The narrator remarks that he clearly doesn't value the birthright. Initially skeptical, Jacob finally exclaims with joy and wants to see Joseph. The chief cupbearer remembers Joseph from prison and tells the Pharaoh about his skill in dream interpretation. The man names the woman "Eve" (in Hebrew: The deity offers the two some nicer clothes. Years pass until the Pharaoh of Egypt, The deity tells Abram in a vision that he has nothing to fear—he'll protect Abram like a shield. Laban points out that it's not the regional custom to marry off a younger sibling when the older is available. Circumcision is the mark of the deal between the Lord and the descendants of Abraham, and it must be done on the eighth day after the baby is born. Wait. Isaac eats and downs some wine. Great deal! Here's how it goes down: humankind is to avoid violence and have babies; and in return, God promises never to destroy the earth again (at least not by flood). He sure will be one "wild ass of a man" (16:12 NRSV). He reminds them where he wants to be buried, and then he dies. And then, the big moment: he kisses Rachel and weeps. The girl gets raped and her brothers wipe out a whole village in vengeance. Abram tells his allies to take their share, but as for him, he's happy only with what his chosen fighters ate along the way. The Lord tells Abraham that the outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is very loud, which means that their wickedness is serious stuff. He argues that his father just won't be able to live without Ben, who's the only other surviving son of Rachel. After a while, the ground gets even dryer—no mud or anything. And now, Ben's going to be killed, and they're all going to become slaves. Abram brings back Lot along with Lot's stuff as well as women and other captives. Abraham tells his two attendants to stay with the donkey, while he and Isaac go to worship. He's sorry he started this whole human thing, and he feels grief. Melchizedek blesses Abram as well as God Most High, who's given victory to Abram over his enemies in war. Third time's a charm! Notice how it's the woman who's responsible for knowledge and the dawn of human culture. Genesis 18-19: Cultural Woes of Sodom | Appearing to Abraham | Visit to Sodom | Debate of Homosexuality and Sodom When Rebekah delivers, Esau is born first and is extremely hairy. Even if there's fifty good people, isn't it unfair to destroy everyone? Commentary on Genesis 26:18-25 (Read Genesis 26:18-25) Isaac met with much opposition in digging wells. Abraham responds, "Here I am, my son" (22:7 NRSV). He who is not snipped "shall be cut off from his people," for he's broken the deal with the deity (17:14 NRSV). He doesn't want to lose him, too. Jacob blesses the younger son, Ephraim, with the right hand, typically reserved for the eldest son. She disguises herself as a prostitute and approaches Judah. Ick. Solution? You ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, didn't you? God is usually pretty impressed with himself, for several times "he saw that it was good" (1:10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31)—not to brag or anything. These epithets in the place of the name help us get why Sarah is so upset. Hagar is worried and "casts" Ishmael under a bush (21:15). Compare what he says here with what he says in 45:4-10. If God is involved, then man is responsible for what he does. Did God give Abram a bum land? Joseph's brothers see him coming and conspire to kill him. Laban catches up with Jacob anyway, and after some idol-hiding, he and Jacob make a pact. Every living creature perishes. Sounds trivial, but the twelve tribes of Israel later will be Reuben, Gad, Simeon, Judah, Dan, Benjamin, Asher, Naphtali, Zebulun, Issachar, Manasseh, and Ephraim. She urges Jacob to do it himself so that he might acquire the blessing. Pharaoh tells Joseph to take them to Goshen and, if they're capable, make them handlers of livestock instead of shepherds. Rachel dies in childbirth, and Jacob names his son Benjamin. Onan knew any baby Tamar bore would not be his heir, but his brother's. A famine in the land causes Isaac to have to go into the land Gerar at God’s command. Sound familiar? The other brothers loot the city. (We're with him.). Joseph's the second youngest of Jacob's children, so he definitely shouldn't be getting all this attention. They both become pregnant. Abraham again took a wife, and her name was Keturah. 5.)