The 10 Plagues

If you could see how the plagues were brought about you would see  Aaron hitting the Nile River with a stick and the river turning to blood. The fish died, and the river began to stink.

Next,  Jehovah caused frogs to come up out of the Nile River. They were everywhere-in the ovens, the baking pans, in people's beds-everywhere.  When the frogs died the Egyptians piled them up in great heaps, and the land stank with them.

Then Aaron hit the ground with his stick, the dust turned into gnats.  These are small flying bugs that bite. The gnats were the third plague on the land of Egypt. 

The rest of the plagues hut only the Egyptians, not the Israelites.  The fourth was a plague of big flies that swarmed into the houses  of all the Egyptians.  The fifth plagued was on the animals. Many of the cattle and sheep and goats of the Egyptians died.

Next time: Continue with The 10 Plagues

From the jw.org publications 

Conclusion of Moses and Aaron See Pharaoh

Moses and Aaron went to see Phar'aoh again. This time, they did a miracle. Aaron threw down his stick, and it became a big snake. But Phar'aoh's wise men also threw down sticks, and snakes appeared. But, look!  Aaron's snake is eating up the snakes of the wise men.  Still, Phar'aoh would not let the Israelites go.

So the time came for Jehovah to teach Phar'aoh a lesson. Do you know how he did it?  It was by bringing up 10 plagues, or great troubles, on Egypt.

After many of the plagues, Phar'aoh sent for Moses, and said: 'Stop the plague, and I will let Israel go.' But when the plague would stop, Phar'aoh would change his mind.  He would not let the people god. But, finally, after the 10th plague, ( It was not the plague, Jehovah took the first born children of the Egyptians) Phar'aoh sent the Israelites away.

Read Exodus 4:27-31; 5:1-23; 6:1-13, 26-30; 7:1-13.

Note: Sometimes, when you want to cut a story short/summarize it,  you leave important things out and confuse people. But if you are really interested, read the Book, chapters and verses above. Believe me, this is book is more interesting and is a very educating book. 

Next time: The 10 Plagues

From the jw.org publications 

Moses and Aaron See Pharaoh

WHEN Moses returned to Egypt, he told his brother Aaron all about the miracles. And when Moses and Aaron showed the Israelites these miracles, the people all believed that Jehovah was with them.

Then Moses and Aaron went to see Phar'aoh.  They told him: 'The God of Israel says, 'Let my people god for three days, so they can worship me in the wilderness.'" But Phar'aoh answered: 'I don't believe in Jehovah. And I am not going to let Israel go.'

Phar'aoh was angry, because the people wanted time off from work to worship Jehovah. So he forced them to work even harder. The Israelites blamed Moses for how badly they were treated, and Moses felt sad. But Jehovah told him not to worry.  'I will make Phar'aoh let my people go,' Jehovah said. 

Next time: Conclusion of Moses and Aaron See Pharaoh

From the jw.org publications

Conclusion of The Burning Bush

'This is what you are to say,'  God answered. "'JEHOVAH the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob has sent me to you.'"  And Jehovah added: 'This is my name forever.'

'But suppose they don't believe me when I say that you sent me,' Moses added.  

'What is in your hand?' God asked. 

Moses answered: 'A stick.' 

'Throw it on the ground,' God said.  And when Moses did, the stick became a snake. Jehovah then showed Moses another miracle.  He said: 'Put your hand inside your robe.'  Moses did,, and when he took his hand out, it was white like snow!  The hand looked as if it had the bad sickness called leprosy.  Next Jehovah gave Moses power to do a third miracle.  Finally, he said: 'When you do these miracles the Israelites will believe that I sent you.' 

After that Moses went home and said to Jeth'ro.  Please let me go back to my relatives in Egypt to see how they are.' So Jeth'ro said good-bye to Moses, and Moses began his trip back to Egypt.

Exodus 3:1-22; 4:1-20. 

Next time: Moses and Aaron See Pharaoh

From the jw.org publications

The Burning Bush

MOSES had come all the way to the mountain of Hor'eb to find grass for his sheep. Here he saw a bush on fire, but it wasn't burning up!

'This is strange,' Moses thought.  'I will go closer and get a better look.'  When he did, a voice came out of the bush, saying: 'Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals, because you are standing on holy ground.'  It was God speaking through an angel, so Moses covered his face. 

God then said: 'I have seen the suffering of my people in Egypt. So I am going to free them, and you are the one I am sending to lead my people out of Egypt.'  Jehovah was going to bring his people to the beautiful land of Ca'naan. 

But Moses said:  'I am nobody. How can I do this? But suppose I go. The Israelites will say to me, 'Who sent you?" Then what shall I say?' 

Next time: Conclusion of The Burning Bush

From the jw.org publications

Conclusion of Why Moses Ran Away

The man said:  'Who made you our ruler and judge? Are you going to kill me just as you killed the Egyptian?'

Moses now became afraid. He knew that people had found out what he had done to the Egyptian. Even Phar'aoh heard about it, and he sent men to kill Moses.  That is why Moses had to run away from Egypt.

When Moses left Egypt, he went far away to the land of Mid'i-an.  There he met the family of Jeth'ro, and married one of his daughters name Zip-po'rah.  Moses became a shepherd and took care of Jeth'ro's  sheep.  For 40 years he lived in the land of Mid'i-an. He was now 89 years of age.  Then one day, while Moses was taking care of Jeth'ro's sheep, an amazing thing happened that changed Moses' whole life.  Let's see what amazing thing this is.

Exodus 2:11-25; Acts 7:22-29. 

Next time:  The Burning Bush

From the jw.org publications 

Why Moses Ran Away

LOOK at Moses running away from Egypt. The Egyptian men are chasing him. Do you know why they want to kill Moses?  Let's see if we can find out. 

Moses grew up in the house of Phar'aoh, the ruler of Egypt.  He became very wise and a great man. Moses knew that he was not an Egyptian, but that his real parents  were Israelite slaves.

One day, when he was 40 years old, Moses decided to go see how his people were getting along. It was terrible how they were being treated. He saw an Egyptian  beating an Israelite slave. Moses looked around, and when he didn't see anybody watching, he hit the Egyptian, and the Egyptian died. Then Moses hid his body in the sand.

The next day Moses went out to see his people again. He thought he could help them so they wouldn't have to be slaves anymore. But he saw two Israelite men fighting, so Moses said to the one who was in the wrong:  'Why are you beating up your brother?'

Next time: Conclusion of Why Moses Ran Away

From the jw.org publications

Conclusion of How Baby Moses Was Saved

Then Miram came up. You can see her in the picture. Mir'i-am asked Phar'aoh's daughter: 'Shall I go and call an Israelite woman to nurse the baby for you?'

'Please do,' the princess said.

So Mir'i-am ran quickly to tell her mother.  When Moses' mother came to the princess, the princess said:  'Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.'

So Moses' mother took care of her own child. Later when Moses was old enough, she took him to Phar'aoh's daughter, who adopted him as her own son.  This is how Moses  came to grow up in the house of Phar'aoh.

Exodus 2:1-10. 

Next time: Why Moses Ran Away

From the jw.org publications

How Baby Moses Was Saved

There is a little baby crying and holding onto te lady's finger.  This is Moses.  Do you know who the pretty lady is?  She is an Egyptian princess, Phar'aoh's own daughter.

Moses' mother hid her baby until he was three months 0ld, because she did not want him to be killed by the Egyptians. But she knew that Moses might be found, so this is what she did to save him. 

She took a basket and fixed it so that no water would leak in. Then she put Moses into it, and placed the basked into the tall grass along the Nile River. Moses' sister, Mir'i-am, was told to stand nearby and see what would happen.

Phar'aoh's daughter came down to the Nile River to bathe. Suddenly she saw the basket in the tall grass. She called to one of her servant girls:  'Go get that basket for me.'  When the princess opened the basket, what a beautiful baby she saw!  Little Moses  was crying, and the princess felt sorry for him. She didn't want to have him killed. 

Next time: Conclusion of How Baby Moses Was Saved

From the jw.org publications

A Bad King Rules Egypt

THE men here are forcing the people to work.  One of the Egyptian men are hitting one of the workers with a whip!  The workers are the family of Jacob, and are called Israelite.  The Israelites have become slaves of the Egyptians. How did this happen?

For many  years Jacob's big family lived at peace in Egypt.  Joseph, who was the most important man in Egypt next to Phar'aoh the king, took care of them.  But then Joseph died. And a new Phar'aoh, who did not like the Israelites, became king in Egypt. 

So this bad Phar'aoh made the Israelite slaves. And he put the  men in charge of them who were mean and cruel. They forced the Israelites to work very hard building cities for Phar'aoh.  But still the Israelites kept growing in numbers. After a while the Egyptians became afraid that the Israelites would become too many and too strong. 

Do you know what Phar'aoh did? He spoke to the women who helped the Israelite mothers when they gave to their babies, and said:  'You must kill every baby boy that is born.' But these were good women, and they would not kill the babies.

So Phar'aoh gave this command to all his people: 'Take the baby Israelite boys and kill them. Only let the baby girls live.' Wasn't that a terrible thing to command? Let's see how one the baby boys was saved. 

Exodus 1:6-22. 

Next time: How Baby Moses Was Saved

From the jw.org publications

Conclusion of Job Is Faithful to God

First, Satan had men steal Job's cattle and camels, and his sheep were killed.  Then he killed his 10 sons and daughters in a storm. Next, Satan struck Job with this terrible sickness. Job suffered very much. That is why Job's wife told him: 'Curse God and die.'  But Job would not do it. Also, three false friends came and told him he had lived a bad life.  But Job was faithful.

 This made Jehovah very happy, and afterward he blessed Job.  He healed him from his sickness.  Job had 10 more beautiful children, and twice as many cattle, sheep, and camels as he had before.  

Will you always be faithful to Jehovah like Job?  If you are, God will bless you too.  You will be able to live forever when the whole earth will be made just as pretty and the garden of Eden.

Job 1:1-22; 2:1-13; 42:10-17. 

Next time: A Bad King Rules Egypt

From the jw.org publications

Continue with Job Is Fathful to God

After Jacob and Joseph died in Egypt, Job was the person most faithful to Jehovah in all the earth.  Jehovah wanted to let Satan know that he could not get everyone to be bad, so he said: 'Look at Job. See how faithful he is to me.' 

'He is faithful,' Satan argued, 'because you bless him and he has many good things. But if you take these away, he will curse you.' 

So Jehovah said:  'Go ahead. Take them away. Do all the bad things you want to Job.  We will see if he curses me. Only be sure that you do not kill him.'

Next time: Conclusion of Job Is Faithful to God

From the jw.org publications 

Job Is Faithful to God

DO YOU feel sorry for this sick man? His name is Job, and the woman is his wife.  Do you know what she is saying to Job?   'Curse God and die.' Let's see why she would ever say a thing like that, and why Job suffered so much.

Job was a faithful man who obeyed Jehovah.  He lived in the land of Uz, not far from Ca'naan.  Jehovah loved Job very much, but there was someone who hated him. Do you know who?

It was Satan the Devil. Remember, Satan is the bad angel who hates Jehovah. He was able to get Adam and Eve to disobey Jehovah, and he thought he could get everybody else to disobey Jehovah too. But was he able to? No.  Just think of the many faithful men and women we have learned about. How many can you name?

Next time: Continue with Job Is Faithful to God

From the jw.org publications

Conclusion of The Family Moves to Egypt

Then Joseph throws his arms around his brothers, and he hugs and kisses them all.  When Phar'aoh hears that Joseph's brothers  have come, he tells Joseph: 'Let them take the wagons and go get their father and their families and come back here.  I will give them the best land in all of Egypt.' 

That is what they did. Joseph met his father when he got to Egypt with whole family. 

Jacob's family ad become very bit. Altogether there were  70 when they moved to Egypt, counting Jacob and his children and grandchildren. But there was also the wives, and probably many servants too.  These all settled in Egypt.  They were called Israelites, because God had changed the name of  Jacob to Israel. The Israelites became a very special people to God, as we will see later.

Next time: Job Is Faithful to God

From the jw.org publications

The Family Moves to Egypt

JOSEPH cannot control his feelings any longer. He tells all his servants to leave the room.  When he is alone with his brothers, Joseph begins to cry. We can imagine how surprised his brothers are, because they do not know why he is crying. Finally, he says: 'I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?' 

His brothers are so surprised that they can't speak.  They are afraid. But Joseph says: 'Please come closer.'  When they do, he says: 'I am Joseph, your brother whom you sold into Egypt.'

Joseph continues to speak in a kind way:  'Do not blame yourselves because you sold me here. It was really God who sent me to Egypt to save people's lives.  Phar'aoh has made me the ruler of the whole country.  So now hurry back to my father and tell him this.  And tell him to come and live here.'

 Next time: Conclusion of The Family Moves to Egypt

From the jw.org publications

Conclusion of Joseph Tests His Brothers

So the servants search through all the bags, and they find the cup in Benjamin's bag.  The servants say: 'The rest of you can go, but Benjamin must come with us.  'What will the 10 half brothers do now?

They all return with Benjamin to Joseph's house. Joseph tells his brothers:  'You can all go home, but Benjamin must stay here as my slave.' 

Judah no speaks up and says:  'If I go back home without the boy, my father will die because he loves him very much. So please keep me here as your slave, but let the boy go home.'

Joseph can see  that his brothers have changed.  They are not mean and unkind anymore. Let's find out what Joseph does now.

Genesis 42:9-38; 43:1-34; 44:1-34. 

Next time: The Family Moves to Egypt

From the jw.org publications

Continue with Joseph Tests His Brothers

Now Joseph sees his brothers coming. He is very happy to see his younger brother Benjamin.  Of course, none of them know that this important man is Joseph. Joseph now does something to test his 10 half brothers. 

He has his servants fill up all their bags with food. But without letting them know, he also has his special silver cup put into Benjamin's bag. After they all leave and have gone  a little distance on the road, Joseph sends his servants after them. When they catch up with them, the servants say: 'Why have you stolen our master's silver cup?'

'We have not stolen his cup,' the brothers all say.  'If you find the cup with any one of us, let that person be killed.'

Next time: Conclusion of Joseph Tests His Brothers

From the jw.org publications 

Joseph Tests His Brothers

JOSEPH wants to know if his 10 older brothers are still mean and unkind. So he says: 'You are spies. You have come to find out where our country is weak.' 

'No, we are not,' they says. 'We are honest men. We are all brothers. We were 12.  But one brother is no more, and the youngest is at home with our father.'

Joseph pretends not to believe them.  He keeps the brother named Sim'e-on in prison, and lets the others take the food and go home. But he tells them: 'When you come back, you must bring your youngest brother with you.' 

When they returned home to Ca'naan,the brothers tell their father Jacob everything that happened. Jacob is very sad. 'Joseph is no more,' he cries,  'and now Sim'e-on is no more. I will not let you take my youngest son Benjamin.' But when their food begins to run out, Jacob has to let them take Benjamin to Egypt so they can get more food. 

Next time: Continue with Joseph Test His Brothers

From the jw.org publications

Conclusion of Pharaoh's Dreams

Phar'aoh likes the idea. And he chooses Joseph to collect the food, and to store it up. Next to Phar'aoh, Joseph becomes the most important man in Egypt.

Eight years later, during the famine, Joseph sees some men coming. Do you know who they are?  Why, they are his 10 older brothers!  Their father Jacob has sent them to Egypt because they were running out of food back home in Ca'naan.  Joseph recognizes his brothers, but they do not recognize him.  Do you know why? It is because Joseph has grown older, and his is dressed in a different kind of clothes.

Joseph remembers that when he was a boy he dreamed about his brothers coming to bow down to him. Do you remember reading about that?  So Joseph can see that it is God who has sent him down to Egypt, and for a good reason. What do you thing Joseph does? Let's see. 

Genesis 41"1-57; 42:1-8; 50:20.

Next time: Joseph Tests  His Brothers

From the jw.org publications

Continue With Pharaoh's Dreams

'In my second dream I saw seven heads full, ripe grain growing on one stalk.  Then I saw seven thing, dried-out-heads of grain. And the thin heads of grain began to swallow up the seven good heads of grain.'

Joseph says to Phar'aoh:  'The two dreams mean the same thing.  The seven fat cows and seven full heads  of grain mean seven  years, and the seven thin cows and the seven thin heads of grain mean seven more years.  There will be seven years when a lot of food will grow in Egypt. Then there will be seven more years when very little food will grow.'

So Joseph tells Phar'aoh: 'Choose a wise man and put him in charge of collecting food during the seven good years.  Then the people will not starve during the following seven bad  years when very little food will grow. 

Next time: Conclusion of Pharaohs Dreams

From the jw.org publications 

Pharaoh's Dreams

TWO years pass, and Joseph is still in prison.  The cupbearer has not remembered him.  Then one night Phar'aoh has two very special dreams, and he wonders what they mean. The next morning Phar'aoh calls his wise men and tells them the things that he has dreamed. But they are not able to tell him the meaning of his dreams. 

Now the cupbearer at last remembers Joseph. He says to Phar'aoh:  'When I was in prison there was a man there who could tell the meaning of dreams.'  Phar'aoh has Joseph brought out of prison right away.

Phar'aoh tells Joseph his dreams:  'I saw seven fat, beautiful cows. Then I saw seven very thin and bony cows. And the thin ones ate up the fat cows.

Next time: Continue with Pharaoh's Dreams

From the jw.org publications 

Conclusion of Joseph Is Put Into Prison

The man in charge of the prison soon sees that Joseph is a good man. So he pushes him in charge of all the other prisoners. Later, Phar'aoh becomes angry with his cupbearer and his baker, and puts them into prison. One night they each have  a special dream, but they do not know the meaning of their dreams. the next day Joseph says:  'Tell me your dreams.'  And when they do, Joseph with God's help, explains the meaning of their dreams.

To the cupbearer, Joseph says: 'In three days you will be let out of prison, and you will become Phar'aoh's cupbearer again.' So Joseph adds: 'When you get out, tell Phar'aoh about me, and help me to get out of this place.' But to the baker, Joseph says:  'In just three days, Phar'aoh will have your head cut off.

In three days it happens just as Joseph said. Phar'aoh has the baker's head cut off.  The cupbearer though, is let out of prison and begins to serve the king again. But the cupbearer forgets all about Joseph! He does not tell Phar'aoh about him, and Joseph had to stay in prison.

Next time: Pharaoh's Dreams

From the jw.org publications

Joseph Is Put Into Prison

JOSEPH is only 17 years old when he is taken down to Egypt. There he is sold to a man named Pot'i-phar. Pot'i-phar works  for the king of Egypt, who is called Phar'aoh.

Joseph works hard for his master, Pot'i-phar. So when Joseph grows older, Pot'i-phar puts him in charge of his whole house. Why, then, is Joseph here in prison?  It is because of Pot'i-phar's wife.

Joseph grows up to be a very good-looking man, and  Pot'i-phar's wife wants him to lie down with her.  But Joseph knows this is wrong, and he won't do it. Pot'i-phar's wife is very angry. So when her husband comes home, she lies to him and says: "That bad Joseph tried to lie down with me!' Pot'i-phar believes his wife, and he is very angry with Joseph. So he has him thrown in prison.

Next time: Conclusion of Joseph Is Put Into Prison

From the jw.org publications

Conclusion of Joseph's Brothers Hate Him

About this time some Ish'ma-el-ite men come along. Judah says to his half brothers:  'Let's sell him to the Ish'ma-el-ites/'  And that's what they do.  They sell Joseph for 20 pieces of silver.  How mean and unkind that was!


What will the brothers tell their father?  They kill a  goat and again and again dip Joseph's beautiful coat into the goat's blood. Then they take the coat home to their father Jacob and says:  'We found this. Look at it, and see if this is not Joseph's coat.' 

Jacob sees that it is. 'A wild animal must have killed Joseph,' he cries. And that is just what Joseph's brothers want their father to think. Jacob is very, very sad. He weeps for many days.  But Joseph is not dead.  Let's see what happens to him and where he is taken.

Genesis 37:1-35. 

Next time: Joseph Is Put Into Prison

From the jw.org publications

Joseph's Brothers Hate Him

 Joseph feels very sad and hopeless. His brothers just sold him to these men who are on their way to Egypt. There Joseph will be made a slave. Why have all his half brothers done this bad thing?  It is because they are jealous of Joseph.

Their father Jacob liked Joseph very much. He showed him favor by having a beautiful long coat made for him.  When his 10 brothers saw how much Jacob loved Joseph, they began to be jealous and to hate Joseph. There was also another reason why they hated him. 

Joseph had two dreams. In both of Joseph's dreams his brothers bowed down to him. When Joseph told his brothers these dreams, their hatred grew even more.

Now one day when Joseph's older brothers are taking care of their father's sheep, Jacob asks Joseph to go and see how they are getting along.  When Joseph's brothers see him coming, some of them say: 'Let's kill him!'  But Rue'ben, the oldest brother, says: 'No, don't you do that!'  Instead they grab Joseph and throw him into a dried-up water hole.  Then they sit down to decide what to do with him.

Next time: Conclusion of Joseph's Brothers Hate Him

From the jw.org publications

Note: This is a good example of what not to do,  Whether putting someone in a water hole, killing them or whatever, it does not warrant a reason to hurt or kill or cause any emotional pain whatsoever. It is all out wrong and God does not approve of anyone doing that. Plus, eventually, it will all come back to bite you in your butt  and if the law doesn't do anything to punish that person, that person doing the wrong will get punished by God, no lie. He may just get punished twice.  The same lying etc. Wrong is wrong, no matter how you look at it.  It does not pay to do anything like that. No one and nothing is worth going to prison for. 

Conclusion of Dinah Gets Into Trouble

Sure enough, Di'nah got into trouble.  One day when Di'nah came on a visit, She'chem took Di'nah and forced her to lie down with him. This was wrong, because only married men  and women are supposed to lie down together. This bad think that She'chem did to Di'nah led to a lot more trouble.

When  Di'nah's brothers heard about what happened, they were angry.  Two of them, Sim'e-on and Le'vi, were so angry that they took swords and went into the city and caught the men by surprise. They and their brothers killed She'chem and all the other men, Jacob was angry because his sons did this bad thing.

How did all this trouble get started?  It was Di'nah made friends with people who did not obey God's Laws. We will not want to make such friends, will we?

Genesis 34:1-31.

Next time: Joseph's Brothers Hate Him

From the jw.org publications

Dinah Gets Into Trouble

DO KNOW who Dinah is going to visit?  She is going to see some of the girls who live in the land of Ca'naan.  Would her father be happy about this? To help answer this question, try to remember what Abraham and Isaac thought about the women in Ca'naan. 

Did Abraham want his son Isaac to marry a girl from Ca'naan?  No, he did not. Did Isaac and Re-bek'ah want their son Jacob marry a Ca'naan girl? No, they did not. Do you know why? 

It was because these people in Ca'naan worshiped false gods.  They were not good people to have an husbands and wives, and they weren't good people to have as close friends with these Ca'naan girls. 

Next time: Conclusion of Dinah Gets Into Trouble

From the jw.org publications

Conclusion of Jacob Has a Big Family

The time came when Jacob decided to leave La'ban ad go back to Ca'naan. So he gathered together his big family and his great flocks of sheep and herds of cattle, and began the long trip.

After Jacob and his family had back in Ca'naan for a while, Rachel gave birth to another son. it happened when they were on a trip, and she finally died while give birth. But the little baby boy was all right. Jacob named him Benjamin.

We want to remember the names of the 12 sons of Jacob because the whole nation of Israel came from them.  In fact, the 12 tribes of Israel were named after 10 sons of Jacob and two sons of Joseph. Isaac lived for many years after all these boys were born, and it must have made him happy to have so many grandsons.  But let's see what happened to his granddaughter Di'nah. 

Genesis 29:32-35; 30:1-26; 35:16-19, 37:35.

Note: Keep in mind this particular story, as printed it/typed it  out of order, somehow. I think.

Next time: Dinah Gets Into Trouble

From the jw.org publications

Jacob Has a Big Family

JACOB has a big family.  Jacob has 12 sons. And he had daughters too.  Do you know the names of any of the children?  Let's learn some of them.

Le'ah gave birth to Rue'ben, Sim'e-on, Le'vi and Judah. When Rachel saw that she was not having any children she was very sad.  So she gave her maidservant Bil'hah to Jacob, and Bil'had  had two sons named Dan and Naph'ta-li.  Then Le'ah also gave her maidservant Zil'pah to Jacob, and Zil'pah gave birth to Gad and Ash'er. Le'ah finally had two more sons, Is'sa-char and Zeb'u-lun. 

At last Rachel was able to have a child. She named him Joseph. Later we will learn a lot more about Joseph, because he became a very important person.  These were the 11 sons that were born to Jacob when he lived with Rachel's father La'ban.

Jacob also had some daughter, but the Bible gives the names of only one of them. Her name was Di'nah.

Next time: Conclusion of Jacob Has a Big Family

From the jw.org publications

Jacob Goes to Haran

DO YOU know who these men are Jacob is talking to? After traveling many days, Jacob met them by a well. They were taking care of their sheep. Jacob asked: 'Where are you from?'

'Ha'ran,' they said.

'Do you know La'ban?' Jacob asked

'Yes,' they answered. 'Look, here comes his daughter Rachel with his flock of sheep.' Can you see Rachel there coming in the distance?

When Jacob saw Rachel with his uncle La'ban's sheep, he went and rolled the stone away from the well so the sheep could drink.  Then Jacob kissed Rachel and told her who he was. She was very excited, and she went home and told her father La'ban. 

La'ban was very happy to have Jacob stay with hm. And when Jacob asked to marry Rachel, La'ban was glad. However, he asked Jacob to work in his field  seven years for Rachel.  Because he loved Rachel so much Jacob did this.  But when the time came for the marriage, do you know what happened?

La'ban gave his older daughter to Jacob instead of Rachel. When Jacob agreed to work for La'ban seven more years, La'ban also gave him Rachel as his wife. In those times God allowed men to have more than one wife.  But now, as the Bible shows, a man should only have one wife.

Next time: Jacob Has a Big Family

From the jw.org publications

Conclusion of Twins Who Were Different

Then one day something happened that made E'sau very angry with his Jacob.  The time came when Isaac was to give a blessing to his older brother.  Since E'sau was older than Jacob, E'sau expected to receive this blessing.  But E'sau had earlier sold the rights to receive the blessing to Jacob. Also, when the  two boys were born God had said that Jacob would receive the blessing. And this what happened. Isaac gave the blessing to his son Jacob.

Later. when E'sau learned  about this he became angry with Jacob. He was so angry that he said he was going to kill Jacob.  When Re-bek'ah heard about this, she was very worried. So she told her husband Isaac:  "It will be just terrible if Jacob also marries one of these women of Ca'naan.'

At that Isaac called his son Jacob and told him:  'Don't marry a woman from Ca'naan. Go instead to the house of your grandfather Be-th'uel  in Har'an.  Marry one of the daughters of his son La'ban.'

Jacob listened to his father, and right away began his long trip to where his relatives lived in Ha'ran.

Genesis 25:5-11, 20-34; 26:34, 35; 27:1-46; 28:1-5; Hebrews 12:16. 17.

Next time: Jacob Goes to Ha'ran

From the jw.org publications

Twins Who Were Different

THESE twins are very different.  Do you know who their names?  The hunter is E'sau, and Jacob takes care of the sheep. 

E'sau and Jacob were the twins sons of Isaac and Re-bek'ah. The father, Isaac, like E'sau a lot, because he was a good hunter and would bring home good for the family to eat. But Re-bek'ah loved Jacob most because he was a quiet peaceful boy.

Grandfather Abraham was still alive, and we can just imagine how Jacob like to listen to him talk about Jehovah. Abraham finally died at 175 years of age, when the twins were 15 years old. 

When E'sau was 40 years old he married two women from the land of Ca'naan. This made Isaac and Re-bek'ah very sad, because these women did not worship Jehovah. 

Next time: Conclusion of Twins Who Were Different

From the jw.org publications

Conclusion of Isaac Gets a Good Wife

When Re-bek'ah finished doing this, Abraham's servant asked her the name of her father. He also asked if he could stay overnight at their home.  She said:  'My father is Be-thu'el, and there is room for you to stay with us.' Abraham's servant knew that Be-thu'el was the son of Abraham's brother Na'hor. So he knelt down and thanked Jehovah for leading him to Abraham's relatives.

That night Abraham's servant told Be-thu'el and Re-bek'ah's brother La'ban why he had come.  They both agreed that Re-bek'ah  could with him and marry Isaac.  What did Re-bek'ah say when she was asked? She said, 'Yes, she wanted to go.  So the very next da7y they got on the camels and began the long trip back to Ca'naan. 

When they arrived, it was evening time.  Re-bek'ah saw a man walking in the field. It was Isaac. He was glad to see Re-bek'ah.  His mother Sarah had just died three years before, and was still sad about this.  But now Isaac came to love Re-bek'ah very much and he was happy again.  

Genesis 24:1-67.

Next time: Twins Who Were Different

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Isaac Gets a Good Wife

Do you know who the woman is that is coming to meet Isaac? Her name is Re-bek'ah.  She is going to become his wife. How did this happen?

Well, Isaac's father Abraham wanted to get a good wife for his son. He didn't want Isaac to marry one of the women in Ca'naan, because these people worshiped false gods.  So Abraham called his servant and said: 'I want you to go back to where my relatives live in Ha'ran and get a wife for my son Isaac.'

Right away Abraham's servant took ten camels and made the long trip.  When he got near the place where Abraham's relatives lived, he stopped at a well. It was late in the afternoon, the time when  the women of the city would  come to get water from the well.  So Abraham's servant said a prayer to Jehovah: 'May the woman that gets some water for me and camels be the one that you choose to be the wife of Isaac.'

Soon Re-bek'ah  came along to get some water.  When the servant asked her for a drink, she gave him one.  Then she went and got enough water for all the thirsty camels.  That was hard work because camels drink lots of water.

Next time: Conclusion of Isaac Gets a Good Wife

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Lot's Wife Looked Back

LOT and his family lived together with Abraham in the land of Ca'naan. One day Abraham said to Lot:  'There isn't land enough here for all our animals. Please, let us separate. If you go one way, then I will go the other.'

Lot looked over the land. He saw a very nice part of the country that had water and a lot good grass for his animals.  This was the District of Jordan.   So Lot moved his family and animals there.  They finally made their home in the city of Sod'om.

The people of Sod'om were very bad. This upset Lot, because he was good man. God was upset too.  Finally, God sent two angels to warn Lot that he was going to destroy Sod'om and the nearby city of Go-mor'rah because of their badness.

The angels told Lot: 'Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters and get out of here!'  Lot and his family were a little slow in going, and so the angels took by the hand and led them out of the city. Then of the angels said:  'Run for your lives!  Don't look back. Run to the hills, so that you won't be killed.'

Lot and his daughter obeyed and ran away from Sodom. They didn't stop for a moment, and they didn't look back. But Lot's wife disobeyed. After they had gone some distance from Sod'om, she stopped and looked back.  Then Lot's wife became a pillar of salt. 

We can learn a good lesson from this. It shows us that God saves those who obey him, but those who do not obey him will lose their lives.

Genesis 13:5-13; 18:20-33; 19:1-29; Luke 17:28-32; 2 Peter 2:6-8.

Next time: Isaac Gets a Good Wife

From the jw.org publications

Conclusion of God Tests Abraham's Faith

How sad those words made Abraham, because Abraham loved his son very much. And remember, God had promised that Abraham's children would live in the land of Ca'naan. But how that happen if Isaac were dead? Abraham did not understand, but still he obeyed God. 

When he got to the mountain, Abraham tied up Isaac and put him on the altar that he built. Then he took out the knife to kill his son. But just at that moment God's angel called: 'Abraham, Abraham!' And Abraham answered:  'Here I am!'

'Don't hurt the boy or do anything to him,'   God said:  'Now I know that you have faith in me, because you have not held back you son, your only one, from me.' 

What great faith Abraham had in God!  He believed that nothing was impossible for Jehovah, and that Jehovah could even raise Isaac from the dead. But it was not really God's will for Abraham to kill Isaac. So God caused a sheep to get caught in some nearby bushes, and he told Abraham to sacrifice it instead of his son.

Genesis 21:1-7; 22:1-18.

Next time: Lot's Wife Looked Back

From the jw.org publications

God Tests Abraham's Faith

Abraham has a knife, and it looks  as if he is going to kill his son. Why would he ever do that?  First, let's see how Abraham and Sarah got their son. 

Remember, God promised them that they would have a son.  That seemed impossible, because Abraham and Sarah were so old.  Abraham, however, believed that God could do what seemed impossible. What what happened? 

After God made his promise, a whole year passed.  Then when Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90 years old, they had a baby boy named Isaac. God had kept that promise!

But when Isaac had grown older, Jehovah tested Abraham's faith.  He called: 'Abraham!'  And Abraham answered:  'Here I am!'  Then God said:   'Take your son, your only son, Isaac, and to to a mountain that I will show you.  There kill your son and offer him up as a sacrifice.' 

Next time: Conclusion of God Tests Abraham's Faith

From the jw.org publications

Conclusion of: Abraham -A Friend of God

After a while Abraham and his household left Ha'ran and  came to the land called Ca'naan. There Jehovah said:  'This is the land that I will give to your children.'  Abraham stayed in Ca'naan and lived in tents. 

God began to help Abraham so that he came to have great flocks of sheep and other animals and hundreds of servants. But he and Sarah did not have any children of their own. 

When Abraham was 99 years old, Jehovah said: 'I promise that you will become a father to many nations of people.' But how could this happen, since Abraham and Sarah were too old to have a child? 

Genesis 11:27-32; 12:1-7; 17:1-8, 15-17; 18:9-19.

Next time:  God Tests Abraham's Faith

From the jw.org publications

Abraham - A Friend of God

ONE of the places where people went to live after the Flood was called Ur. It became an important city with some nice homes in it. But the people there worshiped false gods. That was the way they did in Ba'bel too. The people in Ur and Ba'bel were not like Noah and his son Shem, who kept on serving  Jehovah.

Finally, 350 years after the flood, faithful Noah died. It was just two  years later that Abraham was born. He was a very special person to God. He lived with his family in that city of Ur.

One day Jehovah told Abraham:  'Leave Ur and your relatives, and to a country I will show you.' Did Abraham obey God and leave behind all the comforts of Ur?  Yes, he did. And it was because Abraham always obeyed God that he came to be known as God's friend.

Some of Abraham's family went along with him when he left Ur. His Father Te'rah did. So did his nephew Lot. And, of course, Abraham's wife Sarah went too. In time, they all arrived  at a place called Ha'ran, where Te'rah died.  They were far away from Ur.

Next time: Conclusion of Abraham - A Friend of God

From the jw.org publications

Conclusion of Men Build a Big Tower

Jehovah was not pleased with this building.  God wanted the people to move out and live all over the earth. But the people said: 'Come one! Let's build a tower so high that its top will reach into the heavens.  Then we will famous!'  The people wanted honor for themselves, not for God.

So God made the people stop building the tower. Do you know how he did it?  By suddenly causing people to speak different languages, instead of just one.  No longer did the builders understand one  another. This is why their city came to be called Ba'bel, or Babylon, meaning "Confusion." 

The people now began to move away from Ba'bel. Groups of persons who spoke the same language went to live together in other parts of the earth.

Genesis10:1, 8-10; 11:1-9. 

Next time: Abraham - A Friend of God

From the jw.org publications 

Men Build a Big Tower

MANY years passed. Noah's sons had lots of children. And their children grew up and had more children. Soon there were many people on the earth.

One of these persons was a great-grandson of Noah named Nim'rod. He was a bad man who hunted and killed both animals and men.  Nim'rod also  made himself a king to rule over other people. God did not like Nim'rod.

All the people at that time spoke one language. Nim'rod wanted to keep them altogether so that he could rule them. So do you know what he did?  He told the people to build a city and a big tower in it. 

Next time: Conclusion of Men Build a Big Tower

From the jw.org publications

Conclusion of The First Rainbow

A rainbow is often in the sky when the sun shines after it has rained. Rainbows have many beautiful colors.  Have you ever seen one? 

This is what God said:  'I promise that never again will all people and animals be destroyed by a flood. I am putting my rainbow in the clouds. And when the rainbow appears, I will it and remember this promise of mine.' 

So when you see a rainbow, what should it remind you of?  Yes, God's promise that he will never destroy the world again by a great flood.

Genesis 8:18-22; 9:9-17. 

Next time: Men Build a Big Tower

From the jw.org publications

The First Rainbow

DO YOU know the first thing Noah did when he and his family came out of the ark?  He made an offering or a gift to God. Noah offered this gift of animals to thank God for saving his family from the great flood.

Do you think Jehovah was pleased with the gift?  Yes, he was. And he promised Noah that he would never destroy the world again by a flood. 

Soon the land was all dried off, and Noah and his family began a new life outside the ark. God blessed them and told them: 'You must have many children. You must increase in numbers until people live all over the earth.'

But later, when people would hear about the great flood, they might be afraid that a flood like that would happen again. So God gave something that would remind people of his promise never to flood the whole earth again. Do you know what he gave them?  It was a rainbow.

Next time: Conclusion of The First Rainbow

From the jw.org publications

The Flood to the Deliverance From Egypt

Only eight people survived the Flood, but in time they increased to number many thousands.  Then, 352 years after the Flood, Abraham was born.  We learned how God kept his promise by giving Abraham a son named Isaac.  Then, of Isaac's two sons, Jacob was chosen by God.

Jacob had a big family of 12 sons and some daughters. Jacobs 10 sons hated their younger brother Joseph and sold him into slavery in Egypt.  Later, Joseph became an important ruler of Egypt. When a bad famine came, Joseph tested his brothers to see whether they had a change of heart. Finally, Jacobs' whole family, the Israelites, moved to Egypt. This happened 290 years after Abraham was born. 

For the next 215 years the Israelites lived in Egypt. After Joseph died, they became slaves there. In time, Moses was born, and God used him to deliver the Israelites from Egypt. In all, 857 years of history are covered in part Part Two.

Next time: The First Rainbow

From the jw.org publications

Conclusion of The Great Flood

Then Noah let a black bird called a raven out of the ark. It would fly away for awhile and then it would come back, because it could not find a good place to land. It kept doing this and each time it returned and each time it returned , it would, it would rest on the ark. 

 Noah wanted to see if the waters had run off the earth, so  next he sent a dove out of the ark.  But the dove came back too because it could not find a place to stay.   Noah sent it a second time, and it brought back an olive leaf in its beak. So Noah knew that the waters had gone down. Noah sent out the dove a third time, and finally it found a place to live.

God now spoke to Noah. He said:  'Go out of the ark. Take your whole family and the animals with you.'  They had been inside the ark for more than a whole year. So we can just imagine how happy they all were to be outside again and to be alive!

Next time: The Flood to the Deliverance From Egypt

From the jw.org publications 

Continue with The Great Flood

Noah and his sons had done a good job building the ark.  The water lifted up, and it floated right on top of the water. Then one day, after the rain stopped falling, the sun began to shine. What  a sight it was!  There was just one big ocean everywhere. And the only thing that could be seen was the ark floating on top. 

Note: According the Bible, they sent out a raven now and then to see if the water receded; He kept doing this days after day until  one day, the raven came back with an olive leave, which, if i remember was on a twig,  in his beak and that told Noah and his family that the waters had gone down and they open the door and go outside. They were on land full of  lush trees and bushes, not a small island in the middle of the ocean/sea. In the picture they had here in the book, they were on a small island with the animals, not a good  example of what is in the Bible. 

The giants were gone  now. No more would they be around to hurt people. All of them had died, along with their mothers and the rest of the bad people. But what happened to their fathers?

The fathers of the giants were not really human like us. They were angels that had come down to live as men on earth. So when the flood came, they did not die with the rest of the people.  They stopped using the human bodies they had made and went back to heaven as angels. But they were no longer allowed to be part of the family of God's angels. So they became the angels of Satan.   In the Bible they are called demons.

God now made the wind blow, and the waters of the flood began to go down. Five months later the ark came to rest on top of a mountain. many more days passed, and those inside the ark could look out and see the tops of the mountains. The water kept on going down and down.

Next time: Conclusion of  The Great Flood

From the jw.org publications 

The Great Flood

OUTSIDE the ark, the people went about their life the same before. They still did not believe that the flood would come. They must have laughed more than ever.  But they soon stopped laughing.

All of a sudden water began to fall.  It poured down from the sky as when you pour water from a bucket. Noah had been right!  But it was too late now for anyone else to get into the ark. The door had been closed tight by Jehovah.

Soon all the low ground was covered. The water became like big rivers. It pushed over trees and rolled around big stones, and made a lot of noise.  The people were afraid. They climbed up to a higher ground. Oh, how they wished they had listened to Noah and gotten into the ark when the door was still open for them!   But now it was too late.

The water kept getting higher and higher.  For 40 days and 40 nights the water poured out of the sky. It rose up the sides of the mountains, and soon even the tallest  mountains were covered. So just as God had said, all the people and animals outside the ark died.  But everyone inside was safe.

Next time: Continue with The Great Flood

From the jw.org publications

Conclusion of Noah Builds an Ark

Noah and his wife obeyed Jehovah and started building. But the other people just laughed. They kept on being bad. Nobody believed Noah when he told them what God was going to do.  

It took a long time to build the ark because it was so big.  Finally, after many years, it was finished. Now God told Noah to bring the animals into the ark. God said to bring in two of some kind of animals, both a male and a female. But of other kinds of animals, God told Noah to bring in seven. God also told Noah to bring in all the different kinds of birds. Noah did just what God said. 

Afterward, Noah and his family also went into the ark.  Then God shut the door. Inside, Noah and his family waited. Just imagine you are in the ark with them, waiting. Would there really be  a flood as God said?

Genesis 6:9-22; 7:1-9. 

Next time: The Great Flood

From the jw.orb publications

Noah Builds an Ark

NOAH had a wife and three sons. His son's names were Shem, Ham and Ja'pheth. And each of these sons had  a wife. So there eight persons in Noah's family.

God now had Noah do a strange thing. He told him to build an ark. This ark was large like a ship, but it looked more like a big, long box. 'Make it three floors high,' God said,' and put rooms in it.'  The rooms were for Noah and his family, the  animals, and the food all of them would need. 

God also told Noah to fix up the ark so that no water could leak in.  God said:  'I am going to send a great flood of water and destroy the whole world. Everyone not in the ark will die.'

Next time: Conclusion of Noah Builds and Ark

From the jw.org publications 

Conclusion of Giants in the the Earth

These Giants were bad. And because they were so big and strong, they would hurt people. They tried to force everyone to be bad like themselves. 

E'noch had died, but there was one man on earth now who was good.  This man's name was Noah. He always did what God wanted him to do.

One day God told Noah that the time had come for Him to destroy all the bad people. But God was going to save Noah, his family and many of the animals. Let's see how God did this.

Genesis 6:1-8; Jude 6.

Next time: Noah Builds an Ark

From the jw.org publications

Giants in the Earth

IF SOMEONE were walking toward you and he was as tall as the ceiling in your house,what would you think?  That person would be a giant!  At one time there were really giants on the earth. The Bible shows that their fathers were angels from heaven. But how could that be?

Remember, the bad angel Satan was busy making trouble. He was even trying to get God's angels to be bad.  In time, some of these angels started to listen to Satan.  They stopped the work that God had for them to do in heaven. And they came down to earth and made human bodies for themselves. Do you know why? 

The Bible says that it is because these sons of God saw the pretty women on earth and wanted to live with them, so they came to earth and married these women. The Bible says that this was wrong, because God made the angels to live in heaven. 

When the angels and their wives had babies, these babies were different. At first they may not have  looked very different. But they kept growing  bigger and bigger, and getting stronger and stronger, until they became giants. 

Next time: Conclusion of Giants in the Earth

From the jw.org publications