Josiah Restores the Passover

21 And the king commanded all the people, (A)“Keep the Passover to the Lord your God, (B)as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.” 22 (C)For no such Passover had been kept since the days of the judges who judged Israel, or during all the days of the kings of Israel or of the kings of Judah. 23 But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah this Passover was kept to the Lord in Jerusalem.

24 Moreover, Josiah put away (D)the mediums and the necromancers and (E)the household gods and (F)the idols and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might establish (G)the words of the law that were written in the book (H)that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the Lord. 25 (I)Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him.

26 Still the Lord did not turn from the burning of his great wrath, by which his anger was kindled against Judah, (J)because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked him. 27 And the Lord said, “I will remove Judah also out of my sight, (K)as I have removed Israel, and I will cast off this city that I have chosen, Jerusalem, (L)and the house of which I said, My name shall be there.”

Josiah's Death in Battle

28 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 29 (M)In his days (N)Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt went up to the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates. King Josiah went to meet him, and Pharaoh Neco killed him at (O)Megiddo, as soon as he saw him. 30 (P)And his servants carried him dead in a chariot from (Q)Megiddo and brought him to Jerusalem and buried him in his own tomb. (R)And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father's place.

Jehoahaz's Reign and Captivity

31 (S)Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother's name was (T)Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 32 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, (U)according to all that his fathers had done. 33 And (V)Pharaoh Neco put him in bonds at (W)Riblah in the land of (X)Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem, and laid on the land a tribute of a hundred talents[a] of silver and a talent of gold. 34 And (Y)Pharaoh Neco made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the place of Josiah his father, and (Z)changed his name to Jehoiakim. But he took Jehoahaz away, (AA)and he came to Egypt and died there. 35 And Jehoiakim (AB)gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh, but he taxed the land to give the money according to the command of Pharaoh. He exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, from everyone according to his assessment, to give it to Pharaoh Neco.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 23:33 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms

21 The king gave this order to all the people: “Celebrate the Passover(A) to the Lord your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.”(B) 22 Neither in the days of the judges who led Israel nor in the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah had any such Passover been observed. 23 But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was celebrated to the Lord in Jerusalem.(C)

24 Furthermore, Josiah got rid of the mediums and spiritists,(D) the household gods,(E) the idols and all the other detestable(F) things seen in Judah and Jerusalem. This he did to fulfill the requirements of the law written in the book that Hilkiah the priest had discovered in the temple of the Lord. 25 Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned(G) to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.(H)

26 Nevertheless, the Lord did not turn away from the heat of his fierce anger,(I) which burned against Judah because of all that Manasseh(J) had done to arouse his anger. 27 So the Lord said, “I will remove(K) Judah also from my presence(L) as I removed Israel, and I will reject(M) Jerusalem, the city I chose, and this temple, about which I said, ‘My Name shall be there.’[a]

28 As for the other events of Josiah’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?

29 While Josiah was king, Pharaoh Necho(N) king of Egypt went up to the Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. King Josiah marched out to meet him in battle, but Necho faced him and killed him at Megiddo.(O) 30 Josiah’s servants brought his body in a chariot(P) from Megiddo to Jerusalem and buried him in his own tomb. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and anointed him and made him king in place of his father.

Jehoahaz King of Judah(Q)

31 Jehoahaz(R) was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name was Hamutal(S) daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah. 32 He did evil(T) in the eyes of the Lord, just as his predecessors had done. 33 Pharaoh Necho put him in chains at Riblah(U) in the land of Hamath(V) so that he might not reign in Jerusalem, and he imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents[b] of silver and a talent[c] of gold. 34 Pharaoh Necho made Eliakim(W) son of Josiah king in place of his father Josiah and changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. But he took Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt, and there he died.(X) 35 Jehoiakim paid Pharaoh Necho the silver and gold he demanded. In order to do so, he taxed the land and exacted the silver and gold from the people of the land according to their assessments.(Y)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 23:27 1 Kings 8:29
  2. 2 Kings 23:33 That is, about 3 3/4 tons or about 3.4 metric tons
  3. 2 Kings 23:33 That is, about 75 pounds or about 34 kilograms

The Mystery of the Gospel Revealed

For this reason I, Paul, (A)a prisoner of Christ Jesus (B)on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of (C)the stewardship of (D)God's grace that was given to me for you, (E)how the mystery was made known to me (F)by revelation, (G)as I have written briefly. (H)When you read this, you can perceive my insight into (I)the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is[a] that the Gentiles are (J)fellow heirs, (K)members of the same body, and (L)partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

(M)Of this gospel I was made (N)a minister according to the gift of (O)God's grace, which was given me (P)by the working of his power. To me, (Q)though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, (R)to preach to the Gentiles the (S)unsearchable (T)riches of Christ, and (U)to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery (V)hidden for ages in[b] God, (W)who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold (X)wisdom of God (Y)might now be made known to (Z)the rulers and authorities (AA)in the heavenly places. 11 This was (AB)according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have (AC)boldness and (AD)access with (AE)confidence through our (AF)faith in him. 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering (AG)for you, (AH)which is your glory.

Prayer for Spiritual Strength

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom (AI)every family[c] in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to (AJ)the riches of his glory (AK)he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit (AL)in your inner being, 17 (AM)so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being (AN)rooted and (AO)grounded in love, 18 may have strength to (AP)comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and (AQ)height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ (AR)that surpasses knowledge, that (AS)you may be filled with all (AT)the fullness of God.

20 (AU)Now to (AV)him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, (AW)according to the power at work within us, 21 (AX)to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 3:6 The words This mystery is are inferred from verse 4
  2. Ephesians 3:9 Or by
  3. Ephesians 3:15 Or from whom all fatherhood; the Greek word patria in verse 15 is closely related to the word for Father in verse 14

God’s Marvelous Plan for the Gentiles

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner(A) of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me(B) for you, that is, the mystery(C) made known to me by revelation,(D) as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight(E) into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.(F) This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs(G) together with Israel, members together of one body,(H) and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.(I)

I became a servant of this gospel(J) by the gift of God’s grace given me(K) through the working of his power.(L) Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people,(M) this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles(N) the boundless riches of Christ,(O) and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery,(P) which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God(Q) should be made known(R) to the rulers and authorities(S) in the heavenly realms,(T) 11 according to his eternal purpose(U) that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God(V) with freedom and confidence.(W) 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

A Prayer for the Ephesians

14 For this reason I kneel(X) before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches(Y) he may strengthen you with power(Z) through his Spirit in your inner being,(AA) 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts(AB) through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted(AC) and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people,(AD) to grasp how wide and long and high and deep(AE) is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge(AF)—that you may be filled(AG) to the measure of all the fullness of God.(AH)

20 Now to him who is able(AI) to do immeasurably more than all we ask(AJ) or imagine, according to his power(AK) that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.(AL)

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 3:15 The Greek for family (patria) is derived from the Greek for father (pater).

26 Still the Lord did not turn from the burning of his great wrath, by which his anger was kindled against Judah, (A)because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked him. 27 And the Lord said, “I will remove Judah also out of my sight, (B)as I have removed Israel, and I will cast off this city that I have chosen, Jerusalem, (C)and the house of which I said, My name shall be there.”

Josiah's Death in Battle

28 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 29 (D)In his days (E)Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt went up to the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates. King Josiah went to meet him, and Pharaoh Neco killed him at (F)Megiddo, as soon as he saw him. 30 (G)And his servants carried him dead in a chariot from (H)Megiddo and brought him to Jerusalem and buried him in his own tomb. (I)And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father's place.

Jehoahaz's Reign and Captivity

31 (J)Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother's name was (K)Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 32 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, (L)according to all that his fathers had done. 33 And (M)Pharaoh Neco put him in bonds at (N)Riblah in the land of (O)Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem, and laid on the land a tribute of a hundred talents[a] of silver and a talent of gold. 34 And (P)Pharaoh Neco made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the place of Josiah his father, and (Q)changed his name to Jehoiakim. But he took Jehoahaz away, (R)and he came to Egypt and died there. 35 And Jehoiakim (S)gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh, but he taxed the land to give the money according to the command of Pharaoh. He exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, from everyone according to his assessment, to give it to Pharaoh Neco.

Jehoiakim Reigns in Judah

36 (T)Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zebidah the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah. 37 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, (U)according to all that his fathers had done.

24 (V)In his days, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant for three years. Then he turned and rebelled against him. And the Lord sent against him bands of the (W)Chaldeans and (X)bands of the Syrians and bands of the Moabites and bands of the Ammonites, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, (Y)according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by his servants the prophets. Surely this came upon Judah at the command of the Lord, to remove them out of his sight, (Z)for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he had done, and also (AA)for the innocent blood that he had shed. For he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the Lord would not pardon. (AB)Now the rest of the deeds of Jehoiakim and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? So Jehoiakim (AC)slept with his fathers, and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place. (AD)And the king of Egypt did not come again out of his land, (AE)for the king of Babylon had taken all that belonged to the king of Egypt (AF)from the Brook of Egypt to the river Euphrates.

Jehoiachin Reigns in Judah

(AG)Jehoiachin was (AH)eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem. And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, (AI)according to all that his father had done.

Jerusalem Captured

10 At that time the servants of (AJ)Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up to Jerusalem, and the city was besieged. 11 And (AK)Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to the city while his servants were besieging it, 12 (AL)and Jehoiachin the king of Judah gave himself up to the king of Babylon, himself and his mother and his servants and his officials and his palace officials. (AM)The king of Babylon took him prisoner (AN)in the eighth year of his reign 13 and carried off all the treasures of the house of the Lord (AO)and the treasures of the king's house, (AP)and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold in the temple of the Lord, (AQ)which Solomon king of Israel had made, (AR)as the Lord had foretold. 14 (AS)He carried away all Jerusalem and all the officials and all the mighty men of valor, (AT)10,000 captives, (AU)and all the craftsmen and the smiths. None remained, (AV)except the poorest people of the land. 15 (AW)And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon. The king's mother, the king's wives, his officials, and the chief men of the land he took into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon. 16 And the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon all the men of valor, (AX)7,000, and the craftsmen and the metal workers, 1,000, all of them strong and fit for war. 17 (AY)And the king of Babylon (AZ)made Mattaniah, (BA)Jehoiachin's uncle, king in his place, (BB)and changed his name to Zedekiah.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 23:33 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms

26 Nevertheless, the Lord did not turn away from the heat of his fierce anger,(A) which burned against Judah because of all that Manasseh(B) had done to arouse his anger. 27 So the Lord said, “I will remove(C) Judah also from my presence(D) as I removed Israel, and I will reject(E) Jerusalem, the city I chose, and this temple, about which I said, ‘My Name shall be there.’[a]

28 As for the other events of Josiah’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?

29 While Josiah was king, Pharaoh Necho(F) king of Egypt went up to the Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. King Josiah marched out to meet him in battle, but Necho faced him and killed him at Megiddo.(G) 30 Josiah’s servants brought his body in a chariot(H) from Megiddo to Jerusalem and buried him in his own tomb. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and anointed him and made him king in place of his father.

Jehoahaz King of Judah(I)

31 Jehoahaz(J) was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name was Hamutal(K) daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah. 32 He did evil(L) in the eyes of the Lord, just as his predecessors had done. 33 Pharaoh Necho put him in chains at Riblah(M) in the land of Hamath(N) so that he might not reign in Jerusalem, and he imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents[b] of silver and a talent[c] of gold. 34 Pharaoh Necho made Eliakim(O) son of Josiah king in place of his father Josiah and changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. But he took Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt, and there he died.(P) 35 Jehoiakim paid Pharaoh Necho the silver and gold he demanded. In order to do so, he taxed the land and exacted the silver and gold from the people of the land according to their assessments.(Q)

Jehoiakim King of Judah(R)

36 Jehoiakim(S) was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother’s name was Zebidah daughter of Pedaiah; she was from Rumah. 37 And he did evil(T) in the eyes of the Lord, just as his predecessors had done.

24 During Jehoiakim’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar(U) king of Babylon invaded(V) the land, and Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years. But then he turned against Nebuchadnezzar and rebelled.(W) The Lord sent Babylonian,[d](X) Aramean,(Y) Moabite and Ammonite raiders(Z) against him to destroy(AA) Judah, in accordance with the word of the Lord proclaimed by his servants the prophets.(AB) Surely these things happened to Judah according to the Lord’s command,(AC) in order to remove them from his presence(AD) because of the sins of Manasseh(AE) and all he had done, including the shedding of innocent blood.(AF) For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the Lord was not willing to forgive.(AG)

As for the other events of Jehoiakim’s reign,(AH) and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? Jehoiakim rested(AI) with his ancestors. And Jehoiachin(AJ) his son succeeded him as king.

The king of Egypt(AK) did not march out from his own country again, because the king of Babylon(AL) had taken all his territory, from the Wadi of Egypt to the Euphrates River.

Jehoiachin King of Judah(AM)

Jehoiachin(AN) was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name was Nehushta(AO) daughter of Elnathan; she was from Jerusalem. He did evil(AP) in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father had done.

10 At that time the officers of Nebuchadnezzar(AQ) king of Babylon advanced on Jerusalem and laid siege to it, 11 and Nebuchadnezzar himself came up to the city while his officers were besieging it. 12 Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his attendants, his nobles and his officials all surrendered(AR) to him.

In the eighth year of the reign of the king of Babylon, he took Jehoiachin prisoner. 13 As the Lord had declared,(AS) Nebuchadnezzar removed the treasures(AT) from the temple of the Lord and from the royal palace, and cut up the gold articles(AU) that Solomon(AV) king of Israel had made for the temple of the Lord. 14 He carried all Jerusalem into exile:(AW) all the officers and fighting men,(AX) and all the skilled workers and artisans—a total of ten thousand. Only the poorest(AY) people of the land were left.

15 Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiachin(AZ) captive to Babylon. He also took from Jerusalem to Babylon the king’s mother,(BA) his wives, his officials and the prominent people(BB) of the land. 16 The king of Babylon also deported to Babylon the entire force of seven thousand fighting men, strong and fit for war, and a thousand skilled workers and artisans.(BC) 17 He made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his place and changed his name to Zedekiah.(BD)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 23:27 1 Kings 8:29
  2. 2 Kings 23:33 That is, about 3 3/4 tons or about 3.4 metric tons
  3. 2 Kings 23:33 That is, about 75 pounds or about 34 kilograms
  4. 2 Kings 24:2 Or Chaldean

I Am the Bread of Life

22 On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only (A)one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord (B)had given thanks. 24 (C)So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and (D)went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, (E)“Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, (F)you are seeking me, not because you saw (G)signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 (H)Do not work for the food that perishes, but for (I)the food that endures to eternal life, which (J)the Son of Man will give to you. For on (K)him God the Father has (L)set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing (M)the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, (N)that you believe in him whom (O)he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, (P)“Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 (Q)Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, (R)‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is (S)he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, (T)“Sir, give us this bread always.”

35 Jesus said to them, (U)“I am the bread of life; (V)whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 (W)All that (X)the Father gives me will come to me, and (Y)whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For (Z)I have come down from heaven, not to do (AA)my own will but (AB)the will of him (AC)who sent me. 39 And (AD)this is the will of him who sent me, (AE)that I should lose nothing of (AF)all that he has given me, but (AG)raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who (AH)looks on the Son and (AI)believes in him (AJ)should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

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22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake(A) realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone.(B) 23 Then some boats from Tiberias(C) landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.(D) 24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.

Jesus the Bread of Life

25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi,(E) when did you get here?”

26 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me,(F) not because you saw the signs(G) I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures(H) to eternal life,(I) which the Son of Man(J) will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal(K) of approval.”

28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe(L) in the one he has sent.”(M)

30 So they asked him, “What sign(N) then will you give that we may see it and believe you?(O) What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna(P) in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’[a](Q)

32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven(R) and gives life to the world.”

34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”(S)

35 Then Jesus declared, “I am(T) the bread of life.(U) Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes(V) in me will never be thirsty.(W) 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me(X) will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven(Y) not to do my will but to do the will(Z) of him who sent me.(AA) 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me,(AB) but raise them up at the last day.(AC) 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son(AD) and believes in him shall have eternal life,(AE) and I will raise them up at the last day.”

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Footnotes

  1. John 6:31 Exodus 16:4; Neh. 9:15; Psalm 78:24,25