Heel-Grabber (Jacob)

Talked with a friend of mine who has studied Hebrew. She was telling me that Heel-Grabber was a better translation for Jacob than Supplanter. She said that the translation Supplanter puts Jacob in a bad light. Her explanation made a lot of sense so I changed it. Hoping she will post a comment about it. I'm not sure I can explain what she said accurately.

The Beginning (Genesis) 35

 1God ('Elohiym) said to Heel-Grabber (Jacob), “Arise, go up to the House of God (Bethel), and dwell there. Make there an altar to the God ('Elohiym), that appeared to you when you fled from the face of Hairy (Esau) your brother.”

 2Then Heel-Grabber (Jacob) said to his household, and to all that were with him, “Put away the strange gods that are among you, be clean, and change your garments.

 3We will arise, and go up to the House of God (Bethel). I am going to make an altar to God ('Elohiym) there, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me wherever I went.”

 4They gave unto Heel-Grabber (Jacob) all the strange gods which were in their possession, and all the earrings which were in their ears. Heel-Grabber (Jacob) took and hid them under the oak which was by Shoulder (Shechem).

 5And they journeyed: and the terror of God ('Elohiym) was upon the cities that were round about them so that they did not pursue after the sons of Heel-Grabber (Jacob).

 6Heel-Grabber (Jacob) came to Almond Tree (Luz), which is in the land of Humbled One (Canaan), that is, the House of God (Bethel), he and all the people that were with him.

 7And there he built an altar, and called the place The God of the House of God (El Bethel): because God ('Elohiym) appeared to him there, when he fled from the face of his brother.

 8It was then that Bee (Deborah), Secured's (Rebekah) nurse died, and she was buried beneath the House of God (Bethel) under an oak: and the name of it was called Oak of Weeping (Allon Bachuth).

 9God ('Elohiym) appeared unto Heel-Grabber (Jacob) again, when he came out of Field (Padanaram), and blessed him.

 10God ('Elohiym) said to him, “Your name is Heel-Grabber (Jacob): Your name shall no longer be called Heel-Grabber (Jacob), but God Prevails (Israel) shall be your name.” So God named him God Prevails (Israel).

 11God ('Elohiym) said to him, “I am God ('Elohiym) the Nurturer (Shaddai): be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come out of you, and kings shall be your descendants.

 12The land which I gave Father of a Multitude (Abraham) and Laughter (Isaac), I will give to you, and to your seed after you I will give this land.”

 13God ('Elohiym) went up from him in the place where he talked with him.

 14Heel-Grabber (Jacob) set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering on it, and he poured oil on it.

 15Heel-Grabber (Jacob) called the name of the place where God ('Elohiym) spake with him, the House of God (Bethel).

 16Then they journeyed from the House of God (Bethel); a short distance to Ash-Heap: Place of Fruitfulness (Ephrath) where Ewe (Rachel) went into labor, and and her labor was hard.

 17When she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, “Fear not; you will have this son also.”

 18As her soul was departing, (for she died) she called his name Son of My Sorrow (Ben-oni): but his father called him Son of the Right Hand (Benjamin).

 19Ewe (Rachel) died, and was buried in the way to Ash-Heap: Place of Fruitfulness (Ephrath), which is House of Bread (Bethlehem).

 20Heel-Grabber (Jacob) set a pillar on her grave. This pillar of Ewe (Rachel)'s grave is there to this day.

 21And God Prevails (Israel) journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Tower of the Flock (Edar).

 22While God Prevails (Israel) was dwelling in that land, Behold a Son (Reuben) went and lay with Troubled (Bilhah) his father's concubine and God Prevails (Israel) heard it. Now the sons of Heel-Grabber (Jacob) were twelve:

 23The sons of Weary (Leah); Behold a Son (Reuben), Heel-Grabber (Jacob)'s firstborn, and Heard (Simeon), and Joined To (Levi), and Praised (Judah), and Recompense (Issachar), and Exalted (Zebulun):

 24The sons of Ewe (Rachel); Yehovah Will Add (Joseph), and Son of the Right Hand (Benjamin):

 25The sons of Troubled (Bilhah), Ewe (Rachel)'s handmaid; Judge (Dan), and Wrestling (Naphtali):

 26The sons of Zilpah, Weary (Leah)'s handmaid: Troop (Gad)), and Happy (Asher): these are the sons of Heel-Grabber (Jacob), which had been born to him at the time he lived in Field (Padanaram).

 27Heel-Grabber (Jacob) went to see Laughter (Isaac) his father in Strength (Mamre), at the city of City of the Four (Kirjatharba), which is Association (Hebron), where Father of a Multitude (Abraham) and Laughter (Isaac) sojourned.

 28And the days of Laughter (Isaac) were an hundred and eighty years.

 29Laughter (Isaac) then gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered to his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Hairy (Esau) and Heel-Grabber (Jacob) buried him.

The Beginning (Genesis) 34

 1Judgment (Dinah) the daughter of Weary (Leah), whom she bore to Heel-Grabber (Jacob), went out to see the daughters of the land.

 2When Shoulder (Shechem) the son of He-Ass (Hamor) the Villager (Hivite), prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.

 3He fell in love with Judgment (Dinah) the daughter of Heel-Grabber (Jacob), and he treated her gently, and spoke kindly to her.

 4Then Shoulder (Shechem) spoke his father He-Ass (Hamor), saying, “Get me this damsel for my wife.”

 5Heel-Grabber (Jacob) heard that he had defiled Judgment (Dinah) his daughter. At the time his sons were with his cattle in the field. Heel-Grabber (Jacob) held his peace until they came back.

 6He-Ass (Hamor) the father of Shoulder (Shechem) went to Heel-Grabber (Jacob) to speak with him.

 7The sons of Heel-Grabber (Jacob) came out of the field when they heard about it. They were grieved, and very angry, because he had brought disgrace in Israel by lying with Heel-Grabber (Jacob)'s daughter.

 8He-Ass (Hamor) spoke with them, saying, “The soul of my son Shoulder (Shechem) longs for your daughter: Please let him marry her.

 9Make marriages with us, and give your daughters to us, and take our daughters to you.

 10Dwell with us, and the land will be before you; dwell and trade here, and prosper here.

 11Shoulder (Shechem) said to her father and to her brethren, “Let me find grace in your eyes, and what you ask me I will give.

 12Ask me however much dowry and gift, and I will give whatever you ask me: but give me the damsel as my wife.”

 13The sons of Heel-Grabber (Jacob) answered Shoulder (Shechem) and He-Ass (Hamor) his father deceitfully because he had defiled Judgment (Dinah) their sister.

 14They said to them, “We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that is a reproach to us:

 15But we will consent if you will be as we are, that every male of you be circumcised.

 16Then will we give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people.

 17But if you will not be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone.”

 18Their words pleased He-Ass (Hamor), and Shoulder (Shechem) He-Ass (Hamor)'s son.

 19The young man did not hesitate, because he delighted in Heel-Grabber (Jacob)'s daughter: and he was more honorable than all the house of his father.

 20He-Ass (Hamor) and Shoulder (Shechem) his son came to the gate of their city, and talked with the men of their city, saying,

 21”These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein. The land, behold, it is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters.

 22The condition these men have to consent to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised.

 23Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of their's be our's? Let's do this, and they will dwell with us.”

 24He-Ass (Hamor) and Shoulder (Shechem) his son and all men who met with them at the gate of the city agreed; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city.

 25On the third day, when they were sore, two of the sons of Heel-Grabber (Jacob), Heard (Simeon) and Joined To (Levi), Judgment (Dinah)'s brethren, took his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.

 26They slew He-Ass (Hamor) and Shoulder (Shechem) his son with the edge of the sword, and took Judgment (Dinah) out of Shoulder (Shechem)'s house, and went out.

 27The sons of Heel-Grabber (Jacob) stripped the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.

 28They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field,

 29And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and looted the houses.

 30Heel-Grabber (Jacob) said to Heard (Simeon) and Joined To (Levi), “You have cause me trouble! Now my reputation stinks with the inhabitants of the land, among the Humbled Ones (Canaanites) and the Village Dwellers (Perizzite). We are few in number. They will gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.

 31And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?

The Beginning (Genesis) 33

  1Heel-Grabber (Jacob) lifted up his eyes, and looked, and saw Hairy (Esau) coming, and with him the four hundred men. So he separated the children with their mothers Weary (Leah), Ewe (Rachel), and the two handmaids.

 2He put the handmaids and their children foremost, Weary (Leah) and her children next, and Ewe (Rachel) and Joseph last.

 3He passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, as he approached his brother.

 4Hairy (Esau) ran to meet him, embraced him, fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.

 5And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are these with you? Heel-Grabber (Jacob) answered, “The children which God (Elohiym) has graciously given your servant.”

 6Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.

 7Weary (Leah) also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Ewe (Rachel), and they bowed themselves.

 8Hairy (Esau) asked, “What did you mean by all this drove which I met?” Heel-Grabber (Jacob) replied, “These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.”

 9Hairy (Esau) said, “I have enough, my brother; keep that you have for yourself.”

 10But Heel-Grabber (Jacob) said, “No, please, if I have found grace in your sight, then receive the present from my hand. I never thought you would accept me again. Having you welcome me is like seeing the face of God!

 11Please be blessed by the gift I brought you, because God (Elohiym) has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” He kept urging him, so Hairy (Esau) took it.

 12Then Hairy (Esau) said, “Let's go. I will lead the way.”

 13But Heel-Grabber (Jacob)answered him, “My lord knows that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die.

 14LPlease let my lord, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, at the pace of the flock and slow enough for the children. I will catch up with my lord at Shaggy (Seir).”

 15Hairy (Esau) said, “Let me leave some of the folk that are with me.” Heel-Grabber (Jacob) replied, “That isn't necessary. It is enough that I have found grace in the sight of my lord.”

 16So Hairy (Esau) returned that day on his way to Shaggy (Seir).

 17Heel-Grabber (Jacob) journeyed to Booths (Succoth), and built a house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Booths (Succoth).

 18Then Heel-Grabber (Jacob) came to Peace (Salem), a city of Shoulder (Shechem), which is in the land of Humbled One (Canaan), when he came from Field (Padanaram); and pitched his tent facing the city.

 19There he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of He-Ass (Hamor), Shoulders' (Shechem) father, for a hundred pieces of silver.

 20He erected an altar there, and called it The Mighty God of Israel (El-elohe-Israel).