Forty-eight Cities of the Levites

21 Then the heads of fathers’ households of (A)the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of fathers’ households of the tribes of the sons of Israel. And they spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, “(B)The Lord commanded [a]through Moses to give us cities to live in, with their pasture lands for our cattle.” So the sons of Israel gave the Levites from their inheritance these cities with their pasture lands, in accordance with the [b]command of the Lord. Then the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites. And to the sons of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, thirteen cities were given by lot from the tribe of Judah, from the tribe of the Simeonites, and from the tribe of Benjamin.

And to the rest of the sons of Kohath ten cities were given by lot from the families of the tribe of Ephraim, from the tribe of Dan, and from the half-tribe of Manasseh.

And to the sons of Gershon thirteen cities were given by lot from the families of the tribe of Issachar, from the tribe of Asher, from the tribe of Naphtali, and from the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.

To the sons of Merari according to their families twelve cities were given from the tribe of Reuben, from the tribe of Gad, and from the tribe of Zebulun.

Now the (C)sons of Israel gave by lot to the Levites these cities with their pasture lands, as the Lord had commanded [c]through Moses.

They gave these cities which are mentioned here by name from the tribe of the sons of Judah and from the tribe of the sons of Simeon; 10 and they were for the sons of Aaron, one of the families of the Kohathites, of the sons of Levi, because the lot was theirs first. 11 So (D)they gave them Kiriath-arba (Arba being the (E)father of Anak), that is, Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with its surrounding pasture lands. 12 But the fields of the city and its villages they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as his possession.

13 So (F)to the sons of Aaron the priest they gave (G)Hebron, the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter, with its pasture lands, (H)Libnah with its pasture lands, 14 (I)Jattir with its pasture lands, (J)Eshtemoa with its pasture lands, 15 [d]Holon with its pasture lands, (K)Debir with its pasture lands, 16 [e]Ain with its pasture lands, (L)Juttah with its pasture lands, and (M)Beth-shemesh with its pasture lands; nine cities from these two tribes. 17 From the tribe of Benjamin, (N)Gibeon with its pasture lands, (O)Geba with its pasture lands, 18 Anathoth with its pasture lands, and [f]Almon with its pasture lands; four cities. 19 All the cities of the sons of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their pasture lands.

20 Then the cities from the tribe of Ephraim were allotted to the (P)families of the sons of Kohath, the Levites, that is, to the rest of the sons of Kohath. 21 They gave them (Q)Shechem, the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter, with its pasture lands, in the hill country of Ephraim, and Gezer with its pasture lands, 22 and Kibzaim with its pasture lands, and Beth-horon with its pasture lands; four cities. 23 And from the tribe of Dan, Elteke with its pasture lands, Gibbethon with its pasture lands, 24 Aijalon with its pasture lands, Gath-rimmon with its pasture lands; four cities. 25 From the half-tribe of Manasseh, they allotted Taanach with its pasture lands and Gath-rimmon with its pasture lands; two cities. 26 All the cities with their pasture lands for the families of the rest of the sons of Kohath were ten.

27 And (R)to the sons of Gershon, one of the families of the Levites, from the half-tribe of Manasseh, they gave Golan in Bashan, the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter, with its pasture lands, and Be-eshterah with its pasture lands; two cities. 28 And from the tribe of Issachar they gave Kishion with its pasture lands, Daberath with its pasture lands, 29 Jarmuth with its pasture lands, and En-gannim with its pasture lands; four cities. 30 From the tribe of Asher, they gave Mishal with its pasture lands, Abdon with its pasture lands, 31 Helkath with its pasture lands, and Rehob with its pasture lands; four cities. 32 And from the tribe of Naphtali, they gave (S)Kedesh in Galilee, the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter, with its pasture lands, Hammoth-dor with its pasture lands, and Kartan with its pasture lands; three cities. 33 All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their pasture lands.

34 And to the families of (T)the sons of Merari, the rest of the Levites, they gave from the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its pasture lands, Kartah with its pasture lands, 35 Dimnah with its pasture lands, and Nahalal with its pasture lands; four cities. 36 From the tribe of Reuben they gave (U)Bezer with its pasture lands, Jahaz with its pasture lands, 37 Kedemoth with its pasture lands, and Mephaath with its pasture lands; four cities. 38 And from the tribe of Gad, they gave (V)Ramoth in Gilead, the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter, with its pasture lands, (W)Mahanaim with its pasture lands, 39 Heshbon with its pasture lands, and Jazer with its pasture lands; four cities in all. 40 All these were the cities of the sons of Merari according to their families, the rest of the families of the Levites; and their lot was twelve cities.

41 (X)All the cities of the Levites in the midst of the possession of the sons of Israel were forty-eight cities with their pasture lands. 42 These cities individually had [g]their surrounding pasture lands; this is how it was with all these cities.

43 (Y)So the Lord gave Israel all the land which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and (Z)they took possession of it and lived in it. 44 And the Lord (AA)gave them rest on every side, in accordance with everything that He had sworn to their fathers, and (AB)no one of all their enemies stood before them; (AC)the Lord handed all their enemies over to them. 45 (AD)Not [h]one of the good promises which the Lord had [i]made to the house of Israel failed; everything came to pass.

Tribes beyond Jordan Return

22 (AE)Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and said to them, “You have kept all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, (AF)and have listened to my voice in all that I commanded you. You have not abandoned your brothers these many days to this day, but have fulfilled the obligation of the commandment of the Lord your God. And now (AG)the Lord your God has given rest to your brothers, as He spoke to them; therefore turn now and go to your tents, to the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan. Only be very careful to [j]follow the commandment and the Law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to (AH)love the Lord your God and walk in all His ways, and keep His commandments and cling to Him, and serve Him (AI)with all your heart and with all your soul.” So Joshua (AJ)blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their tents.

Now (AK)to the one half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given a possession in Bashan, but (AL)to the other half Joshua gave a possession among their brothers westward beyond the Jordan. So when Joshua sent them away to their tents, he also blessed them, and said to [k]them, “Return to your tents with great riches and with very many livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, iron, and with very many clothes; (AM)divide the spoils of your enemies with your brothers.” So the sons of Reuben, the sons of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh returned home, [l]leaving the sons of Israel at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go to the (AN)land of Gilead, to the land of their possession in which they had settled, in accordance with the [m]command of the Lord [n]through Moses.

The Offensive Altar

10 When they came to the region of the Jordan which is in the land of Canaan, the sons of Reuben, the sons of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an altar there by the Jordan, [o]a large altar in appearance. 11 But the sons of Israel [p]heard a report: “Behold, the sons of Reuben, the sons of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have (AO)built an altar at the [q]frontier of the land of Canaan, in the region of the Jordan, on the side belonging to the sons of Israel.” 12 And when the sons of Israel heard about it, the entire congregation of the sons of Israel assembled at (AP)Shiloh to go up against them in battle.

13 Then the sons of Israel sent to the sons of Reuben, to the sons of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead, (AQ)Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, 14 and with him ten leaders, one leader for each father’s household from each of the tribes of Israel; and (AR)each one of them was the head of his father’s household among the [r]thousands of Israel. 15 They came to the sons of Reuben, the sons of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead, and they spoke with them, saying, 16 “This is what the whole congregation of the Lord says: ‘What is this unfaithful act which you have committed against the God of Israel, turning away from following the Lord this day, by (AS)building yourselves an altar, to rebel against the Lord this day? 17 Is (AT)the wrongdoing of Peor [s]not enough for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves to this day, although [t]a plague came on the congregation of the Lord, 18 that you must turn away this day from following the Lord? If you rebel against the Lord today, (AU)He will be angry with the entire congregation of Israel tomorrow. 19 If, however, the land of your possession is unclean, then [u]cross into the land of the possession of the Lord, where the Lords [v]tabernacle [w]stands, and settle among us. Only do not rebel against the Lord, or rebel against us, by (AV)building an altar for yourselves besides the altar of the Lord our God. 20 Did (AW)Achan the son of Zerah not act unfaithfully in the things designated for destruction, and wrath fall on the entire congregation of Israel? So that man did not perish alone in his guilt.’”

21 Then the sons of Reuben, the sons of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered and spoke to the heads of the [x]families of Israel. 22 “The (AX)Mighty One, God, the Lord, the Mighty One, God, the Lord! (AY)He knows, and may Israel itself know. If it was in rebellion, or if in an unfaithful act against the Lord, do not save us this day! 23 If we have built us an altar to turn away from following the Lord, or if to (AZ)offer a burnt offering or grain offering on it, or if to offer sacrifices of peace offerings on it, may the Lord Himself [y]demand it. 24 But truly we have done this out of concern, [z]for a reason, saying, ‘In time to come your sons may say to our [aa]sons, “What have you to do with the Lord, the God of Israel? 25 For the Lord has made the Jordan a border between us and you, you sons of Reuben and sons of Gad; you have no portion in the Lord.” So your sons may make our sons stop fearing the Lord.’

26 “Therefore we said, ‘Let’s [ab]build an altar, not for burnt offering or for sacrifice; 27 rather, it shall be (BA)a witness between us and you and between our generations after us, that we are to (BB)perform the service of the Lord before Him with our burnt offerings, our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings, so that your sons will not say to our sons in time to come, “You have no portion in the Lord.”’ 28 Therefore we said, ‘It shall also come about if they say this to us or to our generations in time to come, then we shall say, “See the copy of the altar of the Lord which our fathers made, not for burnt offering or for sacrifice; rather, it is a witness between us and you.”’ 29 Far be it from us that we should rebel against the Lord and turn away from following the Lord this day, by (BC)building an altar for burnt offering, for grain offering, or for sacrifice, besides the altar of the Lord our God which is before His [ac]tabernacle.”

30 So when Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the congregation, that is, the heads of the [ad]families of Israel who were with him, heard the words which the sons of Reuben, the sons of Gad, and the sons of Manasseh spoke, it pleased them. 31 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the sons of Reuben, the sons of Gad, and to the sons of Manasseh, “Today we know that the (BD)Lord is in our midst, because you have not committed this unfaithful act against the Lord; now you have saved the sons of Israel from the hand of the Lord.”

32 Then Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest and the leaders returned from the sons of Reuben and from the sons of Gad, from the land of Gilead to the land of Canaan, to the sons of Israel, and brought back word to them. 33 The word pleased the sons of Israel, and the sons of Israel (BE)blessed God; and they did not speak of going up against them in battle to destroy the land in which the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad were living. 34 And the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad (BF)called the altar Witness; “For,” they said, “it is a witness between us that the Lord is God.”

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 21:2 Lit by the hand of
  2. Joshua 21:3 Lit mouth
  3. Joshua 21:8 Lit by the hand of
  4. Joshua 21:15 In 1 Chr 6:58, Hilen
  5. Joshua 21:16 In 1 Chr 6:59, Ashan
  6. Joshua 21:18 In 1 Chr 6:60, Allemeth
  7. Joshua 21:42 Lit its
  8. Joshua 21:45 Lit a word from every good word
  9. Joshua 21:45 Lit spoken
  10. Joshua 22:5 Lit perform
  11. Joshua 22:8 Lit them, saying,
  12. Joshua 22:9 Lit and went from
  13. Joshua 22:9 Lit mouth
  14. Joshua 22:9 Lit by the hand of
  15. Joshua 22:10 Or an altar clearly visible
  16. Joshua 22:11 Lit heard, saying, Behold
  17. Joshua 22:11 Lit front
  18. Joshua 22:14 Or families
  19. Joshua 22:17 Lit a trifle for us
  20. Joshua 22:17 Lit an affliction
  21. Joshua 22:19 Lit cross for yourselves
  22. Joshua 22:19 Lit dwelling place
  23. Joshua 22:19 Lit resides
  24. Joshua 22:21 Lit thousands
  25. Joshua 22:23 I.e., hold him responsible
  26. Joshua 22:24 Lit from
  27. Joshua 22:24 Lit sons, saying
  28. Joshua 22:26 Lit prepare to build for ourselves
  29. Joshua 22:29 Lit dwelling place
  30. Joshua 22:30 Lit thousands

Towns for the Levites(A)

21 Now the family heads of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the other tribal families of Israel(B) at Shiloh(C) in Canaan and said to them, “The Lord commanded through Moses that you give us towns(D) to live in, with pasturelands for our livestock.”(E) So, as the Lord had commanded, the Israelites gave the Levites the following towns and pasturelands out of their own inheritance:

The first lot came out for the Kohathites,(F) according to their clans. The Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest were allotted thirteen towns from the tribes of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin.(G) The rest of Kohath’s descendants were allotted ten towns from the clans of the tribes of Ephraim, Dan and half of Manasseh.(H)

The descendants of Gershon(I) were allotted thirteen towns from the clans of the tribes of Issachar,(J) Asher,(K) Naphtali and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.

The descendants of Merari,(L) according to their clans, received twelve(M) towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Zebulun.(N)

So the Israelites allotted to the Levites these towns and their pasturelands, as the Lord had commanded through Moses.

From the tribes of Judah and Simeon they allotted the following towns by name 10 (these towns were assigned to the descendants of Aaron who were from the Kohathite clans of the Levites, because the first lot fell to them):

11 They gave them Kiriath Arba(O) (that is, Hebron(P)), with its surrounding pastureland, in the hill country of Judah. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.) 12 But the fields and villages around the city they had given to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession.(Q)

13 So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron (a city of refuge(R) for one accused of murder), Libnah,(S) 14 Jattir,(T) Eshtemoa,(U) 15 Holon,(V) Debir,(W) 16 Ain,(X) Juttah(Y) and Beth Shemesh,(Z) together with their pasturelands—nine towns from these two tribes.

17 And from the tribe of Benjamin they gave them Gibeon,(AA) Geba,(AB) 18 Anathoth(AC) and Almon, together with their pasturelands—four towns.

19 The total number of towns(AD) for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, came to thirteen, together with their pasturelands.(AE)

20 The rest of the Kohathite clans of the Levites were allotted towns from the tribe of Ephraim:

21 In the hill country of Ephraim they were given Shechem(AF) (a city of refuge for one accused of murder) and Gezer,(AG) 22 Kibzaim and Beth Horon,(AH) together with their pasturelands—four towns.(AI)

23 Also from the tribe of Dan they received Eltekeh, Gibbethon,(AJ) 24 Aijalon(AK) and Gath Rimmon,(AL) together with their pasturelands—four towns.

25 From half the tribe of Manasseh they received Taanach(AM) and Gath Rimmon, together with their pasturelands—two towns.

26 All these ten towns and their pasturelands were given to the rest of the Kohathite clans.(AN)

27 The Levite clans of the Gershonites were given:

from the half-tribe of Manasseh,

Golan in Bashan(AO) (a city of refuge for one accused of murder(AP)) and Be Eshterah, together with their pasturelands—two towns;

28 from the tribe of Issachar,(AQ)

Kishion,(AR) Daberath,(AS) 29 Jarmuth(AT) and En Gannim,(AU) together with their pasturelands—four towns;

30 from the tribe of Asher,(AV)

Mishal,(AW) Abdon,(AX) 31 Helkath and Rehob,(AY) together with their pasturelands—four towns;

32 from the tribe of Naphtali,

Kedesh(AZ) in Galilee (a city of refuge for one accused of murder(BA)), Hammoth Dor and Kartan, together with their pasturelands—three towns.

33 The total number of towns of the Gershonite(BB) clans came to thirteen, together with their pasturelands.

34 The Merarite clans (the rest of the Levites) were given:

from the tribe of Zebulun,(BC)

Jokneam,(BD) Kartah, 35 Dimnah and Nahalal,(BE) together with their pasturelands—four towns;

36 from the tribe of Reuben,

Bezer,(BF) Jahaz,(BG) 37 Kedemoth and Mephaath,(BH) together with their pasturelands—four towns;

38 from the tribe of Gad,

Ramoth(BI) in Gilead(BJ) (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Mahanaim,(BK) 39 Heshbon and Jazer,(BL) together with their pasturelands—four towns in all.

40 The total number of towns allotted to the Merarite clans, who were the rest of the Levites, came to twelve.(BM)

41 The towns of the Levites in the territory held by the Israelites were forty-eight in all, together with their pasturelands.(BN) 42 Each of these towns had pasturelands surrounding it; this was true for all these towns.

43 So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors,(BO) and they took possession(BP) of it and settled there.(BQ) 44 The Lord gave them rest(BR) on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies(BS) withstood them; the Lord gave all their enemies(BT) into their hands.(BU) 45 Not one of all the Lord’s good promises(BV) to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.

Eastern Tribes Return Home

22 Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh and said to them, “You have done all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded,(BW) and you have obeyed me in everything I commanded. For a long time now—to this very day—you have not deserted your fellow Israelites but have carried out the mission the Lord your God gave you. Now that the Lord your God has given them rest(BX) as he promised, return to your homes(BY) in the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side of the Jordan.(BZ) But be very careful to keep the commandment(CA) and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord(CB) your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands,(CC) to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.(CD)

Then Joshua blessed(CE) them and sent them away, and they went to their homes. (To the half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given land in Bashan,(CF) and to the other half of the tribe Joshua gave land on the west side(CG) of the Jordan along with their fellow Israelites.) When Joshua sent them home, he blessed them,(CH) saying, “Return to your homes with your great wealth—with large herds of livestock,(CI) with silver, gold, bronze and iron,(CJ) and a great quantity of clothing—and divide(CK) the plunder(CL) from your enemies with your fellow Israelites.”

So the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh left the Israelites at Shiloh(CM) in Canaan to return to Gilead,(CN) their own land, which they had acquired in accordance with the command of the Lord through Moses.

10 When they came to Geliloth(CO) near the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an imposing altar(CP) there by the Jordan. 11 And when the Israelites heard that they had built the altar on the border of Canaan at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side, 12 the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh(CQ) to go to war against them.

13 So the Israelites sent Phinehas(CR) son of Eleazar,(CS) the priest, to the land of Gilead—to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh. 14 With him they sent ten of the chief men, one from each of the tribes of Israel, each the head of a family division among the Israelite clans.(CT)

15 When they went to Gilead—to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh—they said to them: 16 “The whole assembly of the Lord says: ‘How could you break faith(CU) with the God of Israel like this? How could you turn away from the Lord and build yourselves an altar in rebellion(CV) against him now? 17 Was not the sin of Peor(CW) enough for us? Up to this very day we have not cleansed ourselves from that sin, even though a plague fell on the community of the Lord! 18 And are you now turning away from the Lord?

“‘If you rebel against the Lord today, tomorrow he will be angry with the whole community(CX) of Israel. 19 If the land you possess is defiled, come over to the Lord’s land, where the Lord’s tabernacle(CY) stands, and share the land with us. But do not rebel against the Lord or against us by building an altar(CZ) for yourselves, other than the altar of the Lord our God. 20 When Achan son of Zerah was unfaithful in regard to the devoted things,[a](DA) did not wrath(DB) come on the whole community(DC) of Israel? He was not the only one who died for his sin.’”(DD)

21 Then Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh replied to the heads of the clans of Israel: 22 “The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God,(DE) the Lord!(DF) He knows!(DG) And let Israel know! If this has been in rebellion or disobedience to the Lord, do not spare us this day. 23 If we have built our own altar to turn away from the Lord and to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings,(DH) or to sacrifice fellowship offerings on it, may the Lord himself call us to account.(DI)

24 “No! We did it for fear that some day your descendants might say to ours, ‘What do you have to do with the Lord, the God of Israel? 25 The Lord has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you—you Reubenites and Gadites! You have no share in the Lord.’ So your descendants might cause ours to stop fearing the Lord.

26 “That is why we said, ‘Let us get ready and build an altar—but not for burnt offerings or sacrifices.’ 27 On the contrary, it is to be a witness(DJ) between us and you and the generations that follow, that we will worship the Lord at his sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices and fellowship offerings.(DK) Then in the future your descendants will not be able to say to ours, ‘You have no share in the Lord.’

28 “And we said, ‘If they ever say this to us, or to our descendants, we will answer: Look at the replica of the Lord’s altar, which our ancestors built, not for burnt offerings and sacrifices, but as a witness(DL) between us and you.’

29 “Far be it from us to rebel(DM) against the Lord and turn away from him today by building an altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings and sacrifices, other than the altar of the Lord our God that stands before his tabernacle.(DN)

30 When Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the community—the heads of the clans of the Israelites—heard what Reuben, Gad and Manasseh had to say, they were pleased. 31 And Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, said to Reuben, Gad and Manasseh, “Today we know that the Lord is with us,(DO) because you have not been unfaithful to the Lord in this matter. Now you have rescued the Israelites from the Lord’s hand.”

32 Then Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, and the leaders returned to Canaan from their meeting with the Reubenites and Gadites in Gilead and reported to the Israelites.(DP) 33 They were glad to hear the report and praised God.(DQ) And they talked no more about going to war against them to devastate the country where the Reubenites and the Gadites lived.

34 And the Reubenites and the Gadites gave the altar this name: A Witness(DR) Between Us—that the Lord is God.

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 22:20 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.

God, the King of the Earth.

For the music director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

47 (A)Clap your hands, all you peoples;
(B)Shout to God with a voice of joy.
For the Lord Most High is to be (C)feared,
A (D)great King over all the earth.
He (E)subdues peoples under us
And nations under our feet.
He chooses our (F)inheritance for us,
The (G)pride of Jacob whom He loves. Selah

God has (H)ascended [a]with a shout,
The Lord, [b]with the (I)sound of a trumpet.
(J)Sing praises to God, sing praises;
Sing praises to (K)our King, sing praises.
For God is the (L)King of all the earth;
Sing praises (M)with a psalm of wisdom.
God (N)reigns over the nations,
God [c]sits on (O)His holy throne.
The [d](P)princes of the people have assembled as the (Q)people of the God of Abraham,
For the (R)shields of the earth belong to God;
He is (S)highly exalted.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 47:5 Or amid
  2. Psalm 47:5 Or amid
  3. Psalm 47:8 Or has taken His seat
  4. Psalm 47:9 Or nobles

Psalm 47[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

Clap your hands,(A) all you nations;
    shout to God with cries of joy.(B)

For the Lord Most High(C) is awesome,(D)
    the great King(E) over all the earth.
He subdued(F) nations under us,
    peoples under our feet.
He chose our inheritance(G) for us,
    the pride of Jacob,(H) whom he loved.[b]

God has ascended(I) amid shouts of joy,(J)
    the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.(K)
Sing praises(L) to God, sing praises;
    sing praises to our King, sing praises.
For God is the King of all the earth;(M)
    sing to him a psalm(N) of praise.

God reigns(O) over the nations;
    God is seated on his holy throne.(P)
The nobles of the nations assemble
    as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings[c] of the earth belong to God;(Q)
    he is greatly exalted.(R)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 47:1 In Hebrew texts 47:1-9 is numbered 47:2-10.
  2. Psalm 47:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  3. Psalm 47:9 Or shields

Avoid Israel’s Mistakes

10 For (A)I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all (B)under the cloud and they all (C)passed through the sea; and they all were (D)baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and they all (E)ate the same spiritual food, and all (F)drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was [a]Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased; for their dead bodies were (G)spread out in the wilderness.

Now these things happened as (H)examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as (I)they indeed craved them. Do not be (J)idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “(K)The people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to (L)play.” Nor are we to commit sexual immorality, as (M)some of them [b]did, and (N)twenty-three thousand fell in one day. Nor are we to put the Lord to the test, as (O)some of them [c]did, and were killed by the snakes. 10 Nor (P)grumble, as some of them [d]did, and (Q)were killed by the (R)destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an (S)example, and (T)they were written for our instruction, upon whom (U)the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let the one who (V)thinks he stands watch out that he does not fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and (W)God is faithful, [e]so He will not allow you to be (X)tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

14 Therefore, my (Y)beloved, flee from (Z)idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise people; you then, judge what I say. 16 Is the (AA)cup of blessing which we bless not a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is the (AB)bread which we break not a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Since there is one loaf, we (AC)who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf. 18 Look at [f]the people of (AD)Israel; are those who (AE)eat the sacrifices not partners in the altar? 19 What do I mean then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or (AF)that an idol is [g]anything? 20 No, but I say that things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they (AG)sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become partners with demons. 21 (AH)You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and (AI)the table of demons. 22 Or do we (AJ)provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not (AK)stronger than He, are we?

23 (AL)All things are permitted, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted, but not all things [h](AM)build people up. 24 No one is to (AN)seek his own advantage, but rather that of his [i]neighbor. 25 (AO)Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions, for the sake of conscience; 26 (AP)for the earth is the Lords, and [j]all it contains. 27 If (AQ)one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, (AR)eat anything that is set before you without asking questions, for the sake of conscience. 28 But (AS)if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of that one who informed you and for the sake of conscience; 29 Now by “conscience” I do not mean your own, but the other person’s; for (AT)why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, (AU)why am I slandered about that for which I (AV)give thanks?

31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or (AW)whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God. 32 (AX)Do not offend Jews or Greeks, or (AY)the church of God; 33 just as I also (AZ)please everyone in all things, (BA)not seeking my own benefit but the benefit of the many, (BB)so that they may be saved.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 10:4 I.e., the Messiah
  2. 1 Corinthians 10:8 Lit committed sexual immorality
  3. 1 Corinthians 10:9 Lit made trial
  4. 1 Corinthians 10:10 Lit grumbled
  5. 1 Corinthians 10:13 Lit who will not
  6. 1 Corinthians 10:18 Lit Israel according to the flesh
  7. 1 Corinthians 10:19 I.e., anything real
  8. 1 Corinthians 10:23 Or edify
  9. 1 Corinthians 10:24 Lit the other
  10. 1 Corinthians 10:26 Lit its fullness

Warnings From Israel’s History

10 For I do not want you to be ignorant(A) of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud(B) and that they all passed through the sea.(C) They were all baptized into(D) Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food(E) and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock(F) that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.(G)

Now these things occurred as examples(H) to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters,(I) as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”[a](J) We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.(K) We should not test Christ,[b](L) as some of them did—and were killed by snakes.(M) 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did(N)—and were killed(O) by the destroying angel.(P)

11 These things happened to them as examples(Q) and were written down as warnings for us,(R) on whom the culmination of the ages has come.(S) 12 So, if you think you are standing firm,(T) be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation[c] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful;(U) he will not let you be tempted[d] beyond what you can bear.(V) But when you are tempted,[e] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Idol Feasts and the Lord’s Supper

14 Therefore, my dear friends,(W) flee from idolatry.(X) 15 I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break(Y) a participation in the body of Christ?(Z) 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body,(AA) for we all share the one loaf.

18 Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices(AB) participate in the altar? 19 Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?(AC) 20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons,(AD) not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.(AE) 22 Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy?(AF) Are we stronger than he?(AG)

The Believer’s Freedom

23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial.(AH) “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.(AI)

25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,(AJ) 26 for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”[f](AK)

27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you(AL) without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience.(AM) 29 I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom(AN) being judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?(AO)

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.(AP) 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble,(AQ) whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God(AR) 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way.(AS) For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many,(AT) so that they may be saved.(AU)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 10:7 Exodus 32:6
  2. 1 Corinthians 10:9 Some manuscripts test the Lord
  3. 1 Corinthians 10:13 The Greek for temptation and tempted can also mean testing and tested.
  4. 1 Corinthians 10:13 The Greek for temptation and tempted can also mean testing and tested.
  5. 1 Corinthians 10:13 The Greek for temptation and tempted can also mean testing and tested.
  6. 1 Corinthians 10:26 Psalm 24:1