The KJV Audio Bible

Genesis 21

Genesis 21 focuses on three key events in Abraham's life.
Birth of Isaac — As God promised, Sarah gives birth to Abraham's son Isaac when Abraham is 100 years old. Isaac's name means "laughter," reflecting Sarah's joy and initial disbelief that she would bear a child in her old age. Abraham circumcises Isaac on the eighth day as commanded by God.
Hagar and Ishmael's banishment — After Isaac is weaned, Sarah sees Ishmael (Abraham's firstborn son by Hagar) mocking Isaac. Sarah demands that Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away. Though upset, Abraham obeys after God reassures him that Ishmael will also become a nation. Hagar and Ishmael nearly die in the wilderness until God provides water and promises that Ishmael will become a great nation. Ishmael grows up in the wilderness of Paran and becomes an archer.
Covenant with Abimelech — Abimelech, king of Gerar, recognizes God's favor on Abraham and proposes a treaty of peace between them. Abraham agrees but raises an issue about a well that Abimelech's servants had seized. They resolve the dispute, and Abraham plants a grove at Beersheba ("well of the sevenfold oath") to commemorate their covenant. Abraham continues to sojourn in Philistine territory.
The chapter shows the fulfillment of God's promise regarding Isaac, while also revealing His provision for Ishmael despite his not being the child of promise.

Genesis 22

Genesis 22 is the account of God testing Abraham by commanding him to sacrifice his son Isaac as a burnt offering on a mountain in the land of Moriah. This is the same Isaac who was miraculously born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age — and through whom God had promised to establish His covenant.
Abraham obeys without question, taking Isaac on a three-day journey to the designated place. He has his servants wait while he and Isaac proceed alone up the mountain. Isaac, carrying the wood for the sacrifice, asks his father where the lamb for the offering is, to which Abraham cryptically responds, "God will provide himself a lamb."
At the place God had told him, Abraham builds an altar, arranges the wood, binds Isaac, and places him on the altar. Just as Abraham raises his knife to kill his son, an angel of the LORD calls out, stopping him. The angel declares that Abraham has now demonstrated his fear of God by his willingness to sacrifice his only son.
Abraham then sees a ram caught in a thicket by its horns, which he sacrifices instead of Isaac. He names the place "Jehovahjireh" ("Jehovah will see to it").
Following this test of faith, God reaffirms His covenant with Abraham, promising to multiply his descendants as numerous as the stars and that, through his offspring, all nations on earth will be blessed because of his obedience.
The chapter concludes with a brief genealogy mentioning Abraham's brother Nahor and his children, including Rebekah.

Genesis 23

Genesis 23 focuses on the death of Sarah and Abraham's purchase of a burial site for her. Here are the key points.
Sarah dies at the age of 127 in Hebron (Kirjatharba) in the land of Canaan. Abraham mourns for her and then looks for a burial place.
Abraham approaches the Hittites, acknowledging himself as "a stranger and a sojourner with you," and asks to purchase land for a burial site. The Hittites respectfully offer to let him use any of their tombs.
Abraham specifically requests to buy the cave of Machpelah from Ephron the Hittite. Though Ephron initially offers to give Abraham both the field and cave as a gift, Abraham insists on paying the full price.
Ephron names his price of 400 shekels of silver, which Abraham weighs out and pays in full. The transaction is formalized in the presence of witnesses at the city gate.
The field, cave, and all the trees within its boundaries become Abraham's legal property, and he buries Sarah there. This purchase establishes Abraham's first legal claim to property in the promised land.

Genesis 24

Genesis 24 is the account of how Abraham's servant found a wife for Isaac. Here are the key events.
Abraham, now old, wanted to ensure his son Isaac would marry someone from his homeland, not a Canaanite woman. He made his most trusted servant swear to find Isaac a wife from Abraham's relatives in Mesopotamia.
The servant traveled to the city of Nahor with ten camels and valuable gifts. Outside the city, he prayed for a sign: the woman who offered to provide water for both him and his camels would be the one God chose for Isaac.
Before he finished praying, Rebekah appeared. She not only gave him water but voluntarily offered to water all his camels too — fulfilling the exact sign he had requested. The servant learned she was the daughter of Bethuel, who was Abraham's nephew.
The servant praised God for guiding him, and then he gave Rebekah gold jewelry. She invited him to stay with her family, where he explained his mission and how God had clearly indicated Rebekah as the chosen bride. Her brother Laban and father Bethuel recognized God's hand in the matter and agreed to the marriage.
The next day, despite their request to delay her departure, Rebekah chose to leave immediately with the servant. When they arrived in Canaan, Isaac was out meditating in the fields. Rebekah covered herself with a veil upon seeing him. The servant told Isaac everything that had happened, and Isaac married Rebekah, finding comfort in her love after his mother Sarah's death.

Genesis 25

Genesis 25 can be divided into three main sections.
Abraham's final years and death (verses 1-11):
Abraham marries Keturah after Sarah's death and has six more sons.
Abraham gives gifts to these sons and sends them away, eastward.
Abraham leaves everything else to Isaac, his son with Sarah.
Abraham dies at age 175 and is buried in the cave of Machpelah with Sarah.
Isaac settles near Lahairoi after Abraham's death.
Ishmael's descendants (verses 12-18):
The twelve sons of Ishmael became tribal leaders.
Ishmael dies at age 137.
Ishmael's descendants settled from Havilah to Shur, east of Egypt.
Jacob and Esau's birth and rivalry (verses 19-34):
Isaac (at age 40) marries Rebekah, who is initially barren.
Isaac prays for Rebekah, and she conceives twins.
During pregnancy, the babies struggle within her womb.
God reveals to Rebekah that two nations are in her womb, and the older will serve the younger.
Esau is born first (reddish and hairy), followed by Jacob (grasping Esau's heel).
Esau becomes a skilled hunter, while Jacob is described as a "plain man, dwelling in tents."
Isaac favors Esau, but Rebekah favors Jacob.
Esau sells his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew when he comes home famished from hunting.
This chapter establishes the transition from Abraham to the next generation and sets up the conflict between Jacob and Esau.

Genesis 26

Genesis 26 focuses on Isaac's experiences during a famine and his interactions with the Philistines. Here are the key events.
During a famine, God instructs Isaac not to go to Egypt but to stay in Gerar, reaffirming the covenant promises made to Abraham.
Like his father Abraham had done, Isaac tells the people of Gerar that Rebekah is his sister rather than his wife, fearing they might kill him because of her beauty.
King Abimelech discovers the truth when he sees Isaac "sporting with" Rebekah and confronts him. He commands his people not to harm Isaac or Rebekah.
Isaac prospers greatly in Gerar, growing wealthy with flocks, herds, and servants. His success causes the Philistines to envy him.
The Philistines had filled up the wells that Abraham had dug. Abimelech asks Isaac to leave because he has become too powerful.
Isaac moves to the valley of Gerar and reopens his father's wells. His servants dig new wells, but local herdsmen quarrel with Isaac's men over the water rights.
After digging several contested wells, Isaac finally digs one that causes no disputes.
Isaac moves to Beersheba, where God appears to him and reassures him of the covenant promises.
Abimelech and his officials seek a peace treaty with Isaac, recognizing that God is with him. They share a feast and make a covenant.
Esau, at age forty, married two Hittite women, which greatly upset Isaac and Rebekah.

Genesis 27

Genesis 27 tells the pivotal story of how Jacob deceives his father Isaac to steal the blessing intended for his older brother Esau.
Isaac, now old and blind, feels death approaching and asks his favorite son Esau to hunt game and prepare a meal for him, after which he plans to give Esau his special blessing.
Rebekah overhears this conversation and devises a plan to ensure her favorite son Jacob receives the blessing instead. She prepares a meal and helps Jacob disguise himself as Esau by covering his smooth skin with goatskins and dressing him in Esau's clothes.
When Jacob goes to Isaac pretending to be Esau, Isaac is suspicious because Jacob's voice doesn't match Esau's. He feels Jacob's goatskin-covered hands and is convinced enough to proceed with the blessing, which includes promises of abundance, dominion over nations, and curses for those who curse him.
Shortly after Jacob leaves, Esau returns with the prepared meal. Isaac and Esau both realize the deception, and Esau weeps bitterly. Isaac cannot revoke the blessing already given to Jacob but offers Esau a lesser blessing that includes living by the sword and eventually breaking free from Jacob's dominion.
Esau becomes enraged and plans to kill Jacob after their father dies. When Rebekah learns of this threat, she tells Jacob to go her brother Laban's house in Haran, under the pretext of finding a wife from her family rather than from the local Canaanites.
The chapter showcases themes of deception, favoritism, the complexity of family relationships, and the fulfillment of God's earlier prophecy that "the elder shall serve the younger."

Genesis 28

Genesis 28 focuses on Jacob's journey from Beersheba to Haran and his encounter with God at Bethel. Here are the key events.
Isaac calls Jacob, blesses him, and instructs him not to marry a Canaanite woman. Instead, he should go to Padanaram (Mesopotamia) to find a wife from among his uncle Laban's daughters.
Jacob leaves Beersheba and heads toward Haran.
While sleeping at a certain place along the journey, Jacob has a remarkable dream:
He sees a ladder reaching from earth to heaven.
Angels of God are ascending and descending on it.
God stands above it and speaks to Jacob.
In this dream, God renews the covenant previously made with Abraham and Isaac:
He promises the land on which Jacob lies to him and his descendants
He promises that his descendants will be numerous and spread in all directions.
He promises that all peoples on earth will be blessed through Jacob and his descendants.
He promises to be with Jacob, protect him, and bring him back to this land.
When Jacob wakes up, he realizes the sacred nature of the place.
Jacob takes the stone he had used as a pillow and sets it up as a pillar and pours oil on it.
He names the place Bethel ("house of God"), though it was previously called Luz.
Jacob makes a vow to God: If God protects him, provides for him, and brings him back safely, then the LORD will be his God, this pillar will be God's house, and he will give God a tenth of everything he receives.
This chapter marks a pivotal moment in Jacob's life, as he personally encounters God and receives the covenant promises directly.

Genesis 29

Genesis 29 focuses on Jacob's arrival in Haran and his marriages to Leah and Rachel, daughters of his uncle Laban. Here's a summary of the key events.
1. Jacob arrives in Haran and meets Rachel at a well where shepherds are gathering. He removes a stone covering the well and waters her flock.
2. Jacob identifies himself as Rachel's relative (Rebekah's son), kisses her, and weeps. Rachel runs to tell her father Laban.
3. Laban welcomes Jacob into his home. After a month, Laban offers Jacob wages for his work.
4. Jacob falls in love with Rachel, Laban's younger daughter, and offers to work seven years for her hand in marriage. Laban agrees.
5. The seven years pass quickly for Jacob because of his love for Rachel.
6. On the wedding night, Laban deceives Jacob by substituting his older daughter Leah in the darkness.
7. When Jacob discovers the deception the next morning, he confronts Laban, who explains it's not their custom to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one.
8. Laban offers Rachel to Jacob in exchange for another seven years of service, after completing the bridal week with Leah.
9. Jacob agrees and marries Rachel as well, though he loves Rachel more than Leah.
10. The chapter concludes with Leah bearing four sons for Jacob—Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah—while Rachel remains barren.

Genesis 30

Genesis 30 focuses on the competition between Jacob's wives (Rachel and Leah) to bear children and Jacob's growing prosperity while working for his father-in-law Laban.
The chapter begins with Rachel's desperation over her barrenness while her sister Leah has already borne four sons. In her jealousy, Rachel gives Jacob her maidservant Bilhah as a concubine to bear children "upon my knees" (a cultural practice where the children would legally be considered Rachel's). Bilhah bears two sons: Dan and Naphtali. Not to be outdone, Leah (who had temporarily stopped bearing children) gives Jacob her maidservant Zilpah, who bears Gad and Asher.
Later, Leah trades mandrakes (plants believed to help with fertility) that her son Reuben found to Rachel in exchange for a night with Jacob. Leah bears two more sons (Issachar and Zebulun) and a daughter named Dinah.
Finally, God "remembers" Rachel and opens her womb. She bears Joseph and expresses hope for another son.
In the latter part of the chapter, Jacob negotiates with Laban to begin building his own flocks. They agree that Jacob can keep all the speckled, spotted, and dark-colored animals as his wages. Jacob then uses a breeding technique involving peeled branches to produce strong, streaked animals for himself while the weaker ones go to Laban. Through this strategy, Jacob grows "exceedingly" prosperous with large flocks and many servants.