M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

Chapter 26

Divisions of Gatekeepers. ^1 (A)As for the divisions of gatekeepers: Of the Korahites was Meshelemiah, the son of Kore, one of the sons of Abiasaph. ² Meshelemiah’s sons: Zechariah, the firstborn, Jediael, the second son, Zebadiah, the third, Jathniel, the fourth, ³ Elam, the fifth, Jehohanan, the sixth, Eliehoenai, the seventh. ⁴ Obed-edom’s sons: Shemaiah, the firstborn, Jehozabad, a second son, Joah, the third, Sachar, the fourth, Nethanel, the fifth, ⁵ Ammiel, the sixth, Issachar, the seventh, Peullethai, the eighth, for God blessed him. ⁶ To his son Shemaiah were born sons who ruled over their family, for they were warriors. ⁷ The sons of Shemaiah were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad; also his kinsmen who were men of substance, Elihu and Semachiah. ⁸ All these were the sons of Obed-edom, who, together with their sons and their kinsmen, were men of substance, fit for the service. Of Obed-edom, sixty-two. ⁹ Of Meshelemiah, eighteen sons and kinsmen, men of substance.

¹⁰ Hosah, a descendant of Merari, had these sons: Shimri, the chief (for though he was not the firstborn, his father made him chief),^{(B) 11} Hilkiah, the second son, Tebaliah, the third, Zechariah, the fourth. All the sons and kinsmen of Hosah were thirteen.

¹² To these divisions of the gatekeepers, by their chief men, were assigned watches for them to minister in the house of the Lord, for each group in the same way. ¹³ They cast lots for each gate, small and large families alike. ¹⁴ When the lot was cast for the east side, it fell to Meshelemiah. Then they cast lots for his son Zechariah, a prudent counselor, and the north side fell to his lot.^{(C) 15} To Obed-edom fell the south side, and to his sons the storehouse. ¹⁶ To Hosah fell the west side with the Shallecheth gate at the ascending highway. For each family, watches were established. ¹⁷ On the east, six watched each day, on the north, four each day, on the south, four each day, and at the storehouse they were two and two; ¹⁸ as for the large building^[a] on the west, there were four at the highway and two at the large building. ¹⁹ These were the classes of the gatekeepers, sons of Korah and Merari.

Treasurers. ²⁰ Their brother Levites had oversight of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries of votive offerings.^{(D) 21} Among the sons of Ladan the Gershonite, the family heads were sons of Jehiel:^{(E) 22 (F)}the sons of Jehiel, Zetham and his brother Joel, who oversaw the treasures of the house of the Lord. ²³ Of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites, and Uzzielites, ²⁴ Shubael, son of Gershom, son of Moses, was principal overseer of the treasures. ^25 (G)His associate was of the line of Eliezer, whose son was Rehabiah, whose son was Jeshaiah, whose son was Joram, whose son was Zichri, whose son was Shelomith. ²⁶ This Shelomith and his kinsmen oversaw all the treasures of the votive offerings dedicated by King David, the heads of the families, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the commanders of the army;^{(H) 27} what came from wars and from spoils, they dedicated for the support of the house of the Lord. ²⁸ Also, whatever Samuel the seer, Saul, son of Kish, Abner, son of Ner, Joab, son of Zeruiah, and all others had consecrated, was under the charge of Shelomith and his kinsmen.

Magistrates. ²⁹ Among the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were in charge of Israel’s civil affairs^[b] as officials and judges.^{(I) 30} Among the Hebronites, Hashabiah^(J) and his kinsmen, one thousand seven hundred men of substance, had the administration of Israel on the western side of the Jordan for all the work of the Lord and the service of the king. ³¹ Among the Hebronites, Jerijah was their chief according to their family records. In the fortieth year of David’s reign search was made, and there were found among them warriors at Jazer of Gilead.^{(K) 32} His kinsmen were also men of substance, two thousand seven hundred heads of families. King David appointed them to the administration of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh for everything pertaining to God and to the king.

Chapter 27

Army Commanders.^{[c] 1} This is the list of the Israelite family heads, commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and other officers who served the king in all that pertained to the divisions, of twenty-four thousand men each, that came and went month by month throughout the year.

² Over the first division for the first month was Ishbaal, son of Zabdiel, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men; ³ a descendant of Perez, he was chief over all the commanders of the army for the first month. ⁴ Over the division of the second month was Eleazar, son of Dodo, from Ahoh, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men.^{(L) 5 (M)}The third army commander, for the third month, was Benaiah, son of Jehoiada the chief priest, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men. ⁶ This Benaiah was a warrior among the Thirty and over the Thirty. His son Ammizabad was over his division. ⁷ Fourth, for the fourth month, was Asahel, brother of Joab, and after him his son Zebadiah, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men.^{(N) 8} Fifth, for the fifth month, was the commander Shamhuth, a descendant of Zerah, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men. ⁹ Sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira, son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men. ¹⁰ Seventh, for the seventh month, was Hellez, from Beth-pelet, of the Ephraimites, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men. ¹¹ Eighth, for the eighth month, was Sibbecai the Hushathite, a descendant of Zerah, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men.^{(O) 12} Ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer from Anathoth, of Benjamin, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men. ¹³ Tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai from Netophah, a descendant of Zerah, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men. ¹⁴ Eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the Ephraimites, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men. ¹⁵ Twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Heldai the Netophathite, of the family of Othniel, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men.

Tribal Leaders. ¹⁶ Over the tribes of Israel, for the Reubenites the leader was Eliezer, son of Zichri; for the Simeonites, Shephatiah, son of Maacah; ¹⁷ for Levi, Hashabiah, son of Kemuel; for Aaron, Zadok; ¹⁸ for Judah, Eliab,^(P) one of David’s brothers; for Issachar, Omri, son of Michael; ¹⁹ for Zebulun, Ishmaiah, son of Obadiah; for Naphtali, Jeremoth, son of Azriel; ²⁰ for the Ephraimites, Hoshea, son of Azaziah; for the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel, son of Pedaiah; ²¹ for the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo, son of Zechariah; for Benjamin, Jaasiel, son of Abner; ²² for Dan, Azarel, son of Jeroham. These were the commanders of the tribes of Israel.

²³ David did not count those who were twenty years of age or younger, for the Lord had promised to multiply Israel like the stars of the heavens.^{(Q) 24} Joab, son of Zeruiah, began to take the census, but he did not complete it, for because of it wrath fell upon Israel. Therefore the number was not recorded in the book of chronicles of King David.^(R)

Overseers. ²⁵ Over the treasuries of the king was Azmaveth,^(S) the son of Adiel. Over the treasuries in the country, the cities, the villages, and the towers was Jonathan, son of Uzziah. ²⁶ Over the farm workers who tilled the soil was Ezri, son of Chelub. ²⁷ Over the vineyards was Shimei from Ramah, and over their produce for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite. ²⁸ Over the olive trees and sycamores of the Shephelah was Baalhanan the Gederite, and over the stores of oil was Joash. ²⁹ Over the cattle that grazed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite, and over the cattle in the valleys was Shaphat, the son of Adlai; ³⁰ over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite; over the donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite; ³¹ and over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite. All these were the overseers of King David’s possessions.

David’s Court. ³² Jonathan, David’s uncle and a man of intelligence, was counselor and scribe; he and Jehiel, the son of Hachmoni, attended the king’s sons. ³³ Ahithophel was also the king’s counselor, and Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend.^{(T) 34} After Ahithophel^[d] came Jehoiada, the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar. The commander of the king’s army was Joab.

I. Address

Chapter 1

Greeting. ^1 [a]Symeon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of equal value to ours through the righteousness of our God and savior Jesus Christ: ² may grace and peace be yours in abundance through knowledge^[b] of God and of Jesus our Lord.

II. Exhortation to Christian Virtue

The Power of God’s Promise.^{[c] 3} His divine power has bestowed on us everything that makes for life and devotion, through the knowledge of him^(A) who called us by his own glory and power.^{[d] 4} Through these, he has bestowed on us the precious and very great promises, so that through them you may come to share in the divine nature, after escaping from the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.^{(B) 5 [e]}For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge,^{(C) 6} knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with devotion, ⁷ devotion with mutual affection, mutual affection with love. ⁸ If these are yours and increase in abundance, they will keep you from being idle or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ^9 (D)Anyone who lacks them is blind and shortsighted, forgetful of the cleansing of his past sins. ^10 [f]Therefore, brothers, be all the more eager to make your call and election firm, for, in doing so, you will never stumble. ¹¹ For, in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.

Apostolic Witness. ^12 [g]Therefore, I will always remind you of these things, even though you already know them and are established in the truth you have. ¹³ I think it right, as long as I am in this “tent,”^[h] to stir you up by a reminder, ¹⁴ since I know that I will soon have to put it aside, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me.^{(E) 15} I shall also make every effort to enable you always to remember these things after my departure.

¹⁶ We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming^[i] of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.^{(F) 17} For he received honor and glory from God the Father^[j] when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory, “This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”^{(G) 18} We^[k] ourselves heard this voice come from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain. ^19 (H)Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable. You will do well to be attentive to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. ^20 [l]Know this first of all, that there is no prophecy of scripture that is a matter of personal interpretation, ²¹ for no prophecy ever came through human will; but rather human beings moved by the holy Spirit spoke under the influence of God.

II. Oracles of Salvation

Chapter 4

Chapter 13

A Call to Repentance.^{[a] 1} At that time some people who were present there told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate^[b] had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. ² He said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?^{(A) 3} By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent,^(B) you will all perish as they did! ⁴ Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them^[c]—do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? ⁵ By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!”

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree.^{[d] 6 (C)}And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, ⁷ he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. [So] cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ ⁸ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; ⁹ it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’”

Cure of a Crippled Woman on the Sabbath.^{[e] 10} He was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath. ¹¹ And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect. ¹² When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, “Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.” ¹³ He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God. ^14 (D)But the leader of the synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath, said to the crowd in reply, “There are six days when work should be done. Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day.” ^15 [f]The Lord said to him in reply, “Hypocrites! Does not each one of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger and lead it out for watering?^{(E) 16 [g]}This daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now, ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day from this bondage?”^{(F) 17} When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated; and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed.^{(G) 18 [h]}Then he said, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? ¹⁹ It is like a mustard seed that a person took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and ‘the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.’”^(H)

The Parable of the Yeast.^{(I) 20} Again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? ²¹ It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed [in] with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”

The Narrow Door; Salvation and Rejection.^{[i] 22} He passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. ²³ Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, ^24 (J)“Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.^{(K) 25} After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’^{(L) 26} And you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’ ^27 (M)Then he will say to you, ‘I do not know where [you] are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!’ ^28 (N)And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. ²⁹ And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God.^{(O) 30} For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”^(P)

Herod’s Desire to Kill Jesus. ³¹ At that time some Pharisees came to him and said, “Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.” ³² He replied, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.^{[j] 33 [k]}Yet I must continue on my way today,^(Q) tomorrow, and the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.’

The Lament over Jerusalem.^{(R) 34} “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling! ³⁵ Behold, your house will be abandoned. [But] I tell you, you will not see me until [the time comes when] you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”^(S)