YOḆELIM 19 (Jubilees 19)

1 And in the first year of the first week, in the forty-second Yoḇĕl, Aḇraham returned and dwelt opposite Ḥeḇron, that is Qiryath Arba, fourteen years.

2 And in the first year of the third week of this Yoḇĕl the days of the life of Sarah were accomplished, and she died in Ḥeḇron.

3 And Aḇraham went to mourn over her and bury her, and we tried him, if his spirit was patient, but he was not bitter in the words of his mouth. And he was found patient in this, and was not disturbed,

4 for in patience of spirit he spoke with the children of Ḥĕth, to the intent that they should give him a place in which to bury his dead.

5 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 gave him favour before all who saw him, and he pleaded with the sons of Ḥeth, and they gave him the land of the cave of Maḵpĕlah opposite Mamrĕ, that is Ḥeḇron, for four hundred pieces of silver.

6 And they pleaded with him, saying, “We shall give it to you for naught!” But he would not take it from their hands for naught, for he gave the price of the place, the silver in full, and he bowed down before them twice; and after this he buried his dead in the cave of Maḵpĕlah.

7 And all the days of the life of Sarah were one hundred and twenty-seven years, that is, two Yoḇelim and four weeks and one year: these are the days of the years of the life of Sarah.

8 This is the tenth trial with which Aḇraham was tried, and he was found trustworthy, patient in spirit.

9 And he did not speak; not a single word regarding the report in the land how that Elohim had said that He would give it to him and to his seed after him. And he pleaded a place there to bury his dead; for he was found trustworthy, and was recorded on the tablets of the shamayim as the friend of Elohim.

10 And in the fourth year he took a wife for his son Yitsḥaq, and her name was Riḇqah the sister of Laḇan and daughter of Bethu’ĕl. And Bethu’ĕl was the son of Milkah, who was the wife of Naḥor, the brother of Aḇraham.

11 And Aḇraham took a third wife, and her name was Qeturah, from among the daughters of his household servants, for Haḡar had died before Sarah.

12 And she bore him six sons, Zimran, and Yoqshan, and Meḏan, and Miḏyan, and Yishbaq, and Shuwaḥ, in the two weeks of years.

13 And in the sixth week, in the second year, Riḇqah bore to Yitsḥaq two sons, Ya’aqoḇ and Ĕsaw. And Ya’aqoḇ was smooth-skinned and an upright man, but Ĕsaw was fierce, a man of the field, and hairy, and Ya’aqoḇ dwelt in tents.

14 And the youths grew and Ya’aqoḇ learned to write; but Ĕsaw did not learn, for he was a man of the field and a hunter, and he learned battle, and all his deeds were mighty.

15 And Aḇraham loved Ya’aqoḇ, but Yitsḥaq loved Ĕsaw.

16 And Aḇraham saw the deeds of Ĕsaw, and he knew that in Ya’aqoḇ his name and seed should be called. And he called Riḇqah and gave command regarding Ya’aqoḇ, for he knew that she loved Ya’aqoḇ much more than Ĕsaw.

17 And he said to her, “My daughter, watch over my son Ya’aqoḇ, for he shall be in my place on the earth, and for a beraḵah in the midst of the children of men, and for the esteem of the whole seed of Shĕm.

18 “For I know that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 shall choose him to be a people for possession unto Himself, above all peoples that are on the face of the earth.

19 “And see, Yitsḥaq my son loves Ĕsaw more than Ya’aqoḇ, but I see that you truly love Ya’aqoḇ.

20 “Add still further to your kindness to him, and let your eyes be upon him in love; for he shall be a beraḵah to us on the earth from this time to all generations of the earth.

21 “Let your hands be strong and let your heart rejoice in your son Ya’aqoḇ; for I have loved him far beyond all my sons. He shall be baruḵ forever, and his seed shall fill the whole earth.

22 “If a man could number the sand of the earth, his seed shall also be numbered.

23 “And all the bireḵoth with which 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 has baraḵ my seed and I, shall belong to Ya’aqoḇ and his seed always.

24 “And in his seed shall my name be baruḵ, and the name of my fathers, Shĕm, and Noaḥ, and Ḥanoḵ, and Mahalal’ĕl, and Enosh, and Shĕth, and Aḏam.

25 “And these shall serve to lay the foundations of the shamayim, and to strengthen the earth, and to renew all the luminaries which are in the expanse.”

26 And he called Ya’aqoḇ before the eyes of Riḇqah his mother, and kissed him, and baraḵ him, and said,

27 “Ya’aqoḇ, my beloved son, whom my being loves, may Elohim baraḵ you from above the expanse, and may He give you all the bireḵoth with which He baraḵ Aḏam, and Ḥanoḵ, and Noaḥ, and Shĕm. And all the words of which He told me, and all the matters which He promised to give me, may He cause to cling to you and to your seed forever, according to the days of the shamayim above the earth.

28 “And the spirits of Mastĕma shall not rule over you or over your seed to turn you from 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, who is your Elohim from this time and forever.

29 “And may 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 Elohim be a Father to you and you the first-born son, and to the people always. Go in peace, my son.”

30 And they both went out together from Aḇraham.

31 And Riḇqah loved Ya’aqoḇ, with all her heart and with all her being, very much more than Ĕsaw; but Yitsḥaq loved Ĕsaw much more than Ya’aqoḇ.