“ This is my covenant with you. You will be the father of many nations.

“我与你立约：你要作多国的父。

“看哪，这就是我与你立的约，你要成为多国的父。

“看哪，这就是我与你立的约，你要成为多国的父。

“我要与你立约，你必成为许多民族的始祖。

“看哪，这就是我和你所立的约：你要作多国的父。

“看哪，我的约是与你立的，你将成为多国之父！

「我與你立約：你要作多國的父。

「看哪，這就是我與你立的約，你要成為多國的父。

「看哪，這就是我與你立的約，你要成為多國的父。

「我要與你立約，你必成為許多民族的始祖。

“看哪，這就是我和你所立的約：你要作多國的父。

『論到我，我的約是同你立的；你必做羣國之父。

「看哪，我的約是與你立的，你將成為多國之父！

我與爾約、爾必為多族之父、

我與爾約、命爾為萬民父、

我與爾立約、使爾為多族之祖、

“ As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.

“ Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations.

“ This is my covenant with you: I will make you the father of a multitude of nations!

“ As for me, here is my covenant with you: You will become the father of many nations.

“ As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, And you will be the father of a multitude of nations.

“ As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations.

As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be the father of a multitude of nations.

“ As for Me, My covenant is with you: you will become the father of many nations.

As for me, behold, my covenant[ is] with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

“ As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of a multitude of nations.

“ As for me, behold, my covenant is with you. You will be the father of a multitude of nations.

God said to him,“ I am the Mighty God. Have children so that there will be many of you. You will become the father of a nation and a community of nations. Your later family will include kings.

“ I will make you into a great nation. And I will bless you. I will make your name great. You will be a blessing to others.

Here is the story of the family line of Esau. Esau was also called Edom.Esau got his wives from among the women of Canaan. He married Adah, the daughter of Elon the Hittite. He also married Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah and the granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite.And he married Basemath, the daughter of Ishmael and the sister of Nebaioth.Adah had Eliphaz by Esau. Basemath had Reuel.Oholibamah had Jeush, Jalam and Korah. All of them were Esau’s sons. They were born in Canaan.Esau moved to a land far away from his brother Jacob. Esau took with him his wives, his sons and daughters, and all the people who lived with him. He also took his livestock and all his other animals. He took everything he had acquired in Canaan.Jacob and Esau owned so much that they couldn’t remain together. There wasn’t enough land for both of them. They had too much livestock.So Esau made his home in the hill country of Seir. Esau was also called Edom.Here is the story of the family line of Esau. He’s the father of the people of Edom. They live in the hill country of Seir.Here are the names of Esau’s sons. They are Eliphaz, the son of Esau’s wife Adah, and Reuel, the son of Esau’s wife Basemath.The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam and Kenaz.Esau’s son Eliphaz also had a concubine named Timna. She had Amalek by Eliphaz. They were grandsons of Esau’s wife Adah.The sons of Reuel were Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. They were grandsons of Esau’s wife Basemath.Esau’s wife Oholibamah was the daughter of Anah and the granddaughter of Zibeon. She had Jeush, Jalam and Korah by Esau.Here are the chiefs among Esau’s sons. Eliphaz was Esau’s oldest son. The sons of Eliphaz were Chiefs Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz,Korah, Gatam and Amalek. They were the chiefs in Edom who were sons of Eliphaz. They were Adah’s grandsons.The sons of Esau’s son Reuel were Chiefs Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. They were the chiefs in Edom who were sons of Reuel. They were grandsons of Esau’s wife Basemath.The sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah were Chiefs Jeush, Jalam and Korah. They were the chiefs who were sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah. She was Anah’s daughter.That was the family line of Esau. And these were the chiefs. Esau was also called Edom.Seir, the Horite, had sons living in the same area. They were Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,Dishon, Ezer and Dishan. These sons of Seir in Edom were Horite chiefs.The sons of Lotan were Hori and Homam. Timna was Lotan’s sister.The sons of Shobal were Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho and Onam.The sons of Zibeon were Aiah and Anah. He was the Anah who discovered the hot springs of water in the desert. He found them while he was taking care of the donkeys that belonged to his father Zibeon.The children of Anah were Dishon and Oholibamah. Oholibamah was the daughter of Anah.The sons of Dishon were Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran and Keran.The sons of Ezer were Bilhan, Zaavan and Akan.The sons of Dishan were Uz and Aran.The Horite chiefs were Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,Dishon, Ezer and Dishan. They were the Horite chiefs in the land of Seir. They are listed tribe by tribe.Before Israel had a king, there were kings who ruled in Edom.Bela became the king of Edom. Bela was the son of Beor. Bela’s city was called Dinhabah.When Bela died, Jobab became the next king. Jobab was the son of Zerah from Bozrah.When Jobab died, Husham became the next king. Husham was from the land of the Temanites.When Husham died, Hadad became the next king. Hadad was the son of Bedad. Hadad had won the battle over Midian in the country of Moab. Hadad’s city was called Avith.When Hadad died, Samlah became the next king. Samlah was from Masrekah.When Samlah died, Shaul became the next king. Shaul was from Rehoboth on the river.When Shaul died, Baal- Hanan became the next king. Baal- Hanan was the son of Akbor.When Baal- Hanan died, Hadad became the next king. Hadad’s city was called Pau. His wife’s name was Mehetabel. She was Matred’s daughter. Matred was the daughter of Me- Zahab.Here are the chiefs in the family line of Esau. They are listed by name as chiefs in charge of their tribes and territories. They are Timna, Alvah, Jetheth,Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon,Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar,Magdiel and Iram. They were the chiefs of Edom. They ruled over their settlements in the land where they lived. That’s the end of the story of the family line of Esau. He was the father of the people of Edom.

But his father wouldn’t do it. He said,“ I know, my son. I know. He too will become a nation. He too will become great. But his younger brother will be greater than he is. His children after him will become a group of nations.”

I will make them like the dust of the earth. Can dust be counted? If it can, then your family can be counted.

The angel continued,“ I will give you and your family many children. There will be more of them than anyone can count.”

So I will certainly bless you. I will make the children born into your family as many as the stars in the sky. I will make them as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. They will take over the cities of their enemies.

The Lord spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting. It happened in the Desert of Sinai. The Lord spoke to him on the first day of the second month. It was the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. The Lord said,“ Count all the men of Israel. Make a list of them by their tribes and families. List every man by name. List them one by one.Count all the men able to serve in the army. They must be 20 years old or more. I want you and Aaron to make a list of them group by group.One man from each tribe must help you. Those who help must be the heads of their families.“ Here are the names of the men who must help you.“ From the tribe of Reuben will come Elizur, the son of Shedeur.From the tribe of Simeon will come Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai.From the tribe of Judah will come Nahshon, the son of Amminadab.From the tribe of Issachar will come Nethanel, the son of Zuar.From the tribe of Zebulun will come Eliab, the son of Helon.From the tribe of Ephraim will come Elishama, the son of Ammihud. From the tribe of Manasseh will come Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur. Ephraim and Manasseh are Joseph’s two sons.From the tribe of Benjamin will come Abidan, the son of Gideoni.From the tribe of Dan will come Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai.From the tribe of Asher will come Pagiel, the son of Okran.From the tribe of Gad will come Eliasaph, the son of Deuel.From the tribe of Naphtali will come Ahira, the son of Enan.”These were the men appointed from the community. They were the leaders of the tribes of their people. They were the heads of the major families in Israel.Moses and Aaron went and got the men whose names had been given to them.Then Moses and Aaron gathered all the men of Israel together. It was the first day of the second month. The people wrote down the tribe and family they belonged to. The men 20 years old or more were listed by name. They were listed one by one.Everything was done just as the Lord had commanded Moses. So Moses counted them in the Desert of Sinai.Here is the number of men from the tribe of Reuben. He is Israel’s oldest son. All the men able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed one by one. They were listed according to the records of their tribes and families.The number from the tribe of Reuben was 46,500.Here is the number of men from the tribe of Simeon. All the men able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed one by one. They were listed according to the records of their tribes and families.The number from the tribe of Simeon was 59,300.Here is the number of men from the tribe of Gad. All the men able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed according to the records of their tribes and families.The number from the tribe of Gad was 45,650.Here is the number of men from the tribe of Judah. All the men able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed according to the records of their tribes and families.The number from the tribe of Judah was 74,600.Here is the number of men from the tribe of Issachar. All the men able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed according to the records of their tribes and families.The number from the tribe of Issachar was 54,400.Here is the number of men from the tribe of Zebulun. All the men able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed according to the records of their tribes and families.The number from the tribe of Zebulun was 57,400.Here is the number of men from the tribe of Ephraim. He is the son of Joseph. All the men able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed according to the records of their tribes and families.The number from the tribe of Ephraim was 40,500.Here is the number of men from the tribe of Manasseh. He is the son of Joseph. All the men able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed according to the records of their tribes and families.The number from the tribe of Manasseh was 32,200.Here is the number of men from the tribe of Benjamin. All the men able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed according to the records of their tribes and families.The number from the tribe of Benjamin was 35,400.Here is the number of men from the tribe of Dan. All the men able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed according to the records of their tribes and families.The number from the tribe of Dan was 62,700.Here is the number of men from the tribe of Asher. All the men able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed according to the records of their tribes and families.The number from the tribe of Asher was 41,500.Here is the number of men from the tribe of Naphtali. All the men able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed according to the records of their tribes and families.The number from the tribe of Naphtali was 53,400.These were the men counted by Moses and Aaron. The 12 leaders of Israel helped them. There was one leader from each tribe.The men who were counted were able to serve in Israel’s army. All of them were 20 years old or more. They were counted family by family.The total number of men was 603,550.But the families of the tribe of Levi were not counted along with the others.The Lord had spoken to Moses. He had said,“ You must not count the men from the tribe of Levi. Do not include them when you list the other men of Israel.Instead, put the Levites in charge of the holy tent. That is where the tablets of the covenant law are kept. The Levites will be in charge of everything that belongs to the holy tent. They must carry the tent and everything that belongs to it. They must take care of it. They must set up camp around it.When the holy tent must be moved, the Levites must take it down. And when the tent must be set up, the Levites must do it. Anyone else who approaches it must be put to death.The Israelites must set up their tents by military groups. All of them must be in their own camps under their own flags.But the Levites must set up their tents around the holy tent. That’s where the tablets of the covenant law are kept. Then I will not be angry with the community of Israel. The Levites will be responsible for taking care of the tent.”The Israelites did everything just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

After the plague, the Lord spoke to Moses and Eleazar the priest. Eleazar was the son of Aaron. The Lord said,“ Count all the men of Israel. Make a list of them by their families. Count all the men who are able to serve in Israel’s army. They must be 20 years old or more.”At that time the Israelites were on the plains of Moab. They were by the Jordan River across from Jericho. Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them. They said,“ Count all the men 20 years old or more. Do it just as the Lord commanded Moses.” Here are the men of Israel who came out of Egypt.Reuben was Israel’s oldest son. Here are the names of his sons. The Hanokite family came from Hanok. The Palluite family came from Pallu.The Hezronite family came from Hezron. The Karmite family came from Karmi.These were the families of Reuben. The number of men was 43,730.Eliab was the son of Pallu.Eliab’s sons were Nemuel, Dathan and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram were the same community officials who refused to obey Moses and Aaron. They were among the followers of Korah who refused to obey the Lord.The ground opened its mouth. It swallowed them up along with Korah. The followers of Korah died when fire burned up 250 men. Their deaths were a warning to the rest of Israel.But the family line of Korah didn’t die out completely.Here are the names of Simeon’s sons. They are listed by their families. The Nemuelite family came from Nemuel. The Jaminite family came from Jamin. The Jakinite family came from Jakin.The Zerahite family came from Zerah. The Shaulite family came from Shaul.These were the families of Simeon. The number of the men counted was 22,200.Here are the names of Gad’s sons. They are listed by their families. The Zephonite family came from Zephon. The Haggite family came from Haggi. The Shunite family came from Shuni.The Oznite family came from Ozni. The Erite family came from Eri.The Arodite family came from Arodi. The Arelite family came from Areli.These were the families of Gad. The number of the men counted was 40,500.Er and Onan were sons of Judah. But they died in Canaan.Here are the names of Judah’s sons. They are listed by their families. The Shelanite family came from Shelah. The Perezite family came from Perez. The Zerahite family came from Zerah.Here are the names of the sons of Perez. The Hezronite family came from Hezron. The Hamulite family came from Hamul.These were the families of Judah. The number of the men counted was 76,500.Here are the names of Issachar’s sons. They are listed by their families. The Tolaite family came from Tola. The Puite family came from Puah.The Jashubite family came from Jashub. The Shimronite family came from Shimron.These were the families of Issachar. The number of the men counted was 64,300.Here are the names of Zebulun’s sons. They are listed by their families. The Seredite family came from Sered. The Elonite family came from Elon. The Jahleelite family came from Jahleel.These were the families of Zebulun. The number of the men counted was 60,500.Here are the names of Joseph’s sons. They are listed by their families. The families came from Manasseh and Ephraim, the sons of Joseph.Here are the names of Manasseh’s sons. The Makirite family came from Makir. Makir was the father of Gilead. The Gileadite family came from Gilead.Here are the names of Gilead’s sons. The Iezerite family came from Iezer. The Helekite family came from Helek.The Asrielite family came from Asriel. The Shechemite family came from Shechem.The Shemidaite family came from Shemida. The Hepherite family came from Hepher.Zelophehad was the son of Hepher. Zelophehad didn’t have any sons. All he had was daughters. Their names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah.These were the families of Manasseh. The number of the men counted was 52,700.Here are the names of Ephraim’s sons. They are listed by their families. The Shuthelahite family came from Shuthelah. The Bekerite family came from Beker. The Tahanite family came from Tahan.The sons of Shuthelah were the Eranite family. They came from Eran.These were the families of Ephraim. The number of the men counted was 32,500. These were the sons of Joseph. They are listed by their families.Here are the names of Benjamin’s sons. They are listed by their families. The Belaite family came from Bela. The Ashbelite family came from Ashbel. The Ahiramite family came from Ahiram.The Shuphamite family came from Shupham. The Huphamite family came from Hupham.Bela’s sons came from Ard and Naaman. The Ardite family came from Ard. The Naamite family came from Naaman.These were the families of Benjamin. The number of the men counted was 45,600.Here is the name of Dan’s son. He is listed by his family. The Shuhamite family came from Shuham. This was the family of Dan.All the men in Dan’s family were Shuhamites. The number of the men counted was 64,400.Here are the names of Asher’s sons. They are listed by their families. The Imnite family came from Imnah. The Ishvite family came from Ishvi. The Beriite family came from Beriah.Here are the names of the families that came from Beriah’s sons. The Heberite family came from Heber. The Malkielite family came from Malkiel.Asher also had a daughter named Serah.These were the families of Asher. The number of the men counted was 53,400.Here are the names of Naphtali’s sons. They are listed by their families. The Jahzeelite family came from Jahzeel. The Gunite family came from Guni.The Jezerite family came from Jezer. The Shillemite family came from Shillem.These were the families of Naphtali. The number of the men counted was 45,400.The total number of the men of Israel was 601,730.The Lord said to Moses,“ I will give the land to them. The amount of land each family receives will be based on the number of its men.Give a larger share to a larger family. Give a smaller share to a smaller family. Each family will receive its share based on the number of men listed in it.“ Be sure that you cast lots when you give out the land. What each family receives will be based on the number of men listed in its tribe.Cast lots when you give out each share. Cast lots for the larger and smaller families alike.”Here are the names of the Levites. They are listed by their families. The Gershonite family came from Gershon. The Kohathite family came from Kohath. The Merarite family came from Merari.Here are the names of the other Levite families. They are the Libnite family, the Hebronite family, the Mahlite family, the Mushite family, the Korahite family. Amram came from the Kohathite family.The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed. She was from the family line of Levi. She was born to the Levites in Egypt. Aaron, Moses and their sister Miriam were born in the family line of Amram and Jochebed.Aaron was the father of Nadab and Abihu. He was also the father of Eleazar and Ithamar.But Nadab and Abihu made an offering to the Lord by using fire that wasn’t allowed. So they died.The number of male Levites a month old or more was 23,000. They weren’t listed along with the other men of Israel. That’s because they didn’t receive a share among them.These are the men counted by Moses and Eleazar the priest. At that time the Israelites were on the plains of Moab. They were by the Jordan River across from Jericho.The men of Israel had been counted before in the Sinai Desert by Moses and Aaron the priest. But not one of them was among the men counted this time.The Lord had told the Israelites at Kadesh Barnea that they would certainly die in the desert. Not one of them was left alive except Caleb and Joshua. Caleb was the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua was the son of Nun.

Abraham had married another woman. Her name was Keturah.She had Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah by Abraham.Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. The children of Dedan were the Ashurites, the Letushites and the Leummites.The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanok, Abida and Eldaah. All of them were members of Keturah’s family line.Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac.But while he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines. Then he sent them away from his son Isaac. He sent them to the land of the east.Abraham lived a total of 175 years.He took his last breath and died when he was very old. He had lived a very long time. Then he joined the members of his family who had already died.Abraham’s sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him. They put his body in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre. It was in the field of Ephron, the son of Zohar the Hittite.Abraham had bought the field from the Hittites. He was buried there with his wife Sarah.After Abraham died, God blessed his son Isaac. At that time Isaac was living near Beer Lahai Roi.Here is the story of the family line of Abraham’s son Ishmael. Hagar gave birth to Ishmael by Abraham. Hagar was Sarah’s slave from Egypt.Here are the names of the sons of Ishmael. They are listed in the order they were born. Nebaioth was Ishmael’s oldest son. Then came Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,Mishma, Dumah, Massa,Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah.All of them were Ishmael’s sons. They were rulers of 12 tribes. They all lived in their own settlements and camps.Ishmael lived a total of 137 years. Then he took his last breath and died. He joined the members of his family who had already died.His children settled in the area between Havilah and Shur. It was near the eastern border of Egypt, as you go toward Ashur. Ishmael’s children weren’t friendly toward any of the tribes related to them.

He was circumcised as a sign of the covenant God had made with him. It showed that his faith had made him right with God before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the father of all believers who have not been circumcised. God accepts their faith. So their faith makes them right with him.And Abraham is also the father of those who are circumcised and believe. So just being circumcised is not enough. Those who are circumcised must also follow the steps of our father Abraham. He had faith before he was circumcised.Abraham and his family received a promise. God promised that Abraham would receive the world. It would not come to him because he obeyed the law. It would come because of his faith, which made him right with God.Do those who depend on the law receive the promise? If they do, faith would mean nothing. God’s promise would be worthless.The law brings God’s anger. Where there is no law, the law can’t be broken.The promise is based on God’s grace. The promise comes by faith. All of Abraham’s children will certainly receive the promise. And it is not only for those who are ruled by the law. Those who have the same faith that Abraham had are also included. He is the father of us all.It is written,“ I have made you a father of many nations.”( Genesis 17:5) God considers Abraham to be our father. The God that Abraham believed in gives life to the dead. Abraham’s God also creates things that did not exist before.When there was no reason for hope, Abraham believed because he had hope. He became the father of many nations, exactly as God had promised. God said,“ That is how many children you will have.”( Genesis 15:5)

But you have said,‘ I will surely give you success. I will make your children as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. People will not be able to count them.’ ”

There is no Jew or Gentile. There is no slave or free person. There is no male or female. That’s because you are all one in Christ Jesus.You who belong to Christ are Abraham’s seed. So you will receive what God has promised.