A Walk Through The Word

The Downfall of Abimelech

²² Abimelech ruled over Israel three years. ^23 (A)And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem ^(B)dealt treacherously with Abimelech, ^24 (C)that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers. ²⁵ And the leaders of Shechem put men in ambush against him on the mountaintops, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way. And it was told to Abimelech.

²⁶ And Gaal the son of Ebed moved into Shechem with his relatives, and the leaders of Shechem put confidence in him. ²⁷ And they went out into the field and gathered the grapes from their vineyards and trod them and held a festival; and they went into ^(D)the house of their god and ate and drank and reviled Abimelech. ²⁸ And Gaal the son of Ebed said, ^(E)“Who is Abimelech, and who are we of Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer? Serve the men of ^(F)Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him? ²⁹ Would that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech. I would say^[a] to Abimelech, ‘Increase your army, and come out.’”

³⁰ When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled. ³¹ And he sent messengers to Abimelech secretly,^[b] saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his relatives have come to Shechem, and they are stirring up^[c] the city against you. ³² Now therefore, go by night, you and the people who are with you, and set an ambush in the field. ³³ Then in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, rise early and rush upon the city. And when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you may do to them ^(G)as your hand finds to do.”

³⁴ So Abimelech and all the men who were with him rose up by night and set an ambush against Shechem in four companies. ³⁵ And Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city, and Abimelech and the people who were with him rose from the ambush. ³⁶ And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from ^(H)the mountaintops!” And Zebul said to him, “You mistake^[d] the shadow of the mountains for men.” ³⁷ Gaal spoke again and said, “Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming from the direction of the Diviners' Oak.” ³⁸ Then Zebul said to him, “Where is your mouth now, you who said, ^(I)‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Are not these the people whom you despised? Go out now and fight with them.” ³⁹ And Gaal went out at the head of the leaders of Shechem and fought with Abimelech. ⁴⁰ And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him. And many fell wounded, up to the entrance of the gate. ⁴¹ And Abimelech lived at Arumah, and Zebul drove out Gaal and his relatives, so that they could not dwell at Shechem.

⁴² On the following day, the people went out into the field, and Abimelech was told. ⁴³ He took his people and divided them into three companies and set an ambush in the fields. And he looked and saw the people coming out of the city. So he rose against them and killed them. ⁴⁴ Abimelech and the company that was with him ^(J)rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city, while the two companies rushed upon all who were in the field and killed them. ⁴⁵ And Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He captured the city and killed the people who were in it, and ^(K)he razed the city and ^(L)sowed it with salt.

⁴⁶ When all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered ^(M)the stronghold of the house of ^(N)El-berith. ⁴⁷ Abimelech was told that all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem were gathered together. ⁴⁸ And Abimelech went up to Mount ^(O)Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him. And Abimelech took an axe in his hand and cut down a bundle of brushwood and took it up and laid it on his shoulder. And he said to the men who were with him, “What you have seen me do, hurry and do as I have done.” ⁴⁹ So every one of the people cut down his bundle and following Abimelech put it against ^(P)the stronghold, and they set the stronghold on fire over them, so that all the people of the Tower of Shechem also died, about 1,000 men and women.

⁵⁰ Then Abimelech went to Thebez and encamped against Thebez and captured it. ⁵¹ But there was a strong tower within the city, and all the men and women and all the leaders of the city fled to it and shut themselves in, and they went up to the roof of the tower. ⁵² And Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire. ^53 (Q)And a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech's head and crushed his skull. ^54 (R)Then he called quickly to the young man his armor-bearer and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” And his young man thrust him through, and he died. ⁵⁵ And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, everyone departed to his home. ^56 (S)Thus God returned the evil of Abimelech, which he committed against his father in killing his seventy brothers. ⁵⁷ And God also made all the evil of the men of Shechem return on their heads, and upon them came ^(T)the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.

Tola and Jair

10 After Abimelech there arose to ^(U)save Israel Tola the son of Puah, son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, and he lived at Shamir in ^(V)the hill country of Ephraim. ² And he judged Israel twenty-three years. Then he died and was buried at Shamir.

³ After him arose Jair the Gileadite, who judged Israel twenty-two years. ⁴ And he had thirty sons who ^(W)rode on thirty donkeys, and they had thirty cities, called Havvoth-jair to this day, ^(X)which are in the land of Gilead. ⁵ And Jair died and was buried in Kamon.

Further Disobedience and Oppression

^6 (Y)The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord ^(Z)and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, ^(AA)the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines. And they ^(AB)forsook the Lord and did not serve him. ⁷ So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and ^(AC)he sold them into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the Ammonites, ⁸ and they crushed and oppressed the people of Israel that year. For eighteen years they oppressed all the people of Israel who were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead. ⁹ And the Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight also against Judah and against Benjamin and against the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was severely distressed.

¹⁰ And the people of Israel ^(AD)cried out to the Lord, saying, “We have sinned against you, because ^(AE)we have forsaken our God and have served the Baals.” ¹¹ And the Lord said to the people of Israel, “Did I not save you ^(AF)from the Egyptians and ^(AG)from the Amorites, ^(AH)from the Ammonites and ^(AI)from the Philistines? ¹² The Sidonians also, and ^(AJ)the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you, and you cried out to me, and I ^(AK)saved you out of their hand. ¹³ Yet you have ^(AL)forsaken me and served other gods; therefore I will save you no more. ¹⁴ Go and cry out ^(AM)to the gods whom you have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress.” ¹⁵ And the people of Israel said to the Lord, “We have sinned; do to us whatever seems good to you. Only please deliver us this day.” ¹⁶ So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord, and ^(AN)he became impatient over the misery of Israel.

¹⁷ Then the Ammonites were called to arms, and they encamped in Gilead. And the people of Israel came together, and they encamped at ^(AO)Mizpah. ¹⁸ And the people, the leaders of Gilead, said one to another, “Who is the man who will begin to fight against the Ammonites? ^(AP)He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

On the Road to Emmaus

¹³ That very day ^(A)two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles^[a] from Jerusalem, ¹⁴ and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. ¹⁵ While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. ^16 (B)But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. ¹⁷ And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. ¹⁸ Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” ¹⁹ And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was ^(C)a prophet ^(D)mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, ²⁰ and ^(E)how our chief priests and ^(F)rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. ²¹ But we had hoped that he was ^(G)the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now ^(H)the third day since these things happened. ²² Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. ^(I)They were at the tomb early in the morning, ²³ and ^(J)when they did not find his body, they came back saying that ^(K)they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. ^24 (L)Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” ²⁵ And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ^26 (M)Was it not necessary that ^(N)the Christ should suffer these things and enter into ^(O)his glory?” ²⁷ And ^(P)beginning with ^(Q)Moses and ^(R)all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

²⁸ So they drew near to the village to which they were going. ^(S)He acted as if he were going farther, ²⁹ but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and ^(T)the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. ³⁰ When he was at table with them, he took the bread and ^(U)blessed and broke it and gave it to them. ^31 (V)And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And ^(W)he vanished from their sight. ³² They said to each other, ^(X)“Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he ^(Y)opened to us the Scriptures?” ³³ And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they ^(Z)found the eleven and ^(AA)those who were with them gathered together, ³⁴ saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and ^(AB)has appeared to Simon!” ³⁵ Then they told what had happened on the road, and ^(AC)how he was known to them in ^(AD)the breaking of the bread.

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

³⁶ As they were talking about these things, ^(AE)Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” ³⁷ But they were ^(AF)startled and ^(AG)frightened and ^(AH)thought they saw a spirit. ³⁸ And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹ See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. ^(AI)Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” ⁴⁰ And when he had said this, ^(AJ)he showed them his hands and his feet. ⁴¹ And while they still disbelieved ^(AK)for joy and were marveling, ^(AL)he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish,^{[b] 43} and he took it and ate before them.

⁴⁴ Then he said to them, ^(AM)“These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, ^(AN)that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” ⁴⁵ Then ^(AO)he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, ⁴⁶ and said to them, “Thus ^(AP)it is written, ^(AQ)that the Christ should suffer and on the third day ^(AR)rise from the dead, ⁴⁷ and that ^(AS)repentance for^[c] the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed ^(AT)in his name ^(AU)to all nations, ^(AV)beginning from Jerusalem. ^48 (AW)You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ And behold, I am sending ^(AX)the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you ^(AY)are clothed with ^(AZ)power ^(BA)from on high.”

The Ascension

⁵⁰ And ^(BB)he led them out as far as ^(BC)Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. ⁵¹ While he blessed them, ^(BD)he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. ⁵² And they ^(BE)worshiped him and ^(BF)returned to Jerusalem ^(BG)with great joy, ⁵³ and ^(BH)were continually in the temple ^(BI)blessing God.

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever

A Psalm for ^(A)giving thanks.

¹⁸ Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “Where are the men whom you killed at ^(A)Tabor?” They answered, “As you are, so were they. Every one of them resembled the son of a king.” ¹⁹ And he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. ^(B)As the Lord lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you.” ²⁰ So he said to Jether his firstborn, “Rise and kill them!” But the young man did not draw his sword, for he was afraid, because he was still a young man. ²¹ Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise yourself and fall upon us, for as the man is, so is his strength.” And Gideon arose and ^(C)killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and he took ^(D)the crescent ornaments that were on the necks of their camels.

Gideon's Ephod

²² Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.” ²³ Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; ^(E)the Lord will rule over you.” ²⁴ And Gideon said to them, “Let me make a request of you: every one of you give me the earrings from his spoil.” (For they had golden earrings, ^(F)because they were Ishmaelites.) ²⁵ And they answered, “We will willingly give them.” And they spread a cloak, and every man threw in it the earrings of his spoil. ²⁶ And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels^[a] of gold, besides ^(G)the crescent ornaments and ^(H)the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian, and besides the collars that were around the necks of their camels. ²⁷ And Gideon ^(I)made an ephod of it and put it in his city, ^(J)in Ophrah. And all Israel ^(K)whored after it there, and it became a ^(L)snare to Gideon and to his family. ²⁸ So Midian was subdued before the people of Israel, and they raised their heads no more. ^(M)And the land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon.

The Death of Gideon

^29 (N)Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and lived in his own house. ³⁰ Now Gideon had ^(O)seventy sons, his own offspring,^[b] for he had many wives. ³¹ And his concubine ^(P)who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he called his name Abimelech. ³² And Gideon the son of Joash died ^(Q)in a good old age and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, ^(R)at Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

^33 (S)As soon as Gideon died, the people of Israel turned again and ^(T)whored after the Baals and made ^(U)Baal-berith their god. ³⁴ And the people of Israel ^(V)did not remember the Lord their God, who had delivered them from the hand of all their enemies on every side, ^35 (W)and they did not show steadfast love to the family of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) in return for all the good that he had done to Israel.

Abimelech's Conspiracy

9 Now Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to ^(X)his mother's relatives and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother's family, ² “Say in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that all ^(Y)seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal rule over you, or that one rule over you?’ Remember also that ^(Z)I am ^(AA)your bone and your flesh.”

³ And his mother's relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, ^(AB)“He is our brother.” ⁴ And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of ^(AC)Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired ^(AD)worthless and reckless fellows, who followed him. ⁵ And he went to his father's house at ^(AE)Ophrah ^(AF)and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself. ⁶ And all the leaders of Shechem came together, and all ^(AG)Beth-millo, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar at Shechem.

⁷ When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on top of ^(AH)Mount Gerizim and cried aloud and said to them, “Listen to me, you leaders of Shechem, that God may listen to you. ^8 (AI)The trees once went out to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ^(AJ)‘Reign over us.’ ⁹ But the olive tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my abundance, by which gods and men are honored, and go hold sway over the trees?’ ¹⁰ And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us.’ ¹¹ But the fig tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go hold sway over the trees?’ ¹² And the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and reign over us.’ ¹³ But the vine said to them, ‘Shall I leave my wine that ^(AK)cheers God and men and go hold sway over the trees?’ ¹⁴ Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us.’ ¹⁵ And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and ^(AL)take refuge in my shade, but if not, ^(AM)let fire come out of the bramble and devour ^(AN)the cedars of Lebanon.’

¹⁶ “Now therefore, if you acted in good faith and integrity when you made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with ^(AO)Jerubbaal and his house and have done to him ^(AP)as his deeds deserved— ¹⁷ for my father fought for you and risked his life and delivered you from the hand of Midian, ¹⁸ and you have risen up against my father's house this day ^(AQ)and have killed his sons, seventy men on one stone, and have made ^(AR)Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the leaders of Shechem, ^(AS)because he is your relative— ¹⁹ if you then have acted in good faith and integrity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then ^(AT)rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. ²⁰ But if not, ^(AU)let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the leaders of Shechem and from Beth-millo and devour Abimelech.” ²¹ And Jotham ran away and fled and went to ^(AV)Beer and lived there, because of Abimelech his brother.

The Death of Jesus

^44 (A)It was now about the sixth hour,^[a] and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour,^{[b] 45} while the sun's light failed. And ^(B)the curtain of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶ Then Jesus, ^(C)calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, ^(D)into your hands I ^(E)commit my spirit!” And having said this ^(F)he breathed his last. ⁴⁷ Now ^(G)when the centurion saw what had taken place, ^(H)he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” ⁴⁸ And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home ^(I)beating their breasts. ⁴⁹ And all ^(J)his acquaintances and ^(K)the women who had followed him from Galilee ^(L)stood at a distance watching these things.

Jesus Is Buried

^50 (M)Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, ⁵¹ who had not consented to their decision and action; and he ^(N)was looking for the kingdom of God. ⁵² This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. ⁵³ Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and ^(O)laid him in a tomb cut in stone, ^(P)where no one had ever yet been laid. ⁵⁴ It was the day of ^(Q)Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning.^{[c] 55 (R)}The women ^(S)who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. ⁵⁶ Then they returned and ^(T)prepared spices and ointments.

On the Sabbath they rested ^(U)according to the commandment.

The Resurrection

24 ^(V)But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, ^(W)taking the spices they had prepared. ² And they found ^(X)the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³ but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴ While they were perplexed about this, behold, ^(Y)two ^(Z)men stood by them in dazzling apparel. ⁵ And as they were ^(AA)frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, ^(AB)while he was still in Galilee, ^7 (AC)that the Son of Man ^(AD)must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and ^(AE)be crucified and on ^(AF)the third day rise.” ⁸ And ^(AG)they remembered his words, ⁹ and returning from the tomb they ^(AH)told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. ¹⁰ Now it was ^(AI)Mary Magdalene and ^(AJ)Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, ¹¹ but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and ^(AK)they did not believe them. ¹² But ^(AL)Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw ^(AM)the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

The Lord Our God Is Holy

God Selects Gideon’s Army

7 Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the troops who were with him, got up early and camped beside the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them, below the hill of Moreh, in the valley. ² The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many troops for me to hand the Midianites over to them, or else Israel might elevate themselves over me and say,^[a] ‘I saved myself.’ ³ Now announce to the troops, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’”^(A) So twenty-two thousand of the troops turned back, but ten thousand remained.

⁴ Then the Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many troops. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there. If I say to you, ‘This one can go with you,’ he can go. But if I say about anyone, ‘This one cannot go with you,’ he cannot go.” ⁵ So he brought the troops down to the water, and the Lord said to Gideon, “Separate everyone who laps water with his tongue like a dog. Do the same with everyone who kneels to drink.” ⁶ The number of those who lapped with their hands to their mouths was three hundred men, and all the rest of the troops knelt to drink water. ⁷ The Lord said to Gideon, “I will deliver you^(B) with the three hundred men who lapped and hand the Midianites over to you. But everyone else is to go home.” ⁸ So Gideon sent all the Israelites to their tents but kept the three hundred troops, who took the provisions and their rams’ horns. The camp of Midian was below him in the valley.

Gideon Spies on the Midianite Camp

⁹ That night the Lord said to him, “Get up and attack the camp, for I have handed it over to you.^{(C) 10} But if you are afraid to attack the camp, go down with Purah your servant. ¹¹ Listen to what they say, and then you will be encouraged to attack the camp.” So he went down with Purah his servant to the outpost of the troops^[b] who were in the camp.

¹² Now the Midianites, Amalekites, and all the people of the east had settled down in the valley like a swarm of locusts, and their camels were as innumerable as the sand on the seashore. ¹³ When Gideon arrived, there was a man telling his friend about a dream. He said, “Listen, I had a dream:^(D) a loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp, struck a tent, and it fell. The loaf turned the tent upside down so that it collapsed.”

¹⁴ His friend answered, “This is nothing less than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has handed the entire Midianite camp over to him.”

Gideon Attacks the Midianites

¹⁵ When Gideon heard the account of the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship. He returned to Israel’s camp and said, “Get up, for the Lord has handed the Midianite camp over to you.” ¹⁶ Then he divided the three hundred men into three companies and gave each of the men a ram’s horn in one hand and an empty pitcher with a torch inside it in the other hand.

¹⁷ “Watch me,” he said to them, “and do what I do. When I come to the outpost of the camp, do as I do. ¹⁸ When I and everyone with me blow our rams’ horns, you are also to blow your rams’ horns all around the camp. Then you will say, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon!’”

¹⁹ Gideon and the hundred men who were with him went to the outpost of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch after the sentries had been stationed. They blew their rams’ horns and broke the pitchers that were in their hands. ²⁰ The three companies blew their rams’ horns and shattered their pitchers. They held their torches in their left hands and their rams’ horns to blow in their right hands, and they shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” ²¹ Each Israelite took his position around the camp, and the entire Midianite army began to run, and they cried out as they fled. ²² When Gideon’s men blew their three hundred rams’ horns, the Lord caused the men in the whole army to turn on each other with their swords.^(E) They fled to Acacia House^[c] in the direction of Zererah as far as the border of Abel-meholah^(F) near Tabbath. ²³ Then the men of Israel were called from Naphtali, Asher, and Manasseh, and they pursued the Midianites.

The Men of Ephraim Join the Battle

²⁴ Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim with this message: “Come down to intercept the Midianites and take control of the watercourses ahead of them as far as Beth-barah and the Jordan.” So all the men of Ephraim^(G) were called out, and they took control of the watercourses as far as Beth-barah and the Jordan. ²⁵ They captured Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian; they killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb, while they were pursuing the Midianites. They brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon across the Jordan.

8 The men of Ephraim said to him, “Why have you done this to us, not calling us when you went to fight against the Midianites?” And they argued with him violently.

² So he said to them, “What have I done now compared to you? Is not the gleaning^(H) of Ephraim better than the grape harvest^(I) of Abiezer? ³ God handed over to you Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian. What was I able to do compared to you?” When he said this, their anger against him subsided.

Gideon Pursues the Kings of Midian

⁴ Gideon and the three hundred men came to the Jordan and crossed it. They were exhausted but still in pursuit. ⁵ He said to the men of Succoth,^(J) “Please give some loaves of bread to the troops under my command,^[d] because they are exhausted, for I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”

⁶ But the princes of Succoth asked, “Are Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hands that we should give bread to your army?”

⁷ Gideon replied, “Very well, when the Lord has handed Zebah and Zalmunna over to me, I will tear^[e] your flesh with thorns and briers from the wilderness!” ⁸ He went from there to Penuel and asked the same thing from them. The men of Penuel^(K) answered just as the men of Succoth had answered. ⁹ He also told the men of Penuel, “When I return safely, I will tear down this tower!”

¹⁰ Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and with them was their army of about fifteen thousand men, who were all those left of the entire army of the people of the east. Those who had been killed were one hundred twenty thousand armed men. ¹¹ Gideon traveled on the caravan route^[f] east of Nobah^(L) and Jogbehah and attacked their army while the army felt secure. ¹² Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and he pursued them. He captured these two kings of Midian and routed the entire army.

¹³ Gideon son of Joash returned from the battle by the Ascent of Heres. ¹⁴ He captured a youth from the men of Succoth and interrogated him. The youth wrote down for him the names of the seventy-seven leaders and elders of Succoth. ¹⁵ Then he went to the men of Succoth and said, “Here are Zebah and Zalmunna. You taunted me about them, saying, ‘Are Zebah and Zalmunna now in your power that we should give bread to your exhausted men?’” ¹⁶ So he took the elders of the city, and he took some thorns and briers from the wilderness, and he disciplined the men of Succoth with them. ¹⁷ He also tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.

Jesus or Barabbas

¹³ Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people,^{(A) 14} and said to them, “You have brought me this man as one who misleads the people.^(B) But in fact, after examining him in your presence, I have found no grounds^(C) to charge this man with those things you accuse him of. ¹⁵ Neither has Herod, because he sent him back to us. Clearly, he has done nothing to deserve death. ¹⁶ Therefore, I will have him whipped^[a](D) and then release him.”^[b]

¹⁸ Then^(E) they all cried out together, “Take this man away!^(F) Release Barabbas to us!” ¹⁹ (He had been thrown into prison for a rebellion that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)

²⁰ Wanting to release Jesus,^(G) Pilate addressed them again, ²¹ but they kept shouting, “Crucify! Crucify him!”

²² A third time he said to them, “Why? What has this man done wrong?^(H) I have found in him no grounds^(I) for the death penalty. Therefore, I will have him whipped and then release him.”

²³ But they kept up the pressure, demanding with loud voices that he be crucified, and their voices^[c] won out. ²⁴ So^(J) Pilate decided to grant their demand^{(K) 25} and released the one they were asking for, who had been thrown into prison for rebellion and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will.^(L)

The Way to the Cross

²⁶ As^(M) they led him away, they seized Simon, a Cyrenian,^(N) who was coming in from the country, and laid the cross^(O) on him to carry behind Jesus. ²⁷ A large crowd of people followed him, including women who were mourning and lamenting him.^{(P) 28} But turning to them, Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem,^(Q) do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and your children. ²⁹ Look, the days are coming^(R) when they will say, ‘Blessed are the women without children, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed!’^{(S) 30} Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ ^{[d](T) 31} For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”^(U)

Crucified between Two Criminals

³² Two others—criminals^(V)—were also led away to be executed with him. ³³ When^(W) they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. ³⁴ Then Jesus said, “Father,^(X) forgive^(Y) them, because they do not know what they are doing.”^[e](Z) And they divided his clothes and cast lots.^(AA)

³⁵ The^(AB) people stood watching, and even the leaders were scoffing:^(AC) “He saved others; let him save himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!” ^{(AD) 36} The soldiers also mocked him. They came offering him sour wine^{(AE) 37} and said, “If you are the king of the Jews,^(AF) save yourself!”

³⁸ An inscription was above him:^[f] This Is the King of the Jews.

³⁹ Then^(AG) one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at^[g] him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

⁴⁰ But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God,^(AH) since you are undergoing the same punishment? ⁴¹ We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.”^{(AI) 42} Then he said, “Jesus, remember me^[h](AJ) when you come into your kingdom.”^(AK)

⁴³ And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”^(AL)

Psalm 97

The Majestic King

Psalm 98

Praise the King

A psalm.

Midian Oppresses Israel

6 The Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.^(A) So the Lord handed^(B) them over to Midian seven years, ² and they oppressed Israel.^(C) Because of Midian, the Israelites made hiding places^(D) for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds. ³ Whenever the Israelites planted crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people of the east^(E) came and attacked them. ⁴ They encamped against them and destroyed the produce of the land, even as far as Gaza. They left nothing for Israel to eat, as well as no sheep, ox, or donkey. ⁵ For the Midianites came with their cattle and their tents like a great swarm of locusts.^(F) They and their camels were without number, and they entered the land to lay waste to it. ⁶ So Israel became poverty-stricken because of Midian, and the Israelites cried out to the Lord.^(G)

⁷ When the Israelites cried out to him because of Midian, ⁸ the Lord sent a prophet^(H) to them. He said to them, “This is what the Lord^(I) God of Israel says: ‘I brought you out of Egypt and out of the place of slavery.^{(J) 9} I rescued you from the power of Egypt and the power of all who oppressed^(K) you. I drove them out before you and gave you their land. ¹⁰ I said to you: I am the Lord your God. Do not fear the gods of the Amorites whose land you live in.^(L) But you did not obey me.’”

The Lord Calls Gideon

¹¹ The angel of the Lord^(M) came, and he sat under the oak that was in Ophrah,^(N) which belonged to Joash, the Abiezrite. His son Gideon was threshing wheat in the winepress in order to hide it from the Midianites. ¹² Then the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “The Lord is with you, valiant warrior.”^(O)

¹³ Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened? And where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about? They said, ‘Hasn’t the Lord brought us out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian.”

¹⁴ The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and deliver Israel from the grasp of Midian. I am sending you!” ^(P)

¹⁵ He said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Look, my family is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s family.”

¹⁶ “But I will be with you,”^(Q) the Lord said to him. “You will strike Midian down as if it were one man.”

¹⁷ Then he said to him, “If I have found favor with you,^(R) give me a sign^(S) that you are speaking with me. ¹⁸ Please do not leave this place until I return to you. Let me bring my gift and set it before you.”

And he said, “I will stay until you return.”

¹⁹ So Gideon went and prepared a young goat and unleavened bread from a half bushel^[a] of flour. He placed the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot. He brought them out and offered them to him under the oak.

²⁰ The angel of God^(T) said to him, “Take the meat with the unleavened bread, put it on this stone, and pour the broth on it.” So he did that.

²¹ The angel of the Lord extended the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened bread. Fire came up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. Then the angel of the Lord vanished from his sight.

²² When Gideon realized that he was the angel of the Lord, he said, “Oh no, Lord God!^(U) I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!” ^(V)

²³ But the Lord said to him, “Peace to you. Don’t be afraid, for you will not die.” ²⁴ So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace.^[b] It is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites today.

Gideon Tears Down a Baal Altar

²⁵ On that very night the Lord said to him, “Take your father’s young bull and a second bull seven years old. Then tear down the altar of Baal^(W) that belongs to your father and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. ²⁶ Build a well-constructed altar to the Lord your God on the top of this mound.^(X) Take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah pole you cut down.” ²⁷ So Gideon took ten of his male servants and did as the Lord had told him. But because he was too afraid of his father’s family and the men of the city to do it in the daytime, he did it at night.

²⁸ When the men of the city got up in the morning, they found Baal’s altar torn down, the Asherah pole beside it cut down, and the second bull offered up on the altar that had been built. ²⁹ They said to each other, “Who did this?” After they made a thorough investigation, they said, “Gideon son of Joash did it.”

³⁰ Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son. He must die, because he tore down Baal’s altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.”

³¹ But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Would you plead Baal’s case for him? Would you save him? Whoever pleads his case will be put to death by morning! If he is a god, let him plead his own case because someone tore down his altar.” ³² That day Gideon was called Jerubbaal, since Joash said, “Let Baal contend with him,” because he tore down his altar.

The Sign of the Fleece

³³ All the Midianites, Amalekites, and people of the east gathered together, crossed over the Jordan, and camped in the Jezreel Valley.^(Y)

³⁴ The Spirit of the Lord enveloped^[c] Gideon,^(Z) and he blew the ram’s horn and the Abiezrites rallied behind him. ³⁵ He sent messengers throughout all of Manasseh, who rallied behind him. He also sent messengers throughout Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, who also came to meet him.

³⁶ Then Gideon said to God, “If you will deliver Israel by me, as you said, ³⁷ I will put a wool fleece here on the threshing floor. If dew is only on the fleece, and all the ground is dry, I will know that you will deliver Israel by me, as you said.” ³⁸ And that is what happened. When he got up early in the morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung dew out of it, filling a bowl with water.

³⁹ Gideon then said to God, “Don’t be angry with me; let me speak one more time. Please allow me to make one more test with the fleece. Let it remain dry, and the dew be all over the ground.” ⁴⁰ That night God did as Gideon requested: only the fleece was dry, and dew was all over the ground.

Peter Denies His Lord

⁵⁴ They seized him, led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. Meanwhile Peter^(A) was following at a distance. ⁵⁵ They^(B) lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard^(C) and sat down together, and Peter sat among them. ⁵⁶ When a servant saw him sitting in the light, and looked closely at him, she said, “This man was with him too.”

⁵⁷ But he denied it: “Woman, I don’t know him.”

⁵⁸ After a little while, someone else saw him and said, “You’re one of them too.”

“Man, I am not!” Peter said.

⁵⁹ About an hour later, another kept insisting, “This man was certainly with him, since he’s also a Galilean.”

⁶⁰ But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. ⁶¹ Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter.^(D) So Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”^{(E) 62} And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Jesus Mocked and Beaten

⁶³ The men who were holding Jesus started mocking and beating him.^{(F) 64} After blindfolding him, they kept^[a] asking, “Prophesy! Who was it that hit you?” ⁶⁵ And they were saying many other blasphemous^(G) things to him.

Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin

⁶⁶ When daylight came,^(H) the elders^[b] of the people, both the chief priests and the scribes,^(I) convened and brought him before their Sanhedrin.^{(J) 67} They said,^(K) “If you are the Messiah, tell us.”

But he said to them, “If I do tell you, you will not believe. ⁶⁸ And if I ask you, you will not answer. ⁶⁹ But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”^(L)

⁷⁰ They all asked, “Are you, then, the Son of God?” ^(M)

And he said to them, “You say that I am.”^(N)

⁷¹ “Why do we need any more testimony,” they said, “since we’ve heard it ourselves from his mouth?”

Jesus Faces Pilate

23 Then^(O) their whole assembly rose up and brought him before Pilate. ² They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation, opposing payment of taxes^(P) to Caesar, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.”

³ So Pilate asked him,^(Q) “Are you the king of the Jews?” ^(R)

He answered him, “You say so.”^[c]

⁴ Pilate then told the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no grounds^(S) for charging this man.”

⁵ But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people,^(T) teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee^(U) where he started even to here.”

Jesus Faces Herod Antipas

⁶ When Pilate^(V) heard this,^[d] he asked if the man was a Galilean. ⁷ Finding that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod,^(W) who was also in Jerusalem during those days. ⁸ Herod was very glad to see Jesus; for a long time he had wanted to see him because he had heard about him and was hoping to see some miracle^[e] performed by him. ⁹ So he kept asking him questions, but Jesus did not answer him.^{(X) 10} The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. ¹¹ Then Herod, with his soldiers, treated him with contempt, mocked^(Y) him, dressed him in bright clothing,^(Z) and sent him back to Pilate. ¹² That very day Herod and Pilate became friends.^[f](AA) Previously, they had been enemies.

Psalm 95

Worship and Warning

Psalm 96^(M)

King of the Earth

Deborah and Barak

4 The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord after Ehud had died. ² So the Lord sold them to King Jabin^(A) of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor.^(B) The commander of his army was Sisera^(C) who lived in Harosheth of the Nations.^{[a] 3} Then the Israelites cried out^(D) to the Lord, because Jabin had nine hundred iron chariots, and he harshly oppressed them twenty years.

⁴ Deborah, a prophetess^(E) and the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. ⁵ She would sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to settle disputes.^(F)

⁶ She summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “Hasn’t the Lord, the God of Israel,^(G) commanded you, ‘Go, deploy the troops on Mount Tabor,^(H) and take with you ten thousand men from the Naphtalites^(I) and Zebulunites?^{(J) 7} Then I will lure Sisera commander of Jabin’s army, his chariots, and his infantry at the Wadi Kishon^(K) to fight against you, and I will hand him over to you.’”^(L)

⁸ Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go. But if you will not go with me, I will not go.”

⁹ “I will gladly go with you,” she said, “but you will receive no honor on the road you are about to take, because the Lord will sell Sisera to a woman.” So Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh. ¹⁰ Barak summoned Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; ten thousand men followed him, and Deborah also went with him.

¹¹ Now Heber the Kenite had moved away from the Kenites, the sons of Hobab,^(M) Moses’s father-in-law,^(N) and pitched his tent beside the oak tree of Zaanannim,^(O) which was near Kedesh.

¹² It was reported to Sisera that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up Mount Tabor. ¹³ Sisera summoned all his nine hundred iron chariots and all the troops who were with him from Harosheth of the Nations to the Wadi Kishon. ¹⁴ Then Deborah said to Barak, “Go! This is the day the Lord has handed Sisera over to you. Hasn’t the Lord gone before you?” So Barak came down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him.

¹⁵ The Lord threw Sisera, all his charioteers, and all his army into a panic^(P) before Barak’s assault. Sisera left his chariot and fled on foot. ¹⁶ Barak pursued the chariots and the army as far as Harosheth of the Nations, and the whole army of Sisera fell by the sword; not a single man was left.

¹⁷ Meanwhile, Sisera had fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there was peace between King Jabin of Hazor and the family of Heber the Kenite. ¹⁸ Jael went out to greet Sisera and said to him, “Come in, my lord. Come in with me. Don’t be afraid.” So he went into her tent, and she covered him with a blanket. ¹⁹ He said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink for I am thirsty.” She opened a container of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him again. ²⁰ Then he said to her, “Stand at the entrance to the tent. If a man comes and asks you, ‘Is there a man here?’ say, ‘No.’” ²¹ While he was sleeping from exhaustion, Heber’s wife, Jael, took a tent peg, grabbed a hammer, and went silently to Sisera. She hammered the peg into his temple and drove it into the ground, and he died.

²² When Barak arrived in pursuit of Sisera, Jael went out to greet him and said to him, “Come and I will show you the man you are looking for.” So he went in with her, and there was Sisera lying dead with a tent peg through his temple!

²³ That day God subdued King Jabin of Canaan before the Israelites. ²⁴ The power of the Israelites continued to increase against King Jabin of Canaan until they destroyed him.

Deborah’s Song

5 On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang:

And the land had peace for forty years.

Be Ready for Trouble

³⁵ He also said to them, “When I sent you out^(A) without money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?”

“Not a thing,” they said.

³⁶ Then he said to them, “But now, whoever has a money-bag should take it, and also a traveling bag. And whoever doesn’t have a sword should sell his robe and buy one. ³⁷ For I tell you, what is written must be fulfilled in me: ^[a] And he was counted among the lawless.^[b](B) Yes, what is written about me is coming to its fulfillment.”^(C)

³⁸ “Lord,” they said, “look, here are two swords.”

“That is enough!” he told them.

The Prayer in the Garden

³⁹ He went out and made his way^(D) as usual^(E) to the Mount of Olives,^(F) and the disciples followed him. ⁴⁰ When he reached the place,^(G) he told them, “Pray that you may not fall into temptation.”^{(H) 41} Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and began to pray,^{(I) 42} “Father, if you are willing, take this cup^(J) away from me—nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

⁴³ Then an angel from heaven^(K) appeared to him, strengthening him. ⁴⁴ Being in anguish,^(L) he prayed more fervently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.^{[c] 45} When he got up from prayer and came to the disciples, he found them sleeping, exhausted from their grief. ⁴⁶ “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you won’t fall into temptation.”

Judas’s Betrayal of Jesus

⁴⁷ While^(M) he was still speaking, suddenly a mob came, and one of the Twelve named Judas was leading them. He came near Jesus to kiss him, ⁴⁸ but Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

⁴⁹ When those around him saw what was going to happen, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” ⁵⁰ Then one of them struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear.

⁵¹ But Jesus responded, “No more of this!” And touching his ear, he healed him. ⁵² Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple police, and the elders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal?^{[d] 53} Every day while I was with you in the temple,^(N) you never laid a hand on me. But this is your hour^(O) —and the dominion of darkness.”^(P)

Psalm 94

The Just Judge

¹⁰ That whole generation was also gathered to their ancestors. After them another generation rose up who did not know the Lord^(A) or the works he had done for Israel.

¹¹ The Israelites did what was evil in the Lord’s sight.^(B) They worshiped the Baals^{(C) 12} and abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed other gods from the surrounding peoples^(D) and bowed down to them. They angered the Lord,^{(E) 13} for they abandoned him and worshiped Baal and the Ashtoreths.^(F)

¹⁴ The Lord’s anger burned against Israel, and he handed them over to marauders who raided them. He sold^(G) them to the enemies around them, and they could no longer resist their enemies. ¹⁵ Whenever the Israelites went out, the Lord was against them^(H) and brought disaster on them, just as he had promised and sworn to them.^(I) So they suffered greatly.

¹⁶ The Lord raised up^(J) judges, who saved them from the power of their marauders, ¹⁷ but they did not listen to their judges. Instead, they prostituted^(K) themselves with other gods, bowing down to them. They quickly turned from the way^(L) of their ancestors, who had walked in obedience to the Lord’s commands. They did not do as their ancestors did. ¹⁸ Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for the Israelites, the Lord was with^(M) him and saved the people from the power of their enemies while the judge was still alive. The Lord was moved to pity whenever they groaned because of those who were oppressing and afflicting them. ¹⁹ Whenever the judge died, the Israelites would act even more corruptly^(N) than their ancestors, following other gods to serve them and bow in worship to them. They did not turn from their evil practices or their obstinate^(O) ways.

²⁰ The Lord’s anger burned against Israel, and he declared, “Because this nation has violated my covenant^(P) that I made with their ancestors^(Q) and disobeyed me, ²¹ I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations Joshua left^(R) when he died.^{(S) 22} I did this to test Israel and to see whether or not they would keep the Lord’s way^(T) by walking in it, as their ancestors had.”^{(U) 23} The Lord left these nations and did not drive them out immediately. He did not hand them over to Joshua.

The Lord Tests Israel

3 These are the nations the Lord left in order to test all those in Israel who had experienced none of the wars in Canaan.^{(V) 2} This was to teach the future generations of the Israelites how to fight in battle, especially those who had not fought before. ³ These nations included the five rulers^(W) of the Philistines^(X) and all of the Canaanites, the Sidonians,^(Y) and the Hivites^(Z) who lived in the Lebanese mountains from Mount Baal-hermon as far as the entrance to Hamath.^{[a] 4} The Lord left them to test Israel, to determine if they would keep the Lord’s commands he had given their ancestors through Moses.^{(AA) 5} But they settled among the Canaanites, Hethites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. ⁶ The Israelites took their daughters as wives for themselves, gave their own daughters to their sons, and worshiped their gods.^(AB)

Othniel, the First Judge

⁷ The Israelites did what was evil in the Lord’s sight; they forgot the Lord their God^(AC) and worshiped the Baals and the Asherahs. ⁸ The Lord’s anger burned against Israel, and he sold them to King Cushan-rishathaim^[b] of Aram-naharaim,^[c](AD) and the Israelites served him eight years.

⁹ The Israelites cried out to the Lord.^(AE) So the Lord raised up Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s youngest brother,^(AF) as a deliverer^(AG) to save the Israelites. ¹⁰ The Spirit of the Lord came on him, and he judged Israel. Othniel went out to battle, and the Lord handed over King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram to him, so that Othniel overpowered him. ¹¹ Then the land had peace for^(AH) forty years, and Othniel son of Kenaz died.

Ehud

¹² The Israelites again did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He gave King Eglon of Moab^(AI) power over Israel, because they had done what was evil in the Lord’s sight. ¹³ After Eglon convinced the Ammonites and the Amalekites to join forces with him, he attacked and defeated Israel and took possession of the City of Palms.^{[d](AJ) 14} The Israelites served King Eglon of Moab eighteen years.

¹⁵ Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and he raised up Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed^(AK) Benjaminite,^[e] as a deliverer for them. The Israelites sent him with the tribute^(AL) for King Eglon of Moab.

¹⁶ Ehud made himself a double-edged sword eighteen inches long.^[f] He strapped it to his right thigh under his clothes ¹⁷ and brought the tribute to King Eglon of Moab, who was an extremely fat man. ¹⁸ When Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he dismissed the people who had carried it. ¹⁹ At the carved images near Gilgal he returned and said, “King Eglon, I have a secret message for you.” The king said, “Silence!” and all his attendants left him. ²⁰ Then Ehud approached him while he was sitting alone in his upstairs room where it was cool. Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you,” and the king stood up from his throne. ²¹ Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and plunged it into Eglon’s belly. ²² Even the handle went in after the blade, and Eglon’s fat closed in over it, so that Ehud did not withdraw the sword from his belly. And the waste came out.^{[g] 23} Ehud escaped by way of the porch, closing and locking the doors of the upstairs room behind him.

²⁴ Ehud was gone when Eglon’s servants came in. They looked and found the doors of the upstairs room locked and thought he was relieving himself^[h] in the cool room. ²⁵ The servants waited until they became embarrassed and saw that he had still not opened the doors of the upstairs room. So they took the key and opened the doors—and there was their lord lying dead on the floor!

²⁶ Ehud escaped while the servants waited. He passed the Jordan near the carved images and reached Seirah. ²⁷ After he arrived, he sounded the ram’s horn throughout the hill country of Ephraim. The Israelites came down with him from the hill country, and he became their leader. ²⁸ He told them, “Follow me, because the Lord has handed over your enemies, the Moabites, to you.” So they followed him, captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Moab, and did not allow anyone to cross over.^{(AM) 29} At that time they struck down about ten thousand Moabites, all stout and able-bodied men. Not one of them escaped. ³⁰ Moab became subject to Israel that day, and the land had peace for eighty years.

Shamgar

³¹ After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath became judge. He also delivered Israel, striking down six hundred Philistines with a cattle prod.

The First Lord’s Supper

¹⁴ When^(A) the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. ¹⁵ Then he said to them, “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. ¹⁶ For I tell you, I will not eat it again^[a] until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”^{(B) 17} Then he took a cup,^(C) and after giving thanks,^(D) he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. ¹⁸ For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

¹⁹ And he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is my body,^(E) which is given for you. Do this in remembrance ^(F) of me.”

²⁰ In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant^(G) in my blood,^(H) which is poured out for you.^{[b] 21} But^(I) look, the hand of the one betraying me is at the table with me.^{(J) 22} For the Son of Man will go away as it has been determined,^(K) but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!”

²³ So they began to argue^(L) among themselves which of them it could be who was going to do it.

The Dispute over Greatness

²⁴ Then a dispute also arose among them about who should be considered the greatest.^{(M) 25} But he said to them,^(N) “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them have themselves called^[c] ‘Benefactors.’ ²⁶ It is not to be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever is greatest among you should become like the youngest,^(O) and whoever leads, like the one serving. ²⁷ For who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving? Isn’t it the one at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.^{(P) 28} You are those who stood by me in my trials.^{(Q) 29} I bestow on you a kingdom,^(R) just as my Father bestowed one on me, ³⁰ so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom.^(S) And you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.^(T)

Peter’s Denial Predicted

³¹ “Simon, Simon,^[d] look out. Satan^(U) has asked to sift you^[e] like wheat.^{(V) 32} But I have prayed^(W) for you^[f] that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen^(X) your brothers.”

³³ “Lord,”^(Y) he told him, “I’m ready to go with you both to prison and to death.”

³⁴ “I tell you, Peter,” he said, “the rooster will not crow today until^[g] you deny three times that you know me.”

Psalm 92

God’s Love and Faithfulness

A psalm. A song for the Sabbath day.

Psalm 93

God’s Eternal Reign

Judah’s Leadership against the Canaanites

1 After the death of Joshua,^(A) the Israelites inquired of the Lord,^(B) “Who will be the first to fight for us against the Canaanites?”

² The Lord answered, “Judah^(C) is to go.^(D) I have handed the land over to him.”^(E)

³ Judah said to his brother Simeon, “Come with me to my allotted territory, and let’s fight against the Canaanites. I will also go with you to your allotted territory.” So Simeon went with him.

⁴ When Judah attacked, the Lord handed the Canaanites and Perizzites^(F) over to them. They struck down ten thousand men in Bezek.^{(G) 5} They found Adoni-bezek in Bezek, fought against him, and struck down the Canaanites and Perizzites.

⁶ When Adoni-bezek fled, they pursued him, caught him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes.^{(H) 7} Adoni-bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off used to pick up scraps^[a] under my table. God has repaid me for what I have done.” They brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.

⁸ The men of Judah fought against Jerusalem, captured it, put it to the sword, and set the city on fire. ⁹ Afterward, the men of Judah marched down to fight against the Canaanites who were living in the hill country, the Negev, and the Judean foothills.^{[b] 10} Judah also marched against the Canaanites who were living in Hebron^(I) (Hebron was formerly named Kiriath-arba^(J)). They struck down Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.^{(K) 11} From there they marched against the residents of Debir^(L) (Debir was formerly named Kiriath-sepher).

¹² Caleb^(M) said, “Whoever attacks and captures Kiriath-sepher, I will give my daughter Achsah^(N) to him as a wife.” ¹³ So Othniel^(O) son of Kenaz, Caleb’s youngest brother, captured it, and Caleb gave his daughter Achsah to him as his wife.

¹⁴ When she arrived, she persuaded Othniel to ask her father for a field. As she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What do you want?” ¹⁵ She answered him, “Give me a blessing. Since you have given me land in the Negev,^(P) give me springs also.” So Caleb gave her both the upper and lower springs.^(Q)

¹⁶ The descendants of the Kenite, Moses’s father-in-law,^(R) had gone up with the men of Judah from the City of Palms^[c](S) to the Wilderness of Judah, which was in the Negev of Arad.^(T) They went to live among the people.

¹⁷ Judah went with his brother Simeon, struck the Canaanites who were living in Zephath, and completely destroyed the town. So they named the town Hormah.^{(U) 18} Judah captured Gaza and its territory, Ashkelon and its territory, and Ekron and its territory. ¹⁹ The Lord was with^(V) Judah and enabled them to take possession of the hill country, but they could not drive out^(W) the people who were living in the plain because those people had iron chariots.^(X)

²⁰ Judah gave Hebron to Caleb, just as Moses had promised.^(Y) Then Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak^(Z) who lived there.

Benjamin’s Failure

²¹ At the same time the Benjaminites did not drive out the Jebusites who were living in Jerusalem. The Jebusites have lived among the Benjaminites in Jerusalem to this day.^(AA)

Success of the House of Joseph

²² The house of Joseph also attacked Bethel, and the Lord was with^(AB) them. ²³ They sent spies to Bethel (the town was formerly named Luz^(AC)). ²⁴ The spies saw a man coming out of the town and said to him, “Please show us how to get into town, and we will show you kindness.”^{(AD) 25} When he showed them the way into the town, they put the town to the sword but released the man and his entire family. ²⁶ Then the man went to the land of the Hittites, built a town, and named it Luz. That is its name still today.

Failure of the Other Tribes

²⁷ At that time Manasseh failed to take possession of Beth-shean^(AE) and Taanach^(AF) and their surrounding villages, or the residents of Dor,^(AG) Ibleam,^(AH) and Megiddo^(AI) and their surrounding villages; the Canaanites were determined to stay in this land.^{(AJ) 28} When Israel became stronger, they made the Canaanites serve as forced labor but never drove them out completely.^(AK)

²⁹ At that time Ephraim failed to drive out the Canaanites who were living in Gezer, so the Canaanites have lived among them in Gezer.^(AL)

³⁰ Zebulun failed to drive out the residents of Kitron or the residents of Nahalol,^(AM) so the Canaanites lived among them and served as forced labor.

³¹ Asher failed to drive out the residents of Acco or of Sidon, or Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, or Rehob. ³² The Asherites lived among the Canaanites who were living in the land, because they failed to drive them out.

³³ Naphtali did not drive out the residents of Beth-shemesh or the residents of Beth-anath. They lived among the Canaanites who were living in the land, but the residents of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath served as their forced labor.

³⁴ The Amorites^(AN) forced the Danites into the hill country and did not allow them to go down into the valley. ³⁵ The Amorites were determined to stay in Har-heres, Aijalon,^(AO) and Shaalbim. When the house of Joseph got the upper hand, the Amorites were made to serve as forced labor. ³⁶ The territory of the Amorites extended from the Scorpions’ Ascent,^(AP) that is from Sela^(AQ) upward.

Pattern of Sin and Judgment

2 The angel of the Lord^(AR) went up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, “I brought you out of Egypt and led you into the land^(AS) I had promised to your ancestors.^(AT) I also said: I will never break my covenant with you. ² You are not to make a covenant^(AU) with the inhabitants of this land. You are to tear down their altars.^(AV) But you have not obeyed me. What have you done? ³ Therefore, I now say: I will not drive out these people before you.^(AW) They will be thorns^[d] in your sides,^(AX) and their gods will be a trap for you.”^{(AY) 4} When the angel of the Lord had spoken these words to all the Israelites, the people wept loudly. ⁵ So they named that place Bochim^[e] and offered sacrifices there to the Lord.

Joshua’s Death

⁶ Previously, when Joshua had sent the people away, the Israelites had gone to take possession of the land, each to his own inheritance.^{(AZ) 7} The people worshiped the Lord throughout Joshua’s lifetime and during the lifetimes of the elders who outlived Joshua. They had seen all the Lord’s great works^(BA) he had done for Israel.

⁸ Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110. ⁹ They buried him in the territory of his inheritance, in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim,^(BB) north of Mount Gaash.

The Parable of the Fig Tree

²⁹ Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. ³⁰ As soon as they put out leaves you can see for yourselves and recognize that summer is already near. ³¹ In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize^[a] that the kingdom of God is near. ³² Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all things take place.^{(A) 33} Heaven and earth will pass away,^(B) but my words will never pass away.^(C)

The Need for Watchfulness

³⁴ “Be on your guard,^(D) so that your minds are not dulled^[b] from carousing,^[c] drunkenness,^(E) and worries of life,^(F) or that day will come on you unexpectedly^{(G) 35} like a trap. For it will come on all who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ But be alert at all times,^(H) praying that you may have strength^[d] to escape^(I) all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”

³⁷ During^(J) the day, he was teaching in the temple,^(K) but in the evening he would go out and spend the night on what is called the Mount of Olives.^{(L) 38} Then all the people would come early in the morning to hear him in the temple.^(M)

The Plot to Kill Jesus

22 The^(N) Festival of Unleavened Bread,^(O) which is called Passover,^(P) was approaching. ² The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put him to death,^(Q) because they were afraid of the people.^(R)

³ Then^(S) Satan entered Judas,^(T) called Iscariot,^(U) who was numbered among the Twelve. ⁴ He went away and discussed with the chief priests and temple police^(V) how he could hand him over^(W) to them. ⁵ They were glad and agreed to give him silver.^{[e] 6} So he accepted the offer and started looking for a good opportunity to betray him to them when the crowd was not present.

Preparation for Passover

⁷ Then^(X) the Day of Unleavened Bread came when the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.^{(Y) 8} Jesus sent Peter and John,^(Z) saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

⁹ “Where do you want us to prepare it?” they asked him.

¹⁰ “Listen,” he said to them, “when you’ve entered the city, a man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him into the house he enters. ¹¹ Tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks you, “Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ ¹² Then he will show you a large, furnished room upstairs.^(AA) Make the preparations there.”

¹³ So they went and found it just as he had told them,^(AB) and they prepared the Passover.

BOOK IV

(Psalms 90–106)

Psalm 90

Eternal God and Mortal Man

A prayer of Moses, the man of God.

Psalm 91

The Protection of the Most High

Review of Israel’s History

24 Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem^(A) and summoned Israel’s elders, leaders, judges, and officers, and they presented themselves before God.^{(B) 2} Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your ancestors, including Terah,^(C) the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods. ³ But I took your father Abraham from the region beyond the Euphrates River, led him throughout the land of Canaan, and multiplied his descendants.^(D) I gave him Isaac,^{(E) 4} and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau.^(F) I gave the hill country of Seir to Esau as a possession.^(G)

“‘Jacob and his sons, however, went down to Egypt.^{(H) 5} I sent Moses and Aaron,^(I) and I defeated Egypt by what I did within it, and afterward I brought you out. ⁶ When I brought your ancestors out of Egypt and you reached the Red Sea,^(J) the Egyptians pursued your ancestors with chariots and horsemen as far as the sea. ⁷ Your ancestors cried out to the Lord, so he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea over them, engulfing them. Your own eyes saw what I did to Egypt. After that, you lived in the wilderness a long time.

⁸ “‘Later, I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived beyond the Jordan.^(K) They fought against you, but I handed them over to you. You possessed their land, and I annihilated them before you. ⁹ Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab,^(L) set out to fight against Israel. He sent for Balaam son of Beor to curse you, ¹⁰ but I would not listen to Balaam. Instead, he repeatedly blessed you, and I rescued you from him.

¹¹ “‘You then crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho.^(M) Jericho’s citizens—as well as the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hethites, Girgashites, Hivites, and Jebusites—fought against you, but I handed them over to you. ¹² I sent hornets^[a](N) ahead of you, and they drove out the two Amorite kings^(O) before you. It was not by your sword or bow. ¹³ I gave you a land you did not labor for, and cities you did not build,^(P) though you live in them; you are eating from vineyards and olive groves you did not plant.’

The Covenant Renewal

¹⁴ “Therefore, fear the Lord and worship him in sincerity and truth.^(Q) Get rid of the gods your ancestors worshiped^(R) beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and worship the Lord. ¹⁵ But if it doesn’t please you to worship the Lord, choose for yourselves today: Which will you worship—the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living?^(S) As for me and my family, we will worship the Lord.”

¹⁶ The people replied, “We will certainly not abandon the Lord to worship other gods! ¹⁷ For the Lord our God brought us and our ancestors out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery,^(T) and performed these great signs before our eyes. He also protected us all along the way we went and among all the peoples whose lands we traveled through. ¹⁸ The Lord drove out before us all the peoples, including the Amorites who lived in the land. We too will worship the Lord, because he is our God.”

¹⁹ But Joshua told the people, “You will not be able to worship the Lord, because he is a holy God. He is a jealous God;^(U) he will not forgive your transgressions and sins.^{(V) 20} If you abandon the Lord and worship foreign gods, he will turn against you, harm you, and completely destroy^(W) you, after he has been good to you.”

²¹ “No!” the people answered Joshua. “We will worship the Lord.”

²² Joshua then told the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you yourselves have chosen to worship the Lord.”

“We are witnesses,” they said.

²³ “Then get rid of the foreign gods that are among you and turn your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.”

²⁴ So the people said to Joshua, “We will worship the Lord our God and obey him.”

²⁵ On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people at Shechem and established a statute and ordinance for them. ²⁶ Joshua recorded these things in the book of the law of God;^(X) he also took a large stone and set it up there under the oak at the sanctuary of the Lord. ²⁷ And Joshua said to all the people, “You see this stone—it will be a witness against us,^(Y) for it has heard all the words the Lord said to us, and it will be a witness against you, so that you will not deny your God.” ²⁸ Then Joshua sent the people away, each to his own inheritance.

Burial of Three Leaders

²⁹ After these things, the Lord’s servant, Joshua son of Nun, died at the age of 110. ³⁰ They buried him in his allotted territory at Timnath-serah, in the hill country of Ephraim^(Z) north of Mount Gaash. ³¹ Israel worshiped the Lord throughout Joshua’s lifetime and during the lifetimes of the elders who outlived Joshua^(AA) and who had experienced all the works the Lord had done for Israel.

³² Joseph’s bones, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt,^(AB) were buried at Shechem in the parcel of land Jacob had purchased from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of silver.^[b](AC) It was an inheritance for Joseph’s descendants.

³³ And Eleazar son of Aaron died, and they buried him at Gibeah,^[c] which had been given to his son Phinehas^(AD) in the hill country of Ephraim.

The Widow’s Gift

21 He^(A) looked up and saw the rich dropping their offerings into the temple treasury.^{(B) 2} He also saw a poor widow dropping in two tiny coins.^{[a](C) 3} “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all of them.^{(D) 4} For all these people have put in gifts out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”

Destruction of the Temple Predicted

⁵ As^(E) some were talking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, ⁶ “These things that you see—the days will come^(F) when not one stone will be left on another that will not be thrown down.”^(G)

Signs of the End of the Age

⁷ “Teacher,” they asked him, “so when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” ^(H)

⁸ Then he said, “Watch out that you are not deceived.^(I) For many will come in my name,^(J) saying, ‘I am he,’^(K) and, ‘The time is near.’ Don’t follow them.^{(L) 9} When you hear of wars and rebellions,^[b] don’t be alarmed. Indeed, it is necessary that these things take place first, but the end won’t come right away.”

¹⁰ Then he told them, “Nation will be raised up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.^{(M) 11} There will be violent earthquakes,^(N) and famines and plagues^(O) in various places, and there will be terrifying sights and great signs from heaven.^{(P) 12} But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you^(Q) and persecute^(R) you. They will hand you over to the synagogues^(S) and prisons,^(T) and you will be brought before kings and governors^(U) because of my name. ¹³ This will give you an opportunity to bear witness.^{(V) 14} Therefore make up your minds^[c] not to prepare your defense ahead of time,^{(W) 15} for I will give you such words^(X) and a wisdom^(Y) that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.^{(Z) 16} You will even be betrayed by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends.^(AA) They will kill some of you. ¹⁷ You will be hated by everyone because of my name,^{(AB) 18} but not a hair of your head will be lost.^{(AC) 19} By your endurance, gain^[d] your lives.^(AD)

The Destruction of Jerusalem

²⁰ “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies,^(AE) then recognize that its desolation^(AF) has come near. ²¹ Then those in Judea must flee^(AG) to the mountains.^(AH) Those inside the city must leave it, and those who are in the country must not enter it, ²² because these are days of vengeance^(AI) to fulfill all the things that are written. ²³ Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days,^(AJ) for there will be great distress in the land^[e] and wrath against this people. ²⁴ They will be killed by the sword^[f](AK) and be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles^[g](AL) until the times of the Gentiles^(AM) are fulfilled.

The Coming of the Son of Man

²⁵ “Then there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; ^(AN) and there will be anguish on the earth among nations bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the waves.^{(AO) 26} People will faint from fear and expectation of the things that are coming on the world, because the powers of the heavens will be shaken.^{(AP) 27} Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud^(AQ) with power and great glory.^{(AR) 28} But when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift your heads, because your redemption is near.”^(AS)