.  He went out of ohel Le'ah v'yavo b'ohel Rachel.  34 Rachel had taken ha-t'rafim, put them in the saddle of ha-gamal, and sat on them.  Lavan felt about kol ha-ohel, but didn't find them.  35 Vatomer el-aviha, "Don't let adoni be angry that I can't rise up before you; ki derekh nashim is on me."  He searched, but didn't find ha-t'rafim.

31:36 Ya`akov was angry, and argued with Lavan.  Ya`akov answered Lavan vayomer, "What is my trespass?  What is my chet, that you have hotly pursued after me?  37 Now that you have felt around in all my stuff, what have you found of all your household stuff?  Set it here before my relatives and your relatives, that they may judge between us two.  38 These twenty years have I been with you.  Your ewes and your female goats have not cast their young, and I haven't eaten the rams of your flocks.  39 That which was torn of animals, I didn't bring to you.  I bore the loss of it.  Of my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night.  40 Thus I was; ba-yom the drought consumed me, and the frost ba-lailah; and my sleep fled from my eyes.  41 These twenty years have I been in your house.  I served you fourteen years for your two banot, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times.  42 Unless Elohei avi, Elohei Avraham, u'Fachad Yitzchak31-42 had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty.  Elohim has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night."

31:43 Lavan answered vayomer el-Ya`akov, "Ha-banot are my banot v'ha-banim are my banim, the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine: and to my banot, what can I do la-eleh ha-yom, or to their banim whom they have borne?  44 Now come, let us cut a b'rit, ani v'attah; and it shall be for a witness between me and between you."  45 Ya`akov took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.  46 Vayomer Ya`akov to his brothers, "Gather stones."  They took stones, and made a heap.  They ate there by the heap.  47 Lavan called it Yegar-Sahaduta [Ara.: heap of the testimony], but Ya`akov called it Gal`ed [witness pile].  48 Vayomer Lavan, "This heap is witness between me and between you ha-yom."  Therefore it was named Gal`ed.  49 V'ha-Mitzpah, for he said, "YHWH watch between me and you, when we are absent one from another.  50 If you will afflict my banot, and if you will take nashim besides my banot, though no man is with us, see, Elohim `ed between me and between you."

31:51 Vayomer Lavan l'Ya`akov, "Hinneh, ha-gal hazeh, v'hinneh, the pillar which I have set between me and between you.  52 May `Ed ha-gal hazeh v`edah that I will not pass over this heap to you, and that you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, for harm.  53 Elohei Avraham v'Elohei Nachor, Elohei avihem, judge between us."  Then Ya`akov swore b'Fachad aviv Yitzchak.  54 Ya`akov offered a sacrifice in the mountain, and called his relatives to eat lechem.  They ate lechem, and stayed (that night) ba-har.

31:55 [32:1 in Hebrew] Early ba-boqer, Lavan rose up, and kissed his banim and his banot, and blessed them.  Lavan departed and returned to his place.



PEREQ ‏לב‎
CHAPTER 32
32:1 [2 in Hebrew] Ya`akov went on his derekh, and malakhei Elohim met him.  2 [3] Vayomer Ya`akov when he saw them, "This is machaneh [camp, army] Elohim."  Vayikra shem ha-maqom ha-hu Machanayim [two camps].

HAFTARAH VA'YETZE:  Hoshea (Hosea) 11:7-12:12

(8) PARASHAT VA'YISHLACH
And he sent
32:3 - 36:43

32:3 [4] Ya`akov sent malakhim before him el`Esav achiv, to eretz Se`ir, s'deh Edom.  4 [5] He commanded them, lemor, "This is what you shall say l'adoni l`Esav: 'This is what your `eved, Ya`akov, says.  I have sojourned with Lavan and stayed until now.  5 [6] I have oxen, chamor, flocks, `eved and maid-servants.  I have sent to tell adoni, that I may find favor in your sight.'"

32:6 [7] Ha-malakhim returned l'Ya`akov, lemor, "We came to your brother `Esav.  Not only that, but he comes to meet you, and four hundred men with him."  7 [8] Then Ya`akov was greatly afraid and was distressed: and he divided ha`am who were with him, and the flocks, and the herds, and ha-g'malim into two companies;  8 [9] Vayomer, "Im yavo `Esav to the one company, and strikes it, then the company which is left will escape."

32:9 [10] Vayomer Ya`akov, "Elohei avi Avraham, v'Elohei avi Yitzchak, YHWH, who said to me, 'Return to your eretz, and to your relatives, and I will do you good.'  10 [11] I am not worthy of the least of kol ha-chasadim u'mi-kol ha-emet which you have shown to your `eved; for with just my staff I passed over ha-Yarden hazeh; and now I have become two companies.  11 [12] Please deliver me mi-yad achi, mi-yad `Esav: for I fear him, lest he come and strike me, and em `al-banim.  12 [13] You said, 'I will surely do you good, and make your zera as the sand of ha-yam, which can't be numbered because there are so many.'"

32:13 [14] He lodged sham ba-lailah ha-hu, and took from that which he had with him minchah l`Esav achiv:  14 [15] two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams,  15 [16] thirty milk g'malim u'v'neihem, forty cows, ten bulls, twenty atonot and ten foals.  16 [17] He delivered them into the hands of his `avadim, every herd by itself, and said to his `avadim, "Pass over before me, and put a space between herd and herd."  17 [18] He commanded the foremost, saying, "When `Esav achi meets you and asks you, saying, 'Whose are you?  Where are you going?  Whose are these before you?'  18 [19] Then you shall say, 'They are of your `eved Ya`akov.  Mincha hi sent to adoni `Esav.  V'hinneh, gam hu achareinu.'"  19 [20] He commanded also the second, and the third, and all that followed the herds, saying, "This is how you shall speak to `Esav, when you find him.  20 [21] You shall say, 'Not only that, but hinneh, your `eved Ya`akov achareinu.'"  For, he said, "I will appease him with ha-minchah that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face.  Perhaps he will accept me."  21 [22] So ha-minchah passed over before him: and he himself lodged ba-lailah ha-hu in the camp.

32:22 [23] He rose up ba-lailah hu, and took his two nashim, and his two handmaids, and his eleven y'ladim, and passed over the ford of the Yabbok.  23 [24] He took them, and sent them over ha-nachal, and sent over that which he had.  24 [25] Ya`akov was left alone, and wrestled with a man there until the rising of ha-shachar.  25 [26] When he saw that he didn't prevail against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of the thigh of Ya`akov was strained as he wrestled.  26 [27] Vayomer, "Let me go, for it is the breaking of ha-shachar."  Ya`akov said, "I won't let you go unless you bless me."  27 [28] Vayomer to him, "What is your name?"  Vayomer, "Ya`akov." 28 [29] Vayomer, "Your name will no longer be called 'Ya`akov,' but, 'Yisra'el [God strives],' for you have striven with Elohim v'im anashim, and have prevailed."  29 [30] Ya`akov asked him, "Please tell me your name."  He said, "Why is it that you ask what my name is?"  He blessed him there.  30 [31] Vayikra Ya`akov shem ha-maqom Peni'el: for, he said, "I have seen Elohim panim el-panim, and my nefesh is delivered."  31 [32] Ha-shemesh rose on him as he passed over Peni'el, and he limped because of his thigh.  32 [33] Therefore b'nei Yisra'el don't eat the sinew of the hip, which is on the hollow of the thigh, `ad ha-yom hazeh, because he touched the hollow of the thigh of Ya`akov in the sinew of the hip.



PEREQ ‏לג‎
CHAPTER 33
33:1 Ya`akov lifted up his eyes and looked, v'hinneh, `Esav was coming, and with him four hundred men.  He divided ha-y'ladim `al-Le'ah v`al-Rachel, and to the two handmaids.  2 He put the handmaids and their y'ladim rishonah v'et Le'ah and her y'ladim acharonim, v'et Rachel v'et Yosef acharonim.  3 He himself passed over in front of them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near `ad achiv.

33:4 `Esav ran to meet him, embraced him, fell on his neck, kissed him, and they wept.  5 He lifted up his eyes and saw ha-nashim v'et ha-y'ladim vayomer, "Mi eleh with you?"  Vayomer, "Ha-y'ladim whom Elohim has graciously given your `eved."  6 Then the handmaids came near with their y'ladim, and they bowed themselves.  7 V'gam Le'ah and her y'ladim came near, and bowed themselves.  After them, Yosef v'Rachel came near, and they bowed themselves.  8 Vayomer (`Esav), "What do you mean by all this company which I met?"  Vayomer (Ya`akov), "To find favor in the sight of adoni."  9 Vayomer `Esav, "I have enough, achi; let that which you have be yours."  10 Vayomer Ya`akov, "Please, no, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present at my hand, because I have seen your face, as one sees the face of Elohim, and you were pleased with me.  11 Please take the gift that I brought to you; because Elohim has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough."  He urged him, and he took it.

33:12 Vayomer (`Esav), "Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before you."  13 Vayomer (Ya`akov) to him, "Adoni knows that ha-y'ladim are tender, and that the flocks and herds with me have their young, and if they overdrive them one day, all the flocks will die.  14 Please let adoni pass over before his `eved: and I will lead on gently, according to the pace of the cattle that are before me and according to the pace of ha-y'ladim, until I come to adoni to Se`ir."

33:15 Vayomer `Esav, "Let me now leave with you some min-ha`am who are with me."  He said, "Why? Let me find favor in the sight of adoni."  16 So `Esav returned ba-yom ha-hu on his way to Se`ir.  17 Ya`akov journeyed to Sukkot and built himself a bayit and made shelters for his cattle.  Therefore he called shem ha-maqom Sukkot.

33:18 Ya`akov came in shalem to `ir Sh'khem asher b'eretz K'na`an, when he came mi-Paddan Aram; and encamped p'nei ha`ir.  19 He bought the parcel of ha-sadeh where he had spread his ohel mi-yad b'nei Chamor, avi Sh'khem, for one hundred pieces (of money).  20 He erected a mizbeach there, and made a proclamation, El-Elohe-Yisra'el.



PEREQ ‏לד‎
CHAPTER 34
34:1 Dinah, bat Le'ah, whom she bore to Ya`akov, went out to see b'not ha-aretz.  2 Sh'khem ben Chamor ha-Chivvi, n'si ha-aretz, saw her.  He took her, lay with her, and humbled her.  3 His nefesh joined to Dinah, bat Ya`akov, and he loved the young lady, and spoke kindly to the young lady.  4 Vayomer Sh'khem el-Chamor aviv lemor, "Get me ha-yaldah hazot l'ishshah."  5 Now Ya`akov heard that he had defiled Dinah bitto; and his banim were with his cattle ba-sadeh.  Ya`akov kept quiet until they came.  6 Chamor avi Sh'khem went out to Ya`akov to talk with him.  7 B'nei Ya`akov came in min-ha-sadeh when they heard it.  Ha-anashim were grieved, and they were very angry, because he had done folly b'Yisra'el in lying with bat Ya`akov; which thing ought not to be done.

34:8 Chamor talked with them, lemor, "Sh'khem b'ni longs in his nefesh for your daughter.  Please give her to him l'ishshah.  9 Make marriages with us.  Give your daughters to us, and take our daughters for yourselves.  10 You shall dwell with us: and ha-aretz will be before you.  Live and trade in it, and get possessions in it."  11 Vayomer Sh'khem to aviha and to her brothers, "Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you will tell me I will give.  12 Ask me a great amount for a dowry, and I will give whatever you ask of me, but give me the young lady l'ishshah."

34:13 B'nei Ya`akov answered Sh'khem v'et Chamor aviv with deceit, and spoke, because he had defiled Dinah their sister,  14 and said to them, "We can't do ha-davar hazeh, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised;34-14 for that is a reproach to us.  15 Only on this condition will we consent to you.  If you will be as we are, that every male of you be circumcised;  16 then will we give our banot to you, and we will take your banot to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become `am echad.  17 But if you will not listen to us, to be circumcised, then we will take our sister, and we will be gone.

34:18 And good were their d'varim in the eyes of Chamor and in the eyes of Sh'khem, ben Chamor.  19 The young man didn't wait to do this thing, because he had delight in bat Ya`akov, and he was honored mi-kol beit aviv.  20 Va-yavo Chamor u'Sh'khem b'no to the gate of their city, and talked with anshei of their city, lemor,  21 "Ha-anashim ha-eleh are peaceful with us.  Therefore let them live ba-aretz and trade in it.  For, hinneh, ha-aretz is large enough for them.  Let us take their banot to us l'nashim, and let us give them our banot.  22 Only on this condition will ha-anashim consent to us to dwell with us, to become `am echad, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised.  23 Won't their cattle and their substance and all their b'hemot be ours?  Only let us give our consent to them, and they will dwell with us."  24 All who went out of the gate of his city listened to Chamor, and to Sh'khem b'no; and every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city.

34:25 Va'y'hi ba-yom ha-shlishi, when they were sore, that two b'nei Ya`akov, Shim`on v'Levi, achi Dinah, each took his sword, came upon the unsuspecting city, and killed all the males.  26 They killed Chamor v'et Sh'khem b'no with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah mi-beit Sh'khem, and went away.  27 B'nei Ya`akov came on the dead, and plundered the city, because they had defiled their achot.  28 They took their flocks, their herds, their chamorim, v'et asher ba`ir v'et asher ba-sadeh;  29 and all their wealth.  They took captive all their little ones and their wives, and took as plunder everything that was ba-bayit.  30 Vayomer Ya`akov el-Shim`on v'el-Levi, "You have troubled me, to make me odious to the inhabitants of ha-aretz, ba-K'na`ani u'va-Perizzi.  I am few in number.  They will gather themselves together against me and strike me, and I will be destroyed, I and beiti."  31 They said, "Should he deal with achoteinu as with a prostitute?"



PEREQ ‏לה‎
CHAPTER 35
35:1 Vayomer Elohim el-Ya`akov, "Arise, go up to Beit-El, and live there.  Make there mizbeach la-El, who appeared to you when you fled mi-p'nei `Esav achikha."  2 Vayomer Ya`akov el-beito, and to all who were with him, "Put away the foreign elohim that are among you, purify yourselves, change your garments.  3 Let us arise, and go up to Beit-El.  I will make there a mizbeach la-El, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me ba-derekh which I went."  4 They gave to Ya`akov all the foreign elohim which were in their hands, and the rings which were in their ears; and Ya`akov hid them under the oak which was by Sh'khem.

35:5 They journeyed: and a terror of Elohim was on the cities that were round about them, and they didn't pursue b'nei Ya`akov.  6 Va-yavo Ya`akov to Luz asher b'eretz K'na`an (hi Beit-El), hu v'khol ha`am who were with him.  7 He built there a mizbeach vayikra la-maqom El Beit-El; because there Elohim was revealed to him, when he fled from the face of his brother.  8 D'vorah, nurse of Rivkah, died, and she was buried below Beit-El under the oak; vayikra sh'mo Allon-Bakhut [oak of weeping].

35:9 Elohim appeared to Ya`akov again, when he came mi-Paddan Aram, and blessed him.  10 Vayomer Elohim to him, "Your name is Ya`akov.  Your name shall not be Ya`akov any more, but your name will be Yisra'el."  And he called his name Yisra'el.  11 Vayomer Elohim to him, "Ani El Shaddai.  P'reh ur'veh [Be fruitful and multiply].  Goy u'q'hal goyim will be from you, u'm'lakhim will come out of your loins.  12 Ha-aretz which I gave to Avraham u'l'Yitzchak, I will give it to you, and to your zera after you will I give ha-aretz."  13 Elohim went up from him ba-maqom where he spoke with him.  14 Ya`akov set up a pillar ba-maqom where he spoke with him, a pillar of stone.  He poured out a nesekh on it, and poured shemen on it. 15 Vayikra Ya`akov et shem ha-maqom where God spoke with him, "Beit-El."

35:16 They journeyed mi-Beit El.  There was still some distance to come to Efrat, and Rachel travailed.  She had hard labor.  17 It happened that, when she was in hard labor, the midwife said to her, "Don't be afraid, for now you will have another son."  18 Her nefesh was departing (for she died), va'tikra sh'mo Ben-oni [son of my sorrow], but his father called him Binyamin [son of my right hand].  19 Rachel died, and was buried b'derekh Efrat (hi Beit-Lachem).  20 Ya`akov set up a pillar on her grave.  The same is the Pillar of the grave of Rachel `ad ha-yom.  21 Yisra'el journeyed, and spread his ohel beyond Migdal`Eder.

35:22 It happened, while Yisra'el lived ba-aretz ha-hi, that Re'uven went and lay with Bilhah, concubine of aviv, and Yisra'el heard of it.

Now b'nei Ya`akov were twelve.
23 B'nei Le'ah: Re'uven (firstborn of Ya`akov), u'Shim`on v'Levi v'Y'hudah v'Yissakhar u'Z'vulun.  24 B'nei Rachel: Yosef u'Vinyamin.  25 B'nei Bilhah (handmaid of Rachel): Dan v'Naftali.  26 B'nei Zilpah (handmaid of Le'ah): Gad v'Asher.  Eleh b'nei Ya`akov who were born to him b'Faddan-Aram.

35:27 Ya`akov came to Yitzchak aviv, Mamre, Kiryat ha-Arba (hi Chevron), where Avraham v'Yitzchak sojourned.  28 Y'mei Yitzchak were one hundred years and eighty years.  29 Yitzchak expired and died, and was gathered to his people, zaqen and full of yamim, and `Esav v'Ya`akov banav buried him.



PEREQ ‏לו‎
CHAPTER 36
36:1 V'eleh toledot `Esav (hu Edom).  2 `Esav took his nashim mi'b'not K'na`an: `Adah bat Eilon ha-Chitti v'et Oholivamah bat `Anah bat Tziv`on ha-Chivvi;  3 v'et Bas'mat bat Yishma'el, achot Nevayot.  4 `Adah bore Elifaz to `Esav, u'Vasemat bore Re`u'el.  5 V'Oholivamah bore Y`ush v'et Yalam v'et Korach.  Eleh b'nei `Esav who were born to him b'eretz K'na`an.

36:6 `Esav took his nashim and his banim and his banot and all the nafshot of his bayit with his cattle, all his b'hemot and all his possessions which he had gathered b'eretz K'na`an, and went el eretz away from Ya`akov achiv.  7 For their substance was too great for them to dwell together, and the land of their travels couldn't bear them because of their cattle.  8 `Esav lived b'har Se`ir.  `Esav hu Edom.

36:9 V'eleh toledot `Esav avi Edom b'har Se`ir.  10 eleh shmot b'nei `Esav: Elifaz ben `Adah, eshet `Esav; Re`u'el ben Bas'mat, eshet `Esav.  11 B'nei Elifaz were Teman, Omar, Tz'fo v'Gatam u'K'naz.  12 Timna was concubine l'Elifaz ben `Esav; and she bore to Elifaz `Amalek.  Eleh b'nei `Adah, eshet `Esav.  13 V'eleh b'nei Re`u'el: Nachat va-Zerach, Shammah u'Mizzah.  Eleh were b'nei Bas'mat, eshet `Esav.  14 V'eleh were b'nei Oholivamah bat `Anah bat Tziv`on, eshet `Esav: she bore l`Esav Ye`ush v'et Yalam v'et Korach.

36:15 Eleh allufei b'nei `Esav: b'nei Elifaz, the firstborn of `Esav: alluf Teman, alluf Omar, alluf Tz'fo, alluf K'naz,  16 alluf Korach, alluf Gatam, alluf `Amalek: eleh allufei Elifaz b'eretz Edom; eleh b'nei `Adah.  17 Eleh b'nei Re`u'el ben `Esav: alluf Nachat, alluf Zerach, alluf Shammah, alluf Mizzah: eleh allufei Re`u'el b'eretz Edom; eleh b'nei Bas'mat, eshet `Esav.  18 Eleh b'nei Oholivamah, eshet `Esav: alluf Ye`ush, alluf Yalam, alluf Korach: eleh allufei Oholivamah bat `Anah, eshet `Esav.  19 Eleh b'nei `Esav, v'eleh are their allufim.  Hu Edom.

36:20 Eleh b'nei Se`ir ha-Chori, the inhabitants of ha-aretz: Lotan v'Shoval v'Tziv`on va`Anah,  21 v'Dishon v'Etzer v'Dishan.  Eleh allufei ha-Chori, b'nei Se`ir b'eretz Edom.  22 B'nei Lotan were Chori v'Heimam va'achot Lotan (was) Timna.  23 Eleh v'nei Shoval: `Alvan, u'Manachat v`Eival, Sh'fo v'Onam.  24 Eleh v'nei Tziv`on v'Ayah va`Anah.  Hu `Anah asher found the hot springs ba-midbar, as he fed ha-chamorim l'Tziv`on aviv.  25 Eleh v'nei `Anah: Dishon v'Oholivamah bat `Anah.  26 V'eleh b'nei Dishan: Chemdan v'Eshban v'Yit'ran u'Kh'ran.  27 Eleh v'nei Etzer: Bilhan v'Za`avan va`Akan.  28 Eleh v'nei Dishan: `Utz va'Aran.  29 Eleh allufei ha-Chori: alluf Lotan, alluf Shoval, alluf Tziv`on, alluf `Anah,  30 alluf Dishon, alluf Etzer, alluf Dishan: eleh allufei ha-Chori, according to their allufim b'eretz Se`ir.

36:31 V'eleh ha-m'lakhim who reigned b'eretz Edom before any melekh reigned lifnei b'nei Yisra'el.  32 Bela ben Be`or reigned b'Edom, and the name of his city was Dinhava.  33 Bela died, and Yovav ben Zerach mi-Botzrah reigned in his place.  34 Yovav died and Chusham me-eretz ha-Temani reigned in his place.  35 Chusham died and Hadad ben B'dad, who struck Midyan bi-s'deh Mo'av, reigned in his place.  The name of his city was `Avit.  36 Hadad died and Samlah mi-Masrekah reigned in his place.  37 Samlah died and Sha'ul me-R'chovot by the river, reigned in his place.  38 Sha'ul died and Ba`al-Chanan ben `Akhbor reigned in his place.  39 Ba`al Chanan ben `Akhbor died and Hadar reigned in his place.  The name of his city was Pa`u, v'shem ishto Meheitav'el bat Mat'red, bat Mei Zahav.

36:40 V'eleh sh'mot allufei `Esav, l'mishp'chotam, after their places, and by their names: alluf Timna, alluf `Alvah, alluf Y'tet,  41 alluf Oholivamah, alluf Elah, alluf Pinon,  42 alluf K'naz, alluf Teman, alluf Mivtzar,  43 alluf Magdi'el, alluf `Iram.  Eleh allufei Edom, according to their habitations b'eretz of their possession.  Hu `Esav, avi Edom.

HAFTARAH VA'YISHLACH:  Ovadyah (Obadiah)



(9) PARASHAT VA'YESHEV
And he dwelt
37 - 40

PEREQ ‏לז‎
CHAPTER 37
37:1 Ya`akov lived b'eretz of the travels of aviv, b'eretz K'na`an.  2 Eleh toledot Ya`akov.  Yosef, a son of seventeen years, was shepharding the flock with his achim.  He was a youth with b'nei Bilhah v'et b'nei Zilpah, n'shei aviv.  Yosef brought an evil report of them el-avihem.  3 V'Yisra'el loved Yosef more than all his (other) banim, because he was the son of his old age, and he made him a long coat with sleeves.37-3  4 His brothers saw that avihem loved him more than all his brothers, and they hated him, and couldn't speak to him l'shalom.  5 Yosef dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him all the more.  6 Vayomer to them, "Please hear this dream which I have dreamed:  7 v'hinneh, we were binding sheaves ba-sadeh, v'hinneh, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; v'hinneh, your sheaves came around, and bowed down to my sheaf."  8 His brothers said to him, "Will you indeed reign over us?  Or will you indeed have dominion over us?"  They hated him all the more for his dreams and for his d'varim.  9 He dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his brothers, vayomer, "Hinneh, I have dreamed yet another dream: v'hinneh, ha-shemmesh and the moon and eleven kokhavim bowed down to me."  10 He told it to aviv and to his brothers.  Aviv rebuked him, and said to him, "What is this dream that you have dreamed?  Will I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves down to you to ha-aretz?"  11 His brothers envied him; but aviv remembered ha-davar.

37:12 His achim went to feed the flock of avihem bi-Sh'khem.  13 Vayomer Yisra'el el-Yosef, "Aren't your achim feeding the flock bi-Sh'khem?  Come, and I will send you to them."  Vayomer to him, "Hinneni."  14 Vayomer to him, "Go now, see whether it is sh'lom with your achim and sh'lom with the flock; and bring me davar again."  So he sent him out of the valley of Chevron, and he came to Sh'khem.  15 A certain man found him, v'hinneh, he was wandering ba-sadeh: and the man asked him, saying, "What are you looking for?"  16 Vayomer, "I am looking for my achim.  Tell me, please, where they are feeding the flock."  17 Vayomer ha-ish, "They have left here, for I heard them say, 'Let us go to Dotan.'"  Yosef went after his achim and found them b'Dotan.  18 They saw him afar off, and before he came near to them, they conspired against him to kill him.  19 They said one to another, "Hinneh, this dreamer comes.  20 Come now therefore, and let's kill him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, 'Chayyah ra`ah has devoured him.'  We will see what will become of his dreams."  21 Re'uven heard it, and delivered him out of their hand, and said, "Let's not take his nefesh."  22 Vayomer Re'uven to them, "Shed no blood.  Throw him into this pit asher ba-midbar, but lay no hand on him" - that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him el-aviv.  23 Va-y'hi, when Yosef came to his achim, that they stripped Yosef of his tunic, the long-sleeved tunic that was on him;  24 and they took him, and threw him into the pit.  The pit was empty.  There was no mayim in it.

37:25 They sat down to eat lechem, and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and saw a caravan of Yishme`elim was coming mi-Gil`ad with their g'malim bearing spices and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Mitzrayim.  26 Vayomer Yehudah to his achim, "What profit is it if we kill achinu and conceal his blood?  27 Come, and let's sell him la-Yishme`elim, and not let our hand be on him; for he is achinu, b'sarenu hu."  His achim listened to him.  28 Merchants, anashim Midyanim, passed by, and they drew and lifted up Yosef out of the pit and sold Yosef to the Yishme`elim for twenty (pieces of) kesef.  They brought Yosef into Mitzrayim.

37:29 Re'uven returned to the pit; and saw that Yosef wasn't in the pit; and he tore his clothes.  30 He returned to his achim vayomer, "Ha-yeled is no more; and I, where will I go?"  31 They took the tunic of Yosef and killed a male goat and dipped the tunic in the blood.  32 They took the long-sleeved tunic and they brought it el-avihem and said, "We have found this.  Examine it, now, whether it is your son's tunic or not."  33 He recognized it, vayomer, "It is my son's tunic.  Chayyah ra`ah has devoured him.  Yosef is without doubt torn in pieces."  34 Ya`akov tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his loins, and mourned `al-b'no yamim rabbim.  35 Kol banav v'khol banotav rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted.  Vayomer, "For I will go down to She'ol to my son mourning."  His father wept for him.  36 Ha-M'danim sold him into Mitzrayim l'Potifar, an officer of Par`oh, the captain of the guard.



PEREQ ‏לח‎
CHAPTER 38
38:1 Va'y'hi at that time, that Y'hudah went down from his achim, and turned in to a certain `Adullami ush'mo Chirah [pale].  2 Y'hudah saw there bat ish K'na`ani u'shmo Shu`a [a cry].  He took her, and went in to her.  3 She conceived, and bore a son; vayikra et-sh'mo `Er [awake].  4 She conceived again, and bore a son; vatikra et-sh'mo Onan [vigorous].  5 She yet again bore a son, vatikra et-sh'mo Shelah: and it was at K'ziv [a lie] that she bore him.  6 Y'hudah took an ishshah l`Er, his firstborn, u'sh'mah Tamar [palm tree].  7 `Er, firstborn of Y'hudah, was wicked in the sight of YHWH.  YHWH killed him.  8 Vayomer Y'hudah l'Onan, "Go in el-eshet achikha, and marry38-8 her, and raise up zera l'achikha."  9 Onan knew that ha-zera wouldn't be his; and it happened, when he went in el-eshet achiv, that he spilled it on ha-aretz, lest he should give zera l'achiv.  10 The thing which he did was evil in the sight of YHWH, and he killed him also.  11 Vayomer Y'hudah l'Tamar his daughter-in-law, "Remain a widow in beit avikh until Shelah b'ni is grown up;" for he said, "Lest he also die, like his brothers."  Tamar went and lived in beit aviha.

38:12 After many days, bat Shu`a, eshet Y'hudah, died.  Y'hudah was comforted and went up to his sheep-shearers to Timnah, he and his friend Chirah ha`Adullami.  13 It was told Tamar lemor, "Hinneh, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep."  14 She took off from her the garments of her widowhood, and covered herself with her veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gate of `Enayim, asher al-derekh to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she wasn't given to him l'ishshah.  15 When Y'hudah saw her, he thought that she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face.  16 He turned to her el-ha-derekh vayomer, "Please come, let me come in to you:" for he didn't know that she was his daughter-in-law.  Vatomer, "What will you give me, that you may come in to me?"  17 Vayomer, "I will send you a kid of the goats from the flock."  Vatomer, "Will you give me a pledge, until you send it?"  18 Vayomer, "What pledge will I give you?"  Vatomer, "Your signet and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand."  He gave them to her, and came in to her, and she conceived by him.  19 She arose, and went away, and put off her veil from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.

38:20 Y'hudah sent the kid of the goats by the hand of his friend, ha`Adullami, to receive the pledge mi-yad ha-ishshah, but he didn't find her.  21 Then he asked the men of her place, saying, "Where is the prostitute that was ba`Enayim al-ha-darekh?"  They said, "There has been no prostitute here."  22 He returned to Y'hudah vayomer, "I haven't found her; v'gam anshei ha-maqom said, 'There has been no prostitute here.'"  23 Vayomer Y'hudah, "Let her keep it, lest we be put to shame.  Hinneh, I sent this kid, and you haven't found her."

38:24 It happened about three months later, that it was told Y'hudah, lemor, "Tamar, your daughter-in-law, has played the prostitute; v'gam, hinneh, she is with child by prostitution."  Vayomer Yehudah, "Bring her forth, and let her be burnt."  25 When she was brought forth, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, "By the man to whom these belong, I am pregnant."  Vatomer, "Please discern whose are these - the signet, and the cords, and the staff."  26 Yehudah acknowledged them, vayomer, "She is more tzaddik than I, because I didn't give her to Shelah, b'ni."  He knew her again no more.

38:27 Va'y'hi in the time of her travail, that hinneh, t'omim were in her womb.  28 It happened, when she travailed, that one put out a hand: and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, "This came out first."  29 Va'y'hi, as he drew back his hand, that hinneh, his brother came out, vatomer, "Why have you made a breach for yourself?"  Vayikra sh'mo Peretz [breach].  30 Afterward his brother came out, that had the scarlet thread on his hand, vayikra sh'mo Zerach [come forth].



PEREQ ‏לט‎
CHAPTER 39
39:1 Yosef was brought down to Mitzrayim.  Potifar, an officer of Par`oh, the captain of the guard, ish Mitzri, bought him mi-yad ha-Yishme`elim that had brought him down there.  2 YHWH was with Yosef, and he was a prosperous man.  He was in the house of his adon, ha-Mitzri.  3 His adon saw that YHWH was with him, and that YHWH made all that he did prosper in his hand.  4 Yosef found favor in his sight.  He ministered to him, and he made him overseer over beito, and all that he had he put into his hand.  5 Va'y'hi from the time that he made him overseer b'veito, and over all that he had, that YHWH blessed beit ha-Mitzri for the sake of Yosef; and the blessing of YHWH was on all that he had, ba-bayit u'va-sadeh.  6 He left all that he had b'yad Yosef.  He didn't concern himself with anything, except for ha-lechem which he ate.  Va'y'hi Yosef was well-built and handsome.

39:7 Va'y'hi achar ha-d'varim ha-eleh, that his master's wife cast her eyes el-Yosef, vatomer, "Lie with me."  8 But he refused, vayomer el-eshet his master, "Behold, adoni doesn't know what is with me ba-bayit, and he has put all that he has b'yadi.  9 He isn't greater in this house than I, neither has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are ishto.  How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against Elohim?"  10 Va'y'hi that as she spoke to Yosef yom yom, that he didn't listen to her, to lie by her, or to be with her.  11 Va'y'hi k'ha-yom hazeh, that he went into ha-bayit to do his work, v'ein ish me-anshei ha-bayit sham ba-bayit.  12 She caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me!"  He left his garment in her hand, and ran outside.  13 Va'y'hi, when she saw that he had left his garment b'yadah, and had run outside,  14 v'tikra l'anshei beitah, vatomer to them, lemor, "Look, he has brought in ish Ivri to us to mock us.  He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried b'qol gadol.  15 It happened, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment by me, and ran outside."  16 She laid up his garment by her, until his adon came home.  17 She spoke to him ka-d'varim ha-eleh, lemor, "Ha-eved ha-Ivri, whom you have brought to us, came in to me to mock me,  18 va'y'hi, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment by me, and ran outside."

39:19 Va'y'hi, when his master heard divrei ishto, which she spoke to him saying ka-d'varim ha-eleh your `eved did to me, that his wrath was kindled.  20 Adonei Yosef took him and put him into the prison, the place where the prisoners of ha-melekh were bound, and he remained there in prison.  21 But YHWH was with Yosef and showed kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.  22 The keeper of the prison committed b'yad Yosef all the prisoners who were in the prison.  Whatever they did there, he was the doer of it.  23 The keeper of the prison didn't pay attention to anything that was under his [Yosef's] hand, because YHWH was with him; and that which he did, YHWH made it prosper.



PEREQ ‏מ‎
CHAPTER 40
40:1 Va'y'hi achar ha-d'varim ha-eleh that the butler of melekh Mitzrayim and his baker offended their adon, melekh Mitzrayim.  2 Par`oh was angry against his two officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.  3 He put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, m'qom asher Yosef was bound.  4 The captain of the guard assigned them to Yosef, and he took care of them.  They stayed in prison many days.  5 They both dreamed a dream, each man his dream, b'lailah echad, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of melekh Mitzrayim, who were bound in the prison.  6 Yosef came in to them ba-boqer, and saw them, v'hinneh, they were sad.  7 He asked the officers of Par`oh who were with him in custody in the house of their adon, lemor, "Why do you look so sad ha-yom?"  8 They said to him, "We have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it."  Vayomer Yosef to them, "Don't interpretations belong to Elohim?  Please tell it to me."

40:9 The chief butler told his dream to Yosef, vayomer to him, "In my dream, hinneh, gefen l'fanai,  10 u'va-gefen were three branches.  It was as though it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and the clusters of it brought forth ripe grapes.  11 V'khos Par`oh b'yadi; and I took the grapes and pressed them el-kos Par`oh, and I gave ha-kos into the palm of Par`oh."  12 Vayomer Yosef to him, "This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are shloshet yamim.  13 B`od shloshet yamim, Par`oh will lift up your head, and restore you to your office.  You will give kos Par`oh b'yado, the way you did when you were his butler.  14 But remember me when it will be well with you, and show kindness, please, to me, and make mention of me to Par`oh, and bring me min-ha-bayit hazeh.  15 For indeed, I was stolen away me-eretz ha-Ivrim, and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon."

40:16 The chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, vayomer el-Yosef, "I also was in my dream, v'hinneh, three baskets of white bread were on my head.  17 In the uppermost basket there were of all kinds of baked food for Par`oh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head."  18 Yosef answered vayomer, "This is the interpretation of it.  The three baskets are shloshet yamim.  19 B`od shloshet yamim, Par`oh will lift up your head from off you, and will hang you on a tree; and the birds will eat your basar from off you."

40:20 Va'y'hi ba-yom ha-shlishi, which was the birthday of Par`oh, that he made a feast for all his `avadim and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and the head of the chief baker among his `avadim.  21 He restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he gave the cup into the palm of Par`oh;  22 but he hanged the chief baker, as Yosef had interpreted to them.  23 Yet the chief butler didn't remember Yosef, but forgot him.

HAFTARAH VA'YESHEV:  Amos 2:6-3:8



(10) PARASHAT MIKKETZ
At the end
41:1 - 44:17

PEREQ ‏מא‎
CHAPTER 41
41:1 It happened at the end of two years (of) days that Par`oh dreamed: v'hinneh, he stood by ha-y'or.  2 V'hinneh, there came up out of ha-y'or sheva parot, well-favored and of robust basar, and they fed in the reed-grass.  3 V'hinneh, sheva parot acherot came up after them out of ha-y'or, of ugly appearance and gaunt basar, and stood by the other parot on the brink of ha-y'or.  4 The parot of ugly appearance and gaunt basar ate up the seven well-favored parot of robust basar.  So Par`oh awoke.  5 He slept and dreamed a second time: v'hinneh, seven ears of grain came up on one stalk, healthy and good.  6 V'hinneh, seven ears, thin and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them.  7 The thin ears swallowed up the seven healthy and full ears.  Par`oh awoke, v'hinneh, it was a dream.  8 Va'y'hi ba-boqer that his ruach was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Mitzrayim, and all the chakhamim of it.  Par`oh told them his dream, but there was no one who could interpret them to Par`oh.

41:9 Then the chief butler spoke to Par`oh lemor, "I remember my faults ha-yom.  10 Par`oh was angry with his `avadim and put me in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, me and the chief baker.  11 We dreamed a dream b'lailah echad, ani va-hu.  We dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.  12 There was with us there a young man, Ivri, `eved to the captain of the guard, and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams.  To each man according to his dream he did interpret.  13 It happened, as he interpreted to us, so it was: me he restored to my office, and him he hanged."

41:14 Then Par`oh sent and called Yosef, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon.  He shaved himself, changed his clothing, and came in to Par`oh.  15 Vayomer Par`oh el-Yosef, "I have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it.  I have heard it said of you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it."  16 Yosef answered Par`oh, lemor, "It isn't in me: Elohim will give Par`oh an answer of shalom."  17 Vai-daber Par`oh el-Yosef, "In my dream, hinneh, I stood on the brink of ha-y'or:  18 v'hinneh, min-ha-y'or came sheva parot, of robust basar and beautiful form.  They fed in the reed-grass,  19 v'hinneh, sheva parot acharot came up after them, poor and of very inferior form and of emaciated basar, such as I never saw b'khol eretz Mitzrayim for badness.  20 The lean and ill-favored parot ate up the healthy first sheva parot,  21 and when they had eaten them up, it couldn't be known that they had eaten them, but they were still ill-favored, as at the beginning.  So I awoke.  22 I saw in my dream, v'hinneh, seven ears came up on one stalk, full and good:  23 v'hinneh, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them.  24 The thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears.  I told it to the magicians; but there was no one who could explain it to me."

41:25 Vayomer Yosef el-Par`oh, "The dream of Par`oh echad hu.  What Elohim is about to do he has declared to Par`oh.  26 Sheva parot ha-tovah are sheva shanim; and the seven good ears are sheva shanim.  The dream echad hu.  27 The seven lean and ill-favored parot that came up after them are sheva shanim, and also the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind; they will be sheva shanim of famine.  28 Hu ha-davar which I spoke to Par`oh.  What Elohim is about to do he has shown to Par`oh.  29 Hinneh, sheva shanim of great plenty come b'khol eretz Mitzrayim.  30 There will arise after them sheva shanim of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten b'eretz Mitzrayim.  The famine will consume ha-aretz,  31 and the plenty will not be known ba-aretz by reason of that famine which follows; for it will be very grievous.  32 The dream was doubled to Par`oh, because the thing is established by Elohim, and Elohim will shortly bring it to pass.  33 Now therefore let Par`oh look for a discreet and wise man, and set him al-eretz Mitzrayim.  34 Let Par`oh do this, and let him appoint overseers `al-ha-aretz, and take up the fifth part of the produce of eretz Mitzrayim in the seven plenteous years.  35 Let them gather all the food of ha-shanim ha-tovot that come, and lay up grain under the hand of Par`oh for food in the cities, and let them keep it.  36 The food will be for a store la-aretz against the seven years of famine, which will be ba-eretz Mitzrayim; that ha-aretz not perish through the famine."

41:37 The thing was good in the eyes of Par`oh, and in the eyes of all his `avadim.  38 Vayomer Par`oh to his `avadim, "Can we find such a one as this, ish asher ruach Elohim has come?"  39 Vayomer Par`oh el Yosef, "Because Elohim has shown you kol zot, there is none so discreet and chakham as you.  40 You shall be over beiti, and according to your mouth will kol `ami be ruled.  Only in ha-kiseh I will be greater than you."  41 Vayomer Par`oh el-Yosef, "Look, I give to you (reign) `al kol eretz Mitzrayim."  42 Par`oh took off his signet ring from his hand, and put it `al-yad Yosef and arrayed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck,  43 and he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had.  They cried before him, "Bow the knee!"  He set him over kol eretz Mitzrayim.  44 Vayomer Par`oh el-Yosef, "Ani Par`oh, and without you shall no man lift up his hand or his foot b'khol eretz Mitzrayim."  45 Vayikra Par`oh shem Yosef Tzafenat-Pa`neach [the god speaks and he lives]; and he gave him As'nat [perh. "belonging to Neit"], bat Poti Fera, Kohen On l'ishshah, and Yosef went out al-eretz Mitzrayim.

41:46 Yosef was a son of thirty years when he stood lifnei Par`oh, melekh Mitzrayim, v'Yosef went out mi-lifnei Par`oh, and went b'khol eretz Mitzrayim.  47 Ha-aretz, b'sheva shanei of plenty, brought forth by handfuls.  48 He gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Mitzrayim, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, he laid up in the same.  49 Yosef laid up grain as the sand of ha-yam, very much, until he stopped counting, for it was without number.

41:50 L'Yosef were born shnei banim before the year of famine came, whom Asenat, bat Poti Fera, Kohen On, bore to him.  51 Vayikra Yosef et-shem of the firstborn Menashsheh ["causing to forget"], "For," he said, "Elohim has made me forget all my toil and kol beit avi."  52 Shem ha-sheni he called Efrayim ["double fruit" (TWOT)]: "For Elohim has made me fruitful b'eretz of my affliction."

41:53 Sheva sh'nim of plenty ended asher hayah b'eretz Mitzrayim.  54 Sheva shanim of famine began to come, just as Yosef had said.  There was famine b'khol ha-aratzot, but ba-kol eretz Mitzrayim there was lechem.  55 When kol eretz Mitzrayim was famished, ha`am cried to Par`oh for lechem, vayomer Par`oh l'khol Mitzrayim, "Go to Yosef.  What he says to you, do."  56 The famine was over kol p'nei ha-aretz, v'Yosef opened all (the store-houses) and sold l'Mitzrayim.  The famine was severe b'eretz Mitzrayim.  57 Kol ha-aretz came to Mitzrayim, to Yosef, to buy grain, because the famine was severe b'khol ha-aretz.



PEREQ ‏מב‎
CHAPTER 42
42:1 V'Ya`akov saw that there was grain b'Mitzrayim, vayomer Ya`akov l'vanav, "Why do you look at one another?"  2 Vayomer, "Hinneh, I have heard that there is grain b'Mitzrayim.  Go down there, and buy for us from there, so that we may live, and not die."  3 The ten brothers of Yosef went down to buy grain mi-Mitzrayim.  4 But Ya`akov didn't send Binyamin, achi Yosef, with his achim; for he said, "Lest perhaps harm befall him."  5 B'nei Yisra'el came to buy among those who came, for the famine was b'eretz K'na`an.

42:6 Yosef was the governor `al-ha-aretz.  It was he who sold l'khol`am ha-aretz.  The brothers of Yosef came and bowed themselves down to him with their faces to aretz.  7 Yosef saw his brothers, and he recognized them, but acted like a stranger to them, and spoke roughly with them, vayomer to them, "Where did you come from?"  They said, "Me-eretz K'na`an to buy food."  8 Yosef recognized his brothers, but they didn't recognize him.  9 Yosef remembered the dreams which he dreamed about them, vayomer to them, "You are spies!  You have come to see the nakedness of ha-aretz."  10 They said to him, "Lo, adoni, but your `avadim have come to buy food.  11 We are all b'nei ish echad; we are honest men.  Your `avadim are not spies."  12 Vayomer to them, "No, but you have come to see the nakedness of ha-aretz."  13 They said, "We, your `avadim, are twelve achim, b'nei ish echad b'eretz K'na`an; v'hinneh, the youngest is with avinu ha-yom v'ha-echad is no more."  14 Vayomer Yosef to them, "It is like I told you, saying, 'You are spies.'  15 Hereby you shall be tested.  By the life of Par`oh you shall not go forth from here, unless your youngest brother come here.  16 Send one of you, and let him get your brother, and you shall be bound, that your d'varim may be tested, whether there is emet in you, or else by the life of Par`oh surely you are spies."  17 He put them all together into custody shloshet yamim.

42:18 Vayomer Yosef to them ba-yom ha-shlishi, "Do this, and live; I fear Elohim.  19 If you are honest men, then let one of your achim be bound in your prison-house; but you go, carry grain for the famine of your houses.  20 Bring your youngest brother to me; so will your d'varim be verified, and you won't die."  They did so.  21 They said one to another, "We are most assuredly guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his nefesh, when he begged us, and we wouldn't listen.  Therefore this distress has come on us."  22 Re'uven answered them, saying, "Didn't I tell you, saying, 'Don't sin against ha-yeled,' and you wouldn't listen?  Therefore also, hinneh, his blood is required."  23 They didn't know that Yosef understood them; for there was an interpreter between them.  24 He turned himself about from them, and wept, and he returned to them, and spoke to them, and took Shim`on from among them, and bound him before their eyes.  25 Then Yosef commanded to fill their vessels with grain, and to restore every man's kesef into his sak, and to give them provisions la-darekh.  Thus was it done to them.

42:26 They loaded their chamorim with their grain, and departed from there.  27 As one of them opened his sak to give his chamor food in the lodging-place, he saw his kesef v'hinneh, it was in the mouth of his sak.  28 Vayomer to his achim, "My kesef is restored, v'hinneh, it is even in my sack."  Their hearts failed them, and they turned trembling one to another, lemor, "Ma-zot `asah Elohim to us?"

42:29 They came el-Ya`akov avihem to ha-aretz K'na`an and told him all that had befallen them, saying,  30 "Ha-ish, adonei ha-aretz, spoke roughly with us, and took us for spies of the country.  31 We said to him, 'We are honest (men).  We are no spies.  32 We are twelve achim, b'nei avinu; one is no more, and the youngest is ha-yom with avinu b'eretz K'na`an.'  33 Ha-ish, adonei ha-aretz, said to us, 'Hereby will I know that you are honest men.  Leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain for the famine of your houses, and go your way.  34 Bring your youngest brother to me.  Then will I know that you are not spies, but that you are honest (men).  So will I deliver you your brother, and you shall trade in ha-aretz.'"

42:35 Va'y'hi as they emptied their sakim, hinneh, every man's bundle of kesef was in his sak.  When they and their father saw their bundles of kesef, they were afraid.  36 Vayomer Ya`akov avihem to them, "You have bereaved me (of my children)!  Yosef is no more, Shim`on is no more, and you want to take Binyamin away.  All these things are against me."  37 Vayomer Re'uven el-aviv, lemor, "Kill my two sons, if I don't bring him to you.  Deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to you again."  38 Vayomer, "My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he only is left.  If harm befall him ba-derekh in which you go, then you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to She'ol."



PEREQ ‏מג‎
CHAPTER 43
43:1 The famine was severe ba-aretz.  2 Va'y'hi that they had eaten up the grain which they had brought mi-Mitzrayim, vayomer avihem to them, "Go again, buy us a little food."  3 Vayomer Y'hudah to him, saying, "The man solemnly warned us, saying, 'You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.'  4 If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food,  5 but if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, 'You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.'"  6 Vayomer Yisra'el, "Why did you treat me so badly, telling the man that you had another brother?"  7 They said, "The man asked directly concerning ourselves and concerning our relatives, saying, 'Is your father still alive?  Have you another brother?'  We just answered his questions.  Is there any way we could know that he would say, 'Bring your brother down?'"  8 Vayomer Y'hudah el-Yisra'el aviv, "Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, so that we may live, and not die, both we, and you, and also our little ones.  9 I will be collateral for him.  From my hand will you require him.  If I don't bring him to you, and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever,  10 for unless we had lingered, surely we would have returned a second time by now."

43:11 Vayomer Yisra'el avihem to them, "If it be so now, do this.  Take from the choice fruits of ha-aretz in your vessels, and carry down a present for the man, a little balm, a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts, and almonds;  12 and take double kesef in your hand, with the kesef that was returned in the mouth of your sacks carry again in your hand.  Perhaps it was an oversight.  13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again el-ha-ish.  14 May El Shaddai give you mercy lifnei ha-ish, that he may release to you your other brother and Binyamin.  If I am bereaved (of my children), I am bereaved."  15 The men took that present, and they took double kesef in their hand, and Binyamin, and rose up, went down to Mitzrayim, and stood lifnei Yosef.

43:16 And Yosef saw Binyamin with them, vayomer to the steward of beito, "Bring ha-anashim into ha-bayit, and butcher an animal, and make ready; for ha-anashim will dine with me at noon."  17 Ha-ish did as Yosef commanded, and the man brought ha-anashim to beit Yosef.  18 Ha-anashim were afraid, because they were brought to beit Yosef; and they said, "Because of ha-kesef that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall on us, and take us for `avadim, along with our chamorim."  19 They came near to the steward of beit Yosef, and they spoke to him at the door of ha-bayit,  20 and said, "Oh, adoni, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:  21 and it happened, when we came to the lodging-place, that we opened our sacks, v'hinneh, every man's kesef was in the mouth of his sack, our kesef in full weight.  We have brought it again in our hand.  22 V'khesef acher have we brought down in our hand to buy food.  We don't know who put our kesef in our sacks."  23 Vayomer, "Shalom to you.  Don't be afraid.  Eloheikhem v'Elohei avikhem has given you treasure in your sacks.  I received your kesef."  He brought Shim`on out to them.  24 The man brought ha-anashim into beit Yosef and gave them mayim, and they washed their feet.  He gave their chamorim provender.  25 They made ready ha-minchah for the coming of Yosef at noon, for they heard that they should eat lechem there.

43:26 When Yosef came to ha-bayit, they brought him ha-minchah which was in their hand into ha-bayit, and bowed down themselves to him to ha-aretz.  27 He asked them of their shalom, vayomer, "Ha-shalom avikhem ha-zaqen of whom you spoke, is he yet alive?"  28 They said, "Your `eved, avinu, is shalom.  He is still alive."  They bowed the head, and did homage.  29 He lifted up his eyes, and saw Binyamin achiv, ben imo, vayomer, "Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me?"  He said, "Elohim be gracious to you, b'ni."  30 Yosef made haste; for his heart yearned over achiv: and he sought a place to weep; and he entered into his room, and wept there.  31 He washed his face, and came out.  He controlled himself, and said, "Serve the meal."  32 They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and ha-Mitzrim, that ate with him, by themselves, because ha-Mitzrim don't eat lechem with ha-Ivrim, for that is an abomination to Mitzrayim.  33 They sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth, and ha-anashim marveled one with another.  34 He sent portions to them from before him, but the portion of Binyamin was five times as much as any of theirs.  They drank, and were merry with him.



PEREQ ‏מד‎
CHAPTER 44
44:1 He commanded the steward of beito, lemor, "Fill the sacks of ha-anashim with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's kesef in the mouth of his sack.  2 Put my cup, the cup of kesef, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, with the kesef of grain."  He did according to davar Yosef had spoken.  3 Ha-boqer or, v'ha-anashim were sent away, they and their chamorim   4 When they had gone out of ha`ir, and were not yet far off, Yosef said to his steward, "Up, follow after ha-anashim.  When you overtake them, tell them, 'Why have you rewarded ra`ah for tovah?  5 Isn't this that from which adoni drinks, and whereby he indeed divines?  You have done evil in so doing.'"

44:6 He overtook them, and he spoke to them ha-d'varim ha-eleh.  7 They said to him, "Why does adoni speak d'varim ca-eleh?  Chalilah from your `avadim that they should do d'var hazeh!  8 Behold, kesef which we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought again to you me-eretz K'na`an.  How then should we steal mi-beit adonekha kesef o zahav?  9 With whoever of your `avadim it is found, let him die, and we also will be l'adoni `avadim."  10 Vayomer, "Now also let it be according to your d'varim: he with whom it is found will be my `eved; and you will be blameless."  11 Then they hurried, and every man took down his sack to ha-aretz, and every man opened his sack.  12 He searched, beginning with the eldest, and ending at the youngest.  The cup was found in the sack of Binyamin.  13 Then they tore their clothes, and every man loaded his chamor, and returned to ha`ir.

44:14 Va-yavo Y'hudah v'echav to beit Yosef, and he was still there.  They fell on ha-aretz before him.  15 Vayomer Yosef to them, "What deed is this that you have done?  Don't you know that such a man as I can indeed divine?"  16 Vayomer Y'hudah, "What will we tell adoni?  What will we speak, or how will we clear ourselves?  Elohim has found out the iniquity of your `avadim.  Hinneh, we are `avadim l'adoni, gam anachnu, and he also in whose hand the cup is found."  17 Vayomer, "Chalilah from me that I should do so.  Ha-ish in whose hand the cup is found, he will be my `eved; but as for you, go up l'shalom el-avikhem."

HAFTARAH MIKKETZ:  M'lakhim Alef (1 Kings) 3:15-4:1

(11) PARASHAT VA'YIGASH
And he approached
44:18 - 47:27

44:18 Then Y'hudah came near to him vayomer, "Oh, adoni, please let your `eved speak a davar in the ears of adoni, and don't let your anger burn against your `eved; for you are even as Par`oh.  19 Adoni asked his `avadim, saying, 'Have you av o ach?'  20 We said to adoni, 'We have av zaqen v'yeled of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of imo; and his father loves him.'  21 You said to your `avadim, 'Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.'  22 We said to adoni, 'The boy can't leave aviv: for if he should leave aviv, then aviv would die.'  23 You said to your `avadim, 'Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will see my face no more.'  24 Va'y'hi when we came up to your `eved avi, we told him divrei adoni.  25 Vayomer avinu, 'Go again, buy us a little food.'  26 We said, 'We can't go down.  If our youngest brother is with us, then will we go down: for we may not see p'nei ha-ish unless our youngest brother is with us.'  27 Vayomer your `eved avi to us, 'You know that ishto bore me two sons:  28 and the one went out from me, and I said, "Surely he is torn in pieces;" and I haven't seen him since.  29 If you take this one also from me, and harm befalls him, you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to She'ol.'  30 Now therefore when I come to your `eved avi, and the boy is not with us; seeing that his nefesh is bound up with his (son's) nefesh;  31 it will happen, when he sees that the boy is no more, that he will die.  Your `avadim will bring down the gray hairs of your `eved avi with sorrow to She'ol.  32 For your `eved became collateral for the boy to avi, saying, 'If I don't bring him to you, then I will bear the blame l'avi kol-ha-yamim.'  33 Now therefore, please let your `eved stay instead of the boy, `eved l'adoni; and let the boy go up with his brothers.  34 For how will I go up el-aviv, if the boy isn't with me?  Lest I see the evil that will come on avi."



PEREQ ‏מה‎
CHAPTER 45
45:1 Then Yosef couldn't control himself before all those who stood before him, and he cried, "Cause every man to go out from me!"  There stood no man with him, while Yosef made himself known to his brothers.  2 He wept aloud.  Mitzrayim heard, and beit Par`oh heard.  3 Vayomer Yosef el-echav, "Ani Yosef!  Ha`od avi chai?"  His brothers couldn't answer him, for they were terrified at his presence.

45:4 Vayomer Yosef el-echav, "Come near to me, please."  They came near.  Vayomer, "Ani Yosef, your ach, whom you sold into Mitzrayim.  5 Now don't be grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here, for Elohim sent me before you to preserve life.  6 For these two years has the famine been in ha-aretz, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest.  7 Elohim sent me before you to preserve you a remnant ba-aretz, and to save you alive by a great deliverance.  8 So now it wasn't you who sent me here, but Elohim, and he has made me av l'Par`oh u'l'adon l'khol beito and ruler b'khol eretz Mitzrayim.  9 Hurry, and go up el-avi, and tell him, 'So says binkha Yosef, "Elohim has made me adon l'khol Mitzrayim.  Come down to me.  Don't wait.  10 You shall dwell b'eretz Goshen, and you will be near to me, attah, u'vaneikha, u'v'nei vaneikha, your flocks, your herds, and all that you have.  11 There I will nourish you; for there are yet five years of famine; lest you come to poverty, attah, u'veitkha, and all that you have."'  12 V'hinneh, your eyes see, and the eyes of achi Binyamin, that it is my mouth that speaks to you.  13 You shall tell avi of all my kavod b'Mitzrayim, and of all that you have seen.  You shall hurry and bring avi down here."  14 He fell on the neck of Binyamin achiv and wept, and Binyamin wept on his neck.  15 He kissed kol echav, and wept on them.  After that, his brothers talked with him.

45:16 The report of it was heard in beit Par`oh, lemor, "Achei Yosef have come."  It pleased Par`oh well, and his `avadim.  17 Vayomer Par`oh el-Yosef, "Tell acheikha, 'Do this.  Load your animals, and go, travel to eretz K'na`an.  18 Take avikhem and your households, and come to me, and I will give you tov eretz Mitzrayim, and you will eat the fat of ha-aretz.'  19 Now you are commanded: do this.  Take wagons me-eretz Mitzrayim for your little ones, and for your nashim, and bring avikhem, and come.  20 Also, don't concern yourselves about your belongings, ki-tov kol eretz Mitzrayim is yours."

45:21 B'nei Yisra'el did so.  Yosef gave them wagons, al-pi Par`oh, and gave them provision la-darekh.  22 To all of them he gave each man changes of clothing, but to Binyamin he gave three hundred (pieces of) kesef and five changes of clothing.  23 L'aviv he sent after this manner: ten chamorim laden mi-tov Mitzrayim, and ten atonot laden with grain and lechem and provision l'aviv la-darekh.  24 So he sent achav away, and they departed.  Vayomer to them, "See that you don't quarrel ba-darekh."  25 They went up mi-Mitzrayim, and came into eretz K'na`an el-Ya`akov avihem.  26 They told him, lemor, "`Od Yosef chai, and he is ruler b'khol eretz Mitzrayim."  His heart fainted, for he didn't believe them.  27 They told him kol divrei Yosef, which he had said to them.  When he saw the wagons which Yosef had sent to carry him, ruach Ya`akov avihem revived.  28 Vayomer Yisra'el, "It is enough.  `Od Yosef b'ni chai.  I will go and see him before I die."



PEREQ ‏מו‎
CHAPTER 46
46:1 Yisra'el took his journey with all that he had, and came to Be'er Shava, and offered sacrifices l'Elohei aviv Yitzchak.  2 Vayomer Elohim l'Yisra'el in visions of ha-lailah, vayomer, "Ya`akov, Ya`akov!"  Vayomer, "Hinneni."  3 Vayomer, "Anokhi ha-El, Elohei avikha.  Don't be afraid to go down into Mitzrayim, for there I will make of you a goy gadol.  4 I will go down with you into Mitzrayim.  I will also surely bring you up again.  Yosef will close your eyes."  5 Ya`akov rose up mi-Be'er Shava, and b'nei Yisra'el carried Ya`akov avihem, their little ones, and their nashim in the wagons which Par`oh had sent to carry him.  6 They took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten b'eretz K'na`an, and came into Mitzrayim - Ya`akov and all his zera with him,  7 banav u'v'nei vanav with him, b'notav uv'not banav, and all his zera he brought with him into Mitzrayim.

46:8 V'eleh sh'mot b'nei Yisra'el who came into Mitzrayim, Ya`akov u'vanav: Re'uven, firstborn of Ya`akov.  9 U'v'nei Re'uven: Chanokh u'Fallu v'Chetzron v'Kharmi.  10 U'v'nei Shim`on: Y'mu'el v'Yamin v'Ohad v'Yakhin v'Tzochar v'Sha'ul ben ha-K'na`anit.  11 U'v'nei Levi: Gershon, K'hat u'M'rari.  12 U'v'nei Y'hudah: `Er v'Onan v'Shelah va'Feretz va'Zarach; but `Er v'Onan died b'eretz K'na`an.  B'nei Feretz were Chetzron v'Chamul.  13 U'v'nei Yissakhar: Tola u'Fuvah v'Yov v'Shimron.  14 U'v'nei Z'vulun: Sered v'Elon v'Yachle'el.  15 Eleh b'nei Le'ah whom she bore l'Ya`akov b'Faddan Aram v'et Dinah vitto.  Kol nefesh banav u'v'notav were thirty-three.  16 U'v'nei Gad: Tzifyon v'Chaggi, Shuni v'Etzbon, `Eri v'Arodi v'Ar'eli.  17 U'v'nei Asher: Yimna v'Yishvah v'Yishvi u'V'ri`ah v'Serach achotam.  U'v'nei V'ri`ah, Chever u'Malki'el.  18 Eleh b'nei Zilpah, whom Lavan gave l'Le'ah vitto, and these she bore l'Ya`akov, sixteen nafesh.  19 B'nei Rachel, eshet Ya`akov: Yosef u'Vinyamin.  20 To Yosef b'eretz Mitzrayim were born Menashsheh v'et Efrayim whom As'nat, bat Poti Fera, Kohen On, bore to him.  21 U'v'nei Vinyamin: Bela u'Vekher v'Ashbel, Gera v'Na`aman, Echi v'Rosh, Muppim v'Chuppim va'Ard.  22 Eleh b'nei Rachel who were born l'Ya`akov: kol nefesh were fourteen.  23 U'v'nei Dan: Chushim.  24 U'v'nei Naftali: Yachtze'el v'Guni v'Yetzer v'Shillem.  25 Eleh b'nei Vilhah whom Lavan gave l'Rachel bitto, and these she bore l'Ya`akov: kol nefesh shiv'ah.  26 Kol ha-nefesh who came with Ya`akov into Mitzrayim, who were his direct descendants, besides the wives of b'nei Ya`akov, kol nefesh were sixty-six.  27 U'v'nei Yosef who were born to him b'Mitzrayim, were two nefesh.  Kol ha-nefesh l'veit Ya`akov who came into Mitzrayim were seventy.

46:28 He sent Y'hudah before him l'Yosef, to show the way before him to Goshen, and they came into eretz Goshen.  29 Yosef made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Yisra'el aviv in Goshen.  He presented himself to him, and fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.  30 Vayomer Yisra'el el-Yosef, "Now let me die, since I have seen your face, that you are still alive."  31 Vayomer Yosef el-achav v'el-beit aviv, "I will go up, and speak with Par`oh, and will tell him, 'Achai u'veit avi asher b'eretz K'na`an, have come to me.  32 V'ha-anashim are shepherds, for they have been keepers of cattle, and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.'  33 It will happen, when Par`oh summons you, and will say, 'What is your occupation?'  34 that you shall say, 'Your `avadim have been keepers of cattle from our youth even until now, gam anachnu gam avoteinu:' that you may dwell b'eretz Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to Mitzrayim."



PEREQ ‏מז‎
CHAPTER 47
47:1 Va-yavo Yosef and told Par`oh vayomer, "Avi v'achai, with their flocks, their herds, and all that they own, have come me-eretz K'na`an; v'hinneh, now they are b'eretz Goshen."  2 From among his brothers he took five anashim and presented them to Par`oh.  3 Vayomer Par`oh el-achav, "What is your occupation?"  They said el-Par`oh, "Your `avadim are shepherds, gam anachnu gam avoteinu."  4 They said el-Par`oh, "We have come to sojourn ba-aretz, for there is no pasture for the flocks of your `avadim, for the famine is severe b'eretz K'na`an.  Now therefore, please let your `avadim dwell b'eretz Goshen."  5 Vayomer Par`oh el-Yosef, lemor, "Avikha v'acheikha have come to you.  6 Eretz Mitzrayim l'faneikha.  Make avikha v'et-acheikha dwell in the best of the land.  Let them dwell b'eretz Goshen.  If you know any able men among them, then put them in charge of my cattle."

47:7 Yosef brought in Ya`akov aviv and set him lifnei Par`oh, and Ya`akov blessed Par`oh.  8 Vayomer Par`oh el-Ya`akov, "How many are the days of the years of your life?"  9 Vayomer Ya`akov el-Par`oh, "The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred thirty years.  Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of avotai in the days of their pilgrimage."  10 Ya`akov blessed Par`oh and went out mi-lifnei Par`oh.  11 Yosef placed aviv v'et echav, and gave them a possession b'eretz Mitzrayim, in the best of ha-aretz b'eretz Ra`meses, as Par`oh had commanded.  12 Yosef nourished aviv v'et achav v'et kol-beit aviv, with lechem, according to (the number of) their children.

47:13 V'lechem ein b'khol-ha-aretz, for the famine was very severe, so that eretz Mitzrayim v'eretz K'na`an fainted by reason of the famine.  14 Yosef gathered up kol ha-kesef that was found b'eretz Mitzrayim u'v'eretz K'na`an, for the grain which they bought: and Yosef brought ha-kesef into beit Par`oh.  15 When ha-kesef me-eretz Mitzrayim u'me-eretz K'na`an was spent, kol Mitzrayim came to Yosef lemor, "Give us lechem, for why should we die in your presence?  For our kesef is gone."  16 Vayomer Yosef, "Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if kesef is gone."  17 They brought their cattle el-Yosef, and Yosef gave them lechem in exchange for the horses, and for the flocks, and for the herds, and for the chamorim: and he fed them with lechem in exchange for all their cattle ba-shanah ha-hi.  18 When ha-shanah ha-hi was ended, they came to him ba-shanah ha-shenit and said to him, "We will not hide me-adoni how our kesef is all spent, and the herds of ha-b'hemah are of adoni.  There is nothing left lifnei adoni but our bodies and our lands.  19 Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land?  Buy us and our land for lechem, and we and our land will be `avadim l'Par`oh.  Give us zera, that we may live, and not die, and that ha-adamah won't be desolate."

47:20 So Yosef bought kol adamat Mitzrayim l'Far`oh, for Mitzrayim sold every man his sadeh because the famine was severe on them, and ha-aretz became Par`oh's.  21 And ha`am, he moved to the cities from one end of the border of Mitzrayim even to the other end of it.  22 Only he didn't buy adamat ha-kohanim, for ha-kohanim had a portion from Par`oh, and ate their portion which Par`oh gave them.  That is why they didn't sell their adamah.  23 Vayomer Yosef el-ha`am, "Behold, I have bought you and your adamah today l'Far`oh.  Behold, here is zera for you, and you shall sow ha-adamah.  24 It will happen at the harvests, that you shall give a fifth l'Far`oh, and four parts will be your own, l'zera ha-sadeh, for your food, for those of your households, and for food for your little ones."  25 They said, "You have saved our lives!  Let us find favor in the sight of adoni, and we will be `avadim l'Far`oh."  26 Yosef made it a statute `ad-ha-yom hazeh al-admat Mitzrayim, that Par`oh should have the fifth.  Only the land of ha-kohanim alone didn't become Par`oh's.

47:27 Yisra'el lived b'eretz Mitzrayim, b'eretz Goshen; and they got themselves possessions therein, and were fruitful, and multiplied exceedingly.

HAFTARAH VA'YIGASH:  Y'chezkel (Ezekiel) 38:15-28

(12) PARASHAT VA'Y'CHI
And he lived
47:28 - 50:26

28 Ya`akov lived b'eretz Mitzrayim for seventeen years.  So the days of Ya`akov, the years of his life, were one hundred forty-seven years.

47:29 The time drew near that Yisra'el must die, vayikra livno l'Yosef vayomer to him, "If now I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and do chesed v'emet with me.  Please don't bury me b'Mitzrayim,  30 but when I sleep with avotai, you shall carry me mi-Mitzrayim, and bury me in their burying place."  Vayomer, "I will do as you have said."  31 Vayomer, "Swear to me," and he swore to him.  Yisra'el bowed himself on the bed's head.



PEREQ ‏מח‎
CHAPTER 48
48:1 Va-y'hi acharei ha-d'varim ha-eleh vayomer (someone) l'Yosef, "Hinneh, avikha is sick."  He took sh'nei banav with him, Menashsheh v'et Efrayim.  2 One told Ya`akov vayomer, "Hinneh, binkha Yosef comes to you," and Yisra'el strengthened himself, and sat on the bed.  3 Vayomer Ya`akov el-Yosef, "El Shaddai appeared to me b'Luz b'eretz K'na`an, and blessed me,  4 vayomer to me, 'Hinneh, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a qahal `ammim, and will give ha-aretz hazot to your zera after you for an everlasting possession.'  5 V'attah sh'nei vaneikha who were born to you b'eretz Mitzrayim before I came to you into Mitzrayim are mine; Efrayim u'M'nashsheh, even as Re'uven v'Shim`on, will be mine.  6 Your issue, born to you after them, will be yours.  They will be called after the name of their brothers in their inheritance.  7 As for me, when I came from Paddan, Rachel died by me b'eretz K'na`an ba-derekh, when there was still some distance to come to Efrat, and I buried her there in the way to Efrat (hi Beit-Lachem)."

48:8 Yisra'el saw b'nei Yosef vayomer, "Mi eleh?"  9 Vayomer Yosef el-aviv, "They are banai, whom Elohim has given me here."  Vayomer, "Please bring them to me, and I will bless them."  10 Now the eyes of Yisra'el were dim for age, so that he couldn't see.  He brought them near to him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.  11 Vayomer Yisra'el el-Yosef, "I didn't think I would see your face, v'hinneh, Elohim has let me see your zera also."  12 Yosef brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to ha-aretz.  13 Yosef took them both, Efrayim in his right hand toward the left hand of Yisra'el, and M'nashsheh in his left hand toward the right hand of Yisra'el, and brought them near to him.  14 Yisra'el stretched out his right hand, and laid it al-rosh Efrayim, who was the younger, and his left hand al-rosh Menashsheh, guiding his hands knowingly, for Menashsheh was the firstborn.  15 He blessed Yosef vayomer, "Ha-Elohim before whom avotai Avraham v'Yitzchak did walk, ha-Elohim who has fed me all my life long `ad ha-yom hazeh,  16 ha-malakh who has redeemed me mi-kol-ra, bless the lads, and let sh'mi v'shem avotai Avraham v'Yitzchak be named on them.  Let them grow into a multitude in the midst of ha-aretz."

48:17 When Yosef saw that aviv laid his right hand `al-rosh Efrayim, it displeased him.  He held up yad aviv to remove it me`al rosh Efrayim `al-rosh Menashsheh.  18 Vayomer Yosef el-aviv, "Not so, avi, for this is the firstborn; put your right hand `al-rosho."  19 Aviv refused, vayomer, "I know, b'ni, I know.  He also will become a people, and he also will be great.  However, achiv ha-qatan will be greater than he, and his zera will become a multitude of goyim."  20 He blessed them ba-yom ha-hu, lemor, "In you will Yisra'el bless, saying, 'Elohim make you as Efrayim and as Menashsheh'"  He set Efrayim lifnei Menashsheh.  21 Vayomer Yisra'el el-Yosef, "Hinneh, I am dying, but Elohim will be with you, and bring you again el-eretz avoteikhem.  22 Moreover, I have given to you sh'khem echad48-22 above your brothers, which I took mi-yad ha-Emori with my sword and with my bow."



PEREQ ‏מט‎
CHAPTER 49
49:1 Vayikra Ya`akov el-banav vayomer: "Gather yourselves together that I may tell you that which will happen to you b'acharit ha-yamim.
2 Assemble yourselves, and hear, b'nei Ya`akov;
Listen el-Yisra'el avikhem.
3 "Re'uven, you are my firstborn, my might, v'reishit of my strength;
the pre-eminence of dignity, and the pre-eminence of power.
4 Boiling over as mayim, you shall not have the pre-eminence,
because you went up to the bed of avikha, then defiled it.
He went up to my couch.
5 "Shim`on v'Levi achim; weapons of violence are their swords.
6 Nafshi, don't come into their council;
K'vodi, don't be united to their qahal,
For in their anger they killed a man;
In their self-will they hamstrung an ox.
7 Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce;
Their wrath, for it was cruel.
I will divide them b'Ya`akov,
Scatter them b'Yisra'el.49-7
8 "Y'hudah, your brothers will praise you.
Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies;
B'nei avikha will bow down before you.
9 Y'hudah is a lion's whelp.
From the prey, b'ni, you have gone up.
He stooped down, he couched as a lion, as a lioness.
Who will rouse him up?
10 The scepter will not depart from Y'hudah,
nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until Shiloh49-10 comes.
To him will be the obedience of `ammim.
11 Binding his foal la-gefen,
the colt of his aton to the choice vine;
He has washed his garments ba-yayin,
his robes in the blood of grapes:
12 His eyes will be red with wine,
His teeth white with milk.
13 "Z'vulun will dwell at the haven of the sea.
He will be for a haven of ships.
His border will be on Tzidon.
14 "Yissakhar is a strong chamor,
Couching down between the sheepfolds.
15 He saw a resting-place ki tov,
v'et-ha-aretz, that it was pleasant;
He bowed his shoulder to bear,
And became an `eved doing forced labor.
16 "Dan yadin `amo k'echad of the tribes of Yisra'el.
17 Dan will be a nachash in the way,
An adder in the path, that bites the horse's heels,
So that his rider falls backward.
18 I have waited for your yeshuah, YHWH.
19 "Gad, a troop will press on him;
But he will press on their heel.
20 Out of Asher his lechem will be fat,
He will yield royal dainties.
21 "Naftali is a doe set free,
who bears beautiful fawns.
22 "Yosef is a fruitful bough,
A fruitful bough by an `ayin;
His branches run over the wall.
23 The archers have sorely grieved him,
Shot at him, and persecute him:
24 But his bow abode in strength,
The arms of his hands were made strong,
By the hands of the Mighty One of Ya`akov,
(Mi-sham ro`eh, even Yisra'el),
25 Me-El avikha, who will help you,
By Shaddai, who will bless you,
with blessings of shamayim above,
Blessings of the deep that couches beneath,
Blessings of the breasts, and of the womb.
26 The blessings of avikha have prevailed
above the blessings of my ancestors,
than the bounty of the age-old hills.
They will be l'rosh Yosef,
On the crown of the head of him who is separated from his brothers.
27 "Binyamin is a ravenous wolf.
Ba-boker he will devour the prey.
V'la-`erev he will divide the spoil."
49:28 All these are the twelve tribes of Yisra'el, and this is what avihem spoke to them and blessed them.  He blessed everyone according to his blessing.  29 He charged them, and said to them, "I am to be gathered el`ami.  Bury me el-avotai in the cave that is bi's'deh `Efron ha-Chitti,  30 in the cave that is bi's'deh ha-Makhpelah asher al-p'nei Mamre b'eretz K'na`an, which Avraham bought et ha-sadeh me-et `Efron ha-Chitti for a possession of a burying-place.  31 There they buried Avraham v'et Sarah ishto.  There they buried Yitzchak v'et Rivkah ishto, and there I buried Le'ah.  32 Ha-sadeh and the cave that is therein was purchased me-et b'nei Chet."  33 When Ya`akov made an end of charging banav, he gathered up his feet into the bed and expired, and was gathered el`amav.



PEREQ ‏נ‎
CHAPTER 50
50:1 Yosef fell al-p'nei aviv, wept on him, and kissed him.  2 Yosef commanded his avadim, the physicians, to embalm aviv, and the physicians embalmed Yisra'el.50-2  3 Forty days were fulfilled for him, for that is how many days it takes to embalm.  Mitzrayim wept for him for seventy days.

50:4 The days of weeping for him were past, vaidaber Yosef el-beit Par`oh, lemor, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the ears of Par`oh, lemor,  5 'Avi made me swear, saying, "Hinneh, I am dying.  Bury me in my grave which I have dug for myself b'eretz K'na`an."  Now therefore, please let me go up and bury avi, and I will come again.'"  6 Vayomer Par`oh, "Go up and bury avikha, just like he made you swear."  7 Yosef went up to bury aviv; and with him went up kol `avdei Far`oh, ziknei beito, v'khol ziknei eretz Mitzrayim,  8 v'khol beit Yosef, v'echav u'veit aviv.  Only their little ones, their flocks, and their herds, they left b'eretz Goshen.  9 There went up with him both chariots and horsemen.  It was a very great company.  10 They came to goren ha-atad [the threshing floor of bramble], which is beyond ha-Yarden, and there they lamented with a very great and sore lamentation.  He mourned for aviv seven days.  11 When the inhabitants of ha-aretz, ha-K'na`ani, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, "This is a grievous mourning by Mitzrayim."  Therefore, the name of it was called Avel-Mitzrayim, which is beyond ha-Yarden.  12 Banav did to him just as he commanded them,  13 for banav carried him b'eretz K'na`an, and buried him in the cave of s'deh ha-Makhpelah, which Avraham bought et-ha-sadeh for a possession of a burying-place, from `Efron ha-Chitti al-p'nei Mamre.  14 Yosef returned into Mitzrayim - hu v'echav, and all that went up with him to bury aviv, after he had buried aviv.

50:15 When achei Yosef saw that avihem was dead, they said, "It may be that Yosef will hate us, and will fully pay us back for all of the evil which we did to him.  16 They sent a message el-Yosef, lemor, "Your father commanded before he died, saying,  17 "So will you tell Yosef, 'Now please forgive the disobedience of your brothers, and their sin, because they did evil to you.'  Now, please forgive the disobedience of `avdei Elohei avikha."  Yosef wept when they spoke to him.  18 Echav also went and fell down before his face; and they said, "Hinneh, we are your `avadim."  19 Vayomer Yosef to them, "Don't be afraid, for am I in the place of Elohim?  20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but Elohim meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is ha-yom hazeh, to save alive `am rav.  21 Now therefore don't be afraid.  I will nourish you and your little ones."  He comforted them, and spoke kindly to them.

50:22 Yosef lived b'Mitzrayim, hu, u'veit aviv.  Yosef lived one hundred ten years.  23 Yosef saw b'nei Efrayim to the third generation.  Gam b'nei Makhir, ben Menashsheh, were born on the knees of Yosef.  24 Vayomer Yosef el-echav, "I am dying, but Elohim will surely visit you, and bring you up min-ha-eretz hazot el-ha-aretz which he swore l'Avraham, l'Yitzchak, u'l'Ya`akov."  25 Yosef took an oath et-b'nei Yisra'el, lemor, "Elohim will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here."  26 So Yosef died, being one hundred ten years old, and they embalmed him, and he was put ba'aron b'Mitzrayim.

HAFTARAH VA'Y'CHI:  M'lakhim Alef (1 Kings) 2:1-12


Chazak! Chazak! V'nitchazek!
Be strong! Be strong! And let us be strengthened![♦]




FOOTNOTES
28:10:  parashat (construct state [see instructions in Glossary] of parashah: portion).  The Torah is divided into 54 parashot (pl) as one traditional method of reading through and studying it in the course of a year. RETURN
31:42:  Fachad Yitzchak, "Dread of Isaac."  "This appellation for God refers to the instinctive dread that Isaac felt at the Akeidah when the knife was on his throat.  Isaac conquered the fear and dedicated himself to God, and Jacob credited this merit with defending him against Laban's machinations (R' Hirsch)." (The Stone Edition Tanach, pg. 78) RETURN
34:14:  "uncircumcised": orlah - lit. "foreskin." RETURN
37:3:  "a long coat with sleeves": k'tonet passim 3801: "a long shirt-like garment, usually of linen."  6446: "flat (of the hand or foot), palm, sole; of the tunic reaching to the palms and soles." RETURN
38:8:  i.e., "perform the duty of a husband's brother in levirate marriage" (Deut. 25:5) RETURN
48:22:  sh'khem echad: one portion, shoulder (perhaps a ridge or line of hills?). RETURN
49:7:  The tribe of Shim`on, few in number, dwelt within the borders of Y'hudah. (Josh. 19:1)  The L'vi'im, as a tribe of priests, were dispesed among the other 12 tribes. RETURN
49:10:  "shiloh": "that which is his" (7886). RETURN
50:2:  Embalming was an Egyptian - not Hebrew - custom. RETURN

Chazak....:  Traditionally said upon completion of each book of the Torah.

Part 1 of GENESIS - - - - - Next Book - EXODUS

BOOKS OF THE HNPV

BEIT HaDEREKH

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Last update 17 December 2019