Hebrew Torah  - Transliterated & Translated - Verse by Verse & with Commentary

Bereishit Chapter 26

א וַיְהִי רָעָב בָּאָרֶץ מִלְּבַד הָרָעָב הָרִאשׁוֹן אֲשֶׁר הָיָה בִּימֵי אַבְרָהָם וַיֵּלֶךְ יִצְחָק אֶל-אֲבִימֶלֶךְ מֶלֶךְ-פְּלִשְׁתִּים גְּרָרָה

Vayehi ra'av ba'aretz milvad hara'av harishon asher hayah bimei Avraham vayelech Yitzchak el-Avimelech melech-Plishtim Gerarah.

1. There was a famine in the land, aside from the first famine that was in the days of Avraham. Yitzchak went to Avimelech king of the Pelishtim in Gerar.

ב וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְהוָה וַיֹּאמֶר אַל-תֵּרֵד מִצְרָיְמָה: שְׁכֹן בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אֹמַר אֵלֶיךָ

Vayera elav HASHEM vayomer al-tered Mitzraymah shechon ba'aretz asher omar eleicha.

2. HASHEM appeared to [Yitzchak] and said, "Do not go down to Egypt. Settle in the land that I shall designate to you."

ג גּוּר בָּאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת וְאֶהְיֶה עִמְּךָ וַאֲבָרְכֶךָּ: כִּי-לְךָ וּלְזַרְעֲךָ אֶתֵּן אֶת-כָּל-הָאֲרָצֹת הָאֵל וַהֲקִמֹתִי אֶת-הַשְּׁבֻעָה אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי לְאַבְרָהָם אָבִיךָ

Gur ba'aretz hazot ve'eheyeh imecha va'avaracheka ki-lecha ulezar'acha eten et-kol-ha'aratzot ha'el vahakimoti et-hashvuah asher nishbati le-Avraham avicha.

3. "Stay awhile in this land. I will be with you and bles you, for to you and to your offspring I shall give all these lands, and I will keep the oath that I made to Avraham your father."

ד וְהִרְבֵּיתִי אֶת-זַרְעֲךָ כְּכוֹכְבֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם וְנָתַתִּי לְזַרְעֲךָ אֵת כָּל-הָאֲרָצֹת הָאֵל וְהִתְבָּרְכוּ בְזַרְעֲךָ כֹּל גּוֹיֵי הָאָרֶץ

Vehirbeiti et-zar'acha kechochevei hashamayim venatati lezar'acha et kol-ha'aratzot ha'el vehitbarachu vezar'acha kol goyei ha'aretz.

4. "I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give your offspring all these lands. All the nations on earth shall bless themselves through your offspring."

ה עֵקֶב אֲשֶׁר-שָׁמַע אַבְרָהָם בְּקֹלִי וַיִּשְׁמֹר מִשְׁמַרְתִּי מִצְוֺתַי חֻקּוֹתַי וְתוֹרֹתָי

Ekev asher-shama Avraham bekoli vayishmor mishmarti mitzvotai chukotai vetorotai.

5. "All because Avraham listened to My voice, and kept My charge, My commandments, My decrees, and My Torahs."

ו וַיֵּשֶׁב יִצְחָק בִּגְרָר

Vayeshev Yitzchak biGrar.

6. Yitzchak settled in Gerar.

ז וַיִּשְׁאֲלוּ אַנְשֵׁי הַמָּקוֹם לְאִשְׁתּוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר אֲחֹתִי הִוא: כִּי יָרֵא לֵאמֹר אִשְׁתִּי פֶּן-יַהַרְגֻנִי אַנְשֵׁי הַמָּקוֹם עַל-רִבְקָה כִּי-טוֹבַת מַרְאֶה הִוא

Vayish'alu anshei hamakom le'ishto vayomer achoti hi ki yare lemor ishti pen-yaharguni anshei hamakom al-Rivkah ki-tovat mar'eh hi.

7. When the local men asked about his wife, he said, "She is my siser." He was afraid to say, "My wife - lest the local men kill me because of Rivkah, she is so good looking."

ח וַיְהִי כִּי אָרְכוּ-לוֹ שָׁם הַיָּמִים וַיַּשְׁקֵף אֲבִימֶלֶךְ מֶלֶךְ פְּלִשְׁתִּים בְּעַד הַחַלּוֹן וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה יִצְחָק מְצַחֵק אֵת רִבְקָה אִשְׁתּוֹ

Vayehi ki archu-lo sham hayamim vayashkef Avimelech melech Plishtim be'ad hachalon vayar vehineh Yitzchak metzachek et Rivkah ishto.

8. When [Yitzchak] had been there a long while, Avimelech, King of the Pelishtim, once looked out the window, andhe saw Yitzchak having fun with Rivkah his wife.

ט וַיִּקְרָא אֲבִימֶלֶךְ לְיִצְחָק וַיֹּאמֶר אַךְ הִנֵּה אִשְׁתְּךָ הִוא וְאֵיךְ אָמַרְתָּ אֲחֹתִי הִוא וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו יִצְחָק כִּי אָמַרְתִּי פֶּן-אָמוּת עָלֶיהָ

Vayikra Avimelech le-Yitzchak vayomer ach hineh ishtecha hi ve'eich amarta achoti hi vayomer elav Yitzchak ki amarti pen-amut aleiha

9. Avimelech summoned Yitzchak and aid, "But she is your wife! How could you say, 'She is my sister'?" Yitzchak said to him, "I was apprehensive that I might die because of her."

י וַיֹּאמֶר אֲבִימֶלֶךְ מַה-זֹּאת עָשִׂיתָ לָּנוּ כִּמְעַט שָׁכַב אַחַד הָעָם אֶת-אִשְׁתֶּךָ וְהֵבֵאתָ עָלֵינוּ אָשָׁם

Vayomer Avimelech mah-zot asita lanu kime'at shachav achad ha'am et-ishtecha veheveta aleinu asham.

10. Avimelch said, "What have you done to us? One of the people could have easily slept with your wife. You would have brought guilt upon us!"

יא וַיְצַו אֲבִימֶלֶךְ אֶת-כָּל-הָעָם לֵאמֹר: הַנֹּגֵעַ בָּאִישׁ הַזֶּה וּבְאִשְׁתּוֹ--מוֹת יוּמָת

Vayetzav Avimelech et-kol-ha'am lemor hanogea ba'ish hazeh uve'ishto mot yumat.

יב וַיִּזְרַע יִצְחָק בָּאָרֶץ הַהִוא וַיִּמְצָא בַּשָּׁנָה הַהִוא מֵאָה שְׁעָרִים וַיְבָרְכֵהוּ יְהוָה

Vayizra Yitzchak ba'aretz hahi vayimtza bashanah hahi me'ah she'arim vayevarachehu HASHEM.

12. Yitzchak planted in that area. That year he reaped a hundredfold, for HASHEM had blessed him.

יג וַיִּגְדַּל הָאִישׁ וַיֵּלֶךְ הָלוֹךְ וְגָדֵל עַד כִּי-גָדַל מְאֹד

Vayigdal ha'ish vayelech haloch vegadel ad ki-gadal me'od.

13. The man prospered. He continually flourished, until he was very great.

יד וַיְהִי-לוֹ מִקְנֵה-צֹאן וּמִקְנֵה בָקָר וַעֲבֻדָּה רַבָּה וַיְקַנְאוּ אֹתוֹ פְּלִשְׁתִּים

Vayehi-lo mikneh-tzon umikneh vakar va'avudah rabah bayekane'u oto Plishtim.

14. He had flocks of sheep, flocks of cattle, and a large retinue of slaves. The Pelishtim became jealous of him.

טו וְכָל-הַבְּאֵרֹת אֲשֶׁר חָפְרוּ עַבְדֵי אָבִיו בִּימֵי אַבְרָהָם אָבִיו--סִתְּמוּם פְּלִשְׁתִּים וַיְמַלְאוּם עָפָר

Vechol-habe'erot asher chafru avdei aviv bimei Avraham aviv sitmum Plishtim vayemale'um afar.

15. Al the wells that his father's servants had dug in the days of his father Avraham - the Pelishtim plugged them up and filled them with earth.

טז וַיֹּאמֶר אֲבִימֶלֶךְ אֶל-יִצְחָק: לֵךְ מֵעִמָּנוּ כִּי-עָצַמְתָּ מִמֶּנּוּ מְאֹד

Vayomer Avimelech el-Yitzchak lech me'imanu ki-atzamta mimenu me'od.

16. Avimelech said to Yitzchak, "Go away from us. You have become much too powerful for us!"

יז וַיֵּלֶךְ מִשָּׁם יִצְחָק וַיִּחַן בְּנַחַל-גְּרָר וַיֵּשֶׁב שָׁם

Vayelech misham Yitzchak vayichan beNachal-Grar vayeshev sham.

17. Yitzchak went away from that area and camped in the wadi of Gerar. He settled there.

יח וַיָּשָׁב יִצְחָק וַיַּחְפֹּר אֶת-בְּאֵרֹת הַמַּיִם אֲשֶׁר חָפְרוּ בִּימֵי אַבְרָהָם אָבִיו וַיְסַתְּמוּם פְּלִשְׁתִּים אַחֲרֵי מוֹת אַבְרָהָם וַיִּקְרָא לָהֶן שֵׁמוֹת כַּשֵּׁמֹת אֲשֶׁר-קָרָא לָהֶן אָבִיו

Vayashov Yitzchak vayachpor et-be'erot hamayim asher chafru bimei Avraham aviv vayesatmum Plishtim acharei mot Avraham vayikra lahen shemot kashemot asher-kara lahen aviv.

18. Yitzchak redug the wells which were dug in the days of his father Avraham, and were plugged by the Pelishtim after Avraham's death. He gave them the same names that his father had given them.

יט וַיַּחְפְּרוּ עַבְדֵי-יִצְחָק בַּנָּחַל וַיִּמְצְאוּ-שָׁם--בְּאֵר מַיִם חַיִּים

Vayachperu avdei-Yitzchak banachal vayimtze'u-sham be'er mayim chayim.

19. Yitzchak's servants dug in the wadi and found a well of living water.

כ וַיָּרִיבוּ רֹעֵי גְרָר עִם-רֹעֵי יִצְחָק לֵאמֹר--לָנוּ הַמָּיִם וַיִּקְרָא שֵׁם-הַבְּאֵר עֵשֶׂק כִּי הִתְעַשְּׂקוּ עִמּוֹ

Vayarivu ro'ei Gerar im-ro'ei Yitzchak lemor lanu hamayim vayikra shem-habe'er Esek ki hit'aseku imo.

20. The shepherds of Gerar disputed with Yitzchak's shepherds, saying, "The water is ours." [Yitzchak] named the well Esek (Contention) because they had contended with him.

כא וַיַּחְפְּרוּ בְּאֵר אַחֶרֶת וַיָּרִיבוּ גַּם-עָלֶיהָ וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמָהּ שִׂטְנָה

Vayachperu be'er acheret vayarivu gam-aleiha vayikra shmah Sitnah.

21. They dug another well and they also had a dispute regarding it. [Yitzchak] named it Sitnah (Harassment).

כב וַיַּעְתֵּק מִשָּׁם וַיַּחְפֹּר בְּאֵר אַחֶרֶת וְלֹא רָבוּ עָלֶיהָ וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמָהּ רְחֹבוֹת וַיֹּאמֶר כִּי-עַתָּה הִרְחִיב יְהוָה לָנוּ וּפָרִינוּ בָאָרֶץ

Vayatek misham vayachpor be'er acheret velo ravu aleiha vayikra shemah Rechovot vayomer ki-atah hirchiv HASHEM lanu ufarinu va'aretz.

22. He moved away from there and dug another well, and there was no dispute regarding it. He named it Rechovot (Open Spaces), and said, "Now HASHEM will give us ample space, and we have been fruitful in the land."

כג וַיַּעַל מִשָּׁם בְּאֵר שָׁבַע

Vaya'al misham Be'er Shava.

23. From there, [Yitzchak] went up to Beer Sheva.

כד וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְהוָה בַּלַּיְלָה הַהוּא וַיֹּאמֶר אָנֹכִי אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם אָבִיךָ אַל-תִּירָא כִּי-אִתְּךָ אָנֹכִי וּבֵרַכְתִּיךָ וְהִרְבֵּיתִי אֶת-זַרְעֲךָ בַּעֲבוּר אַבְרָהָם עַבְדִּי

Vayera elav HASHEM balailah hahu vayomer anochi Elohei Avraham avicha al-tira ki-itecha anochi uverachticha vehirbeiti et-zar'acha ba'avur Avraham avdi.

24. HASHEM appeared to [Yitzchak] that night and said, "I am the G-d of your father Avraham. Do not fear, for I am wth you. I will bless you and make your offspring numerous, because of My servant Avraham."

כה וַיִּבֶן שָׁם מִזְבֵּחַ וַיִּקְרָא בְּשֵׁם יְהוָה וַיֶּט-שָׁם אָהֳלוֹ וַיִּכְרוּ-שָׁם עַבְדֵי-יִצְחָק בְּאֵר

Vayiven sham mizbe'ach vayikra beshem HASHEM vayet-sham aholo vayichru-sham avdei-Yitzchak be'er.

25. [Yitzchak] built an altar there and called in HASHEM'S name. He pitched his tent there, and Yitzchak's servants dug a well in that place.

כו וַאֲבִימֶלֶךְ הָלַךְ אֵלָיו מִגְּרָר וַאֲחֻזַּת מֵרֵעֵהוּ וּפִיכֹל שַׂר-צְבָאוֹ

Va'Avimelech halach elav miGrar ve'achuzat mere'ehu uFichol sar-tzeva'o.

26. Avimelech traveled from Gerar to [Yitzchak] along with a grup of friends and his general Pichol.

כז וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם יִצְחָק מַדּוּעַ בָּאתֶם אֵלָי וְאַתֶּם שְׂנֵאתֶם אֹתִי וַתְּשַׁלְּחוּנִי מֵאִתְּכֶם

Vayomer alehem Yitzchak madua batem elai ve'atem snetem oti vateshalchuni me'itchem.

27. Yizchak said to them, "Why have you come to me? You hate me and drove me away from you."

כח וַיֹּאמְרוּ רָאוֹ רָאִינוּ כִּי-הָיָה יְהוָה עִמָּךְ וַנֹּאמֶר תְּהִי נָא אָלָה בֵּינוֹתֵינוּ בֵּינֵינוּ וּבֵינֶךָ וְנִכְרְתָה בְרִית עִמָּךְ

Vayomru ra'o ra'inu ki-hayah HASHEM imach vanomer tehi na alah beinoteinu beineinu uveinecha venichretah verit imach.

28. They said, "We have indeed seen that HASHEM is with you. We propose that there now be a dread oath between us - between ourselves and you - and let us make a pact with you"

כט אִם-תַּעֲשֵׂה עִמָּנוּ רָעָה כַּאֲשֶׁר לֹא נְגַעֲנוּךָ וְכַאֲשֶׁר עָשִׂינוּ עִמְּךָ רַק-טוֹב וַנְּשַׁלֵּחֲךָ בְּשָׁלוֹם אַתָּה עַתָּה בְּרוּךְ יְהוָה

Im-ta'aseh imanu ra'ah ka'asher lo nega'anucha vecha'asher asinu imcha rak-tov vaneshalechacha beshalom atah atah beruch HASHEM.

29. "that you will do no evil to us, just as we did not touch you; just as we did only good to you and sent you away in peace. Now you are the blessed one of HASHEM."

ל וַיַּעַשׂ לָהֶם מִשְׁתֶּה וַיֹּאכְלוּ וַיִּשְׁתּוּ

Vaya'as lahem mishteh vayochlu vayishtu.

30. [Yitzchak] made a feast for them, and they ate and drank.

לא וַיַּשְׁכִּימוּ בַבֹּקֶר וַיִּשָּׁבְעוּ אִישׁ לְאָחִיו וַיְשַׁלְּחֵם יִצְחָק וַיֵּלְכוּ מֵאִתּוֹ בְּשָׁלוֹם

Vayashkimu vaboker vayishave'u ish le'achiv vayeshalechem Yitzchak vayelechu me'ito beshalom.

31. They awoke early in the morning, and each made an oath to the other. Yitzchak sent them on their way, and they left in peace.

לב וַיְהִי בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא וַיָּבֹאוּ עַבְדֵי יִצְחָק וַיַּגִּדוּ לוֹ עַל-אֹדוֹת הַבְּאֵר אֲשֶׁר חָפָרוּ וַיֹּאמְרוּ לוֹ מָצָאנוּ מָיִם

Vayehi bayom hahu vayavo'u avdei Yitzchak vayagidu lo al-odot habe'er asher chafaru vayomeru lo matzanu mayim.

32. On that very day, Yitzchak's servants came and told him about the well they had dug, and they said, "We have found water."

לג וַיִּקְרָא אֹתָהּ שִׁבְעָה עַל-כֵּן שֵׁם-הָעִיר בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה

Vayikra otah Shiv'ah al-ken shem ha'ir Be'er Sheva ad hayom hazeh.

33. He named it Sheva. That city is therefore called Be'er Sheva until this very day.

לד וַיְהִי עֵשָׂו בֶּן-אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה וַיִּקַּח אִשָּׁה אֶת-יְהוּדִית בַּת-בְּאֵרִי הַחִתִּי--וְאֶת-בָּשְׂמַת בַּת-אֵילֹן הַחִתִּי

Vayehi Esav ben-arba'im shanah vayikach ishah et-Yehudit bat-Be'eri haChitti ve'et-Basemat bat-Eilon haChitti.

34. Esav was forty years old, and he married Yehudit daughter of Beeri the Chitti.

לה וַתִּהְיֶיןָ מֹרַת רוּחַ לְיִצְחָק וּלְרִבְקָה

Vatihyena morat ruach le-Yitzchak ule-Rivkah.

35. They became a source of spiritual embitterment to Yitzchak and Rivkah.