⁹ “You and your sons are not to drink wine^(A) or other fermented drink^(B) whenever you go into the tent of meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance^(C) for the generations to come, ¹⁰ so that you can distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean,^{(D) 11} and so you can teach^(E) the Israelites all the decrees the Lord has given them through Moses.^(F)”

¹² Moses said to Aaron and his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, “Take the grain offering^(G) left over from the food offerings prepared without yeast and presented to the Lord and eat it beside the altar,^(H) for it is most holy. ¹³ Eat it in the sanctuary area,^(I) because it is your share and your sons’ share of the food offerings presented to the Lord; for so I have been commanded.^{(J) 14} But you and your sons and your daughters may eat the breast^(K) that was waved and the thigh that was presented. Eat them in a ceremonially clean place;^(L) they have been given to you and your children as your share of the Israelites’ fellowship offerings. ¹⁵ The thigh^(M) that was presented and the breast that was waved must be brought with the fat portions of the food offerings, to be waved before the Lord as a wave offering.^(N) This will be the perpetual share for you and your children, as the Lord has commanded.”

¹⁶ When Moses inquired about the goat of the sin offering^[a](O) and found that it had been burned up, he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s remaining sons, and asked, ¹⁷ “Why didn’t you eat the sin offering^(P) in the sanctuary area? It is most holy; it was given to you to take away the guilt^(Q) of the community by making atonement for them before the Lord. ¹⁸ Since its blood was not taken into the Holy Place,^(R) you should have eaten the goat in the sanctuary area, as I commanded.^(S)”

¹⁹ Aaron replied to Moses, “Today they sacrificed their sin offering and their burnt offering^(T) before the Lord, but such things as this have happened to me. Would the Lord have been pleased if I had eaten the sin offering today?” ²⁰ When Moses heard this, he was satisfied.

Ben-Hadad Attacks Samaria

20 Now Ben-Hadad^(A) king of Aram mustered his entire army. Accompanied by thirty-two kings with their horses and chariots, he went up and besieged Samaria^(B) and attacked it. ² He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, saying, “This is what Ben-Hadad says: ³ ‘Your silver and gold are mine, and the best of your wives and children are mine.’”

⁴ The king of Israel answered, “Just as you say, my lord the king. I and all I have are yours.”

⁵ The messengers came again and said, “This is what Ben-Hadad says: ‘I sent to demand your silver and gold, your wives and your children. ⁶ But about this time tomorrow I am going to send my officials to search your palace and the houses of your officials. They will seize everything you value and carry it away.’”

⁷ The king of Israel summoned all the elders^(C) of the land and said to them, “See how this man is looking for trouble!^(D) When he sent for my wives and my children, my silver and my gold, I did not refuse him.”

⁸ The elders and the people all answered, “Don’t listen to him or agree to his demands.”

⁹ So he replied to Ben-Hadad’s messengers, “Tell my lord the king, ‘Your servant will do all you demanded the first time, but this demand I cannot meet.’” They left and took the answer back to Ben-Hadad.

¹⁰ Then Ben-Hadad sent another message to Ahab: “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if enough dust^(E) remains in Samaria to give each of my men a handful.”

¹¹ The king of Israel answered, “Tell him: ‘One who puts on his armor should not boast^(F) like one who takes it off.’”

¹² Ben-Hadad heard this message while he and the kings were drinking^(G) in their tents,^[a] and he ordered his men: “Prepare to attack.” So they prepared to attack the city.

Ahab Defeats Ben-Hadad

¹³ Meanwhile a prophet^(H) came to Ahab king of Israel and announced, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Do you see this vast army? I will give it into your hand today, and then you will know^(I) that I am the Lord.’”

¹⁴ “But who will do this?” asked Ahab.

The prophet replied, “This is what the Lord says: ‘The junior officers under the provincial commanders will do it.’”

“And who will start^(J) the battle?” he asked.

The prophet answered, “You will.”

¹⁵ So Ahab summoned the 232 junior officers under the provincial commanders. Then he assembled the rest of the Israelites, 7,000 in all. ¹⁶ They set out at noon while Ben-Hadad and the 32 kings allied with him were in their tents getting drunk.^{(K) 17} The junior officers under the provincial commanders went out first.

Now Ben-Hadad had dispatched scouts, who reported, “Men are advancing from Samaria.”

¹⁸ He said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; if they have come out for war, take them alive.”

¹⁹ The junior officers under the provincial commanders marched out of the city with the army behind them ²⁰ and each one struck down his opponent. At that, the Arameans fled, with the Israelites in pursuit. But Ben-Hadad king of Aram escaped on horseback with some of his horsemen. ²¹ The king of Israel advanced and overpowered the horses and chariots and inflicted heavy losses on the Arameans.

²² Afterward, the prophet^(L) came to the king of Israel and said, “Strengthen your position and see what must be done, because next spring^(M) the king of Aram will attack you again.”

Psalm 86

A prayer of David.

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

¹⁴ Jesus returned to Galilee^(A) in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.^{(B) 15} He was teaching in their synagogues,^(C) and everyone praised him.

²⁷ So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.^{(A) 28} Everyone ought to examine themselves^(B) before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. ²⁹ For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. ³⁰ That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.^{(C) 31} But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment.^{(D) 32} Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined^(E) so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.^(F)

³³ So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. ³⁴ Anyone who is hungry^(G) should eat something at home,^(H) so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.

And when I come^(I) I will give further directions.