Jubilees 33

Jacob went and settled south of the Tower of Eder. In the first year of the first week of the forty-fifth jubilee, he went up to Bethel.

REF And Jacob went and dwelt to the south of the tower of Eder.

At the new moon of the first month, he set out for the land of Canaan. He built an altar on the mountain and offered sacrifices.

REF And on the new moon of the first month he set out and went to the land of Canaan.

Reuben saw Bilhah, Rachel's maid and his father's concubine, bathing in a secluded place. He desired her.

REF And Reuben saw Bilhah, Rachel's maid, bathing in water in a secret place, and he desired her.

He concealed himself at night and entered Bilhah's house. He found her sleeping alone in her bed.

REF And he hid himself at night, and entered the house of Bilhah, and found her sleeping alone.

He lay with her. She awoke and saw that Reuben was in bed with her. She cried out.

REF And he lay with her, and she awoke and saw Reuben, and cried out.

She was overcome with shame, and she released her grip on him. He fled.

REF And she was ashamed and released her hand from him, and he fled.

She grieved bitterly over what had happened but told no one.

REF And she lamented because of this thing exceedingly.

When Jacob came, she said to him: I am no longer clean for you. Reuben violated me in the night while I slept.

REF And when Jacob came, she said: 'I am not clean for thee, for Reuben has defiled me.'

Jacob was furious with Reuben for lying with Bilhah — for uncovering his father's bed.

REF And Jacob was exceedingly wroth with Reuben because he had uncovered his father's skirt.

Jacob never approached Bilhah again, because Reuben had defiled her. As for any man who uncovers his father's bed — his act is abominable before the Lord.

REF And Jacob did not approach her again because Reuben had defiled her.

For this reason it is written and ordained on the heavenly tablets: a man must not lie with his father's wife and must not uncover his father's bed. They must both be put to death.

REF For this reason it is written on the heavenly tablets that a man should not lie with his father's wife.

There must be no impurity before our God among the nation he has chosen for himself as his own possession.

REF And there shall be nothing unclean before our God in the nation which He hath chosen.

And again it is written: Cursed be the one who lies with his father's wife. And all the holy ones of the Lord said: So be it! So be it!

REF And again, it is written: 'Cursed be he who lieth with the wife of his father.' And all the holy ones said 'So be it.'

And you, Moses, command the children of Israel to observe this law, for it carries the death penalty. There is no atonement — ever — for the man who does this.

REF And do thou, Moses, command the children of Israel that they observe this word; for it entaileth a punishment of death.

On the very day he commits this act, he must be killed. No sin offering, no guilt offering, and no burnt offering can atone for it.

REF For the day on which he did this he is to be slain.

It is written in the Torah of Moses that such a man must be destroyed and cut off, for he has committed a shameful crime in Israel.

REF And it is written that he shall be destroyed and cut off.

Reuben repented and sought forgiveness from his father and his brothers.

REF And Reuben repented, and sought his father's forgiveness.

Jacob said: Let it be forgiven, since Reuben has asked for mercy, and it was a source of grief to him.

REF And Jacob said: 'Let it be forgiven, for Reuben asked for forgiveness.'

For this reason it was ordained and written on the heavenly tablets that the firstborn should not receive the birthright portion. It was to be given to the one next after him.

REF And for this reason it was ordained on the heavenly tablets, that the firstborn should not take the birthright.

He repented and was forgiven, and he did not commit this act again.

REF And he repented and was forgiven, and he did not do this thing again.

After this, Jacob journeyed south to Ephrath — that is, Bethlehem — in the land of Canaan.

REF And after this Jacob went south to Ephrath, that is, Bethlehem.

Isaac, Jacob's father, was still alive. Isaac blessed the God of his father Abraham.

REF And Isaac was still alive.

Isaac knew that the Lord's blessing had not departed from him all the days of his life. He gave thanks to the Lord God of Israel, the Holy One.

REF And Isaac knew that the Lord's blessing had not departed from him all the days of his life.