Old/New Testament
Each tribe is influential in the nation of Israel and has the honor of being descended from the Jews’ ancestor Jacob, but the tribe of Judah has prominence and power. From this tribe comes Israel’s monarchy, even though their forefather Judah was not the oldest son and therefore not the one who would have been expected to father kings. The selection of Judah as the progenitor of kings demonstrates that God is in control of His people even when tradition and convention are contrary to His ways.
4 Judah’s lineage descended as so: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal. 2 Shobal fathered Reaiah (the father of Jahath and grandfather of Ahumai and Lahad). They were the families of the Zorathites. 3 Etam fathered three sons, Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash, and their sister, Hazzelelponi. 4 Penuel fathered Gedor, and Ezer fathered Hushah. These are the sons of Hur, who was the firstborn of Ephrathah, who fathered Bethlehem.
5 Ashhur, the leader of Tekoa, had two wives: Helah and Naarah. 6 Naarah gave birth to Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. 7 Helah gave birth to Zereth, Izhar, and Ethnan. 8 Koz fathered Anub, Zobebah, and the families of Harum’s son, Aharhel.
9 Jabez, whose name commemorates his mother’s labor pains, was more honorable than his brothers. 10 He asked the God of Israel, “Please bless me and extend my territory. Let Your hand be with me and guard me from harm so I will not experience pain as my mother did.” And God did just that.
11 Shuhah’s brother Chelub fathered Mehir, who fathered Eshton. 12 Eshton fathered Beth-rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah who fathered Ir-nahash. These are the men of Recah.
13 Kenaz fathered Othniel and Seraiah. Othniel’s sons were Hathath and Meonothai. 14 Meonothai fathered Ophrah. Seraiah’s son was Joab, the father of Ge-harashim, the skilled workers.
15 Caleb (the son of Jephunneh) fathered Iru, Elah, and Naam. Elah’s son was Kenaz. 16 Jehallelel fathered Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel. 17 Ezrah fathered Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. Jether’s wife bore Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah (the father of Eshtemoa). These are the sons of Bithia (Mered’s wife and Pharaoh’s daughter). 18 His Judahite wife birthed Jered (the father of Gedor), Heber (the father of Soco), and Jekuthiel (the father of Zanoah). 19 Hodiah’s wife (the sister of Naham) gave birth to the fathers of Keilah the Garmite and Eshtemoa the Maacathite. 20 Shimon fathered Amnon, Rinnah, Benhanan, and Tilon. Ishi fathered Zoheth and Ben-zoheth.
21 Judah’s son Shelah fathered Er (the father of Lecah), Laadah (the father of Mareshah), and the families of linen workers at Beth-ashbea, 22 Jokim, the men of Cozeba, Joash, Saraph (who ruled in Moab), and Jashubi-lehem. This record is ancient. 23 They were the potters who lived in Netaim and Gederah, working for the king.
24 The sons of Simeon were Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul. 25 Shaul’s lineage descended Shallum, Mibsam, and Mishma, 26 and the sons of Mishma were Hammuel, Zaccur, and Shimei. 27 Shimei fathered 16 sons and 6 daughters, but his brothers did not have many sons and their tribes were not as large as the Judahites. 28 Until David united the tribes into one nation, Shimei’s descendants lived at Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar-shual, 29 Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, 30 Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, 31 Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaaraim. These were their cities until David became king. 32 Their five city-states were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan, 33 near the city of Baal. These were recorded in the genealogy of their villages: 34 Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah (son of Amaziah), 35 Joel, Jehu (son of Joshibiah, son of Seraiah, son of Asiel), 36 Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah, 37 Ziza (son of Shiphi, son of Allon, son of Jedaiah, son of Shimri, son of Shemaiah).
38 These were chiefs, and their clans increased rapidly. 39 They sought pastures for their flocks from the gate of Gedor to the east side of its surrounding valley. 40 There they found a rich pasture and abundant, quiet, and peaceful land. The Hamites inhabited the land 41 until the Simeonites attacked them during the reign of Judah’s king Hezekiah. They completely destroyed the tents and the Meunites who lived there. The Simeonites now live in their place, where there is pastureland for the flocks.
42 Five hundred Simeonites went to Mount Seir, led by the sons of Ishi: Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel. 43 There they killed the remaining Amalekites, and they live on that mountain until this day.
5 1-2 Because Reuben slept with his father’s concubine, he forfeited his rights as the firstborn of Israel, his monetary inheritance and his political position as the leader of the nation of Israel. Although Reuben’s inheritance and birthright were given to Joseph, Judah’s descendants became the rulers of Israel.
3 Reuben’s sons (the firstborn of Israel) were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 4 The descendants of Joel were Shemaiah, Gog, Shimei, 5 Micah, Reaiah, Baal, 6 and Beerah. Beerah (who led the Reubenites) was exiled by Tilgath-pilneser, the king of Assyria who destroyed Israel and exiled the inhabitants. 7 His kinsmen led their families in the order of their generations: Jeiel was the first chief, then Zechariah, 8 Bela of Aroer (son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel), Nebo, and finally Baal-meon.
9 The Reubenite territory stretched to the Euphrates River Valley because their cattle had increased in the land of Gilead. 10 During Saul’s reign they slaughtered the Hagrites and seized their territory east of Gilead.
11 The Gadites lived across from the Reubenites between Bashan and Salecah. 12 Joel was the chief, and Shapham was his second in command, then Janai and Shaphat in Bashan. 13 There were seven clans in the tribe: Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber. 14 These were the sons of Abihail (son of Huri, son of Jaroah, son of Gilead, son of Michael, son of Jeshishai, son of Jahdo, son of Buz). 15 Ahi (son of Abdiel and grandson of Guni) was chief of a clan. 16 These leaders lived in Gilead, in Bashan, and in its towns. Their pastures filled the lands of Sharon. 17 Their genealogies were recorded during the reigns of Jotham, king of Judah, and Jeroboam, king of Israel.
18-19 The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh were skillful warriors who carried shields, wielded swords, and shot arrows. There were 44,760 who conquered the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. 20 They defeated the Hagrites and all who were with them because they asked for God’s help during the battle and trusted in Him, and their plea was granted. 21 They seized 100,000 men and their herds: 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, and 2,000 donkeys. 22 Many of the enemies died because the men were fighting God’s battle. The tribes then lived in these conquered lands until the exile.
23 The numerous members of the half-tribe of Manasseh lived between Bashan and Baal-hermon, between Senir and Mount Hermon. 24 The clan leaders were famous and glorious men: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. 25 But they disobeyed the God of their fathers, prostituting themselves to the pagan gods whom God had destroyed in front of them. 26 So the God of Israel awakened the king of Assyria, Pul or Tilgath-pilneser,[a] to exile the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. The people were taken from Israel to live in Halah, in Habor, in Hara, and by the river of Gozan, where they remain today.
6 Levi fathered Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 2 Kohath’s sons were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 3 The children of Amram were Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. Aaron fathered Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 4 Eleazar’s lineage descended 21 generations until the exile: Phinehas, Abishua, 5 Bukki, Uzzi, 6 Zerahiah, Meraioth, 7 Amariah, Ahitub, 8 Zadok, Ahimaaz, 9 Azariah, Johanan, 10 Azariah (he was priest in Solomon’s temple which was constructed in Jerusalem), 11 Amariah, Ahitub, 12 Zadok, Shallum, 13 Hilkiah, Azariah, 14 Seraiah, and Jehozadak 15 (one of those from Jerusalem and Judah whom the Eternal One exiled by Nebuchadnezzar).
While the tribe of Judah boasts the kingly lineage, specifically Israel’s beloved kings David and Solomon, the tribe of Levi is the priestly tribe. These men are at the center of the worship of the Lord, performing the daily rituals and sacrifices required in the law.
16 These are the Levite clans according to their patronage: Levi fathered Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. 17 Gershom’s sons were Libni and Shimei. 18 Kohath’s sons were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 19 Merari’s sons were Mahli and Mushi. These are the Levitical clans. 20 Gershom’s lineage descended seven generations: Libni, Jahath, Zimmah, 21 Joah, Iddo, Zerah, and Jeatherai. 22 Kohath’s lineage descended ten generations: Amminadab, Korah, Assir, 23 Elkanah, Ebiasaph, Assir, 24 Tahath, Uriel, Uzziah, and Shaul. 25 The sons of Elkanah were Amasai and Ahimoth. 26 Elkanah’s lineage descended six generations: Zophai, Nahath, 27 Eliab, Jeroham, Elkanah, and Samuel. 28 Samuel’s sons were Joel (the firstborn) and Abijah (the second). 29 Merari’s lineage descended seven generations: Mahli, Libni, Shimei, Uzzah, 30 Shimea, Haggiah, and Asaiah.
31 After the chest of the covenant came to rest in the tent of the congregation, King David appointed the following Levites to be the musicians in the temple. 32 They ministered with songs with respect to their responsibilities outlined for them at the congregation tent until our king Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem. 33 These served with their sons: From the Kohathites was Heman the singer (son of Joel, son of Samuel, 34 son of Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Eliel, son of Toah, 35 son of Zuph, son of Elkanah, son of Mahath, son of Amasai, 36 son of Elkanah, son of Joel, son of Azariah, son of Zephaniah, 37 son of Tahath, son of Assir, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, 38 son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, son of Israel).
39 On Heman’s right stood his cousin Asaph (son of Berechiah, son of Shimea, 40 son of Michael, son of Baaseiah, son of Malchijah, 41 son of Ethni, son of Zerah, son of Adaiah, 42 son of Ethan, son of Zimmah, son of Shimei, 43 son of Jahath, son of Gershom, son of Levi).
44 On Heman’s left stood their cousin from the Merarites, Ethan (son of Kishi, son of Abdi, son of Malluch, 45 son of Hashabiah, son of Amaziah, son of Hilkiah, 46 son of Amzi, son of Bani, son of Shemer, 47 son of Mahli, son of Mushi, son of Merari, son of Levi).
48 Their cousins from other Levitical clans served the congregation tent of the house of God. 49 Aaron and his sons performed the holiest work: they gave burnt offerings and incense offerings. These offerings atoned for Israel, according to all God’s servant Moses had commanded. 50 The lineage of Aaron descended 11 generations: Eleazar, Phinehas, Abishua, 51 Bukki, Uzzi, Zerahiah, 52 Meraioth, Amariah, Ahitub, 53 Zadok, and Ahimaaz.
64 Because the Levites were a priestly tribe without their own land, the other tribes each gave them cities and pastures.[b] 54 These are their territories and the pasturelands in these settlements: To the descendants of Aaron of the Kohathite clan (the highest clan) 65 the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin gave 9 cities 55 including Hebron in the territory of Judah and those cities’ surrounding pastures. 56 But the fields of Hebron and its villages still belonged to Caleb (son of Jephunneh). 57-59 The descendants of Aaron received Hebron, a city of escape, and they also lived in the cities of Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa, Hilen, Debir, Ashan, and Beth-shemesh with their surrounding pastures. 60 The tribe of Benjamin gave 4 cities and their pastures including Gibeon,[c] Geba, Allemeth, and Anathoth. The descendants of Aaron held 13 cities; 61 the half-tribe of Manasseh gave 10 cities to the remaining Kohathite clan.
62 The tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Manasseh gave 13 cities in Bashan to the Gershomites.
63 The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun gave 12 cities to the Merarites.
66-69 The tribe of Ephraim also gave cities and surrounding pastures to the Kohathites. These cities of refuge included Shechem (in the hill country of Ephraim), Gezer, Jokmeam, Beth-horon, Aijalon, and Gath-rimmon. 70 The half-tribe of Manasseh gave the cities and pastures of Aner and Bileam to the rest of the Kohathites.
71 The half-tribe of Manasseh gave these cities and surrounding pastures to the Gershomites: Golan in Bashan and Ashtaroth. 72-73 The tribe of Issachar gave Kedesh, Daberath, Ramoth, and Anem. 74-75 The tribe of Asher gave these cities and their pastures: Mashal, Abdon, Hukok, and Rehob. 76 The tribe of Naphtali gave the cities and pastures of Kedesh (in Galilee), Hammon, and Kiriathaim.
77 The tribe of Zebulun gave these cities and pastures to the Merarites: Rimmono, Tabor, 78-79 and Jericho (beyond the Jordan River on the east side). The tribe of Reuben gave the cities and pastures of Bezer, Jahzah, Kedemoth, and Mephaath. 80-81 The tribe of Gad gave the cities and pastures of Ramoth (in Gilead), Mahanaim, Heshbon, and Jazer.
6 Once this had transpired, Jesus made His way to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (which some these days call the Sea of Tiberias). 2 As Jesus walked, a large crowd pursued Him hoping to see new signs and miracles; His healings of the sick and lame were garnering great attention. 3 Jesus went up a mountain and found a place to sit down and teach. His disciples gathered around. 4 The celebration of the Passover, one of the principal Jewish feasts, would take place soon. 5 But when Jesus looked up, He could see an immense crowd coming toward Him. Jesus approached Philip.
Jesus (to Philip): Where is a place to buy bread so these people may eat?
6 Jesus knew what He was planning to do, but He asked Philip nonetheless. He had something to teach, and it started with a test.
Philip: 7 I could work for more than half of a year[a] and still not have the money to buy enough bread to give each person a very small piece.
8 Andrew, the disciple who was Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up.
Andrew: 9 I met a young boy in the crowd carrying five barley loaves and two fish, but that is practically useless in feeding a crowd this large.
Jesus: 10 Tell the people to sit down.
They all sat together on a large grassy area. Those counting the people reported approximately 5,000 men—not including the women and children—sitting in the crowd. 11 Jesus picked up the bread, gave thanks to God, and passed it to everyone. He repeated this ritual with the fish. Men, women, and children all ate until their hearts were content. 12 When the people had all they could eat, He told the disciples to gather the leftovers.
Jesus: Go and collect the leftovers, so we are not wasteful.
13 They filled 12 baskets with fragments of the five barley loaves. 14 After witnessing this sign that Jesus did, the people stirred in conversation.
Crowd: This man must be the Prophet God said was coming into the world.
15 Jesus sensed the people were planning to mount a revolution against Israel’s Roman occupiers and make Him king, so He withdrew farther up the mountain by Himself.
Since the Babylonians seized Judah in 586 b.c., the Jews have endured one foreign occupier after another in their land. As conquerors go, the Romans aren’t all that bad. They allow the Jews to worship God in His temple, and they appoint some of them to government positions. Of course, the Judeans still long to rule themselves and throw the Roman rulers out. Some think Jesus is just the man to lead that revolution. But political upheaval isn’t what He is teaching, and it isn’t why He has come to earth.
16 Later that evening the disciples walked down to the sea, 17 boarded a boat, and set sail toward Capernaum. Twilight gave way to darkness. Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 Suddenly, the waves rose and a fierce wind began to rock the boat. 19 After rowing three or four miles[b] through the stormy seas, they spotted Jesus approaching the boat walking mysteriously upon the deep waters that surrounded them. They panicked.
Jesus (to the disciples): 20 I am the One. Don’t be afraid.
21 They welcomed Jesus aboard their small vessel; and when He stepped into the boat, the next thing they knew, they were ashore at their destination.
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.