Ish-Bosheth Murdered

4 When Ish-Bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner^(A) had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel became alarmed. ² Now Saul’s son had two men who were leaders of raiding bands. One was named Baanah and the other Rekab; they were sons of Rimmon the Beerothite from the tribe of Benjamin—Beeroth^(B) is considered part of Benjamin, ³ because the people of Beeroth fled to Gittaim^(C) and have resided there as foreigners to this day.

⁴ (Jonathan^(D) son of Saul had a son who was lame in both feet. He was five years old when the news^(E) about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she hurried to leave, he fell and became disabled.^(F) His name was Mephibosheth.)^(G)

⁵ Now Rekab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out for the house of Ish-Bosheth,^(H) and they arrived there in the heat of the day while he was taking his noonday rest.^{(I) 6} They went into the inner part of the house as if to get some wheat, and they stabbed^(J) him in the stomach. Then Rekab and his brother Baanah slipped away.

⁷ They had gone into the house while he was lying on the bed in his bedroom. After they stabbed and killed him, they cut off his head. Taking it with them, they traveled all night by way of the Arabah.^{(K) 8} They brought the head^(L) of Ish-Bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul,^(M) your enemy, who tried to kill you. This day the Lord has avenged^(N) my lord the king against Saul and his offspring.”

⁹ David answered Rekab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered^(O) me out of every trouble, ¹⁰ when someone told me, ‘Saul is dead,’ and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and put him to death in Ziklag.^(P) That was the reward I gave him for his news! ¹¹ How much more—when wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed—should I not now demand his blood^(Q) from your hand and rid the earth of you!”

¹² So David gave an order to his men, and they killed them.^(R) They cut off their hands and feet and hung the bodies by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-Bosheth and buried it in Abner’s tomb at Hebron.

David Becomes King Over Israel^(S)

5 All the tribes of Israel^(T) came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood.^{(U) 2} In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns.^(V) And the Lord said^(W) to you, ‘You will shepherd^(X) my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.^(Y)’”

³ When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant^(Z) with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed^(AA) David king over Israel.

⁴ David was thirty years old^(AB) when he became king, and he reigned^(AC) forty^(AD) years. ⁵ In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months,^(AE) and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

David Conquers Jerusalem^(AF)(AG)

⁶ The king and his men marched to Jerusalem^(AH) to attack the Jebusites,^(AI) who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, “You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off.” They thought, “David cannot get in here.” ⁷ Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion^(AJ)—which is the City of David.^(AK)

⁸ On that day David had said, “Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft^(AL) to reach those ‘lame and blind’^(AM) who are David’s enemies.^[a]” That is why they say, “The ‘blind and lame’ will not enter the palace.”

⁹ David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terraces^[b](AN) inward. ¹⁰ And he became more and more powerful,^(AO) because the Lord God Almighty^(AP) was with him.^(AQ)

¹¹ Now Hiram^(AR) king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David. ¹² Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom^(AS) for the sake of his people Israel.

¹³ After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives^(AT) in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. ¹⁴ These are the names of the children born to him there:^(AU) Shammua, Shobab, Nathan,^(AV) Solomon, ¹⁵ Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, ¹⁶ Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.

David Defeats the Philistines^(AW)

¹⁷ When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold.^{(AX) 18} Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim;^{(AY) 19} so David inquired^(AZ) of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?”

The Lord answered him, “Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.”

²⁰ So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, “As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me.” So that place was called Baal Perazim.^{[c](BA) 21} The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.^(BB)

²² Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; ²³ so David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. ²⁴ As soon as you hear the sound^(BC) of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front^(BD) of you to strike the Philistine army.” ²⁵ So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines^(BE) all the way from Gibeon^[d](BF) to Gezer.^(BG)

The Priesthood Restored

44 Then the man brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, the one facing east,^(A) and it was shut. ² The Lord said to me, “This gate is to remain shut. It must not be opened; no one may enter through it.^(B) It is to remain shut because the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered through it. ³ The prince himself is the only one who may sit inside the gateway to eat in the presence^(C) of the Lord. He is to enter by way of the portico of the gateway and go out the same way.^(D)”

⁴ Then the man brought me by way of the north gate^(E) to the front of the temple. I looked and saw the glory of the Lord filling the temple^(F) of the Lord, and I fell facedown.^(G)

⁵ The Lord said to me, “Son of man, look carefully, listen closely and give attention to everything I tell you concerning all the regulations and instructions regarding the temple of the Lord. Give attention to the entrance^(H) to the temple and all the exits of the sanctuary.^{(I) 6} Say to rebellious Israel,^(J) ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Enough of your detestable practices, people of Israel! ⁷ In addition to all your other detestable practices, you brought foreigners uncircumcised in heart^(K) and flesh into my sanctuary, desecrating my temple while you offered me food, fat and blood, and you broke my covenant.^{(L) 8} Instead of carrying out your duty in regard to my holy things, you put others in charge of my sanctuary.^{(M) 9} This is what the Sovereign Lord says: No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh is to enter my sanctuary, not even the foreigners who live among the Israelites.^(N)

¹⁰ “‘The Levites who went far from me when Israel went astray^(O) and who wandered from me after their idols must bear the consequences of their sin.^{(P) 11} They may serve in my sanctuary, having charge of the gates of the temple and serving in it; they may slaughter the burnt offerings^(Q) and sacrifices for the people and stand before the people and serve them.^{(R) 12} But because they served them in the presence of their idols and made the people of Israel fall^(S) into sin, therefore I have sworn with uplifted hand^(T) that they must bear the consequences of their sin, declares the Sovereign Lord.^{(U) 13} They are not to come near to serve me as priests or come near any of my holy things or my most holy offerings; they must bear the shame^(V) of their detestable practices.^{(W) 14} And I will appoint them to guard the temple for all the work that is to be done in it.^(X)

¹⁵ “‘But the Levitical priests, who are descendants of Zadok^(Y) and who guarded my sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from me, are to come near to minister before me; they are to stand before me to offer sacrifices of fat^(Z) and blood, declares the Sovereign Lord.^{(AA) 16} They alone are to enter my sanctuary; they alone are to come near my table^(AB) to minister before me and serve me as guards.^(AC)

¹⁷ “‘When they enter the gates of the inner court, they are to wear linen clothes;^(AD) they must not wear any woolen garment while ministering at the gates of the inner court or inside the temple. ¹⁸ They are to wear linen turbans^(AE) on their heads and linen undergarments^(AF) around their waists. They must not wear anything that makes them perspire.^{(AG) 19} When they go out into the outer court where the people are, they are to take off the clothes they have been ministering in and are to leave them in the sacred rooms, and put on other clothes, so that the people are not consecrated^(AH) through contact with their garments.^(AI)

²⁰ “‘They must not shave^(AJ) their heads or let their hair grow long, but they are to keep the hair of their heads trimmed.^{(AK) 21} No priest is to drink wine when he enters the inner court.^{(AL) 22} They must not marry widows or divorced women; they may marry only virgins of Israelite descent or widows of priests.^{(AM) 23} They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common^(AN) and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.^(AO)

²⁴ “‘In any dispute, the priests are to serve as judges^(AP) and decide it according to my ordinances. They are to keep my laws and my decrees for all my appointed festivals,^(AQ) and they are to keep my Sabbaths holy.^(AR)

²⁵ “‘A priest must not defile himself by going near a dead person; however, if the dead person was his father or mother, son or daughter, brother or unmarried sister, then he may defile himself.^{(AS) 26} After he is cleansed, he must wait seven days.^{(AT) 27} On the day he goes into the inner court of the sanctuary^(AU) to minister in the sanctuary, he is to offer a sin offering^[a](AV) for himself, declares the Sovereign Lord.

²⁸ “‘I am to be the only inheritance^(AW) the priests have. You are to give them no possession in Israel; I will be their possession. ²⁹ They will eat^(AX) the grain offerings, the sin offerings and the guilt offerings; and everything in Israel devoted^[b] to the Lord^(AY) will belong to them.^{(AZ) 30} The best of all the firstfruits^(BA) and of all your special gifts will belong to the priests. You are to give them the first portion of your ground meal^(BB) so that a blessing^(BC) may rest on your household.^{(BD) 31} The priests must not eat anything, whether bird or animal, found dead^(BE) or torn by wild animals.^(BF)

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand^(A)(B)(C)

8 During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ² “I have compassion for these people;^(D) they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. ³ If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.”

⁴ His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”

⁵ “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.

“Seven,” they replied.

⁶ He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. ⁷ They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them.^{(E) 8} The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.^{(F) 9} About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away, ¹⁰ he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.

¹¹ The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven.^{(G) 12} He sighed deeply^(H) and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.” ¹³ Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod

¹⁴ The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. ¹⁵ “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast^(I) of the Pharisees^(J) and that of Herod.”^(K)

¹⁶ They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”

¹⁷ Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened?^{(L) 18} Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? ¹⁹ When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”

“Twelve,”^(M) they replied.

²⁰ “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”

They answered, “Seven.”^(N)

²¹ He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”^(O)

Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida

²² They came to Bethsaida,^(P) and some people brought a blind man^(Q) and begged Jesus to touch him. ²³ He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit^(R) on the man’s eyes and put his hands on^(S) him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”

²⁴ He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

²⁵ Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. ²⁶ Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into^[a] the village.”

Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah^(T)

²⁷ Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

²⁸ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist;^(U) others say Elijah;^(V) and still others, one of the prophets.”

²⁹ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”^(W)

³⁰ Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.^(X)

Jesus Predicts His Death^(Y)

³¹ He then began to teach them that the Son of Man^(Z) must suffer many things^(AA) and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law,^(AB) and that he must be killed^(AC) and after three days^(AD) rise again.^{(AE) 32} He spoke plainly^(AF) about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

³³ But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!”^(AG) he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

The Way of the Cross

³⁴ Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.^{(AH) 35} For whoever wants to save their life^[b] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.^{(AI) 36} What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? ³⁷ Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? ³⁸ If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man^(AJ) will be ashamed of them^(AK) when he comes^(AL) in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”