One of you must go and get your brother. I’ll keep the rest of you here in prison. Then we’ll find out whether or not your story is true. By the life of Pharaoh, if it turns out that you don’t have a younger brother, then I’ll know you are spies.”

Then Jacob exclaimed, “It must be true! My son Joseph is alive! I must go and see him before I die.”

If it is true that you look favorably on me, let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favor. And remember that this nation is your very own people.”

And he said, “O Lord, if it is true that I have found favor with you, then please travel with us. Yes, this is a stubborn and rebellious people, but please forgive our iniquity and our sins. Claim us as your own special possession.”

“Or suppose you unknowingly touch something that is ceremonially unclean, such as the carcass of an unclean animal. When you realize what you have done, you must admit your defilement and your guilt. This is true whether it is a wild animal, a domestic animal, or an animal that scurries along the ground.

If such an animal dies and falls on something, that object will be unclean. This is true whether the object is made of wood, cloth, leather, or burlap. Whatever its use, you must dip it in water, and it will remain defiled until evening. After that, it will be ceremonially clean and may be used again.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Has my arm lost its power? Now you will see whether or not my word comes true!”

In such cases, you must examine the facts carefully. If you find that the report is true and such a detestable act has been committed among you,

Let true justice prevail, so you may live and occupy the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

When you hear about it, investigate the matter thoroughly. If it is true that this detestable thing has been done in Israel,

True and False Prophets

Moses continued, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.

If the prophet speaks in the Lord’s name but his prediction does not happen or come true, you will know that the Lord did not give that message. That prophet has spoken without my authority and need not be feared.

“But suppose the man’s accusations are true, and he can show that she was not a virgin.

“True justice must be given to foreigners living among you and to orphans, and you must never accept a widow’s garment as security for her debt.

Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel.

The descendants of Joseph responded, “It’s true that the hill country is not large enough for us. But all the Canaanites in the lowlands have iron chariots, both those in Beth-shan and its surrounding settlements and those in the valley of Jezreel. They are too strong for us.”

Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.

“If you need the altar because the land you possess is defiled, then join us in the Lord’s land, where the Tabernacle of the Lord is situated, and share our land with us. But do not rebel against the Lord or against us by building an altar other than the one true altar of the Lord our God.

“Soon I will die, going the way of everything on earth. Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the Lord your God has come true. Not a single one has failed!

“Who is Abimelech?” Gaal shouted. “He’s not a true son of Shechem, so why should we be his servants? He’s merely the son of Gideon, and this Zebul is merely his deputy. Serve the true sons of Hamor, the founder of Shechem. Why should we serve Abimelech?

So Manoah asked him, “When your words come true, what kind of rules should govern the boy’s life and work?”

Then Manoah asked the angel of the Lord, “What is your name? For when all this comes true, we want to honor you.”

But while it’s true that I am one of your family redeemers, there is another man who is more closely related to you than I am.

And to prove that what I have said will come true, I will cause your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, to die on the same day!

But the servant said, “I’ve just thought of something! There is a man of God who lives here in this town. He is held in high honor by all the people because everything he says comes true. Let’s go find him. Perhaps he can tell us which way to go.”