The Defeat of King Og

“Then we turned and went up the way to Bashan. And (A)Og the king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at (B)Edrei. But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not fear him, for I have given him and all his people and his land into your hand. And you shall do to him as you did to (C)Sihon the king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.’ So the Lord our God gave into our hand Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people, (D)and we struck him down until he had no survivor left. And we took all his cities at that time—there was not a city that we did not take from them—sixty cities, (E)the whole region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan. All these were cities fortified with high walls, gates, and bars, besides very many unwalled villages. And (F)we devoted them to destruction,[a] as we did to Sihon the king of Heshbon, devoting to destruction every (G)city, men, women, and children. But all the livestock and the spoil of the cities we took as our plunder. So we took the land at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, from the Valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon (the Sidonians call (H)Hermon (I)Sirion, while the Amorites call it (J)Senir), 10 all the cities of the (K)tableland and all Gilead and all Bashan, as far as (L)Salecah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan. 11 (For (M)only Og the king of Bashan was left of the remnant of (N)the Rephaim. Behold, his bed was a bed of iron. Is it not in (O)Rabbah of the Ammonites? Nine cubits[b] was its length, and four cubits its breadth, according to the (P)common cubit.[c])

12 “When we took possession of this land at that time, I gave to the Reubenites and the Gadites the territory beginning (Q)at Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and half the hill country of Gilead with (R)its cities. 13 (S)The rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, the kingdom of Og, that is, (T)all the region of Argob, I gave to the half-tribe of Manasseh. (All that portion of Bashan is called the land of (U)Rephaim. 14 (V)Jair the Manassite took all the region of Argob, that is, Bashan, as far as the border of (W)the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and called the villages (X)after his own name, Havvoth-jair, as it is to this day.) 15 To Machir (Y)I gave Gilead, 16 and to the Reubenites (Z)and the Gadites I gave the territory from Gilead as far as the Valley of the Arnon, with the middle of the valley as a border, as far over as the river Jabbok, (AA)the border of the Ammonites; 17 the Arabah also, with the Jordan as the border, from (AB)Chinnereth as far as (AC)the Sea of the Arabah, (AD)the Salt Sea, under (AE)the slopes of Pisgah on the east.

18 “And I commanded you at that time, saying, ‘The Lord your God has given you this land to possess. (AF)All your men of valor shall cross over armed before your brothers, the people of Israel. 19 Only your wives, your little ones, and your livestock (AG)(I know that you have much livestock) shall remain in the cities that I have given you, 20 (AH)until the Lord gives rest to your brothers, as to you, and they also occupy the land that the Lord your God gives them beyond the Jordan. Then each of you may return to his possession which I have given you.’ 21 And I commanded (AI)Joshua at that time, ‘Your eyes have seen all that the Lord your God has done to these two kings. So will the Lord do to all the kingdoms into which you are crossing. 22 You shall not fear them, for it is (AJ)the Lord your God who fights for you.’

Moses Forbidden to Enter the Land

23 “And I pleaded with the Lord at that time, saying, 24 ‘O Lord God, you have only begun to show your servant (AK)your greatness and your mighty hand. For (AL)what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours? 25 Please let me go over and see (AM)the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and (AN)Lebanon.’ 26 But (AO)the Lord was angry with me because of you and would not listen to me. And the Lord said to me, (AP)‘Enough from you; do not speak to me of this matter again. 27 (AQ)Go up to the top of Pisgah and lift up your eyes westward and northward and southward and eastward, and look at it with your eyes, for you shall not go over this Jordan. 28 But (AR)charge Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he shall go over at the head of this people, and he shall put them in possession of the land that you shall see.’ 29 So we remained in (AS)the valley opposite Beth-peor.

Moses Commands Obedience

“And now, O Israel, listen to (AT)the statutes and the rules[d] that I am teaching you, and do them, (AU)that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. (AV)You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you. Your eyes have seen what the Lord did (AW)at Baal-peor, for the Lord your God destroyed from among you all the men who followed the Baal of Peor. But you who held fast to the Lord your God are all alive today. See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. (AX)Keep them and do them, for (AY)that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ For (AZ)what great nation is there that has (BA)a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so (BB)righteous as all this law that I set before you today?

(BC)“Only take care, and (BD)keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. (BE)Make them known to your children and your children's children— 10 how on (BF)the day that you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, the Lord said to me, (BG)‘Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, (BH)so that they may learn to fear (BI)me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children so.’ 11 And (BJ)you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while (BK)the mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven, wrapped in darkness, cloud, and gloom. 12 Then (BL)the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of words, (BM)but saw no form; (BN)there was only a voice. 13 (BO)And he declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, that is, (BP)the Ten Commandments,[e] (BQ)and he wrote them on two tablets of stone. 14 And (BR)the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and rules, that you might do them in the land that you are going over to possess.

Idolatry Forbidden

15 (BS)“Therefore watch yourselves very carefully. Since (BT)you saw no form on the day that the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, 16 beware (BU)lest you act corruptly (BV)by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure, (BW)the likeness of male or female, 17 the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, 18 the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth. 19 And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see (BX)the sun and the moon and the stars, (BY)all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven. 20 But the Lord has taken you and (BZ)brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, (CA)to be a people of his own inheritance, as you are this day. 21 Furthermore, (CB)the Lord was angry with me because of you, and he swore that I should not cross the Jordan, and that I should not enter the good land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance. 22 For I must die in this land; (CC)I must not go over the Jordan. But you shall go over and take possession of (CD)that good land. 23 (CE)Take care, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you, and (CF)make a carved image, the form of anything that the Lord your God has forbidden you. 24 For (CG)the Lord your God is a consuming fire, (CH)a jealous God.

25 “When you father children and children's children, and have grown old in the land, (CI)if you act corruptly by making a carved image in the form of anything, and (CJ)by doing what is evil in the sight of the Lord your God, so as to provoke him to anger, 26 I (CK)call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that you will soon utterly perish from the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess. You will not live long in it, but will be utterly destroyed. 27 And the Lord (CL)will scatter you among the peoples, (CM)and you will be left few in number among the nations where the Lord will drive you. 28 And (CN)there you will serve gods of wood and stone, the work of human hands, (CO)that neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. 29 (CP)But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you are in tribulation, and all these things come upon you (CQ)in the latter days, you will return to the Lord your God and obey his voice. 31 For the Lord your God is (CR)a merciful God. (CS)He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them.

The Lord Alone Is God

32 “For (CT)ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether such a great thing as this has ever happened or was ever heard of. 33 (CU)Did any people ever hear the voice of a god speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and still live? 34 Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, (CV)by signs, by wonders, and (CW)by war, (CX)by a mighty hand and (CY)an outstretched arm, and by great deeds of terror, all of which the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? 35 To you it was shown, (CZ)that you might know that the Lord is God; (DA)there is no other besides him. 36 (DB)Out of heaven he let you hear his voice, that he might discipline you. And on earth he let you see his great fire, and (DC)you heard his words out of the midst of the fire. 37 And because (DD)he loved your fathers and chose their offspring after them[f] and brought you out of Egypt (DE)with his own presence, by his great power, 38 (DF)driving out before you nations greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land for an inheritance, as it is this day, 39 know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that (DG)the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; (DH)there is no other. 40 (DI)Therefore you shall keep his statutes and his commandments, which I command you today, (DJ)that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for all time.”

Cities of Refuge

41 Then Moses (DK)set apart three cities in the east beyond the Jordan, 42 that (DL)the manslayer might flee there, anyone who kills his neighbor unintentionally, without being at enmity with him in time past; he may flee to one of these cities and save his life: 43 (DM)Bezer in the wilderness on the (DN)tableland for the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites, and Golan in Bashan for the Manassites.

Introduction to the Law

44 This is the law that Moses set before the people of Israel. 45 These are the testimonies, the statutes, and the rules, which Moses spoke to the people of Israel when they came out of Egypt, 46 beyond the Jordan (DO)in the valley opposite Beth-peor, in the land of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon, (DP)whom Moses and the people of Israel defeated when they came out of Egypt. 47 And they took possession of his land and the land (DQ)of Og, the king of Bashan, the two kings of the Amorites, who lived to the east beyond the Jordan; 48 (DR)from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, as far as Mount (DS)Sirion[g] (that is, (DT)Hermon), 49 together with all the Arabah on the east side of the Jordan as far as (DU)the Sea of the Arabah, under the slopes of Pisgah.

Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 3:6 That is, set apart (devoted) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction); twice in this verse
  2. Deuteronomy 3:11 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
  3. Deuteronomy 3:11 Hebrew cubit of a man
  4. Deuteronomy 4:1 Or just decrees; also verses 5, 8, 14, 45
  5. Deuteronomy 4:13 Hebrew the ten words
  6. Deuteronomy 4:37 Hebrew his offspring after him
  7. Deuteronomy 4:48 Syriac; Hebrew Sion

Defeat of Og King of Bashan

Next we turned and went up along the road toward Bashan, and Og king of Bashan(A) with his whole army marched out to meet us in battle at Edrei.(B) The Lord said to me, “Do not be afraid(C) of him, for I have delivered him into your hands, along with his whole army and his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon.”

So the Lord our God also gave into our hands Og king of Bashan and all his army. We struck them down,(D) leaving no survivors.(E) At that time we took all his cities.(F) There was not one of the sixty cities that we did not take from them—the whole region of Argob, Og’s kingdom(G) in Bashan.(H) All these cities were fortified with high walls and with gates and bars, and there were also a great many unwalled villages. We completely destroyed[a] them, as we had done with Sihon king of Heshbon, destroying[b](I) every city—men, women and children. But all the livestock(J) and the plunder from their cities we carried off for ourselves.

So at that time we took from these two kings of the Amorites(K) the territory east of the Jordan, from the Arnon Gorge as far as Mount Hermon.(L) (Hermon is called Sirion(M) by the Sidonians; the Amorites call it Senir.)(N) 10 We took all the towns on the plateau, and all Gilead, and all Bashan as far as Salekah(O) and Edrei, towns of Og’s kingdom in Bashan. 11 (Og king of Bashan was the last of the Rephaites.(P) His bed was decorated with iron and was more than nine cubits long and four cubits wide.[c] It is still in Rabbah(Q) of the Ammonites.)

Division of the Land

12 Of the land that we took over at that time, I gave the Reubenites and the Gadites the territory north of Aroer(R) by the Arnon Gorge, including half the hill country of Gilead, together with its towns. 13 The rest of Gilead and also all of Bashan, the kingdom of Og, I gave to the half-tribe of Manasseh.(S) (The whole region of Argob in Bashan used to be known as a land of the Rephaites.(T) 14 Jair,(U) a descendant of Manasseh, took the whole region of Argob as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maakathites;(V) it was named(W) after him, so that to this day Bashan is called Havvoth Jair.[d]) 15 And I gave Gilead to Makir.(X) 16 But to the Reubenites and the Gadites I gave the territory extending from Gilead down to the Arnon Gorge (the middle of the gorge being the border) and out to the Jabbok River,(Y) which is the border of the Ammonites. 17 Its western border was the Jordan in the Arabah,(Z) from Kinnereth(AA) to the Sea of the Arabah(AB) (that is, the Dead Sea(AC)), below the slopes of Pisgah.

18 I commanded you at that time: “The Lord your God has given(AD) you this land to take possession of it. But all your able-bodied men, armed for battle, must cross over ahead of the other Israelites.(AE) 19 However, your wives,(AF) your children and your livestock(AG) (I know you have much livestock) may stay in the towns I have given you, 20 until the Lord gives rest to your fellow Israelites as he has to you, and they too have taken over the land that the Lord your God is giving them across the Jordan. After that, each of you may go back to the possession I have given you.”

Moses Forbidden to Cross the Jordan

21 At that time I commanded Joshua: “You have seen with your own eyes all that the Lord your God has done to these two kings. The Lord will do the same to all the kingdoms over there where you are going. 22 Do not be afraid(AH) of them;(AI) the Lord your God himself will fight(AJ) for you.”

23 At that time I pleaded(AK) with the Lord: 24 “Sovereign Lord, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness(AL) and your strong hand. For what god(AM) is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works(AN) you do?(AO) 25 Let me go over and see the good land(AP) beyond the Jordan—that fine hill country and Lebanon.(AQ)

26 But because of you the Lord was angry(AR) with me and would not listen to me. “That is enough,” the Lord said. “Do not speak to me anymore about this matter. 27 Go up to the top of Pisgah(AS) and look west and north and south and east.(AT) Look at the land with your own eyes, since you are not going to cross(AU) this Jordan.(AV) 28 But commission(AW) Joshua, and encourage(AX) and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across(AY) and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.” 29 So we stayed in the valley near Beth Peor.(AZ)

Obedience Commanded

Now, Israel, hear the decrees(BA) and laws I am about to teach(BB) you. Follow them so that you may live(BC) and may go in and take possession of the land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. Do not add(BD) to what I command you and do not subtract(BE) from it, but keep(BF) the commands(BG) of the Lord your God that I give you.

You saw with your own eyes what the Lord did at Baal Peor.(BH) The Lord your God destroyed from among you everyone who followed the Baal of Peor, but all of you who held fast to the Lord your God are still alive today.

See, I have taught(BI) you decrees and laws(BJ) as the Lord my God commanded(BK) me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering(BL) to take possession of it. Observe(BM) them carefully, for this will show your wisdom(BN) and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”(BO) What other nation is so great(BP) as to have their gods near(BQ) them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him? And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws(BR) as this body of laws I am setting before you today?

Only be careful,(BS) and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach(BT) them to your children(BU) and to their children after them. 10 Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb,(BV) when he said to me, “Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn(BW) to revere(BX) me as long as they live in the land(BY) and may teach(BZ) them to their children.” 11 You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain(CA) while it blazed with fire(CB) to the very heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness.(CC) 12 Then the Lord spoke(CD) to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form;(CE) there was only a voice.(CF) 13 He declared to you his covenant,(CG) the Ten Commandments,(CH) which he commanded you to follow and then wrote them on two stone tablets. 14 And the Lord directed me at that time to teach you the decrees and laws(CI) you are to follow in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.

Idolatry Forbidden

15 You saw no form(CJ) of any kind the day the Lord spoke to you at Horeb(CK) out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully,(CL) 16 so that you do not become corrupt(CM) and make for yourselves an idol,(CN) an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman, 17 or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air,(CO) 18 or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below. 19 And when you look up to the sky and see the sun,(CP) the moon and the stars(CQ)—all the heavenly array(CR)—do not be enticed(CS) into bowing down to them and worshiping(CT) things the Lord your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven. 20 But as for you, the Lord took you and brought you out of the iron-smelting furnace,(CU) out of Egypt,(CV) to be the people of his inheritance,(CW) as you now are.

21 The Lord was angry with me(CX) because of you, and he solemnly swore that I would not cross the Jordan and enter the good land the Lord your God is giving you as your inheritance. 22 I will die in this land;(CY) I will not cross the Jordan; but you are about to cross over and take possession of that good land.(CZ) 23 Be careful not to forget the covenant(DA) of the Lord your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol(DB) in the form of anything the Lord your God has forbidden. 24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire,(DC) a jealous God.(DD)

25 After you have had children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long time—if you then become corrupt(DE) and make any kind of idol,(DF) doing evil(DG) in the eyes of the Lord your God and arousing his anger, 26 I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses(DH) against you(DI) this day that you will quickly perish(DJ) from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live there long but will certainly be destroyed. 27 The Lord will scatter(DK) you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive(DL) among the nations to which the Lord will drive you. 28 There you will worship man-made gods(DM) of wood and stone,(DN) which cannot see or hear or eat or smell.(DO) 29 But if from there you seek(DP) the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart(DQ) and with all your soul.(DR) 30 When you are in distress(DS) and all these things have happened to you, then in later days(DT) you will return(DU) to the Lord your God and obey him. 31 For the Lord your God is a merciful(DV) God; he will not abandon(DW) or destroy(DX) you or forget(DY) the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath.

The Lord Is God

32 Ask(DZ) now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created human beings on the earth;(EA) ask from one end of the heavens to the other.(EB) Has anything so great(EC) as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of? 33 Has any other people heard the voice of God[e] speaking out of fire, as you have, and lived?(ED) 34 Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation,(EE) by testings,(EF) by signs(EG) and wonders,(EH) by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm,(EI) or by great and awesome deeds,(EJ) like all the things the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?

35 You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God; besides him there is no other.(EK) 36 From heaven he made you hear his voice(EL) to discipline(EM) you. On earth he showed you his great fire, and you heard his words from out of the fire. 37 Because he loved(EN) your ancestors and chose their descendants after them, he brought you out of Egypt by his Presence and his great strength,(EO) 38 to drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you and to bring you into their land to give it to you for your inheritance,(EP) as it is today.

39 Acknowledge(EQ) and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.(ER) 40 Keep(ES) his decrees and commands,(ET) which I am giving you today, so that it may go well(EU) with you and your children after you and that you may live long(EV) in the land the Lord your God gives you for all time.

Cities of Refuge(EW)

41 Then Moses set aside three cities east of the Jordan, 42 to which anyone who had killed a person could flee if they had unintentionally(EX) killed a neighbor without malice aforethought. They could flee into one of these cities and save their life. 43 The cities were these: Bezer in the wilderness plateau, for the Reubenites; Ramoth(EY) in Gilead, for the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, for the Manassites.

Introduction to the Law

44 This is the law Moses set before the Israelites. 45 These are the stipulations, decrees and laws Moses gave them when they came out of Egypt 46 and were in the valley near Beth Peor east of the Jordan, in the land of Sihon(EZ) king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon and was defeated by Moses and the Israelites as they came out of Egypt. 47 They took possession of his land and the land of Og king of Bashan, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan. 48 This land extended from Aroer(FA) on the rim of the Arnon Gorge to Mount Sirion[f](FB) (that is, Hermon(FC)), 49 and included all the Arabah east of the Jordan, as far as the Dead Sea,[g] below the slopes of Pisgah.

Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 3:6 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
  2. Deuteronomy 3:6 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
  3. Deuteronomy 3:11 That is, about 14 feet long and 6 feet wide or about 4 meters long and 1.8 meters wide
  4. Deuteronomy 3:14 Or called the settlements of Jair
  5. Deuteronomy 4:33 Or of a god
  6. Deuteronomy 4:48 Syriac (see also 3:9); Hebrew Siyon
  7. Deuteronomy 4:49 Hebrew the Sea of the Arabah

The Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection

18 And (A)Sadducees came to him, (B)who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying, 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that (C)if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man[a] must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no offspring. 21 And the second took her, and died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise. 22 And the seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died. 23 In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife.”

24 Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because (D)you know neither the Scriptures nor (E)the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither (F)marry nor (G)are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 And as for the dead being raised, (H)have you not read in (I)the book of Moses, in (J)the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, (K)‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.”

The Great Commandment

28 (L)And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, (M)‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, (N)the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 (O)The second is this: (P)‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment (Q)greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that (R)he is one, and (S)there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all (T)the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, (U)is much more than all (V)whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” (W)And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Whose Son Is the Christ?

35 (X)And as (Y)Jesus taught in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that (Z)the Christ is the son of David? 36 David himself, (AA)in the Holy Spirit, declared,

(AB)“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
    until I put your enemies (AC)under your feet.”’

37 David himself calls him Lord. So (AD)how is he his son?” And the great throng (AE)heard him gladly.

Beware of the Scribes

38 (AF)And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces 39 and have the best seats in the synagogues and (AG)the places of honor at feasts, 40 (AH)who devour widows' houses and (AI)for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

The Widow's Offering

41 (AJ)And he sat down opposite (AK)the treasury and watched the people (AL)putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two (AM)small copper coins, which make a penny.[b] 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, (AN)this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her (AO)poverty has put in everything she had, all (AP)she had to live on.”

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 12:19 Greek his brother
  2. Mark 12:42 Greek two lepta, which make a kodrantes; a kodrantes (Latin quadrans) was a Roman copper coin worth about 1/64 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer)

Marriage at the Resurrection(A)

18 Then the Sadducees,(B) who say there is no resurrection,(C) came to him with a question. 19 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.(D) 20 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving any children. 21 The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third. 22 In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too. 23 At the resurrection[a] whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”

24 Jesus replied, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures(E) or the power of God? 25 When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.(F) 26 Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’[b]?(G) 27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”

The Greatest Commandment(H)

28 One of the teachers of the law(I) came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[c] 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[d](J) 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[e](K) There is no commandment greater than these.”

32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.(L) 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”(M)

34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”(N) And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.(O)

Whose Son Is the Messiah?(P)(Q)

35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts,(R) he asked, “Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David?(S) 36 David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit,(T) declared:

“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
    “Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies
    under your feet.”’[f](U)

37 David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”

The large crowd(V) listened to him with delight.

Warning Against the Teachers of the Law

38 As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.(W) 40 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

The Widow’s Offering(X)

41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put(Y) and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”(Z)

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 12:23 Some manuscripts resurrection, when people rise from the dead,
  2. Mark 12:26 Exodus 3:6
  3. Mark 12:29 Or The Lord our God is one Lord
  4. Mark 12:30 Deut. 6:4,5
  5. Mark 12:31 Lev. 19:18
  6. Mark 12:36 Psalm 110:1

Great Is the Lord

Of David.

35 Contend, O Lord, with those who (A)contend with me;
    (B)fight against those who fight against me!
Take hold of (C)shield and buckler
    and rise for my help!
Draw the spear and javelin[a]
    against my pursuers!
Say to my soul,
    “I am your salvation!”

(D)Let them be (E)put to shame and dishonor
    who seek after my life!
Let them be (F)turned back and disappointed
    who devise evil against me!
Let them be like (G)chaff before the wind,
    with the angel of the Lord driving them away!
Let their way be dark and (H)slippery,
    with the angel of the Lord pursuing them!

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 35:3 Or and close the way

Psalm 35

Of David.

Contend,(A) Lord, with those who contend with me;
    fight(B) against those who fight against me.
Take up shield(C) and armor;
    arise(D) and come to my aid.(E)
Brandish spear(F) and javelin[a](G)
    against those who pursue me.
Say to me,
    “I am your salvation.(H)

May those who seek my life(I)
    be disgraced(J) and put to shame;(K)
may those who plot my ruin
    be turned back(L) in dismay.
May they be like chaff(M) before the wind,
    with the angel of the Lord(N) driving them away;
may their path be dark and slippery,
    with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 35:3 Or and block the way

17 (A)I love those who love me,
    and (B)those who seek me diligently find me.
18 (C)Riches and honor are with me,
    (D)enduring wealth and (E)righteousness.

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17 I love those who love me,(A)
    and those who seek me find me.(B)
18 With me are riches and honor,(C)
    enduring wealth and prosperity.(D)

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