Burnt Offerings XXIII

And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a son.

And Leah said,

A troop cometh:

and she called his name Gad.

***

Gad, a troop shall overcome him:

but he shall overcome at the last.

***

And David inquired at the Lord,

saying,

Shall I pursue after this troop?

shall I overtake them?

And he answered him,

Pursue:

for thou shalt surely overtake them,

and without fail recover all.

***

The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.

They were confounded because they had hoped;

they came thither,

and were ashamed.

For now ye are nothing;

ye see my casting down,

and are afraid.

Did I say,

Bring unto me?

or,

Give a reward for me of your substance?

Or,

Deliver me from the enemy's hand?

or,

Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?

Teach me,

and I will hold my tongue:

and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

***

And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.

And he blessed Joseph,

and said,

God,

before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,

The Angel which redeemed me from all d-evil, bless the lads;

and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;

and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

*****

And the kinsman said,

I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance:

redeem thou my right to thyself;

for I cannot redeem it.

*****

And God said unto Jacob,

Arise,

go up to Bethel, and dwell there:

and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.

Then Jacob said unto his household,

and to all that were with him,

Put away the strange gods that are among you,

and be clean,

and change your garments:

***

Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon:

and he shaved himself,

and changed his raiment,

and came in unto Pharaoh.

*****

Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing,

for to confirm all things;

a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.

Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz,

Buy it for thee.

So he drew off his shoe.

ISamuelX