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Genesis 29:32-30:24
So Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said,“ The Lord has noticed my misery, and now my husband will love me.”She soon became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She named him Simeon, for she said,“ The Lord heard that I was unloved and has given me another son.”Then she became pregnant a third time and gave birth to another son. He was named Levi, for she said,“ Surely this time my husband will feel affection for me, since I have given him three sons!”Once again Leah became pregnant and gave birth to another son. She named him Judah, for she said,“ Now I will praise the Lord!” And then she stopped having children.When Rachel saw that she wasn’t having any children for Jacob, she became jealous of her sister. She pleaded with Jacob,“ Give me children, or I’ll die!”Then Jacob became furious with Rachel.“ Am I God?” he asked.“ He’s the one who has kept you from having children!”Then Rachel told him,“ Take my maid, Bilhah, and sleep with her. She will bear children for me, and through her I can have a family, too.”So Rachel gave her servant, Bilhah, to Jacob as a wife, and he slept with her.Bilhah became pregnant and presented him with a son.Rachel named him Dan, for she said,“ God has vindicated me! He has heard my request and given me a son.”Then Bilhah became pregnant again and gave Jacob a second son.Rachel named him Naphtali, for she said,“ I have struggled hard with my sister, and I’m winning!”Meanwhile, Leah realized that she wasn’t getting pregnant anymore, so she took her servant, Zilpah, and gave her to Jacob as a wife.Soon Zilpah presented him with a son.Leah named him Gad, for she said,“ How fortunate I am!”Then Zilpah gave Jacob a second son.And Leah named him Asher, for she said,“ What joy is mine! Now the other women will celebrate with me.”One day during the wheat harvest, Reuben found some mandrakes growing in a field and brought them to his mother, Leah. Rachel begged Leah,“ Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”But Leah angrily replied,“ Wasn’t it enough that you stole my husband? Now will you steal my son’s mandrakes, too?” Rachel answered,“ I will let Jacob sleep with you tonight if you give me some of the mandrakes.”So that evening, as Jacob was coming home from the fields, Leah went out to meet him.“ You must come and sleep with me tonight!” she said.“ I have paid for you with some mandrakes that my son found.” So that night he slept with Leah.And God answered Leah’s prayers. She became pregnant again and gave birth to a fifth son for Jacob.She named him Issachar, for she said,“ God has rewarded me for giving my servant to my husband as a wife.”Then Leah became pregnant again and gave birth to a sixth son for Jacob.She named him Zebulun, for she said,“ God has given me a good reward. Now my husband will treat me with respect, for I have given him six sons.”Later she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah.Then God remembered Rachel’s plight and answered her prayers by enabling her to have children.She became pregnant and gave birth to a son.“ God has removed my disgrace,” she said.And she named him Joseph, for she said,“ May the Lord add yet another son to my family.”
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Deuteronomy 25:9
the widow must walk over to him in the presence of the elders, pull his sandal from his foot, and spit in his face. Then she must declare,‘ This is what happens to a man who refuses to provide his brother with children.’
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Genesis 35:16-20
Leaving Bethel, Jacob and his clan moved on toward Ephrath. But Rachel went into labor while they were still some distance away. Her labor pains were intense.After a very hard delivery, the midwife finally exclaimed,“ Don’t be afraid— you have another son!”Rachel was about to die, but with her last breath she named the baby Ben oni( which means“ son of my sorrow”). The baby’s father, however, called him Benjamin( which means“ son of my right hand”).So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath( that is, Bethlehem).Jacob set up a stone monument over Rachel’s grave, and it can be seen there to this day.
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Psalms 128:3-6
Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine, flourishing within your home. Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees as they sit around your table.That is the Lord’s blessing for those who fear him.May the Lord continually bless you from Zion. May you see Jerusalem prosper as long as you live.May you live to enjoy your grandchildren. May Israel have peace!
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Matthew 2:6
‘ And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’”
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Micah 5:2
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.
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Psalms 127:3-5
Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.
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Proverbs 14:1
A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.
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Psalms 132:6
We heard that the Ark was in Ephrathah; then we found it in the distant countryside of Jaar.
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Genesis 46:8-27
These are the names of the descendants of Israel— the sons of Jacob— who went to Egypt: Reuben was Jacob’s oldest son.The sons of Reuben were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar, and Shaul.( Shaul’s mother was a Canaanite woman.)The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.The sons of Judah were Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah( though Er and Onan had died in the land of Canaan). The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.The sons of Issachar were Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron.The sons of Zebulun were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.These were the sons of Leah and Jacob who were born in Paddan aram, in addition to their daughter, Dinah. The number of Jacob’s descendants( male and female) through Leah was thirty three.The sons of Gad were Zephon, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.The sons of Asher were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah. Their sister was Serah. Beriah’s sons were Heber and Malkiel.These were the sons of Zilpah, the servant given to Leah by her father, Laban. The number of Jacob’s descendants through Zilpah was sixteen.The sons of Jacob’s wife Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin.Joseph’s sons, born in the land of Egypt, were Manasseh and Ephraim. Their mother was Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On.Benjamin’s sons were Bela, Beker, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.These were the sons of Rachel and Jacob. The number of Jacob’s descendants through Rachel was fourteen.The son of Dan was Hushim.The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.These were the sons of Bilhah, the servant given to Rachel by her father, Laban. The number of Jacob’s descendants through Bilhah was seven.The total number of Jacob’s direct descendants who went with him to Egypt, not counting his sons’ wives, was sixty six.In addition, Joseph had two sons who were born in Egypt. So altogether, there were seventy members of Jacob’s family in the land of Egypt.
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Genesis 24:60
They gave her this blessing as she parted:“ Our sister, may you become the mother of many millions! May your descendants be strong and conquer the cities of their enemies.”
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Numbers 26:1-65
After the plague had ended, the Lord said to Moses and to Eleazar son of Aaron the priest,“ From the whole community of Israel, record the names of all the warriors by their families. List all the men twenty years old or older who are able to go to war.”So there on the plains of Moab beside the Jordan River, across from Jericho, Moses and Eleazar the priest issued these instructions to the leaders of Israel:“ List all the men of Israel twenty years old and older, just as the Lord commanded Moses.” This is the record of all the descendants of Israel who came out of Egypt.These were the clans descended from the sons of Reuben, Jacob’s oldest son: The Hanochite clan, named after their ancestor Hanoch. The Palluite clan, named after their ancestor Pallu.The Hezronite clan, named after their ancestor Hezron. The Carmite clan, named after their ancestor Carmi.These were the clans of Reuben. Their registered troops numbered 43,730.Pallu was the ancestor of Eliab,and Eliab was the father of Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. This Dathan and Abiram are the same community leaders who conspired with Korah against Moses and Aaron, rebelling against the Lord.But the earth opened up its mouth and swallowed them with Korah, and fire devoured 250 of their followers. This served as a warning to the entire nation of Israel.However, the sons of Korah did not die that day.These were the clans descended from the sons of Simeon: The Jemuelite clan, named after their ancestor Jemuel. The Jaminite clan, named after their ancestor Jamin. The Jakinite clan, named after their ancestor Jakin.The Zoharite clan, named after their ancestor Zohar. The Shaulite clan, named after their ancestor Shaul.These were the clans of Simeon. Their registered troops numbered 22,200.These were the clans descended from the sons of Gad: The Zephonite clan, named after their ancestor Zephon. The Haggite clan, named after their ancestor Haggi. The Shunite clan, named after their ancestor Shuni.The Oznite clan, named after their ancestor Ozni. The Erite clan, named after their ancestor Eri.The Arodite clan, named after their ancestor Arodi. The Arelite clan, named after their ancestor Areli.These were the clans of Gad. Their registered troops numbered 40,500.Judah had two sons, Er and Onan, who had died in the land of Canaan.These were the clans descended from Judah’s surviving sons: The Shelanite clan, named after their ancestor Shelah. The Perezite clan, named after their ancestor Perez. The Zerahite clan, named after their ancestor Zerah.These were the subclans descended from the Perezites: The Hezronites, named after their ancestor Hezron. The Hamulites, named after their ancestor Hamul.These were the clans of Judah. Their registered troops numbered 76,500.These were the clans descended from the sons of Issachar: The Tolaite clan, named after their ancestor Tola. The Puite clan, named after their ancestor Puah.The Jashubite clan, named after their ancestor Jashub. The Shimronite clan, named after their ancestor Shimron.These were the clans of Issachar. Their registered troops numbered 64,300.These were the clans descended from the sons of Zebulun: The Seredite clan, named after their ancestor Sered. The Elonite clan, named after their ancestor Elon. The Jahleelite clan, named after their ancestor Jahleel.These were the clans of Zebulun. Their registered troops numbered 60,500.Two clans were descended from Joseph through Manasseh and Ephraim.These were the clans descended from Manasseh: The Makirite clan, named after their ancestor Makir. The Gileadite clan, named after their ancestor Gilead, Makir’s son.These were the subclans descended from the Gileadites: The Iezerites, named after their ancestor Iezer. The Helekites, named after their ancestor Helek.The Asrielites, named after their ancestor Asriel. The Shechemites, named after their ancestor Shechem.The Shemidaites, named after their ancestor Shemida. The Hepherites, named after their ancestor Hepher.( One of Hepher’s descendants, Zelophehad, had no sons, but his daughters’ names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.)These were the clans of Manasseh. Their registered troops numbered 52,700.These were the clans descended from the sons of Ephraim: The Shuthelahite clan, named after their ancestor Shuthelah. The Bekerite clan, named after their ancestor Beker. The Tahanite clan, named after their ancestor Tahan.This was the subclan descended from the Shuthelahites: The Eranites, named after their ancestor Eran.These were the clans of Ephraim. Their registered troops numbered 32,500. These clans of Manasseh and Ephraim were all descendants of Joseph.These were the clans descended from the sons of Benjamin: The Belaite clan, named after their ancestor Bela. The Ashbelite clan, named after their ancestor Ashbel. The Ahiramite clan, named after their ancestor Ahiram.The Shuphamite clan, named after their ancestor Shupham. The Huphamite clan, named after their ancestor Hupham.These were the subclans descended from the Belaites: The Ardites, named after their ancestor Ard. The Naamites, named after their ancestor Naaman.These were the clans of Benjamin. Their registered troops numbered 45,600.These were the clans descended from the sons of Dan: The Shuhamite clan, named after their ancestor Shuham.These were the Shuhamite clans of Dan. Their registered troops numbered 64,400.These were the clans descended from the sons of Asher: The Imnite clan, named after their ancestor Imnah. The Ishvite clan, named after their ancestor Ishvi. The Beriite clan, named after their ancestor Beriah.These were the subclans descended from the Beriites: The Heberites, named after their ancestor Heber. The Malkielites, named after their ancestor Malkiel.Asher also had a daughter named Serah.These were the clans of Asher. Their registered troops numbered 53,400.These were the clans descended from the sons of Naphtali: The Jahzeelite clan, named after their ancestor Jahzeel. The Gunite clan, named after their ancestor Guni.The Jezerite clan, named after their ancestor Jezer. The Shillemite clan, named after their ancestor Shillem.These were the clans of Naphtali. Their registered troops numbered 45,400.In summary, the registered troops of all Israel numbered 601,730.Then the Lord said to Moses,“ Divide the land among the tribes, and distribute the grants of land in proportion to the tribes’ populations, as indicated by the number of names on the list.Give the larger tribes more land and the smaller tribes less land, each group receiving a grant in proportion to the size of its population.But you must assign the land by lot, and give land to each ancestral tribe according to the number of names on the list.Each grant of land must be assigned by lot among the larger and smaller tribal groups.”This is the record of the Levites who were counted according to their clans: The Gershonite clan, named after their ancestor Gershon. The Kohathite clan, named after their ancestor Kohath. The Merarite clan, named after their ancestor Merari.The Libnites, the Hebronites, the Mahlites, the Mushites, and the Korahites were all subclans of the Levites. Now Kohath was the ancestor of Amram,and Amram’s wife was named Jochebed. She also was a descendant of Levi, born among the Levites in the land of Egypt. Amram and Jochebed became the parents of Aaron, Moses, and their sister, Miriam.To Aaron were born Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.But Nadab and Abihu died when they burned before the Lord the wrong kind of fire, different than he had commanded.The men from the Levite clans who were one month old or older numbered 23,000. But the Levites were not included in the registration of the rest of the people of Israel because they were not given an allotment of land when it was divided among the Israelites.So these are the results of the registration of the people of Israel as conducted by Moses and Eleazar the priest on the plains of Moab beside the Jordan River, across from Jericho.Not one person on this list had been among those listed in the previous registration taken by Moses and Aaron in the wilderness of Sinai.For the Lord had said of them,“ They will all die in the wilderness.” Not one of them survived except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
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Ruth 1:2
The man’s name was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. Their two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. And when they reached Moab, they settled there.
