"No longer will your name be Jacob," the man told him, "but Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have prevailed."

There he set up an altar and called it "The God of Israel is God."

Now Jacob's sons had come in from the field when they heard the news. They were offended and very angry because Shechem had disgraced Israel by sexually assaulting Jacob's daughter, a crime that should not be committed.

God said to him, "Your name is Jacob, but your name will no longer be called Jacob; Israel will be your name." So God named him Israel.

Then Israel traveled on and pitched his tent beyond Migdal Eder.

While Israel was living in that land, Reuben had sexual relations with Bilhah, his father's concubine, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons:

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons because he was a son born to him late in life, and he made a special tunic for him.

Israel said to Joseph, "Your brothers are grazing the flocks near Shechem. Come, I will send you to them." "I'm ready," Joseph replied.

So Israel's sons came to buy grain among the other travelers, for the famine was severe in the land of Canaan.

Israel said, "Why did you bring this trouble on me by telling the man you had one more brother?"

Then Judah said to his father Israel, "Send the boy with me and we will go immediately. Then we will live and not die -- we and you and our little ones.

Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and take a gift down to the man -- a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds.

So the sons of Israel did as he said. Joseph gave them wagons as Pharaoh had instructed, and he gave them provisions for the journey.

Then Israel said, "Enough! My son Joseph is still alive! I will go and see him before I die."

So Israel began his journey, taking with him all that he had. When he came to Beer Sheba he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.

God spoke to Israel in a vision during the night and said, "Jacob, Jacob!" He replied, "Here I am!"

Then Jacob started out from Beer Sheba, and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob, their little children, and their wives in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent along to transport him.

These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt -- Jacob and his sons: Reuben, the firstborn of Jacob.

Joseph harnessed his chariot and went up to meet his father Israel in Goshen. When he met him, he hugged his neck and wept on his neck for quite some time.

Israel said to Joseph, "Now let me die since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive."

Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen, and they owned land there. They were fruitful and increased rapidly in number.

The time for Israel to die approached, so he called for his son Joseph and said to him, "If now I have found favor in your sight, put your hand under my thigh and show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt,

Jacob said, "Swear to me that you will do so." So Joseph gave him his word. Then Israel bowed down at the head of his bed.

When Jacob was told, "Your son Joseph has just come to you," Israel regained strength and sat up on his bed.

When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he asked, "Who are these?"

Now Israel's eyes were failing because of his age; he was not able to see well. So Joseph brought his sons near to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them.

Israel said to Joseph, "I never expected to see you again, but now God has allowed me to see your children too."

So Joseph moved them from Israel's knees and bowed down with his face to the ground.

Joseph positioned them; he put Ephraim on his right hand across from Israel's left hand, and Manasseh on his left hand across from Israel's right hand. Then Joseph brought them closer to his father.

Israel stretched out his right hand and placed it on Ephraim's head, although he was the younger. Crossing his hands, he put his left hand on Manasseh's head, for Manasseh was the firstborn.

So he blessed them that day, saying, "By you will Israel bless, saying, 'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.'" So he put Ephraim before Manasseh.

Then Israel said to Joseph, "I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you back to the land of your fathers.

"Assemble and listen, you sons of Jacob; listen to Israel, your father.

Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce, and their fury, for it was cruel. I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel!

Dan will judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel.

But his bow will remain steady, and his hands will be skillful; because of the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,

These are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them when he blessed them. He gave each of them an appropriate blessing.

Joseph instructed the physicians in his service to embalm his father, so the physicians embalmed Israel.

Joseph made the sons of Israel swear an oath. He said, "God will surely come to you. Then you must carry my bones up from this place."