Water from the Rock

17 (A)All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. (B)Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you (C)test the Lord?” But the people thirsted there for water, and (D)the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” So Moses cried to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready (E)to stone me.” And the Lord said to Moses, “Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with (F)which you struck the Nile, and go. (G)Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the name of the place (H)Massah[a] and (I)Meribah,[b] because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

Israel Defeats Amalek

(J)Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. So Moses said to (K)Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with (L)the staff of God in my hand.” 10 So (M)Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and (N)Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 Whenever Moses (O)held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses' hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and (P)Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 And (Q)Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of (R)Joshua, that (S)I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 And Moses (T)built an altar and called the name of it, The Lord Is My Banner, 16 saying, “A hand upon the throne[c] of the Lord! (U)The Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 17:7 Massah means testing
  2. Exodus 17:7 Meribah means quarreling
  3. Exodus 17:16 A slight change would yield upon the banner

Water From the Rock

17 The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin,(A) traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim,(B) but there was no water(C) for the people to drink. So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water(D) to drink.”(E)

Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?”(F)

But the people were thirsty(G) for water there, and they grumbled(H) against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die(I) of thirst?”

Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone(J) me.”

The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff(K) with which you struck the Nile,(L) and go. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb.(M) Strike(N) the rock, and water(O) will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the place Massah[a](P) and Meribah[b](Q) because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

The Amalekites Defeated

The Amalekites(R) came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.(S) Moses said to Joshua,(T) “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff(U) of God in my hands.”

10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur(V) went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning,(W) but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.(X) 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite(Y) army with the sword.

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write(Z) this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out(AA) the name of Amalek(AB) from under heaven.”

15 Moses built an altar(AC) and called(AD) it The Lord is my Banner. 16 He said, “Because hands were lifted up against[c] the throne of the Lord,[d] the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites(AE) from generation to generation.”(AF)

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 17:7 Massah means testing.
  2. Exodus 17:7 Meribah means quarreling.
  3. Exodus 17:16 Or to
  4. Exodus 17:16 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

After this (A)Jesus went away to the other side of (B)the Sea of Galilee, which is (C)the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on (D)the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now (E)the Passover, the (F)feast of the Jews, was at hand. (G)Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to (H)Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. (I)Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii[a] worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, (J)Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five (K)barley loaves and two fish, but (L)what are they for so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” (M)Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and (N)when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, (O)“This is indeed (P)the Prophet (Q)who is to come into the world!”

15 (R)Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus (S)withdrew again to (T)the mountain by himself.

Jesus Walks on Water

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles,[b] they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 20 (U)But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

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Footnotes

  1. John 6:7 A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer
  2. John 6:19 Greek twenty-five or thirty stadia; a stadion was about 607 feet or 185 meters

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand(A)

Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs(B) he had performed by healing the sick. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside(C) and sat down with his disciples. The Jewish Passover Festival(D) was near.

When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip,(E) “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages[a] to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother,(F) spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”(G)

10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks,(H) and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

14 After the people saw the sign(I) Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”(J) 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king(K) by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.(L)

Jesus Walks on the Water(M)

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles,[b] they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water;(N) and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.”(O) 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

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Footnotes

  1. John 6:7 Greek take two hundred denarii
  2. John 6:19 Or about 5 or 6 kilometers

Jethro's Advice

18 (A)Jethro, (B)the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her home, along with her (C)two sons. The name of the one was Gershom ((D)for he said, (E)“I have been a sojourner[a] in a foreign land”), and the name of the other, Eliezer[b] (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”). Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was encamped at the (F)mountain of God. And when he sent word to Moses, “I,[c] your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her,” Moses (G)went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and (H)kissed him. And they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. Then Moses told his father-in-law (I)all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardship that had come upon them in the way, and how the Lord had delivered them. And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the Lord had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.

10 Jethro said, (J)“Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that (K)the Lord is greater than all gods, because in this affair they (L)dealt arrogantly with the people.”[d] 12 And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law (M)before God.

13 The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. 14 When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because (N)the people come to me to inquire of God; 16 (O)when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I (P)make them know the statutes of God and his laws.” 17 Moses' father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. (Q)You are not able to do it alone. 19 Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall (R)represent the people before God and (S)bring their cases to God, 20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know (T)the way in which they must walk and (U)what they must do. 21 Moreover, look for (V)able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22 And (W)let them judge the people at all times. (X)Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will (Y)bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be (Z)able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”

24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 (AA)Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 26 And (AB)they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. 27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and (AC)he went away to his own country.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 18:3 Gershom sounds like the Hebrew for sojourner
  2. Exodus 18:4 Eliezer means My God is help
  3. Exodus 18:6 Hebrew; Samaritan, Septuagint, Syriac behold
  4. Exodus 18:11 Hebrew with them

Jethro Visits Moses

18 Now Jethro,(A) the priest of Midian(B) and father-in-law of Moses, heard of everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.(C)

After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah,(D) his father-in-law Jethro received her and her two sons.(E) One son was named Gershom,[a] for Moses said, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land”;(F) and the other was named Eliezer,[b](G) for he said, “My father’s God was my helper;(H) he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, together with Moses’ sons and wife, came to him in the wilderness, where he was camped near the mountain(I) of God. Jethro had sent word to him, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”

So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down(J) and kissed(K) him. They greeted each other and then went into the tent. Moses told his father-in-law about everything the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake and about all the hardships(L) they had met along the way and how the Lord had saved(M) them.

Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things(N) the Lord had done for Israel in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 He said, “Praise be to the Lord,(O) who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods,(P) for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.”(Q) 12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law,(R) brought a burnt offering(S) and other sacrifices(T) to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal(U) with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence(V) of God.

13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”

15 Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will.(W) 16 Whenever they have a dispute,(X) it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”(Y)

17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.(Z) 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you.(AA) You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes(AB) to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions,(AC) and show them the way they are to live(AD) and how they are to behave.(AE) 21 But select capable men(AF) from all the people—men who fear(AG) God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain(AH)—and appoint them as officials(AI) over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case(AJ) to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share(AK) it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders(AL) of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.(AM) 26 They served as judges(AN) for the people at all times. The difficult cases(AO) they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.(AP)

27 Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.(AQ)

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 18:3 Gershom sounds like the Hebrew for a foreigner there.
  2. Exodus 18:4 Eliezer means my God is helper.

31 (A)Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 (B)Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, (C)forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Walk in Love

(D)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And (E)walk in love, (F)as Christ loved us and (G)gave himself up for us, a (H)fragrant (I)offering and sacrifice to God.

But (J)sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness (K)must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be (L)no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, (M)which are out of place, but instead (N)let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that (O)everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous ((P)that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (Q)Let no one (R)deceive you with empty words, for because of these things (S)the wrath of God comes upon (T)the sons of disobedience. Therefore (U)do not become partners with them; for (V)at one time you were (W)darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. (X)Walk as children of light (for (Y)the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and (Z)try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 (AA)Take no part in the (AB)unfruitful (AC)works of darkness, but instead (AD)expose them. 12 For (AE)it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when (AF)anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

(AG)“Awake, O sleeper,
    and (AH)arise from the dead,
and (AI)Christ will shine on you.”

15 (AJ)Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 (AK)making the best use of the time, because (AL)the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what (AM)the will of the Lord is. 18 And (AN)do not get drunk with wine, for that is (AO)debauchery, but (AP)be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in (AQ)psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 (AR)giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father (AS)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 (AT)submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

31 Get rid of(A) all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.(B) 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another,(C) forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.(D) Follow God’s example,(E) therefore, as dearly loved children(F) and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us(G) and gave himself up for us(H) as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.(I)

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality,(J) or of any kind of impurity, or of greed,(K) because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk(L) or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.(M) For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater(N)—has any inheritance(O) in the kingdom of Christ and of God.[a](P) Let no one deceive you(Q) with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath(R) comes on those who are disobedient.(S) Therefore do not be partners with them.

For you were once(T) darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light(U) (for the fruit(V) of the light consists in all goodness,(W) righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord.(X) 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness,(Y) but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light(Z) becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,(AA)
    rise from the dead,(AB)
    and Christ will shine on you.”(AC)

15 Be very careful, then, how you live(AD)—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity,(AE) because the days are evil.(AF) 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.(AG) 18 Do not get drunk on wine,(AH) which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,(AI) 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.(AJ) Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks(AK) to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Instructions for Christian Households(AL)

21 Submit to one another(AM) out of reverence for Christ.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:5 Or kingdom of the Messiah and God