Jacob, Joseph & Egypt

Then Avimelekh went to him from G'rar with his friend Achuzat and Pikhol the commander of his army.

Yitz'chak said to them, "Why have you come to me, even though you were unfriendly to me and sent me away?"

They answered, "We saw very clearly that ADONAI has been with you; so we said, 'Let there be an oath between us: let's make a pact between ourselves and you

that you will not harm us, just as we have not caused you offense but have done you nothing but good and sent you on your way in peace. Now you are blessed by ADONAI.'"

Yitz'chak prepared a banquet for them, and they ate and drank.

The next morning, they got up early and swore to each other. Then Yitz'chak sent them on their way, and they left him peacefully.

That very day Yitz'chak's servants came and told him about the well they had dug, "We have found water."

So he called it Shiv'ah [oath, seven], and for this reason the name of the city is Be'er-Sheva [well of seven, well of an oath] to this day.

When 'Esav was forty years old, he took as wives Y'hudit the daughter of Be'eri the Hitti and Basmat the daughter of Elon the Hitti.

But they became a cause for embitterment of spirit to Yitz'chak and Rivkah.

In the course of time, after Yitz'chak had grown old and his eyes dim, so that he couldn't see, he called 'Esav his older son and said to him, "My son?" and he answered, "Here I am."

"Look, I'm old now, I don't know when I will die.

Therefore, please take your hunting gear - your quiver of arrows and your bow; go out in the country, and get me some game.

Make it tasty, the way I like it; and bring it to me to eat. Then I will bless you [as firstborn], before I die."

Rivkah was listening when Yitz'chak spoke to his son 'Esav. So when 'Esav went out to the country to hunt for game and bring it back,

she said to her son Ya'akov, "Listen! I heard your father telling 'Esav your brother,

'Bring me game, and make it tasty, so I can eat it. Then I will give you my blessing in the presence of ADONAI, before my death.'

Now pay attention to me, my son; and do what I tell you.

Go to the flock, and bring me back two choice kids. I will make it tasty for your father, the way he likes it;

and you will bring it to your father to eat; so that he will give his blessing to you before his death."

Ya'akov answered Rivkah his mother, "Look, 'Esav is hairy, but I have smooth skin.

Suppose my father touches me -he'll know I'm trying to trick him, and I'll bring a curse on myself, not a blessing!"

But his mother said, "Let your curse be on me. Just listen to me, and go get me the kids!"

So he went, got them and brought them to his mother; and his mother prepared them in the tasty way his father loved.

Next, Rivkah took 'Esav her older son's best clothes, which she had with her in the house, and put them on Ya'akov her younger son;