Chapter III: Part 3

Ephron answered Abraha saynge vnto him My lorde/ harken vnto me. The lande is worth iiij. hundreth sycles of syluer: But what is that betwixte the and me? bury thy deede. And Abraham harkened vnto Ephron and weyde him the sylver which he had sayde in the audyence of the sonnes of Heth. Euen .iiij. h[~u]dred syluer sycles of currant money amonge marchauntes

Thus was the felde of Ephron where in the dubbill caue is before Mamre: euen the felde & the caue that is therein and all the trees of the felde which growe in all the borders rounde aboute/ made sure vnto Abraham for a possession/ in the syghte of the childern of Heth and of all that went in at the gates of the cyte. And then Abraham buried Sara his wyfe in the double caue of the felde that lyeth before Mare/ otherwise called Ebron in the lande of Canaan. And so both the felde ad the caue that is therein/ was made vnto Abraham/ a sure possession to bury in/ of the sonnes of Heth.

¶ The .xxiiij. Chapter

Abraham was olde and stryken in dayes/ and the LORde had blessed him in all thinges. And he sayde vn to his eldest servaunte of his house which had the rule over all that he had: Put thy hande vnder my thye that I maye make the swere by the LORde that is God of heauen and God of the erth/ that thou shalt not take a wyfe vnto my sonne/ of the doughters of the canaanytes/ amonge which I dwell. But shalt goo vnto my contre and to my kynred/ and there take a wyfe vnto my sonne Isaac.

Tha sayde the seruaunte vnto him: what ad yf the woma wyll not agree to come with me vnto this lade/ shall I brynge thy sonne agayne vnto the lande which thou camest out of? And Abraha sayde vnto him: bewarre of that/ that thou br[~i]ge not my sonne thither. The LORde God of heauen which toke me from my fathers house and from the lande where I was borne/ and which spake vnto me and sware vnto me saynge: vnto thy seed wyll I geue this lande/ he shall sende his angell before the/ y^t thou mayst take a wife vnto my sonne from thence. Neuerthelesse yf the woma will not agree to come with the than shalt thou be with out daunger of this ooth. But aboue all thinge brynge not my sonne thyther agayne. And the seruaunte put his hand vnder the thye of Abraham and sware to him as concernynge that matter.

And the seruaunte toke .x. camels of the camels of his master and departed/ and had of all maner goodes of his master with him/ and stode vp and went to Mesopotamia/ vnto the cytie of Nahor. And made his camels to lye doune without the cytie by a wels syde of water/ at euen: aboute the tyme that women come out to drawe water/ and he sayde.

LORde God of my master Abraha/ sende me good spede this daye/ & shewe mercy vnto my master Abraham. Lo I stonde here by the well of water and the doughters of the men of this citie will come out to drawe water: Now the damsell to whome I saye/ stoupe doune thy pytcher and let me drynke. Yf she saye/ drynke/ and I will geue thy camels drynke also/ y^e same is she that thou hast ordened for they servaunte Isaac: yee & therby shall I knowe that thou hast shewed mercy on my master.

And it came to passe yer he had leeft spakynge/ that Rebecca came out/ the doughter of Bethuell/ sonne to Melcha the wife of Nahor Abrahams brother/ and hir pytcher apon hir shulder: The damsell was very fayre to loke apon/ and yet a mayde and vnknowen of man. And she went doune to the well and fylled hyr pytcher and came vp agayne. Then the seruaunte ranne vnto her and sayde: let me syppe a litle water of thi pitcher. And she sayde: drynke my lorde.

And she hasted and laie downe her pytcher apon hyr arme and gaue him drinke. And wh[~e] she had geven hym drynke/ she sayde: I will drawe water for thy camels also/ vntill they haue dronke ynough. And she poured out hyr pitcher in to the trough hastely and ranne agayne vnto the well/ to fett water: and drewe for all his camels.

And the felowe wondred at her. But helde his peace/ to wete whether the LORde had made his iourney prosperous or not. And as the camels had lefte drynckynge/ he toke an earynge of halfe a sicle weght and .ij golden bracelettes for hyr hades/ of .x. sycles weyght of gold and sayde vnto her: whose doughter art thou? tell me: ys there rowme in thy fathers house/ for vs to lodge in? And she sayde vnto him: I am the doughter of Bethuell the sonne of Milcha which she bare vnto Nahor: and sayde moreouer vnto him: we haue litter and prauonder ynough and also rowme to lodge in.

And the man bowed himselfe and worshipped the LORde and sayde: blessed be the LORde God of my master Abraham which ceasseth not to deale mercyfully and truly with my master/ And hath brought me the waye to my masters brothers house. And the damsell ranne & tolde them of her mothers house these thinges. And Rebecca had a brother called Laban.

And Laban ranne out vnto the man/ to the well: for as soone as he had sene the earynges and the bracelettes apon his sisters handes/ ad herde the wordes of Rebecca his sister saynge thus sayde the man vnto me/ than he went out vnto the man. And loo/ he stode yet with the camels by the well syde. And Laban sayde: come in thou blessed of the LORde. Wherfore stondest thou without? I haue dressed the house and made rowme for the camels. And than the ma came in to the house. And he vnbrydeld the camels: and brought litter and prauonder for the camels/ and water to weshe his fete and their fete that were with him/ and there was meate sett before him to eate.

[Sidenote: * God blesseth vs wh[~e] he geveth vs his benefites: and curseth vs/ when he taketh them awaye.]

But he sayde: I will not eate/ vntill I haue sayde myne ear[~e]de: And he sayde/ saye on. And he sayde: I am Abrahas servaunte/ & the LORDE hath * blessed my master out of measure that he is become greate and hath geven him shepe oxen/ syluer and golde/ menservauntes/ maydeservauntes/ camels ad asses. And Sara my masters wyfe bare him a sonne/ wh[~e] she was old: and vnto him hath he geven all that he hath.

And my master made me swere saynge: Thou shalt not take a wyfe to my sonne/ amonge the doughters of the cananytes in whose lade I dwell. But thou shalt goo vnto my fathers house and to my kynred/ and there take a wyfe vnto my sonne. And I sayde vnto my master. What yf the wyfe will not folowe me? And he sayde vnto me: The LORde before whome I walke/ will sende his angell with the and prosper thy iourney that thou shalt take a wyfe for my sonne/ of my kynred and of my fathers house. But and yf (when thou comest vnto my kynred) they will not geue the one/ tha shalt though bere no perell of myne oothe.

And I came this daye vnto the well and sayed: O LORde/ the God of my master Abraha/ yf it be so that thou makest my iourney which I go/ prosperous: behold/ I stode by this well of water/ And when a virgyn cometh forth to drawe water/ and I saye to her: geue me a litle water of thi pitcher to drynke/ and she saye agayne to me: dryncke thou/ and I will also drawe water for thy camels: that same is the wife/ whom the LORde hath prepared for my masters sonne.

And before I had made an ende of speakynge in myne harte: beholde Rebecca came forth/ and hir pitcher on hir shulder/ and she went doune vnto the well and drewe. And I sayde vnto her geue me dryncke. And she made hast and toke doune hir pitcher from of hir/ ad sayd: drinke/ and I will geue thy camels drynke also. And I asked her saynge: whose doughter art thou? And she answered: the doughter of Bathuell Nahors sonne whome Milca bare vnto him.

And I put the earynge vpon hir face and the bracelettes apon hir hondes. And I bowed my selfe and worshepped the LORde and blessed the LORde God of my master Abraha which had brought me the right waye/ to take my masters brothers doughter vnto his sonne. Now therfore yf ye will deall mercyfully and truly with my master/ tell me. And yf no/ tell me also: that I maye turne me to the right hande or to the left.

Than answered Laban and Bathuel saynge: The thinge is proceded even out of the lorde/ we can not therfore saye vnto the/ ether good or bad: Beholde Rebecca before thy face/ take her and goo/ and let her be thy masters sonnes wife/ euen as the LORde hath sayde. And wh[~e] Abrahams servaunte herde their wordes/ he bowed himselfe vnto the LORde/ flatt vpon the erth. And the servaunte toke forth iewells of syluer and iewelles of gold and rayment/ and gaue them to Rebecca: But vnto hir brother & to hir mother/ he gaue spyces. And then they ate and dranke/ both he and the men that were with him/ and taried all nyghte and rose vp in the mornynge.

And he sayde: let me de parte vnto my master. But hir brother and hir mother sayde: let the damsell abyde with vs a while/ ad it be but even .x. dayes/ and than goo thy wayes. And he sayde vnto them/ hinder me not: for the lorde hath prospered my iourney. Sende me away y^t I maye goo vnto my master. And they sayde: let vs call the damsell/ and witt what she sayth to the matter. And they called forth Rebecca ad sayde vnto her: wilt thou goo with this ma? And she sayde: Yee.

[Sidenote: * To bless a mas neyboure is to praye for him ad to wisshe him goode and not to wagge .ij. f[~i]gers ouer him.]

Than they broughte Rebecca their sister on the waye and her norse and Abrahas servaunte/ and the men that were wyth him. And they * blessed Rebecca & sayde vnto her: Thou are oure sister/ growe in to thousande thousandes/ & thy seed possesse y^e gates of their enimes. And Rebecca arose & hir damsels/ & satt th[~e] vp apo the camels & went their waye after the man. And y^e servaunte toke Rebecca & went his waye

And Isaac was a com[~i]ge from the well of y^e lyvynge & seynge/ for he dwelt in the south cotre/ & was gone out to walke in his meditatios before y^e eu[~e] tyde. And he lyfte vp his eyes & loked/ & beholde y^e camels were cominge. And Rebecca lyfte vp hir eyes/ & wh[~e] she sawe Isaac/ she lyghted of the camel ad sayde vnto y^e servaunte: what ma is this y^t cometh agenst vs in the feld? And the serva[~u]te sayde: it is my master. And then she toke hir mantell ad put it aboute her. And the serva[~u]te tolde Isaac all that he had done. Th[~e] Isaac broughte her in to his mother Saras tente/ ad toke Rebecca & she became his wife/ & he loved her: & so was Isaac coforted over his mother.

The .xxv. Chapter

Abraha toke h[~i] another wyfe cald Ketura/ which bare h[~i] Simram/ Iacksan/ Medan/ Midia Iesback & Suah. And Iacksan begat Seba & Deda. And the sonnes of Dedan were Assurim/ Letusim & Leumim. And the sonnes of Midian were Epha/ Epher/ Hanoch/ Abida & Elda. All these were the childern of Kethura. But Abraha gaue all that he had vnto Isaac. And vnto the sonnes of his concubines he gaue giftes/ and sent them awaye from Isaac his sonne (while he yet lyved) east ward/ vnto the east contre.

These are the dayes of the life of Abraha which he lyved: an h[~u]dred & .lxxv. yere and than fell seke ad dyed/ in a lustie age (wh[~e] he had lyved ynough) ad was put vnto his people. And his sonnes Isaac ad Ismael buried him in the duble caue in the feld of Ephro sone of Zoar the Hethite before Mamre. Which felde abraha boughte of the sonnes of Heth: There was Abraha buried and Sara hys wyfe. And after y^e deeth of Abraha God blessed Isaac his sonne which dweld by the well of the lyv[~i]nge & se[~i]ge

These are the generatios of Ismael Abrahas sonne/ which Hagar the Egiptia Saras hand mayde bare vnto Abraham. And these are the names of the sones of Ismaell/ with their names in their k[~i]reddes. The eldest sone of Ismael Neuatoth/ th[~e] Kedar/ Adbeel/ Mibsa/ Misma Duma/ Masa/ Hadar/ Thema/ Ietur/ Naphis & Kedma. These are the sones of Ismael/ and these are their names/ in their townes and castels .xij. princes of natios. And these are the yeres of the lyfe of Ismael: an h[~u]dred and .xxxvij yere/ & than he fell seke & dyed & was layde vnto his people. And he dweld from Euila vnto Sur y^t is before Egypte/ as men go toward the Assirias. And he dyed in the presence of all his brethren.

And these are the generatios of Isaac Abrahas sonne: Abraha begat Isaac. And Isaac was .xl. yere olde wh[~e] he toke Rebecca to wyfe the doughter of Bethuel the Sirian of Mesopotamia & sister to Iaban the Sirian.

And Isaac made intercessio vnto y^e LORde for his wife: because she was bar[~e]: and y^e LORde was [~i]treated of h[~i]/ and Rebecca his wife coceaued: and y^e childern stroue together with[~i] her. th[~e] she sayde: yf it shulde goo so to passe/ what helpeth it y^t I am with childe? And she went & axed y^e LORde. And y^e LORde sayde vnto her there are .ij. maner of people in thi wombe and ij. nations shall springe out of thy bowels/ and the one nation shalbe myghtier than the other/ and the eldest shalbe servaunte vnto the yonger.

And wh[~e] hir tyme was come to be delyuered beholde: there were .ij. twyns in hir wobe. And he that came out first/ was redde & rough ouer all as it were an hyde: and they called his name Esau. And after ward his brother came out & his hande holdynge Esau by the hele. Wherfore his name was called Iacob. And Isaac was .lx. yere olde wh[~e] she bare th[~e]: and the boyes grewe/ and Esau bcame a conynge hunter & a tyllman. But Iacob was a simple man & dwelled in the tentes. Isaac loved Esau because he dyd eate of his venyso/ but Rebecca loued Iacob.

Iacob sod potage & Esau came from the feld & was fa[~i]tte/ & sayd to Iacob: let me syppe of y^t redde potage/ for I am fayntte. And therfore was his name called Edom. And Iacob sayde: sell me this daye thy byrthrighte. And Esau answered: Loo I am at the poynte to dye/ and what profit shall this byrthrighte do me? And Iacob sayde/ swere to me then this daye. And he swore to him & sold his byrthrighte vnto Iacob.

Than Iacob gaue Esau brede & potage of redde ryse. And he ate & dronke & rose vp and went his waye. And so Esau regarded not his byrthrighte.

The .xxvi. Chapter.

And there fell a derth in y^e lande/ passinge the first derth y^t fell in the dayes of Abraham. Wherfore Isaac went vnto Abimelech kinge of y^e Philistias vnto Gerar. Th[~e] the LORde apeared vnto him & sayde goo not doune in to Egipte/ but byde in y^e land which I saye vnto y^e: Sogeorne in this lade/ & I wyll be with y^e & wyll blesse y^e: for vnto the & vnto thy sede I will geue all these cotreis And I will performe the oothe which I swore vnto Abraha thy father/ & will multiplye thy seed as y^e starres of heav[~e]/ & will geue vnto thy seed all these contreis. And thorow thy seed shall all the natios of the erth be blessed/ because y^t Abraha harkened vnto mi voyce & kepte mine ordina[~u]ces/ coma[~u]dm[~e]tes/ statutes & lawes

And Isaac dwelled in Gerar. And y^e m[~e] of the place asked h[~i] of his wife/ & he sayde y^t she was his sister: for he feared to calle her his wife lest the m[~e] of the place shulde haue kylled hym for hir sake/ because she was bewtyfull to y^e eye. And it happened after he had bene there longe tyme/ y^t Abimelech kinge of y^e Philistias loked out at a wyndow & sawe Isaac sportinge with Rebecca his wife. And Abimelech sende for Isaac & sayde: se/ she is of a suertie thi wife/ and why saydest thou y^t she was thi sister? And Isaac saide vnto h[~i]: I thought y^t I mighte peradventure haue dyed for hir sake. Th[~e] sayde Abimelech: whi hast thou done this vnto vs? one of y^e people myght lightely haue lyne by thy wife & so shuldest thou haue broughte synne vpon vs Tha Abimelech charged all his people saynge: he y^t toucheth this man or his wife/ shall surely dye for it.

And Isaac sowed in y^e lade/ & founde in y^e same yere an h[~u]dred bushels: for y^e LORde blessed h[~i]/ & the man waxed mightye/ & w[~e]t forth & grewe till he was exceadinge great/ y^t he had possessio of shepe/ of ox[~e] & a myghtie housholde: so y^t the Philestians had envy at him: In so moch y^t they stopped & fylled vp with erth/ all the welles which his fathers servauntes dygged in his father Abrahams tyme. Than sayde Abimelech vnto Isaac: gett the fro me/ for thou art myghtier then we a greate deale.

Than Isaac departed thense & pitched his tente in the valey Gerar & dwelt there. And Isaac digged agayne/ the welles of water which they dygged in the dayes of Abraha his father which the Philestias had stoppe after y^e deth of Abraha/ & gaue th[~e] the same names which hys father gaue th[~e]. As Isaacs serua[~u]tes dygged in the valey/ they founde a well of springynge water. And the herdm[~e] of Gerar dyd stryue with Isaacs herdm[~e] saynge: the water is oures Than called he the well Eseck because they stroue with hym.

Than dygged they another well/ & they stroue for y^t also. Therfore called he it Sitena. And than he departed th[~e]se & dygged a nother well for the which they stroue not: therfore called he it Rehoboth sa[~i]ge: y^e LORde hath now made vs rowme & we are encreased vpo the erth. Afterward departed he th[~e]ce & came to Berseba

And the LORde apered vnto h[~i] the same nyghte & sayde. I am the God of Abraha thy father/ feare not for I am with the & will blesse the & multiplye thy sede for my serua[~u]te Abrahams sake. And than he buylded an aulter there and called vpo the name of the LORde/ & there pitched his tente. And there Isaacs servauntes dygged a well.

Than came Abimelech to him fro Gerar & Ahusath his frende and Phicol his chefe captayne. And Isaac sayde vnto th[~e]: wherfore come ye to me/ se[~i]ge ye hate me & haue put me awaye fro you? Than sayde they: we sawe that the LORde was with the/ and therfore we sayde that there shulde be an oothe betwixte vs ad the/ & that we wolde make a bonde with the: y^t thou shuldeste do vs no hurte/ as we haue not touched the and haue done vnto the nothinge but good/ and s[~e]d the awaye in peace: for thou art now the blessed of the LORde. And he made th[~e] a feast/ and they ate ad droke. And they rose vp by tymes in the mornynge and sware one to another. And Isaac sent th[~e] awaye. And they departed from him in peace.

And y^t same daye came Isaacs serva[~u]tes & tolde h[~i] of a well which they had dygged: & sayde vnto h[~i]/ that thei had founde water. And he called it Seba/ wherfore the name of the cyte is called Berseba vnto this daye.

The .xxvij. Chapter.

When Esau was .xl. yere olde/ he toke to wyfe Iudith the doughter of Bery an Hethite/ and Basmath the doughter of Elon an Hethite also/ which were dishobedient vnto Isaac and Rebecca. And it came to passe that Isaac wexed olde & his eyes were dymme/ so that he coude nat see. Tha called he Esau his eldest sonne & sayde vnto him: mi sonne. And he sayde vnto hym: heare am I. And he sayde: beholde/ I am olde ad knowe not the daye of mi deth: Now therfore take thi weap[~e]s/ thy quiver & thi bowe/ & gett the to the feldes & take me some venyson & make me meate such as I loue/ & brynge it me & let me eat that my soull may blesse the before that I dye:

But Rebecca hard wh[~e] Isaac spake to Esau his sonne. And as soone as Esau was gone to the felde to catche venyson & to br[~i]ge it/ she spake vnto Iacob hir sonne sainge: Behold I haue herde thi father talkinge with Esau thy brother & saynge: bringe me venyson & make me meate that I maye eate & blesse the before the LORde yer I dye. Now therfore my sonne heare my voyce in that which I comaunde the: gett the to the flocke/ & bringe me th[~e]ce .ij. good kiddes/ & I will make meate of th[~e] for thi father/ soch as he loueth. And thou shalt br[~i]ge it to thi father & he shal eate/ y^t he maye blysse the before his deth

Than sayde Iacob to Rebecca his mother. Beholde Esau mi brother is rugh & I am smooth. Mi father shal peradu[~e]ture fele me/ ad I shal seme vnto h[~i] as though I w[~e]t aboute to begyle h[~i]/ & so shall he br[~i]ge a curse vpo me & not a bless[~i]ge: & his mother saide vnto him. Vppo me be thi curse my sonne/ only heare my voyce & goo and fetch me them. And Iacob went ad fett them and brought them to his mother.

And his mother made meate of them accordinge as his father loued And she went and fett goodly rayment of her eldest sonne Esau which she had in the house with hir/ and put them vpon Iacob hir yongest sonne/ ad she put the skynnes vpon his hades & apon the smooth of his necke. And she put y^e meate & brede which she had made in the hode of hir sonne Iacob

And he went in to his father saynge: my father/ And he aswered: here am I/ who are thou my sonne? And Iacob sayde vnto his father: I am Esau thy eldest sonne/ I haue done acordinge as thou baddest me/ vp and sytt and eate of my venyson/ that thi soule maye blesse me. But Isaac sayde vnto his sonne. How cometh it that thou hast fownde it so quicly my sonne? He answered: The LORde thy god brought it to my hande. Than sayde Isaac vnto Iacob: come nere and let me fele the my sonne/ whether thou be my sonne Esau or not. Than went Iacob to Isaac his father/ & he felt him & sayde the voyce is Iacobs voyce/ but the hades ar y^e hades of Esau. And he knewe him not/ because his handes were rough as his brother Esaus handes: And so he blessed him.

And he axed him/ art thou my sonne Esau? And he sayde: that I am. Than sayde he: brynge me and let me eate of my sonnes venyson/ that my soule maye blesse the. And he broughte him/ and he ate. And he broughte him wyne also/ and he dranke. And his father Isaac sayde vnto him: come nere and kysse me my sonne. And he w[~e]t to him & kissed him. And he smelled y^e sauoure of his raym[~e]t & blessed h[~i] & sayde See/ y^e smell of my sone is as y^e smell of a feld which the lorde hath blessed. God geue the of y^e dewe of heav[~e] & of the fatnesse of the erth and pl[~e]tie of corne & wyne. People be thy servauntes & natios bowe vnto the. Be lorde ouer thy brethr[~e]/ and thy mothers children stoupe vnto the. Cursed be he y^t curseth the/ & blessed be he that blesseth the.

As soone as Isaac had made an end of bless[~i]g/ Iacob and Iacob was scace gone out fro the preasence of Isaac his father: then came Esau his brother fro his huntynge: And had made also meate/ and brought it in vnto his father & sayde vnto him: Aryse my father & eate of thy sonnes venyson/ that thy soule may blesse me. Tha his father Isaac sayde vnto him. Who art thou? he answered I am thy eldest sonne Esau.

And Isaac was greatly astoyned out of mesure and sayde: Where is he then that hath h[~u]ted venyson and broughte it me/ and I haue eaten of all before thou camest/ and haue blessed him/ ad he shall be blessed styll. Wh[~e] Esau herde the wordes of his father/ he cryed out greatly & bitterly aboue mesure/ and sayde vnto his father: blesse me also my father. And he sayde thy brother came with subtilte/ ad hath tak[~e] awaye thy blessynge. Then sayde he: He maye well be called Iacob/ for he hath vndermyned me now .ij. tymes/ fyrst he toke awaye my byrthrighte: and se/ now hath he taken awaye my blessynge also. And he sayde/ hast thou kepte neuer a blessynge for me?

Isaac answered and sayde vnto Esau: beholde I haue made him thi LORde & all his mothers childern haue I made his seruauntes. Moreouer wyth corne ad wyne haue I stablesshed him/ what ca I do vnto the now my sonne? And Esau sayde vnto his father: hast thou but y^t one blessynge my father? blesse me also my father: so lyfted vp Esau his voyce & wepte Tha Isaac his father answered & sayde vnto him

Beholde thy dwellynge place shall haue of the fatnesse of the erth/ & of the dewe of heauen fro aboue. And wyth thy swerde shalt thou lyue and shalt be thy brothers seruaunte But the tyme will come/ when thou shalt gett the mastrye/ and lowse his yocke from of thy necke.

And Esau hated Iacob because of the blessynge y^t his father blessed him with all/ & sayde in his harte: The dayes of my fathers sorowe are at hade/ for I will sley my brother Iacob. And these wordes of Esau hir eldest sonne/ were told to Rebecca. And she sente ad called Iacob hir yongest sonne/ and sayde vnto h[~i]: beholde thy brother Esau threatneth to kyll the: Now therfore my sone heare my voyce/ make the redie & flee to Laba my brother at Haran And tarie with him a while/ vntill thy brothers fearsnes be swaged/ and vntill thy brothers wrath turne away from the/ and he forgett that which thou hast done to him. Tha will I sende and fett the awaye from thence. Why shulde I lose you both in one daye.

And Rebecca spake to Isaac: I am wery of my life/ for feare of the doughters of Heth. Yf Iacob take a wife of the doughters of Heth/ soch one as these are/ or of the doughters of the lande/ what lust shulde I haue to lyue.

¶ The .xxviij. Chapter.

Than Isaac called Iacob his sonne and blessed him/ ad charged him and sayde vnto him: se thou take not a wife of the doughters of Canaan/ but aryse ad gett the to Mesopotamia of the house of Bethuel thy mothers father: and there take the a wife of the doughters of Laban thi mothers brother. And God allmightie blesse the/ increase the and multiplie the that thou mayst be a nombre of people/ and geue the the blessynge of Abraham: both to the and to thy seed with the that thou mayst possesse the lade (wherein thou art a strangere) which God gaue vnto Abraham. Thus Isaac sent forth Iacob/ to goo to Mesopotamia vnto Laban/ sonne of Bethuel the Sirien/ and brother to Rebecca Iacobs & Esaus mother.

When Esau sawe that Isaac had blessed Iacob/ and sent him to Mesopotamia/ to fett him a wife thence/ and that/ as he blessed him he gaue him a charge saynge: se thou take not a wife of the doughters of Canaan: and that Iacob had obeyed his father and mother/ & was gone vnto Mesopotamia: and seynge also that the doughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father: Then went he vnto Ismael/ and toke vnto the wiues which he had/ Mahala the doughter of Ismael Abrahams sonne/ the sister of Nabaioth to be his wife.

Iacob departed from Berseba and went toward Haran/ and came vnto a place and taried there all nyghte/ because the sonne was downe. And toke a stone of the place/ and put it vnder his heade/ and layde him downe in the same place to slepe. And he dreamed: and beholde there stode a ladder apon the erth/ and the topp of it reached vpp to heau[~e]. And se/ the angells of God went vp and downe apon it/ yee ad the LORde stode apon it and sayde.

I am the LORde God of Abraham thi father and the God of Isaac: The londe which thou slepest apon will I geue the and thy seed. And thy seed shalbe as the dust of the erth: And thou shalt spreade abrode: west/ east/ north and south. And thorow the and thy seed shall all the kynreddes of the erth be blessed. And se I am with the/ and wylbe thy keper in all places whother thou goost/ & wyll brynge y^e agayne in to this lande: Nether will I leaue the vntill I haue made good/ all that I haue promysed the.

When Iacob was awaked out of his slepe/ he sayde: surely the LORde is in this place/ ad I was not aware. And he was afrayde & sayde how fearfull is this place? it is none other/ but euen the house of God and the gate of heau[~e]. And Iacob stode vp early in the mornynge and toke the stone that he had layde vnder his heade/ and pitched it vp an ende and poured oyle on the topp of it. And he called the name of the place Bethell/ for in dede the name of the citie was called Lus before tyme.

And Iacob vowed a vowe saynge: Yf God will be with me and wyll kepe me in this iourney which I goo and will geue me bread to eate and cloothes to put on/ so that I come agayne vnto my fathers house in saftie: then shall the LORde be my God/ and this stone which I haue sett vp an ende/ shalbe godes house/ And of all that thou shalt geue me/ will I geue the tenth vnto the.

¶ The .xxix. Chapter.

Then Iacob lyfte vp his fete & w[~e]t toward the east countre. And as he loked aboute/ behold there was a well in the feld/ and .iij. flockes of shepe laye therby (for at that well were the flockes watered) & there laye a great stone at the well mouth And the maner was to brynge the flockes thyther/ & to roull the stone fro the welles mouth and to water the shepe/ and to put the stone agayne vppon the wells mouth vnto his place.

And Iacob sayde vnto th[~e]: brethern/ wh[~e]ce be ye? and they sayde: of Haran ar we. And he sayde vnto th[~e]: knowe ye Laban the sonne of Nahor. And they sayde: we knowe him. And he sayde vnto th[~e]: is he in good health? And they sayde: he is in good health: and beholde/ his doughter Rahel cometh with y^e shepe. And he sayde: lo/ it is yet a great whyle to nyghte/ nether is it tyme y^t the catell shulde be gathered together: water the shepe and goo and fede th[~e]. And they sayde: we maye not/ vntill all y^e flockes be brought together & the stone be roulled fro the wells mouth/ and so we water oure shepe.

Whyle he yet talked with th[~e]/ Rahel came with hir fathers shepe/ for she kepte them. As soone As Iacob sawe Rahel/ the doughter of Laban his mothers brother/ and the shepe of Laban his mothers brother/ he went and rowled the stone fro the wells mouth/ and watered the shepe of Laba his mothers brother And Iacob kyssed Rahel/ and lyfte vp his voyce and wepte: and tolde her also y^t he was hir fathers brother and Rebeccas sonne. Th[~e] Rahel ranne and tolde hir father.

When Laban herd tell of Iacob his sisters sonne/ he ranne agaynst him and enbraced h[~i] & kyssed him ad broughte him in to his house. And th[~e] Iacob told Laba all y^e matter And th[~e] Laba sayde: well/ thou art my bone & my flesh. Abyde with me the space of a moneth. And afterward Laban sayd vnto Iacob: though thou be my brother/ shuldest thou therfore serue me for nought? tell me what shall thi wages be? And Laban had .ij. doughters/ the eldest called Lea and the yongest Rahel. Lea was tender eyed: But Rahel was bewtifull ad well fauored. And Iacob loued her well/ and sayde: I will serue the .vij. yere for Rahel thy yongest doughter. And Laban answered: it is better y^t I geue her the/ than to another man: byde therfore with me.

And Iacob serued .vij. yeres for Rahel/ and they semed vnto him but a fewe dayes/ for the loue he had to her. And Iacob sayde vnto Laban/ geue me my wife/ that I maye lye with hir For the tyme appoynted me is come.

Than Laban bade all the men of that place/ and made a feast. And when eu[~e] was come/ he toke Lea his doughter and broughte her to him and he went in vnto her. And Laban gaue vnto his doughter Lea/ Zilpha his mayde/ to be hir seruaunte.

And when the mornynge was come/ beholde it was Lea. Than sayde he to Laban: wherfore hast thou played thus with me? dyd not I serue the for Rahel/ wherfore than hast thou begyled me? Laban answered: it is not the maner of this place/ to marre the yongest before the eldest. Passe out this weke/ & tha shall this also be geven the for y^e seruyce which thou shalt serue me yet .vij. yeres more. And Iacob dyd eu[~e] so/ and passed out that weke/ & than he gaue h[~i] Rahel his doughter to wyfe also. And Laban gaue to Rahel his doughter/ Bilha his handmayde to be hir serva[~u]te. So laye he by Rahel also/ and loved Rahel more than Lea/ and serued him yet .vij. yeres more.

When the LORde sawe that Lea was despised/ he made her frutefull: but Rahel was baren. And Lea conceaued and bare a sonne/ ad called his name Rub[~e]/ for she sayde: the LORde hath loked apon my tribulation. And now my husbonde will loue me. And she conceaued agayne and bare a sonne/ and sayde: the LORde hath herde that I am despised/ ad hath therfore geuen me this sonne also/ and she called him Simeon. And she conceaued yet and bare a sonne/ ad sayde: now this once will my husbonde kepe me company/ because I haue borne him .iij. sonnes: and therfore she called his name Levi. And she conceaued yet agayne/ and bare a sonne saynge: Now will I prayse the LORde: therfore she called his name Iuda/ and left bearynge.

¶ The .xxx. Chapter

When Rahel sawe that she bare Iacob no childern/ she enuied hir sister & sayde vnto Iacob: geue me childern/ or ells I am but deed. Than was Iacob wrooth with Rahel saynge: Am I in godes steade which kepeth fro the the frute of thi wobe? Th[~e] she sayde: here is my mayde Bilha: go in vnto her/ that she maye beare vpo my lappe/ that I maye be encreased by her. And she gaue him Bilha hir hadmayde to wife. And Iacob w[~e]t in vnto her/ And Bilha conceaued and bare Iacob a sonne. Than sayde Rahel. God hath geuen sent[~e]ce on my syde/ and hath also herde my voyce/ and hath geuen me a sonne. Therfore called she him Dan. And Bilha Rahels mayde coceaued agayne and bare Iacob a nother sonne. And Rahel sayde. God is turned/ and I haue made a chaunge with my sister/ & haue got[~e] y^e vpper hade. And she called his name Nepthali

Wh[~e] Lea sawe that she had left bearinge/ she toke Silpha hir mayde and gaue her Iacob to wiffe. And Silpha Leas mayde bare Iacob a sonne. Than sayde Lea: good lucke: and called his name Gad. And Silpha Leas mayde bare Iacob an other sonne. Tha sayd Lea: happy am I/ for the doughters will call me blessed. And called his name Asser.

And Rub[~e] w[~e]t out in the wheat haruest & fo[~u]de mandragoras in the feldes/ and brought th[~e] vnto his mother Lea. Than sayde Rahel to Lea geue me of thy sonnes madragoras. And Lea answered: is it not ynough/ y^t thou hast tak[~e] awaye my housbode/ but woldest take awaye my sonnes mandragoras also? Than sayde Rahel well/ let him slepe with the this nyghte/ for thy sonnes mandragoras. And wh[~e] Iacob came from the feldes at euen/ Lea went out to mete him/ & sayde: come in to me/ for I haue bought the with my sonnes mandragoras.

And he slepte with her that nyghte. And God herde Lea/ y^t she coceaved and bare vnto Iacob y^e .v. sonne. Than sayde Lea. God hath geu[~e] me my rewarde/ because I gaue my mayd[~e] to my housbod/ and she called him Isachar. And Lea coceaued yet agayne and bare Iacob the sexte sonne. Than sayde she: God hath endowed me with a good dowry. Now will my housbond dwell with me/ because I haue borne him .vi. sonnes: and called his name Zabulo. After that she bare a daughter and called her Dina.

And God rem[~e]bred Rahel/ herde her/ and made her frutefull: so that she coceaued and bare a sonne and sayde God hath tak[~e] awaye my rebuke. And she called his name Ioseph saynge The lorde geue me yet another sonne.

As soone as Rahel had borne Ioseph/ Iacob sayde to Laban: S[~e]de me awaye y^t I maye goo vnto myne awne place and c[~u]tre/ geue me my wives and my childern for whome I haue serued the/ and let me goo: for thou knowest what seruyce I haue done the. Than sayde Laban vnto h[~i]: If I haue fownde fauoure in thy syghte (for I suppose y^t the LORde hath blessed me for thy sake) appoynte what thy rewarde shalbe/ and I will geue it y^e. But he sayde vnto hym/ thou knowest what seruyce I haue done y^e/ & in what takynge thy catell haue bene vnder me: for it was but litle that thou haddest before I came/ and now it is encreased in to a multitude/ and the LORDE hath blessed the for my sake. But now when shall I make provysion for myne awne house also? And he sayde: what shall I geue the? And Iacob answerd: thou shalt geue me nothinge at all/ yf thou wilt do this one thinge for me: And then will I turne agayne & fede thy shepe and kepe them.

I will go aboute all thy shepe this daye/ and separate fro th[~e] all the shepe that are spotted and of dyverse coloures/ and all blacke shepe amonge the lambes and the partie and spotted amonge the kyddes: And then such shalbe my rewarde. So shall my rightwesnes answere for me: when the tyme commeth that I shall receaue my rewarde of the: So that what soeuer is not speckeld and partie amonge the gootes and blacke amonge the lambes/ let that be theft with me.

Than sayde Laban: loo/ I am cont[~e]te/ that it be acordinge as thou hast sayde. And he toke out that same daye the he gootes that were partie & of dyuerse coloures/ & all the she gootes that were spotted and partie coloured/ & all that had whyte in th[~e]/ & all the blacke amonge the lambes: ad put th[~e] in the kepinge of his sonnes/ & sett thre dayes iourney betwixte h[~i]selfe & Iacob. And so Iacob kepte y^e rest of Labas shepe.

Iacob toke roddes of grene popular/ hasell/ & of chestnottrees/ & pilled whyte strakes in th[~e] & made the white apere in the staues: And he put the staues which he had pilled/ eu[~e] before y^e shepe/ in the gutters & watrynge troughes/ wh[~e] the shepe came to drynke: y^t they shulde coceaue wh[~e] they came to drynke. And the shepe coceaued before the staues & brought forth straked/ spotted & partie. Th[~e] Iacob parted the labes/ & turned the faces of the shepe toward spotted thinges/ & toward allmaner of blacke thinges thorow out the flockes of Laba. And he made him flockes of his owne by th[~e] selfe/ which he put not vnto the flockes of Laba. And allwaye in the first buckinge tyme of the shepe/ Iacob put the staues before the shepe in the gutters/ y^t they myghte conceaue before the staues/ But in the latter buckynge tyme/ he put them not there: so the last brode was Labas and the first Iacobs. And the man became excedynge ryche & had many shepe/ maydeseruauntes/ menseruauntes/ camels & asses.

¶ The .xxxi. Chapter.

And Iacob herde the wordes of Labas sonnes how they sayde: Iacob hath tak[~e] awaye all that was oure fathers/ and of oure fathers goodes/ hath he got[~e] all this honoure. And Iacob behelde the countena[~u]ce of Laban/ that it was not toward him as it was in tymes past.

And the LORde sayde vnto Iacob: turne agayne in to the lade of thy fathers & to thy kynred/ & I wilbe with y^e. Tha Iacob sent & called Rahel & Lea to the felde vnto his shepe/ & sayde vnto th[~e]: I se youre fathers countena[~u]ce y^t it is not toward me as in tymes past. Morouer y^e God of my father hath bene with me. And ye knowe how that I haue serued youre father with all my myghte. And youre father hath disceaued me & chaunged my wages .x. tymes: But God suffred him not to hurte me. When he sayde the spotted shalbe thy wages/ tha all the shepe bare spotted. Yf he sayde the straked shalbe thi rewarde/ tha bare all the shepe straked: thus hath God tak[~e] awaye youre fathers catell & geu[~e] th[~e] me. For in buckynge tyme/ I lifted vp myne eyes and sawe in a dreame: and beholde/ the rammes that bucked the shepe were straked/ spotted and partie. And the angell of God spake vnto me in a dreame saynge: Iacob. And I answered: here am I. And he sayde: lyfte vp thyne eyes ad see/ how all the rames that leape vpon the shepe are straked/ spotted and partie: for I haue sene all that Laban doth vnto y^e. I am y^e god of Bethell where thou anoynteddest the stone ad where thou vowdest a vowe vnto me. Now aryse and gett the out of this countre/ ad returne vnto the lade/ where thou wast borne. Than answered Rahel & Lea & sayde vnto him: we haue no parte nor enheritaunce in oure fathers house he cownteth us eu[~e] as straungers/ for he hath solde vs/ and hath euen eaten vp the price of vs. Moreouer all the riches which God hath tak[~e] from oure father/ that is oures and oure childerns. Now therfore what soeuer God hath sayde vnto the/ that doo. Tha Iacob rose vp & sett his sones and wiues vp vpon camels/ and caried away all his catell & all his substace which he had gott[~e] in Mesopotamia/ for to goo to Isaac his father vnto the lade of Canaan. Laba was gone to shere his shepe/ & Rahel had stoll[~e] hir fathers ymages. And Iacob went awaye vnknowynge to Laban the Siri[~e]/ & tolde him not y^t he fled. So fled he & all y^t he had/ & made him self redy/ & passed ouer the ryuers/ and sett his face streyght towarde the mounte Gilead.

Apo the thirde day after/ was it tolde Laba y^t Iacob was fled. Tha he toke his brethr[~e] with him and folowed after him .vij. dayes iourney and ouer toke him at the mounte Gilead. And God came to Laba the Siria in a dreame by nighte/ and sayde vnto him: take hede to thi selfe/ that thou speake not to Iacob oughte save good. And Laba ouer toke Iacob: and Iacob had pitched his t[~e]te in y^t mounte. And Laban with his brethern pitched their t[~e]te also apon the mounte Gilead. Than sayde Laba to Iacob: why hast thou this done vnknowynge to me/ and hast caried awaye my doughters as though they had bene tak[~e] captyue with swerde? Wherfore wentest thou awaye secretly vnknowne to me & didest not tell me/ y^t I myghte haue broughte y^e on the waye with myrth/ syngynge/ tymrells and harppes/ and hast not suffred me to kysse my childern & my doughters. Thou wast a fole to do it/ for I am able to do you evell. But the God of youre father spake vnto me yesterdaye saynge take hede tha thou speake not to Iacob oughte saue goode. And now though thou w[~e]test thi waye because thou logest after thi fathers house/ yet wherfore hast thou stollen my goddes?

Iacob answerd & sayde to Laba: because I was afrayed/ & thought that thou woldest haue tak[~e] awaye thy doughters fro me. But with whome soeuer thou fyndest thy goddes/ let him dye here before oure brethr[~e]. Seke that thine is by me/ & take it to the: for Iacob wist not that Rahel had stoll[~e] th[~e]. Tha w[~e]t Laba in to Iacobs t[~e]te/ & in to Leas t[~e]te/ & in to .ij. maydens tentes: but fownde th[~e] not. Tha w[~e]t he out of Leas t[~e]te/ & entred in to Rahels t[~e]te. And Rahel toke the ymages/ & put them in the camels strawe & sate doune apo th[~e]. And Laba serched all the t[~e]te: but fownde th[~e] not. Tha sayde she to hir father: my lorde/ be not angrye y^t I ca not ryse vp before the/ for the disease of wem[~e] is come apon me. So searched he/ but fo[~u]de th[~e] not.

Iacob was wrooth & chode with Laba: Iacob also answered and sayde to him: what haue I trespaced or what haue I offended/ that thou foloweddest after me? Thou hast searched all my stuffe/ and what hast thou founde of all thy housholde stuffe? put it here before thi brethern & myne/ & let th[~e] iudge betwyxte vs both. This xx. yere y^t I haue bene wyth the/ thy shepe and thy gootes haue not bene baren/ and the rammes of thi flocke haue I not eat[~e]. What soeuer was torne of beastes I broughte it not vnto y^e/ but made it good my silf: of my hade dydest thou requyre it/ whether it was stollen by daye or nyghte Moreouer by daye the hete consumed me/ and the colde by nyghte/ and my slepe departed fro myne eyes.

Thus haue I bene .xx. yere in thi house/ and serued the .xiiij. yeres for thy .ij. doughters/ and vi. yere for thi shepe/ and thou hast changed my rewarde .x. tymes. And excepte the God of my father/ the God of Abraha and the God whome Isaac feareth/ had bene with me: surely thou haddest sent me awaye now all emptie. But God behelde my tribulation/ and the laboure of my handes: and rebuked the yester daye.

Laban answered ad sayde vnto Iacob: the doughters are my doughters/ and the childern ar my childern/ and the shepe are my shepe/ ad all that thou seist is myne. And what can I do this daye vnto these my doughters/ or vnto their childern which they haue borne? Now therfore come on/ let us make a bonde/ I and thou together/ and let it be a wytnesse betwene the & me. Than toke Iacob a stone and sett it vp an ende/ ad sayde vnto his brethern/ gather stoones And they toke stoones ad made an heape/ and they ate there/ vpo the heape. And Laba called it Iegar Sahadutha/ but Iacob called it Gylead.

Than sayde Laban: this heape be witnesse betwene the and me this daye (therfore is it called Gilead) and this totehill which the lorde seeth (sayde he) be wytnesse betwene me and the when we are departed one from a nother: that thou shalt not vexe my doughters nether shalt take other wyves vnto them. Here is no man with vs: beholde/ God is wytnesse betwixte the and me. And Laban sayde moreouer to Iacob: beholde/ this heape & this marke which I haue sett here/ betwyxte me and the: this heape be wytnesse and also this marcke/ that I will not come ouer this heape to the/ ad thou shalt not come ouer this heape ad this marke/ to do any harme. The God of Abraham/ the God of Nahor and the God of theyr fathers/ be iudge betwixte vs.

And Iacob sware by him that his father Isaac feared. Then Iacob dyd sacrifyce vpon the mounte/ and called his brethern to eate breed. And they ate breed and taried all nyghte in the hyll. And early in the mornynge Laban rose vp and kyssed his childern and his doughters/ and blessed th[~e] and departed and w[~e]t unto his place agayne. But Iacob went forth on his iourney. And the angells of God came & mett him. And when Iacob sawe them/ he sayde: this is godes hoost: and called the name of that same place/ Mahanaim.

¶ The .xxxij. Chapter.

Iacob sente meessengers before him to Esau his brother/ vnto the londe of Seir and the felde of Edom. And he comaunded them saynge: se that ye speake after this maner to my lorde Esau: thy seruaunte Iacob sayth thus. I haue sogerned ad bene a straunger with Laban vnto this tyme: & haue gotten oxen/ asses and shepe/ menservauntes & wemanseruauntes/ & haue sent to shewe it mi lorde/ that I may fynde grace in thy syghte. And the messengers came agayne to Iacob sainge: we came vnto thi brother Esau/ and he cometh ageynst the and .iiij. hundred men with h[~i]. Than was Iacob greatlye afrayde/ and wist not which waye to turne him selfe/ and devyded the people that was with him & the shepe/ oxen and camels/ in to .ij. companies/ and sayde: Yf Esau come to the one parte and smyte it/ the other may saue it selfe.

[Sidenote: * Prayer is to cleave vnto the promyses of god with a stroge fayth and to besech god with a fervent desyre that he will fulfyll them for his mercye & truth onlye. As Iacob here doth.]

* And Iacob sayde: O god of my father Abraham/ and God of my father Isaac: LORde which saydest vnto me/ returne vnto thy cuntre and to thy kynrede/ and I will deall wel with the. I am not worthy of the leaste of all the mercyes and treuth which thou hast shewed vnto thy seruaunte. For with my staf came I over this Iordane/ and now haue I goten .ij. droves Delyver me from the handes of my brother Esau/ for I feare him: lest he will come and smyte the mother with the childern. Thou saydest that thou woldest surely do me good/ and woldest make mi seed as the sonde of the see which can not be nombred for multitude.

And he taried there that same nyghte/ & toke of that which came to hande/ a preasent/ vnto Esau his brother: ij hundred she gootes ad xx he gootes: ij hundred shepe and xx rammes: thyrtye mylch camels with their coltes: xl kyne ad x bulles: xx she asses ad x foles and delyuered them vnto his seruauntes/ euery drooue by them selues/ ad sayde vnto them: goo forth before me and put a space betwyxte euery drooue. And he comaunded the formest saynge