M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
War between Elijah and the Prophets of Baal
18 It happened many days later that the word of Yahweh came to Elijah in the third year, saying, “Go, present yourself to Ahab so that I may give rain on the surface of the earth.” 2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria. 3 Ahab summoned Obadiah who was over the house. (Now Obadiah was fearing Yahweh greatly. 4 It had happened that when Jezebel killed the prophets of Yahweh, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties[a] in the cave and sustained them with food and water.) 5 Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the wadis.[b] Perhaps we may find green grass that we may keep horses and mules alive and that we might not lose any of the animals.” 6 So they divided the land for themselves in order to pass through it; Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
7 It happened that Obadiah was on the way, and suddenly Elijah was there to meet him. When he recognized him, he fell on his face and said, “Is this you, my lord Elijah?” 8 He said to him, “I am. Go, say to your lord, ‘Elijah is here.’” 9 He said, “How have I sinned that you are giving your servant into the hand of Ahab to kill me? 10 As Yahweh your God lives,[c] surely there is not a nation or a kingdom to which my lord has not sent me to seek you. If they would say, ‘He is not here,’ then he would make the kingdom or the nation swear that it could not find you. 11 Now you are saying, ‘Go, say to your lord: “Elijah is here.”’ 12 And it will happen that I will go from you and the Spirit of Yahweh will carry you up to where I do not know. Then I will come to tell Ahab, but he will not find you, and then he will kill me, even though your servant has feared Yahweh from my youth. 13 Has it not been told to my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of Yahweh? I hid a hundred men of the prophets of Yahweh by fifties[d] in the cave, and I sustained them with food and water. 14 Now you are saying, ‘Go, say to your lord: “Elijah is here,”’ and he will kill me.” 15 Elijah said, “As Yahweh of hosts lives,[e] before whom I stand, I will certainly show myself to him today.”
16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and he told him, so Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is this you who throws Israel into confusion?” 18 He said, “I did not throw Israel into confusion; rather you and the house of your father have by forsaking the commands of Yahweh when you went after the Baals! 19 So then, send word and assemble all of Israel to me on Mount Carmel, with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at the table of Jezebel.”
20 So Ahab sent word among the Israelites,[f] and he assembled the prophets to Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah approached to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping over two opinions? If Yahweh is God, go after him; but if Baal, go after him.” But the people did not answer him a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of Yahweh, but the prophets of Baal are four hundred and fifty men. 23 Let them give us two bulls, and let them choose for themselves one bull, cut him in pieces, and put it on the wood, but don’t let them start a fire on it. I will prepare the other bull and set it on the wood, but I will put no fire on it. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of Yahweh, and it shall be that the god who answers by fire, he is God.”[g] Then all the people answered and said, “The word is good!”
25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are the majority, and call on the name of your god, but don’t set fire under it.” 26 So they took the bull that he allowed to them, prepared it, and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice and there was no answer, so they limped[h] about the altar which they had made. 27 It happened at noon that Elijah mocked them and said, “Call out with a loud voice, for he is a god! Perhaps he is meditating, or is using the bathroom,[i] or is on a journey. Perhaps he is asleep and must wake up!” 28 So they called out with a loud voice, and they cut themselves with swords and with spears as was their custom, until the blood poured out over them. 29 It happened as noon passed, they raged until the time of the evening offering, but there was no voice, there was no answer, and no one paid attention.
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me,” so all the people came closer to him. He repaired the altar of Yahweh that had been destroyed. 31 Elijah took twelve stones according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of God came, saying, “Israel shall be your name.” 32 With them, he built an altar in the name of Yahweh, and he made a trench which would have held[j] about two seahs of seed, all around the altar. 33 And he arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces, and placed it on the wood.[k] Then he said, “Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” 34 He said, “Do it again!” They did it again. He said, “Do it a third time!” So they did it a third time. 35 The water went all around the altar, and the trench also was filled with water.
36 It happened at the offering of the evening oblation, Elijah the prophet went near, and he said, “O Yahweh, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel; let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and that I have done all of these things by your words. 37 Answer me, O Yahweh, answer me; that this people may know that you, O Yahweh, are God and that you have turned their hearts back again.” 38 Then the fire of Yahweh fell, and it consumed the burnt offering, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust; and the water which was in the trench it licked up! 39 When all the people saw, they fell on their faces and said, “Yahweh, he is God! Yahweh, he is God!” 40 Then Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; don’t let any man of them escape!” So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the wadi[l] of Kishon and killed them there.
41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of the noise of rain.” 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink while Elijah went to the top of Carmel, bent down to the earth, and put his face between his knees. 43 Then he said to his servant, “Please go and look in the direction of the sea.” So he went up and looked; then he said, “There is nothing.” Then he said, “Go back,” seven times. 44 It happened that at the seventh time, he said, “Look, there is a small cloud, as the hand of a man, coming up from the sea.” Then Elijah said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Harness your horses and go down, lest the rain stop you.’” 45 In no time[m] the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was heavy rain. Ahab rode and he went to Jezreel, 46 but the hand of Yahweh was on Elijah; he girded up his loins and ran before Ahab as one comes to Jezreel.
Greeting
1 Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace.
Thanksgiving for the Thessalonian Believers
2 We give thanks to God always concerning all of you, making mention constantly in our prayers, 3 because we[a] remember your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, 4 knowing, brothers dearly loved by God, that he has chosen you[b], 5 because our gospel did not come to you with word only, but also with power and with the Holy Spirit and with much certainty, just as you know what sort of people we became among you for your sake. 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, receiving the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all those who believe in Macedonia and in Achaia, 8 for from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia,[c] but in every place your faith toward God has gone out, so that we have no need to say anything. 9 For they themselves report about us, what sort of welcome we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to await his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus, the one who delivers us from the coming wrath.
The Allotment of the Land and the Gates of the City
48 And[a] these are the names of the tribes: At the end of the north, along the way to Hethlon[b] from Lebo-hamath to Hazar Enan on the boundary of Damascus beside Hamath northward,[c] there will be one portion for Dan from the eastern border to the west.[d] 2 And next to the territory of Dan, from the eastern border[e] up to the western border,[f] one portion for Asher. 3 And next to the territory of Asher, from the eastern border[g] and up to the western border,[h] one portion for Naphtali. 4 And next to the territory of Naphtali, from the eastern border[i] up to the western border,[j] one portion for Manasseh. 5 And next to the territory of Manasseh, from the eastern border[k] up to the western border,[l] one portion for Ephraim. 6 And next to the territory of Ephraim, from the eastern border[m] and up to the western border,[n] one portion for Reuben. 7 And next to the territory of Reuben, from the eastern border[o] up to the western border,[p] one portion for Judah.
8 And next to the territory of Judah, from the eastern border[q] up to the western border,[r] shall be located the contribution that you set apart, twenty-five thousand cubits[s] in width, and its length just like one of the portions from the eastern border[t] up to the western border,[u] and the sanctuary shall be in the midst of it. 9 The contribution that you shall set apart for Yahweh, its length shall be twenty-five thousand cubits,[v] and its width ten thousand cubits.[w] 10 And to these shall be the holy district:[x] to the priests northwards twenty-five thousand cubits,[y] and westwards its width ten thousand cubits,[z] and eastwards its width ten thousand cubits,[aa] and southwards its length twenty-five thousand cubits,[ab] and the sanctuary of Yahweh shall be in the midst of it. 11 To the priests, the ones being consecrated from the descendants[ac] of Zadok, who took care of my service and who did not go astray[ad] when the Israelites went astray,[ae] just as[af] the Levites went astray. 12 And it will be for them a special gift from the contribution of the land as a most holy object[ag] next to the territory of the Levites. 13 And the Levites alongside[ah] the territory of the priests shall have twenty-five thousand cubits[ai] in length and in width ten thousand cubits,[aj] its full length,[ak] twenty-five thousand cubits[al] and its full width, ten thousand cubits.[am] 14 And they shall not sell any part from it, and shall not exchange, and shall not transfer the best of the land, for it is holy to Yahweh.
15 And the remaining part[an] of five thousand cubits[ao] in the width by[ap] twenty-five thousand cubits,[aq] is unholy;[ar] it is for the city as dwelling and as pastureland; and the city will be located in the middle of it.[as] 16 And these shall be its measurements: on its side to the north, four thousand five hundred cubits;[at] and on its side to the south, four thousand five hundred cubits;[au] and on the eastern side,[av] four thousand five hundred cubits;[aw] and on the western side,[ax] four thousand five hundred cubits.[ay] 17 And a pastureland shall be for the city northwards, two hundred and fifty cubits,[az] southwards two hundred and fifty cubits,[ba] and eastwards two hundred and fifty cubits,[bb] and westwards two hundred and fifty cubits.[bc] 18 And the rest in its length alongside[bd] the holy district,[be] ten thousand cubits[bf] eastwards and ten thousand[bg] westwards; and it shall be alongside[bh] the holy district[bi] and its yield[bj] shall be as food for the workers of the city. 19 And the workers of the city from all the tribes of Israel shall cultivate it. 20 All of the contribution, twenty-five thousand by twenty five thousand cubits[bk] square, you shall set apart as the holy district[bl] along with the property of the city. 21 And the rest shall be to[bm] the prince, on both sides[bn] of the holy district[bo] and of the property of the city extending from[bp] twenty-five thousand cubits of the contribution up to the boundary of the east, and westwards extending[bq] twenty-five thousand cubits[br] to the boundary of the sea alongside[bs] the tribal portions. They shall be for the prince, and it shall be the holy district,[bt] and the sanctuary of the temple[bu] will be in its middle. 22 And also the property of the Levites and the property of the city will be in the midst of the property which is for the prince; between the territory of Judah and between the territory of Benjamin the land will be for the prince.
23 And for the remainder of the tribes: From the side on the east up to the side on the west, Benjamin one portion; 24 and next to the territory of Benjamin, from the side on the east up to the side of the sea, Simeon one portion; 25 and next to the territory of Simeon, from the side of the east up to the side of the sea, Issachar one portion; 26 and next to the territory of Issachar, from the side of the east up to the side of the sea, Zebulun one portion; 27 and next to the territory of Zebulun, from the side of the east up to the side of the sea, Gad one portion; 28 and next to the territory of Gad, to the side of the south, southward;[bv] and the territory will be from Tamar to the waters of Meribath Kadesh, toward the wadi,[bw] on to the Great Sea.[bx] 29 This is the land that you shall allot as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel, and these are their portions,” declares[by] the Lord Yahweh.
30 And these shall be the exits of the city: From[bz] the north side,[ca] four thousand and five hundred cubits [cb] by measurement. 31 And the gates of the city shall be according to the names of the tribes of Israel: three gates to the north, the gate of Reuben, one; the gate of Judah, one; the gate of Levi, one. 32 And on the east side, four thousand five hundred cubits,[cc] and three gates, and so the gate of Joseph, one; the gate of Benjamin, one; the gate of Dan, one. 33 And on the south side, four thousand five hundred cubits[cd] by measurement, and so three gates, the gate of Simeon, one; the gate of Issachar, one; the gate of Zebulun, one. 34 And on the west[ce] side, four thousand five hundred cubits,[cf] and their gates three, the gate of Gad, one; the gate of Asher, one; the gate of Naphtali, one. 35 All around the city is eighteen thousand cubits,[cg] and the name of the city from that day is “Yahweh Is There”!
Praise to Yahweh for His Creation and Providence
104 Bless Yahweh, O my soul.
O Yahweh my God, you are very great.
You clothe yourself with splendor and majesty,
2 you who cover yourself with light as with a garment,
who stretch out the heavens like a tent curtain,
3 the one who sets beams in the waters for his upper chambers,
who makes clouds his chariot,
who rides[a] on the wings of the wind,
4 who makes his messengers the winds,
his attendants a flame of fire.
5 He established the earth on her foundations,
so that it will not be moved forever and ever.
6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment.
The waters stood above the mountains.
7 At your rebuke they fled;
at the sound of your thunder they ran off.
8 They ascended the mountains and drained though the valleys
to the place that you established[b] for them.
9 You set a boundary that they may not cross over,
so that they would not return to cover the earth.
10 You are the one who sends forth springs into the valleys;
they flow between the mountains.
11 They give drink for every beast of the field.
The wild donkeys quench[c] their thirst.
12 Along them the birds of the heavens abide.
From among the branches they sing.[d]
13 You are the one who waters[e] the mountains
from his upper chambers.
The earth is full[f] with the fruit of your labors:
14 who causes grass to grow for the cattle
and herbs for the service of humankind,
to bring forth food from the earth,
15 and wine that makes glad the heart of man,
so that their faces shine from oil,
and bread that strengthens the heart of man.
16 The trees of Yahweh drink their fill,
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted,
17 where birds make their nest.
The stork has its home in the fir trees.
18 The high mountains are for the wild goats;
the cliffs are a refuge for the rock badgers.
19 He made the moon for appointed times;
the sun knows its time for setting.
20 You make darkness, and it is night,
when[g] all the animals of the forest creep about.
21 The young lions are roaring for the prey
and seeking their food from God.
22 When the sun rises, they gather together
and lie down in their dens.
23 Humankind goes out to its work,
and to its labor until evening.
24 How many are your works, O Yahweh;
all of them you have done in wisdom.
The earth is full of your creatures.
25 This is the great and wide[h] sea,
in which are moving animals without number,
living things small and great.
26 There the ships sail.
Leviathan is there that you formed to play with.[i]
27 They all wait for you
to give them their food at the proper time.[j]
28 You give to them; they gather it.
You open your hand, they are filled with what is good.
29 You hide your face, they are terrified.
You take away their breath, they die
and return to their dust.
30 You send forth your Spirit,[k] they are created,
and you renew the face of the ground.
31 May the glory of Yahweh endure forever.
May Yahweh be glad in his works,
32 the one who looks at the earth and it quakes,
and touches the mountains and they smoke.
33 I will sing to Yahweh throughout my life;
I will sing praise to my God while I remain alive.[l]
34 May my meditation be pleasing to him.
I will be glad in Yahweh.
35 Let sinners perish completely from the earth,
and the wicked not remain alive.[m]
Bless Yahweh, O my soul.
Praise Yah.[n]
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