The Death of Sarah

23 Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. ² She died at Kiriath Arba^(A) (that is, Hebron)^(B) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her.^(C)

³ Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites.^[a](D) He said, ⁴ “I am a foreigner and stranger^(E) among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.^(F)”

⁵ The Hittites replied to Abraham, ⁶ “Sir, listen to us. You are a mighty prince^(G) among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb for burying your dead.”

⁷ Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites. ⁸ He said to them, “If you are willing to let me bury my dead, then listen to me and intercede with Ephron son of Zohar^(H) on my behalf ⁹ so he will sell me the cave of Machpelah,^(I) which belongs to him and is at the end of his field. Ask him to sell it to me for the full price as a burial site among you.”

¹⁰ Ephron the Hittite was sitting among his people and he replied to Abraham in the hearing of all the Hittites^(J) who had come to the gate^(K) of his city. ¹¹ “No, my lord,” he said. “Listen to me; I give^[b](L) you the field, and I give^[c] you the cave that is in it. I give^[d] it to you in the presence of my people. Bury your dead.”

¹² Again Abraham bowed down before the people of the land ¹³ and he said to Ephron in their hearing, “Listen to me, if you will. I will pay the price of the field. Accept it from me so I can bury my dead there.”

¹⁴ Ephron answered Abraham, ¹⁵ “Listen to me, my lord; the land is worth four hundred shekels^[e] of silver,^(M) but what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.”

¹⁶ Abraham agreed to Ephron’s terms and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver,^(N) according to the weight current among the merchants.^(O)

¹⁷ So Ephron’s field in Machpelah^(P) near Mamre^(Q)—both the field and the cave in it, and all the trees within the borders of the field—was deeded ¹⁸ to Abraham as his property^(R) in the presence of all the Hittites^(S) who had come to the gate^(T) of the city. ¹⁹ Afterward Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah^(U) near Mamre (which is at Hebron^(V)) in the land of Canaan.^{(W) 20} So the field and the cave in it were deeded^(X) to Abraham by the Hittites as a burial site.^(Y)

Isaac and Rebekah

24 Abraham was now very old,^(Z) and the Lord had blessed^(AA) him in every way.^{(AB) 2} He said to the senior servant^(AC) in his household, the one in charge of all that he had,^(AD) “Put your hand under my thigh.^{(AE) 3} I want you to swear^(AF) by the Lord, the God of heaven^(AG) and the God of earth,^(AH) that you will not get a wife for my son^(AI) from the daughters of the Canaanites,^(AJ) among whom I am living,^{(AK) 4} but will go to my country and my own relatives^(AL) and get a wife for my son Isaac.^(AM)”

⁵ The servant asked him, “What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to this land?^(AN) Shall I then take your son back to the country you came from?^(AO)”

⁶ “Make sure that you do not take my son back there,”^(AP) Abraham said. ⁷ “The Lord, the God of heaven,^(AQ) who brought me out of my father’s household and my native land^(AR) and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring^[f](AS) I will give this land’^(AT)—he will send his angel before you^(AU) so that you can get a wife for my son from there. ⁸ If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath^(AV) of mine. Only do not take my son back there.”^{(AW) 9} So the servant put his hand under the thigh^(AX) of his master^(AY) Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.

¹⁰ Then the servant left, taking with him ten of his master’s camels^(AZ) loaded with all kinds of good things^(BA) from his master. He set out for Aram Naharaim^[g](BB) and made his way to the town of Nahor.^{(BC) 11} He had the camels kneel down near the well^(BD) outside the town; it was toward evening, the time the women go out to draw water.^(BE)

¹² Then he prayed, “Lord, God of my master Abraham,^(BF) make me successful^(BG) today, and show kindness^(BH) to my master Abraham. ¹³ See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water.^{(BI) 14} May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink,^(BJ) and I’ll water your camels too’^(BK)—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac.^(BL) By this I will know^(BM) that you have shown kindness to my master.”

¹⁵ Before he had finished praying,^(BN) Rebekah^(BO) came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel^(BP) son of Milkah,^(BQ) who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor.^{(BR) 16} The woman was very beautiful,^(BS) a virgin;^(BT) no man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again.

¹⁷ The servant hurried to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.”^(BU)

¹⁸ “Drink,^(BV) my lord,” she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink.

¹⁹ After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels^(BW) too,^(BX) until they have had enough to drink.” ²⁰ So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels.^{(BY) 21} Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful.^(BZ)

²² When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring^(CA) weighing a beka^[h] and two gold bracelets^(CB) weighing ten shekels.^{[i] 23} Then he asked, “Whose daughter are you?^(CC) Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?^(CD)”

²⁴ She answered him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milkah bore to Nahor.^(CE)” ²⁵ And she added, “We have plenty of straw and fodder,^(CF) as well as room for you to spend the night.”

²⁶ Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord,^{(CG) 27} saying, “Praise be to the Lord,^(CH) the God of my master Abraham,^(CI) who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness^(CJ) to my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey^(CK) to the house of my master’s relatives.”^(CL)

²⁸ The young woman ran and told her mother’s household about these things.^{(CM) 29} Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban,^(CN) and he hurried out to the man at the spring. ³⁰ As soon as he had seen the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s arms,^(CO) and had heard Rebekah tell what the man said to her, he went out to the man and found him standing by the camels near the spring. ³¹ “Come, you who are blessed by the Lord,”^(CP) he said. “Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.”

³² So the man went to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and fodder^(CQ) were brought for the camels, and water for him and his men to wash their feet.^{(CR) 33} Then food was set before him, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told you what I have to say.”

“Then tell us,” Laban said.

³⁴ So he said, “I am Abraham’s servant.^{(CS) 35} The Lord has blessed^(CT) my master abundantly,^(CU) and he has become wealthy.^(CV) He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.^{(CW) 36} My master’s wife Sarah has borne him a son in her old age,^(CX) and he has given him everything he owns.^{(CY) 37} And my master made me swear an oath,^(CZ) and said, ‘You must not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live,^{(DA) 38} but go to my father’s family and to my own clan, and get a wife for my son.’^(DB)

³⁹ “Then I asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not come back with me?’^(DC)

⁴⁰ “He replied, ‘The Lord, before whom I have walked faithfully,^(DD) will send his angel with you^(DE) and make your journey a success,^(DF) so that you can get a wife for my son from my own clan and from my father’s family.^{(DG) 41} You will be released from my oath if, when you go to my clan, they refuse to give her to you—then you will be released from my oath.’^(DH)

⁴² “When I came to the spring today, I said, ‘Lord, God of my master Abraham, if you will, please grant success^(DI) to the journey on which I have come. ⁴³ See, I am standing beside this spring.^(DJ) If a young woman^(DK) comes out to draw water and I say to her, “Please let me drink a little water from your jar,”^{(DL) 44} and if she says to me, “Drink, and I’ll draw water for your camels too,” let her be the one the Lord has chosen for my master’s son.’^(DM)

⁴⁵ “Before I finished praying in my heart,^(DN) Rebekah came out, with her jar on her shoulder.^(DO) She went down to the spring and drew water, and I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’^(DP)

⁴⁶ “She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too.’^(DQ) So I drank, and she watered the camels also.^(DR)

⁴⁷ “I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’^(DS)

“She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel^(DT) son of Nahor, whom Milkah bore to him.’^(DU)

“Then I put the ring in her nose^(DV) and the bracelets on her arms,^{(DW) 48} and I bowed down and worshiped the Lord.^(DX) I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham,^(DY) who had led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son.^{(DZ) 49} Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness^(EA) to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so I may know which way to turn.”

⁵⁰ Laban and Bethuel^(EB) answered, “This is from the Lord;^(EC) we can say nothing to you one way or the other.^{(ED) 51} Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has directed.^(EE)”

⁵² When Abraham’s servant heard what they said, he bowed down to the ground before the Lord.^{(EF) 53} Then the servant brought out gold and silver jewelry and articles of clothing^(EG) and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave costly gifts^(EH) to her brother and to her mother. ⁵⁴ Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night there.

When they got up the next morning, he said, “Send me on my way^(EI) to my master.”

⁵⁵ But her brother and her mother replied, “Let the young woman remain with us ten days or so;^(EJ) then you^[j] may go.”

⁵⁶ But he said to them, “Do not detain me, now that the Lord has granted success^(EK) to my journey. Send me on my way^(EL) so I may go to my master.”

⁵⁷ Then they said, “Let’s call the young woman and ask her about it.”^{(EM) 58} So they called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?”

“I will go,”^(EN) she said.

⁵⁹ So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way,^(EO) along with her nurse^(EP) and Abraham’s servant and his men. ⁶⁰ And they blessed^(EQ) Rebekah and said to her,

⁶¹ Then Rebekah and her attendants^(ET) got ready and mounted the camels and went back with the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.

⁶² Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi,^(EU) for he was living in the Negev.^{(EV) 63} He went out to the field one evening to meditate,^[k](EW) and as he looked up,^(EX) he saw camels approaching. ⁶⁴ Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel^{(EY) 65} and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?”

“He is my master,” the servant answered. So she took her veil^(EZ) and covered herself.

⁶⁶ Then the servant told Isaac all he had done. ⁶⁷ Isaac brought her into the tent^(FA) of his mother Sarah,^(FB) and he married Rebekah.^(FC) So she became his wife, and he loved her;^(FD) and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.^(FE)

The Death of Abraham^(FF)

25 Abraham had taken another wife, whose name was Keturah. ² She bore him Zimran,^(FG) Jokshan, Medan, Midian,^(FH) Ishbak and Shuah.^{(FI) 3} Jokshan was the father of Sheba^(FJ) and Dedan;^(FK) the descendants of Dedan were the Ashurites, the Letushites and the Leummites. ⁴ The sons of Midian were Ephah,^(FL) Epher, Hanok, Abida and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Keturah.

⁵ Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac.^{(FM) 6} But while he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines^(FN) and sent them away from his son Isaac^(FO) to the land of the east.^(FP)

⁷ Abraham lived a hundred and seventy-five years.^{(FQ) 8} Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age,^(FR) an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people.^{(FS) 9} His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him^(FT) in the cave of Machpelah^(FU) near Mamre,^(FV) in the field of Ephron^(FW) son of Zohar the Hittite,^{(FX) 10} the field Abraham had bought from the Hittites.^[l](FY) There Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah. ¹¹ After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac,^(FZ) who then lived near Beer Lahai Roi.^(GA)

Ishmael’s Sons^(GB)

¹² This is the account^(GC) of the family line of Abraham’s son Ishmael, whom Sarah’s slave, Hagar^(GD) the Egyptian, bore to Abraham.^(GE)

¹³ These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, listed in the order of their birth: Nebaioth^(GF) the firstborn of Ishmael, Kedar,^(GG) Adbeel, Mibsam, ¹⁴ Mishma, Dumah,^(GH) Massa, ¹⁵ Hadad, Tema,^(GI) Jetur,^(GJ) Naphish and Kedemah. ¹⁶ These were the sons of Ishmael, and these are the names of the twelve tribal rulers^(GK) according to their settlements and camps.^{(GL) 17} Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven years. He breathed his last and died, and he was gathered to his people.^{(GM) 18} His descendants^(GN) settled in the area from Havilah to Shur,^(GO) near the eastern border of Egypt, as you go toward Ashur. And they lived in hostility toward^[m] all the tribes related to them.^(GP)

Adonijah Sets Himself Up as King

1 When King David was very old, he could not keep warm even when they put covers over him. ² So his attendants said to him, “Let us look for a young virgin to serve the king and take care of him. She can lie beside him so that our lord the king may keep warm.”

³ Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag,^(A) a Shunammite,^(B) and brought her to the king. ⁴ The woman was very beautiful; she took care of the king and waited on him, but the king had no sexual relations with her.

⁵ Now Adonijah,^(C) whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, “I will be king.” So he got chariots^(D) and horses^[a] ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him. ⁶ (His father had never rebuked^(E) him by asking, “Why do you behave as you do?” He was also very handsome and was born next after Absalom.)

⁷ Adonijah conferred with Joab^(F) son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar^(G) the priest, and they gave him their support. ⁸ But Zadok^(H) the priest, Benaiah^(I) son of Jehoiada, Nathan^(J) the prophet, Shimei^(K) and Rei and David’s special guard^(L) did not join Adonijah.

⁹ Adonijah then sacrificed sheep, cattle and fattened calves at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel.^(M) He invited all his brothers, the king’s sons,^(N) and all the royal officials of Judah, ¹⁰ but he did not invite^(O) Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the special guard or his brother Solomon.^(P)

¹¹ Then Nathan asked Bathsheba,^(Q) Solomon’s mother, “Have you not heard that Adonijah,^(R) the son of Haggith, has become king, and our lord David knows nothing about it? ¹² Now then, let me advise^(S) you how you can save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. ¹³ Go in to King David and say to him, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear^(T) to me your servant: “Surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ ¹⁴ While you are still there talking to the king, I will come in and add my word to what you have said.”

¹⁵ So Bathsheba went to see the aged king in his room, where Abishag^(U) the Shunammite was attending him. ¹⁶ Bathsheba bowed down, prostrating herself before the king.

“What is it you want?” the king asked.

¹⁷ She said to him, “My lord, you yourself swore^(V) to me your servant by the Lord your God: ‘Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne.’ ¹⁸ But now Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know about it. ¹⁹ He has sacrificed^(W) great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the king’s sons, Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant. ²⁰ My lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to learn from you who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. ²¹ Otherwise, as soon as my lord the king is laid to rest^(X) with his ancestors, I and my son Solomon will be treated as criminals.”

²² While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. ²³ And the king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” So he went before the king and bowed with his face to the ground.

²⁴ Nathan said, “Have you, my lord the king, declared that Adonijah shall be king after you, and that he will sit on your throne? ²⁵ Today he has gone down and sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep. He has invited all the king’s sons, the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest. Right now they are eating and drinking with him and saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ ²⁶ But me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon he did not invite.^{(Y) 27} Is this something my lord the king has done without letting his servants know who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”

David Makes Solomon King^(Z)

²⁸ Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him.

²⁹ The king then took an oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble,^{(AA) 30} I will surely carry out this very day what I swore^(AB) to you by the Lord, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.”

³¹ Then Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground, prostrating herself before the king, and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”

The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah^(A)(B)(C)

1 This is the genealogy^[a] of Jesus the Messiah^[b] the son of David,^(D) the son of Abraham:^(E)

¹⁷ Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.

⁵⁰ I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood^(A) cannot inherit the kingdom of God,^(B) nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.^{(C) 51} Listen, I tell you a mystery:^(D) We will not all sleep,^(E) but we will all be changed^(F)— ⁵² in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound,^(G) the dead^(H) will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ⁵³ For the perishable^(I) must clothe itself with the imperishable,^(J) and the mortal with immortality. ⁵⁴ When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”^[a](K)

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin,^(M) and the power of sin is the law.^{(N) 57} But thanks be to God!^(O) He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.^(P)