From: "FamilyNet Direct"   
    
  Bible Reading for January 08  
    
  Genesis 23  
  [1] And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the  
  years of the life of Sarah.  
  [2] And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba; the same is Hebron in the land of  
  Canaan:  
  and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. [3] And Abraham  
  stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying,  
  [4] I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a  
  buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight. [5] And the  
  children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him, [6] Hear us, my lord:  
  thou  
  art a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead;  
  none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury  
  thy dead. [7] And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the  
  land, even to the children of Heth.  
  [8] And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury  
  my dead out of my sight; hear me, and intreat for me to Ephron the son of  
  Zohar,  
  [9] That he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in  
  the  
  end of his field; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me for a  
  possession of a buryingplace amongst you. [10] And Ephron dwelt among the  
  children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of  
  the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city,  
  saying, [11] Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that  
  is therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I  
  it  
  thee: bury thy dead.  
  [12] And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land. [13] And  
  he  
  spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if  
  thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the  
  field;  
  take it of me, and I will bury my dead there. [14] And Ephron answered  
  Abraham, saying unto him, [15] My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth  
  four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? bury  
  therefore thy dead. [16] And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham  
  weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons  
  of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.  
  [17]  
  And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the  
  field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the  
  field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure [18] Unto  
  Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all  
  that went in at the gate of his city. [19] And after this, Abraham buried  
  Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same  
  is  
  Hebron in the land of Canaan. [20] And the field, and the cave that is  
  therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a buryingplace by  
  the  
  sons of Heth.  
    
  Genesis 24  
  [1] And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed  
  Abraham in all things.  
  [2] And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over  
  all  
  that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: [3] And I will make  
  thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that  
  thou  
  shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among  
  whom I dwell: [4] But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and  
  take a wife unto my son Isaac.  
  [5] And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be  
  willing  
  to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land  
  from whence thou camest?  
  [6] And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son  
  thither  
  again.  
  [7] The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from  
  the  
  land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying,  
  Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee,  
  and  
  thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence. [8] And if the woman will  
  not  
  be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only  
  bring not my son thither again. [9] And the servant put his hand under the  
  thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter. [10]  
  And  
  the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for  
  all  
  the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to  
  Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor. [11] And he made his camels to kneel  
  down  
  without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the  
  time  
  that women go out to draw water.  
  [12] And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good  
  speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham. [13] Behold, I  
  stand  
  here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out  
  to draw water: [14] And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall  
  say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say,  
  Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou  
  hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou  
  hast  
  shewed kindness unto my master.  
  [15] And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah  
  came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor,  
  Abraham's  
  brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder. [16] And the damsel was very  
  fair  
  to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to  
  the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.  
  [17] And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a  
  little water of thy pitcher.  
  [18] And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher  
  upon her hand, and gave him drink.  
  [19] And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for  
  thy camels also, until they have done drinking. [20] And she hasted, and  
  emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw  
  water, and drew for all his camels. [21] And the man wondering at her held  
  his  
  peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not. [22]  
  And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a  
  golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of  
  ten  
  shekels weight of gold;  
  [23] And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room  
  in  
  thy father's house for us to lodge in? [24] And she said unto him, I am the  
  daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.  
  [25] She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough,  
  and  
  room to lodge in.  
  [26] And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD. [27] And he  
  said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left  
  destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD  
  led me to the house of my master's brethren. [28] And the damsel ran, and  
  told  
  them of her mother's house these things. [29] And Rebekah had a brother, and  
  his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.  
  [30] And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his  
  sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying,  
  Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood  
  by the camels at the well.  
  [31] And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou  
  without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels. [32] And  
  the  
  man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and  
  provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet  
  that  
  were with him.  
  [33] And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat,  
  until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on. [34] And he said, I am  
  Abraham's servant. [35] And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he  
  is  
  become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold,  
  and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses. [36] And Sarah my  
  master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he  
  given all that he hath. [37] And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt  
  not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land  
  I  
  dwell: [38] But thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and  
  take a wife unto my son.  
  [39] And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.  
  [40] And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel  
  with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my  
  kindred, and of my father's house:  
  [41] Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my  
  kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath.  
  [42]  
  And I came this day unto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master  
  Abraham,  
  if now thou do prosper my way which I go; [43] Behold, I stand by the well  
  of  
  water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw  
  water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher  
  to drink; [44] And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for  
  thy camels: let the same be the woman whom the LORD hath appointed out for  
  my  
  master's son.  
  [45] And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came  
  forth  
  with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew  
  water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee. [46] And she made  
  haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I  
  will  
  give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also.  
  [47] And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The  
  daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the  
  earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands. [48] And I bowed  
  down  
  my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master  
  Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's  
  daughter unto his son. [49] And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my  
  master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or  
  to  
  the left. [50] Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing  
  proceedeth  
  from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good. [51] Behold, Rebekah  
  is  
  before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as  
  the  
  LORD hath spoken. [52] And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant  
  heard  
  their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth. [53] And  
  the  
  servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and  
  gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious  
  things.  
  [54] And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and  
  tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me  
  away  
  unto my master.  
  [55] And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few  
  days, at the least ten; after that she shall go. [56] And he said unto them,  
  Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I  
  may  
  go to my master. [57] And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at  
  her mouth. [58] And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go  
  with  
  this man? And she said, I will go.  
  [59] And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's  
  servant, and his men.  
  [60] And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be  
  thou  
  the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of  
  those which hate them.  
  [61] And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and  
  followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way. [62] And  
  Isaac came from the way of the well Lahai-roi; for he dwelt in the south  
  country.  
  [63] And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he  
  lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. [64] And  
  Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the  
  camel.  
  [65] For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the  
  field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she  
  took a vail, and covered herself.  
  [66] And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. [67] And Isaac  
  brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became  
  his  
  wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.  
    
  Genesis 25  
  [1] Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. [2] And she  
  bare  
  him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.  
  [3] And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim,  
  and Letushim, and Leummim.  
  [4] And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and  
  Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. [5] And Abraham gave all  
  that  
  he had unto Isaac. [6] But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham  
  had,  
  Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet  
  lived,  
  eastward, unto the east country.  
  [7] And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an  
  hundred threescore and fifteen years. [8] Then Abraham gave up the ghost,  
  and  
  died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to  
  his  
  people. [9] And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of  
  Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is  
  before Mamre; [10] The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth:  
  there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife. [11] And it came to pass after  
  the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the  
  well Lahai-roi. [12] Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's  
  son,  
  whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham: [13] And these  
  are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their  
  generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and  
  Mibsam,  
  [14] And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa, [15] Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish,  
  and Kedemah: [16] These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names,  
  by  
  their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their  
  nations.  
  [17] And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty  
  and  
  seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his  
  people.  
  [18] And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou  
  goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren. [19]  
  And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac:  
  [20] And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the  
  daughter  
  of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan-aram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.  
  [21] And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and  
  the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. [22] And the  
  children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I  
  thus? And she went to inquire of the LORD. [23] And the LORD said unto her,  
  Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated  
  from  
  thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and  
  the elder shall serve the younger. [24] And when her days to be delivered  
  were  
  fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.  
  [25] And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they  
  called his name Esau.  
  [26] And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's  
  heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when  
  she bare them.  
  [27] And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field;  
  and  
  Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. [28] And Isaac loved Esau, because  
  he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.  
  [29] And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:  
  [30] And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red  
  pottage;  
  for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. [31] And Jacob said,  
  Sell  
  me this day thy birthright. [32] And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to  
  die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?  
  [33] And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he  
  sold  
  his birthright unto Jacob.  
  [34] Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and  
  drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.