The Book Of Jubilees Chapter 19

Sarah died in Hebron and Abraham mourns over her

1 And in the first year of the first week in the forty-second jubilee, Abraham returned and dwelt opposite Hebron, that is Kirjath Arba, two weeks of years.

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

3 And Abraham went to mourn over her and bury her, and we tried him [to see] if his spirit were patient and he were not indignant in the words of his mouth; and he was found patient in this, and was not disturbed.

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

5 And YAHWEH gave him free unmerited favor before all who saw him, and he besought in gentleness the sons of Heth, and they gave him the land of the double cave over against Mamre, that is Hebron, for four hundred pieces of silver.

6 And they besought him saying, We shall give it to you for nothing; but he would not take it from their hands for nothing, for he gave the price of the place, the money in full, and he bowed down before them twice, and after this he buried his dead in the double cave.

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

8 This is the tenth trial wherewith Abraham was tried, and he was found faithful, patient in spirit.

9 And he said not a single word regarding the rumor in the land how that YAHWEH had said that He would give it to him and to his seed after him, and he begged a place there to bury his dead; for he was found faithful, and was recorded on the heavenly tablets as the friend of YAHWEH.

10 And in the fourth year thereof he took a wife for his son Yitschaq and her name was Rebecca [2020 A.M.] the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Nahor, the brother of Abraham the sister of Laban and daughter of Bethuel; and Bethuel was the son of Melca, who was the wife of Nahor, the brother of Abraham.

11 And Abraham took to himself a third wife, and her name was Keturah, from among the daughters of his household servants, for Hagar had died before Sarah. And she bare him six sons, Zimram, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah, in the two weeks of years.

12 And in the sixth week, in the second year thereof, Rebecca bare to Yitschaq two sons, Yacob and Esau, and [2046 A.M.]

13 Yacob was a smooth and upright man, and Esau was fierce, a man of the field, and hairy, and Yacob dwelt in tents.

14 And the youths grew, and Yacob learned to write; but Esau did not learn, for he was a man of the field and a hunter, and he learnt war, and all his deeds were fierce.

15 And Abraham loved Yacob, but Yitschaq loved Esau.

16 And Abraham saw the deeds of Esau, and he knew that in Yacob should his name and seed be called; and he called Rebecca and gave commandment regarding Yacob, for he knew that she (too) loved Yacob much more than Esau.

17 And he said to her: My daughter, watch over my son Yacob, For he shall be in my stead on the earth, And for a blessing in the midst of the children of men, And for the splendor of the whole seed of Shem.

18 For I know that YAHWEH will choose him to be a people for possession unto Himself, above all peoples that are upon the face of the earth.

19 And behold, Yitschaq my son loves Esau more than Yacob, but I see that you truly love Yacob.

20 Add still further to your kindness to him, And let your eyes be upon him in love; For he shall be a blessing unto us on the earth from henceforth unto all generations of the earth.

21 Let your hands be strong And let your heart rejoice in your son Yacob; For I have loved him far beyond all my sons. He shall be blessed forever, And his seed shall fill the whole earth.

22 If a man can number the sand of the earth, His seed also shall be numbered.

23 And all the blessings wherewith YAHWEH has blessed me and my seed shall belong to Yacob and his seed always.

24 And in his seed shall my name be blessed, and the name of my fathers, Shem, and Noab, and Enoch, and Mahalalel, and Enos, and Seth, and Adam.

25 And these shall serve To lay the foundations of the heaven, And to strengthen the earth, And to renew all the luminaries which are in the firmament.

26 And he called Yacob before the eyes of Rebecca his mother, and kissed him, and blessed him, and said:

27 'Yacob, my beloved son, whom my soul loves, may YAHWEH bless you from above the firmament, and may He give you all the blessings wherewith He blessed Adam, and Enoch, and Noah, and Shem; and all the things of which He told me, and all the things which He promised to give me, may he cause to cleave to you and to your seed forever, according to the days of heaven above the earth.

28 And the Spirits of Mastema shall not rule over you or over your seed to turn you from YAHWEH, who is your Sovereign Ruler from henceforth forever.

29 And may YAHWEH ALMIGHTY be a father to you and you the first-born son, and to the people always.

30 Go in shalom, my son.' And they both went forth together from Abraham.

31 And Rebecca loved Yacob, with all her heart and with all her soul, very much more than Esau; but Yitschaq loved Esau much more than Yacob.