M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
7 Elisha said, “Listen to the Lord’s word. ·This is what the Lord says [T Thus says the Lord]: ‘About this time tomorrow ·seven quarts [a measure/L seah; C the exact quantity of a seah is debated] of ·fine [choice] flour will be sold for ·two-fifths of an ounce of silver [L a shekel], and ·thirteen quarts [two measures/L seahs] of barley will be sold for ·two-fifths of an ounce of silver [L a shekel; C food would be readily available]. This will happen at the gate of Samaria [C the common location of the marketplace].’”
2 Then the officer ·who was close to the king [L on whose arm the king was leaning] answered Elisha, “Even if the Lord opened windows in the sky [C resulting in rain], that couldn’t happen.”
Elisha said, “You will see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat any of it.”
3 There were four men with ·a skin disease [T leprosy; 5:1] at the entrance to the city gate. They said to each other, “Why ·do [should] we sit here until we die? 4 There is ·no food [famine] in the city. So if we go into the city, we will die there. If we stay here, we will die. So let’s go to the Aramean camp. If they ·let us live [spare us], we will live. If they kill us, we die.”
5 So they got up at ·twilight [dusk] and went to the Aramean camp, but when they arrived at the edge of the camp, no one was there. 6 The Lord had caused the Aramean army to hear the sound of chariots, horses, and a large army. They had said to each other, “The king of Israel has hired the Hittite and Egyptian kings to attack us!” 7 So they got up and ran away in the ·twilight [dusk], ·leaving [abandoning] their tents, horses, and donkeys. They left the camp ·standing [just as it was] and ·ran [fled] for their lives.
8 When the ·men with the skin disease [T lepers; 5:1] came to the edge of the camp, they went into one of the tents and ate and drank. They carried silver, gold, and clothes out of the camp and hid them. Then they came back and entered another tent. They carried things from this tent and hid them, also. 9 Then they said to each other, “We’re ·doing wrong [L not doing right]. ·Today we have [This is a day of] good news, but we are ·silent [keeping it to ourselves; holding our tongues]. If we wait until the sun comes up, we’ll be ·discovered [punished; found guilty]. Let’s go right now and tell the people in the king’s ·palace [L household].”
10 So they went and called to the gatekeepers of the city. They said, “We went to the Aramean camp, but no one is there; we didn’t hear anyone. The horses and donkeys were still tied up, and the tents ·were still standing [as they were].” 11 Then the gatekeepers shouted out and told the ·people in the palace [L king’s household].
12 The king got up in the night and said to his officers, “I’ll tell you what the Arameans are doing to us. They know we are starving. They have gone out of the camp to hide in the field. They’re saying, ‘When the Israelites come out of the city, we’ll capture them alive. Then we’ll enter the city.’”
13 One of his officers answered, “Let some men take five of the horses that are still left in the city. These men are like all the Israelites who are left; they, like a multitude of Israelites who have already perished, are about to die. Let’s send them to see what has happened.”
14 So the men took two chariots with horses. The king sent them after the Aramean army, saying, “Go and see what has happened.” 15 The men followed the Aramean army as far as the Jordan River. The road was full of clothes and equipment that the Arameans had thrown away as they had hurriedly left. So the messengers returned and told the king. 16 Then the people went out and ·took valuables from [plundered; ransacked] the Aramean camp. So ·seven quarts [a measure/L seah] of fine flour were sold for ·two-fifths of an ounce of silver [L a shekel], and ·thirteen quarts [two measures/L seahs; 7:1] of barley were sold for ·two-fifths of an ounce of silver [L a shekel], ·just as the Lord had said [L in accordance with the word of the Lord].
17 The king ·chose [appointed] the officer ·who was close to him [L on whose arm he leaned] to guard the gate, but the people trampled the officer to death. This happened just as ·Elisha [the man of God] had told the king when the king came to his house. 18 He had said, “·Thirteen quarts [Two measures/L seahs] of barley and ·seven quarts [a measure/L seah]of fine flour will each sell for ·two-fifths of an ounce of silver [a shekel] about this time tomorrow at the gate of Samaria.”
19 But the officer had answered, “Even if the Lord opened windows in the sky, that couldn’t happen.” And Elisha had told him, “You will see it with your own eyes, but you won’t eat any of it.” 20 It happened to the officer just that way. The people trampled him in the gateway, and he died.
A Warning About False Teachers
4 Now the ·Holy Spirit [L Spirit] clearly says that in the later times some people will ·stop believing [abandon; desert] the faith [2 Thess. 2:3–9; 2 Tim. 3:1]. They will ·follow [occupy themselves with; devote themselves to] ·spirits that lie [deceiving spirits] and teachings of demons. 2 Such teachings come ·from the false words [or through the hypocrisy] of liars whose consciences are ·destroyed [seared; or branded] as if by a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry and tell them not to eat certain foods which God created to be ·eaten [received] with thanks by people who believe and know the truth. 4 [L For] Everything God created is good, and nothing should be ·refused [rejected] if it is accepted with thanks, 5 because it is ·made holy [sanctified] by ·what God has said [the word/pronouncement of God] and by prayer.
Be a Good Servant of Christ
6 By ·telling [pointing out] these things to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus. You will be ·made strong [nourished; nurtured] by the words of the faith and the good teaching which you have been following. 7 But ·do not follow [reject] ·foolish stories that disagree with God’s truth [T godless myths and old wives tales], but train yourself ·to serve God [for godliness/piety]. 8 [L For] ·Training your body [Physical exercise] helps you in ·some [or small] ways, but ·serving God [godliness] helps you in every way ·by bringing you blessings [L since it holds promise] in this life and in the future life, too. 9 What I say is true [or This saying/word is trustworthy; 1:15; 3:1; 2 Tim. 2:11; Titus 3:8], and ·you should fully accept it [L worthy of full acceptance]. 10 This is why we work and struggle,[a] because we have put our hope in the living God who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
11 Command and teach these things. 12 Do not let anyone ·treat you as if you are unimportant [despise/disregard/look down on you] because you are young. Instead, be an example to the believers with your words, your ·actions [conduct; behavior], your love, your ·faith [faithfulness], and your ·pure life [purity]. 13 Until I come, ·continue to read the Scriptures to the people [attend/devote yourself to the public reading (of Scripture)], ·strengthen [encourage; exhort] them, and teach them. 14 ·Use [L Do not neglect] the ·gift from the Spirit [spiritual gift; L gift] ·you have [that is in you], which was given to you through prophecy when the group of elders laid their hands on you [C a way of dedicating someone to Christian service; 1:18; 5:22]. 15 ·Continue [Take care; Be diligent] to do those things; give your life to doing them so your progress may be seen by everyone. 16 Be ·careful [conscientious] ·in your life [L about yourself] and in your teaching. If you ·continue to live and teach rightly [L persevere in these things], you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.
11 “In the first year that Darius the Mede was king [C 539 bc; 5:31], I [C the unnamed angel speaking to Daniel; 10:5] stood up to support and strengthen him [C Michael, in his fight against the prince of Persia].
Kingdoms of the South and North
2 “Now then, Daniel, I tell you the truth: Three more kings will ·rule [L arise] in Persia, and then a fourth king will come. He will be much richer than all ·the kings of Persia before him [L of them] and will use his riches to get power [C perhaps Darius III, the last king of Persia]. He will stir up everyone against the kingdom of ·Greece [L Javan]. 3 Then a ·mighty [or warrior] king will ·come [L arise], who will rule with great power and will do anything he wants [C Alexander the Great, who defeats Persia]. 4 After that king ·has come [L arises], his kingdom will be broken up and divided out toward the four ·parts of the world [L winds of heaven]. His kingdom will not go to his ·descendants [posterity], and ·it will not have the power that he had [L not according to the dominion of his dominion], because his kingdom will be pulled up and given to other people [C Alexander’s kingdom was divided among his four most powerful generals, the Diadochoi].
5 “The king of the South [C Ptolemy I; the South is the Ptolemaic kingdom with its chief city in Alexandria, Egypt] will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger [C Seleucus, the founding king of the Seleucid kingdom with its chief city in Antioch, Syria]. He will begin to rule his own kingdom with great power. 6 Then ·after a few [L at the end of] years, ·a new friendship will develop [they will enter an alliance]. The daughter of the king of the South will ·marry [L come to] the king of the North ·in order to bring peace [L to establish an agreement; C a marriage alliance between Berenice, daughter of the Ptolemaic king, and Antiochus II Theos of the Seleucid kingdom]. But she will not ·keep [retain] her power, and his ·family [L seed; or power] will not last. She, her husband, her child, and those who ·brought her to that country [supported her] will be ·killed [L given up; C they were poisoned in a political intrigue].
7 “But a ·person from her family [L branch of her roots] will ·become king of the South [L arise in his place] and will ·attack [L come against] the armies of the king of the North [C Ptolemy III waged war against Seleucus II]. He will go into that king’s ·strong, walled city [fortress] and will ·fight [act] and win. 8 He will take their gods, their metal idols, and their ·valuable [L favored; coveted; desired] things made of silver and gold back to Egypt as plunder. Then he will not bother the king of the North for a few years. 9 Next, ·the king of the North [L he] will ·attack [L come against] the king of the South, but he will ·be beaten back [return] to his own ·country [land; C the battles between the Seleucids and the Ptolemies would continue].
10 “His [C the king of the North] sons [C Seleucus III and Antiochus III the Great] will prepare for war. They will get a large ·army [multitude; horde] together that will move through the land, like a flood [C powerfully and quickly]. Later, that army will come back and fight all the way to the ·strong, walled city [fortress; C of the king of the South, Ptolemy IV; the fortress may refer to Gaza]. 11 Then the king of the South will become very angry and will march out to fight against the king of the North [C the battle of Raphia between Ptolemy IV and Antiochus III in 217 bc]. The king of the North will ·have [raise] a large ·army [multitude; horde], but he will ·lose the battle [L be delivered into his hand], 12 and the ·soldiers [multitude; horde] will be carried away. ·The king of the South will then be very proud [L His heart will be lifted up] and will ·kill [L fell] ·thousands of soldiers [L myriads; tens of thousands] from the northern army, but he will not ·continue to be successful [prevail; be victorious]. 13 The king of the North will gather another ·army [multitude; horde], larger than the first one. After ·several [a period of] years he will attack with a large ·army [force] and many ·weapons [or supplies].
14 “In those times many people will ·be [L rise up] against the king of the South. ·Some of your own people who love to fight [Wild/Violent men; L Sons who make breaches among your people; C Jewish men] will ·turn [L lift themselves up] against the king of the South, ·thinking it is time for God’s promises to come true [L to fulfill the vision]. But they will ·fail [stumble; falter]. 15 Then the king of the North will come. He will ·build [throw up] ·ramps to the tops of the city walls [siege engines] and will capture a ·strong, walled [fortified] city. The southern ·army [forces] will not ·have the power to fight back [endure; last]; even their best soldiers will not be strong enough to ·stop the northern army [endure; last]. 16 So the ·king of the North [L one who invades him] will do whatever he ·wants [pleases]; no one will be able to ·stand [endure; last] against him. He will gain power and control in the beautiful land [C of Judah; 8:9] and ·will have the power to destroy it [L all of it will be in his hand/power]. 17 The king of the North will ·decide [L set his face] to ·use [bring] all his power to fight against the king of the South, but he will make a peace agreement with the king of the South. The king of the North will give one of his daughters as a wife to the king of the South so that he can ·defeat [destroy] him [C Cleopatra was given to Ptolemy V in marriage to serve as a spy]. But those plans will not ·succeed [stand; endure; last] or help him [C Cleopatra changed loyalties]. 18 Then the king of the North will turn his attention to the coastlines [C cities along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea; Antiochus was able to take some cities in Asia Minor] and will capture ·them [L many]. But a commander [C the Roman consul Lucius Cornelius Scipio commanded him to cease warfare] will put an end to ·the pride of the king of the North [L his scorn], turning his ·pride [scorn] back on him. 19 After that happens the king of the North will go back to the ·strong, walled [fortified] cities of his own country, but he will ·lose his power [L stumble and fall]. ·That will be the end of him [L …and not be found; C Antiochus III died in 187 bc].
20 “·The next king of the North will send out a tax collector so he will have plenty of money [L Then one will arise in his place who will send out a tax collector/despot/oppressor for/or to enhance the splendor of the kingdom]. In ·a few years [L later/after days] that ruler will be ·killed [L broken], ·although he will not die in [L not by] anger or in a battle [C Seleucus IV died in mysterious circumstances, perhaps killed by his brother Antiochus IV also known as Epiphanes].
21 “·That ruler will be followed by [L Then one will arise in his place who is] ·a very cruel and hated man [L despised], who had not yet been given the honor of royalty [C Antiochus Epiphanes, who will be the focus of much of the rest of the chapter]. He will attack ·the kingdom when the people feel safe [without warning], and he will take power by ·lying to the people [intrigue]. 22 He will sweep away in defeat ·large and powerful [L floodlike] ·armies [forces] and even a prince who made an ·agreement [covenant; treaty]. 23 Many nations will make ·agreements [alliances] with ·that cruel and hated ruler [L him], but he will lie to them. He will gain much power, but only a few people will support him. 24 The richest ·areas [or people of a province] will feel safe, but ·that cruel and hated ruler [L he] will attack them. He will succeed where his ·ancestors [L fathers and father’s fathers] did not. He will ·rob the countries he defeats and will give those things to his followers [L scatter spoil, plunder, and goods to them]. He will plan ·to defeat and destroy strong cities [L against strongholds], ·but he will be successful for only a short time [L until a time].
25 “·That very cruel and hated ruler [L He] will have a large army that he will use to stir up his strength and ·courage [L heart]. He will attack the king of the South [C the Seleucid king Ptolemy VI]. The king of the South will gather a large and very powerful army and prepare for war. But ·the people who are against him will make secret plans, and the king of the South will be defeated [L he will not stand/endure because of the plans they planned against him]. 26 People who ·were supposed to be his good friends [L eat his royal rations; C Ptolemy VI’s advisors Eulaeus and Lenaeus] will try to ·destroy [L break] him. His army will be swept away in defeat; many ·of his soldiers will be killed in battle [L corpses will fall]. 27 Those two kings will ·want to hurt each other [L have their hearts/minds toward evil/harm]. They will sit at the same table and lie to each other, but it will not ·do either one any good [succeed], because ·God has set a time for their end to come [the appointed time of the end has been set]. 28 ·The king of the North [L He; C Antiochus] will go back to his own country with much wealth. Then he will decide to go against the holy ·agreement [covenant; treaty; C as Antiochus returned to Syria from Egypt, he took aggressive action against the Jews in Jerusalem]. He will take action and then return to his own country.
29 “At the ·right [appointed] time ·the king of the North [L he] will attack the king of the South again, but this time ·he will not be successful as he was before [L it will not be as before]. 30 Ships from ·the west [L Kittim; C Rome, which made Antiochus stand down from his attack on the South] will come and fight against ·the king of the North [L him], so he will be ·afraid [startled; or dismayed]. Then he will return and show his anger against the holy ·agreement [covenant; treaty]. He will be good to those who have ·stopped obeying [L abandoned; forsaken] the holy ·agreement [covenant; treaty; C the pro-Antiochus party among the Jewish people].
31 “·The king of the North will send his army [L Forces from him will arise] to ·make the Temple in Jerusalem unclean [L profane the Holy Place and fortress]. They will ·stop the people from offering [L turn aside] the ·daily [regular] sacrifice [8:12], and then they will set up a ·blasphemous object that brings destruction [L abomination of desolation; C a pagan object, perhaps a meteorite dedicated to Zeus, would be placed in the holy place; Matt. 24:15; Mark 13:14; also 1 Maccabees 1:44–47, 54 in the Apocrypha]. 32 ·The king of the North [L He] will tell lies and cause those who have ·not obeyed God [L transgressed the agreement/covenant/treaty] to ·be ruined [L become godless]. But those who know God and obey him will be strong and fight back.
33 “Those who are ·wise [L insightful among the people] will help ·the others [L many] understand what is happening. But they will ·be killed [L stumble] with swords, or ·burned [L with flame], or ·taken captive [L by exile], or ·robbed of their homes and possessions [L by spoil]. These things will continue for many days. 34 When ·the wise ones are suffering [L they stumble], they will get a little help, but many who join ·the wise ones [L them] will ·not help them in their time of need [L be insincere]. 35 Some of the ·wise [L insightful] ones will ·be killed [L stumble]. ·But the hard times must come so they can be made stronger and purer and without faults [L …in order to refine, to purify, and to cleanse them] until the time of the end comes. Then, at the right time, the end will come.
The King Who Praises Himself
36 “·The king of the North [L The king] will do whatever he ·wants [pleases; desires]. He will ·brag about [exalt] himself and praise himself and think he is even better than a god. He will say ·things [fantastic/horrendous things] against the God of gods that no one has ever heard. And he will be successful until ·all the bad things have happened [L rage is completed]. Then what ·God has planned to happen [L is determined] will happen. 37 ·The king of the North [L He] will ·not care about [pay no attention to] the gods ·his ancestors worshiped [L of his ancestors/fathers; C he replaced the worship of Apollos with that of Zeus] or the god ·that women worship [L desired/coveted/favored by women; C perhaps Adonis or Dionysius]. He won’t ·care about [pay attention to] any god. Instead, he will ·make himself more important than any god [L exalt himself above all]. 38 ·The king of the North [L He] will ·worship [glorify] ·power and strength [L a god of fortresses in his place], ·which his ancestors did not worship [L a god his ancestors/fathers did not know]. He will ·honor [glorify] the god of power with gold and silver, ·expensive jewels [precious stones] and ·gifts [L desired/coveted/favored things]. 39 That king will attack ·strong, walled cities [fortresses] with the help of a foreign god. He will give much ·honor [glory; or wealth] to the people who ·join [acknowledge; recognize] him, making them rulers in charge of many other people. And he will ·make them pay him for the land they rule [L distribute the land for a price].
40 “At the time of the end, the king of the South will ·fight a battle [L butt] against ·the king of the North [L him]. The king of the North will ·attack [L rush in on him] with chariots, soldiers on horses, and many large ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through their lands like a flood. 41 The king of the North will attack the beautiful land [C Judah; 8:9]. He will ·defeat many countries [L cause many to stumble], but Edom, Moab, and the ·leaders [L heads; or main part] of Ammon will be saved from ·him [L his hand]. 42 ·The king of the North [L He] will ·show his power in [L send his hand against] many countries; Egypt will not escape. 43 ·The king [L He] will ·get [L rule over the] treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt. The Libyan and ·Nubian [or Ethiopian; L Cushite] people will ·obey him [L follow in his tracks]. 44 But the king of the North will hear ·news [reports] from the east and the north that will make him ·afraid [terrified] and angry. He will go to [L devastate and] destroy completely many. 45 He will ·set up [pitch] his royal tents between the sea and the beautiful holy mountain [C Zion, the location of the Temple]. But, finally, his end will come, and no one will help him.
25 ·I am about to die [L My soul clings to the dust].
Give me life, as you have promised.
26 I ·told you about my life [L recounted my way], and you answered me.
Teach me your ·demands [statutes; ordinances; requirements].
27 Help me understand your ·orders [L the way of your precepts].
Then I will ·think [meditate] about your ·miracles [wonders].
28 ·I am sad and tired [L My soul is weary/melts with sorrow affliction].
Make me ·strong [L rise up] again as you have promised.
29 ·Don’t let me be dishonest [L Turn me away from a false way];
·have mercy on me by helping me obey your teachings [graciously teach me your instructions/laws].
30 I have chosen the way of ·truth [faithfulness];
I have ·obeyed [placed before me] your ·laws [judgments].
31 I ·hold on [cling] to your ·rules [decrees; testimonies].
Lord, do not let me be ·disgraced [shamed].
32 I will ·quickly obey [L run the way of] your commands,
because you have ·made me happy [L enlarged my heart/mind].
33 Lord, teach me ·your demands [L the way of your demands/statutes/ordinances/requirements],
and I will ·keep [observe] them until the end.
34 Help me understand, so I can ·keep [protect] your ·teachings [instructions; laws],
·obeying [guarding] them with all my heart.
35 Lead me in the path of your commands,
because ·that makes me happy [L I take pleasure in them].
36 Make me want to keep your ·rules [decrees; testimonies]
·instead of wishing for riches [L not to gain/profit].
37 ·Keep me [L Turn my eyes] from looking at ·worthless [false; vain] things.
Let me live ·by your word [L in your path].
38 ·Keep your promise [Confirm your word] to me, your servant,
so you will be ·respected [feared; Prov. 1:7].
39 Take away ·the shame [my scorn/humiliation] I fear,
because your ·laws [judgments] are good.
40 How I ·want to follow [long for] your ·orders [precepts].
Give me life because of your ·goodness [righteousness].
41 Lord, ·show [L bring] me your ·love [loyalty],
and ·save me [give me victory] as you have ·promised [said].
42 I have an answer for people who ·insult [scorn] me,
because I ·trust [find refuge in] what you say.
43 Never ·keep me from speaking your truth [L take the word of truth from my mouth],
because I ·depend [pin my hopes] on your ·fair laws [judgments].
44 I will ·obey [keep; guard] your ·teachings [instructions; laws]
forever and ever.
45 So I will live in ·freedom [liberty],
because I ·want to follow [L seek] your ·orders [precepts].
46 I will discuss your ·rules [decrees; testimonies] with kings
and will not be ashamed.
47 I ·enjoy obeying [L delight in] your commands,
which I love.
48 I ·praise [L lift my palms/hands to] your commands, which I love,
and I ·think [meditate] about your ·demands [statutes; ordinances; requirements].
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