« | Genesis 35 | » |
1 God said to Jacob, "Go to the town of Bethel. That is where I appeared to you when you were running away from your brother Esau. Live there and make an altar to honor me as El, the God who appeared to you."
2 So Jacob told his family and all the other people with him, "Destroy all these foreign gods that you have. Make yourselves pure. Put on clean clothes.
3 We will leave here and go to Bethel. There I will build an altar to the God who has always helped me during times of trouble. He has been with me wherever I have gone."
4 So the people gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had, and they gave him all the rings they were wearing in their ears. He buried everything under an oak tree near the town called Shechem.
5 Then Jacob and his sons left that place. The people in the surrounding cities wanted to follow and kill them, but God filled them with such great fear that they did not go after them.
6 So Jacob and his people went to Luz, which is now called Bethel. It is in the land of Canaan.
7 Jacob built an altar there. He named the place "El Bethel." Jacob chose this name because that is the place where God first appeared to him when he was running from his brother.
8 Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died there. They buried her under the oak tree at Bethel. They named that place Allon Bacuth.
9 When Jacob came back from Paddan Aram, God appeared to him again. God blessed Jacob
10 and said to him, "Your name is Jacob, but I will change that name. You will no longer be called Jacob. Your new name will be Israel. " So God named him Israel.
11 God said to him, "I am God All- Powerful, and I give you this blessing: Have many children and grow into a great nation. Other nations and other kings will come out of you.
12 I gave Abraham and Isaac some special land. Now I give the land to you and to all your people who will live after you."
13 Then God left that place.
14 Jacob set up a memorial stone there. He made the rock holy by pouring wine and oil on it. This was a special place because God spoke to Jacob there, and Jacob named the place Bethel.
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16 Jacob and his group left Bethel. Before they came to Ephrath, Rachel began giving birth to her baby.
17 She was having a lot of trouble with this birth. She was in great pain. When her nurse saw this, she said, "Don't be afraid, Rachel. You are giving birth to another son."
18 Rachel died while giving birth to the son. Before dying, she named the boy Benoni. But Jacob called him Benjamin.
19 Rachel was buried on the road to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).
20 Jacob put a special rock on Rachel's grave to honor her. That special rock is still there today.
21 Then Israel continued his journey. He camped just south of Eder tower.
22 Israel stayed there for a short time. While he was there, Reuben slept with Israel's slave woman Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons.
23 Jacob and Leah's sons were his firstborn son Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.
24 Jacob and Rachel's sons were Joseph and Benjamin.
25 Bilhah was Rachel's maid. Jacob and Bilhah's sons were Dan and Naphtali.
26 Zilpah was Leah's maid. Jacob and Zilpah's sons were Gad and Asher. These are Jacob's sons who were born in Paddan Aram.
27 Jacob went to his father Isaac at Mamre in Kiriath Arba (Hebron). This is where Abraham and Isaac had lived.
28 Isaac lived 180 years.
29 Then Isaac became weak and died and went to be with his people. He had lived a long and full life. His sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV)
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV) is a Bible translation specifically designed to be accessible and comprehensible for people with limited reading skills or those for whom English is a second language. Originally published in 1987 by the World Bible Translation Center, the ERV was initially developed to serve the deaf community, using a simplified vocabulary and straightforward sentence structures. The goal of the ERV is to make the scriptures understandable to a wide range of readers, ensuring that everyone can grasp the essential messages of the Bible without being hindered by complex language or archaic terms.
One of the defining characteristics of the ERV is its commitment to clarity and simplicity. The translators employed a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, focusing on conveying the meaning of the original texts in plain, everyday English. This approach ensures that readers can easily comprehend the Bible’s teachings and narratives, making it a valuable resource for children, new Christians, and those with limited literacy skills. The ERV avoids technical theological terms and instead uses language that is commonly spoken, making it accessible for personal study and public reading alike.
The ERV also pays careful attention to the cultural and contextual nuances of the original manuscripts. The translators sought to present the Bible’s messages in a way that is relevant and meaningful to contemporary readers while maintaining faithfulness to the original texts. This cultural sensitivity helps bridge the gap between ancient scriptures and modern readers, allowing them to connect more deeply with the biblical stories and teachings. Additionally, the ERV includes helpful footnotes and cross-references that provide further explanation and context, enhancing the reader’s understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the ERV has faced some criticism from those who prefer more traditional or literal translations. Critics argue that the simplified language and thought-for-thought approach can sometimes result in a loss of depth and richness found in the original texts. Some theologians believe that the ERV’s emphasis on accessibility may lead to oversimplification of complex theological concepts. Nonetheless, the Easy-To-Read Version remains a highly valuable translation for its target audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps people of all backgrounds engage with and understand the scriptures.