The Song of the Well

10 And the people of Israel set out and (A)camped in Oboth. 11 (B)And they set out from Oboth and (C)camped at Iye-abarim, in the wilderness that is opposite Moab, toward the sunrise. 12 From there they set out and camped in (D)the Valley of Zered. 13 From there they set out and camped on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness that extends from the border of the Amorites, for the (E)Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. 14 Therefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of the Lord,

“Waheb in Suphah, and the valleys of the Arnon,
15 and the slope of the valleys
that extends to the seat of (F)Ar,
and leans to the border of Moab.”

16 And from there they continued (G)to Beer;[a] that is the well of which the Lord said to Moses, “Gather the people together, so that (H)I may give them water.” 17 Then Israel sang this song:

“Spring up, O well!—Sing to it!—
18 the well that the princes made,
that the nobles of the people dug,
with (I)the scepter and with their staffs.”

And from the wilderness they went on to Mattanah, 19 and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20 and from Bamoth to the valley lying in the region of Moab by the top of Pisgah (J)that looks down on the desert.[b]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 21:16 Beer means well
  2. Numbers 21:20 Or Jeshimon

The Journey to Moab

10 The Israelites moved on and camped at Oboth.(A) 11 Then they set out from Oboth and camped in Iye Abarim, in the wilderness that faces Moab(B) toward the sunrise. 12 From there they moved on and camped in the Zered Valley.(C) 13 They set out from there and camped alongside the Arnon(D), which is in the wilderness extending into Amorite territory. The Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.(E) 14 That is why the Book of the Wars(F) of the Lord says:

“. . . Zahab[a] in Suphah and the ravines,
    the Arnon 15 and[b] the slopes of the ravines
that lead to the settlement of Ar(G)
    and lie along the border of Moab.”

16 From there they continued on to Beer,(H) the well where the Lord said to Moses, “Gather the people together and I will give them water.”

17 Then Israel sang this song:(I)

“Spring up, O well!
    Sing about it,
18 about the well that the princes dug,
    that the nobles of the people sank—
    the nobles with scepters and staffs.”

Then they went from the wilderness to Mattanah, 19 from Mattanah to Nahaliel, from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20 and from Bamoth to the valley in Moab where the top of Pisgah(J) overlooks the wasteland.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 21:14 Septuagint; Hebrew Waheb
  2. Numbers 21:15 Or “I have been given from Suphah and the ravines / of the Arnon 15 to

Divisions of the Gatekeepers

26 As for the divisions of the gatekeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph. And Meshelemiah had sons: (A)Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh. And (B)Obed-edom had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sachar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth, Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth, (C)for God blessed him. Also to his son Shemaiah were sons born who were rulers in their fathers' houses, for they were men of great ability.

Read full chapter

The Gatekeepers

26 The divisions of the gatekeepers:(A)

From the Korahites: Meshelemiah son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph.

Meshelemiah had sons:

Zechariah(B) the firstborn,

Jediael the second,

Zebadiah the third,

Jathniel the fourth,

Elam the fifth,

Jehohanan the sixth

and Eliehoenai the seventh.

Obed-Edom also had sons:

Shemaiah the firstborn,

Jehozabad the second,

Joah the third,

Sakar the fourth,

Nethanel the fifth,

Ammiel the sixth,

Issachar the seventh

and Peullethai the eighth.

(For God had blessed Obed-Edom.(C))

Obed-Edom’s son Shemaiah also had sons, who were leaders in their father’s family because they were very capable men.

Read full chapter

17 And the city shall have open land: on the north 250 cubits, on the south 250, on the east 250, and on the west 250. 18 The remainder of the length alongside the holy portion shall be 10,000 cubits to the east, and 10,000 to the west, and it shall be alongside the holy portion. (A)Its produce shall be food for the workers of the city. 19 And the workers of the city, from all the tribes of Israel, shall till it. 20 The whole portion that (B)you shall set apart shall be 25,000 cubits square, that is, the holy portion together with the property of the city.

21 (C)“What remains on both sides of the holy portion and of the property of the city shall belong to the prince. Extending from the 25,000 cubits of the holy portion to the east border, and westward from the 25,000 cubits to the west border, parallel to the tribal portions, it shall belong to the prince. (D)The holy portion with the sanctuary of the temple shall be in its midst. 22 It shall be separate from the property of the Levites and the property of the city, which are in the midst of that which belongs to the prince. The portion of the prince shall lie between the territory of Judah and the territory of Benjamin.

23 “As for the rest of the tribes: from the east side to the west, Benjamin, one portion. 24 Adjoining the territory of Benjamin, from the east side to the west, Simeon, one portion. 25 Adjoining the territory of Simeon, from the east side to the west, Issachar, one portion. 26 Adjoining the territory of Issachar, from the east side to the west, Zebulun, one portion. 27 Adjoining the territory of Zebulun, from the east side to the west, Gad, one portion. 28 And adjoining the territory of Gad to the south, the boundary shall run (E)from Tamar to the waters of (F)Meribah-kadesh, from there along the Brook of Egypt[a] to (G)the Great Sea.[b] 29 This is the land that (H)you shall allot as an inheritance among the tribes of Israel, and these are their portions, declares the Lord God.

The Gates of the City

30 “These shall be (I)the exits of the city: On the north side, which is to be (J)4,500 cubits by measure, 31 (K)three gates, the gate of (L)Reuben, the gate of (M)Judah, and the gate of (N)Levi, the gates of the city being named after the tribes of Israel. 32 On the east side, which is to be 4,500 cubits, three gates, the gate of Joseph, the gate of Benjamin, and the gate of Dan. 33 On the south side, which is to be 4,500 cubits by measure, three gates, the gate of Simeon, the gate of Issachar, and the gate of Zebulun. 34 On the west side, which is to be 4,500 cubits, three gates,[c] the gate of Gad, the gate of Asher, and the gate of Naphtali. 35 The circumference of the city shall be 18,000 cubits. And (O)the name of the city from that time on shall be, (P)The Lord Is There.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 48:28 Hebrew lacks of Egypt
  2. Ezekiel 48:28 That is, the Mediterranean Sea
  3. Ezekiel 48:34 One Hebrew manuscript, Syriac (compare Septuagint); most Hebrew manuscripts their gates three

17 The pastureland for the city will be 250 cubits[a] on the north, 250 cubits on the south, 250 cubits on the east, and 250 cubits on the west. 18 What remains of the area, bordering on the sacred portion and running the length of it, will be 10,000 cubits on the east side and 10,000 cubits on the west side. Its produce will supply food for the workers of the city.(A) 19 The workers from the city who farm it will come from all the tribes of Israel. 20 The entire portion will be a square, 25,000 cubits on each side. As a special gift you will set aside the sacred portion, along with the property of the city.

21 “What remains on both sides of the area formed by the sacred portion and the property of the city will belong to the prince. It will extend eastward from the 25,000 cubits of the sacred portion to the eastern border, and westward from the 25,000 cubits to the western border. Both these areas running the length of the tribal portions will belong to the prince, and the sacred portion with the temple sanctuary will be in the center of them.(B) 22 So the property of the Levites and the property of the city will lie in the center of the area that belongs to the prince. The area belonging to the prince will lie between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin.

23 “As for the rest of the tribes: Benjamin(C) will have one portion; it will extend from the east side to the west side.

24 “Simeon(D) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Benjamin from east to west.

25 “Issachar(E) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Simeon from east to west.

26 “Zebulun(F) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Issachar from east to west.

27 “Gad(G) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Zebulun from east to west.

28 “The southern boundary of Gad will run south from Tamar(H) to the waters of Meribah Kadesh, then along the Wadi of Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea.(I)

29 “This is the land you are to allot as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel, and these will be their portions,” declares the Sovereign Lord.(J)

The Gates of the New City

30 “These will be the exits of the city: Beginning on the north side, which is 4,500 cubits long, 31 the gates of the city will be named after the tribes of Israel. The three gates on the north side will be the gate of Reuben, the gate of Judah and the gate of Levi.

32 “On the east side, which is 4,500 cubits long, will be three gates: the gate of Joseph, the gate of Benjamin and the gate of Dan.

33 “On the south side, which measures 4,500 cubits, will be three gates: the gate of Simeon, the gate of Issachar and the gate of Zebulun.

34 “On the west side, which is 4,500 cubits long, will be three gates: the gate of Gad, the gate of Asher and the gate of Naphtali.(K)

35 “The distance all around will be 18,000 cubits.[b]

“And the name of the city from that time on will be:

the Lord is there.(L)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 48:17 That is, about 440 feet or about 135 meters
  2. Ezekiel 48:35 That is, about 6 miles or about 9.5 kilometers

The Beginning of Knowledge

(A)The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

To know wisdom and instruction,
    to understand words of insight,
to receive instruction in wise dealing,
    in (B)righteousness, justice, and equity;
to give prudence to (C)the simple,
    knowledge and (D)discretion to the youth—
Let the wise hear and (E)increase in learning,
    and the one who understands obtain guidance,
to understand a proverb and a saying,
    (F)the words of the wise and their (G)riddles.

(H)The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
    fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Read full chapter

Purpose and Theme

The proverbs(A) of Solomon(B) son of David, king of Israel:(C)

for gaining wisdom and instruction;
    for understanding words of insight;
for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
    doing what is right and just and fair;
for giving prudence to those who are simple,[a](D)
    knowledge and discretion(E) to the young—
let the wise listen and add to their learning,(F)
    and let the discerning get guidance—
for understanding proverbs and parables,(G)
    the sayings and riddles(H) of the wise.[b](I)

The fear of the Lord(J) is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools[c] despise wisdom(K) and instruction.(L)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:4 The Hebrew word rendered simple in Proverbs denotes a person who is gullible, without moral direction and inclined to evil.
  2. Proverbs 1:6 Or understanding a proverb, namely, a parable, / and the sayings of the wise, their riddles
  3. Proverbs 1:7 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote a person who is morally deficient.

The Crucifixion

26 (A)And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were (B)mourning and lamenting for him. 28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, (C)the days are coming when they will say, (D)‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 (E)Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For (F)if they do these things when (G)the wood is green, what will happen (H)when it is dry?”

32 (I)Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 (J)And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, (K)one on his right and one on his left.

Read full chapter

The Crucifixion of Jesus(A)

26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene,(B) who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.(C) 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed(D) for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.(E) 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’(F) 30 Then

“‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”
    and to the hills, “Cover us!”’[a](G)

31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”(H)

32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.(I) 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Luke 23:30 Hosea 10:8

Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing (A)to be left behind at Athens alone, and we (B)sent Timothy, (C)our brother and God's coworker[a] in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that (D)we are destined for this. For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, (E)just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. For this reason, (F)when I could bear it no longer, (G)I sent to learn about your faith, (H)for fear that somehow (I)the tempter had tempted you and (J)our labor would be in vain.

Timothy's Encouraging Report

But (K)now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of (L)your faith and love and reported (M)that you always remember us kindly and (N)long to see us, as we long to see you— for this reason, brothers,[b] in all our distress and affliction (O)we have been comforted about you through your faith. For now we live, if you (P)are standing fast in the Lord. For (Q)what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10 as we pray most earnestly (R)night and day (S)that we may see you face to face and (T)supply what is lacking in your faith?

11 Now may (U)our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, (V)direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord (W)make you increase and abound in love (X)for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may (Y)establish your hearts blameless in holiness before (Z)our God and Father, at (AA)the coming of our Lord Jesus (AB)with all his saints.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 3:2 Some manuscripts servant
  2. 1 Thessalonians 3:7 Or brothers and sisters

So when we could stand it no longer,(A) we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens.(B) We sent Timothy,(C) who is our brother and co-worker(D) in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ,(E) to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials.(F) For you know quite well that we are destined for them.(G) In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.(H) For this reason, when I could stand it no longer,(I) I sent to find out about your faith.(J) I was afraid that in some way the tempter(K) had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.(L)

Timothy’s Encouraging Report

But Timothy(M) has just now come to us from you(N) and has brought good news about your faith and love.(O) He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.(P) Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm(Q) in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you(R) in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?(S) 10 Night and day we pray(T) most earnestly that we may see you again(U) and supply what is lacking in your faith.

11 Now may our God and Father(V) himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other(W) and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless(X) and holy in the presence of our God and Father(Y) when our Lord Jesus comes(Z) with all his holy ones.(AA)

Read full chapter