Discovery BoxGenesis 24:32 
Context24:32 So Abraham’s servant 1 went to the house and unloaded 2 the camels. Straw and feed were given 3 to the camels, and water was provided so that he and the men who were with him could wash their feet. 4
Genesis 25:22
Context25:22 But the children struggled 5 inside her, and she said, “If it is going to be like this, I’m not so sure I want to be pregnant!” 6 So she asked the Lord, 7
Genesis 37:14
Context37:14 So Jacob 8 said to him, “Go now and check on 9 the welfare 10 of your brothers and of the flocks, and bring me word.” So Jacob 11 sent him from the valley of Hebron.
Genesis 38:9
Context38:9 But Onan knew that the child 12 would not be considered his. 13 So whenever 14 he had sexual relations with 15 his brother’s wife, he withdrew prematurely 16 so as not to give his brother a descendant.
Genesis 47:20
Context47:20 So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh. Each 17 of the Egyptians sold his field, for the famine was severe. 18 So the land became Pharaoh’s.
1 tn Heb “the man”; the referent (Abraham’s servant) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
2 tn Some translations (e.g., NEB, NASB, NRSV) understand Laban to be the subject of this and the following verbs or take the subject of this and the following verbs as indefinite (referring to an unnamed servant; e.g., NAB, NIV).
3 tn Heb “and [one] gave.” The verb without an expressed subject may be translated as passive.
4 tn Heb “and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.”
5 tn The Hebrew word used here suggests a violent struggle that was out of the ordinary.
6 tn Heb “If [it is] so, why [am] I this [way]?” Rebekah wanted to know what was happening to her, but the question itself reflects a growing despair over the struggle of the unborn children.
7 sn Asked the
8 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Jacob) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
9 tn Heb “see.”
10 tn Heb “peace.”
11 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Jacob) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
12 tn Heb “offspring.”
13 tn Heb “would not be his,” that is, legally speaking. Under the levirate system the child would be legally considered the child of his deceased brother.
14 tn The construction shows that this was a repeated practice and not merely one action.
sn The text makes it clear that the purpose of the custom was to produce an heir for the deceased brother. Onan had no intention of doing that. But he would have sex with the girl as much as he wished. He was willing to use the law to gratify his desires, but was not willing to do the responsible thing.
15 tn Heb “he went to.” This expression is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.
16 tn Heb “he spoiled [his semen] to the ground.” Onan withdrew prematurely and ejaculated on the ground to prevent his brother’s widow from becoming pregnant.
17 tn The Hebrew text connects this clause with the preceding one with a causal particle (כִּי, ki). The translation divides the clauses into two sentences for stylistic reasons.
18 tn The Hebrew text adds “upon them.” This has not been included in the translation for stylistic reasons.
