The Wayfinding Bible

The
Wayfinding
Bible
TM
Helping you
navigate
God’s Word.
THIS SAMPLER IS FOR REVIEW PURPOSES ONLY. NOT FOR RESALE
OR GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. ALL CONTENT IS PROPRIETARY AND
CONFIDENTIAL. COPYRIGHT TYNDALE HOUSE PUBLISHERS, INC. 2013.
THE WAYFINDING BIBLE
USER’S GUIDE
1
CHOOSE YOUR ROUTE
The Wayfinding Bible offers three routes through the Bible using the innovative
Bible Mapping System. Each route will take you through a series of chronological readings that capture the main storyline in God’s Word. Select which route is
right for you. These icons mark the beginning of each reading.
THE FLYOVER ROUTE—In 54 readings you’ll gain a chronological overview
of the events of the Bible.
THE DIRECT ROUTE—In 215 readings you gain a full perspective of the
entire Bible and how it fits together, all in less than a year.
THE SCENIC ROUTE—In 386 readings you’ll discover the depth and
richness of God’s Word as you wind your way through well-known
and not‑so-well-known passages alike.
2
FOLLOW THE STOPS
On your route, each stop is clearly marked so you will always know where you are
on your journey.
stop number
7:1-24
PG 6
FLYOVER
PG 8
DIRECT
PG 8
SCENIC
Where you
WERE.
7:1–8:22
7:1–8:22
3
PG
22
your reading
PG 12
5
PG 12
5
Where you
ARE.
Where you’re
GOING.
3
READ THE PASSAGE
When you get to your stop, read the introduction first. Then read the Bible passage.
Finish with the Observation Point and the Exploration Point.
1.
3.
2.
The end of each reading is clearly marked with icons like this:
PG
22
22
PG
PG
22
Don’t forget to watch the arrows at the top of the page. Each will tell you where to
find your next reading.
PG 22
STRAIGHT ARROW
Your next reading
is on the next page.
SKIP ARROW
Skip pages to get
to your next stop.
JUMP ARROW
You’re jumping out
of your current
book.
BACK ARROW
Sometimes you
have to go back to
go forward.
A9
4
DISCOVER THESE FEATURES
Along the way, you’ll discover lots of extra features to help you better understand
God’s Word.
BOOK INTRODUCTIONS
Book Introductions will help you understand why each
book was written, what the book is about, and what
events were happening around the same time. You’ll
also see ways that each book points you toward Jesus.
GETTING YOUR BEARINGS
At eight critical points along the way, you’ll pause, step
back, and review your journey so far. Then you’ll look
at where you’re going next. You’ll also have a chance
to see where Jesus, either directly or indirectly, has
been involved in the story. A timeline and world map
give you a sense of when and where all this is happening and show world history events for added context.
HISTORICAL MARKERS
Historical Markers will draw your attention to specific
locations and the events that happened there. These
markers will shed light on the stories you’re reading
and will fill in background details you might not know.
THE WAYFINDING BIBLE USER’S GUIDE A11

PG
11
78
LUKE 12
OBSERVATION POINT
1141
EXPLORATION POINT
Jesus’ message here is full of references to birds and
flowers. He mentions ravens in verse 24 because the
Jews classified them as unclean (Leviticus 11:15).
Ravens had no status at all; they were the lowlifes
of the avian world. Yet God cares for and feeds even
them. Lilies were extremely common, the equivalent
of wildflowers; yet God dresses them more magnificently than the wealthiest king in Jewish history—
King Solomon.
Jesus’ statement “Sell your possessions and give
to those in need” is a radical teaching about how
we should handle our wealth. It is not wrong to be
wealthy; wealth is a gift from God. But it is wrong to
be obsessed with gaining more and holding on to it
for selfish reasons. Everything we have is a gift from
God and should be used to serve him and his people.
WF_B08_pgs1043-1196.indb 1141
PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOL
Then someone called from the crowd,
“Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our
father’s estate with me.”
14
Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a
judge over you to decide such things as that?”
15
Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every
kind of greed. Life is not measured by how
much you own.”
16
Then he told them a story: “A rich man
had a fertile farm that produced fine crops.
17
He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t
have room for all my crops.’ 18 Then he said, ‘I
know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store
all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I’ll sit
back and say to myself, “My friend, you have
enough stored away for years to come. Now
take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
20
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will
die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’
13
SIDE TRIPS
PG 1168
a | GOD LOVES YOU | 12:6-12
PG 1018
12
Meanwhile, the crowds grew until thousands were milling about and stepping
on each other. Jesus turned first to his disciples
and warned them, “Beware of the yeast of the
Pharisees—their hypocrisy. 2 The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be
revealed, and all that is secret will be made
known to all. 3 Whatever you have said in the
dark will be heard in the light, and what you
have whispered behind closed doors will be
shouted from the housetops for all to hear!
4
“Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who
want to kill your body; they cannot do any
more to you after that. 5 But I’ll tell you whom
to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill
you and then throw you into hell.* Yes, he’s
the one to fear.
6
“What is the price of five sparrows—two
copper coins*? Yet God does not forget a single
one of them. 7 And the very hairs on your head
are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are
more valuable to God than a whole flock of
sparrows.
8
“I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowl-
Scenic Overlooks will allow you to pause and see
many of the significant locations mentioned in the
Bible. You’ll also gain more insight into the history,
the people, and God’s Word itself as you explore the
full-color infographics.
edges me publicly here on earth, the Son of
Man* will also acknowledge in the presence of
God’s angels. 9 But anyone who denies me here
on earth will be denied before God’s angels.
10
Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man
can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes
the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
11
“And when you are brought to trial in the
synagogues and before rulers and authorities,
don’t worry about how to defend yourself or
what to say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you
at that time what needs to be said.”
sanctuary. Yes, it will certainly be charged
against this generation.
52
“What sorrow awaits you experts in religious law! For you remove the key to knowledge from the people. You don’t enter the
Kingdom yourselves, and you prevent others
from entering.”
53
As Jesus was leaving, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees became hostile
and tried to provoke him with many questions.
54
They wanted to trap him into saying something they could use against him.
A WARNING AGAINST HYPOCRISY
SCENIC OVERLOOKS
12:5 Greek Gehenna.
to 1⁄16 of a denarius].
himself.
In the margins throughout this Bible, you’ll see
­markers for various Side Trips. These twenty-five
topic-based trips will highlight various Scripture
­passages that will show you what the Bible has to
say about each topic. You can find a full listing of
these Side Trips in the back of this Bible, or you can
simply pick up and follow any marker you encounter
while reading.
12:6 Greek two assaria [Roman coins equal
12:8 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for
5/10/2013 12:24:07 PM
5
ENJOY THE JOURNEY
No matter which route you choose, we know your Wayfinding journey through
God’s story will give you a greater understanding of the biblical narrative and a
closer, more intimate relationship with God.
2
START
FLYOVER
START
DIRECT
START
SCENIC
1
1
1
THE BEGINNING
GETTING YOUR
BEARINGS
God’s story has no beginning or end, but our part in it begins
when he creates the heavens and the earth. God has big plans for
his creation. He creates humans in his own image, giving them
both dominion over all creation and also the privilege of being
in intimate relationship with him. The first humans enjoy direct
fellowship and conversation with God until they choose to violate
God’s only commandment. The communion they had with their
Creator is gone, and evil permeates God’s creation. Things are no
longer the way they are supposed to be. God punishes humanity,
but he doesn’t destroy them. In fact, he already has a plan to
restore the relationship he intended to have with them.
WHERE ARE WE GOING?
We get glimpses of God’s plan even in the earliest stories of the
Bible. When creation becomes consumed with sin, God cleanses
the world with a flood, sparing the righteous Noah and his family.
When it is all over, God sends a rainbow as a sign of his promise
to never again send such a catastrophe.
God eventually selects one man, Abraham, through whom he will
restore his close relationship with humanity. God promises to
bless Abraham and his family by making them his chosen people.
They will represent God to the world and demonstrate his desire
to reunite with all humanity.
Abraham and his family are far from perfect. In fact, Genesis
records the many failures of God’s chosen people right alongside
the stories of their faithfulness. God is at work in this family,
transforming them into the kind of people he wants as his
representatives on earth.
YOU ARE
HERE
Great Flood
First date on
Egyptian calendar
The Great Pyramid
is completed in
Egypt
?
4236 bc
2530 bc
?
7000 bc
2600 bc
2166 bc
Creation
A walled
settlement is
built at Jericho
The oldest surviving
papyrus book is
made in Egypt
Abraham
is born
PG
6
PG
6
PG
6
3
JESUS AS TRUE NORTH
Although thousands of years will pass before Jesus Christ comes to earth as a baby, he is present
with God even before creation. Christ “existed before anything was created and is supreme over all
creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth” (Colossians
1:15-16). Everything in the Old Testament points the way to Jesus. He embodies God’s ultimate plan for
restoring fellowship with his people and for renewing his creation.
WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE WE?
TURKEY
EDEN?
is R
SYRIA
Ti g r
CANAAN
FERTILE
CRESCENT
i ve
r
IRAQ
IRAN
Eu
ph
ra t
es
Riv
EGYPT
er
THE EARLIEST E VENTS of
human history center around
an area known as the Fertile
Crescent, which included the
relatively lush land around the
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
in modern-day Iraq. When God
calls Abraham to leave his
homeland and travel to a new
place, Abraham probably travels
northwest along the Euphrates,
then eventually turns south and
west to Canaan.
SAUDI ARABIA
Abraham travels
to Canaan
Jacob and Esau
are born
Hammurabi
begins his reign
in Babylon
2091 bc
2006 bc
1792 bc
2066 bc
1876 bc
4 bc
Isaac
is born
Jacob’s family
moves to Egypt
Jesus
is born
6
Genesis Genesis
1:1–2:25
1:1–2:25
1:1–2:25
PG 2
FLYOVER
PG 2
DIRECT
PG 2
SCENIC
2
2
2
THE ACCOUNT OF CREATION
Before the beginning there is only God. The story of Creation is a story about God,
what he does and how he interacts with his creation. By God’s hand, everything
comes into existence out of nothing. He builds it all with grandeur, makes each
creature with attention and care, and calls everything good. The Creation story
shows us how much God loves all that he has made. This is the beginning of the
big story—God’s story told in the Bible.
THE ACCOUNT OF CREATION
1
In the beginning God created the heavens
and the earth.* 2 The earth was formless
and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over
the surface of the waters.
PG 1445
Then God said, “Let there be light,” and
there was light. 4 And God saw that the light
was good. Then he separated the light from
the darkness. 5 God called the light “day”
and the darkness “night.”
And evening passed and morning came,
marking the first day.
3
seeds produced plants and trees of the
same kind. And God saw that it was good.
13
And evening passed and morning
came, marking the third day.
Then God said, “Let lights appear in the
sky to separate the day from the night. Let
them be signs to mark the seasons, days,
and years. 15 Let these lights in the sky
shine down on the earth.” And that is what
happened. 16 God made two great lights—the
larger one to govern the day, and the smaller
one to govern the night. He also made the
stars. 17 God set these lights in the sky to light
the earth, 18 to govern the day and night, and
to separate the light from the darkness. And
God saw that it was good.
19
And evening passed and morning
came, marking the fourth day.
14
6
Then God said, “Let there be a space
between the waters, to separate the waters
of the heavens from the waters of the
earth.” 7 And that is what happened. God
made this space to separate the waters of
the earth from the waters of the heavens.
8
God called the space “sky.”
And evening passed and morning came,
marking the second day.
a | HOLY SPIRIT | 1:1-8
9
Then God said, “Let the waters beneath the
sky flow together into one place, so dry
ground may appear.” And that is what
happened. 10 God called the dry ground
“land” and the waters “seas.” And God saw
that it was good. 11 Then God said, “Let the
land sprout with vegetation—every sort
of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow
seed-bearing fruit. These seeds will
then produce the kinds of plants and
trees from which they came.” And that
is what happened. 12 The land produced
vegetation—all sorts of seed-bearing plants,
and trees with seed-bearing fruit. Their
PG 120
20
Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with
fish and other life. Let the skies be filled
with birds of every kind.” 21 So God created
great sea creatures and every living thing
that scurries and swarms in the water,
and every sort of bird—each producing
offspring of the same kind. And God saw
that it was good. 22 Then God blessed them,
saying, “Be fruitful and multiply. Let the
fish fill the seas, and let the birds multiply
on the earth.”
23
And evening passed and morning
came, marking the fifth day.
24
Then God said, “Let the earth produce every
sort of animal, each producing offspring
of the same kind—livestock, small animals
1:1 Or In the beginning when God created the heavens and the
earth, . . . Or When God began to create the heavens and the earth, . . . Genesis Genesis
7
PG 8
PG 8
PG 8
OBSERVATION POINT
The first two chapters of Genesis provide the only
record we have of a perfect world. This is what
perfection looks like. God wanted this world for all
of us. Notice the activities that existed before sin
invaded. Contrary to what most people believe, work
was part of the good creation: God created, blessed,
and planted; man tended the garden, watched over
it, and named the animals. Man and woman were to
be fruitful, multiply, govern the earth, and reign over
the animals. God rested, man slept. These were all
perfect activities.
that scurry along the ground, and wild
animals.” And that is what happened.
25
God made all sorts of wild animals,
livestock, and small animals, each able to
produce offspring of the same kind. And
God saw that it was good.
26
Then God said, “Let us make human
beings* in our image, to be like us. They will
reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in
the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals
on the earth,* and the small animals that
scurry along the ground.”
EXPLORATION POINT
The climax of God’s creation was the formation of
humans. Male and female were made in his image.
You are like him. Out of all of Creation, you carry
his image, breathed into you by his breath of life.
No other part of Creation can claim to have his
image or his breath. You are infused with his likeness through your moral conscience and spiritual
awareness. When you are feeling beaten down and
questioning yourself, these truths can be of great
encouragement!
finished his work of creation, so he rested*
from all his work. 3 And God blessed the
seventh day and declared it holy, because
it was the day when he rested from all his
work of creation.
28
Then God blessed them and said, “Be
fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and
govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the
birds in the sky, and all the animals that
scurry along the ground.”
29
Then God said, “Look! I have given you
every seed-bearing plant throughout the
earth and all the fruit trees for your food.
30
And I have given every green plant as
food for all the wild animals, the birds in
the sky, and the small animals that scurry
along the ground—everything that has
life.” And that is what happened.
31
Then God looked over all he had made,
and he saw that it was very good!
And evening passed and morning came,
marking the sixth day.
GARDEN OF EDEN
The exact location of the Garden of Eden
remains a mystery, but we do know its
general vicinity. The Tigris and Euphrates
Rivers are the clearest landmarks. We also
know that early civilization centered in the
Fertile Crescent, the area sweeping through
modern-day Kuwait, Iraq, Syria, and Israel.
Eden was located either in the northern
mountains around the source of the Tigris
and Euphrates Rivers, or in the southern
delta region, closer to the Persian Gulf.
2
So the creation of the heavens and
the earth and everything in them was
completed. 2 On the seventh day God had
THE MAN AND WOMAN IN EDEN
When the Lord God made the earth and the
heavens, 5 neither wild plants nor grains were
growing on the earth. For the Lord God had
not yet sent rain to water the earth, and there
were no people to cultivate the soil. 6 Instead,
springs* came up from the ground and watered
all the land. 7 Then the Lord God formed the
man from the dust of the ground. He breathed
the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and
the man became a living person.
1:26a Or man; Hebrew reads adam. 1:26b As in Syriac version;
Hebrew reads all the earth. 1:27 Or the man; Hebrew reads haadam. 2:2 Or ceased; also in 2:3. 2:6 Or mist. Gen 2:8-9
So God created human beings* in his
own image.
In the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
27
This is the account of the creation of the heavens and the earth.
4
8
Genesis Genesis
3:1-24
3:1-24
3:1-24
PG 6
FLYOVER
PG 6
DIRECT
PG 6
SCENIC
3
3
3
THE MAN AND WOMAN SIN
Adam and Eve are free to roam, to enjoy the garden and the animals, and to walk
and talk with God. They live with only one restriction—to not eat from the tree of
the knowledge of good and evil. But they choose to defy God and eat the tree’s
fruit. Then sin enters the world; it divides everything and uncertainty reigns.
Adam and Eve are separated from God, but God continues to love them. Even
though sin enters the world, changing everything, God’s big story continues.
8
Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden
in the east, and there he placed the man he had
made. 9 The Lord God made all sorts of trees
grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the
middle of the garden he placed the tree of life
and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
10
A river flowed from the land of Eden, watering the garden and then dividing into four
branches. 11 The first branch, called the Pi­
shon, flowed around the entire land of Hav­
i­lah, where gold is found. 12 The gold of that
land is exceptionally pure; aromatic resin and
onyx stone are also found there. 13 The second
branch, called the Gihon, flowed around the
entire land of Cush. 14 The third branch, called
the Ti­gris, flowed east of the land of As­shur.
The fourth branch is called the Eu­phra­tes.
15
The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. 16 But the
Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the
fruit of e­ very tree in the garden—17 except the
tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you
eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”
18
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good
for the man to be alone. I will make a helper
who is just right for him.” 19 So the Lord God
formed from the ground all the wild animals
and all the birds of the sky. He brought them
to the man* to see what he would call them,
and the man chose a name for each one. 20 He
gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of
the sky, and all the wild animals. But still there
was no helper just right for him.
21
So the Lord God caused the man to fall
into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the
Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs* and
closed up the opening. 22 Then the Lord God
made a woman from the rib, and he brought
her to the man.
23
“At last!” the man exclaimed.
“This one is bone from my bone,
and flesh from my flesh!
She will be called ‘woman,’
because she was taken from ‘man.’”
24
This explains why a man leaves his father
and mother and is joined to his wife, and the
two are united into one.
25
Now the man and his wife were both
naked, but they felt no shame.
THE MAN AND WOMAN SIN
3
PG 1449
a | WEDDINGS | 2:18-25
PG 46
The serpent was the shrewdest of all the
wild animals the Lord God had made. One
day he asked the woman, “Did God real­ly say
you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees
in the garden?”
2
“Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in
the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the
fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden
that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You
must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you
will die.’”
4
“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the
woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be
opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be
like God, knowing both good and evil.”
6
The woman was convinced. She saw that
the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would
give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it.
Then she gave some to her husband, who was
with her, and he ate it, too. 7 At that moment
2:19 Or Adam, and so throughout the chapter. 2:21 Or took a part
of the man’s side. Genesis Genesis3
9
PG
14
PG 10
PG 10
OBSERVATION POINT
EXPLORATION POINT
God settled Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
with a wide variety of fruit-producing trees to satisfy
their hunger. He also created two special trees that
grew in the middle of the Garden: the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil, and the tree of life. God
clearly told Adam not to eat the fruit of the first tree,
but he didn’t restrict the second. Adam and Eve had
the opportunity to eat from the tree of life, but the
Bible never says that they did. The serpent pointed
out God’s one restriction, causing Eve to doubt God
and then disobey him.
their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt
shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig
leaves together to cover themselves.
8
When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man* and his wife heard the Lord God
walking about in the garden. So they hid from
the Lord God among the trees. 9 Then the Lord
God called to the man, “Where are you?”
10
He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”
11
“Who told you that you were naked?” the
Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree
whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?”
12
The man replied, “It was the woman you
gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.”
13
Then the Lord God asked the woman,
“What have you done?”
“The serpent deceived me,” she replied.
“That’s why I ate it.”
14
Then the Lord God said to the serpent,
The story of how sin came into the world is known
as the Fall. It answers the question, “Why is there
evil in the world?” Although Eve disobeyed God’s
­command first by eating the fruit and Adam followed
her, Adam is the one who represents all humanity
separated from God. Adam’s disobedience and sin
separate everyone from God, but Christ’s righteousness and sacrifice reunite us with him. Humanity suffers under God’s indictment and conviction because
of Adam’s actions; however, God graciously offers
humanity a way of salvation through Jesus Christ
(the second Adam).
17
PG 1440
a | THE MESSIAH | 3:8-19
Then he said to the woman,
“I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy,
and in pain you will give birth.
And you will desire to control your husband,
but he will rule over you.*”
PG 73
16
“Since you listened to your wife and ate
from the tree
whose fruit I commanded you not to eat,
the ground is cursed because of you.
All your life you will struggle to scratch
a living from it.
18
It will grow thorns and thistles for you,
though you will eat of its grains.
19
By the sweat of your brow
will you have food to eat
until you return to the ground
from which you were made.
For you were made from dust,
and to dust you will return.”
PARADISE LOST: GOD’S JUDGMENT
Then the man—Adam—named his wife Eve,
because she would be the mother of all who
live.* 21 And the Lord God made clothing from
animal skins for Adam and his wife.
22
Then the Lord God said, “Look, the human
beings* have become like us, knowing both
good and evil. What if they reach out, take fruit
from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will
live forever!” 23 So the Lord God banished them
from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam
out to cultivate the ground from which he had
been made. 24 After sending them out, the Lord
God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of
the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming
sword that flashed back and forth to guard the
way to the tree of life.
20
“Because you have done this, you are
cursed
more than all animals, domestic and wild.
You will crawl on your belly,
groveling in the dust as long as you live.
15
And I will cause hostility between you and
the woman,
and between your offspring and her
offspring.
He will strike* your head,
and you will strike his heel.”
And to the man he said,
3:8 Or Adam, and so throughout the chapter. 3:15 Or bruise; also
in 3:15b. 3:16 Or And though you will have desire for your husband,
/ he will rule over you. 3:20 Eve sounds like a Hebrew term that
means “to give life.” 3:22 Or the man; Hebrew reads ha-adam. 14
Genesis Genesis7
PG 8
FLYOVER
PG 12
DIRECT
PG 12
SCENIC
7:1–8:22
7:1–8:22
7:1–8:22
4
6
6
THE FLOOD COVERS THE EARTH
The sin of Adam and Eve has spread to all their offspring, and their sin has
become a curse to all creation. Everywhere people dream of more and more
sin. But God does not give up. God will not allow sin to have the victory in his big
story. Instead, in his love he sends a flood to cleanse the world, and he begins
again with Noah and his family. He waits until Noah finishes building the boat
and everything is ready. Then the rain pours down and the underground waters
gush up out of every crevice. Soon everything is submerged.
covered the earth. 7 He went on board the boat
to escape the flood—he and his wife and his
sons and their wives. 8 With them were all the
various kinds of animals—those approved for
eating and for sacrifice and those that were
not—along with all the birds and the small
animals that scurry along the ground. 9 They
entered the boat in pairs, male and female,
just as God had commanded Noah. 10 After
seven days, the waters of the flood came and
covered the earth.
11
When Noah was 600 years old, on the
seventeenth day of the second month, all the
under­ground waters erupted from the earth,
and the rain fell in mighty torrents from the
sky. 12 The rain continued to fall for forty days
and forty nights.
13
That very day Noah had gone into the
boat with his wife and his sons—Shem, Ham,
and Ja­pheth—and their wives. 14 With them in
the boat were pairs of ­every kind of animal—
domestic and wild, large and small—along
with birds of ­every kind. 15 Two by two they
came into the boat, representing ­every living thing that breathes. 16 A male and female
of each kind entered, just as God had commanded Noah. Then the Lord closed the door
behind them.
17
For forty days the flood­waters grew deeper,
covering the ground and lifting the boat high
above the earth. 18 As the waters rose higher
and higher above the ground, the boat floated
safely on the surface. 19 Finally, the water covered even the highest mountains on the earth,
20
rising more than twenty-two feet* above the
highest peaks. 21 All the living things on earth
Gen 8:3-4
THE MOUNTAINS OF ARARAT
The mountains of Ararat may be the same
mountain range that today is located southeast of the Black Sea near Lake Van. This
mountain range spreads across parts of
modern-day Turkey, Armenia, and Iran. A
Mount Ararat is located in eastern Turkey,
but the Bible refers to a range of mountains, not one specific summit.
along the ground, will come to you to be kept
alive. 21 And be sure to take on board enough
food for your fam­il­ y and for all the animals.”
22
So Noah did every­thing exactly as God had
commanded him.
THE FLOOD COVERS THE EARTH
7
When every­thing was ready, the Lord said
to Noah, “Go into the boat with all your
fam­i­ly, for among all the people of the earth,
I can see that you alone are righteous. 2 Take
with you seven pairs—male and female—of
each animal I have approved for eating and
for sacrifice,* and take one pair of each of the
others. 3 Also take seven pairs of ­every kind of
bird. There must be a male and a female in
each pair to ensure that all life will survive on
the earth after the flood. 4 Seven days from now
I will make the rains pour down on the earth.
And it will rain for forty days and forty nights,
until I have wiped from the earth all the living
things I have created.”
5
So Noah did every­thing as the Lord commanded him.
6
Noah was 600 years old when the flood
7:2 Hebrew of each clean animal; similarly in 7:8. 7:20 Hebrew
15 cubits [6.9 meters]. PG
24
Genesis Genesis
15
PG 16
PG 16
OBSERVATION POINT
EXPLORATION POINT
To find out if any dry ground was available, Noah had
to send something out of the ark. He first selected the
raven, a large, black scavenger that could survive in
the harsh post-flood conditions since it ate decaying
corpses. The raven’s release didn’t tell Noah much
about the water levels, since it could find places to
rest even if the water was still high. Releasing the
dove would provide more useful information since
this bird refused to rest on floating debris or a corpse.
On its second flight, the dove returned with an olive
branch, so Noah knew that the olive trees, which grew
in the lower plains, were sprouting again.
died—birds, domestic animals, wild animals,
small animals that scurry along the ground,
and all the people. 22 Everything that breathed
and lived on dry land died. 23 God wiped out
­every living thing on the earth—people, livestock, small animals that scurry along the
ground, and the birds of the sky. All were destroyed. The only people who survived were
Noah and those with him in the boat. 24 And the
flood­waters covered the earth for 150 days.
THE FLOOD RECEDES
8
But God remembered Noah and all the wild
animals and livestock with him in the boat.
He sent a wind to blow across the earth, and
the flood­waters began to recede. 2 The underground waters stopped flowing, and the torrential rains from the sky were stopped. 3 So the
flood­waters gradually receded from the earth.
After 150 days, 4 exactly five months from the
time the flood began,* the boat came to rest
on the mountains of Ar­ar­ at. 5 Two and a half
months later,* as the waters continued to go
down, other mountain peaks became visible.
6
After another forty days, Noah opened the
window he had made in the boat 7 and released
a raven. The bird flew back and forth until the
flood­waters on the earth had dried up. 8 He
also released a dove to see if the water had receded and it could find dry ground. 9 But the
dove could find no place to land because the
water still covered the ground. So it returned
to the boat, and Noah held out his hand and
drew the dove back inside. 10 After waiting
another seven days, Noah released the dove
again. 11 This time the dove returned to him in
the evening with a fresh olive leaf in its beak.
Then Noah knew that the flood­waters were
We’ve all seen flooding; if not firsthand, we’ve seen it
on video clips—spring floods of the Mississippi River,
hurricanes on southern coastlines, and tsunamis in
Japan. We’ve also seen post-flood devastation—
bloated bodies, mucky debris, broken trees, and
colorless vegetation. There’s nothing pretty “after the
flood.” Starting over is difficult. But God’s presence
and his promise strengthened Noah to persevere; he
will strengthen us too during difficult times.
almost gone. 12 He waited another seven days
and then released the dove again. This time it
did not come back.
13
Noah was now 601 years old. On the first
day of the new year, ten and a half months
after the flood began,* the flood­waters had
almost dried up from the earth. Noah lifted
back the covering of the boat and saw that
the surface of the ground was drying. 14 Two
more months went by,* and at last the earth
was dry!
15
Then God said to Noah, 16 “Leave the boat,
all of you—you and your wife, and your sons
and their wives. 17 Release all the animals—the
birds, the livestock, and the small animals that
scurry along the ground—so they can be fruitful and multiply throughout the earth.”
18
So Noah, his wife, and his sons and their
wives left the boat. 19 And all of the large and
small animals and birds came out of the boat,
pair by pair.
20
Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and
there he sacrificed as burnt offerings the animals and birds that had been approved for
that purpose.* 21 And the Lord was pleased
with the aroma of the sacrifice and said to
himself, “I will never again curse the ground
because of the human race, even though
every­thing they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood. I will never again
destroy all living things. 22 As long as the earth
remains, there will be planting and harvest,
cold and heat, summer and winter, day and
night.”
8:4 Hebrew on the seventeenth day of the seventh month; see 7:11. 8:5 Hebrew On the first day of the tenth month; see 7:11 and note
on 8:4. 8:13 Hebrew On the first day of the first month; see 7:11. 8:14 Hebrew The twenty-seventh day of the second month arrived; see
note on 8:13. 8:20 Hebrew every clean animal and every clean bird. 24
Genesis 15
PG 14
FLYOVER
PG 20
DIRECT
PG 22
SCENIC
15:1-21
15:1-21
15:1-21
5
9
11
THE LORD’S COVENANT PROMISE TO ABRAM
God’s flood did not wash away sin completely. Sin spreads until people once again
live in open defiance of God. Still, God loves his world and wants to reconnect
with it. So he finds a new man, Abram, and makes a covenant with him. He promises to bless Abram, and through him, God will bless the whole world. Abram
believes and obeys God; as a result his whole life changes. But as God’s big story
continues, Abram grows anxious that he has no son to inherit God’s blessings.
Then one day Abram has a vision from the Lord.
Ad­mah, Ze­boi­im, and Bela (also called Zoar)
prepared for battle in the valley of the Dead
­ er
Sea.* 9 They fought against King Ked­or­la­om
of Elam, King Ti­dal of Goiim, King Am­ra­phel
of ­Bab­ylonia, and King Ar­i­och of El­la­sar—four
kings against five. 10 As it happened, the valley
of the Dead Sea was filled with tar pits. And as
the army of the kings of Sod­om and Go­mor­rah
fled, some fell into the tar pits, while the rest
escaped into the mountains. 11 The victorious
invaders then plundered Sod­om and Go­mor­
rah and headed for home, taking with them all
the spoils of war and the food supplies. 12 They
also captured Lot—Abram’s nephew who
lived in Sod­om—and carried off every­thing he
owned.
13
But one of Lot’s men escaped and reported
every­thing to Abram the Hebrew, who was living near the oak grove belonging to Mamre the
Am­o­rite. Mamre and his relatives, Esh­col and
Aner, were Abram’s allies.
14
When Abram heard that his nephew
Lot had been captured, he mobilized the
318 trained men who had been born into his
household. Then he pursued Ked­or­la­o­mer’s
army until he caught up with them at Dan.
15
There he divided his men and attacked during the night. Ked­or­la­o­mer’s army fled, but
Abram chased them as far as Hobah, north of
Da­mas­cus. 16 Abram recovered all the goods
that had been taken, and he brought back his
nephew Lot with his possessions and all the
women and other captives.
MELCHIZEDEK BLESSES ABRAM
After Abram returned from his victory over
Ked­or­la­om
­ er and all his allies, the king of
17
Sod­om went out to meet him in the valley of
Sha­veh (that is, the King’s Valley).
18
And ­Mel­chi­ze­dek, the king of Sa­lem and a
priest of God Most High,* brought Abram some
­ el­chi­ze­dek blessed Abram
bread and wine. 19 M
with this blessing:
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.
20
And blessed be God Most High,
who has defeated your enemies for you.”
Then Abram gave ­Mel­chi­ze­dek a tenth of all
the goods he had recovered.
21
The king of Sod­om said to Abram, “Give
back my people who were captured. But you
may keep for yourself all the goods you have
recovered.”
22
Abram replied to the king of Sod­om, “I
solemnly swear to the Lord, God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth, 23 that I will not
take so much as a single thread or sandal
thong from what belongs to you. Otherwise
you might say, ‘I am the one who made Abram
rich.’ 24 I will accept only what my young warriors have already eaten, and I request that
you give a fair share of the goods to my allies—
Aner, Esh­col, and Mamre.”
THE LORD’S COVENANT PROMISE
TO ABRAM
15
Some time later, the Lord spoke to
Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do
not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and
your reward will be great.”
2
But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord,
14:8 Hebrew Siddim Valley (see 14:3); also in 14:10. 14:18 Hebrew
El-Elyon; also in 14:19, 20, 22. Genesis 1525
PG
28
PG 26
PG 26
OBSERVATION POINT
EXPLORATION POINT
Cutting animals in half was a cultural custom of this
time and region. It signified a sacred agreement—
or covenant—between two parties. Together, both
parties divided an animal in half and then walked
between the two pieces, sealing the agreement. The
act symbolized that a person would die like the animal if he broke the covenant. God used that custom
and ritual but expanded it to include a goat, a ram,
and two birds. He elevated it to a sacred level.
THE LAND PROMISED TO ABRAHAM
Natural landmarks like mountains, rivers,
and seas designated many of the boundaries of
the Promised Land. Numerous Bible passages
outline these boundaries, including Numbers
34, Joshua 13–19, and Ezekiel 47–48.
Gen 15:18-21
what good are all your blessings when I ­don’t
even have a son? Since you’ve given me no
children, El­ie­ z­ er of Da­mas­cus, a servant in
my household, will inherit all my wealth. 3 You
have given me no descendants of my own, so
one of my servants will be my heir.”
4
Then the Lord said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a
son of your own who will be your heir.” 5 Then
the Lord took Abram outside and said to him,
“Look up into the sky and count the stars if
you can. That’s how many descendants you
will have!”
6
And Abram believed the Lord, and the
Lord counted him as righteous because of his
faith.
7
Then the Lord told him, “I am the Lord
who brought you out of Ur of the C
­ hal­deans to
give you this land as your possession.”
8
But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, how
can I be sure that I will actually possess it?”
9
The Lord told him, “Bring me a threeyear-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a
three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young
pigeon.” 10 So Abram ­pre­sent­ed all these to
him and killed them. Then he cut each animal
down the middle and laid the halves side by
side; he did not, however, cut the birds in half.
11
Some vultures swooped down to eat the carcasses, but Abram chased them away.
12
As the sun was going down, Abram fell
into a deep sleep, and a terrifying darkness
came down over him. 13 Then the Lord said
to Abram, “You can be sure that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign land, where
they will be oppressed as slaves for 400 years.
14
But I will punish the nation that enslaves
God made covenants with Adam and Eve, with Noah,
with Abram, and with others in order to reveal himself to humans and restore the relationship he had
with his creation at the beginning. This restoration is
God’s ongoing plan. Throughout the Old Testament,
God made covenants with his people. God’s son,
Jesus, is the ultimate revelation of God to humans.
Jesus inaugurated the New Covenant between God
and his people. God connected with Adam, Noah, and
Abram by using common cultural signs and rituals
that they could relate to. God later connected to all
humanity by sending his Son, Jesus Christ, to earth
as a human like us.
nea
nS
ea
dite
THE
PROMISED
LAND
Me
Num 34:8
Ezek 47:15
rra
Num 34:6
Ezek 47:20
Josh 15:12
BASHAN
Sea of
Galilee
GILEAD
Josh 13:10-11
AMMON
Dead
Sea
Num 34:3
Ezek 47:19
MOAB
EDOM
26
Genesis 16
PG 24
DIRECT
PG 24
SCENIC
16:1-16
16:1-16
10
12
THE BIRTH OF ISHMAEL
God had promised Abram that he would have descendants, and they would inherit
all his blessings. But that was years ago, and Sarai is still not pregnant. They still
have no son. Disappointed and worried, Sarai decides that something must be
done. She intervenes, following a common cultural practice.
them, and in the end they will come away
with great wealth. 15 (As for you, you will die in
peace and be buried at a ripe old age.) 16 After
four generations your descendants will return
here to this land, for the sins of the Am­or­ ites
do not yet warrant their destruction.”
17
After the sun went down and darkness fell,
Abram saw a smoking firepot and a flaming
torch pass between the halves of the carcasses. 18 So the Lord made a cov­enant with Abram
that day and said, “I have given this land to
your descendants, all the way from the border
of Egypt* to the great Eu­phra­tes River—19 the
land now occupied by the Ke­nites, Ken­iz­zites,
Kad­mon­ites, 20 Hit­tites, Per­iz­zites, Reph­a­
ites, 21 ­Am­o­rites, ­Ca­naan­ites, Gir­ga­shites, and
J­ eb­us­ ites.”
THE BIRTH OF ISHMAEL
16
Now Sa­rai, Abram’s wife, had not been
able to bear children for him. But she
had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. 2 So
Sa­rai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep
with my servant. Perhaps I can have children
through her.” And Abram agreed with Sa­rai’s
proposal. 3 So Sa­rai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar
the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as
a wife. (This happened ten years after Abram
had settled in the land of Ca­naan.)
4
So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar,
and she became pregnant. But when Hagar
knew she was pregnant, she began to treat
her mistress, Sa­rai, with contempt. 5 Then Sa­
rai said to Abram, “This is all your fault! I put
my servant into your arms, but now that she’s
pregnant she treats me with contempt. The
Lord will show who’s wrong—you or me!”
6
Abram replied, “Look, she is your servant,
so deal with her as you see fit.” Then Sa­rai
treated Hagar so harshly that she finally ran
away.
7
The angel of the Lord found Hagar beside
a spring of water in the wilderness, along the
road to Shur. 8 The angel said to her, “Hagar,
Sa­rai’s servant, where have you come from,
and where are you going?”
“I’m running away from my mistress, Sa­
rai,” she replied.
9
The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return
to your mistress, and submit to her authority.”
10
Then he added, “I will give you more descendants than you can count.”
11
And the angel also said, “You are now
pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to
name him Ish­ma­el (which means ‘God hears’),
for the Lord has heard your cry of distress.
12
This son of yours will be a wild man, as untamed as a wild donkey! He will raise his fist
against every­one, and every­one will be against
him. Yes, he will live in open hostility against
all his relatives.”
13
Thereafter, Hagar used another name to
refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her. She
said, “You are the God who sees me.”* She
also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees
me?” 14 So that well was named Beer-lahai-roi
(which means “well of the Living One who sees
me”). It can still be found between Ka­desh and
Be­red.
15
So Hagar gave Abram a son, and Abram
named him Ish­ma­el. 16 Abram was eighty-six
years old when Ish­ma­el was born.
15:18 Hebrew the river of Egypt, referring either to an eastern branch
of the Nile River or to the Brook of Egypt in the Sinai (see Num 34:5). 16:13 Hebrew El-roi. Genesis 1627
PG 28
PG 28
OBSERVATION POINT
EXPLORATION POINT
Childless for ten years after God’s promise, Sarai
resorted to the local custom—using a surrogate. In
the ancient Near East, childless women commonly
allowed their husbands to conceive a child with one
of their slave girls. Sarai had the legal right to claim
any child who was conceived and born in this way as
her own. If the child was a male, the husband could
officially adopt the boy by merely stating “You are
my son” in the presence of the surrogate mother.
Sarai’s solution was sanctioned by standard social
customs and law, but not by God.
When God makes a promise, he will come through
on it. Like Sarai, we too often become impatient
and decide to “help God out,” only to mess things
up and make our lives more complicated. It’s hard
to be patient when God’s timing does not follow our
timetable. God has a place and purpose for each one
of us. We are here to bring him glory and to further
his Kingdom. Trust that God’s plan is bigger than
you can imagine.
ABRAHAM’S DESCENDANTS
TERAH
HARAN
ABRAHAM
HAGAR
NAHOR
SARAH
LOT
MILCAH
ISCAH
BETHUEL
ISHMAEL
ISAAC
LABAN
REBEKAH
MUHAMMAD
ESAU
ZILPAH
JACOB
LEAH
BILHAH
RACHEL
7
5
1
3
9
11
GAD
DAN
REUBEN
LEVI
ISSACHAR
JOSEPH
8
ASHER
6
NAPHTALI
2
SIMEON
4
JUDAH
10
ZEBULUN
DINAH
Solid lines indicate direct descendants.
Dashed lines indicate generations between.
Dotted lines indicate marriage.
JESUS
12
BENJAMIN
Gen 17:4-7
God would fulfill his promises to Abraham
through many of the lives of Abraham’s
descendants. The Bible records God’s work
by telling their stories.
28
Genesis 17
PG 24
FLYOVER
PG 26
DIRECT
PG 26
SCENIC
17:1–18:15; 21:1-7
17:1–18:15; 21:1-7
17:1–18:15
6
11
13
A SON IS PROMISED TO SARAH
When God speaks, things happen. God calls Abram to follow, and Abram’s entire
life changes, including his name: God calls him Abraham, “the father of many.”
Abraham’s name change isn’t a hand-wringing hope, it is a firm declaration: God
is going to save the whole world, starting with a baby boy. But thirteen years after
God first promised him a son, Abraham’s wife Sarah still is not pregnant. So the
Lord appears again to confirm his covenant with Abram and reaffirm his promise
of a son. The next chapter in the big story starts with the birth of a baby.
17
When Abram was ninety-nine years old,
the Lord appeared to him and said, “I
am El-Shad­
dai—‘God Almighty.’ Serve me
faithfully and live a blameless life. 2 I will make
a cov­enant with you, by which I will guarantee
to give you countless descendants.”
3
At this, Abram fell face down on the ground.
Then God said to him, 4 “This is my cov­enant
with you: I will make you the father of a multitude of nations! 5 What’s more, I am changing
your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead,
you will be called Abra­ham,* for you will be
the father of many nations. 6 I will make you extremely fruitful. Your descendants will become
many nations, and kings will be among them!
7
“I will confirm my cov­enant with you and
your descendants* after you, from generation
to generation. This is the ever­lasting cov­enant:
I will always be your God and the God of your
descendants after you. 8 And I will give the entire land of Ca­naan, where you now live as a
foreigner, to you and your descendants. It will
be their possession forever, and I will be their
God.”
PG 1443
ABRAM IS NAMED ABRAHAM
a | WHO, ME? | 17:1-27
THE MARK OF THE COVENANT
Then God said to Abra­ham, “Your responsibility is to obey the terms of the cov­enant. You
and all your descendants have this continual
responsibility. 10 This is the cov­enant that you
and your descendants must keep: Each male
among you must be circumcised. 11 You must
cut off the flesh of your foreskin as a sign of the
cov­enant between me and you. 12 From generation to generation, e­ very male child must be
circumcised on the eighth day after his birth.
9
PG 83
This applies not only to members of your fam­
i­ly but also to the servants born in your household and the foreign-born servants whom you
have purchased. 13 All must be circumcised.
Your bodies will bear the mark of my ever­
lasting cov­enant. 14 Any male who fails to be
circumcised will be cut off from the cov­enant
fam­il­ y for breaking the cov­enant.”
SARAI IS NAMED SARAH
Then God said to Abra­ham, “Regarding Sa­rai,
your wife—her name will no longer be Sa­rai.
From now on her name will be Sar­ah.* 16 And I
will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes,
I will bless her richly, and she will become the
mother of many nations. Kings of nations will
be among her descendants.”
17
Then Abra­ham bowed down to the ground,
but he laughed to himself in disbelief. “How
could I become a father at the age of 100?”
he thought. “And how can Sar­ah have a baby
when she is ninety years old?” 18 So Abra­ham
said to God, “May Ish­ma­el live under your special blessing!”
19
But God replied, “No—Sar­ah, your wife,
will give birth to a son for you. You will name
him ­Isaac,* and I will confirm my cov­enant
with him and his descendants as an ever­
lasting cov­enant. 20 As for Ish­ma­el, I will bless
him also, just as you have asked. I will make
him extremely fruitful and multiply his descendants. He will become the father of twelve
princes, and I will make him a great nation.
15
17:5 Abram means “exalted father”; Abraham sounds like a Hebrew
term that means “father of many.” 17:7 Hebrew seed; also in 17:7b,
8, 9, 10, 19. 17:15 Sarai and Sarah both mean “princess”; the
change in spelling may reflect the difference in dialect between Ur
and Canaan. 17:19 Isaac means “he laughs.” Genesis 1829
PG
52
PG
34
PG 30
OBSERVATION POINT
EXPLORATION POINT
In Hebrew culture, names and their meanings had
great significance. The name given to a child at birth
often had some connection to his or her appearance
or birth order (see the footnotes on Genesis 25:25,
26). People’s names were sometimes changed when
they had a life-changing experience. Changing Abram
to Abraham signified a slight variation: Abram means
“exalted father,” while Abraham sounds like the
Hebrew term for “father of many.” The change from
Sarai to Sarah was just a change in spelling, probably
because of differences between the languages of Ur
and Canaan; both names mean “princess.”
But my cov­enant will be confirmed with
I­ saac, who will be born to you and Sar­ah about
this time next year.” 22 When God had finished
speaking, he left Abra­ham.
23
On that very day Abra­ham took his son,
Ish­ma­el, and ­every male in his household,
including those born there and those he had
bought. Then he circumcised them, cutting
off their foreskins, just as God had told him.
24
­Abra­ham was ninety-nine years old when he
was circumcised, 25 and Ish­ma­el, his son, was
thirteen. 26 Both Abra­ham and his son, Ish­ma­
el, were circumcised on that same day, 27 along
with all the other men and boys of the household, whether they were born there or bought
as servants. All were circumcised with him.
21
A SON IS PROMISED TO SARAH
18
The Lord appeared again to Abra­ham
near the oak grove belonging to Mamre.
One day Abra­ham was sitting at the entrance
to his tent during the hottest part of the day.
2
He looked up and noticed three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran to meet
them and welcomed them, bowing low to the
ground.
3
“My lord,” he said, “if it pleases you, stop
here for a while. 4 Rest in the shade of this tree
while water is brought to wash your feet. 5 And
since you’ve honored your servant with this
visit, let me prepare some food to refresh you
before you continue on your journey.”
“All right,” they said. “Do as you have said.”
6
So Abra­ham ran back to the tent and said
to Sar­ah, “Hurry! Get three large measures* of
your best flour, knead it into dough, and bake
some bread.” 7 Then Abra­ham ran out to the
It’s easy for us to ridicule Sarah’s audacity to laugh at
God. But aren’t we guilty of this every time we doubt
that God can handle our conundrums? Unfortunately,
we think that God’s solution must fit into our paradigms. But God can work outside our most outlandish expectations. Nothing is too hard for the Lord:
neither having an old woman get pregnant, nor curing
someone of cancer, nor solving a problem that baffles
us, nor bringing peace to a war-torn nation. The next
time you face something that appears impossible,
hand over the situation to God, then wait—you have
an opportunity to see how God will handle it. Nothing
is too hard for him.
herd and chose a tender calf and gave it to his
servant, who quickly prepared it. 8 When the
food was ready, Abra­ham took some yogurt
and milk and the roasted meat, and he served
it to the men. As they ate, Abra­ham waited on
them in the shade of the trees.
9
“Where is Sar­ah, your wife?” the visitors
asked.
“She’s inside the tent,” Abra­ham replied.
10
Then one of them said, “I will return to you
about this time next year, and your wife, Sar­
ah, will have a son!”
Sar­ah was listening to this conversation from
the tent. 11 ­Abra­ham and Sar­ah were both very
old by this time, and Sar­ah was long past the
age of having children. 12 So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out
woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially
when my master—my husband—is also so old?”
13
Then the Lord said to Abra­ham, “Why
did Sar­ah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old
woman like me have a baby?’ 14 Is anything too
hard for the Lord? I will return about this time
next year, and Sar­ah will have a son.”
15
Sar­ah was afraid, so she denied it, saying,
“I ­didn’t laugh.”
But the Lord said, “No, you did laugh.”
SKIP TO 21:1
18:6 Hebrew 3 seahs, about half a bushel or 22 liters. 32
Genesis 20
PG 30
21:1-34
SCENIC
15
ISAAC AND ISHMAEL
Abraham and Sarah had attempted to fulfill God’s promises by their own strategies, but instead it brought resentment and conflict. Now, just as God promised,
Sarah becomes pregnant and bears Abraham a son. God’s promise to Abraham
of many descendants begins with just one—Isaac. Isaac brings laughter to their
home. But Abraham and Sarah’s first strategy has consequences that linger on:
Now there are two boys in the family, and this leads to trouble.
23
Lot reached the village just as the sun was
rising over the horizon. 24 Then the Lord rained
down fire and burning sulfur from the sky on
Sod­om and Go­mor­rah. 25 He utterly destroyed
them, along with the other cities and villages
of the plain, wiping out all the people and
­every bit of vegetation. 26 But Lot’s wife looked
back as she was following behind him, and she
turned into a pillar of salt.
27
­Abra­ham got up early that morning and
hurried out to the place where he had stood
in the Lord’s presence. 28 He looked out across
the plain toward Sod­om and Go­mor­rah and
watched as columns of smoke rose from the
cities like smoke from a furnace.
29
But God had listened to Abra­ham’s request
and kept Lot safe, removing him from the disaster that engulfed the cities on the plain.
LOT AND HIS DAUGHTERS
Afterward Lot left Zoar because he was afraid
of the people there, and he went to live in a
cave in the mountains with his two daughters.
31
One day the older daughter said to her sister, “There are no men left anywhere in this
entire area, so we can’t get married like every­
one else. And our father will soon be too old to
have children. 32 Come, let’s get him drunk with
wine, and then we will have sex with him. That
way we will preserve our fam­il­y line through
our father.”
33
So that night they got him drunk with
wine, and the older daughter went in and had
intercourse with her father. He was unaware of
her lying down or getting up again.
34
The next morning the older daughter said
to her younger sister, “I had sex with our father last night. Let’s get him drunk with wine
again tonight, and you go in and have sex with
30
him. That way we will preserve our fam­i­ly line
through our father.” 35 So that night they got
him drunk with wine again, and the younger
daughter went in and had intercourse with
him. As before, he was unaware of her lying
down or getting up again.
36
As a result, both of Lot’s daughters became
pregnant by their own father. 37 When the older
daughter gave birth to a son, she named him
Moab.* He became the ancestor of the nation
now known as the Mo­ab­ites. 38 When the youn­
ger daughter gave birth to a son, she named him
Ben-am­mi.* He became the ancestor of the nation now known as the Am­mon­ites.
ABRAHAM DECEIVES ABIMELECH
20
Abra­ham moved south to the Ne­gev and
lived for a while between Ka­desh and
Shur, and then he moved on to Gerar. While living there as a foreigner, 2 A
­ bra­ham introduced
his wife, Sar­ah, by saying, “She is my sister.”
So King Abim­el­ ech of Gerar sent for Sar­ah and
had her brought to him at his palace.
3
But that night God came to Abim­e­lech in a
dream and told him, “You are a dead man, for
that woman you have taken is already married!”
4
But Abim­e­lech had not slept with her yet,
so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? 5 Didn’t Abra­ham tell me, ‘She is
my sister’? And she herself said, ‘Yes, he is my
brother.’ I acted in complete innocence! My
hands are clean.”
6
In the dream God responded, “Yes, I know
you are innocent. That’s why I kept you from
sinning against me, and why I did not let
you touch her. 7 Now return the woman to her
husband, and he will pray for you, for he is a
19:37 Moab sounds like a Hebrew term that means “from father.” 19:38 Ben-ammi means “son of my kinsman.” Genesis 2133
PG 34
OBSERVATION POINT
EXPLORATION POINT
Isaac was weaned at around age three, which was
the cultural norm. A feast commemorated this rite
of passage, celebrating the life of the child who had
survived the most fragile years of infancy and would
now probably live to adulthood. By this time, Ishmael
was seventeen. If he had been younger, making fun of
his little brother would have been considered typical
teasing between siblings, but because of his age it
was much more serious than that.
prophet. Then you will live. But if you d
­ on’t return her to him, you can be sure that you and
all your people will die.”
8
­Abim­e­lech got up early the next morning
and quickly called all his servants together.
When he told them what had happened, his
men were terrified. 9 Then Abim­e­lech called
for Abra­ham. “What have you done to us?” he
demanded. “What crime have I committed that
deserves treatment like this, making me and
my kingdom guilty of this great sin? No one
should ever do what you have done! 10 Whatever possessed you to do such a thing?”
11
­Abra­ham replied, “I thought, ‘This is a
godless place. They will want my wife and will
kill me to get her.’ 12 And she real­ly is my sister,
for we both have the same father, but different mothers. And I married her. 13 When God
called me to leave my father’s home and to
travel from place to place, I told her, ‘Do me a
favor. Wherever we go, tell the people that I am
your brother.’”
14
Then Abim­e­lech took some of his sheep and
goats, cattle, and male and female servants,
and he p
­ re­sent­ed them to Abra­ham. He also returned his wife, Sar­ah, to him. 15 Then Abim­e­lech
said, “Look over my land and choose any place
where you would like to live.” 16 And he said to
Sar­ah, “Look, I am giving your ‘brother’ 1,000
pieces of silver* in the presence of all these witnesses. This is to compensate you for any wrong
I may have done to you. This will settle any claim
against me, and your reputation is cleared.”
17
Then Abra­ham prayed to God, and God
healed Abim­e­lech, his wife, and his female
servants, so they could have children. 18 For the
Lord had caused all the women to be infertile
because of what happened with Abra­ham’s
wife, Sar­ah.
The tension in this family was unusual. The boys
were too far apart in age to be true rivals: Isaac
was a t­oddler, Ishmael a seventeen-year-old and
­considered an adult. Each mother wanted to p
­ rotect
her son and secure his position in the family. Each
mother loved her son. Both acted in a customary
way. The tension and dilemma appeared to have no
resolution, but God intervened and blessed both
boys. Unfortunately, the tension that began between
these two brothers thousands of years ago continues
among their descendants even today.
THE BIRTH OF ISAAC
21
PG 419
HAGAR AND ISHMAEL ARE SENT AWAY
When I­saac grew up and was about to be
weaned, Abra­ham prepared a huge feast to
celebrate the occasion. 9 But Sar­ah saw Ish­
ma­el—the son of Abra­ham and her Egyptian
servant Hagar—making fun of her son, I­ saac.*
10
So she turned to Abra­ham and demanded,
“Get rid of that slave woman and her son. He is
not going to share the inheritance with my son,
­Isaac. I won’t have it!”
11
This upset Abra­ham very much because
Ish­ma­el was his son. 12 But God told Abra­ham,
“Do not be upset over the boy and your servant. Do whatever Sar­ah tells you, for ­Isaac is
the son through whom your descendants will
be counted. 13 But I will also make a nation of
the descendants of Hagar’s son because he is
your son, too.”
14
So Abra­ham got up early the next morning, prepared food and a container of water,
8
b | HEALING | 21:1-7
PG 1444
The Lord kept his word and did for Sar­
ah exactly what he had promised. 2 She
became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son
for Abra­ham in his old age. This happened
at just the time God had said it would. 3 And
Abra­ham named their son ­Isaac. 4 Eight days
after I­saac was born, Abra­ham circumcised
him as God had commanded. 5 ­Abra­ham was
100 years old when ­Isaac was born.
6
And Sar­ah declared, “God has brought me
laughter.* All who hear about this will laugh
with me. 7 Who would have said to Abra­ham
that Sar­ah would nurse a baby? Yet I have
given Abra­ham a son in his old age!”
20:16 Hebrew 1,000 [shekels] of silver, about 25 pounds or
11.4 kilograms in weight. 21:6 The name Isaac means “he laughs.” 21:9 As in Greek version and Latin Vulgate; Hebrew lacks of her
son, Isaac. 52
Genesis 33
PG 28
FLYOVER
PG 46
DIRECT
PG 48
SCENIC
32:22-32
32:22-32
32:22-32
7
17
23
JACOB WRESTLES WITH GOD
Isaac’s son Jacob left his home in Canaan and traveled to Paddan-aram, where he married and became wealthy. But conflict forces him to return to Canaan. When Jacob stops
at the Jabbok River, God comes to him at night and gives him a new name to remind
him of God’s promise: God will fight for his people, defending them and defeating their
enemies. In God’s big story, he will continually fight to be united with those he loves.
JACOB WRESTLES WITH GOD
During the night Jacob got up and took his
two wives, his two servant wives, and his
eleven sons and crossed the Jabbok River with
them. 23 After taking them to the other side, he
sent over all his possessions.
24
This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and
a man came and wrestled with him until the
dawn began to break. 25 When the man saw
that he would not win the match, he touched
Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket.
26
Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn
is breaking!”
But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless
you bless me.”
27
“What is your name?” the man asked.
He replied, “Jacob.”
28
“Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the
man told him. “From now on you will be called
Is­ra­el,* because you have fought with God and
with men and have won.”
29
“Please tell me your name,” Jacob said.
“Why do you want to know my name?” the
man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there.
30
Jacob named the place Pe­
ni­
el (which
means “face of God”), for he said, “I have seen
God face to face, yet my life has been spared.”
31
The sun was rising as Jacob left Pe­ni­el,* and
he was limping because of the injury to his hip.
32
(Even today the people of Is­ra­el ­don’t eat the
tendon near the hip socket because of what
happened that night when the man strained
the tendon of Jacob’s hip.)
22
a | FACING GOD | 32:22-32
PG 1440
JACOB AND ESAU MAKE PEACE
33
Then Jacob looked up and saw Esau
coming with his 400 men. So he divided
the children among Leah, Ra­chel, and his two
servant wives. 2 He put the servant wives and
their children at the front, Leah and her children next, and Ra­chel and Jo­seph last. 3 Then
PG 122
Jacob went on ahead. As he approached his
brother, he bowed to the ground seven times
before him. 4 Then Esau ran to meet him and
embraced him, threw his arms around his
neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.
5
Then Esau looked at the women and children and asked, “Who are these people with
you?”
“These are the children God has graciously
given to me, your servant,” Jacob replied.
6
Then the servant wives came forward with
their children and bowed before him. 7 Next
came Leah with her children, and they bowed
before him. Finally, Jo­seph and Ra­chel came
forward and bowed before him.
8
“And what were all the flocks and herds I
met as I came?” Esau asked.
Jacob replied, “They are a gift, my lord, to
ensure your friendship.”
9
“My brother, I have plenty,” Esau answered. “Keep what you have for yourself.”
10
But Jacob insisted, “No, if I have found
favor with you, please accept this gift from me.
And what a relief to see your friendly smile. It
is like seeing the face of God! 11 Please take this
gift I have brought you, for God has been very
gracious to me. I have more than enough.” And
because Jacob insisted, Esau finally accepted
the gift.
12
“Well,” Esau said, “let’s be going. I will lead
the way.”
13
But Jacob replied, “You can see, my lord,
that some of the children are very young, and
the flocks and herds have their young, too. If
they are driven too hard, even for one day, all
the animals could die. 14 Please, my lord, go
ahead of your servant. We will follow slowly,
at a pace that is comfortable for the livestock
and the children. I will meet you at Seir.”
32:28 Jacob sounds like the Hebrew words for “heel” and “deceiver.”
Israel means “God fights.” 32:31 Hebrew Penuel, a variant spelling
of Peniel. Genesis 3453
PG
56
PG
58
4
PG
58
4
REMEMBER TO WATCH THE ARROWS. A dashed arrow means you’ll
be jumping to a different book. In this case you’re headed to Job.
OBSERVATION POINT
EXPLORATION POINT
Crossing the river at night was strategic. Jacob didn’t
want anyone to detect his family’s movements or how
large the group was. He was a very wealthy man with
many children, wives, servants, and herds of sheep,
goats, camels, donkeys, and cattle. Such a large
group would have been easily spotted during the
day and open to attack from humans or wild animals.
15
“All right,” Esau said, “but at least let me assign some of my men to guide and protect you.”
Jacob responded, “That’s not necessary. It’s
enough that you’ve received me warmly, my
lord!”
16
So Esau turned around and started back to
Seir that same day. 17 Jacob, on the other hand,
traveled on to Succoth. There he built himself a
house and made shelters for his livestock. That
is why the place was named Succoth (which
means “shelters”).
18
Later, having traveled all the way from
Pad­dan-aram, Jacob arrived safely at the town
of She­chem, in the land of Ca­naan. There he
set up camp outside the town. 19 Jacob bought
the plot of land where he camped from the
fam­i­ly of Hamor, the father of She­chem, for
100 pieces of silver.* 20 And there he built an
altar and named it El-Elohe-Is­ra­el.*
REVENGE AGAINST SHECHEM
34
One day Di­nah, the daughter of Jacob
and Leah, went to visit some of the
young women who lived in the area. 2 But when
the local prince, She­chem son of Hamor the Hi­
vite, saw Di­nah, he seized her and raped her.
3
But then he fell in love with her, and he tried
to win her affection with tender words. 4 He
said to his father, Hamor, “Get me this young
girl. I want to marry her.”
5
Soon Jacob heard that She­chem had defiled his daughter, Di­nah. But since his sons
were out in the fields herding his livestock, he
said nothing until they returned. 6 Hamor, She­
chem’s father, came to discuss the matter with
Jacob. 7 Meanwhile, Jacob’s sons had come in
from the field as soon as they heard what had
happened. They were shocked and furious that
their sister had been raped. She­chem had done
a disgraceful thing against Jacob’s fam­il­y,*
something that should never be done.
Jacob had lived up to his name: “deceiver.” He had
schemed against Esau to get the family blessing. This
middle-of-the-night wrestling match put an end to
that way of living. By morning, Jacob finally submitted
to God’s control and trusted God to bless him. Jacob’s
new name, Israel—meaning “God fights”—signified a
shift as well: God would fight for Jacob and his family
as they grew to be God’s people—the people of Israel.
8
Hamor tried to speak with Jacob and his
sons. “My son She­chem is truly in love with
your daughter,” he said. “Please let him marry
her. 9 In fact, let’s arrange other marriages, too.
You give us your daughters for our sons, and
we will give you our daughters for your sons.
10
And you may live among us; the land is open
to you! Settle here and trade with us. And feel
free to buy property in the area.”
11
Then She­chem himself spoke to Di­nah’s father and brothers. “Please be kind to me, and
let me marry her,” he begged. “I will give you
whatever you ask. 12 No matter what dowry or
gift you demand, I will gladly pay it—just give
me the girl as my wife.”
13
But since She­chem had defiled their sister,
Di­nah, Jacob’s sons responded deceitfully to
She­chem and his father, Hamor. 14 They said
to them, “We couldn’t possibly allow this, because you’re not circumcised. It would be a
disgrace for our sister to marry a man like you!
15
But here is a solution. If ­every man among
you will be circumcised like we are, 16 then we
will give you our daughters, and we’ll take your
daughters for ourselves. We will live among
you and become one people. 17 But if you d
­ on’t
agree to be circumcised, we will take her and
be on our way.”
18
Hamor and his son She­chem agreed to
their proposal. 19 She­chem wasted no time in
acting on this request, for he wanted Jacob’s
daughter desperately. She­chem was a highly
respected member of his fam­il­ y, 20 and he went
with his father, Hamor, to ­pre­sent this proposal to the leaders at the town gate.
21
“These men are our friends,” they said.
“Let’s invite them to live here among us and
trade freely. Look, the land is large enough
to hold them. We can take their daughters
33:19 Hebrew 100 kesitahs; the value or weight of the kesitah is
no longer known. 33:20 El-Elohe-Israel means “God, the God
of Israel.” 34:7 Hebrew a disgraceful thing in Israel. 56
Genesis 37
PG 52
FLYOVER
PG 612
DIRECT
PG 616
SCENIC
37:1-36
37:1-36
37:1-36
8
21
30
JOSEPH’S DREAMS
When Jacob returns to Canaan, he reconciles with his brother Esau. Both men
are very wealthy, with large families and herds of livestock. Eventually Esau
moves away, while Jacob remains in Canaan with his twelve sons, including
Joseph, his favorite. But trouble is brewing. Jacob’s favoritism infects his other
sons with jealousy and hatred. They retaliate and betray Joseph. Yet God has a
plan. He has a big story to write. He is working through Joseph to preserve his
chosen people.
Ho­rite clan leaders, the descendants of Seir,
who lived in the land of Edom.
The descendants of Lotan were Hori and
Hemam. Lotan’s sister was named Timna.
23
The descendants of Shobal were Alvan,
Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.
24
The descendants of Zibeon were Aiah and
Anah. (This is the Anah who discovered the
hot springs in the wilderness while he was
grazing his father’s donkeys.)
25
The descendants of Anah were his son,
Dishon, and his daughter, Oholibamah.
26
The descendants of Dishon* were Hemdan,
Eshban, Ithran, and Keran.
27
The descendants of Ezer were Bilhan,
Zaavan, and Akan.
28
The descendants of Dishan were Uz and
Aran.
29
So these were the leaders of the Ho­rite clans:
Lo­tan, Sho­bal, Zib­e­on, Anah, 30 Di­shon, Ezer,
and Di­shan. The Ho­rite clans are named after
their clan leaders, who lived in the land of Seir.
22
RULERS OF EDOM
These are the kings who ruled in the land
of Edom before any king ruled over the
I­ s­ra­el­ites*:
31
Bela son of Beor, who ruled in Edom from
his city of Dinhabah.
33
When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from
Bozrah became king in his place.
34
When Jobab died, Husham from the land
of the Temanites became king in his place.
35
When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad
became king in his place and ruled from
the city of Avith. He was the one who
32
defeated the Midianites in the land of
Moab.
36
When Hadad died, Samlah from the city
of Masrekah became king in his place.
37
When Samlah died, Shaul from the city of
Rehoboth-on-the-River became king in his
place.
38
When Shaul died, Baal-hanan son of Acbor
became king in his place.
39
When Baal-hanan son of Acbor died,
Hadad* became king in his place and
ruled from the city of Pau. His wife was
Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred and
granddaughter of Me-zahab.
40
These are the names of the leaders of the
clans descended from Esau, who lived in the
places named for them: Timna, Alvah, Je­theth,
41
Ohol­i­ba­mah, Elah, Pin­on, 42 Ke­naz, Te­man,
Mibzar, 43 Mag­di­el, and Iram. These are the
leaders of the clans of Edom, listed according
to their settlements in the land they occupied.
They all descended from Esau, the ancestor of
the ­Edom­ites.
JOSEPH’S DREAMS
37
So Jacob settled again in the land of
Ca­naan, where his father had lived as
a foreigner.
2
This is the account of Jacob and his fam­i­
ly. When Jo­seph was seventeen years old, he
­often tended his father’s flocks. He worked
for his half brothers, the sons of his father’s
wives Bil­hah and Zil­pah. But Jo­seph reported
36:26 Hebrew Dishan, a variant spelling of Dishon; compare 36:21, 28. 36:31 Or before an Israelite king ruled over them. 36:39 As in some
Hebrew manuscripts, Samaritan Pentateuch, and Syriac version (see
also 1 Chr 1:50); most Hebrew manuscripts read Hadar. Genesis 3757
PG
76
PG
60
PG 58
OBSERVATION POINT
What exactly made Joseph’s robe so beautiful is
uncertain. Traditionally it is called “a coat of many
colors,” but it may have been more ornate, not just
colorful. It probably had long, loose sleeves. The
­fabric may have been very colorful, embroidered with
colored threads or adorned with jewels. Whatever it
looked like, it was a very special piece of clothing that
indicated Joseph was his father’s favorite.
to his father some of the bad things his brothers were doing.
3
Jacob* loved Jo­seph more than any of his
other children because Jo­seph had been born
to him in his old age. So one day Jacob had
a special gift made for Jo­seph—a beautiful
robe.* 4 But his brothers hated Jo­seph because
their father loved him more than the rest of
them. They couldn’t say a kind word to him.
5
One night Jo­seph had a dream, and when
he told his brothers about it, they hated him
more than ever. 6 “Listen to this dream,” he
said. 7 “We were out in the field, tying up
bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood
up, and your bundles all gathered around and
bowed low before mine!”
8
His brothers responded, “So you think you
will be our king, do you? Do you actually think
you will reign over us?” And they hated him all
the more because of his dreams and the way he
talked about them.
9
Soon Jo­seph had another dream, and again
he told his brothers about it. “Listen, I have
had another dream,” he said. “The sun, moon,
and eleven stars bowed low before me!”
10
This time he told the dream to his father as
well as to his brothers, but his father scolded
him. “What kind of dream is that?” he asked.
“Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow to the ground before you?”
11
But while his brothers were jealous of Jo­seph,
his father wondered what the dreams meant.
12
Soon after this, Jo­seph’s brothers went
to pasture their father’s flocks at She­chem.
13
When they had been gone for some time,
Jacob said to Jo­seph, “Your brothers are pasturing the sheep at She­chem. Get ready, and I
will send you to them.”
EXPLORATION POINT
Showing favoritism is never constructive, especially
in a family. This story shows how bad it can get. Young
and naïve, Joseph made matters worse by recounting
his dreams to his brothers. Their pent-up anger and
jealousy eventually led to violence and attempted
murder. Only Reuben wanted to save Joseph, but he
was too late. The sins of this family caused great
suffering. Extreme love was tarnished by favoritism,
jealousy, and resentment. But God used all these
sins in his plan for their ultimate good. Joseph, the
object of his brothers’ hatred, would become a hero
in another time and place.
“I’m ready to go,” Jo­seph replied.
14
“Go and see how your brothers and the
flocks are getting along,” Jacob said. “Then
come back and bring me a report.” So Jacob
sent him on his way, and Jo­seph traveled
to She­chem from their home in the valley of
He­bron.
15
When he arrived there, a man from the area
noticed him wandering around the countryside. “What are you looking for?” he asked.
16
“I’m looking for my brothers,” Jo­seph replied. “Do you know where they are pasturing
their sheep?”
17
“Yes,” the man told him. “They have
moved on from here, but I heard them say,
‘Let’s go on to Do­than.’” So Jo­seph followed
his brothers to Do­than and found them there.
JOSEPH SOLD INTO SLAVERY
When Jo­seph’s brothers saw him coming,
they recognized him in the distance. As he approached, they made plans to kill him. 19 “Here
­comes the dreamer!” they said. 20 “Come on,
let’s kill him and throw him into one of these
cisterns. We can tell our father, ‘A wild animal
has eaten him.’ Then we’ll see what be­comes
of his dreams!”
21
But when Reu­ben heard of their scheme,
he came to Jo­seph’s rescue. “Let’s not kill
him,” he said. 22 “Why should we shed any
blood? Let’s just throw him into this empty
cistern here in the wilderness. Then he’ll die
without our laying a hand on him.” Reu­ben
was secretly planning to rescue Jo­seph and
return him to his father.
18
37:3a Hebrew Israel; also in 37:13. See note on 35:21. 37:3b Traditionally rendered a coat of many colors. The exact
meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain. 58
Genesis 38
PG 56
38:1-30
SCENIC
31
JUDAH AND TAMAR
Joseph has had magnificent dreams, but nothing in them prepares him for going
to Egypt or being sold into slavery. After Joseph’s brothers betray him, his older
brother Judah moves away and takes a Canaanite wife, even though his ancestors had consistently avoided them. Judah’s decision unravels a series of events
and his downward spiral continues. His story begins with a young woman named
Tamar.
23
So when Jo­
seph arrived, his brothers
ripped off the beautiful robe he was wearing.
24
Then they grabbed him and threw him into
the cistern. Now the cistern was empty; there
was no water in it. 25 Then, just as they were
sitting down to eat, they looked up and saw a
caravan of camels in the distance coming toward them. It was a group of Ish­ma­el­ite traders
taking a load of gum, balm, and aromatic resin
from Gil­e­ad down to Egypt.
26
Ju­dah said to his brothers, “What will we
gain by killing our brother? We’d have to cover
up the crime.* 27 Instead of hurting him, let’s
sell him to those Ish­ma­el­ite traders. After all,
he is our brother—our own flesh and blood!”
And his brothers agreed. 28 So when the
I­ sh­ma­el­ites, who were Mid­i­an­ite traders, came
by, Jo­seph’s brothers pulled him out of the cistern and sold him to them for twenty pieces* of
silver. And the traders took him to Egypt.
29
Some time later, Reu­ben returned to get
Jo­seph out of the cistern. When he discovered
that Jo­seph was missing, he tore his clothes
in grief. 30 Then he went back to his brothers
and lamented, “The boy is gone! What will I
do now?”
31
Then the brothers killed a young goat and
dipped Jo­seph’s robe in its blood. 32 They sent
the beautiful robe to their father with this message: “Look at what we found. Doesn’t this
robe belong to your son?”
33
Their father recognized it immediately.
“Yes,” he said, “it is my son’s robe. A wild animal must have eaten him. Jo­seph has clearly
been torn to pieces!” 34 Then Jacob tore his
clothes and dressed himself in burlap. He
mourned deeply for his son for a long time.
35
His fam­i­ly all tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “I will go to my grave*
mourning for my son,” he would say, and then
he would weep.
36
Meanwhile, the Mid­ia
­ n­ite traders* arrived
in Egypt, where they sold Jo­seph to Pot­ip
­ har, an
officer of Pha­raoh, the king of Egypt. Pot­i­phar
was captain of the palace guard.
JUDAH AND TAMAR
38
PG 1448
PG 255
b | JESUS’ FAMILY | 38:1-30
About this time, Ju­dah left home and
moved to Adul­lam, where he stayed
with a man named Hi­rah. 2 There he saw a Ca­
naan­ite woman, the daughter of Shua, and he
married her. When he slept with her, 3 she became pregnant and gave birth to a son, and he
named the boy Er. 4 Then she became pregnant
again and gave birth to another son, and she
named him Onan. 5 And when she gave birth to
a third son, she named him She­lah. At the time
of She­lah’s birth, they were living at Ke­zib.
6
In the course of time, Ju­dah arranged for
his firstborn son, Er, to marry a young woman
named Ta­mar. 7 But Er was a wicked man in the
Lord’s sight, so the Lord took his life. 8 Then
Ju­dah said to Er’s brother Onan, “Go and marry
Ta­mar, as our law requires of the brother of a
man who has died. You must produce an heir
for your brother.”
9
But Onan was not willing to have a child
who would not be his own heir. So whenever
he had intercourse with his brother’s wife, he
spilled the semen on the ground. This prevented her from having a child who would belong
to his brother. 10 But the Lord considered it evil
for Onan to deny a child to his dead brother. So
the Lord took Onan’s life, too.
11
Then Ju­dah said to Ta­mar, his daughter-­
37:26 Hebrew cover his blood. 37:28 Hebrew 20 [shekels], about
8 ounces or 228 grams in weight. 37:35 Hebrew go down to Sheol. 37:36 Hebrew the Medanites. The relationship between the Midianites
and Medanites is unclear; compare 37:28. See also 25:2. Genesis 3859
PG 60
OBSERVATION POINT
EXPLORATION POINT
In ancient times, widows were vulnerable to major
injustices because they no longer had a husband to
protect them. If they did not have a son, they were
even more unfortunate. The practice of a brotherin-law marrying his dead brother’s wife was called
“levirate marriage.” This marriage arrangement
ensured that the inheritance would remain in the
family and that the widow would have a son to protect
her. The Hittites and the Assyrians also practiced this
arrangement; later it became part of Israel’s laws
(Deuteronomy 25:5-6).
in-­law, “Go back to your parents’ home and
remain a widow until my son She­lah is old
enough to marry you.” (But Ju­dah ­didn’t real­ly
intend to do this because he was afraid She­
lah would also die, like his two brothers.) So
Ta­mar went back to live in her father’s home.
12
Some years later Ju­dah’s wife died. After
the time of mourning was over, Ju­dah and his
friend Hi­rah the A
­ dul­lamite went up to Timnah
to supervise the shearing of his sheep. 13 Someone told Ta­mar, “Look, your ­father-in-law is
going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”
14
Ta­mar was aware that She­lah had grown
up, but no arrangements had been made for
her to come and marry him. So she changed
out of her widow’s clothing and covered herself with a veil to disguise herself. Then she sat
beside the road at the entrance to the village of
Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. 15 Ju­dah
noticed her and thought she was a prostitute,
since she had covered her face. 16 So he stopped
and propositioned her. “Let me have sex with
you,” he said, not realizing that she was his
own daughter-­in-­law.
“How much will you pay to have sex with
me?” Ta­mar asked.
17
“I’ll send you a young goat from my flock,”
Ju­dah promised.
“But what will you give me to guarantee that
you will send the goat?” she asked.
18
“What kind of guarantee do you want?” he
replied.
She answered, “Leave me your identification seal and its cord and the walking stick you
are carrying.” So Ju­dah gave them to her. Then
he had intercourse with her, and she became
pregnant. 19 Afterward she went back home,
took off her veil, and put on her widow’s clothing as usual.
Like so many people today, Judah thought he could
get away with his sexual indiscretion, but Tamar
was prepared with evidence to prove what had
taken place. Although prostitution was a common
practice in Israel and the surrounding nations at this
time, Judah sinned because he had slept with his
daughter-in-law, had broken his promise to her, and
had ignored the levirate marriage custom to provide
for his son’s widow. Judah had failed to protect the
helpless under his care.
20
Later Ju­dah asked his friend Hi­rah the
­ dul­lamite to take the young goat to the woman
A
and to pick up the things he had given her as
his guarantee. But Hi­rah couldn’t find her. 21 So
he asked the men who lived there, “Where can
I find the shrine prostitute who was sitting beside the road at the entrance to Enaim?”
“We’ve never had a shrine prostitute here,”
they replied.
22
So Hi­rah returned to Ju­dah and told him,
“I couldn’t find her anywhere, and the men of
the village claim they’ve never had a shrine
prostitute there.”
23
“Then let her keep the things I gave her,”
Ju­dah said. “I sent the young goat as we
agreed, but you couldn’t find her. We’d be the
laugh­ing­stock of the village if we went back
again to look for her.”
24
About three months later, Ju­dah was told,
“Ta­mar, your daughter-­in-­law, has acted like
a prostitute. And now, because of this, she’s
pregnant.”
“Bring her out, and let her be burned!” Ju­
dah demanded.
25
But as they were taking her out to kill her,
she sent this message to her ­father-in-law:
“The man who owns these things made me
pregnant. Look closely. Whose seal and cord
and walking stick are these?”
26
Ju­dah recognized them immediately and
said, “She is more righteous than I am, because
I ­didn’t arrange for her to marry my son She­
lah.” And Ju­dah never slept with Ta­mar again.
27
When the time came for Ta­mar to give
birth, it was discovered that she was carrying twins. 28 While she was in labor, one of
the babies reached out his hand. The midwife
grabbed it and tied a scarlet string around the
child’s wrist, announcing, “This one came out
76
PG 56
FLYOVER
PG 66
DIRECT
PG 74
SCENIC
9
26
38
WAITING FOR A DELIVERER
God’s nation has grown ever so slowly from Abraham and his one
son to a third generation consisting of seventy family members.
God has faithfully kept his covenant, blessing each generation
with more children. He has revealed himself in angelic encounters
and even in a wrestling match. His chosen family is not perfect,
but they continue to believe and trust in the one true God. Famine
forces them to immigrate to Egypt, where God, through Joseph,
has prepared a safe place for his people to grow and thrive. God’s
people, the Hebrews, are safe and at rest for hundreds of years.
GETTING YOUR
BEARINGS
During this 400-year gap between Genesis and Exodus, God’s
people become a large and “extremely powerful” group. The
Egyptians see this as a threat, so they enslave and oppress
God’s people. The Hebrews’ lives are uncomfortable and full
of suffering, but it is all part of God’s plan—to ready them for
change, to move them from slavery to freedom, and to claim them
as his own. The process will be difficult and God’s reward is a
distant promise, but the Hebrews will not journey alone. God will
be with them every step of the way.
YEAR:
1800 bc
CURRENT WORLD POWER:
Egypt
WHERE ARE WE GOING?
STATUS OF GOD’S PEOPLE:
As Exodus opens, the Hebrews are slaves in Egypt, living under
harsh working conditions. They cry out to God to save them from
Pharaoh. God hears them and has a plan, but it will be eighty
years before the man whom he has in mind will be ready to lead
God’s people out of Egypt. When the time is right, God frees his
people from human oppression and claims them for himself,
promising them a land that overflows with plenty. God’s presence
surrounds the new nation, providing for the people as they
wander in the wilderness for forty years on the way to their new
home in Canaan.
Suffering Slaves
Joseph is sold
into slavery
Jacob & Esau
are born
First log roads
built in Britain
Abraham travels
to Canaan
Maize is cultivated
in central America
Pictographic
writing developed
in China
3000 bc
2091 bc
2006 bc
1898 bc
7000 bc
2166 bc
2066 bc
2000 bc?
1876 bc
First city of
Jericho built
with high walls
and moat
Abraham
is born
Isaac is born
Construction
begins
on Stonehenge
Jacob’s family
moves to Egypt
Wooden ships built
in Crete
PG
80
PG
80
PG
80
77
JESUS AS TRUE NORTH
Since the beginning of time and the fall of humanity, God has had a plan to reconnect with his
people. In Genesis, he revealed more of himself over time to a chosen group of people. Each
generation who obeyed and loved him was blessed by his presence and love. It will be a very long
time until Jesus comes—almost two thousand years—but with each interaction, each promise, and
each leader, God reveals himself a little more and brings his people a step closer to Jesus.
WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE WE?
JERICHO
GOSHEN
SYRIA
IRAQ
SINAI
PENINSULA
Ni
le
EGYPT
AS EXODUS BEGINS, God’s
people are slaves in Egypt, in the
land of Goshen. But soon they will
journey back to the land of their
forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob, a land flowing with milk
and honey. Their travels will take
them across the Red Sea and
into the Sinai Peninsula, where
they will wander for the next
forty years. As they approach the
Promised Land, their first stop
will be a city called Jericho.
Ri
v
er
YOU ARE
HERE
The Hebrews
leave Egypt
Joseph dies
The oldest Hindu
scriptures (Vedas)
are written
Israel enters the
Promised Land
Othniel becomes
Israel’s first
judge
The kingdom
splits: Israel
and Judah
1805 bc
1446 bc
1406 bc
1374 bc
931 bc
1526 bc
1445 bc
1380 bc
1011–971 bc
Moses is born
Israel receives
the Ten
Commandments
Earthquake
destroys the palace
of Knossos on
Crete
David reigns
as king
80
Exodus Exodus
1:8–2:10
1:1–2:10
1:1–2:25
PG 76
FLYOVER
PG 76
DIRECT
PG 76
SCENIC
10
27
39
The Israelites in Egypt
God’s chosen family that started with Abraham grows into a powerful minority living in Goshen, Egypt. Four hundred years after Abraham’s great-grandson Joseph
was forced into slavery in Egypt, God has fulfilled his promise. Abraham has indeed
become the father of many, but the many are suffering terrible treatment. The pharaoh of Egypt, threatened by their population, works them hard as his slaves and
even resorts to infanticide. But God doesn’t let an earthly ruler control his big story.
God works through one brave Hebrew mother who dares to defy the royal decree.
The Israelites in Egypt
1
These are the names of the sons of Is­ra­el
(that is, Jacob) who moved to Egypt with
their father, each with his fam­il­y: 2 Reu­ben,
Sim­e­on, Levi, Ju­dah, 3 Is­sa­char, ­Ze­bulun, Ben­
ja­min, 4 Dan, Naph­ta­li, Gad, and Ash­er. 5 In all,
Jacob had seventy* descendants in Egypt, in­
cluding Jo­seph, who was already there.
6
In time, Jo­seph and all of his brothers died,
ending that entire generation. 7 But their de­
scendants, the ­Is­ra­el­ites, had many children
and grand­children. In fact, they multiplied so
greatly that they became extremely powerful
and filled the land.
8
Eventually, a new king came to power in
Egypt who knew nothing about Jo­seph or what
he had done. 9 He said to his people, “Look, the
people of Is­ra­el now outnumber us and are
stronger than we are. 10 We must make a plan
to keep them from growing even more. If we
­don’t, and if war breaks out, they will join our
enemies and fight against us. Then they will
escape from the country.*”
11
So the Egyptians made the ­Is­ra­el­ites their
slaves. They appointed brutal slave drivers over
them, hoping to wear them down with crush­
ing labor. They forced them to build the cities of
Pi­thom and Ram­e­ses as supply centers for the
king. 12 But the more the Egyptians oppressed
them, the more the I­s­ra­el­ites multiplied and
spread, and the more alarmed the Egyptians
became. 13 So the Egyptians worked the people
of Is­ra­el without mercy. 14 They made their lives
bitter, forcing them to mix mortar and make
bricks and do all the work in the fields. They
were ruthless in all their demands.
15
Then Pha­raoh, the king of Egypt, gave this
order to the Hebrew midwives, Shiph­rah and
Puah: 16 “When you help the Hebrew women as
they give birth, watch as they deliver.* If the
baby is a boy, kill him; if it is a girl, let her live.”
17
But because the midwives feared God, they
refused to obey the king’s orders. They allowed
the boys to live, too.
18
So the king of Egypt called for the mid­
wives. “Why have you done this?” he demand­
ed. “Why have you allowed the boys to live?”
19
“The Hebrew women are not like the Egyp­
tian women,” the midwives replied. “They are
more vigorous and have their babies so quickly
that we cannot get there in time.”
20
So God was good to the midwives, and
the I­s­ra­el­ites continued to multiply, growing
more and more powerful. 21 And because the
midwives feared God, he gave them families of
their own.
22
Then Pha­raoh gave this order to all his
people: “Throw e­ very newborn Hebrew boy
into the Nile River. But you may let the girls
live.”
The Birth of Moses
2
About this time, a man and woman from the
tribe of Levi got married. 2 The woman be­
came pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw
that he was a special baby and kept him hidden
for three months. 3 But when she could no lon­
ger hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus
reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch.
She put the baby in the basket and laid it among
the reeds along the bank of the Nile River. 4 The
baby’s sister then stood at a distance, watching
to see what would happen to him.
1:5 Dead Sea Scrolls and Greek version read seventy-five; see notes
on Gen 46:27. 1:10 Or will take the country. 1:16 Hebrew look
upon the two stones; perhaps the reference is to a birthstool. Exodus Exodus2
81
PG
98
PG 82
PG 82
Observation Point
Exploration Point
The Hebrews did not become slaves immediately
after Joseph died. They were probably a free people
living in Goshen for a hundred years. Then a tribe
from Mesopotamia, whom the Egyptians called Hyksos (meaning “shepherd kings”), invaded Egypt and
took over. When Egypt finally regained its freedom
from this invading dynasty, the people were wary of
all Semitic tribes, including the Hebrews.
Pithom and Rameses
The modern cities of Tell el-Maskhutah
and Qantir are located where Pithom and
­Rameses once stood. These ancient c­ ities
were located in the northern region of Egypt,
in the Nile delta. Both were built during the
Late Bronze period when the Hebrews were
living in Egypt (1550–1250 bc).
Mediterranean
Sea
Moses Escapes to Midian
Many years later, when M
­ oses had grown up,
he went out to visit his own people, the He­
brews, and he saw how hard they were forced
to work. During his visit, he saw an Egyptian
beating one of his fellow Hebrews. 12 After look­
ing in all directions to make sure no one was
watching, ­Moses killed the Egyptian and hid
the body in the sand.
13
The next day, when ­Moses went out to
visit his people again, he saw two Hebrew
men fighting. “Why are you beating up your
friend?” M
­ oses said to the one who had started
the fight.
14
The man replied, “Who appointed you to
11
EGYPT
Dead
Sea
Rameses
Pithom
SINAI
River
Nile Delta
Nile
0
Red Sea
0
50 mi.
50 km
Exod 1:11
5
Soon Pha­raoh’s daughter came down to
bathe in the river, and her attendants walked
along the riverbank. When the princess saw
the basket among the reeds, she sent her maid
to get it for her. 6 When the princess opened it,
she saw the baby. The little boy was crying,
and she felt sorry for him. “This must be one
of the Hebrew children,” she said.
7
Then the baby’s sister approached the prin­
cess. “Should I go and find one of the Hebrew
women to nurse the baby for you?” she asked.
8
“Yes, do!” the princess replied. So the girl
went and called the baby’s mother.
9
“Take this baby and nurse him for me,” the
princess told the baby’s mother. “I will pay you
for your help.” So the woman took her baby
home and nursed him.
10
Later, when the boy was older, his mother
brought him back to Pha­raoh’s daughter, who
adopted him as her own son. The princess
named him M
­ oses,* for she explained, “I lifted
him out of the water.”
Why would a loving God let his chosen people suffer for hundreds of years? We cannot understand
it completely. God has a plan that is being fulfilled
every day; how suffering fits into his plan is often
a mystery to us. Amazingly, the Hebrews remained
faithful to the God of their ancestors through all these
years of hardship. They remained steadfast in their
faith, praying to God, the source of deliverance and
­salvation. And God proved faithful, too. God often asks
us to remain faithful through pain and heartache.
When we are faithful, we will see God’s own faithfulness in return.
be our prince and judge? Are you going to kill
me as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?”
Then ­Moses was afraid, thinking, “Every­one
knows what I did.” 15 And sure enough, Pha­
raoh heard what had happened, and he tried
to kill ­Moses. But ­Moses fled from Pha­raoh and
went to live in the land of Mid­ia
­ n.
When ­
Moses arrived in Mid­
ia
­n, he sat
down beside a well. 16 Now the priest of Mid­i­
an had seven daughters who came as usual to
draw water and fill the water troughs for their
2:10 Moses sounds like a Hebrew term that means “to lift out.” 98
Exodus 14
PG 80
FLYOVER
PG 94
DIRECT
PG 94
SCENIC
13:17–14:31
13:17–14:31
13:17–14:31
11
33
47
Escape through the Red Sea
God chooses Moses to rescue his people from the clutches of Egypt’s Pharaoh,
and Moses reluctantly agrees. Then God turns his own Creation into weapons of
war to convince Pharaoh to free the Hebrews. Now, with Egypt behind them, the
people encounter their first major obstacle—a body of water too wide to cross
and too deep to wade through. They have begun to taste the freedom of living
in God’s big story, but God is determined to see them also live by faith in him.
Their first faith-test is trusting God to safely move two million people through
the Red Sea.
Israel’s Wilderness Detour
When Pha­raoh finally let the people go, God
did not lead them along the main road that
runs through Phi­lis­tine territory, even though
that was the shortest route to the Promised
Land. God said, “If the people are faced with
a battle, they might change their minds and
return to Egypt.” 18 So God led them in a round­
about way through the wilderness toward the
Red Sea.* Thus the ­Is­ra­el­ites left Egypt like an
army ready for battle.*
19
­Moses took the bones of Jo­seph with him,
for Jo­seph had made the sons of Is­ra­el swear
to do this. He said, “God will certainly come
to help you. When he does, you must take my
bones with you from this place.”
20
The ­Is­ra­el­ites left Succoth and camped
at ­Etham on the edge of the wilderness. 21 The
Lord went ahead of them. He guided them
during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he
provided light at night with a pillar of fire.
This allowed them to travel by day or by night.
22
And the Lord did not remove the pillar of
cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of
the people.
17
14
Then the Lord gave these instructions
to ­Moses: 2 “Order the ­Is­ra­el­ites to turn
back and camp by P
­ i-hahiroth between Migdol
and the sea. Camp there along the shore,
across from Ba­al-zephon. 3 Then Pha­raoh will
think, ‘The I­s­ra­el­ites are confused. They are
trapped in the wilderness!’ 4 And once again I
will harden Pha­raoh’s heart, and he will chase
after you.* I have planned this in order to dis­
play my glory through Pha­raoh and his whole
army. After this the Egyptians will know that I
am the Lord!” So the ­Is­ra­el­ites camped there
as they were told.
The Egyptians Pursue Israel
When word reached the king of Egypt that the
I­s­ra­el­ites had fled, Pha­raoh and his officials
changed their minds. “What have we done, let­
ting all those Is­ra­el­ite slaves get away?” they
asked. 6 So Pha­raoh harnessed his char­i­ot and
called up his troops. 7 He took with him 600 of
Egypt’s best c­ har­i­ots, along with the rest of the
­char­i­ots of Egypt, each with its commander.
8
The Lord hardened the heart of Pha­raoh, the
king of Egypt, so he chased after the people of
Is­ra­el, who had left with fists raised in defi­
ance. 9 The Egyptians chased after them with
all the forces in Pha­raoh’s army—all his horses
and ­char­i­ots, his ­char­i­oteers, and his troops.
The Egyptians caught up with the people of Is­
ra­el as they were camped beside the shore near
­Pi-hahiroth, across from Ba­al-zephon.
10
As Pha­raoh approached, the people of Is­
ra­el looked up and panicked when they saw
the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out
to the Lord, 11 and they said to M
­ oses, “Why
did you bring us out here to die in the wilder­
ness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in
Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you
make us leave Egypt? 12 Didn’t we tell you this
would happen while we were still in Egypt? We
said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the
Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than
a corpse in the wilderness!’”
5
13:18a Hebrew sea of reeds. 13:18b Greek version reads left Egypt
in the fifth generation. 14:4 Hebrew after them. Exodus 1499
PG
10
6
PG 100
PG 100
Observation Point
Exploration Point
Strong hot winds, called sirocco winds, are well
known in the Arabian Desert. They are strong enough
to move large quantities of water aside and expose
river beds. Some have wondered if this sort of wind
was involved here. However, God’s intervention still
would have been needed to maintain the walls of
water long enough for the people to cross. And the
gale-force wind, impossible to walk in, would have
had to stop before the Israelites could move forward.
God’s miraculous timing was also needed to allow the
Egyptian army to enter the sea before it closed over
them. No natural explanation can fully account for
the amazing events that took place that day.
13
But ­
Moses told the people, “Don’t be
afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord
rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today
will never be seen again. 14 The Lord himself
will fight for you. Just stay calm.”
Escape through the Red Sea
Then the Lord said to M
­ oses, “Why are you
crying out to me? Tell the people to get mov­
16
ing! Pick up your staff and raise your hand
over the sea. Divide the water so the ­Is­ra­el­ites
can walk through the middle of the sea on dry
ground. 17 And I will harden the hearts of the
Egyptians, and they will charge in after the
­Is­ra­el­ites. My great glory will be displayed
through Pha­raoh and his troops, his ­char­i­ots,
and his ­char­i­oteers. 18 When my glory is dis­
played through them, all Egypt will see my
glory and know that I am the Lord!”
19
Then the angel of God, who had been lead­
ing the people of Is­ra­el, moved to the rear of the
camp. The pillar of cloud also moved from the
front and stood behind them. 20 The cloud set­
tled between the Egyptian and Is­ra­el­ite camps.
As darkness fell, the cloud turned to fire,
lighting up the night. But the Egyptians and
­Is­ra­el­ites did not approach each other all night.
21
Then ­Moses raised his hand over the sea,
and the Lord opened up a path through the
water with a strong east wind. The wind blew
all that night, turning the seabed into dry land.
22
So the people of Is­ra­el walked through the
middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of
water on each side!
23
Then the Egyptians—all of Pha­raoh’s hors­
es, ­char­i­ots, and ­char­i­oteers—chased them
15
God’s intent was to display his power to the Egyptians and destroy their entire army. Through this
final destruction, God showed Pharaoh that the Lord
Almighty was in control—not a powerful pharaoh with
his army of horses and warrior-driven chariots. This
wall of water awed the people of Israel and inspired
them to trust in Moses and God. Unfortunately, they
needed constant miraculous signs and wonders to
keep on trusting.
into the middle of the sea. 24 But just before
dawn the Lord looked down on the Egyptian
army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he
threw their forces into total confusion. 25 He
twisted* their char­i­ot wheels, making their
­char­i­ots difficult to drive. “Let’s get out of
here—away from these I­s­ra­el­ites!” the Egyp­
tians shouted. “The Lord is fighting for them
against Egypt!”
26
When all the I­s­ra­el­ites had reached the
other side, the Lord said to M
­ oses, “Raise
your hand over the sea again. Then the waters
will rush back and cover the Egyptians and
their ­char­i­ots and ­char­i­oteers.” 27 So as the sun
began to rise, M
­ oses raised his hand over the
sea, and the water rushed back into its usual
place. The Egyptians tried to escape, but the
Lord swept them into the sea. 28 Then the wa­
ters returned and covered all the ­char­io
­ ts and
­char­i­oteers—the entire army of Pha­raoh. Of all
the Egyptians who had chased the I­s­ra­el­ites
into the sea, not a single one survived.
29
But the people of Is­
r a­
el had walked
through the middle of the sea on dry ground,
as the water stood up like a wall on both
sides. 30 That is how the Lord rescued Is­ra­
el from the hand of the Egyptians that day.
And the ­Is­ra­el­ites saw the bodies of the Egyp­
tians washed up on the seashore. 31 When the
people of Is­ra­el saw the mighty power that
the Lord had unleashed against the Egyp­
tians, they were filled with awe before him.
They put their faith in the Lord and in his
servant ­Moses.
14:25 As in Greek version, Samaritan Pentateuch, and Syriac
version; Hebrew reads He removed. 106
Exodus 19
PG 98
FLYOVER
PG 664
DIRECT
PG 104
SCENIC
19:16–20:21
19:16–20:21
19:1–20:26
12
36
52
The Lord Reveals Himself at Sinai
Two months after crossing the Red Sea, the Hebrews set up camp at the foot of
Mount Sinai. They are ready to encounter God. God is ready to reveal himself to
them and provide them with rules for living as holy people in his presence. The
law God wrote down wasn’t a set of arbitrary rules or some useful legal code, it
described how to live life in harmony with God himself, with his people, and with
his Creation. In the big story, God’s law provided the details not just for holy living
but for thriving in his world.
The Lord Reveals Himself at Sinai
19
Exactly two months after the ­Is­ra­el­ites
left Egypt,* they arrived in the wilder­
ness of Si­nai. 2 After breaking camp at Reph­i­
dim, they came to the wilderness of Si­nai and
set up camp there at the base of Mount Si­nai.
3
Then M
­ oses climbed the mountain to ap­
pear before God. The Lord called to him from
the mountain and said, “Give these instruc­
tions to the fam­il­ y of Jacob; announce it to the
descendants of Is­ra­el: 4 ‘You have seen what I
did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried
you on eagles’ wings and brought you to my­
self. 5 Now if you will obey me and keep my
cov­enant, you will be my own special treasure
from among all the peoples on earth; for all
the earth belongs to me. 6 And you will be my
kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the
message you must give to the people of Is­ra­el.”
7
So M
­ oses returned from the mountain
and called together the elders of the people
and told them every­thing the Lord had com­
manded him. 8 And all the people responded
together, “We will do every­thing the Lord has
commanded.” So ­Moses brought the people’s
answer back to the Lord.
9
Then the Lord said to ­Moses, “I will come
to you in a thick cloud, ­Moses, so the people
themselves can hear me when I speak with
you. Then they will always trust you.”
­Moses told the Lord what the people had
­ oses, “Go down
said. 10 Then the Lord told M
and prepare the people for my arrival. Con­
secrate them today and tomorrow, and have
them wash their clothing. 11 Be sure they are
ready on the third day, for on that day the
Lord will come down on Mount Si­nai as all
the people watch. 12 Mark off a boundary all
around the mountain. Warn the people, ‘Be
careful! Do not go up on the mountain or even
touch its boundaries. Anyone who touches the
mountain will certainly be put to death. 13 No
hand may touch the person or animal that
crosses the boundary; instead, stone them or
shoot them with arrows. They must be put to
death.’ However, when the ram’s horn sounds
a long blast, then the people may go up on the
mountain.*”
14
So ­Moses went down to the people. He con­
secrated them for worship, and they washed
their clothes. 15 He told them, “Get ready for the
third day, and until then abstain from having
sexual intercourse.”
16
On the morning of the third day, thunder
roared and lightning flashed, and a dense
cloud came down on the mountain. There
was a long, loud blast from a ram’s horn, and
all the people trembled. 17 ­Moses led them
out from the camp to meet with God, and
they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 All
of Mount Si­nai was covered with smoke be­
cause the Lord had descended on it in the
form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky
like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole
mountain shook violently. 19 As the blast of
the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, M
­ oses
spoke, and God thundered his reply. 20 The
Lord came down on the top of Mount Si­nai
and called M
­ oses to the top of the mountain.
So M
­ oses climbed the mountain.
21
Then the Lord told ­Moses, “Go back down
and warn the people not to break through the
boundaries to see the Lord, or they will die.
22
Even the priests who regularly come near to
19:1 Hebrew In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt, on
the very day, i.e., two lunar months to the day after leaving Egypt.
Compare Num 33:3. 19:13 Or up to the mountain. Exodus 20107
PG
17
8
PG
12
0
PG
11
0
Observation Point
Exploration Point
Moses prepared the people to meet God, instructing
them in how to set themselves apart as his people.
The people washed their clothes and abstained from
sexual relations. They needed time to get into the
right frame of mind, to have a proper sense of awe
and reverence for God. By following the Ten Commandments and other laws given at Sinai, God’s
people would learn to live in a vital relationship with
their holy God and to establish a just and healthy
community.
the Lord must purify themselves so that the
Lord does not break out and destroy them.”
23
“But Lord,” M
­ oses protested, “the people
cannot come up to Mount Si­nai. You already
warned us. You told me, ‘Mark off a boundary
all around the mountain to set it apart as holy.’”
24
But the Lord said, “Go down and bring
­Aaron back up with you. In the meantime, do
not let the priests or the people break through
to approach the Lord, or he will break out and
destroy them.”
25
So M
­ oses went down to the people and
told them what the Lord had said.
Ten Commandments for the
Covenant Community
20
“I am the Lord your God, who rescued you
from the land of Egypt, the place of your
slavery.
3
“You must not have any other god but me.
4
“You must not make for yourself an idol of
any kind or an image of anything in the
heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 5 You
must not bow down to them or worship
them, for I, the Lord your God, am a
jealous God who will not tolerate your
affection for any other gods. I lay the sins
of the parents upon their children; the
entire family is affected—even children in
the third and fourth generations of those
who reject me. 6 But I lavish unfailing love
for a thousand generations on those* who
love me and obey my commands.
7
“You must not misuse the name of the Lord
your God. The Lord will not let you go
unpunished if you misuse his name.
2
“Remember to observe the Sabbath day
by keeping it holy. 9 You have six days
each week for your ordinary work, 10 but
the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest
dedicated to the Lord your God. On that
day no one in your household may do any
work. This includes you, your sons and
daughters, your male and female servants,
your livestock, and any foreigners living
among you. 11 For in six days the Lord
made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and
everything in them; but on the seventh day
he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the
Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.
12
“Honor your father and mother. Then you
will live a long, full life in the land the
Lord your God is giving you.
13
“You must not murder.
14
“You must not commit adultery.
15
“You must not steal.
16
“You must not testify falsely against your
neighbor.
17
“You must not covet your neighbor’s house.
You must not covet your neighbor’s wife,
male or female servant, ox or donkey, or
anything else that belongs to your neighbor.”
8
Then God gave the people all these
instructions*:
The people gradually learned to know and trust God
through the steps they took in leaving Egypt—the
Passover and Exodus; their crossing the Red Sea; the
supply of water, manna, and quail; and their victory
in battle. Those events taught the Hebrews to trust
God and know him as their reliable, loving Provider.
Now God wanted to reveal more of himself by coming
down to Mount Sinai and displaying his presence,
glory, and power to the people.
18
When the people heard the thunder and
the loud blast of the ram’s horn, and when they
saw the flashes of lightning and the smoke bil­
lowing from the mountain, they stood at a dis­
tance, trembling with fear.
19
And they said to ­Moses, “You speak to us,
and we will listen. But ­don’t let God speak di­
rectly to us, or we will die!”
20
“Don’t be afraid,” M
­ oses answered them,
“for God has come in this way to test you, and
20:1 Hebrew all these words. 20:6 Hebrew for thousands of those. 108
Exodus 21
so that your fear of him will keep you from
sinning!”
21
As the people stood in the distance,
­Moses approached the dark cloud where God
was.
Cases of Personal Injury
“Anyone who assaults and kills another per­
son must be put to death. 13 But if it was simply
an accident permitted by God, I will appoint
a place of refuge where the slayer can run for
safety. 14 However, if someone deliberately
kills another person, then the slayer must be
dragged even from my altar and be put to death.
15
“Anyone who strikes father or mother must
be put to death.
16
“Kidnappers must be put to death, wheth­
er they are caught in possession of their vic­
tims or have already sold them as slaves.
17
“Anyone who dishonors* father or mother
must be put to death.
18
“Now suppose two men quarrel, and one
hits the other with a stone or fist, and the in­
jured person does not die but is confined to
bed. 19 If he is later able to walk outside again,
even with a crutch, the assailant will not be
punished but must compensate his victim for
lost wages and provide for his full recovery.
20
“If a man beats his male or female slave
with a club and the slave dies as a result, the
owner must be punished. 21 But if the slave re­
covers within a day or two, then the owner shall
not be punished, since the slave is his property.
22
“Now suppose two men are fighting, and in
the process they accidentally strike a pregnant
woman so she gives birth prematurely.* If no
further injury results, the man who struck the
woman must pay the amount of compensation
the woman’s husband demands and the judges
approve. 23 But if there is further injury, the pun­
ishment must match the injury: a life for a life,
24
an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand
for a hand, a foot for a foot, 25 a burn for a burn,
a wound for a wound, a bruise for a bruise.
26
“If a man hits his male or female slave in
the eye and the eye is blinded, he must let the
slave go free to compensate for the eye. 27 And
if a man knocks out the tooth of his male or
female slave, he must let the slave go free to
compensate for the tooth.
28
“If an ox* gores a man or woman to death,
the ox must be stoned, and its flesh may not
be eaten. In such a case, however, the owner
will not be held liable. 29 But suppose the ox
had a reputation for goring, and the owner
had been informed but failed to keep it under
control. If the ox then kills someone, it must
be stoned, and the owner must also be put to
death. 30 However, the dead person’s relatives
may accept payment to compensate for the
loss of life. The owner of the ox may redeem
his life by paying whatever is demanded.
31
“The same regulation applies if the ox
gores a boy or a girl. 32 But if the ox gores a
12
Proper Use of Altars
22
And the Lord said to M
­ oses, “Say this to the
people of Is­ra­el: You saw for yourselves that
I spoke to you from heaven. 23 Remember, you
must not make any idols of silver or gold to
rival me.
24
“Build for me an altar made of earth, and
offer your sacrifices to me—your burnt of­
ferings and peace offerings, your sheep and
goats, and your cattle. Build my altar wherever
I cause my name to be remembered, and I will
come to you and bless you. 25 If you use stones
to build my altar, use only natural, uncut
stones. Do not shape the stones with a tool, for
that would make the altar unfit for holy use.
26
And do not approach my altar by going up
steps. If you do, someone might look up under
your clothing and see your nakedness.
Fair Treatment of Slaves
21
“These are the regulations you must
­pre­sent to Is­ra­el.
2
“If you buy a Hebrew slave, he may serve
for no more than six years. Set him free in the
seventh year, and he will owe you nothing for
his freedom. 3 If he was single when he became
your slave, he shall leave single. But if he was
married before he became a slave, then his
wife must be freed with him.
4
“If his master gave him a wife while he was
a slave and they had sons or daughters, then
only the man will be free in the seventh year,
but his wife and children will still belong to
his master. 5 But the slave may declare, ‘I love
my master, my wife, and my children. I ­don’t
want to go free.’ 6 If he does this, his master
must ­pre­sent him before God.* Then his mas­
ter must take him to the door or doorpost and
publicly pierce his ear with an awl. After that,
the slave will serve his master for life.
7
“When a man sells his daughter as a slave,
she will not be freed at the end of six years as
the men are. 8 If she does not satisfy her owner,
he must allow her to be bought back again.
But he is not allowed to sell her to foreigners,
since he is the one who broke the contract with
her. 9 But if the slave’s owner arranges for her
to marry his son, he may no longer treat her as
a slave but as a daughter.
10
“If a man who has married a slave wife
takes another wife for himself, he must not ne­
glect the rights of the first wife to food, cloth­
ing, and sexual intimacy. 11 If he fails in any of
these three obligations, she may leave as a free
woman without making any payment.
21:6 Or before the judges. 21:17 Greek version reads Anyone who
speaks disrespectfully of. Compare Matt 15:4; Mark 7:10. 21:22 Or
so she has a miscarriage; Hebrew reads so her children come out. 21:28 Or bull, or cow; also in 21:29-36. Exodus 22109
slave, either male or female, the animal’s
owner must pay the slave’s owner thirty silver
coins,* and the ox must be stoned.
33
“Suppose someone digs or uncovers a pit
and fails to cover it, and then an ox or a donkey
falls into it. 34 The owner of the pit must pay full
compensation to the owner of the animal, but
then he gets to keep the dead animal.
35
“If someone’s ox injures a neighbor’s ox
and the injured ox dies, then the two owners
must sell the live ox and divide the price equal­
ly between them. They must also divide the
dead animal. 36 But if the ox had a reputation
for goring, yet its owner failed to keep it under
control, he must pay full compensation—a
live ox for the dead one—but he may keep the
dead ox.
Protection of Property
22
1
*“If someone steals an ox* or sheep
and then kills or sells it, the thief must
pay back five oxen for each ox stolen, and four
sheep for each sheep stolen.
2
*“If a thief is caught in the act of breaking
into a house and is struck and killed in the
process, the person who killed the thief is not
guilty of murder. 3 But if it happens in daylight,
the one who killed the thief is guilty of murder.
“A thief who is caught must pay in full for
every­thing he stole. If he cannot pay, he must
be sold as a slave to pay for his theft. 4 If some­
one steals an ox or a donkey or a sheep and it is
found in the thief’s possession, then the thief
must pay double the value of the stolen animal.
5
“If an animal is grazing in a field or vine­
yard and the owner lets it stray into someone
else’s field to graze, then the animal’s owner
must pay compensation from the best of his
own grain or grapes.
6
“If you are burning thornbushes and the
fire gets out of control and spreads into an­
other person’s field, destroying the sheaves or
the uncut grain or the whole crop, the one who
started the fire must pay for the lost crop.
7
“Suppose someone leaves money or goods
with a neighbor for safekeeping, and they are
stolen from the neighbor’s house. If the thief
is caught, the compensation is double the
value of what was stolen. 8 But if the thief is
not caught, the neighbor must appear be­
fore God,* who will determine if he stole the
property.
9
“Suppose there is a dispute between two
people who both claim to own a particular ox,
donkey, sheep, article of clothing, or any lost
property. Both parties must come before God,
and the person whom God declares* guilty
must pay double compensation to the other.
10
“Now suppose someone leaves a donkey,
ox, sheep, or any other animal with a neighbor
for safekeeping, but it dies or is injured or is
taken away, and no one sees what happened.
The neighbor must then take an oath in the
presence of the Lord. If the Lord confirms
that the neighbor did not steal the property,
the owner must accept the verdict, and no pay­
ment will be required. 12 But if the animal was
indeed stolen, the guilty person must pay com­
pensation to the owner. 13 If it was torn to pieces
by a wild animal, the remains of the carcass
must be shown as evidence, and no compensa­
tion will be required.
14
“If someone borrows an animal from a
neighbor and it is injured or dies when the
owner is absent, the person who borrowed it
must pay full compensation. 15 But if the owner
was ­pres­ent, no compensation is required. And
no compensation is required if the animal was
rented, for this loss is covered by the rental fee.
11
Social Responsibility
“If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged
to anyone and has sex with her, he must pay
the customary bride price and marry her. 17 But
if her father refuses to let him marry her, the
man must still pay him an amount equal to the
bride price of a virgin.
18
“You must not allow a sorceress to live.
19
“Anyone who has sexual relations with an
animal must certainly be put to death.
20
“Anyone who sacrifices to any god other
than the Lord must be destroyed.*
21
“You must not mistreat or oppress foreign­
ers in any way. Remember, you yourselves
were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.
22
“You must not exploit a widow or an or­
phan. 23 If you exploit them in any way and they
cry out to me, then I will certainly hear their
cry. 24 My anger will blaze against you, and I
will kill you with the sword. Then your wives
will be widows and your children fatherless.
25
“If you lend money to any of my people
who are in need, do not charge interest as a
money lender would. 26 If you take your neigh­
bor’s cloak as security for a loan, you must
return it before sunset. 27 This coat may be the
only blanket your neighbor has. How can a
person sleep without it? If you do not return
it and your neighbor cries out to me for help,
then I will hear, for I am merciful.
28
“You must not dishonor God or curse any
of your rulers.
29
“You must not hold anything back when
you give me offerings from your crops and your
wine.
“You must give me your firstborn sons.
16
21:32 Hebrew 30 shekels of silver, about 12 ounces or 342 grams
in weight. 22:1a Verse 22:1 is numbered 21:37 in Hebrew text. 22:1b Or bull, or cow; also in 22:4, 9, 10. 22:2 Verses 22:2-31 are
numbered 22:1-30 in Hebrew text. 22:8 Or before the judges. 22:9 Or before the judges, and the person whom the judges declare. 22:20 The Hebrew term used here refers to the complete consecration
of things or people to the Lord, either by destroying them or by
giving them as an offering. 178
Numbers Numbers9
PG 106
FLYOVER
PG 684
DIRECT
PG 172
SCENIC
9:1-23
9:1-23
9:1-23
13
41
70
God’s Presence with His People
A year after God’s people crossed the Red Sea, God calls them to remember
their deliverance from Egypt by celebrating the Passover. God provides detailed
instructions for observing the Passover, but he graciously allows flexibility in the
observance and welcomes foreigners to participate. God is fulfilling his promise
to Abraham: His blessings are spreading out through Abraham’s descendants
and beyond. He reminds them all of his presence through the cloud and fire
hovering over the Tabernacle. In God’s big story, his people find freedom and
blessing by living in his presence.
The Second Passover
9
A year after Is­ra­el’s departure from Egypt,
the Lord spoke to M
­ oses in the wilderness
of Si­nai. In the first month* of that year he
said, 2 “Tell the ­Is­ra­el­ites to celebrate the Pass­
over at the prescribed time, 3 at twilight on the
fourteenth day of the first month.* Be sure to
follow all my decrees and regulations concern­
ing this celebration.”
4
So M
­ oses told the people to celebrate the
Passover 5 in the wilderness of Si­nai as twilight
fell on the fourteenth day of the month. And
they celebrated the festival there, just as the
Lord had commanded M
­ oses. 6 But some of the
men had been ceremonially defiled by touch­
ing a dead body, so they could not celebrate
the Passover that day. They came to M
­ oses and
­Aaron that day 7 and said, “We have become
ceremonially unclean by touching a dead
body. But why should we be prevented from
­pre­sent­ing the Lord’s offering at the proper
time with the rest of the ­Is­ra­el­ites?”
8
­Moses answered, “Wait here until I have
received instructions for you from the Lord.”
9
This was the Lord’s reply to ­Moses. 10 “Give
the following instructions to the people of Is­
ra­el: If any of the people now or in future gen­
erations are ceremonially unclean at Passover
time because of touching a dead body, or if
they are on a journey and cannot be ­pres­ent
at the ceremony, they may still celebrate the
Lord’s Passover. 11 They must offer the Pass­
over sacrifice one month later, at twilight on
the fourteenth day of the second month.* They
must eat the Passover lamb at that time with
bitter salad greens and bread made without
yeast. 12 They must not leave any of the lamb
until the next morning, and they must not
break any of its bones. They must follow all the
normal regulations concerning the Passover.
13
“But those who neglect to celebrate the
Passover at the regular time, even though
they are ceremonially clean and not away on
a trip, will be cut off from the community of
Is­ra­el. If they fail to ­pre­sent the Lord’s offering
at the proper time, they will suffer the conse­
quences of their guilt. 14 And if foreigners living
among you want to celebrate the Passover to
the Lord, they must follow these same decrees
and regulations. The same laws apply both to
native-born ­Is­ra­el­ites and to the foreigners liv­
ing among you.”
The Fiery Cloud
On the day the Tab­er­nacle was set up, the
cloud covered it.* But from evening until morn­
ing the cloud over the Tab­er­nacle looked like a
pillar of fire. 16 This was the regular pattern—at
night the cloud that covered the Tab­er­nacle had
the appearance of fire. 17 Whenever the cloud
lifted from over the sa­cred tent, the people of
Is­ra­el would break camp and follow it. And
wherever the cloud settled, the people of Is­ra­el
would set up camp. 18 In this way, they traveled
and camped at the Lord’s command wherever
he told them to go. Then they remained in their
camp as long as the cloud stayed over the Tab­
er­nacle. 19 If the cloud remained over the Tab­er­
nacle for a long time, the ­Is­ra­el­ites stayed and
15
9:1 The first month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar usually
occurs within the months of March and April. 9:3 This day in the
ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred in late March, April, or
early May. 9:11 This day in the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar
occurred in late April, May, or early June. 9:15 Hebrew covered
the Tabernacle, the Tent of the Testimony. Numbers 10179
PG
25
8
PG 180
PG 180
Observation Point
Exploration Point
God used familiar sights to show his presence: a
cloud during the day that glowed like fire at night.
Since leaving Egypt, the people had been protected
by God’s presence. The cloud had protected them
from Pharaoh’s army that charged after them, and it
had led them through the Red Sea. As the Tabernacle
stood in the center of Israel’s camp, the cloud hovered
over it, signifying God’s presence with his people.
When the cloud moved, the nation followed; when it
stopped, they settled down.
performed their duty to the Lord. 20 Sometimes
the cloud would stay over the Tab­er­nacle for
only a few days, so the people would stay for
only a few days, as the Lord commanded. Then
at the Lord’s command they would break camp
and move on. 21 Sometimes the cloud stayed
only overnight and lifted the next morning.
But day or night, when the cloud lifted, the
people broke camp and moved on. 22 Whether
the cloud stayed above the Tab­er­nacle for two
days, a month, or a year, the people of Is­ra­el
stayed in camp and did not move on. But as
soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved
on. 23 So they camped or traveled at the Lord’s
command, and they did whatever the Lord told
them through ­Moses.
Many of us would love to have a sign as visible and
obvious as a cloud or a pillar of fire to show us where
God was leading. This was an effective way of providing guidance when God’s people were all in one place
at one time and numbered about two million. Today,
we have something better: God’s holy Word—the
Bible—and God’s Holy Spirit, present within us, to
guide us.
permanent law for you, to be observed from
generation to generation.
9
“When you arrive in your own land and go
to war against your enemies who attack you,
sound the alarm with the trumpets. Then the
Lord your God will remember you and rescue
you from your enemies. 10 Blow the trumpets
in times of gladness, too, sounding them at
your annual festivals and at the beginning of
each month. And blow the trumpets over your
burnt offerings and peace offerings. The trum­
pets will remind your God of his cov­enant with
you. I am the Lord your God.”
The Silver Trumpets
10
Now the Lord said to M
­ oses, 2 “Make two
trumpets of hammered silver for calling
the community to assemble and for signaling
the breaking of camp. 3 When both trumpets
are blown, every­one must gather before you at
the entrance of the Tab­er­nacle.* 4 But if only
one trumpet is blown, then only the leaders—
the heads of the clans of Is­ra­el—must p
­ re­sent
themselves to you.
5
“When you sound the signal to move on,
the tribes camped on the east side of the Tab­
er­nacle must break camp and move forward.
6
When you sound the signal a second time,
the tribes camped on the south will follow.
You must sound short blasts as the signal for
moving on. 7 But when you call the people to an
assembly, blow the trumpets with a different
signal. 8 Only the priests, ­Aaron’s descendants,
are allowed to blow the trumpets. This is a
The Israelites Leave Sinai
In the second year after Is­ra­el’s departure
from Egypt—on the twentieth day of the sec­
ond month*—the cloud lifted from the Tab­er­
nacle of the Cov­enant.* 12 So the ­Is­ra­el­ites set
out from the wilderness of Si­nai and traveled
on from place to place until the cloud stopped
in the wilderness of Pa­ran.
13
When the people set out for the first time,
following the instructions the Lord had given
through ­Moses, 14 Ju­dah’s troops led the way.
They marched behind their banner, and their
leader was Nah­
shon son of Am­
min­
ad
­ab.
15
They were joined by the troops of the tribe
of Is­sa­char, led by Ne­than­el son of Zuar, 16 and
the troops of the tribe of ­Ze­bulun, led by Eli­ab
son of He­lon.
17
Then the Tab­er­nacle was taken down, and
the Ger­shon­ite and Me­ra­rite divisions of the
­Le­vites were next in the line of march, carrying
11
10:3 Hebrew Tent of Meeting. 10:11a This day in the ancient
Hebrew lunar calendar occurred in late April, May, or early June. 10:11b Or Tabernacle of the Testimony. 258
JOSHUA 5
5:13–6:27
PG 178
FLYOVER
PG 254
DIRECT
PG 256
SCENIC
5:13–6:27
5:13–6:27
14
49
89
THE FALL OF JERICHO
After their long journey, God’s people cross the flooded Jordan River and set
foot in the Promised Land. But some of their biggest trials still await them. God
has commanded them to drive out the people currently living in the land, but he
doesn’t send them out to battle alone. The “commander of the LORD’s army”—
God himself—will lead them. Throughout the big story, God continually makes
contact with his people. He appeared to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and now
Joshua. His presence inspires fear, awe, and courage. He gives instructions that
require trust and perseverance, and he stays with his people through it all.
the command. 18 As soon as the priests carrying the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant came up
out of the riverbed and their feet were on high
ground, the water of the Jordan returned and
overflowed its banks as before.
19
The people crossed the Jordan on the tenth
day of the first month.* Then they camped at
Gilgal, just east of Jericho. 20 It was there at
Gilgal that Joshua piled up the twelve stones
taken from the Jordan River.
21
Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the
future your children will ask, ‘What do these
stones mean?’ 22 Then you can tell them, ‘This
is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on
dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up
the river right before your eyes, and he kept it
dry until you were all across, just as he did at
the Red Sea* when he dried it up until we had
all crossed over. 24 He did this so all the nations
of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand
is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord
your God forever.”
5
When all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings who lived
along the Mediterranean coast* heard how
the Lord had dried up the Jordan River so the
people of Israel could cross, they lost heart
and were paralyzed with fear because of them.
ISRAEL REESTABLISHES COVENANT
CEREMONIES
2
At that time the Lord told Joshua, “Make flint
knives and circumcise this second generation
of Israelites.*” 3 So Joshua made flint knives
and circumcised the entire male population of
Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.*
06_Josh.indd 258
4
Joshua had to circumcise them because
all the men who were old enough to fight in
battle when they left Egypt had died in the
wilderness. 5 Those who left Egypt had all been
circumcised, but none of those born after the
Exodus, during the years in the wilderness,
had been circumcised. 6 The Israelites had
traveled in the wilderness for forty years until
all the men who were old enough to fight in
battle when they left Egypt had died. For they
had disobeyed the Lord, and the Lord vowed
he would not let them enter the land he had
sworn to give us—a land flowing with milk and
honey. 7 So Joshua circumcised their sons—
those who had grown up to take their fathers’
places—for they had not been circumcised on
the way to the Promised Land. 8 After all the
males had been circumcised, they rested in the
camp until they were healed.
9
Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I
have rolled away the shame of your slavery in
Egypt.” So that place has been called Gilgal*
to this day.
10
While the Israelites were camped at Gilgal
on the plains of Jericho, they celebrated Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the
first month.* 11 The very next day they began to
eat unleavened bread and roasted grain harvested from the land. 12 No manna appeared on
the day they first ate from the crops of the land,
and it was never seen again. So from that time
on the Israelites ate from the crops of Canaan.
4:19 This day in the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred in late
March, April, or early May. 4:23 Hebrew sea of reeds. 5:1 Hebrew
along the sea. 5:2 Or circumcise the Israelites a second time.
5:3 Gibeath-haaraloth means “hill of foreskins.” 5:9 Gilgal sounds
like the Hebrew word galal, meaning “to roll.” 5:10 This day in
the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred in late March, April, or
early May.
9/24/2013 10:42:31 AM
PG
28
2
PG
26
4
PG
26
4
JOSHUA 6
OBSERVATION POINT
Capturing Jericho involved both religious rituals and
military strategy. Military tactics of this time period
included besieging the city, circling around it, and
blowing the ram’s horn as a signal of battle. Religious
practices included following behind the Ark, a symbol
of God’s presence; using the sacred number seven
and its multiples; and shouting to celebrate God’s
victory. This was a new kind of warfare, led by God.
THE LORD’S COMMANDER CONFRONTS
JOSHUA
13
When Joshua was near the town of Jericho,
he looked up and saw a man standing in front
of him with sword in hand. Joshua went up to
him and demanded, “Are you friend or foe?”
14
“Neither one,” he replied. “I am the commander of the Lord’s army.”
At this, Joshua fell with his face to the
ground in reverence. “I am at your command,”
Joshua said. “What do you want your servant
to do?”
15
The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place
where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua
did as he was told.
259
EXPLORATION POINT
Psychological warfare is nothing new. At Jericho, the
Hebrews’ shouting would have terrified the people
of the city. They were the feared warriors of that
time and place. Yet their conflict was won not with
weapons but through trust and obedience to God,
allowing him to win the battle for his people. This
type of warfare was acceptable only in the Old Testament under God’s direct command. Christ preached
that we should take an entirely new approach to our
enemies: love, not hate. We should promote peace
as Christ did, not conflict.
THE FALL OF JERICHO
6
Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut
because the people were afraid of the
Israelites. No one was allowed to go out or in.
2
But the Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you
Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors.
3
You and your fighting men should march
around the town once a day for six days. 4 Seven
priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh day you are to
march around the town seven times, with the
priests blowing the horns. 5 When you hear the
priests give one long blast on the rams’ horns,
have all the people shout as loud as they can.
Then the walls of the town will collapse, and
the people can charge straight into the town.”
Excavation at Jericho
06_Josh.indd 259
9/24/2013 10:42:32 AM
260
JOSHUA 7
6
So Joshua called together the priests and
said, “Take up the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant,
and assign seven priests to walk in front of it,
each carrying a ram’s horn.” 7 Then he gave orders to the people: “March around the town,
and the armed men will lead the way in front
of the Ark of the Lord.”
8
After Joshua spoke to the people, the seven
priests with the rams’ horns started marching
in the presence of the Lord, blowing the horns
as they marched. And the Ark of the Lord’s
Covenant followed behind them. 9 Some of the
armed men marched in front of the priests with
the horns and some behind the Ark, with the
priests continually blowing the horns. 10 “Do
not shout; do not even talk,” Joshua commanded. “Not a single word from any of you
until I tell you to shout. Then shout!” 11 So the
Ark of the Lord was carried around the town
once that day, and then everyone returned to
spend the night in the camp.
12
Joshua got up early the next morning,
and the priests again carried the Ark of the
Lord. 13 The seven priests with the rams’ horns
marched in front of the Ark of the Lord, blowing their horns. Again the armed men marched
both in front of the priests with the horns and
behind the Ark of the Lord. All this time the
priests were blowing their horns. 14 On the second day they again marched around the town
once and returned to the camp. They followed
this pattern for six days.
15
On the seventh day the Israelites got up at
dawn and marched around the town as they had
done before. But this time they went around the
town seven times. 16 The seventh time around,
as the priests sounded the long blast on their
horns, Joshua commanded the people, “Shout!
For the Lord has given you the town! 17 Jericho
and everything in it must be completely destroyed* as an offering to the Lord. Only Rahab
the prostitute and the others in her house will
be spared, for she protected our spies.
18
“Do not take any of the things set apart
for destruction, or you yourselves will be completely destroyed, and you will bring trouble
on the camp of Israel. 19 Everything made from
silver, gold, bronze, or iron is sacred to the
Lord and must be brought into his treasury.”
20
When the people heard the sound of the
rams’ horns, they shouted as loud as they
could. Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into
the town and captured it. 21 They completely
destroyed everything in it with their swords—
men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep,
goats, and donkeys.
22
Meanwhile, Joshua said to the two spies,
“Keep your promise. Go to the prostitute’s house
and bring her out, along with all her family.”
23
The men who had been spies went in and
brought out Rahab, her father, mother, brothers, and all the other relatives who were with
her. They moved her whole family to a safe
place near the camp of Israel.
24
Then the Israelites burned the town and
everything in it. Only the things made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron were kept for the treasury of the Lord’s house. 25 So Joshua spared
Rahab the prostitute and her relatives who
were with her in the house, because she had
hidden the spies Joshua sent to Jericho. And
she lives among the Israelites to this day.
26
At that time Joshua invoked this curse:
“May the curse of the Lord fall on anyone
who tries to rebuild the town of Jericho.
At the cost of his firstborn son,
he will lay its foundation.
At the cost of his youngest son,
he will set up its gates.”
06_Josh.indd 260
27
So the Lord was with Joshua, and his reputation spread throughout the land.
AI DEFEATS THE ISRAELITES
7
But Israel violated the instructions about
the things set apart for the Lord.* A man
named Achan had stolen some of these dedicated things, so the Lord was very angry with
the Israelites. Achan was the son of Carmi, a
descendant of Zimri* son of Zerah, of the tribe
of Judah.
2
Joshua sent some of his men from Jericho
to spy out the town of Ai, east of Bethel, near
Beth-aven. 3 When they returned, they told
Joshua, “There’s no need for all of us to go
up there; it won’t take more than two or three
thousand men to attack Ai. Since there are so
few of them, don’t make all our people struggle
to go up there.”
4
So approximately 3,000 warriors were sent,
but they were soundly defeated. The men of Ai
5
chased the Israelites from the town gate as far
as the quarries,* and they killed about thirtysix who were retreating down the slope. The
Israelites were paralyzed with fear at this turn
of events, and their courage melted away.
6
Joshua and the elders of Israel tore their
clothing in dismay, threw dust on their heads,
and bowed face down to the ground before the
Ark of the Lord until evening. 7 Then Joshua
cried out, “Oh, Sovereign Lord, why did you
bring us across the Jordan River if you are
going to let the Amorites kill us? If only we had
been content to stay on the other side! 8 Lord,
what can I say now that Israel has fled from
6:17 The Hebrew term used here refers to the complete consecration
of things or people to the Lord, either by destroying them or by
giving them as an offering; similarly in 6:18, 21. 7:1a The Hebrew
term used here refers to the complete consecration of things or
people to the Lord, either by destroying them or by giving them
as an offering; similarly in 7:11, 12, 13, 15. 7:1b As in parallel text
at 1 Chr 2:6; Hebrew reads Zabdi. Also in 7:17, 18. 7:5 Or as far as
Shebarim.
9/24/2013 10:42:33 AM
261
JOSHUA 7
its enemies? 9 For when the Canaanites and all
the other people living in the land hear about
it, they will surround us and wipe our name off
the face of the earth. And then what will happen to the honor of your great name?”
10
But the Lord said to Joshua, “Get up! Why
are you lying on your face like this? 11 Israel has
sinned and broken my covenant! They have
stolen some of the things that I commanded
must be set apart for me. And they have not
only stolen them but have lied about it and
hidden the things among their own belongings. 12 That is why the Israelites are running
from their enemies in defeat. For now Israel
itself has been set apart for destruction. I will
not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you that were set apart
for destruction.
13
“Get up! Command the people to purify
themselves in preparation for tomorrow. For
this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says:
Hidden among you, O Israel, are things set
apart for the Lord. You will never defeat your
enemies until you remove these things from
among you.
14
“In the morning you must present yourselves by tribes, and the Lord will point out
the tribe to which the guilty man belongs. That
tribe must come forward with its clans, and
the Lord will point out the guilty clan. That
clan will then come forward, and the Lord will
point out the guilty family. Finally, each member of the guilty family must come forward one
by one. 15 The one who has stolen what was set
apart for destruction will himself be burned
with fire, along with everything he has, for he
has broken the covenant of the Lord and has
done a horrible thing in Israel.”
tto
o Mo
ou
unt
nt
He
H
e
erm
rrm
mo
on
n
The Water
near Merom
Kedesh?
8
Hazor
9
Sea
Acshaph?
Sea
a off
Gallile
ilee
Madon?
Shimron
anean
iterr
Dor
B
J o rd a n R i v e r
Med
Naphoth-dor
ACHAN’S SIN
A
16
Early the next morning Joshua brought the
tribes of Israel before the Lord, and the tribe
of Judah was singled out. 17 Then the clans of
Judah came forward, and the clan of Zerah was
singled out. Then the families of Zerah came
forward, and the family of Zimri was singled
out. 18 Every member of Zimri’s family was
brought forward person by person, and Achan
was singled out.
19
Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give
glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, by telling
the truth. Make your confession and tell me
what you have done. Don’t hide it from me.”
20
Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned
against the Lord, the God of Israel. 21 Among
the plunder I saw a beautiful robe from Babylon,* 200 silver coins,* and a bar of gold
weighing more than a pound.* I wanted them
so much that I took them. They are hidden in
Gibeon
Jebus
(Jerusalem)
Libnah?
Lachish
3
4
5
Eglon?
Gilgal
1
Jarmuth
Bethel
Ai
Gezer
Josh 10–12
CONQUERING CANAAN
Israel conquered the land in two phases,
first in the south, then in the north. Both
campaigns, though, were initiated not by
Israel but by the Canaanites already living
in the land. The king of Jerusalem attacked
Gibeon, initiating the southern campaign.
Later the king of Hazor instigated Israel’s
northern campaign. Joshua 12 summarizes
all the kings that Israel defeated. This map
shows the major battlegrounds of each
campaign.
2
6
7
Jericho
De
Dead
Sea
Se
Hebron
Debir?
Makkedah?
7:21a Hebrew Shinar. 7:21b Hebrew 200 shekels of silver, about
5 pounds or 2.3 kilograms in weight. 7:21c Hebrew 50 shekels,
about 20 ounces or 570 grams in weight.
06_Josh.indd 261
A Southern
campaign
B
Northern
campaign
Israelites’ movements
Opponents’ movements
Israelites’ base camp
Israelites’ conquests
9/24/2013 10:42:33 AM
282
PG 258
FLYOVER
PG 264
DIRECT
PG 278
SCENIC
15
51
94
POSSESSING THE
PROMISED LAND
During Israel’s forty years of wandering in the wilderness, God
prepared his people to become a nation and taught them to rely
on him. Now, at last, Israel is ready to take up residence in the
Promised Land. God leads the people into battle, providing
victory after victory. After about thirty years, Israel’s army has
conquered every city-state in Canaan, but they have left many of
the local people living alongside them.
GETTING YOUR
BEARINGS
Finally, the Hebrews settle down in the areas designated for each
of the twelve tribes. The first part of God’s promise to Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob has been fulfilled: they were living in the land.
God is with his people in every region as they enjoy peace and rest.
But God’s plan is not yet complete—he desires for the people to, in
turn, bless all nations. Years pass. Before Joshua dies at age 110, he
challenges the Hebrews to serve the Lord, and they unanimously
promise to do so. Unfortunately, their oath lasts only as long as
the elders who served under Joshua’s leadership. In a short time,
the people forget about their vow to serve the Lord and obey him
alone. They blend their worship of God with the local people’s
worship of pagan gods. Some desert God completely.
YEAR:
1375 BC
CURRENT WORLD POWER:
Egypt
STATUS OF GOD’S PEOPLE:
Emerging Nation
WHERE ARE WE GOING?
For the next 325 years, God’s people will experience cycles of
disobedience, punishment, confession, and restoration: They
forget God and worship idols; God allows an enemy to punish
them; the people cry to God for deliverance; God sends a judge
to save them; they return to obeying and loving God. Then
the pattern repeats. Oppressive enemies arise from the areas
surrounding the Promised Land, and at different times they
attack various Israelite tribes, but not all of Israel at once. Some
YOU ARE
HERE
The Hebrews
leave Egypt
Earthquake
destroys the
palace of
Knossos on Crete
Othniel
becomes
Israel’s first
judge
Silk fabrics are
manufactured
in China
1446 BC
1380 BC
1367 BC
1250 BC
1526 BC
1406 BC
1375 BC
1358 BC
1216 BC
Moses
is born
Israel
enters the
Promised Land
Joshua
dies
King Tutankhamen
is buried with
lavish treasures
in Egypt
Philistines
settle along the
Mediterranean
coastline
06_Josh.indd 282
9/24/2013 10:42:35 AM
PG
32
2
PG
29
0
PG
28
8
283
judges have great influence in one area and not in another. Some judges overlap as Israel’s leaders
but rule in different regions. Occasionally peace reigns; at other times violence and discord erupts.
Twelve judges guide Israel until the people demand a king. Although God is with his people, the
people are not with God. They ignore him and his law and instead do “whatever seem[s] right in their
own eyes.” This moral apathy leaves God’s people living in chaos.
JESUS AS TRUE NORTH
God chooses leaders to free his people. Each one foreshadows the ultimate leader, Savior, and
Redeemer—Jesus. Like the judges, Jesus will free his people from the bonds of oppressive forces.
However, Jesus will not be fighting merely against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against the
pervasive powers of sin and death. God raises up the judges to free his people and restore their
relationship with him. The judges’ work points to Jesus by giving the people a glimpse of what Jesus
will accomplish as the ultimate Redeemer and Savior of all.
WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE WE?
SYRIA
IR
IRAQ
PROMISED
LAND
THE PROMISED LAND of Bible
times was about the size of New
Jersey. When the twelve tribes
entered the land, they faced
opposition in numerous cities.
Joshua led the conquering
Israelites, and then divided up the
conquered land. It was divided
into portions and given to each of
the twelve tribes.
JORDAN
Deborah becomes
Israel’s judge
Olmec civilization
emerges in Mexico
Troy is
destroyed during
Trojan War.
Samuel
is born
Chinese develop
system to
deliver mail
Israel crowns
Saul as king
1209 BC
1183 BC
1105 BC
1095 BC
1050 BC
06_Josh.indd 283
1200 BC
1162 BC
1100 BC?
1075 BC
First Chinese
dictionary is
produced
Gideon becomes
Israel’s judge
Ruth marries
Boaz
Samson becomes
Israel’s judge
9/24/2013 10:42:35 AM
306
Judges 16
PG 322
FLYOVER
PG 322
DIRECT
PG 304
SCENIC
16:4-31
16:4-31
16:1-31
17
58
106
Samson and Delilah
Samson is one of Israel’s great judges, helping save God’s people from their
enemy, the Philistines. But Samson, like the other judges, is far from perfect.
Samson has a personal vendetta against the Philistines. He wants vengeance
for himself more than he wants liberation for his people. Nearly every motive
­Samson has is self-centered, and he makes foolish choices that cause his downfall. But God will not let the judge derail his big story. In spite of Samson’s selfishness, God uses him for a greater purpose, filling Samson with his Spirit to
rescue his people so that they might be a blessing.
to be married to his best man.” So the Phi­lis­
tines went and got the woman and her father
and burned them to death.
7
“Because you did this,” Sam­son vowed, “I
won’t rest until I take my revenge on you!” 8 So
he attacked the Phi­lis­tines with great fury and
killed many of them. Then he went to live in a
cave in the rock of Etam.
9
The Phi­lis­tines retaliated by setting up
camp in Ju­dah and spreading out near the
town of Lehi. 10 The men of Ju­dah asked the
Phi­lis­tines, “Why are you attacking us?”
The Phi­lis­tines replied, “We’ve come to cap­
ture Sam­son. We’ve come to pay him back for
what he did to us.”
11
So 3,000 men of Ju­dah went down to get
Sam­son at the cave in the rock of Etam. They
said to Sam­son, “Don’t you realize the Phi­lis­
tines rule over us? What are you doing to us?”
But Sam­son replied, “I only did to them
what they did to me.”
12
But the men of Ju­dah told him, “We have
come to tie you up and hand you over to the
Phi­lis­tines.”
“All right,” Sam­son said. “But promise that
you won’t kill me yourselves.”
13
“We will only tie you up and hand you over
to the Phi­lis­tines,” they replied. “We won’t kill
you.” So they tied him up with two new ropes
and brought him up from the rock.
14
As Sam­son arrived at Lehi, the Phi­lis­tines
came shouting in triumph. But the Spirit of
the Lord came powerfully upon Sam­son, and
he snapped the ropes on his arms as if they
were burnt strands of flax, and they fell from
his wrists. 15 Then he found the jawbone of a
recently killed donkey. He picked it up and
killed 1,000 Phi­lis­tines with it. 16 Then Sam­son
said,
“With the jawbone of a donkey,
I’ve piled them in heaps!
With the jawbone of a donkey,
I’ve killed a thousand men!”
When he finished his boasting, he threw
away the jawbone; and the place was named
Jawbone Hill.*
18
­Sam­son was now very thirsty, and he cried
out to the Lord, “You have accomplished this
great victory by the strength of your servant.
Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands
of these pagans?” 19 So God caused water to
gush out of a hollow in the ground at Lehi,
and Sam­son was revived as he drank. Then he
named that place “The Spring of the One Who
Cried Out,”* and it is still in Lehi to this day.
20
­Sam­son judged Is­ra­el for twenty years dur­
ing the period when the Phi­lis­tines dominated
the land.
17
Samson Carries Away Gaza’s Gates
16
One day Sam­son went to the Phi­lis­tine
town of Gaza and spent the night with
a prostitute. 2 Word soon spread* that Sam­son
was there, so the men of Gaza gathered togeth­
er and waited all night at the town gates. They
kept quiet during the night, saying to them­
selves, “When the light of morning c­ omes, we
will kill him.”
3
But Sam­son stayed in bed only until mid­
15:17 Hebrew Ramath-lehi. 15:19 Hebrew En-hakkore. 16:2 As
in Greek and Syriac versions and Latin Vulgate; Hebrew lacks Word
soon spread. Observation Point
Samson was not merely attracted to the Philistine
Delilah—he fell in love with her. But she was more
loyal to her people than to her lover. She cleverly
entrapped Samson, manipulating him to tell her the
source of his strength. Delilah was also attracted
to the fortune she would receive for revealing his
secret. The payment of 1,100 pieces of silver was
extraordinarily high, considering that ten pieces of
silver was acceptable as a year’s wage (17:10).
night. Then he got up, took hold of the doors
of the town gate, including the two posts, and
lifted them up, bar and all. He put them on his
shoulders and carried them all the way to the
top of the hill across from He­bron.
Samson and Delilah
4
Some time later Sam­son fell in love with a
woman named Delilah, who lived in the valley
of So­rek. 5 The rulers of the Phi­lis­tines went to
her and said, “Entice Sam­son to tell you what
makes him so strong and how he can be over­
powered and tied up securely. Then each of us
will give you 1,100 pieces* of silver.”
6
So Delilah said to Sam­son, “Please tell me
what makes you so strong and what it would
take to tie you up securely.”
7
­Sam­son replied, “If I were tied up with
seven new bowstrings that have not yet been
dried, I would become as weak as anyone else.”
8
So the Phi­lis­tine rulers brought Delilah
seven new bowstrings, and she tied Sam­son
up with them. 9 She had hidden some men in
one of the inner rooms of her house, and she
cried out, “Sam­son! The Phi­lis­tines have come
to capture you!” But Sam­son snapped the
bowstrings as a piece of string snaps when it
is burned by a fire. So the secret of his strength
was not discovered.
10
Afterward Delilah said to him, “You’ve
been making fun of me and telling me lies!
Now please tell me how you can be tied up
securely.”
11
­Sam­son replied, “If I were tied up with
brand-new ropes that had never been used, I
would become as weak as anyone else.”
12
So Delilah took new ropes and tied him up
Judges 16307
PG
33
8
PG
32
8
PG
32
4
Exploration Point
God is patient with people who misuse his gifts and
fail to follow his will. God uses even eccentric, egotistical individuals like Samson. Samson’s last prayer
to God was selfishly motivated—he wanted to avenge
the loss of his eyes, not deliver Israel from the Philistines. God fulfilled Samson’s request, restoring
his strength. In the end, Samson successfully ruled
Israel for twenty years and did indeed begin subduing
the Philistines. God loves us as we are. He is working in each of our lives, using our strengths and our
flaws for his good purposes.
with them. The men were hiding in the inner
room as before, and again Delilah cried out,
“Sam­son! The Phi­lis­tines have come to capture
you!” But again Sam­son snapped the ropes
from his arms as if they were thread.
13
Then Delilah said, “You’ve been making
fun of me and telling me lies! Now tell me how
you can be tied up securely.”
Sam­son replied, “If you were to weave the
seven braids of my hair into the fabric on your
loom and tighten it with the loom shuttle, I
would become as weak as anyone else.”
So while he slept, Delilah wove the seven
braids of his hair into the fabric. 14 Then she
tightened it with the loom shuttle.* Again she
cried out, “Sam­son! The Phi­lis­tines have come
to capture you!” But Sam­son woke up, pulled
back the loom shuttle, and yanked his hair
away from the loom and the fabric.
15
Then Delilah pouted, “How can you tell
me, ‘I love you,’ when you d
­ on’t share your
secrets with me? You’ve made fun of me three
times now, and you still h
­ aven’t told me what
makes you so strong!” 16 She tormented him
with her nagging day after day until he was
sick to death of it.
17
Finally, Sam­son shared his secret with her.
“My hair has never been cut,” he confessed,
“for I was dedicated to God as a Naz­irite from
birth. If my head were shaved, my strength
would leave me, and I would become as weak
as anyone else.”
18
Delilah realized he had finally told her
16:5 Hebrew 1,100 [shekels], about 28 pounds or 12.5 kilograms in
weight. 16:13-14 As in Greek version and Latin Vulgate; Hebrew
lacks I would become as weak as anyone else. / So while he slept,
Delilah wove the seven braids of his hair into the fabric. 14Then she
tightened it with the loom shuttle. 308
Judges 17
the truth, so she sent for the Phi­lis­tine rulers.
“Come back one more time,” she said, “for he
has finally told me his secret.” So the Phi­lis­
tine rulers returned with the money in their
hands. 19 Delilah lulled Sam­son to sleep with
his head in her lap, and then she called in a
man to shave off the seven locks of his hair. In
this way she began to bring him down,* and
his strength left him.
20
Then she cried out, “Sam­son! The Phi­lis­
tines have come to capture you!”
When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as
before and shake myself free.” But he d
­ idn’t
realize the Lord had left him.
21
So the Phi­
lis­
tines captured him and
gouged out his eyes. They took him to Gaza,
where he was bound with bronze chains and
forced to grind grain in the prison.
22
But before long, his hair began to grow
back.
Micah’s Idols
17
There was a man named Micah, who
lived in the hill country of Ephra­im. 2 One
day he said to his mother, “I heard you place a
curse on the person who stole 1,100 pieces* of
silver from you. Well, I have the money. I was
the one who took it.”
“The Lord bless you for admitting it,” his
mother replied. 3 He returned the money to
her, and she said, “I now dedicate these silver
coins to the Lord. In honor of my son, I will
have an image carved and an idol cast.”
4
So when he returned the money to his
mother, she took 200 silver coins and gave
them to a silversmith, who made them into an
image and an idol. And these were placed in
Micah’s house. 5 Micah set up a shrine for the
idol, and he made a sa­cred ephod and some
household idols. Then he installed one of his
sons as his personal priest.
6
In those days Is­ra­el had no king; all the
people did whatever seemed right in their own
eyes.
7
One day a young Levite, who had been liv­
ing in Beth­le­hem in Ju­dah, arrived in that area.
8
He had left Beth­le­hem in search of another
place to live, and as he traveled, he came to the
hill country of Ephra­im. He happened to stop
at Micah’s house as he was traveling through.
9
“Where are you from?” Micah asked him.
He replied, “I am a Levite from Beth­le­hem
in Ju­dah, and I am looking for a place to live.”
10
“Stay here with me,” Micah said, “and you
can be a father and priest to me. I will give you
ten pieces of silver* a year, plus a change of
clothes and your food.” 11 The Levite agreed to
this, and the young man became like one of
Micah’s sons.
12
So Micah installed the Levite as his per­
sonal priest, and he lived in Micah’s house. 13 “I
know the Lord will bless me now,” Micah said,
“because I have a Levite serving as my priest.”
Samson’s Final Victory
The Phi­lis­tine rulers held a great festival, of­
fering sacrifices and praising their god, Da­gon.
They said, “Our god has given us victory over
our enemy Sam­son!”
24
When the people saw him, they praised
their god, saying, “Our god has delivered our
enemy to us! The one who killed so many of us
is now in our power!”
25
Half drunk by now, the people demanded,
“Bring out Sam­son so he can amuse us!” So he
was brought from the prison to amuse them,
and they had him stand between the pillars
supporting the roof.
26
­Sam­son said to the young servant who
was leading him by the hand, “Place my hands
against the pillars that hold up the temple. I
want to rest against them.” 27 Now the temple
was completely filled with people. All the Phi­
lis­tine rulers were there, and there were about
3,000 men and women on the roof who were
watching as Sam­son amused them.
28
Then Sam­son prayed to the Lord, “Sover­
eign Lord, remember me again. O God, please
strengthen me just one more time. With one
blow let me pay back the Phi­lis­tines for the
loss of my two eyes.” 29 Then Sam­son put his
hands on the two center pillars that held up
the temple. Pushing against them with both
hands, 30 he prayed, “Let me die with the Phi­
lis­tines.” And the temple crashed down on
the Phi­lis­tine rulers and all the people. So he
killed more people when he died than he had
during his entire lifetime.
31
Later his brothers and other relatives went
down to get his body. They took him back home
and buried him between Zo­rah and Esh­ta­ol,
where his father, Ma­no­ah, was buried. Sam­son
had judged Is­ra­el for twenty years.
23
Idolatry in the Tribe of Dan
18
Now in those days Is­ra­el had no king.
And the tribe of Dan was trying to find
a place where they could settle, for they had
not yet moved into the land assigned to them
when the land was divided among the tribes
of Is­ra­el. 2 So the men of Dan chose from their
clans five capable warriors from the towns of
Zo­rah and Esh­ta­ol to scout out a land for them
to settle in.
When these warriors arrived in the hill coun­
try of Ephra­im, they came to Micah’s house
and spent the night there. 3 While at Micah’s
house, they recognized the young Levite’s ac­
cent, so they went over and asked him, “Who
16:19 Or she began to torment him. Greek version reads He began
to grow weak. 17:2 Hebrew 1,100 [shekels], about 28 pounds or
12.5 kilograms in weight. 17:10 Hebrew 10 [shekels] of silver, about
4 ounces or 114 grams in weight. Judges 19309
brought you here, and what are you doing in
this place? Why are you here?” 4 He told them
about his agreement with Micah and that he
had been hired as Micah’s personal priest.
5
Then they said, “Ask God whether or not
our journey will be successful.”
6
“Go in peace,” the priest replied. “For the
Lord is watching over your journey.”
7
So the five men went on to the town of
La­ish, where they noticed the people living
carefree lives, like the S
­ i­donians; they were
peaceful and secure.* The people were also
wealthy because their land was very fertile.
And they lived a great distance from Si­don and
had no allies nearby.
8
When the men returned to Zo­rah and Esh­
ta­ol, their relatives asked them, “What did you
find?”
9
The men replied, “Come on, let’s attack
them! We have seen the land, and it is very
good. What are you waiting for? Don’t hesitate
to go and take possession of it. 10 When you get
there, you will find the people living carefree
lives. God has given us a spacious and fertile
land, lacking in nothing!”
11
So 600 men from the tribe of Dan, armed
rah
with weapons of war, set out from Zo­
and Esh­ta­ol. 12 They camped at a place west
of Kir­i­ath-jearim in Ju­dah, which is called
­Mahaneh-dan* to this day. 13 Then they went
on from there into the hill country of Ephra­im
and came to the house of Micah.
14
The five men who had scouted out the land
around La­ish explained to the others, “These
buildings contain a sa­cred ephod, as well as
some household idols, a carved image, and a
cast idol. What do you think you should do?”
15
Then the five men turned off the road and
went over to Micah’s house, where the young
Levite lived, and greeted him kindly. 16 As the
600 armed warriors from the tribe of Dan stood
at the entrance of the gate, 17 the five scouts en­
tered the shrine and removed the carved image,
the sa­cred ephod, the household idols, and the
cast idol. Meanwhile, the priest was standing at
the gate with the 600 armed warriors.
18
When the priest saw the men carrying all
the sa­cred objects out of Micah’s shrine, he
said, “What are you doing?”
19
“Be quiet and come with us,” they said.
“Be a father and priest to all of us. I­ sn’t it better
to be a priest for an entire tribe and clan of Is­
ra­el than for the household of just one man?”
20
The young priest was quite happy to go
with them, so he took along the sa­cred ephod,
the household idols, and the carved image.
21
They turned and started on their way again,
placing their children, livestock, and posses­
sions in front of them.
22
When the people from the tribe of Dan
were quite a distance from Micah’s house,
the people who lived near Micah came chas­
ing after them. 23 They were shouting as they
caught up with them. The men of Dan turned
around and said to Micah, “What’s the matter?
Why have you called these men together and
chased after us like this?”
24
“What do you mean, ‘What’s the matter?’”
Micah replied. “You’ve taken away all the gods
I have made, and my priest, and I have noth­
ing left!”
25
The men of Dan said, “Watch what you
say! There are some short-tempered men
around here who might get angry and kill you
and your fam­i­ly.” 26 So the men of Dan contin­
ued on their way. When Micah saw that there
were too many of them for him to attack, he
turned around and went home.
27
Then, with Micah’s idols and his priest,
the men of Dan came to the town of La­ish,
whose people were peaceful and secure. They
attacked with swords and burned the town to
the ground. 28 There was no one to rescue the
people, for they lived a great distance from Si­
don and had no allies nearby. This happened
in the valley near Beth-re­hob.
Then the people of the tribe of Dan rebuilt
the town and lived there. 29 They renamed the
town Dan after their ancestor, Is­ra­el’s son, but
it had originally been called La­ish.
30
Then they set up the carved image, and
they appointed Jon­at­han son of Ger­shom,
son of ­Moses,* as their priest. This fam­i­ly
continued as priests for the tribe of Dan until
the Exile. 31 So Micah’s carved image was wor­
shiped by the tribe of Dan as long as the Tab­
er­nacle of God remained at Shi­loh.
The Levite and His Concubine
19
Now in those days Is­ra­el had no king.
There was a man from the tribe of Levi
living in a remote area of the hill country of
Ephra­im. One day he brought home a woman
from Beth­le­hem in Ju­dah to be his concubine.
2
But she became angry with him* and returned
to her father’s home in Beth­le­hem.
After about four months, 3 her husband set
out for Beth­le­hem to speak personally to her
and persuade her to come back. He took with
him a servant and a pair of donkeys. When he
arrived at* her father’s house, her father saw
him and welcomed him. 4 Her father urged him
to stay awhile, so he stayed three days, eating,
drinking, and sleeping there.
5
On the fourth day the man was up early,
ready to leave, but the woman’s father said to
his son-in-law, “Have something to eat before
you go.” 6 So the two men sat down together
18:7 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain. 18:12 Mahanehdan means “the camp of Dan.” 18:30 As in an ancient Hebrew
tradition, some Greek manuscripts, and Latin Vulgate; Masoretic
Text reads son of Manasseh. 19:2 Or she was unfaithful to him. 19:3 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads When she brought him to. 322
1 SAMUEL 2
PG 282
FLYOVER
PG 320
DIRECT
PG 320
SCENIC
3:1–4:11
3:1–4:11
3:1–4:1
16
57
103
THE LORD SPEAKS TO SAMUEL
Samuel is born as the answer to his mother’s prayer. In gratitude, Hannah fulfills
her vow and dedicates her son to God. She brings him to the Tabernacle in Shiloh
to be trained for God’s work under the guidance of Eli, the high priest. God will
use Samuel to display his active presence with his people, a rare thing in those
days. God has a role for him to play in his big story. He calls Samuel as a young
boy to lead his people and make them a nation that will be a blessing to others.
 9
10
“He will protect his faithful ones,
but the wicked will disappear in darkness.
No one will succeed by strength alone.
Those who fight against the Lord will be
shattered.
He thunders against them from heaven;
the Lord judges throughout the earth.
He gives power to his king;
he increases the strength* of his
anointed one.”
11
Then Elkanah returned home to Ramah
without Samuel. And the boy served the Lord
by assisting Eli the priest.
ELI’S WICKED SONS
12
Now the sons of Eli were scoundrels who had
no respect for the Lord 13 or for their duties as
priests. Whenever anyone offered a sacrifice,
Eli’s sons would send over a servant with a
three-pronged fork. While the meat of the sacrificed animal was still boiling, 14 the servant
would stick the fork into the pot and demand
that whatever it brought up be given to Eli’s
sons. All the Israelites who came to worship at
Shiloh were treated this way. 15 Sometimes the
servant would come even before the animal’s
fat had been burned on the altar. He would demand raw meat before it had been boiled so
that it could be used for roasting.
16
The man offering the sacrifice might reply,
“Take as much as you want, but the fat must
be burned first.” Then the servant would demand, “No, give it to me now, or I’ll take it by
force.” 17 So the sin of these young men was
very serious in the Lord’s sight, for they treated the Lord’s offerings with contempt.
18
But Samuel, though he was only a boy,
09-1Sam.indd 322
served the Lord. He wore a linen garment like
that of a priest.* 19 Each year his mother made a
small coat for him and brought it to him when
she came with her husband for the sacrifice.
20
Before they returned home, Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, “May the Lord give
you other children to take the place of this one
she gave to the Lord.*” 21 And the Lord blessed
Hannah, and she conceived and gave birth to
three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.
22
Now Eli was very old, but he was aware of
what his sons were doing to the people of Israel. He knew, for instance, that his sons were
seducing the young women who assisted at
the entrance of the Tabernacle.* 23 Eli said to
them, “I have been hearing reports from all
the people about the wicked things you are
doing. Why do you keep sinning? 24 You must
stop, my sons! The reports I hear among the
Lord’s people are not good. 25 If someone sins
against another person, God* can mediate for
the guilty party. But if someone sins against
the Lord, who can intercede?” But Eli’s sons
wouldn’t listen to their father, for the Lord was
already planning to put them to death.
26
Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew taller
and grew in favor with the Lord and with the
people.
A WARNING FOR ELI’S FAMILY
27
One day a man of God came to Eli and gave
him this message from the Lord: “I revealed
myself* to your ancestors when they were
2:10 Hebrew he exalts the horn. 2:18 Hebrew He wore a linen
ephod. 2:20 As in Dead Sea Scrolls and Greek version; Masoretic
Text reads this one he requested of the Lord. 2:22 Hebrew Tent of
Meeting. Some manuscripts lack this entire sentence. 2:25 Or the
judges. 2:27 As in Greek and Syriac versions; Hebrew reads Did I
reveal myself.
9/24/2013 11:01:58 AM
323
EXPLORATION POINT
“The lamp of God” refers to the oil lamp that signified
God’s presence in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle.
Every evening at sunset, the Levites filled the lamp’s
seven branches with the best and purest olive oil
so the flame would burn cleanly without producing
smoke. The lamp contained only enough olive oil to
burn until dawn. Therefore, God called to Samuel
sometime before dawn, while the lamp was still
giving off light.
Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt. 28 I chose your ancestor Aaron* from among all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer sacrifices on my
altar, to burn incense, and to wear the priestly
vest* as he served me. And I assigned the sacrificial offerings to you priests. 29 So why do you
scorn my sacrifices and offerings? Why do you
give your sons more honor than you give me—
for you and they have become fat from the best
offerings of my people Israel!
30
“Therefore, the Lord, the God of Israel,
says: I promised that your branch of the tribe
of Levi* would always be my priests. But I will
honor those who honor me, and I will despise
those who think lightly of me. 31 The time is
coming when I will put an end to your family, so it will no longer serve as my priests. All
the members of your family will die before
their time. None will reach old age. 32 You will
watch with envy as I pour out prosperity on
the people of Israel. But no members of your
family will ever live out their days. 33 The few
not cut off from serving at my altar will survive, but only so their eyes can go blind and
their hearts break, and their children will die
a violent death.* 34 And to prove that what I
have said will come true, I will cause your
two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, to die on the
same day!
35
“Then I will raise up a faithful priest who
will serve me and do what I desire. I will establish his family, and they will be priests to
my anointed kings forever. 36 Then all of your
surviving family will bow before him, begging
for money and food. ‘Please,’ they will say,
‘give us jobs among the priests so we will have
enough to eat.’”
09-1Sam.indd 323
6
30
PG
6
30
PG
2
30
PG
OBSERVATION POINT
1 SAMUEL 3
Hearing a voice calling in the middle of the night can
be startling. Anyone who has heard their name called
out while they are sleeping knows how unsettling it
is. Samuel, who was twelve or thirteen, remained
calm through the situation, not cowering in fear nor
running to Eli in alarm. Instead, Samuel went to
Eli, asking him if he had called. God still speaks to
his people today, but usually in more subtle ways.
He may communicate through wise counselors,
friends, pastors, or even our dreams. Whatever
his method, his peace reassures us that all will be
well.
THE LORD SPEAKS TO SAMUEL
3
Meanwhile, the boy Samuel served the
Lord by assisting Eli. Now in those days
messages from the Lord were very rare, and
visions were quite uncommon.
2
One night Eli, who was almost blind by
now, had gone to bed. 3 The lamp of God had
not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in
the Tabernacle* near the Ark of God. 4 Suddenly the Lord called out, “Samuel!”
“Yes?” Samuel replied. “What is it?” 5 He got
up and ran to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?”
“I didn’t call you,” Eli replied. “Go back to
bed.” So he did.
6
Then the Lord called out again, “Samuel!”
Again Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here
I am. Did you call me?”
“I didn’t call you, my son,” Eli said. “Go back
to bed.”
7
Samuel did not yet know the Lord because
he had never had a message from the Lord before. 8 So the Lord called a third time, and once
more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I
am. Did you call me?”
Then Eli realized it was the Lord who was
calling the boy. 9 So he said to Samuel, “Go and
lie down again, and if someone calls again,
say, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’”
So Samuel went back to bed.
10
And the Lord came and called as before,
“Samuel! Samuel!”
And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant
is listening.”
11
Then the Lord said to Samuel, “I am about
to do a shocking thing in Israel. 12 I am going
2:28a Hebrew your father. 2:28b Hebrew an ephod. 2:30 Hebrew
that your house and your father’s house. 2:33 As in Dead Sea Scrolls
and Greek version, which read die by the sword; Masoretic Text reads
die like mortals. 3:3 Hebrew the Temple of the Lord.
9/24/2013 11:01:59 AM
324
1 SAMUEL 4
PG 306
4:1-11; 5:1–7:2
SCENIC
107
THE PHILISTINES CAPTURE THE ARK
During the time of the judges, the Philistines frequently raided various territories of Israel. Throughout the judgeship of Samson, they continued harassing
the Israelites, attempting to seize some of their territory. By the time of Eli, they
are still waging war in the area. Their superstition abounds regarding the Ark
of the Covenant. So the Philistines go after the box that they believe contains
Israel’s god.
to carry out all my threats against Eli and his
family, from beginning to end. 13 I have warned
him that judgment is coming upon his family forever, because his sons are blaspheming God* and he hasn’t disciplined them.
14
So I have vowed that the sins of Eli and his
sons will never be forgiven by sacrifices or
offerings.”
SAMUEL SPEAKS FOR THE LORD
15
Samuel stayed in bed until morning, then got
up and opened the doors of the Tabernacle* as
usual. He was afraid to tell Eli what the Lord
had said to him. 16 But Eli called out to him,
“Samuel, my son.”
“Here I am,” Samuel replied.
17
“What did the Lord say to you? Tell me
everything. And may God strike you and even
kill you if you hide anything from me!” 18 So
Samuel told Eli everything; he didn’t hold anything back. “It is the Lord’s will,” Eli replied.
“Let him do what he thinks best.”
19
As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with
him, and everything Samuel said proved to be
reliable. 20 And all Israel, from Dan in the north
to Beersheba in the south, knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord.
21
The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh and
gave messages to Samuel there at the Tabernacle. 4:1 And Samuel’s words went out to all
the people of Israel.
THE PHILISTINES CAPTURE THE ARK
4
At that time Israel was at war with the Philistines. The Israelite army was camped
near Ebenezer, and the Philistines were at
Aphek. 2 The Philistines attacked and defeated
the army of Israel, killing 4,000 men. 3 After the
battle was over, the troops retreated to their
camp, and the elders of Israel asked, “Why did
the Lord allow us to be defeated by the Philistines?” Then they said, “Let’s bring the Ark
of the Covenant of the Lord from Shiloh. If we
carry it into battle with us, it* will save us from
our enemies.”
4
So they sent men to Shiloh to bring the
Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of Heaven’s
Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli,
were also there with the Ark of the Covenant
of God. 5 When all the Israelites saw the Ark
of the Covenant of the Lord coming into the
camp, their shout of joy was so loud it made
the ground shake!
6
“What’s going on?” the Philistines asked.
“What’s all the shouting about in the Hebrew
camp?” When they were told it was because
the Ark of the Lord had arrived, 7 they panicked. “The gods have* come into their camp!”
they cried. “This is a disaster! We have never
had to face anything like this before! 8 Help!
Who can save us from these mighty gods of Israel? They are the same gods who destroyed
the Egyptians with plagues when Israel was
in the wilderness. 9 Fight as never before,
Philistines! If you don’t, we will become the
Hebrews’ slaves just as they have been ours!
Stand up like men and fight!”
10
So the Philistines fought desperately,
and Israel was defeated again. The slaughter was great; 30,000 Israelite soldiers died
that day. The survivors turned and fled to
their tents. 11 The Ark of God was captured,
and Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of
Eli, were killed.
SKIP TO 5:1
09-1Sam.indd 324
3:13 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads his sons have made
themselves contemptible. 3:15 Hebrew the house of the Lord.
4:3 Or he. 4:7 Or A god has.
9/24/2013 11:01:59 AM
PG
32
8
1 SAMUEL 5
OBSERVATION POINT
325
EXPLORATION POINT
In the past the Israelites followed the Ark as a symbol of God’s leading them through the wilderness,
across the Jordan, and into battle. But the Ark had
become more of a good-luck charm to them than
a blessing. Treating the Ark of the Covenant like a
good-luck charm was probably an idea the Israelites
got from neighboring nations. Other cultures of this
time carried their idols into battle, symbolizing the
presence of their gods. The Israelites mistakenly
trusted a symbol rather than God.
What do we put our trust in? Trusting in a sacred
box may seem foolish to us, but don’t we sometimes
trust other strategies or rituals rather than God?
We trust leaders or important people to protect our
rights. We trust our bank accounts and portfolios to
secure our futures and our happiness. We trust our
judicial system to administer justice and equality.
But all of these things are human systems prone to
imperfection and failure. Our ultimate trust must
be in God above all.
THE DEATH OF ELI
12
THE CITY OF ASHDOD
Ashdod was one of the five major Philistine
cities. From Gaza, it was located up the
Great Trunk Road along the coast of the
Mediterranean Sea. When the Philistines
captured the Ark of the Covenant, they took
it to the temple of Dagon here, and God sent
a plague on the city.
1 Sam 5:6
A man from the tribe of Benjamin ran from
the battlefield and arrived at Shiloh later that
same day. He had torn his clothes and put dust
on his head to show his grief. 13 Eli was waiting
beside the road to hear the news of the battle,
for his heart trembled for the safety of the Ark
of God. When the messenger arrived and told
what had happened, an outcry resounded
throughout the town.
14
“What is all the noise about?” Eli asked.
The messenger rushed over to Eli, 15 who was
ninety-eight years old and blind. 16 He said to
Eli, “I have just come from the battlefield—I
was there this very day.”
“What happened, my son?” Eli demanded.
17
“Israel has been defeated by the Philistines,” the messenger replied. “The people
have been slaughtered, and your two sons,
Hophni and Phinehas, were also killed. And
the Ark of God has been captured.”
18
When the messenger mentioned what had
happened to the Ark of God, Eli fell backward
from his seat beside the gate. He broke his
neck and died, for he was old and overweight.
He had been Israel’s judge for forty years.
19
Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas,
was pregnant and near her time of delivery.
When she heard that the Ark of God had been
captured and that her father-in-law and husband were dead, she went into labor and gave
birth. 20 She died in childbirth, but before she
passed away the midwives tried to encourage
her. “Don’t be afraid,” they said. “You have a
baby boy!” But she did not answer or pay attention to them.
21
She named the child Ichabod (which means
“Where is the glory?”), for she said, “Israel’s
glory is gone.” She named him this because the
Ark of God had been captured and because her
09-1Sam.indd 325
father-in-law and husband were dead. 22 Then
she said, “The glory has departed from Israel,
for the Ark of God has been captured.”
THE ARK IN PHILISTIA
5
After the Philistines captured the Ark of
God, they took it from the battleground at
Ebenezer to the town of Ashdod. 2 They carried
the Ark of God into the temple of Dagon and
placed it beside an idol of Dagon. 3 But when
the citizens of Ashdod went to see it the next
morning, Dagon had fallen with his face to
the ground in front of the Ark of the Lord!
So they took Dagon and put him in his place
again. 4 But the next morning the same thing
happened—Dagon had fallen face down before
the Ark of the Lord again. This time his head
and hands had broken off and were lying in the
doorway. Only the trunk of his body was left intact. 5 That is why to this day neither the priests
of Dagon nor anyone who enters the temple of
Dagon in Ashdod will step on its threshold.
6
Then the Lord’s heavy hand struck the
people of Ashdod and the nearby villages with
a plague of tumors.* 7 When the people realized
what was happening, they cried out, “We can’t
5:6 Greek version and Latin Vulgate read tumors; and rats appeared
in their land, and death and destruction were throughout the city.
9/24/2013 11:01:59 AM
338
1 SAMUEL 17
PG 306
FLYOVER
PG 336
DIRECT
PG 336
SCENIC
17:1-58
17:1-58
17:1-58
18
61
111
DAVID KILLS GOLIATH
Toward the end of Samuel’s life, God instructs him to anoint a young boy, David,
to be Israel’s new king. But while David’s older brothers are soldiers encamped
along the battlefront against the Philistine army, David remains out in the fields
caring for his father’s flocks of sheep. Through David’s experiences as a shepherd, God has prepared him to face a new threat. Just as God is present throughout the big story, his presence is a blessing in David’s life. Armed with God’s
Spirit, David fearlessly goes head-to-head with the champion warrior of the
Philistines—a giant named Goliath.
also a fine-looking young man, and the Lord
is with him.”
19
So Saul sent messengers to Jesse to say,
“Send me your son David, the shepherd.”
20
Jesse responded by sending David to Saul,
along with a young goat, a donkey loaded with
bread, and a wineskin full of wine.
21
So David went to Saul and began serving
him. Saul loved David very much, and David
became his armor bearer.
22
Then Saul sent word to Jesse asking,
“Please let David remain in my service, for I
am very pleased with him.”
23
And whenever the tormenting spirit from
God troubled Saul, David would play the harp.
Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away.
GOLIATH CHALLENGES
THE ISRAELITES
The Philistines now mustered their army
for battle and camped between Socoh in
Judah and Azekah at Ephes-dammim. 2 Saul
countered by gathering his Israelite troops
near the valley of Elah. 3 So the Philistines and
Israelites faced each other on opposite hills,
with the valley between them.
4
Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from
Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face
the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet* tall!
5
He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat
of mail weighed 125 pounds.* 6 He also wore
bronze leg armor, and he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder. 7 The shaft of his spear
was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam,
tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed
09-1Sam.indd 338
JESSE SENDS DAVID TO SAUL’S CAMP
12
Now David was the son of a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem in the land
of Judah. Jesse was an old man at that time,
and he had eight sons. 13 Jesse’s three oldest
sons—Eliab, Abinadab, and Shimea*—had
already joined Saul’s army to fight the Philistines. 14 David was the youngest son. David’s
three oldest brothers stayed with Saul’s army,
15
but David went back and forth so he could
help his father with the sheep in Bethlehem.
16
For forty days, every morning and evening,
the Philistine champion strutted in front of the
Israelite army.
17
One day Jesse said to David, “Take this
basket* of roasted grain and these ten loaves
of bread, and carry them quickly to your brothers. 18 And give these ten cuts of cheese to their
17
15 pounds.* His armor bearer walked ahead of
him carrying a shield.
8
Goliath stood and shouted a taunt across
to the Israelites. “Why are you all coming
out to fight?” he called. “I am the Philistine
champion, but you are only the servants of
Saul. Choose one man to come down here and
fight me! 9 If he kills me, then we will be your
slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves!
10
I defy the armies of Israel today! Send me a
man who will fight me!” 11 When Saul and the
Israelites heard this, they were terrified and
deeply shaken.
17:4 Hebrew 6 cubits and 1 span [which totals about 9.75 feet or
3 meters]; Dead Sea Scrolls and Greek version read 4 cubits and
1 span [which totals about 6.75 feet or 2 meters]. 17:5 Hebrew 5,000
shekels [57 kilograms]. 17:7 Hebrew 600 shekels [6.8 kilograms].
17:13 Hebrew Shammah, a variant spelling of Shimea; compare 1 Chr
2:13; 20:7. 17:17 Hebrew ephah [20 quarts or 22 liters].
9/24/2013 11:02:00 AM
PG
39
6
PG
34
2
339
1 SAMUEL 17
PG 340
OBSERVATION POINT
EXPLORATION POINT
The stones David selected from the stream were not
mere pebbles. They were round and smooth, very
hard, and probably a little larger than a billiard ball.
A really good slinger like David could make a stone
fly at about 100 miles per hour. Even so, the stone
that struck Goliath only stunned him, making him
crash facedown on the ground. Goliath’s beheading
by David was what killed him.
THE VALLEY OF ELAH
The valley of Elah, located south and west
of Bethlehem, stretched out over ten miles.
The Israelite army camped in the mountains
on the north side of the valley, and the
Philistines in the mountains on the south
side near Azekah and Socoh in Judah’s
territory. After defeating the Philistines, the
Israelites chased them back into their own
territory along the Mediterranean Sea.
1 Sam 17:19
captain. See how your brothers are getting
along, and bring back a report on how they are
doing.*” 19 David’s brothers were with Saul and
the Israelite army at the valley of Elah, fighting
against the Philistines.
20
So David left the sheep with another shepherd and set out early the next morning with
the gifts, as Jesse had directed him. He arrived
at the camp just as the Israelite army was leaving for the battlefield with shouts and battle
cries. 21 Soon the Israelite and Philistine forces
stood facing each other, army against army.
22
David left his things with the keeper of supplies and hurried out to the ranks to greet his
brothers. 23 As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, came
out from the Philistine ranks. Then David heard
him shout his usual taunt to the army of Israel.
24
As soon as the Israelite army saw him, they
began to run away in fright. 25 “Have you seen
the giant?” the men asked. “He comes out each
day to defy Israel. The king has offered a huge
reward to anyone who kills him. He will give
that man one of his daughters for a wife, and
the man’s entire family will be exempted from
paying taxes!”
26
David asked the soldiers standing nearby,
“What will a man get for killing this Philistine
and ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this
pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to
defy the armies of the living God?”
27
And these men gave David the same reply.
They said, “Yes, that is the reward for killing
him.”
28
But when David’s oldest brother, Eliab,
heard David talking to the men, he was angry.
“What are you doing around here anyway?”
As a boy, David trusted God’s power in facing the
impossible. Others thought he was being a foolish
child: David’s brother mocked him, accusing him of
being proud and deceitful; and King Saul was skeptical of David’s ability to fight Goliath. But through
David’s skill with a sling, God affirmed his power over
evil and his love for his anointed one. Like the apostle
Paul, David knew his power came from the presence
of God in his life (Philippians 4:13). In the same way,
we as Christians can live confidently and do great
things with God in us.
to Ekron
0
3 mi.
0
5 km
Azekah
Israel’s
camp
Philistine
camp
Adullam
n
Gibeah
TIA
LIS
PH I
JUD
AH
Gath
Azekah Socoh
ea
te
r
S e re a
a n
di
Shechem
Socoh
Gez
Gezer
G
ezzer
er
Ekron
Me
PHI
LIS
JUD TIA
AH
Gath
Beth-shemesh
VALLEY
Y OF ELAH
0
J o rd a n R i v e r
Jebus
(Jerusalem)
Bethlehem
10
1
0 mi
mi.
i.
0 10
10 km
Dead
Sea
09-1Sam.indd 339
he demanded. “What about those few sheep
you’re supposed to be taking care of? I know
about your pride and deceit. You just want to
see the battle!”
17:18 Hebrew and take their pledge.
9/24/2013 11:02:01 AM
340
1 SAMUEL 17
PG 338
18:1-30
SCENIC
112
SAUL BECOMES JEALOUS OF DAVID
King Saul is thrilled with David’s early accomplishments. He trusts the boy and
brings him into the palace to be by his side. As time passes, Saul assigns greater
tasks to David, who completes each one successfully. Soon David is overwhelmingly popular, and Saul’s admiration and love for David turn into jealousy and
rage. Without God’s Spirit, Saul is filled with a spirit of depression and fear. As
his life begins to unravel, Saul lashes out.
29
“What have I done now?” David replied. “I
was only asking a question!” 30 He walked over
to some others and asked them the same thing
and received the same answer. 31 Then David’s
question was reported to King Saul, and the
king sent for him.
DAVID KILLS GOLIATH
“Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David
told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!”
33
“Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied.
“There’s no way you can fight this Philistine
and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s
been a man of war since his youth.”
34
But David persisted. “I have been taking
care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said.
“When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb
from the flock, 35 I go after it with a club and
rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal
turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it
to death. 36 I have done this to both lions and
bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine,
too, for he has defied the armies of the living
God! 37 The Lord who rescued me from the
claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me
from this Philistine!”
Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,”
he said. “And may the Lord be with you!”
38
Then Saul gave David his own armor—a
bronze helmet and a coat of mail. 39 David put
it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a
step or two to see what it was like, for he had
never worn such things before.
“I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul.
“I’m not used to them.” So David took them off
again. 40 He picked up five smooth stones from
a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag.
Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff
09-1Sam.indd 340
32
and sling, he started across the valley to fight
the Philistine.
41
Goliath walked out toward David with his
shield bearer ahead of him, 42 sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. 43 “Am I a dog,”
he roared at David, “that you come at me with
a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of
his gods. 44 “Come over here, and I’ll give your
flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath
yelled.
45
David replied to the Philistine, “You come
to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I
come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel,
whom you have defied. 46 Today the Lord will
conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off
your head. And then I will give the dead bodies
of your men to the birds and wild animals, and
the whole world will know that there is a God
in Israel! 47 And everyone assembled here will
know that the Lord rescues his people, but not
with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle,
and he will give you to us!”
48
As Goliath moved closer to attack, David
quickly ran out to meet him. 49 Reaching into
his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he
hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in
the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath
stumbled and fell face down on the ground.
50
So David triumphed over the Philistine
with only a sling and a stone, for he had no
sword. 51 Then David ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to
kill him and cut off his head.
ISRAEL ROUTS THE PHILISTINES
When the Philistines saw that their champion
was dead, they turned and ran. 52 Then the
men of Israel and Judah gave a great shout
9/24/2013 11:02:02 AM
1 SAMUEL 18
341
PG 342
OBSERVATION POINT
EXPLORATION POINT
Jonathan not only loved David as a friend, he also
acknowledged David’s anointing as the next king.
Being the oldest son, Jonathan would have succeeded
his father as king; however, Jonathan knew that
God had selected David. By presenting David with
his robe, tunic, sword, bow, and belt, Jonathan was
symbolically handing over his right to the throne.
of triumph and rushed after the Philistines,
chasing them as far as Gath* and the gates of
Ekron. The bodies of the dead and wounded
Philistines were strewn all along the road from
Shaaraim, as far as Gath and Ekron. 53 Then the
Israelite army returned and plundered the deserted Philistine camp. 54 (David took the Philistine’s head to Jerusalem, but he stored the
man’s armor in his own tent.)
55
As Saul watched David go out to fight the
Philistine, he asked Abner, the commander
of his army, “Abner, whose son is this young
man?”
“I really don’t know,” Abner declared.
56
“Well, find out who he is!” the king told
him.
57
As soon as David returned from killing Goliath, Abner brought him to Saul with the Philistine’s head still in his hand. 58 “Tell me about
your father, young man,” Saul said.
And David replied, “His name is Jesse, and
we live in Bethlehem.”
After anointing David as the future king, God
assigned him an unlikely task: assist the current
king. David obediently and humbly took on each task
King Saul gave him. Although David’s becoming king
was God’s plan, the actual process was fraught with
difficulties. Saul broke his promises, sent him into
battle repeatedly, and forced him to flee for his life.
God calls us to do his work today. He prepares and
equips us for it, but he doesn’t guarantee that everything will fall into place perfectly or that obstacles
won’t appear.
6
When the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came
out to meet King Saul. They sang and danced
for joy with tambourines and cymbals.* 7 This
was their song:
SAUL BECOMES JEALOUS OF DAVID
18
After David had finished talking with
Saul, he met Jonathan, the king’s son.
There was an immediate bond between them,
for Jonathan loved David. 2 From that day on
Saul kept David with him and wouldn’t let him
return home. 3 And Jonathan made a solemn
pact with David, because he loved him as he
loved himself. 4 Jonathan sealed the pact by
taking off his robe and giving it to David, together with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt.
5
Whatever Saul asked David to do, David
did it successfully. So Saul made him a commander over the men of war, an appointment
that was welcomed by the people and Saul’s
officers alike.
09-1Sam.indd 341
“Saul has killed his thousands,
and David his ten thousands!”
8
This made Saul very angry. “What’s this?”
he said. “They credit David with ten thousands
and me with only thousands. Next they’ll be
making him their king!” 9 So from that time on
Saul kept a jealous eye on David.
10
The very next day a tormenting spirit*
from God overwhelmed Saul, and he began to
rave in his house like a madman. David was
playing the harp, as he did each day. But Saul
had a spear in his hand, 11 and he suddenly
hurled it at David, intending to pin him to the
wall. But David escaped him twice.
12
Saul was then afraid of David, for the
Lord was with David and had turned away
from Saul. 13 Finally, Saul sent him away and
appointed him commander over 1,000 men,
and David faithfully led his troops into battle.
14
David continued to succeed in everything
he did, for the Lord was with him. 15 When Saul
recognized this, he became even more afraid
of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David
because he was so successful at leading his
troops into battle.
DAVID MARRIES SAUL’S DAUGHTER
17
One day Saul said to David, “I am ready to
give you my older daughter, Merab, as your
17:52 As in some Greek manuscripts; Hebrew reads a valley.
18:6 The type of instrument represented by the word cymbals is
uncertain. 18:10 Or an evil spirit.
9/24/2013 11:02:03 AM
396
1 KINGS 3
3:1-28
PG 338
FLYOVER
PG 488
DIRECT
PG 490
SCENIC
3:1-28
3:1-28; 4:29-34
19
76
142
SOLOMON ASKS FOR WISDOM
Although the Israelites had rejected God in favor of a human king, God did not
leave them to appoint a ruler on their own. God has been present throughout the
big story, selecting kings for his people. Just as he first chose Saul, then David,
and filled them with his Spirit to lead his people, he now chooses Solomon. Then
he appears to Solomon with an offer. Solomon’s response shows great promise.
Filled with God’s Spirit, Solomon rules Israel with wisdom and justice.
SOLOMON ASKS FOR WISDOM
3
Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh,
the king of Egypt, and married one of his
daughters. He brought her to live in the City of
David until he could finish building his palace and the Temple of the Lord and the wall
around the city. 2 At that time the people of Israel sacrificed their offerings at local places of
worship, for a temple honoring the name of the
Lord had not yet been built.
3
Solomon loved the Lord and followed all
the decrees of his father, David, except that
Solomon, too, offered sacrifices and burned
incense at the local places of worship. 4 The
most important of these places of worship was
at Gibeon, so the king went there and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings. 5 That night the
Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and
God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will
give it to you!”
6
Solomon replied, “You showed great and
faithful love to your servant my father, David,
because he was honest and true and faithful
to you. And you have continued to show this
great and faithful love to him today by giving
him a son to sit on his throne.
7
“Now, O Lord my God, you have made me
king instead of my father, David, but I am like
a little child who doesn’t know his way around.
8
And here I am in the midst of your own chosen
people, a nation so great and numerous they
cannot be counted! 9 Give me an understanding
heart so that I can govern your people well and
know the difference between right and wrong.
For who by himself is able to govern this great
people of yours?”
10
The Lord was pleased that Solomon had
asked for wisdom. 11 So God replied, “Because
you have asked for wisdom in governing my
people with justice and have not asked for
a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies—12 I will give you what you asked for! I
will give you a wise and understanding heart
such as no one else has had or ever will have!
13
And I will also give you what you did not ask
for—riches and fame! No other king in all the
world will be compared to you for the rest of
your life! 14 And if you follow me and obey my
decrees and my commands as your father, David, did, I will give you a long life.”
15
Then Solomon woke up and realized it had
been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem and
stood before the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant,
where he sacrificed burnt offerings and peace
offerings. Then he invited all his officials to a
great banquet.
SOLOMON JUDGES WISELY
16
Some time later two prostitutes came to the
king to have an argument settled. 17 “Please, my
lord,” one of them began, “this woman and I
live in the same house. I gave birth to a baby
while she was with me in the house. 18 Three
days later this woman also had a baby. We were
alone; there were only two of us in the house.
19
“But her baby died during the night when
she rolled over on it. 20 Then she got up in the
night and took my son from beside me while I
was asleep. She laid her dead child in my arms
and took mine to sleep beside her. 21 And in the
morning when I tried to nurse my son, he was
dead! But when I looked more closely in the
morning light, I saw that it wasn’t my son at all.”
22
Then the other woman interrupted, “It
certainly was your son, and the living child is
mine.”
“No,” the first woman said, “the living child
is mine, and the dead one is yours.” And so
they argued back and forth before the king.
23
Then the king said, “Let’s get the facts
PG
41
0
PG
70
4
PG
68
8
1 KINGS 4
OBSERVATION POINT
Brothels were common in cities of the ancient Near
East, so it makes sense that these prostitutes shared
a house. The prostitutes may have been Israelites
or perhaps Jebusites, the native people who lived in
Jerusalem before David captured it. God’s law clearly
forbade prostitution (Leviticus 19:29; Deuteronomy
23:18), but it still existed in Israel. Solomon was
not judging their occupation; he was judging them
as mothers.
EXPLORATION POINT
If someone offered to give you anything you asked
for, what would it be? Solomon was about twenty
years old when he became king, but he had some
idea of how difficult and important his job was. His
request was discerning and selfless. His desire for
an understanding heart pleased God, who granted
him wisdom and blessed him abundantly. Solomon
came to realize that the core of wisdom is staying
close to God and following his will.
THE CITY OF GIBEON
The city of Gibeon was located six miles
northwest of Jerusalem. One of the most
important places for worshiping God
was here. Its huge bronze altar could
accommodate the large royal sacrifices that
Solomon made to the Lord. The Tabernacle
from the time of Moses was also located
here, but the Ark of the Covenant, which
was normally housed in the Tabernacle,
remained in Jerusalem in a special tent.
SKIP TO 4:29
SOLOMON’S OFFICIALS AND
GOVERNORS
4
 3
 4
 5
 6
King Solomon now ruled over all Israel,
2
and these were his high officials:
Azariah son of Zadok was the priest.
Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha,
were court secretaries.
Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the royal
historian.
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was commander
of the army.
Zadok and Abiathar were priests.
Azariah son of Nathan was in charge of the
district governors.
Zabud son of Nathan, a priest, was a
trusted adviser to the king.
Ahishar was manager of the palace property.
Adoniram son of Abda was in charge
of forced labor.
7
Solomon also had twelve district governors
who were over all Israel. They were responsible for providing food for the king’s household. Each of them arranged provisions for one
month of the year. 8 These are the names of the
twelve governors:
 9
10
11
12
13
Ben-hur, in the hill country of Ephraim.
Ben-deker, in Makaz, Shaalbim, Bethshemesh, and Elon-bethhanan.
Ben-hesed, in Arubboth, including Socoh
and all the land of Hepher.
Ben-abinadab, in all of Naphoth-dor.*
(He was married to Taphath, one of
Solomon’s daughters.)
Baana son of Ahilud, in Taanach and
Megiddo, all of Beth-shan* near
Zarethan below Jezreel, and all the
territory from Beth-shan to Abelmeholah and over to Jokmeam.
Ben-geber, in Ramoth-gilead, including
the Towns of Jair (named for Jair of the
4:11 Hebrew Naphath-dor, a variant spelling of Naphoth-dor.
4:12 Hebrew Beth-shean, a variant spelling of Beth-shan; also in 4:12b.
1 Kgs 3:3-4
straight. Both of you claim the living child is
yours, and each says that the dead one belongs
to the other. 24 All right, bring me a sword.” So
a sword was brought to the king.
25
Then he said, “Cut the living child in two,
and give half to one woman and half to the
other!”
26
Then the woman who was the real mother
of the living child, and who loved him very
much, cried out, “Oh no, my lord! Give her the
child—please do not kill him!”
But the other woman said, “All right, he
will be neither yours nor mine; divide him between us!”
27
Then the king said, “Do not kill the child,
but give him to the woman who wants him to
live, for she is his mother!”
28
When all Israel heard the king’s decision,
the people were in awe of the king, for they saw
the wisdom God had given him for rendering
justice.
397
410
PG 396
FLYOVER
PG 406
DIRECT
PG 406
SCENIC
20
82
157
THE KINGDOMS OF ISRAEL
AND JUDAH
Although God wanted to be the only King for his people, he
allowed them to crown a human king and establish a monarchy.
God specifically chose Israel’s first three kings—Saul, David, and
Solomon—who were then each anointed by a priest. These kings
ruled over the twelve tribes of Israel, united as one nation, for 120
years. During Solomon’s reign the people experienced peace and
prosperity. When God’s Temple was completed, God’s glorious
presence filled the Temple, affirming to the people that God
himself was with them.
GETTING YOUR
BEARINGS
After Solomon dies in 931 bc, his son Rehoboam becomes king
over all Israel. But there is conflict brewing. Jeroboam, one of
Solomon’s labor managers, leads ten tribes to rebel against the
king and start a second kingdom. Now there are two nations:
Israel is the northern kingdom, consisting of ten tribes; and Judah
is the southern kingdom, consisting of two tribes.
YEAR:
931 BC
CURRENT WORLD POWERS:
WHERE ARE WE GOING?
Assyria, Babylon
The kingdoms of Israel and Judah run parallel with each other
for two hundred years, until Israel is conquered by the Assyrian
Empire in 722 bc. The kingdom of Judah continues on for about
150 years until the Babylonians destroy it in 586 bc. To keep these
two histories clear, we’ll follow them separately.
STATUS OF GOD’S PEOPLE:
Divided Nation
First we will follow the kings and prophets of Israel. Nineteen
kings reign over the course of two hundred years; then in 722 the
kingdom falls because most of its kings “did what was evil in
the Lord’s sight.” God continues to speak to his people through
the prophets, but they do not listen. As a result, their lives decline
morally and spiritually until their downfall.
YOU ARE
HERE
Israel
enters the
Promised Land
Israel crowns
Saul as king
Solomon begins
his reign
Ahab begins
his reign
in Israel
Spoked wheels
are used widely
in Europe
1406 BC
1050 BC
971 BC
874 BC
800 BC
1367 BC
1011 BC
931 BC
870 BC
Othniel becomes
Israel’s first
judge
David begins
his reign
The kingdom
splits: Israel
and Judah
Elijah begins
his ministry
in Israel
411
PG 412
PG 412
PG 412
Then we will backtrack two hundred years to follow the kings and prophets of Judah from 931 bc until
the kingdom’s demise in 586 bc. Judah is ruled by nineteen kings (and one queen) over 345 years.
Some of Judah’s kings fear God and closely follow God’s law. Others allow idolatry to creep into the
people’s religious practices. Although the prophets preach about the consequences of disobeying
God, their warnings are not often heeded. Judah’s sinfulness becomes too great, so God allows
the Babylonians to invade the kingdom three times, taking captives and eventually destroying
Jerusalem. Despite the kingdom’s destruction, God promises that a remnant—a small group of God’s
people—will someday return to live in their land again.
JESUS AS TRUE NORTH
During the time of the two kingdoms, God’s representatives on earth are kings, priests, and prophets.
These human leaders are expected to obey God and his laws. By being obedient, they can represent
God accurately and faithfully to the people. Most prophets are faithful, bringing news of hope and
promises of a savior. But only some of the priests and kings follow the ways of the Lord. Their human
weaknesses, their desire for power, and their undisciplined lives get in the way. Because of this,
their roles are only shadows of the One who will ultimately obey God perfectly. Jesus Christ will come
and accomplish all that prophets, priests, and kings have been called to do, but his coming is still
hundreds of years in the future.
WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE WE?
THE BORDERS OF ISRAEL were
expanded to their greatest extent
by David and Solomon. In the
subsequent kingdoms of Judah
and Israel, these borders begin
to shrink. Massive empires
like Assyria and then Babylon
will ultimately dominate the
landscape and God’s people. God,
however, will use these empires
for his own purposes.
SYRIA
ISRAEL
JUDAH
JORDAN
EGYPT
Hezekiah begins
his reign in Judah
First known
Olympic Games
are held
in Greece
Jonah
prophesies
in Nineveh
Romans establish
the twelve-month
calendar
Sennacherib of
Assyria builds a
thirty-mile water
canal for Nineveh
776 BC
755 BC
728 BC
695 BC
792 BC
760 BC
753 BC
722 BC
586 BC
Uzziah begins his
reign in Judah
Hosea
prophesies
in Israel
Rome is
founded on the
Tiber River
Assyria
conquers Israel
Babylon
destroys
Jerusalem and
the Temple
Homer’s Iliad
and Odyssey
written down
Sargon II becomes
king of Assyria
412
1 KINGS 12
PG 410
FLYOVER
PG 410
DIRECT
PG 410
SCENIC
12:1-33
12:1-33
12:1-33
21
83
158
THE NORTHERN TRIBES REVOLT
Unfortunately, the splendor and greatness of King Solomon’s reign does not last.
As he ages, Solomon becomes lax in his relationship with God, marrying foreign
wives and allowing them to introduce idol worship to the kingdom. Once, God had
promised Abraham that his descendants—now the kingdom of Israel—would be
a blessing to all nations. Now, Solomon’s sin has led to political conflicts in the
kingdom that seem to be swamping God’s promise. Far from having the global
impact God had planned for them, the Israelites are an insignificant regional
ethnic group heading for trouble.
establish an enduring dynasty for you as I did
for David, and I will give Israel to you. 39 Because of Solomon’s sin I will punish the descendants of David—though not forever.’”
40
Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam, but he fled
to King Shishak of Egypt and stayed there until
Solomon died.
SUMMARY OF SOLOMON’S REIGN
41
The rest of the events in Solomon’s reign,
including all his deeds and his wisdom, are
recorded in The Book of the Acts of Solomon.
42
Solomon ruled in Jerusalem over all Israel for
forty years. 43 When he died, he was buried in
the City of David, named for his father. Then
his son Rehoboam became the next king.
THE NORTHERN TRIBES REVOLT
12
Rehoboam went to Shechem, where all
Israel had gathered to make him king.
2
When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard of this, he
returned from Egypt,* for he had fled to Egypt
to escape from King Solomon. 3 The leaders of
Israel summoned him, and Jeroboam and the
whole assembly of Israel went to speak with
Rehoboam. 4 “Your father was a hard master,”
they said. “Lighten the harsh labor demands
and heavy taxes that your father imposed on
us. Then we will be your loyal subjects.”
5
Rehoboam replied, “Give me three days
to think this over. Then come back for my answer.” So the people went away.
6
Then King Rehoboam discussed the matter with the older men who had counseled his
father, Solomon. “What is your advice?” he
asked. “How should I answer these people?”
7
The older counselors replied, “If you are
willing to be a servant to these people today
and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your loyal subjects.”
8
But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the
older men and instead asked the opinion of
the young men who had grown up with him
and were now his advisers. 9 “What is your advice?” he asked them. “How should I answer
these people who want me to lighten the burdens imposed by my father?”
10
The young men replied, “This is what you
should tell those complainers who want a
lighter burden: ‘My little finger is thicker than
my father’s waist! 11 Yes, my father laid heavy
burdens on you, but I’m going to make them
even heavier! My father beat you with whips,
but I will beat you with scorpions!’”
12
Three days later Jeroboam and all the
people returned to hear Rehoboam’s decision,
just as the king had ordered. 13 But Rehoboam
spoke harshly to the people, for he rejected the
advice of the older counselors 14 and followed
the counsel of his younger advisers. He told
the people, “My father laid heavy burdens on
you, but I’m going to make them even heavier!
My father beat you with whips, but I will beat
you with scorpions!”
15
So the king paid no attention to the people.
This turn of events was the will of the Lord,
for it fulfilled the Lord’s message to Jeroboam
son of Nebat through the prophet Ahijah from
Shiloh.
16
When all Israel realized that the king had
refused to listen to them, they responded,
12:2 As in Greek version and Latin Vulgate (see also 2 Chr 10:2);
Hebrew reads he lived in Egypt.
PG
41
8
PG
41
8
PG
41
8
1 KINGS 12
OBSERVATION POINT
413
EXPLORATION POINT
The struggle between the northern and southern
tribes was nothing new. During the time of the judges
the people identified with and were loyal to their
tribe, not their nation. Although the twelve tribes
united under David and Solomon, jealousy and animosity continued to simmer, especially between the
two largest tribes—Ephraim in the north and Judah
in the south. The northern tribes disliked that Jerusalem, the center of politics and religion, was located
in Judah’s territory. The kingdom split in two: To
the north was Israel, ten tribes led by Jeroboam; to
the south was Judah, two tribes led by Rehoboam.
So the people of Israel returned home. 17 But
Rehoboam continued to rule over the Israelites
who lived in the towns of Judah.
18
King Rehoboam sent Adoniram,* who was
in charge of forced labor, to restore order, but
the people of Israel stoned him to death. When
this news reached King Rehoboam, he quickly
jumped into his chariot and fled to Jerusalem.
19
And to this day the northern tribes of Israel
have refused to be ruled by a descendant of
David.
20
When the people of Israel learned of Jeroboam’s return from Egypt, they called an assembly and made him king over all Israel. So
only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the
family of David.
WORSHIP IN THE NORTHERN
KINGDOM
Jeroboam set up two new worship centers
in the cities of Bethel and Dan so that the
people from the northern tribes could worship there rather than needing to travel all
the way to Jerusalem. Bethel was only ten
miles north of Jerusalem and thus convenient for anyone heading to Jerusalem out
of habit. Dan was far north in the land of
Naphtali, convenient to the northernmost
people of Israel.
SHEMAIAH’S PROPHECY
21
When Rehoboam arrived at Jerusalem, he
mobilized the men of Judah and the tribe of
Benjamin—180,000 select troops—to fight
against the men of Israel and to restore the
kingdom to himself.
22
But God said to Shemaiah, the man of God,
23
“Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of
Judah, and to all the people of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, 24 ‘This
is what the Lord says: Do not fight against
your relatives, the Israelites. Go back home,
for what has happened is my doing!’” So they
12:18 As in some Greek manuscripts and Syriac version (see also 4:6;
5:14); Hebrew reads Adoram.
Excavation at Dan
1 Kgs 12:25-33
“Down with the dynasty of David!
We have no interest in the son of Jesse.
Back to your homes, O Israel!
Look out for your own house, O David!”
Jeroboam intentionally set up new worship centers
to secure his political power and position, but he
was ignoring what God wanted for his people. The
new centers were convenient for worship, but they
led the people to worship idols, which violated God’s
first commandment. Gradually the people forgot all
about the true God and drifted into worshiping the
local deity, Baal. Convenience won out over what
was true and right. We too must carefully choose
what is right and true over what is current, popular,
or most convenient.
414
1 KINGS 13
obeyed the message of the Lord and went
home, as the Lord had commanded.
JEROBOAM MAKES GOLD CALVES
25
Jeroboam then built up the city of Shechem
in the hill country of Ephraim, and it became
his capital. Later he went and built up the town
of Peniel.*
26
Jeroboam thought to himself, “Unless I am
careful, the kingdom will return to the dynasty
of David. 27 When these people go to Jerusalem
to offer sacrifices at the Temple of the Lord,
they will again give their allegiance to King
Rehoboam of Judah. They will kill me and
make him their king instead.”
28
So on the advice of his counselors, the king
made two gold calves. He said to the people,*
“It is too much trouble for you to worship in Jerusalem. Look, Israel, these are the gods who
brought you out of Egypt!”
29
He placed these calf idols in Bethel and in
Dan—at either end of his kingdom. 30 But this
became a great sin, for the people worshiped
the idols, traveling as far north as Dan to worship the one there.
31
Jeroboam also erected buildings at the
pagan shrines and ordained priests from the
common people—those who were not from
the priestly tribe of Levi. 32 And Jeroboam instituted a religious festival in Bethel, held on the
fifteenth day of the eighth month,* in imitation of the annual Festival of Shelters in Judah.
There at Bethel he himself offered sacrifices
to the calves he had made, and he appointed
priests for the pagan shrines he had made. 33 So
on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a day
that he himself had designated, Jeroboam offered sacrifices on the altar at Bethel. He instituted a religious festival for Israel, and he went
up to the altar to burn incense.
A PROPHET DENOUNCES JEROBOAM
13
At the Lord’s command, a man of God
from Judah went to Bethel, arriving there
just as Jeroboam was approaching the altar to
burn incense. 2 Then at the Lord’s command,
he shouted, “O altar, altar! This is what the
Lord says: A child named Josiah will be born
into the dynasty of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests from the pagan shrines who
come here to burn incense, and human bones
will be burned on you.” 3 That same day the
man of God gave a sign to prove his message.
He said, “The Lord has promised to give this
sign: This altar will split apart, and its ashes
will be poured out on the ground.”
4
When King Jeroboam heard the man of
God speaking against the altar at Bethel, he
pointed at him and shouted, “Seize that man!”
But instantly the king’s hand became paralyzed in that position, and he couldn’t pull it
back. 5 At the same time a wide crack appeared
in the altar, and the ashes poured out, just as
the man of God had predicted in his message
from the Lord.
6
The king cried out to the man of God,
“Please ask the Lord your God to restore my
hand again!” So the man of God prayed to the
Lord, and the king’s hand was restored and he
could move it again.
7
Then the king said to the man of God,
“Come to the palace with me and have something to eat, and I will give you a gift.”
8
But the man of God said to the king, “Even
if you gave me half of everything you own, I
would not go with you. I would not eat or drink
anything in this place. 9 For the Lord gave me
this command: ‘You must not eat or drink anything while you are there, and do not return to
Judah by the same way you came.’” 10 So he left
Bethel and went home another way.
11
As it happened, there was an old prophet
living in Bethel, and his sons* came home
and told him what the man of God had done
in Bethel that day. They also told their father
what the man had said to the king. 12 The old
prophet asked them, “Which way did he go?”
So they showed their father* which road the
man of God had taken. 13 “Quick, saddle the
donkey,” the old man said. So they saddled
the donkey for him, and he mounted it.
14
Then he rode after the man of God and
found him sitting under a great tree. The old
prophet asked him, “Are you the man of God
who came from Judah?”
“Yes, I am,” he replied.
15
Then he said to the man of God, “Come
home with me and eat some food.”
16
“No, I cannot,” he replied. “I am not allowed to eat or drink anything here in this
place. 17 For the Lord gave me this command:
‘You must not eat or drink anything while you
are there, and do not return to Judah by the
same way you came.’”
18
But the old prophet answered, “I am a
prophet, too, just as you are. And an angel
gave me this command from the Lord: ‘Bring
him home with you so he can have something
to eat and drink.’” But the old man was lying to
him. 19 So they went back together, and the man
of God ate and drank at the prophet’s home.
20
Then while they were sitting at the table,
a command from the Lord came to the old
prophet. 21 He cried out to the man of God from
Judah, “This is what the Lord says: You have
defied the word of the Lord and have disobeyed the command the Lord your God gave
you. 22 You came back to this place and ate and
12:25 Hebrew Penuel, a variant spelling of Peniel. 12:28 Hebrew
to them. 12:32 This day of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar
occurred in late October or early November, exactly one month after
the annual Festival of Shelters in Judah (see Lev 23:34). 13:11 As
in Greek version; Hebrew reads son. 13:12 As in Greek version;
Hebrew reads They had seen.
1 KINGS 14
drank where he told you not to eat or drink.
Because of this, your body will not be buried
in the grave of your ancestors.”
23
After the man of God had finished eating
and drinking, the old prophet saddled his own
donkey for him, 24 and the man of God started
off again. But as he was traveling along, a lion
came out and killed him. His body lay there on
the road, with the donkey and the lion standing beside it. 25 People who passed by saw the
body lying in the road and the lion standing
beside it, and they went and reported it in
Bethel, where the old prophet lived.
26
When the prophet heard the report, he
said, “It is the man of God who disobeyed the
Lord’s command. The Lord has fulfilled his
word by causing the lion to attack and kill
him.”
27
Then the prophet said to his sons, “Saddle
a donkey for me.” So they saddled a donkey,
28
and he went out and found the body lying
in the road. The donkey and lion were still
standing there beside it, for the lion had not
eaten the body nor attacked the donkey. 29 So
the prophet laid the body of the man of God
on the donkey and took it back to the town to
mourn over him and bury him. 30 He laid the
body in his own grave, crying out in grief, “Oh,
my brother!”
31
Afterward the prophet said to his sons,
“When I die, bury me in the grave where the
man of God is buried. Lay my bones beside his
bones. 32 For the message the Lord told him
to proclaim against the altar in Bethel and
against the pagan shrines in the towns of Samaria will certainly come true.”
33
But even after this, Jeroboam did not turn
from his evil ways. He continued to choose
priests from the common people. He appointed
anyone who wanted to become a priest for the
pagan shrines. 34 This became a great sin and
resulted in the utter destruction of Jeroboam’s
dynasty from the face of the earth.
AHIJAH’S PROPHECY
AGAINST JEROBOAM
14
At that time Jeroboam’s son Abijah became very sick. 2 So Jeroboam told his
wife, “Disguise yourself so that no one will recognize you as my wife. Then go to the prophet
Ahijah at Shiloh—the man who told me I would
become king. 3 Take him a gift of ten loaves of
bread, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and ask
him what will happen to the boy.”
4
So Jeroboam’s wife went to Ahijah’s home
at Shiloh. He was an old man now and could
no longer see. 5 But the Lord had told Ahijah,
“Jeroboam’s wife will come here, pretending to
be someone else. She will ask you about her
son, for he is very sick. Give her the answer I
give you.”
415
6
So when Ahijah heard her footsteps at
the door, he called out, “Come in, wife of Jeroboam! Why are you pretending to be someone else?” Then he told her, “I have bad news
for you. 7 Give your husband, Jeroboam, this
message from the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘I
promoted you from the ranks of the common
people and made you ruler over my people Israel. 8 I ripped the kingdom away from the family of David and gave it to you. But you have not
been like my servant David, who obeyed my
commands and followed me with all his heart
and always did whatever I wanted. 9 You have
done more evil than all who lived before you.
You have made other gods for yourself and
have made me furious with your gold calves.
And since you have turned your back on me,
10
I will bring disaster on your dynasty and will
destroy every one of your male descendants,
slave and free alike, anywhere in Israel. I will
burn up your royal dynasty as one burns up
trash until it is all gone. 11 The members of Jeroboam’s family who die in the city will be eaten
by dogs, and those who die in the field will be
eaten by vultures. I, the Lord, have spoken.’”
12
Then Ahijah said to Jeroboam’s wife, “Go
on home, and when you enter the city, the
child will die. 13 All Israel will mourn for him
and bury him. He is the only member of your
family who will have a proper burial, for this
child is the only good thing that the Lord,
the God of Israel, sees in the entire family of
Jeroboam.
14
“In addition, the Lord will raise up a king
over Israel who will destroy the family of Jeroboam. This will happen today, even now!
15
Then the Lord will shake Israel like a reed
whipped about in a stream. He will uproot
the people of Israel from this good land that
he gave their ancestors and will scatter them
beyond the Euphrates River,* for they have
angered the Lord with the Asherah poles they
have set up for worship. 16 He will abandon Israel because Jeroboam sinned and made Israel
sin along with him.”
17
So Jeroboam’s wife returned to Tirzah, and
the child died just as she walked through the
door of her home. 18 And all Israel buried him
and mourned for him, as the Lord had promised through the prophet Ahijah.
19
The rest of the events in Jeroboam’s reign,
including all his wars and how he ruled, are
recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings
of Israel. 20 Jeroboam reigned in Israel twentytwo years. When Jeroboam died, his son Nadab
became the next king.
REHOBOAM RULES IN JUDAH
21
Meanwhile, Rehoboam son of Solomon was
king in Judah. He was forty-one years old when
14:15 Hebrew the river.
418
1 KINGS 16
PG 412
FLYOVER
PG 412
DIRECT
PG 412
SCENIC
16:29–17:24
16:29–17:24
16:29–17:24
22
84
159
KING AHAB AND THE PROPHET ELIJAH
After Israel splits into two kingdoms, God’s people continue to pursue life apart
from God. King Jeroboam lures the people into worshiping local idols rather than
the one true God. Meanwhile, God reminds his people of the big story—of who
he is and what he has done for them—through his prophets. From time to time,
they repent and turn back to God, but their kings continually go back to their
pagan practices. Eventually, a particularly wicked king, Ahab, rises to power over
Israel. But God never deserts his chosen people. He speaks to them through the
words of his prophet Elijah.
11
Zimri immediately killed the entire royal
family of Baasha, leaving him not even a single
male child. He even destroyed distant relatives
and friends. 12 So Zimri destroyed the dynasty of
Baasha as the Lord had promised through the
prophet Jehu. 13 This happened because of all
the sins Baasha and his son Elah had committed, and because of the sins they led Israel to
commit. They provoked the anger of the Lord,
the God of Israel, with their worthless idols.
14
The rest of the events in Elah’s reign and
everything he did are recorded in The Book of
the History of the Kings of Israel.
ZIMRI RULES IN ISRAEL
15
Zimri began to rule over Israel in the twentyseventh year of King Asa’s reign in Judah, but
his reign in Tirzah lasted only seven days. The
army of Israel was then attacking the Philistine town of Gibbethon. 16 When they heard
that Zimri had committed treason and had assassinated the king, that very day they chose
Omri, commander of the army, as the new
king of Israel. 17 So Omri led the entire army of
Israel up from Gibbethon to attack Tirzah, Israel’s capital. 18 When Zimri saw that the city
had been taken, he went into the citadel of
the palace and burned it down over himself
and died in the flames. 19 For he, too, had done
what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He followed
the example of Jeroboam in all the sins he had
committed and led Israel to commit.
20
The rest of the events in Zimri’s reign and
his conspiracy are recorded in The Book of the
History of the Kings of Israel.
OMRI RULES IN ISRAEL
21
But now the people of Israel were split into
two factions. Half the people tried to make
Tibni son of Ginath their king, while the other
half supported Omri. 22 But Omri’s supporters
defeated the supporters of Tibni. So Tibni was
killed, and Omri became the next king.
23
Omri began to rule over Israel in the
thirty-first year of King Asa’s reign in Judah.
He reigned twelve years in all, six of them
in Tirzah. 24 Then Omri bought the hill now
known as Samaria from its owner, Shemer, for
150 pounds of silver.* He built a city on it and
called the city Samaria in honor of Shemer.
25
But Omri did what was evil in the Lord’s
sight, even more than any of the kings before
him. 26 He followed the example of Jeroboam
son of Nebat in all the sins he had committed
and led Israel to commit. The people provoked
the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, with
their worthless idols.
27
The rest of the events in Omri’s reign, the
extent of his power, and everything he did are
recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings
of Israel. 28 When Omri died, he was buried in
Samaria. Then his son Ahab became the next
king.
AHAB RULES IN ISRAEL
29
Ahab son of Omri began to rule over Israel in
the thirty-eighth year of King Asa’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria twenty-two years.
30
But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the
Lord’s sight, even more than any of the kings
before him. 31 And as though it were not enough
16:24 Hebrew for 2 talents [68 kilograms] of silver.
419
PG
99
2
1 KINGS 17
PG 420
PG 420
OBSERVATION POINT
EXPLORATION POINT
Jezebel was a Phoenician princess and a high priestess of the cult of Baal. Her father Ethbaal, king of
Sidon, was high priest of the cult of Ashtoreth, or
Asherah. When Jezebel married Ahab, she converted
him and much of the kingdom of Israel to the worship
of Baal and Asherah. She supported 450 prophets of
Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah. Jezebel assumed
a major political and religious role as queen of Israel
and had a great influence on Ahab’s decisions.
to follow the sinful example of Jeroboam, he
married Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethbaal
of the Sidonians, and he began to bow down
in worship of Baal. 32 First Ahab built a temple
and an altar for Baal in Samaria. 33 Then he set
up an Asherah pole. He did more to provoke
the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than
any of the other kings of Israel before him.
34
It was during his reign that Hiel, a man
from Bethel, rebuilt Jericho. When he laid its
foundations, it cost him the life of his oldest
son, Abiram. And when he completed it and
set up its gates, it cost him the life of his youngest son, Segub.* This all happened according
to the message from the Lord concerning Jericho spoken by Joshua son of Nun.
Elijah, whose name means “my God is Yahweh,”
prophesied for the God of Israel. He courageously
declared his faith before King Ahab, who had made
Baal worship the kingdom’s official religion. Elijah
was in the minority. Other prophets had remained
true to the Lord, but he was not aware of them and
felt abandoned. Sometimes we may feel alone in our
faith, too. Family or friends may have lost touch with
God and drifted into complacency or other beliefs.
Reading the story of Elijah encourages us with the
reminder that God does not abandon his people.
THE WIDOW AT ZAREPHATH
8
PG 33
ELIJAH FED BY RAVENS
PG 435
b | HEALING | 17:17-24
17
Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in
Gilead, told King Ahab, “As surely as
the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I
serve—there will be no dew or rain during the
next few years until I give the word!”
2
Then the Lord said to Elijah, 3 “Go to the
east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it
enters the Jordan River. 4 Drink from the brook
and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have
commanded them to bring you food.”
5
So Elijah did as the Lord told him and
camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat
each morning and evening, and he drank from
the brook. 7 But after a while the brook dried
up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the
land.
Then the Lord said to Elijah, 9 “Go and live in
the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon.
I have instructed a widow there to feed you.”
10
So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at
the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you
please bring me a little water in a cup?” 11 As
she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring
me a bite of bread, too.”
12
But she said, “I swear by the Lord your
God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in
the house. And I have only a handful of flour
left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks
to cook this last meal, and then my son and I
will die.”
13
But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go
ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make
a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left
to prepare a meal for yourself and your son.
14
For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel,
says: There will always be flour and olive oil
left in your containers until the time when the
Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!”
15
So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many
days. 16 There was always enough flour and
olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord
had promised through Elijah.
17
Some time later the woman’s son became
sick. He grew worse and worse, and finally he
died. 18 Then she said to Elijah, “O man of God,
16:34 An ancient Hebrew scribal tradition reads He killed his oldest
son when he laid its foundations, and he killed his youngest son when
he set up its gates.
420
1 KINGS 18
PG 418
DIRECT
PG 418
SCENIC
18:1-46
18:1-46
85
160
THE CONTEST ON MOUNT CARMEL
After three years of drought, the prophet Elijah receives word from God that rain
is coming to revive the land of Israel. Rain would be God’s gift to the Israelites, for
the people had long since forsaken God and chosen to worship Baal as the giver
of rain. As God instructs him, Elijah appears before King Ahab and challenges
his prophets to an unprecedented contest on Mount Carmel.
what have you done to me? Have you come
here to point out my sins and kill my son?”
19
But Elijah replied, “Give me your son.”
And he took the child’s body from her arms,
carried him up the stairs to the room where
he was staying, and laid the body on his bed.
20
Then Elijah cried out to the Lord, “O Lord
my God, why have you brought tragedy to this
widow who has opened her home to me, causing her son to die?”
21
And he stretched himself out over the
child three times and cried out to the Lord,
“O Lord my God, please let this child’s life return to him.” 22 The Lord heard Elijah’s prayer,
and the life of the child returned, and he revived! 23 Then Elijah brought him down from
the upper room and gave him to his mother.
“Look!” he said. “Your son is alive!”
24
Then the woman told Elijah, “Now I know
for sure that you are a man of God, and that the
Lord truly speaks through you.”
THE CONTEST ON MOUNT CARMEL
18
Later on, in the third year of the drought,
the Lord said to Elijah, “Go and present
yourself to King Ahab. Tell him that I will soon
send rain!” 2 So Elijah went to appear before
Ahab.
Meanwhile, the famine had become very
severe in Samaria. 3 So Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. (Obadiah was a devoted follower of the Lord. 4 Once
when Jezebel had tried to kill all the Lord’s
prophets, Obadiah had hidden 100 of them
in two caves. He put fifty prophets in each
cave and supplied them with food and water.)
5
Ahab said to Obadiah, “We must check every
spring and valley in the land to see if we can
find enough grass to save at least some of my
horses and mules.” 6 So they divided the land
between them. Ahab went one way by himself,
and Obadiah went another way by himself.
7
As Obadiah was walking along, he suddenly saw Elijah coming toward him. Obadiah
recognized him at once and bowed low to the
ground before him. “Is it really you, my lord
Elijah?” he asked.
8
“Yes, it is,” Elijah replied. “Now go and tell
your master, ‘Elijah is here.’”
9
“Oh, sir,” Obadiah protested, “what harm
have I done to you that you are sending me to
my death at the hands of Ahab? 10 For I swear by
the Lord your God that the king has searched
every nation and kingdom on earth from end
to end to find you. And each time he was told,
‘Elijah isn’t here,’ King Ahab forced the king of
that nation to swear to the truth of his claim.
11
And now you say, ‘Go and tell your master,
“Elijah is here.”’ 12 But as soon as I leave you,
the Spirit of the Lord will carry you away to
who knows where. When Ahab comes and
cannot find you, he will kill me. Yet I have been
a true servant of the Lord all my life. 13 Has no
one told you, my lord, about the time when
Jezebel was trying to kill the Lord’s prophets?
I hid 100 of them in two caves and supplied
them with food and water. 14 And now you say,
‘Go and tell your master, “Elijah is here.”’ Sir, if
I do that, Ahab will certainly kill me.”
15
But Elijah said, “I swear by the Lord Almighty, in whose presence I stand, that I will
present myself to Ahab this very day.”
16
So Obadiah went to tell Ahab that Elijah
had come, and Ahab went out to meet Elijah.
17
When Ahab saw him, he exclaimed, “So, is it
really you, you troublemaker of Israel?”
18
“I have made no trouble for Israel,” Elijah
replied. “You and your family are the troublemakers, for you have refused to obey the commands of the Lord and have worshiped the
images of Baal instead. 19 Now summon all
421
PG
43
0
1 KINGS 18
PG 422
OBSERVATION POINT
EXPLORATION POINT
Pagan worshipers believed their gods had human
characteristics and needs. Priests of Egyptian deities
actually woke up their gods by feeding, washing, and
dressing the idols. Elijah’s sarcasm appropriately
derided the belief that a god could be preoccupied
with human-like activities.
MOUNT CARMEL
Mount Carmel crowns a mountain ridge at
the entrance to the Jezreel Valley in what
was once the tribal territory of Asher. It
was a prime location for challenging Baal
worship. The mountain rises 556 feet above
the Mediterranean Sea, overlooking the
harbor of the modern-day city of Haifa.
knives and swords until the blood gushed out.
They raved all afternoon until the time of the
evening sacrifice, but still there was no sound,
no reply, no response.
30
Then Elijah called to the people, “Come
over here!” They all crowded around him as he
repaired the altar of the Lord that had been
torn down. 31 He took twelve stones, one to represent each of the tribes of Israel,* 32 and he
used the stones to rebuild the altar in the name
of the Lord. Then he dug a trench around the
altar large enough to hold about three gallons.* 33 He piled wood on the altar, cut the bull
into pieces, and laid the pieces on the wood.*
Then he said, “Fill four large jars with water,
and pour the water over the offering and the
wood.”
34
After they had done this, he said, “Do the
same thing again!” And when they were finished, he said, “Now do it a third time!” So
they did as he said, 35 and the water ran around
the altar and even filled the trench.
36
At the usual time for offering the evening
sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the
altar and prayed, “O Lord, God of Abraham,
29
18:19 Hebrew who eat at Jezebel’s table. 18:27 Or is busy
somewhere else, or is engaged in business. 18:31 Hebrew each
of the tribes of the sons of Jacob to whom the Lord had said, “Your
name will be Israel.” 18:32 Hebrew 2 seahs [14.6 liters] of seed.
18:33 Verse 18:34 in the Hebrew text begins here.
1 Kgs 18:1-40
Israel to join me at Mount Carmel, along with
the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets
of Asherah who are supported by Jezebel.*”
20
So Ahab summoned all the people of Israel and the prophets to Mount Carmel. 21 Then
Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How
much longer will you waver, hobbling between
two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him!
But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the
people were completely silent.
22
Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only
prophet of the Lord who is left, but Baal has
450 prophets. 23 Now bring two bulls. The
prophets of Baal may choose whichever one
they wish and cut it into pieces and lay it on
the wood of their altar, but without setting
fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and lay
it on the wood on the altar, but not set fire to
it. 24 Then call on the name of your god, and I
will call on the name of the Lord. The god who
answers by setting fire to the wood is the true
God!” And all the people agreed.
25
Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal,
“You go first, for there are many of you. Choose
one of the bulls, and prepare it and call on the
name of your god. But do not set fire to the
wood.”
26
So they prepared one of the bulls and
placed it on the altar. Then they called on the
name of Baal from morning until noontime,
shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was
no reply of any kind. Then they danced, hobbling around the altar they had made.
27
About noontime Elijah began mocking
them. “You’ll have to shout louder,” he scoffed,
“for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is daydreaming, or is relieving himself.* Or maybe he is
away on a trip, or is asleep and needs to be
wakened!”
28
So they shouted louder, and following
their normal custom, they cut themselves with
The majority of Israel got swept up in the pagan
rituals and worship of Baal, Canaan’s most popular god. Everyone wants to be associated with the
strongest, the prettiest, the smartest, or the best in
any category. But sometimes we settle for a god that
isn’t. We worship wealth, position, or power instead
of pursuing the true God—the Lord Almighty, the
supreme God of gods and King of kings. He’s patiently
waiting for us to come to him.
450
2 Kings 17
PG 992
FLYOVER
PG 984
DIRECT
PG 448
SCENIC
17:1-23
17:1-23
17:1-41
24
92
176
Death of a Nation
God has been patient with Israel for two hundred years. He has warned and threatened and loved his people and their kings. God’s plan in the big story was to live
among his people, but they have ignored and resisted and avoided him. Numerous
prophets warned the leaders that destruction was coming if they did not seek God,
shun idolatry, and show mercy. But eventually the prophets’ voices cease. God
abandons the kingdom of Israel to face the ruthless Assyrians alone. Pounded by
Assyria, the people of Israel finally prove to be too weak to ward off their invaders.
Ju­dah and sent ­Edom­ites* to live there, as they
do to this day.
7
King Ahaz sent messengers to King Tiglathpileser of As­syr­ia with this message: “I am
your servant and your vassal.* Come up and
rescue me from the attacking armies of Aram
and Is­ra­el.” 8 Then Ahaz took the silver and
gold from the Temple of the Lord and the palace treasury and sent it as a payment to the
As­syr­ian king. 9 So the king of As­syr­ia attacked
the Ar­am
­ e­an capital of Da­mas­cus and led its
population away as captives, resettling them
in Kir. He also killed King Re­zin.
10
King Ahaz then went to Da­mas­cus to meet
with King Tiglath-­pileser of As­syr­ia. While he
was there, he took special note of the altar.
Then he sent a model of the altar to Uri­ah
the priest, along with its design in full detail.
11
­Uri­ah followed the king’s instructions and
built an altar just like it, and it was ready before the king returned from Da­mas­cus. 12 When
the king returned, he inspected the altar and
made offerings on it. 13 He ­pre­sent­ed a burnt
offering and a grain offering, he poured out a
liquid offering, and he sprinkled the blood of
peace offerings on the altar.
14
Then King Ahaz removed the old bronze
altar from its place in front of the Lord’s
Temple, between the entrance and the new
altar, and placed it on the north side of the
new altar. 15 He told Uri­ah the priest, “Use
the new altar* for the morning sacrifices of
burnt offering, the evening grain offering, the
king’s burnt offering and grain offering, and
the burnt offerings of all the people, as well
as their grain offerings and liquid offerings.
Sprinkle the blood from all the burnt offerings
and sacrifices on the new altar. The bronze
­ ri­ah
altar will be for my personal use only.” 16 U
the priest did just as King Ahaz commanded
him.
17
Then the king removed the side panels and
basins from the portable water carts. He also
removed the great bronze basin called the Sea
from the backs of the bronze oxen and placed
it on the stone pavement. 18 In deference to the
king of As­syr­ia, he also removed the canopy
that had been constructed inside the palace for
use on the Sab­bath day,* as well as the king’s
outer entrance to the Temple of the Lord.
19
The rest of the events in Ahaz’s reign and
every­thing he did are recorded in The Book of
the History of the Kings of Ju­dah. 20 When Ahaz
died, he was buried with his ancestors in the
City of Da­vid. Then his son Hez­ek
­ i­ah became
the next king.
Hoshea Rules in Israel
17
Ho­shea son of Elah began to rule over
Is­ra­el in the twelfth year of King Ahaz’s
reign in Ju­dah. He reigned in Sa­mar­ia nine
years. 2 He did what was evil in the Lord’s
sight, but not to the same extent as the kings
of Is­ra­el who ruled before him.
3
King ­Shal­maneser of As­syr­ia attacked King
Ho­shea, so Ho­shea was forced to pay heavy
tribute to As­syr­ia. 4 But Ho­shea stopped paying
the annual tribute and conspired against the
king of As­syr­ia by asking King So of Egypt* to
help him shake free of As­syr­ia’s power. When
the king of As­syr­ia discovered this treachery,
he seized Ho­shea and put him in prison.
16:6c As in Greek version, Latin Vulgate, and an alternate
reading of the Masoretic Text; the other alternate reads Arameans. 16:7 Hebrew your son. 16:15 Hebrew the great altar. 16:18 The
meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain. 17:4 Or by asking the king
of Egypt at Sais. 2 Kings 17451
PG
51
6
PG
50
2
PG
50
2
Observation Point
Exploration Point
Israel, the northern kingdom, consisted of ten tribes:
Ephraim, Naphtali, East and West Manasseh, Asher,
Zebulun, Issachar, Reuben, Gad, and Dan. When the
kingdom of Israel was conquered, it disappeared.
Afterward, it was often referred to as the ten lost
tribes of Israel. Not only did the Assyrians take the
people captive and move them north to their nation,
but they also transplanted other captive peoples into
the territory of Israel. Mixing up nationalities like
this prevented unity and possible uprisings against
the conquerors.
Samaria Falls to Assyria
Then the king of As­syr­ia invaded the entire
land, and for three years he besieged the city
of Sa­mar­ia. 6 Finally, in the ninth year of King
Ho­shea’s reign, Sa­mar­ia fell, and the people of
Is­ra­el were exiled to As­syr­ia. They were settled
in colonies in Halah, along the banks of the
Habor River in Gozan, and in the cities of the
Medes.
7
This disaster came upon the people of Is­
ra­el because they worshiped other gods. They
sinned against the Lord their God, who had
brought them safely out of Egypt and had rescued them from the power of Pha­raoh, the king
of Egypt. 8 They had followed the practices of
the pagan nations the Lord had driven from
the land ahead of them, as well as the practices the kings of Is­ra­el had introduced. 9 The
people of Is­ra­el had also secretly done many
things that were not pleasing to the Lord their
God. They built pagan shrines for themselves
in all their towns, from the smallest outpost
to the largest walled city. 10 They set up sa­cred
pillars and Ashe­rah poles at the top of e­ very
hill and under e­ very green tree. 11 They offered
sacrifices on all the hilltops, just like the nations the Lord had driven from the land ahead
of them. So the people of Is­ra­el had done many
evil things, arousing the Lord’s anger. 12 Yes,
they worshiped idols,* despite the Lord’s specific and repeated warnings.
13
Again and again the Lord had sent his
prophets and seers to warn both Is­ra­el and Ju­
dah: “Turn from all your evil ways. Obey my
commands and decrees—the entire law that I
commanded your ancestors to obey, and that
I gave you through my servants the prophets.”
14
But the I­s­ra­elites would not listen. They
5
God had clearly stated the terms of his covenant to
his people: Obedience would bring blessings and joy;
disobedience would bring anguish and punishment.
God used judges, kings, and prophets to remind the
people to follow him and obey the terms of the covenant, but the people didn’t listen or follow. They
chose to join the Canaanites in worshiping idols.
Being flexible and adjusting to those around us can
be good, but we need to choose wisely and remain
committed to obeying God above all.
were as stubborn as their ancestors who had
refused to believe in the Lord their God. 15 They
rejected his decrees and the cov­enant he had
made with their ancestors, and they despised
all his warnings. They worshiped worthless
idols, so they became worthless themselves.
They followed the example of the nations
around them, disobeying the Lord’s command
not to imitate them.
16
They rejected all the commands of the
Lord their God and made two calves from
metal. They set up an Ashe­rah pole and worshiped Baal and all the forces of heaven. 17 They
even sacrificed their own sons and daughters
in the fire.* They consulted fortune-tellers and
practiced sorcery and sold themselves to evil,
arousing the Lord’s anger.
18
Because the Lord was very angry with Is­
ra­el, he swept them away from his presence.
Only the tribe of Ju­dah remained in the land.
19
But even the people of Ju­dah refused to obey
the commands of the Lord their God, for they
followed the evil practices that Is­ra­el had introduced. 20 The Lord rejected all the descendants of Is­ra­el. He punished them by handing
them over to their attackers until he had banished Is­ra­el from his presence.
21
For when the Lord* tore Is­ra­el away from
the kingdom of Da­vid, they chose Jer­o­bo­am
son of Ne­bat as their king. But Jer­o­bo­am drew
Is­ra­el away from following the Lord and made
them commit a great sin. 22 And the people of
Is­ra­el persisted in all the evil ways of Jer­o ­
bo­am. They did not turn from these sins 23 until
the Lord finally swept them away from his
presence, just as all his prophets had warned.
17:12 The Hebrew term (literally round things) probably alludes to
dung. 17:17 Or They even made their sons and daughters pass
through the fire. 17:21 Hebrew he; compare 1 Kgs 11:31-32. 452
2 Kings 18
you. You must not worship other gods. 38 Do not
forget the cov­enant I made with you, and do
not worship other gods. 39 You must worship
only the Lord your God. He is the one who will
rescue you from all your enemies.”
40
But the people would not listen and continued to follow their former practices. 41 So
while these new residents worshiped the
Lord, they also worshiped their idols. And to
this day their descendants do the same.
So Is­ra­el was exiled from their land to As­syr­ia,
where they remain to this day.
Foreigners Settle in Israel
24
The king of As­syr­ia transported groups of
people from Bab­ylon, Cu­thah, Avva, Hamath,
and S
­ e­pharvaim and resettled them in the
towns of Sa­mar­ia, replacing the people of Is­
ra­el. They took possession of Sa­mar­ia and
lived in its towns. 25 But since these foreign
settlers did not worship the Lord when they
first arrived, the Lord sent lions among them,
which killed some of them.
26
So a message was sent to the king of As­
syr­ia: “The people you have sent to live in the
towns of Sa­mar­ia do not know the religious
customs of the God of the land. He has sent
lions among them to destroy them because
they have not worshiped him correctly.”
27
The king of As­syr­ia then commanded,
“Send one of the exiled priests back to Sa­mar­ia.
Let him live there and teach the new residents
the religious customs of the God of the land.”
28
So one of the priests who had been exiled
from Sa­mar­ia returned to Beth­el and taught the
new residents how to worship the Lord.
29
But these various groups of foreigners
also continued to worship their own gods. In
town after town where they lived, they placed
their idols at the pagan shrines that the people
of Sa­mar­ia had built. 30 Those from Bab­ylon
worshiped idols of their god ­Succoth-benoth.
Those from Cu­thah worshiped their god Ner­gal.
And those from Hamath worshiped Ashi­ma.
31
The Av­vites worshiped their gods Nib­haz and
Tartak. And the people from ­Se­pharvaim even
burned their own children as sacrifices to their
gods Adram­me­lech and Anam­me­lech.
32
These new residents worshiped the Lord,
but they also appointed from among themselves all sorts of people as priests to offer
sacrifices at their places of worship. 33 And
though they worshiped the Lord, they continued to follow their own gods according to the
religious customs of the nations from which
they came. 34 And this is still going on today.
They continue to follow their former practices
instead of truly worshiping the Lord and obeying the decrees, regulations, instructions, and
commands he gave the descendants of Jacob,
whose name he changed to Is­ra­el.
35
For the Lord had made a cov­enant with
the descendants of Jacob and commanded
them: “Do not worship any other gods or bow
before them or serve them or offer sacrifices
to them. 36 But worship only the Lord, who
brought you out of Egypt with great strength
and a powerful arm. Bow down to him alone,
and offer sacrifices only to him. 37 Be careful
at all times to obey the decrees, regulations,
instructions, and commands that he wrote for
Hezekiah Rules in Judah
18
PG 1445
Assyria Invades Judah
PG 497
b | Prayers | 18:13–19:19
Hez­ek
­ i­ah son of Ahaz began to rule over
Ju­dah in the third year of King Ho­shea’s
reign in Is­ra­el. 2 He was twenty-five years old
when he became king, and he reigned in Je­
ru­sa­lem twenty-nine years. His mother was
Abi­jah,* the daughter of Zech­a­ri­ah. 3 He did
what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, just
as his ancestor Da­vid had done. 4 He removed
the pagan shrines, smashed the sa­cred pillars,
and cut down the Ashe­rah poles. He broke up
the bronze serpent that M
­ oses had made, because the people of Is­ra­el had been offering
sacrifices to it. The bronze serpent was called
Ne­hush­tan.*
5
­Hez­e­ki­ah trusted in the Lord, the God of
Is­ra­el. There was no one like him among all the
kings of Ju­dah, either before or after his time.
6
He remained faithful to the Lord in every­
thing, and he carefully obeyed all the commands the Lord had given ­Moses. 7 So the Lord
was with him, and Hez­e­ki­ah was successful in
every­thing he did. He revolted against the king
of As­syr­ia and refused to pay him tribute. 8 He
also conquered the Phi­lis­tines as far distant as
Gaza and its territory, from their smallest outpost to their largest walled city.
9
During the fourth year of Hez­e­ki­ah’s reign,
which was the seventh year of King Ho­shea’s
reign in Is­ra­el, King ­Shal­maneser of As­syr­ia
attacked the city of Sa­mar­ia and began a siege
against it. 10 Three years later, during the sixth
year of King Hez­e­ki­ah’s reign and the ninth
year of King Ho­shea’s reign in Is­ra­el, Sa­mar­ia
fell. 11 At that time the king of As­syr­ia exiled the
­Is­ra­elites to As­syr­ia and placed them in colonies in Halah, along the banks of the Habor
River in Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
12
For they refused to listen to the Lord their
God and obey him. Instead, they violated his
cov­enant—all the laws that M
­ oses the Lord’s
servant had commanded them to obey.
In the fourteenth year of King Hez­ek
­ i­ah’s
reign,* King Sen­nach­er­ib of As­syr­ia came to
attack the fortified towns of Ju­dah and con-
13
18:2 As in parallel text at 2 Chr 29:1; Hebrew reads Abi, a variant
spelling of Abijah. 18:4 Nehushtan sounds like the Hebrew terms
that mean “snake,” “bronze,” and “unclean thing.” 18:13 The
fourteenth year of Hezekiah’s reign was 701 b.c. 2 Kings 19453
quered them. 14 King Hez­e­ki­ah sent this message to the king of As­syr­ia at La­chish: “I have
done wrong. I will pay whatever tribute money
you demand if you will only withdraw.” The
king of As­syr­ia then demanded a settlement of
more than eleven tons of silver and one ton of
gold.* 15 To gather this amount, King Hez­ek
­ i­ah
used all the silver stored in the Temple of the
16
Lord and in the palace treasury. ­Hez­e­ki­ah
even stripped the gold from the doors of the
Lord’s Temple and from the doorposts he had
overlaid with gold, and he gave it all to the As­
syr­ian king.
17
Nevertheless, the king of As­syr­ia sent his
commander in chief, his field commander, and
his chief of staff* from La­chish with a huge
army to confront King Hez­e­ki­ah in Je­ru­sa­lem.
The ­As­syr­ians took up a position beside the
aqueduct that feeds water into the upper pool,
near the road leading to the field where cloth
is washed.* 18 They summoned King Hez­ek
­ i­ah,
but the king sent these officials to meet with
them: Eli­a­kim son of Hil­ki­ah, the palace administrator; Sheb­na the court secretary; and
Joah son of A
­ saph, the royal historian.
speak to us in Ar­a­ma­ic, for we understand it
well. Don’t speak in Hebrew,* for the people on
the wall will hear.”
27
But Sen­nach­er­ib’s chief of staff replied,
“Do you think my master sent this message
only to you and your master? He wants all the
people to hear it, for when we put this city
under siege, they will suffer along with you.
They will be so hungry and thirsty that they
will eat their own dung and drink their own
urine.”
28
Then the chief of staff stood and shouted
in Hebrew to the people on the wall, “Listen
to this message from the great king of As­syr­ia!
29
This is what the king says: Don’t let Hez­e­ki­ah
deceive you. He will never be able to rescue
you from my power. 30 Don’t let him fool you
into trusting in the Lord by saying, ‘The Lord
will surely rescue us. This city will never fall
into the hands of the As­syr­ian king!’
31
“Don’t listen to Hez­e­ki­ah! These are the
terms the king of As­syr­ia is offering: Make
peace with me—open the gates and come out.
Then each of you can continue eating from
your own grapevine and fig tree and drinking
from your own well. 32 Then I will arrange to
take you to another land like this one—a land
of grain and new wine, bread and vineyards,
olive groves and honey. Choose life instead of
death!
“Don’t listen to Hez­e­ki­ah when he tries to
mislead you by saying, ‘The Lord will rescue us!’ 33 Have the gods of any other nations
ever saved their people from the king of As­
syr­ia? 34 What happened to the gods of Hamath and Ar­pad? And what about the gods of
­Se­pharvaim, Hena, and Iv­vah? Did any god
rescue Sa­mar­ia from my power? 35 What god of
any nation has ever been able to save its people
from my power? So what makes you think that
the Lord can rescue Je­ru­sa­lem from me?”
36
But the people were silent and did not
utter a word because Hez­
­ i­
ek
ah had commanded them, “Do not answer him.”
37
Then Eli­a­kim son of Hil­ki­ah, the palace
administrator; Sheb­na the court secretary; and
Joah son of ­Asaph, the royal historian, went
back to Hez­ek
­ i­ah. They tore their clothes in despair, and they went in to see the king and told
him what the As­syr­ian chief of staff had said.
Sennacherib Threatens
Jerusalem
Then the As­syr­ian king’s chief of staff told
them to give this message to Hez­ek
­ i­ah:
19
“This is what the great king of Assyria
says: What are you trusting in that makes
you so confident? 20 Do you think that mere
words can substitute for military skill and
strength? Who are you counting on, that
you have rebelled against me? 21 On Egypt?
If you lean on Egypt, it will be like a reed
that splinters beneath your weight and
pierces your hand. Pharaoh, the king of
Egypt, is completely unreliable!
22
“But perhaps you will say to me, ‘We
are trusting in the Lord our God!’ But isn’t
he the one who was insulted by Hezekiah?
Didn’t Hezekiah tear down his shrines and
altars and make everyone in Judah and
Jerusalem worship only at the altar here in
Jerusalem?
23
“I’ll tell you what! Strike a bargain with
my master, the king of Assyria. I will give
you 2,000 horses if you can find that many
men to ride on them! 24 With your tiny army,
how can you think of challenging even the
weakest contingent of my master’s troops,
even with the help of Egypt’s chariots and
charioteers? 25 What’s more, do you think
we have invaded your land without the
Lord’s direction? The Lord himself told us,
‘Attack this land and destroy it!’”
Then Eli­ak
­ im son of Hil­ki­ah, Sheb­na, and
Joah said to the As­syr­ian chief of staff, “Please
26
Hezekiah Seeks the Lord’s Help
19
When King Hez­ek
­ i­ah heard their report,
he tore his clothes and put on burlap
and went into the Temple of the Lord. 2 And he
sent Eli­ak
­ im the palace administrator, Sheb­na
the court secretary, and the leading priests, all
dressed in burlap, to the prophet Isa­iah son of
18:14 Hebrew 300 talents [10 metric tons] of silver and 30 talents
[1 metric ton] of gold. 18:17a Or the rabshakeh; also in 18:19, 26, 27,
28, 37. 18:17b Or bleached. 18:26 Hebrew in the dialect of Judah;
also in 18:28. 516
2 Chronicles 24
PG 450
FLYOVER
PG 514
DIRECT
PG 514
SCENIC
24:1-27
24:1-27
24:1-27
25
99
183
Joash Repairs the Temple
After a series of good and bad kings ruled Judah, Joash, a seven-year-old boy,
ascends to the throne. He has survived the killing spree of his wicked grandmother, Athaliah, and is the only child from David’s line to survive. His reign casts
a ray of hope into the dismal history of Judah. God’s promise to King David was
almost snuffed out, but God’s big story had never been in doubt—God would win.
David’s dynasty is secure in the hands of this seven-year-old and his protector,
Jehoiada, the high priest of God Almighty.
in charge of the Temple of the Lord, following
all the directions given by Da­vid. He also com­
manded them to p
­ re­sent burnt offerings to the
Lord, as prescribed by the Law of ­Moses, and
to sing and rejoice as Da­vid had instructed.
19
He also stationed g
­ ate­keepers at the gates of
the Lord’s Temple to keep out those who for
any reason were ceremonially unclean.
20
Then the commanders, nobles, rulers,
and all the people of the land escorted the
king from the Temple of the Lord. They went
through the upper gate and into the palace,
and they seated the king on the royal throne.
21
So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the
city was peaceful because Ath­al­i­ah had been
killed.
Joash Repairs the Temple
24
Jo­ash was seven years old when he be­
came king, and he reigned in Je­ru­sa­lem
forty years. His mother was ­Zib­iah from Beer­
she­ba. 2 ­Jo­ash did what was pleasing in the
Lord’s sight throughout the lifetime of Je­hoi­
a­da the priest. 3 ­Je­hoi­a­da chose two wives for
Jo­ash, and he had sons and daughters.
4
At one point Jo­ash decided to repair and re­
store the Temple of the Lord. 5 He summoned
the priests and Levites and gave them these
instructions: “Go to all the towns of Ju­dah and
collect the required annual offerings, so that
we can repair the Temple of your God. Do not
delay!” But the Levites did not act immediately.
6
So the king called for Je­hoi­ad
­ a the high
priest and asked him, “Why h
­ aven’t you de­
manded that the Levites go out and collect the
Temple taxes from the towns of Ju­dah and from
Je­ru­sa­lem? ­Moses, the servant of the Lord, lev­
ied this tax on the community of Is­ra­el in order
to maintain the Tab­er­nacle of the Cov­enant.*”
7
Over the years the followers of wicked Ath­
a­li­ah had broken into the Temple of God, and
they had used all the dedicated things from the
Temple of the Lord to worship the images of
Baal.
8
So now the king ordered a chest to be
made and set outside the gate leading to the
Temple of the Lord. 9 Then a proclamation was
sent throughout Ju­dah and Je­ru­sa­lem, telling
the people to bring to the Lord the tax that
­Moses, the servant of God, had required of the
I­ s­ra­elites in the wilderness. 10 This pleased all
the leaders and the people, and they gladly
brought their money and filled the chest
with it.
11
Whenever the chest became full, the Le­
vites would carry it to the king’s officials. Then
the court secretary and an officer of the high
priest would come and empty the chest and
take it back to the Temple again. This went on
day after day, and a large amount of money
was collected. 12 The king and Je­hoi­a­da gave
the money to the construction supervisors,
who hired masons and carpenters to restore
the Temple of the Lord. They also hired metal­
workers, who made articles of iron and bronze
for the Lord’s Temple.
13
The men in charge of the renovation
worked hard and made steady progress. They
restored the Temple of God according to its
original design and strengthened it. 14 When
all the repairs were finished, they brought the
remaining money to the king and Je­hoi­ad
­ a.
It was used to make various articles for the
Temple of the Lord—articles for worship ser­
vices and for burnt offerings, including ladles
and other articles made of gold and silver. And
24:6 Hebrew Tent of the Testimony. Observation Point
Exploration Point
The Temple was 140 years old at the time Joash
became king. It had been abused and neglected
by the people of Judah during the many years they
worshiped Baal and Asherah, so it was in dire need
of cleaning and restoration. Joash’s first attempt to
collect taxes for Temple maintenance didn’t work,
so he instituted a voluntary gift program to provide
the funds for restoring the Temple to its original
splendor.
the burnt offerings were sacrificed continually
in the Temple of the Lord during the lifetime
of Je­hoi­a­da the priest.
15
­Je­hoi­a­da lived to a very old age, finally
dying at 130. 16 He was buried among the kings
in the City of Da­vid, because he had done so
much good in Is­ra­el for God and his Temple.
Jehoiada’s Reforms Reversed
But after Je­hoi­a­da’s death, the leaders of Ju­
dah came and bowed before King Jo­ash and
persuaded him to listen to their advice. 18 They
decided to abandon the Temple of the Lord,
the God of their ancestors, and they worshiped
Ashe­rah poles and idols instead! Because of
this sin, divine anger fell on Ju­dah and Je­ru­
sa­lem. 19 Yet the Lord sent prophets to bring
them back to him. The prophets warned them,
but still the people would not listen.
20
Then the Spirit of God came upon Zech­a­
ri­ah son of Je­hoi­a­da the priest. He stood before
the people and said, “This is what God says:
Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands
and keep yourselves from prospering? You
have abandoned the Lord, and now he has
abandoned you!”
21
Then the leaders plotted to kill Zech­ar­ i­ah,
and King Jo­ash ordered that they stone him to
death in the courtyard of the Lord’s Temple.
22
That was how King Jo­ash repaid Je­hoi­ad
­a
for his loyalty—by killing his son. Zech­a­ri­ah’s
last words as he died were, “May the Lord see
what they are doing and avenge my death!”
17
The End of Joash’s Reign
In the spring of the year* the Ar­am
­ e­an army
marched against Jo­ash. They invaded Ju­dah
and Je­ru­sa­lem and killed all the leaders of the
nation. Then they sent all the plunder back
23
2 Chronicles 25517
PG
76
2
PG
97
2
PG
97
2
Joash was a God-fearing king until the death of his
great adviser, Jehoiada. When his advisers changed,
his focus veered away from God. The people forgot
Joash’s religious reforms and restored idol worship.
The influence of his advisers made all the difference
in Joash’s rule. We need to surround ourselves with
godly advisers and friends. Those who influence our
thoughts and actions can lead us either away from
God or toward him.
to their king in Da­mas­cus. 24 Although the
­ r­am
A
­ e­ans attacked with only a small army, the
Lord helped them conquer the much larger
army of Ju­dah. The people of Ju­dah had aban­
doned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, so
judgment was carried out against Jo­ash.
25
The ­Ar­a­me­ans withdrew, leaving Jo­ash se­
verely wounded. But his own officials plotted
to kill him for murdering the son* of Je­hoi­a­da
the priest. They assassinated him as he lay in
bed. Then he was buried in the City of Da­vid,
but not in the royal cemetery. 26 The assassins
were Joz­a­car,* the son of an ­Am­monite woman
named S
­ him­eath, and Je­hoz­a­bad, the son of a
Mo­ab­ite woman named Sho­mer.*
27
The account of the sons of Jo­ash, the proph­
ecies about him, and the record of his restora­
tion of the Temple of God are written in The
Commentary on the Book of the Kings. His son
Am­az­ iah became the next king.
Amaziah Rules in Judah
25
Am­
a­
ziah was twenty-five years old
when he became king, and he reigned
in Je­ru­sa­lem twenty-nine years. His mother
was Je­ho­ad­din* from Je­ru­sa­lem. 2 A
­ m­az­ iah did
what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, but not
wholeheartedly.
3
When Am­a­ziah was well established as
king, he executed the officials who had assas­
sinated his father. 4 However, he did not kill
the children of the assassins, for he obeyed
the command of the Lord as written by ­Moses
in the Book of the Law: “Parents must not be
24:23 Hebrew At the turn of the year. The first day of the year in
the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred in March or April. 24:25 As in Greek version and Latin Vulgate; Hebrew reads sons. 24:26a As in parallel text at 2 Kgs 12:21; Hebrew reads Zabad. 24:26b As in parallel text at 2 Kgs 12:21; Hebrew reads Shimrith, a
variant spelling of Shomer. 25:1 As in parallel text at 2 Kgs 14:2;
Hebrew reads Jehoaddan, a variant spelling of Jehoaddin. 536
PG 950
FLYOVER
PG 950
DIRECT
PG 954
SCENIC
30
126
245
Waiting for
Restoration
When Israel and Judah were conquered by foreign empires, the
people were exiled and scattered. Assyria obliterated Israel, and
Babylon devastated Judah. Years of war and invasions have left
the “land flowing with milk and honey” ravaged, scorched, and
largely deserted. Jerusalem is now a pile of burned-out buildings
and broken-down walls. God’s holy Temple has been stripped of
its beauty, ransacked of its treasures, torn down, and torched.
Clusters of survivors live as best they can amid the ­devastation,
the destroyed vineyards, and the overgrown pastureland.
GETTING YOUR
BEARINGS
God has remained in control even as foreign empires destroyed
the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. He proves his power by ­working
miracles not just in Israel, but also in Babylon. He reveals his
presence no longer in the Temple but by speaking through the
prophets. He wants the people to know that he is still with them,
even though they are far from their homeland. Through his
prophets, God promises to protect, preserve, and bless his people
even while they are in captivity.
YEAR:
539 bc
CURRENT WORLD POWERS:
Babylon, Persia
Where Are We Going?
STATUS OF GOD’S PEOPLE:
The Babylonian Empire is eventually overtaken by the Persians.
Although they still exercise control over the entire region,
the Persian kings tolerate many religions and desire to return
people to their own homelands. In God’s timing, a Persian king
named Cyrus will rise to power, release the Jews from captivity,
and encourage them to return to Judah to rebuild the Temple in
Jerusalem.
Exiled Subjects
YOU ARE
HERE
The kingdom
splits:
Israel and Judah
Josiah is killed
at the battle of
Megiddo
Babylon destroys
Jerusalem and
the Temple
Confucius
is born
in China
931 bc
609 bc
586 bc
551 bc
722 bc
605 bc
563 bc
539 bc
Assyria
conquers
Israel
Babylonians seize
captives from
Judah
Siddhartha
Gautama Buddha
is born in India
Daniel explains
the writing
on the wall /
Persia conquers
Babylon
PG
54
2
PG
54
0
PG
54
0
537
Jesus as True North
God’s prophets provide words of hope to the people—hints that a savior is coming. A king of David’s
line will take the throne again. More than any other prophet, Isaiah promises the people that God
will rescue Israel, but other prophets also describe a future hope. Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea,
Micah, Zechariah, and Malachi promise a future for the exiles. The people are uncertain about who
the prophesied savior-king will be and when he will come, but the prophets remind them that it is
God in whom their hope rests. So they continue to wait for him—the promised one, Jesus.
Where in the World Are We?
When the Babylonian Empire falls to Persia,
the Persian king Cyrus releases the Jews to return
to Judea. Led by Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah,
they return to Jerusalem and rebuild their lives,
their homeland, and their culture. Other Jewish
exiles, like Esther and Mordecai, choose to continue
living in the foreign lands—for many, these places
are the only homes they’ve ever known.
PERSIAN
EMPIRE
TURKEY
BABYLON
JERUSALEM
SUSA
SYRIA
IRAN
Eu
ph
IRAQ
ra t
es
Riv
er
EGYPT
SAUDI ARABIA
Cyrus decrees
that Jews
can return to
Jerusalem
Public libraries
open in Athens,
Greece
Rome becomes
a republic
Malachi
prophesies
in Judah
538 bc
520 bc
509 bc
430? bc
537 bc
515 bc
445 bc
429 bc
Temple
rebuilding
begins
The Temple is
completed
The people
rebuild
Jerusalem’s
walls
Plato is born
542
Ezra Ezra2
PG 536
FLYOVER
PG 540
DIRECT
PG 540
SCENIC
3:1-13
3:1-13
3:1-13
31
128
247
The People Begin to Rebuild
the Temple
The Jewish exiles who return to Judah go home to towns and villages scattered
throughout the region. For some this means returning to Jerusalem, but many
people only gather in the city occasionally for worship. They first rebuild the
altar in the Temple courtyard to present sacrifices to God. Then they plan to start
reconstructing the Temple. God was never far from his people even though they
were far away from their land. His promise through the prophets to return the
people to the land with new hope and new hearts is now being fulfilled.
The fam­i­ly of Ad­o­ni­kam. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 666
The fam­i­ly of Big­vai. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,056
15
The fam­i­ly of Adin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 454
16
The fam­i­ly of Ater
(descendants of Hez­e­ki­ah) . . . . . . . . . . 98
17
The fam­i­ly of Be­zai. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
18
The fam­i­ly of Jo­rah. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
19
The fam­i­ly of Ha­shum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
20
The fam­i­ly of Gibbar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
21
The people of Beth­le­hem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
22
The people of Ne­to­phah. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
23
The people of An­a­thoth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
24
The people of Beth-az­ma­veth* . . . . . . . . . 42
25
The people of Kir­i­ath-jearim,*
Ke­phi­rah, and Be­e­roth . . . . . . . . . . . . 743
26
The people of Ra­mah and Geba . . . . . . . . 621
27
The people of Micmash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
28
The people of Beth­el and Ai . . . . . . . . . . . 223
29
The citizens of Nebo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
30
The citizens of Mag­bish. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
31
The citizens of West Elam*. . . . . . . . . . 1,254
32
The citizens of Ha­rim. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
33
The citizens of Lod, Hadid, and Ono . . . . 725
34
The citizens of Jer­i­cho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
35
The citizens of Se­na­ah. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,630
13
14
These are the priests who returned from
exile:
The fam­i­ly of Je­da­iah
(through the line of Jesh­ua) . . . . . . . . 973
37
The fam­i­ly of Immer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,052
38
The fam­i­ly of Pash­hur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,247
39
The fam­i­ly of Ha­rim. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,017
36
These are the Levites who returned from
exile:
40
The families of Jesh­ua and Kad­mi­el
(descendants of Hod­a­vi­ah). . . . . . . . . . 74
41
The singers of the fam­i­ly of A
­ saph. . . . . 128
42
The ­gate­keepers of the families
of Shal­lum, Ater, Tal­mon, Ak­kub,
Ha­ti­ta, and Sho­bai. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
The descendants of the following Temple servants returned from exile:
Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,
44
Keros, Siaha, Padon,
45
Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub,
46
Hagab, Shalmai,* Hanan,
47
Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah,
48
Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam,
49
Uzza, Paseah, Besai,
50
Asnah, Meunim, Nephusim,
51
Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,
52
Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,
53
Barkos, Sisera, Temah,
54
Neziah, and Hatipha.
43
The descendants of these servants of King
Sol­omon returned from exile:
Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda,
56
Jaalah, Darkon, Giddel,
57
Shephatiah, Hattil, Pokereth-hazzebaim,
and Ami.
55
In all, the Temple servants and the descendants of Sol­omon’s servants numbered 392.
58
59
Another group returned at this time from
the towns of ­Tel-melah, ­Tel-harsha, Ke­rub,
2:24 As in parallel text at Neh 7:28; Hebrew reads Azmaveth. 2:25 As in some Hebrew manuscripts and Greek version (see also
Neh 7:29); Hebrew reads Kiriath-arim. 2:31 Or of the other Elam. 2:46 As in an alternate reading of the Masoretic Text (see also Neh
7:48); the other alternate reads Shamlai. Ezra Ezra3
543
PG
10
44
PG
10
22
PG
10
22
Observation Point
Exploration Point
The exiles feared and shunned the “local residents,”
the foreigners who were resettled in Israel (the
northern kingdom) by the Assyrian king Esarhaddon
after he conquered Israel in 722 bc. Some of these
transplants moved south into Judah and Jerusalem
during the seventy years that the Jews were in captivity. These foreign residents knew about God but
only worshiped him along with their pagan deities.
A pagan altar may have been located on the sacred
spot of the original altar. If the people of Judah had
to destroy it before rebuilding God’s altar, they might
encounter retaliation.
Ad­dan, and Immer. However, they could not
prove that they or their families were descendants of Is­ra­el. 60 This group included the families of Delaiah, To­bi­ah, and N
­ e­ko­da—a total of
652 people.
61
Three families of priests—Ho­ba­iah, Hakkoz, and Bar­zil­lai—also returned. (This Bar­zil­
lai had married a woman who was a descendant
of Bar­zil­lai of Gil­e­ad, and he had taken her
fam­i­ly name.) 62 They searched for their names
in the ge­ne­a­log­ic­ al records, but they were not
found, so they were disqualified from serving
as priests. 63 The governor told them not to eat
the priests’ share of food from the sacrifices
until a priest could consult the Lord about the
matter by using the Urim and Thum­mim—the
sa­cred lots.
64
So a total of 42,360 people returned to
Ju­dah, 65 in addition to 7,337 servants and
200 singers, both men and women. 66 They took
with them 736 horses, 245 mules, 67 435 camels,
and 6,720 donkeys.
68
When they arrived at the Temple of the
Lord in Je­ru­sa­lem, some of the fam­i­ly leaders
made voluntary offerings toward the rebuilding of God’s Temple on its original site, 69 and
each leader gave as much as he could. The
total of their gifts came to 61,000 gold coins,*
6,250 pounds* of silver, and 100 robes for the
priests.
70
So the priests, the Levites, the singers, the
­gate­keepers, the Temple servants, and some
of the common people settled in villages near
Je­ru­sa­lem. The rest of the people returned to
their own towns throughout Is­ra­el.
God graciously gave his people another opportunity
to be his holy nation by bringing them back from
captivity in Babylon. Once settled, the people rightly
focused on God and on observing the law of Moses.
Building an altar and then the Temple foundation testified to the fact that they had listened to the prophets
during the Exile and had learned from the experiences of their ancestors. They were determined not
to waste this opportunity to be restored.
The Altar Is Rebuilt
3
PG 456
b | Jesus’ Family | 3:1-13
PG 1448
In early autumn,* when the ­Is­ra­elites had
settled in their towns, all the people assembled in Je­ru­sa­lem with a unified purpose.
2
Then Jesh­ua son of Je­hoz­ad
­ ak* joined his fellow priests and Ze­rub­ba­bel son of ­She­altiel
with his fam­il­y in rebuilding the altar of the
God of Is­ra­el. They wanted to sacrifice burnt
offerings on it, as instructed in the Law of
­Moses, the man of God. 3 Even though the
people were afraid of the local residents, they
rebuilt the altar at its old site. Then they began
to sacrifice burnt offerings on the altar to the
Lord each morning and evening.
4
They celebrated the Festival of Shelters as
prescribed in the Law, sacrificing the number
of burnt offerings specified for each day of the
festival. 5 They also offered the regular burnt offerings and the offerings required for the new
moon celebrations and the annual festivals as
prescribed by the Lord. The people also gave
voluntary offerings to the Lord. 6 Fifteen days
before the Festival of Shelters began,* the
priests had begun to sacrifice burnt offerings
to the Lord. This was even before they had
started to lay the foundation of the Lord’s
Temple.
2:69a Hebrew 61,000 darics of gold, about 1,100 pounds or
500 kilograms in weight. 2:69b Hebrew 5,000 minas [3,000
kilograms]. 3:1 Hebrew In the seventh month. The year is not
specified, so it may have been during Cyrus’s first year (538 b.c.) or
second year (537 b.c.). The seventh month of the ancient Hebrew lunar
calendar occurred within the months of September/October 538 b.c.
and October/November 537 b.c. 3:2 Hebrew Jozadak, a variant
spelling of Jehozadak; also in 3:8. 3:6 Hebrew On the first day of
the seventh month. This day in the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar
occurred in September or October. The Festival of Shelters began
on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. 544
Ezra Ezra
The People Begin to Rebuild
the Temple
“He is so good!
His faithful love for Israel endures
forever!”
Then all the people gave a great shout, praising the Lord because the foundation of the
Lord’s Temple had been laid.
12
But many of the older priests, Levites, and
other leaders who had seen the first Temple
wept aloud when they saw the new Temple’s
foundation. The others, however, were shouting for joy. 13 The joyful shouting and weeping
mingled together in a loud noise that could be
heard far in the distance.
Enemies Oppose the Rebuilding
4
The enemies of Ju­dah and Ben­ja­min heard
that the exiles were rebuilding a Temple
to the Lord, the God of Is­ra­el. 2 So they approached Ze­rub­ba­bel and the other leaders
and said, “Let us build with you, for we worship your God just as you do. We have sacrificed to him ever since King Esar­had­don of
As­syr­ia brought us here.”
3
But Ze­rub­ba­bel, Jesh­ua, and the other leaders of Is­ra­el replied, “You may have no part in
this work. We alone will build the Temple for
the Lord, the God of Is­ra­el, just as King Cy­rus
of Per­sia commanded us.”
4
Then the local residents tried to discourage
and frighten the people of Ju­dah to keep them
from their work. 5 They bribed agents to work
against them and to frustrate their plans. This
went on during the entire reign of King Cy­rus
of Per­sia and lasted until King Da­ri­us of Per­sia
took the throne.*
Then the people hired masons and carpenters
and bought cedar logs from the people of Tyre
and Si­don, paying them with food, wine, and
olive oil. The logs were brought down from
the Leb­a­non mountains and floated along the
coast of the Mediterranean Sea* to Jop­pa, for
King Cy­rus had given permission for this.
8
The construction of the Temple of God
began in midspring,* during the second year
ru­
sa­
lem. The work
after they arrived in Je­
force was made up of every­one who had returned from exile, including Ze­rub­ba­bel son
of S
­ he­altiel, Jesh­ua son of Je­hoz­a­dak and his
fellow priests, and all the Levites. The Levites
who were twenty years old or older were put in
charge of rebuilding the Lord’s Temple. 9 The
workers at the Temple of God were supervised
by Jesh­ua with his sons and relatives, and
Kad­mi­el and his sons, all descendants of Hod­
a­vi­ah.* They were helped in this task by the
Levites of the fam­i­ly of Hen­a­dad.
10
When the builders completed the foundation of the Lord’s Temple, the priests put
on their robes and took their places to blow
their trumpets. And the Levites, descendants
of A
­ saph, clashed their cymbals to praise
the Lord, just as King Da­vid had prescribed.
11
With praise and thanks, they sang this song
to the Lord:
7
Later Opposition under Xerxes
and Artaxerxes
6
Years later when Xerxes* began his reign, the
enemies of Ju­dah wrote a letter of accusation
against the people of Ju­dah and Je­ru­sa­lem.
7
Even later, during the reign of King Ar­ta­
xer­xes of Per­sia,* the enemies of Ju­dah, led by
Bish­lam, Mith­re­dath, and Ta­be­el, sent a letter
to Ar­ta­xer­xes in the Ar­am
­ a­ic language, and it
was translated for the king.
8
*Re­hum the governor and Shim­shai the
court secretary wrote the letter, telling King
Ar­ta­xer­xes about the situation in Je­ru­sa­lem.
9
They greeted the king for all their colleagues—
the judges and local leaders, the people of
Tar­pel, the Per­sians, the B
­ ab­ylonians, and
the people of Erech and Susa (that is, Elam).
10
They also sent greetings from the rest of the
people whom the great and noble Ashur­ba­ni­
pal* had deported and relocated in Sa­mar­ia
and throughout the neighboring lands of the
province west of the Eu­phra­tes River.* 11 This is
a copy of their letter:
“To King Artaxerxes, from your loyal
subjects in the province west of the
Euphrates River.
12
“The king should know that the Jews
who came here to Jerusalem from Babylon
are rebuilding this rebellious and evil city.
They have already laid the foundation and
will soon finish its walls. 13 And the king
should know that if this city is rebuilt and
its walls are completed, it will be much to
your disadvantage, for the Jews will then
refuse to pay their tribute, customs, and
tolls to you.
14
“Since we are your loyal subjects* and
do not want to see the king dishonored
in this way, we have sent the king this
information. 15 We suggest that a search be
made in your ancestors’ records, where you
will discover what a rebellious city this has
been in the past. In fact, it was destroyed
because of its long and troublesome history
of revolt against the kings and countries
who controlled it. 16 We declare to the king
3:7 Hebrew the sea. 3:8 Hebrew in the second month. This month
in the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred within the months
of April and May 536 b.c. 3:9 Hebrew sons of Judah (i.e., bene
Yehudah). Bene might also be read here as the proper name Binnui;
Yehudah is probably another name for Hodaviah. Compare 2:40; Neh
7:43; 1 Esdras 5:58. 4:5 Darius reigned 521–486 b.c. 4:6 Hebrew
Ahasuerus, another name for Xerxes. He reigned 486–465 b.c. 4:7 Artaxerxes reigned 465–424 b.c. 4:8 The original text of
4:8–6:18 is in Aramaic. 4:10a Aramaic Osnappar, another name for
Ashurbanipal. 4:10b Aramaic the province beyond the river; also in
4:11, 16, 17, 20. 4:14 Aramaic Since we eat the salt of the palace. Ezra Ezra5
545
that if this city is rebuilt and its walls
are completed, the province west of the
Euphrates River will be lost to you.”
17
Then King Ar­ta­xer­xes sent this reply:
“To Rehum the governor, Shimshai the
court secretary, and their colleagues living
in Samaria and throughout the province
west of the Euphrates River. Greetings.
18
“The letter you sent has been
translated and read to me. 19 I ordered
a search of the records and have found
that Jerusalem has indeed been a hotbed
of insurrection against many kings. In
fact, rebellion and revolt are normal
there! 20 Powerful kings have ruled over
Jerusalem and the entire province west
of the Euphrates River, receiving tribute,
customs, and tolls. 21 Therefore, issue orders
to have these men stop their work. That city
must not be rebuilt except at my express
command. 22 Be diligent, and don’t neglect
this matter, for we must not permit the
situation to harm the king’s interests.”
When this letter from King Ar­ta­xer­xes
was read to Re­hum, Shim­shai, and their colleagues, they hurried to Je­ru­sa­lem. Then, with
a show of strength, they forced the ­Jews to stop
building.
23
The Rebuilding Resumes
So the work on the Temple of God in Je­ru­sa­
lem had stopped, and it remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of King
Da­ri­us of Per­sia.*
24
5
At that time the prophets Haggai and Zech­
a­ri­ah son of Id­do prophesied to the ­Jews in
Ju­dah and Je­ru­sa­lem. They prophesied in the
name of the God of Is­ra­el who was over them.
2
Z
­ e­rub­ba­bel son of ­She­altiel and Jesh­ua son of
Je­hoz­ad
­ ak* responded by starting again to rebuild the Temple of God in Je­ru­sa­lem. And the
prophets of God were with them and helped
them.
3
But Tat­te­nai, governor of the province west
of the Eu­phra­tes River,* and S
­ he­thar-bozenai
and their colleagues soon arrived in Je­ru­sa­lem
and asked, “Who gave you permission to rebuild this Temple and restore this structure?”
4
They also asked for* the names of all the men
working on the Temple. 5 But because their God
was watching over them, the leaders of the
­Jews were not prevented from building until a
report was sent to Da­ri­us and he returned his
decision.
Tattenai’s Letter to King Darius
This is a copy of the letter that Tat­te­nai the
governor, ­
She­
thar-bozenai, and the other
6
officials of the province west of the Eu­phra­tes
River sent to King Da­ri­us:
“To King Darius. Greetings.
8
“The king should know that we went
to the construction site of the Temple of
the great God in the province of Judah. It
is being rebuilt with specially prepared
stones, and timber is being laid in its
walls. The work is going forward with great
energy and success.
9
“We asked the leaders, ‘Who gave you
permission to rebuild this Temple and
restore this structure?’ 10 And we demanded
their names so that we could tell you who
the leaders were.
11
“This was their answer: ‘We are the
servants of the God of heaven and earth,
and we are rebuilding the Temple that
was built here many years ago by a great
king of Israel. 12 But because our ancestors
angered the God of heaven, he abandoned
them to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon,*
who destroyed this Temple and exiled
the people to Babylonia. 13 However, King
Cyrus of Babylon,* during the first year
of his reign, issued a decree that the
Temple of God should be rebuilt. 14 King
Cyrus returned the gold and silver cups
that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the
Temple of God in Jerusalem and had placed
in the temple of Babylon. These cups were
taken from that temple and presented to
a man named Sheshbazzar, whom King
Cyrus appointed as governor of Judah.
15
The king instructed him to return the
cups to their place in Jerusalem and to
rebuild the Temple of God there on its
original site. 16 So this Sheshbazzar came
and laid the foundations of the Temple
of God in Jerusalem. The people have been
working on it ever since, though it is not
yet completed.’
17
“Therefore, if it pleases the king, we
request that a search be made in the royal
archives of Babylon to discover whether
King Cyrus ever issued a decree to rebuild
God’s Temple in Jerusalem. And then
let the king send us his decision in this
matter.”
7
4:24 The second year of Darius’s reign was 520 b.c. The narrative
started in 4:1-5 is resumed at verse 24. 5:2 Aramaic Jozadak, a
variant spelling of Jehozadak. 5:3 Aramaic the province beyond
the river; also in 5:6. 5:4 As in one Hebrew manuscript and
Greek and Syriac versions; Masoretic Text reads Then we told them. 5:12 Aramaic Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean. 5:13 King Cyrus of
Persia is here identified as the king of Babylon because Persia had
conquered the Babylonian Empire. 762
Isaiah 11
PG 516
FLYOVER
PG 758
DIRECT
PG 758
SCENIC
11:1-16
11:1-16
11:1-16
26
104
191
A Branch from David’s Line
God will no longer tolerate the continual disobedience of his chosen people.
Because he loves his people, he will discipline them by sending them away from
the land and his presence, but he will not leave them destitute. As he did with
Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and David, God remains faithful to his chosen people
even while they are being disciplined. God speaks through Isaiah to declare the
coming destruction of Judah. But not everything he says is doom and gloom. He
also provides visions of a delightful future time filled with peace, calm, and joy
for all of God’s creation.
11
PG 857
In that day the wolf and the lamb will live
together;
the leopard will lie down with the baby
goat.
The calf and the yearling will be safe with
the lion,
and a little child will lead them all.
 7
The cow will graze near the bear.
The cub and the calf will lie down
together.
The lion will eat hay like a cow.
 8
The baby will play safely near the hole
of a cobra.
 6
a | The Messiah | 11:1-10
1  Out of the stump of David’s family*
will grow a ­shoot—
yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the
old root.
 2
And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on
h
­ im—
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of
the Lord.
 3
He will delight in obeying the Lord.
He will not judge by appearance
nor make a decision based on hearsay.
 4
He will give justice to the poor
and make fair decisions for the
exploited.
The earth will shake at the force of his
word,
and one breath from his mouth will
destroy the wicked.
 5
He will wear righteousness like a belt
and truth like an undergarment.
PG 759
A Branch from David’s Line
Yes, a little child will put its hand in a
nest of deadly snakes without harm.
 9
Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy
mountain,
for as the waters fill the sea,
so the earth will be filled with people
who know the Lord.
In that day the heir to David’s throne*
will be a banner of salvation to all the
world.
The nations will rally to him,
and the land where he lives will be a
glorious place.*
11
In that day the Lord will reach out his hand
a second time
to bring back the remnant of his
­people—
those who remain in Assyria and northern
Egypt;
in southern Egypt, Ethiopia,* and Elam;
in Babylonia,* Hamath, and all the
distant coastlands.
12
He will raise a flag among the nations
and assemble the exiles of Israel.
He will gather the scattered people of
Judah
from the ends of the earth.
10
13
Then at last the jealousy between Israel*
and Judah will end.
They will not be rivals anymore.
11:1 Hebrew the stump of the line of Jesse. Jesse was King David’s
father. 11:10a Hebrew the root of Jesse. 11:10b Greek version
reads In that day the heir to David’s throne [literally the root of Jesse]
will come, / and he will rule over the Gentiles. / They will place their
hopes on him. Compare Rom 15:12. 11:11a Hebrew in Pathros, Cush. 11:11b Hebrew in Shinar. 11:13 Hebrew Ephraim, referring to the
northern kingdom of Israel. Isaiah 13763
PG
87
8
PG
10
02
PG
99
8
Observation Point
The nation of Israel is compared to a forest that will
be cut down but not destroyed. From a tree stump
will come a shoot and a branch that will bring new
life to David’s dynasty. Both the oak and the terebinth
trees, the two most common trees in the region at
that time, were symbols of stability and longevity. The
oak tree grew up to 80 feet high and lived as long as
300 years! The terebinth tree was associated with
God’s presence and was frequently used to mark a
place where someone had encountered God.
They will join forces to swoop down on
Philistia to the west.
Together they will attack and plunder
the nations to the east.
They will occupy the lands of Edom and
Moab,
and Ammon will obey them.
15
The Lord will make a dry path through the
gulf of the Red Sea.*
He will wave his hand over the
Euphrates River,*
sending a mighty wind to divide it into
seven streams
so it can easily be crossed on foot.
16
He will make a highway for the remnant
of his people,
the remnant coming from Assyria,
just as he did for Israel long ago
when they returned from
Egypt.
14
Songs of Praise for Salvation
12
1  In that day you will sing:
“I will praise you, O Lord!
You were angry with me, but not any more.
Now you comfort me.
 2
See, God has come to save me.
I will trust in him and not be afraid.
The Lord God is my strength and my song;
he has given me victory.”
With joy you will drink deeply
from the fountain of salvation!
 4
In that wonderful day you will sing:
“Thank the Lord! Praise his name!
Tell the nations what he has done.
Let them know how mighty he is!
 3
Exploration Point
Isaiah’s words were sweet for people who were facing
judgment and exile. His message brought visions of
paradise, where everything would be peaceful and
all Creation would live in harmony. Justice would
prevail and fairness for all would be the norm. Some
of this message was fulfilled with Christ’s birth and
ministry, but this ideal time will arrive fully when
Christ comes again to rule the earth and establish
his Kingdom. Let us pray that he comes quickly to
bring about his Kingdom of peace.
Sing to the Lord, for he has done
wonderful things.
Make known his praise around the world.
 6
Let all the people of Jerusalem* shout his
praise with joy!
For great is the Holy One of Israel who
lives among you.”
 5
A Message about Babylon
13
ylon:
Isa­iah son of Amoz received this mes­
sage concerning the destruction of Bab­
“Raise a signal flag on a bare hilltop.
Call up an army against Babylon.
Wave your hand to encourage them
as they march into the palaces of the
high and mighty.
 3
I, the Lord, have dedicated these soldiers
for this task.
Yes, I have called mighty warriors to
express my anger,
and they will rejoice when I am exalted.”
 2
Hear the noise on the mountains!
Listen, as the vast armies march!
It is the noise and shouting of many
nations.
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has called
this army together.
 5
They come from distant countries,
from beyond the farthest horizons.
They are the Lord’s weapons to carry out
his anger.
With them he will destroy the whole
land.
 4
11:15a Hebrew will destroy the tongue of the sea of Egypt. 11:15b Hebrew the river. 12:6 Hebrew Zion. 878
Jeremiah 52
PG 762
FLYOVER
PG 534
DIRECT
PG 534
SCENIC
52:1-30
52:1-30
52:1-34
27
120
233
The Fall of Jerusalem
Throughout his big story, God always wants to be close to his people. At many
times throughout Israel’s history, individuals and even the entire nation were
obedient to the Lord. But over the last four hundred years, the people of Judah
and their leaders have forgotten the Lord and started worshiping other gods.
God has sent prophets to plead with them to turn back to the Lord. He has sent
foreign invaders who wage war on Judah, even taking the people into captivity,
but those hints of coming judgment do not change anything. Now the nation of
Judah is scattered and its capital city, Jerusalem, is destroyed.
For the Lord is destroying Babylon.
He will silence her loud voice.
Waves of enemies pound against her;
the noise of battle rings through the city.
56
Destroying armies come against Babylon.
Her mighty men are captured,
and their weapons break in their hands.
For the Lord is a God who gives just
punishment;
he always repays in full.
57
I will make her officials and wise men
drunk,
along with her captains, officers, and
warriors.
They will fall asleep
and never wake up again!”
says the King, whose name is
the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
55
This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
says:
“The thick walls of Babylon will be leveled
to the ground,
and her massive gates will be burned.
The builders from many lands have worked
in vain,
for their work will be destroyed by fire!”
58
Bab­ylon—all the words written here. 61 He said
to Se­ra­iah, “When you get to Bab­ylon, read
aloud every­thing on this scroll. 62 Then say,
‘Lord, you have said that you will destroy Bab­
ylon so that neither people nor animals will re­
main here. She will lie empty and abandoned
forever.’ 63 When you have finished reading the
scroll, tie it to a stone and throw it into the Eu­
phra­tes River. 64 Then say, ‘In this same way
Bab­ylon and her people will sink, never again
to rise, because of the disasters I will bring
upon her.’”
This is the end of Jer­e­mi­ah’s messages.
The Fall of Jerusalem
52
Zed­
ek
­i­
ah was twenty-one years old
when he became king, and he reigned
in Je­ru­sa­lem eleven years. His mother was Ha­
mu­tal, the daughter of Jer­em
­ i­ah from Lib­nah.
2
But Zed­ek
­ i­ah did what was evil in the Lord’s
sight, just as Je­hoi­ak
­ im had done. 3 These
things happened because of the Lord’s anger
against the people of Je­ru­sa­lem and Ju­dah,
until he finally banished them from his pres­
ence and sent them into exile.
Zed­e­ki­ah rebelled against the king of Bab­
ylon. 4 So on January 15,* during the ninth year
of Zed­e­ki­ah’s reign, King Neb­u­chad­nez­zar*
of Bab­ylon led his entire army against Je­ru­sa­
lem. They surrounded the city and built siege
ramps against its walls. 5 ­Je­ru­sa­lem was kept
Jeremiah’s Message Sent
to Babylon
The prophet Jer­e­mi­ah gave this message to
Se­ra­iah son of Ne­ri­ah and grandson of Mah­se­
iah, a staff officer, when Se­ra­iah went to Bab­
ylon with King Zed­e­ki­ah of Ju­dah. This was
during the fourth year of Zed­e­ki­ah’s reign.*
60
­Jer­e­mi­ah had recorded on a scroll all the
terrible disasters that would soon come upon
59
51:59 The fourth year of Zedekiah’s reign was 593 b.c. 52:4a Hebrew on the tenth day of the tenth month, of the ancient
Hebrew lunar calendar. A number of events in Jeremiah can be
cross-checked with dates in surviving Babylonian records and
related accurately to our modern calendar. This day was January 15,
588 b.c. 52:4b Hebrew Nebuchadrezzar, a variant spelling of
Nebuchadnezzar; also in 52:12, 28, 29, 30. Jeremiah 52879
PG
92
4
PG
88
2
PG
88
2
Observation Point
Exploration Point
The Babylonian siege made the residents of Jerusalem prisoners in their own city. The Babylonians
captured and cut off all roads, and food and supplies
ceased to arrive in the city. The enemy would normally have cut off all sources of water into the city
as well, but King Hezekiah had previously secured
the water supply from the Gihon Spring. The siege
began on January 15, 588 bc, and ended July 18, 586
bc, two and a half years later, when the Babylonians’
battering rams broke down a section of the city wall.
under siege until the eleventh year of King Zed­
e­ki­ah’s reign.
6
By July 18 in the eleventh year of Zed­e­ki­
ah’s reign,* the famine in the city had become
very severe, and the last of the food was en­
tirely gone. 7 Then a section of the city wall was
broken down, and all the soldiers fled. Since
the city was surrounded by the ­Bab­ylonians,*
they waited for nightfall. Then they slipped
through the gate between the two walls behind
the king’s garden and headed toward the Jor­
dan Valley.*
8
But the B
­ ab­ylonian troops chased King
Zed­e­ki­ah and overtook him on the plains of
Jer­i­cho, for his men had all deserted him and
scattered. 9 They captured the king and took
him to the king of Bab­ylon at Rib­lah in the
land of Hamath. There the king of Bab­ylon pro­
nounced judgment upon Zed­e­ki­ah. 10 The king
of Babylon made Zed­ek
­ i­ah watch as he slaugh­
tered his sons. He also slaughtered all the of­
ficials of Ju­dah at Riblah. 11 Then he gouged
out Zed­ek
­ i­ah’s eyes and bound him in bronze
chains, and the king of Babylon led him away
to Bab­ylon. Zed­e­ki­ah remained there in prison
until the day of his death.
Time was up, and God’s patience had run out. He
had to restore justice. The people suffered the consequences of disobedience exactly as God had told
Moses and recorded in the Book of Instructions. But
God’s covenant with David remained intact. David’s
kingdom would not end; a remnant would endure.
The nation was destroyed, but God gave his people
hope through the words of his prophets. God’s people
and their nation would be restored and would flourish at a later time.
the walls of Je­ru­sa­lem on e­ very side. 15 Then
­Neb­u­zar­a­dan, the captain of the guard, took
as exiles some of the poorest of the people, the
rest of the people who remained in the city, the
defectors who had declared their allegiance to
the king of Bab­ylon, and the rest of the crafts­
men. 16 But Neb­u­zar­ad
­ an allowed some of the
poorest people to stay behind to care for the
vineyards and fields.
17
The ­Bab­ylonians broke up the bronze pil­
lars in front of the Lord’s Temple, the bronze
water carts, and the great bronze basin called
the Sea, and they carried all the bronze away to
Bab­ylon. 18 They also took all the ash buckets,
shovels, lamp snuffers, basins, dishes, and all
the other bronze articles used for making sac­
rifices at the Temple. 19 ­The captain of the guard
also took the small bowls, incense burners, ba­
sins, pots, ­lamp­stands, ladles, bowls used for
liquid offerings, and all the other articles made
of pure gold or silver.
20
The weight of the bronze from the two
pillars, the Sea with the twelve bronze oxen
beneath it, and the water carts was too great
to be measured. These things had been made
for the Lord’s Temple in the days of King Sol­
omon. 21 Each of the pillars was 27 feet tall
and 18 feet in circumference.* They were hol­
low, with walls 3 inches thick.* 22 The bronze
capital on top of each pillar was 7½ feet* high
The Temple Destroyed
On August 17 of that year,* which was the
nineteenth year of King Neb­u­chad­nez­zar’s
reign, Neb­uz­ ar­a­dan, the captain of the guard
and an official of the B
­ ab­ylonian king, arrived
in Je­ru­sa­lem. 13 He burned down the Temple of
the Lord, the royal palace, and all the houses
of Je­ru­sa­lem. He destroyed all the important
buildings* in the city. 14 Then he supervised
the entire B
­ ab­ylonian* army as they tore down
12
52:6 Hebrew By the ninth day of the fourth month [in the eleventh
year of Zedekiah’s reign]. This day was July 18, 586 b.c.; also see
note on 52:4a. 52:7a Or the Chaldeans; similarly in 52:8, 17. 52:7b Hebrew the Arabah. 52:12 Hebrew On the tenth day of the
fifth month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This day was
August 17, 586 b.c.; also see note on 52:4a. 52:13 Or destroyed
the houses of all the important people. 52:14 Or Chaldean. 52:21a Hebrew 18 cubits [8.3 meters] tall and 12 cubits [5.5 meters]
in circumference. 52:21b Hebrew 4 fingers thick [8 centimeters]. 52:22 Hebrew 5 cubits [2.3 meters]. 880
Jeremiah 52
and was decorated with a network of bronze
pomegranates all the way around. 23 There
were 96 pomegranates on the sides, and a total
of 100 pomegranates on the network around
the top.
24
­Neb­u­zar­a­dan, the captain of the guard,
took with him as prisoners Se­ra­iah the high
priest, Zeph­an
­ i­ah the priest of the second
rank, and the three chief ­gate­keepers. 25 And
from among the people still hiding in the city,
he took an officer who had been in charge of
the ­Ju­dean army; seven of the king’s personal
advisers; the army commander’s chief secre­
tary, who was in charge of recruitment; and
sixty other citizens. 26 ­Neb­u­zar­a­dan, the cap­
tain of the guard, took them all to the king of
Bab­ylon at Rib­lah. 27 And there at Rib­lah, in the
land of Hamath, the king of Bab­ylon had them
all put to death. So the people of Ju­dah were
sent into exile from their land.
28
The number of captives taken to Bab­ylon
in the seventh year of Neb­u ­chad­n ez­zar’s
reign* was 3,023. 29 Then in Neb­u­chad­nez­
zar’s ­eigh­teenth year* he took 832 more. 30 In
Neb­u­chad­nez­zar’s twenty-third year* he sent
Neb­uz­ ar­a­dan, the captain of the guard, who
took 745 more—a total of 4,600 captives in
all.
Hope for Israel’s Royal Line
In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of King
Je­hoi­a­chin of Ju­dah, Evil-merodach ascended
to the ­Bab­ylonian throne. He was kind to* Je­
hoi­a­chin and released him from prison on
March 31 of that year.* 32 He spoke kindly to
Je­hoi­ac­ hin and gave him a higher place than
all the other exiled kings in Bab­ylon. 33 He sup­
plied Je­hoi­ac­ hin with new clothes to replace
his prison garb and allowed him to dine in
the king’s presence for the rest of his life. 34 So
the B
­ ab­ylonian king gave him a regular food
allowance as long as he lived. This continued
until the day of his death.
31
52:28 This exile in the seventh year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign
occurred in 597 b.c. 52:29 This exile in the eighteenth year of
Nebuchadnezzar’s reign occurred in 586 b.c. 52:30 This exile
in the twenty-third year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign occurred in
581 b.c. 52:31a Hebrew He raised the head of. 52:31b Hebrew on
the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar
calendar. This day was March 31, 561 b.c.; also see note on 52:4a. 924
Ezekiel 36
PG 878
FLYOVER
PG 988
DIRECT
PG 920
SCENIC
37:1-14
37:1-14
37:1-14
28
124
239
A Valley of Dry Bones
God’s plan was to love and be in relationship with his people. He had promised
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that he would bless them and their descendants. He
had promised David that his kingdom would never end. But the kingdom of Judah
has been devastated. Only a small group remains faithful while in exile. The
big story appears to be in jeopardy. But it is not over. Ezekiel gives hope to the
Jewish exiles in Babylon through a strange vision of bones. This vision reveals a
promising future, the next chapter in the big story: a new life, a new people, and
a new unified nation.
Restoration for Israel
36
“Son of man, prophesy to Is­
r a­
el’s
mountains. Give them this message:
O mountains of Is­ra­el, hear the word of the
Lord! 2 This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
Your enemies have taunted you, saying, ‘Aha!
Now the ancient heights belong to us!’ 3 Therefore, son of man, give the mountains of Is­ra­el
this message from the Sovereign Lord: Your
enemies have attacked you from all directions,
making you the property of many nations
and the object of much mocking and slander.
4
Therefore, O mountains of Is­ra­el, hear the
word of the Sovereign Lord. He speaks to the
hills and mountains, ravines and valleys, and
to ruined wastes and ­long-​­deserted cities that
have been destroyed and mocked by the surrounding nations. 5 This is what the Sovereign
Lord says: My jealous anger burns against
these nations, especially Edom, because they
have shown utter contempt for me by gleefully
taking my land for themselves as plunder.
6
“Therefore, prophesy to the hills and
mountains, the ravines and valleys of Is­ra­el.
This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am
furious that you have suffered shame before
the surrounding nations. 7 Therefore, this is
what the Sovereign Lord says: I have taken a
solemn oath that those nations will soon have
their own shame to endure.
8
“But the mountains of Is­ra­el will produce
heavy crops of fruit for my p
­ eople—​­for they
will be coming home again soon! 9 See, I care
about you, and I will pay attention to you. Your
ground will be plowed and your crops planted.
10
I will greatly increase the population of Is­
ra­el, and the ruined cities will be rebuilt and
filled with people. 11 I will increase not only the
people, but also your animals. O mountains of
Is­ra­el, I will bring people to live on you once
again. I will make you even more prosperous
than you were before. Then you will know that
I am the Lord. 12 I will cause my people to walk
on you once again, and you will be their territory. You will never again rob them of their
children.
13
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
The other nations taunt you, saying, ‘Is­ra­el is
a land that devours its own people and robs
them of their children!’ 14 But you will never
again devour your people or rob them of their
children, says the Sovereign Lord. 15 I will not
let you hear those other nations insult you,
and you will no longer be mocked by them.
You will not be a land that causes its nation to
fall, says the Sovereign Lord.”
16
Then this further message came to me from
the Lord: 17 “Son of man, when the people of Is­
ra­el were living in their own land, they defiled
it by the evil way they lived. To me their conduct was as unclean as a woman’s menstrual
cloth. 18 They polluted the land with murder
and the worship of idols,* so I poured out my
fury on them. 19 I scattered them to many lands
to punish them for the evil way they had lived.
20
But when they were scattered among the nations, they brought shame on my holy name.
For the nations said, ‘These are the people of
the Lord, but he couldn’t keep them safe in his
own land!’ 21 Then I was concerned for my holy
name, on which my people brought shame
among the nations.
36:18 The Hebrew term (literally round things) probably alludes to
dung; also in 36:25. Ezekiel 37925
PG
95
0
PG
95
0
PG
93
2
Observation Point
Exploration Point
Dry bones and skeletons are usually considered
creepy. Stories of skeletons never seem to end well.
This one is different because God is in control of it
all. Ezekiel’s vision describes a two-stage resurrection. First, flesh appears and covers the dried-out
bones. But bones and flesh are still lacking: They
need the breath, or Spirit, of the Lord in them to be
fully restored. By the end of the story, the dried-out
bones have come to life!
22
“Therefore, give the people of Is­ra­el this
message from the Sovereign Lord: I am bringing you back, but not because you deserve it. I
am doing it to protect my holy name, on which
you brought shame while you were scattered
among the nations. 23 I will show how holy
my great name i­s—​­the name on which you
brought shame among the nations. And when
I reveal my holiness through you before their
very eyes, says the Sovereign Lord, then the
nations will know that I am the Lord. 24 For
I will gather you up from all the nations and
bring you home again to your land.
25
“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you,
and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed
away, and you will no longer worship idols.
26
And I will give you a new heart, and I will put
a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony,
stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.* 27 And I will put my Spirit in you so
that you will follow my decrees and be careful
to obey my regulations.
28
“And you will live in Is­ra­el, the land I gave
your ancestors long ago. You will be my people,
and I will be your God. 29 I will cleanse you of
your filthy behavior. I will give you good crops
of grain, and I will send no more famines on
the land. 30 I will give you great harvests from
your fruit trees and fields, and never again will
the surrounding nations be able to scoff at your
land for its famines. 31 Then you will remember
your past sins and despise yourselves for all
the detestable things you did. 32 But remember,
says the Sovereign Lord, I am not doing this because you deserve it. O my people of Is­ra­el, you
should be utterly ashamed of all you have done!
33
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
God was about to do something amazing. He was
going to restore the dead, dried-up, disillusioned
group of exiles into a lively, Spirit-filled people. Just
as he had saved his chosen people from the “death”
of slavery in Egypt and had given them a new identity and life in the Promised Land, so now he would
restore the exiles to a new life in their homeland. He
would renew their strength and revive their spirits.
God promises that renewal and restoration will come
after exodus or exile. It did for God’s chosen people;
it will for us too.
When I cleanse you from your sins, I will repopulate your cities, and the ruins will be rebuilt.
34
The fields that used to lie empty and desolate
in plain view of every­one will again be farmed.
35
And when I bring you back, people will say,
‘This former wasteland is now like the Garden
of Eden! The abandoned and ruined cities now
have strong walls and are filled with people!’
36
Then the surrounding nations that survive
will know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the
ruins and replanted the wasteland. For I, the
Lord, have spoken, and I will do what I say.
37
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
I am ready to hear Is­ra­el’s prayers and to increase their numbers like a flock. 38 They will
be as numerous as the sa­cred flocks that fill
Je­ru­sa­lem’s streets at the time of her festivals.
The ruined cities will be crowded with people
once more, and every­one will know that I am
the Lord.”
A Valley of Dry Bones
37
The Lord took hold of me, and I was
carried away by the Spirit of the Lord
to a valley filled with bones. 2 He led me all
around among the bones that covered the
valley floor. They were scattered every­where
across the ground and were completely dried
out. 3 Then he asked me, “Son of man, can
these bones become living people again?”
“O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “you alone
know the answer to that.”
4
Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic
message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones,
listen to the word of the Lord! 5 This is what
36:26 Hebrew a heart of flesh. 926
Ezekiel 38
the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to
put breath into you and make you live again!
6
I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover
you with skin. I will put breath into you, and
you will come to life. Then you will know that
I am the Lord.’”
7
So I spoke this message, just as he told
me. Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling
noise all across the valley. The bones of each
body came together and attached themselves
as complete skeletons. 8 Then as I watched,
muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then
skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still
had no breath in them.
9
Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic
message to the winds, son of man. Speak a
prophetic message and say, ‘This is what the
Sovereign Lord says: Come, O breath, from the
four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so
they may live again.’”
10
So I spoke the message as he commanded
me, and breath came into their bodies. They
all came to life and stood up on their ­feet—​­a
great army.
11
Then he said to me, “Son of man, these
bones represent the people of Is­ra­el. They are
saying, ‘We have become old, dry b
­ ones—​­all
hope is gone. Our nation is finished.’ 12 Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what
the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I will
open your graves of exile and cause you to rise
again. Then I will bring you back to the land
of Is­ra­el. 13 When this happens, O my people,
you will know that I am the Lord. 14 I will
put my Spirit in you, and you will live again
and return home to your own land. Then you
will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and
I have done what I said. Yes, the Lord has
spoken!’”
Reunion of Israel and Judah
Again a message came to me from the Lord:
“Son of man, take a piece of wood and carve
on it these words: ‘This represents Ju­dah and
its allied tribes.’ Then take another piece
and carve these words on it: ‘This represents
Ephra­im and the northern tribes of Is­ra­el.’*
17
Now hold them together in your hand as if
they were one piece of wood. 18 When your
people ask you what your actions mean, 19 say
to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
I will take Ephra­im and the northern tribes and
join them to Ju­dah. I will make them one piece
of wood in my hand.’
20
“Then hold out the pieces of wood you
have inscribed, so the people can see them.
21
And give them this message from the Sovereign Lord: I will gather the people of Is­ra­el
from among the nations. I will bring them
home to their own land from the places where
they have been scattered. 22 I will unify them
15
16
into one nation on the mountains of Is­ra­el.
One king will rule them all; no longer will they
be divided into two nations or into two kingdoms. 23 They will never again pollute themselves with their idols* and vile images and
rebellion, for I will save them from their sinful
apostasy.* I will cleanse them. Then they will
truly be my people, and I will be their God.
24
“My servant Da­vid will be their king, and
they will have only one shepherd. They will
obey my regulations and be careful to keep my
decrees. 25 They will live in the land I gave my
servant Jacob, the land where their ancestors
lived. They and their children and their grand­
children after them will live there forever,
generation after generation. And my servant
Da­vid will be their prince forever. 26 And I will
make a cov­enant of peace with them, an ever­
lasting cov­enant. I will give them their land
and increase their numbers,* and I will put
my Temple among them forever. 27 I will make
my home among them. I will be their God, and
they will be my people. 28 And when my Temple
is among them forever, the nations will know
that I am the Lord, who makes Is­ra­el holy.”
A Message for Gog
38
This is another message that came to me
from the Lord: 2 “Son of man, turn and
face Gog of the land of Ma­gog, the prince who
rules over the nations of Me­shech and Tu­bal,
and prophesy against him. 3 Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord: Gog, I am your
enemy! 4 I will turn you around and put hooks
in your jaws to lead you out with your whole
­army—​­your horses and ­char­i­oteers in full
armor and a great horde armed with shields
­ er­sia, Ethi­o­pia, and Libya* will
and swords. 5 P
join you, too, with all their weapons. 6 ­Go­mer
and all its armies will also join you, along with
the armies of ­Beth-​­to­gar­mah from the distant
north, and many others.
7
“Get ready; be prepared! Keep all the
armies around you mobilized, and take command of them. 8 A long time from now you will
be called into action. In the distant future you
will swoop down on the land of Is­ra­el, which
will be enjoying peace after recovering from
war and after its people have returned from
many lands to the mountains of Is­ra­el. 9 You
and all your a
­ llies—​­a vast and awesome a
­ rmy—​
­ ill roll down on them like a storm and cover
w
the land like a cloud.
10
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: At
that time evil thoughts will come to your mind,
and you will devise a wicked scheme. 11 You
37:16 Hebrew This is Ephraim’s wood, representing Joseph and all
the house of Israel; similarly in 37:19. 37:23a The Hebrew term
(literally round things) probably alludes to dung. 37:23b As in
many Hebrew manuscripts and Greek version; Masoretic Text reads
from all their dwelling places where they sinned. 37:26 Hebrew
reads I will give them and increase their numbers; Greek version
lacks the entire phrase. 38:5 Hebrew Paras, Cush, and Put. Ezekiel 39927
will say, ‘Is­ra­el is an unprotected land filled
with unwalled villages! I will march against
her and destroy these people who live in such
confidence! 12 I will go to those formerly desolate cities that are now filled with people who
have returned from exile in many nations. I
will capture vast amounts of plunder, for the
people are rich with livestock and other possessions now. They think the whole world revolves around them!’ 13 But She­ba and Dedan
and the merchants of Tar­shish will ask, ‘Do
you real­ly think the armies you have gathered
can rob them of silver and gold? Do you think
you can drive away their livestock and seize
their goods and carry off plunder?’
14
“Therefore, son of man, prophesy against
Gog. Give him this message from the Sovereign
Lord: When my people are living in peace in
their land, then you will rouse yourself.* 15 You
will come from your homeland in the distant
north with your vast cavalry and your mighty
army, 16 and you will attack my people Is­ra­el,
covering their land like a cloud. At that time
in the distant future, I will bring you against
my land as every­one watches, and my holiness
will be displayed by what happens to you, Gog.
Then all the nations will know that I am the
Lord.
17
“This is what the Sovereign Lord asks:
Are you the one I was talking about long ago,
when I announced through Is­ra­el’s prophets
that in the future I would bring you against my
people? 18 But this is what the Sovereign Lord
says: When Gog invades the land of Is­ra­el, my
fury will boil over! 19 In my jealousy and blazing
anger, I promise a mighty shaking in the land
of Is­ra­el on that day. 20 All living ­things—​­the
fish in the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals of the field, the small animals that scurry
along the ground, and all the people on ­earth—​
­will quake in terror at my presence. Mountains
will be thrown down; cliffs will crumble;
walls will fall to the earth. 21 I will summon the
sword against you on all the hills of Is­ra­el, says
the Sovereign Lord. Your men will turn their
swords against each other. 22 I will punish you
and your armies with disease and bloodshed;
I will send torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and
burning sulfur! 23 In this way, I will show my
greatness and holiness, and I will make myself
known to all the nations of the world. Then
they will know that I am the Lord.
The Slaughter of Gog’s Hordes
39
“Son of man, prophesy against Gog.
Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord: I am your enemy, O Gog, ruler of the
nations of Me­shech and Tu­bal. 2 I will turn you
around and drive you toward the mountains of
Is­ra­el, bringing you from the distant north. 3 I
will knock the bow from your left hand and the
arrows from your right hand, and I will leave
you helpless. 4 You and your army and your allies will all die on the mountains. I will feed
you to the vultures and wild animals. 5 You will
fall in the open fields, for I have spoken, says
the Sovereign Lord. 6 And I will rain down fire
on Ma­gog and on all your allies who live safely
on the coasts. Then they will know that I am
the Lord.
7
“In this way, I will make known my holy
name among my people of Is­ra­el. I will not let
anyone bring shame on it. And the nations,
too, will know that I am the Lord, the Holy
One of Is­ra­el. 8 That day of judgment will come,
says the Sovereign Lord. Everything will happen just as I have declared it.
9
“Then the people in the towns of Is­ra­el
will go out and pick up your small and large
shields, bows and arrows, javelins and spears,
and they will use them for fuel. There will be
enough to last them seven years! 10 They won’t
need to cut wood from the fields or forests, for
these weapons will give them all the fuel they
need. They will plunder those who planned
to plunder them, and they will rob those who
planned to rob them, says the Sovereign Lord.
11
“And I will make a vast graveyard for Gog
and his hordes in the Valley of the Travelers,
east of the Dead Sea.* It will block the way of
those who travel there, and they will change the
name of the place to the Valley of Gog’s Hordes.
12
It will take seven months for the people of Is­
ra­el to bury the bodies and cleanse the land.
13
­Every­one in Is­ra­el will help, for it will be a
glorious victory for Is­ra­el when I demonstrate
my glory on that day, says the Sovereign Lord.
14
“After seven months, teams of men will
be appointed to search the land for skeletons
to bury, so the land will be made clean again.
15
Whenever bones are found, a marker will be
set up so the burial crews will take them to be
buried in the Valley of Gog’s Hordes. 16 (There
will be a town there named Ha­mon­ah, which
means ‘horde.’) And so the land will finally be
cleansed.
17
“And now, son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Call all the birds and wild
animals. Say to them: Gather together for my
great sacrificial feast. Come from far and near
to the mountains of Is­ra­el, and there eat flesh
and drink blood! 18 Eat the flesh of mighty men
and drink the blood of princes as though they
were rams, lambs, goats, and b
­ ulls—​­all fattened animals from Ba­shan! 19 Gorge yourselves
with flesh until you are glutted; drink blood
until you are drunk. This is the sacrificial feast
I have prepared for you. 20 Feast at my banquet
­table—​­feast on horses and ­char­i­oteers, on
38:14 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads then you will know. 39:11 Hebrew the sea. 950
DANIEL 6
PG 924
FLYOVER
PG 924
DIRECT
PG 948
SCENIC
6:1-28
6:1-28
6:1-28
29
125
243
DANIEL IN THE LIONS’ DEN
Throughout the big story, God has selected individuals to be examples for his
people: Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, and now Daniel. These individuals were
heroes of the faith who, though still hindered by human flaws, were near to God
and obedient to his calling. Daniel, a teenage prince of Judah, was taken into captivity to the city of Babylon where he became a great leader. Many years passed.
Daniel is now an old man. The Persian Empire has swallowed the Babylonian
Empire, and a new ruler, Darius, is in control of the province of Babylon.
Nebuchadnezzar. 19 He made him so great that
people of all races and nations and languages
trembled before him in fear. He killed those he
wanted to kill and spared those he wanted to
spare. He honored those he wanted to honor
and disgraced those he wanted to disgrace.
20
But when his heart and mind were puffed
up with arrogance, he was brought down from
his royal throne and stripped of his glory. 21 He
was driven from human society. He was given
the mind of a wild animal, and he lived among
the wild donkeys. He ate grass like a cow, and
he was drenched with the dew of heaven,
until he learned that the Most High God rules
over the kingdoms of the world and appoints
anyone he desires to rule over them.
22
“You are his successor,* O Belshazzar, and
you knew all this, yet you have not humbled
yourself. 23 For you have proudly defied the
Lord of heaven and have had these cups from
his Temple brought before you. You and your
nobles and your wives and concubines have
been drinking wine from them while praising gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood,
and stone—gods that neither see nor hear nor
know anything at all. But you have not honored the God who gives you the breath of life
and controls your destiny! 24 So God has sent
this hand to write this message.
25
“This is the message that was written:
Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin. 26 This is
what these words mean:
28
29
Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel
was dressed in purple robes, a gold chain was
hung around his neck, and he was proclaimed
the third highest ruler in the kingdom.
30
That very night Belshazzar, the Babylonian* king, was killed.*
31
*And Darius the Mede took over the kingdom at the age of sixty-two.
DANIEL IN THE LIONS’ DEN
6
PG 782
b | ANGELS | 6:1-28
27_Dan.indd 950
PG 1027
27
Mene means ‘numbered’—God has
numbered the days of your reign and
has brought it to an end.
Tekel means ‘weighed’—you have been
weighed on the balances and have not
measured up.
1
*Darius the Mede decided to divide the
kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a high officer to rule over each province. 2 The king also chose Daniel and two
others as administrators to supervise the
high officers and protect the king’s interests.
3
Daniel soon proved himself more capable
than all the other administrators and high
officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the
king made plans to place him over the entire
empire.
4
Then the other administrators and high
officers began searching for some fault in the
way Daniel was handling government affairs,
but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or
condemn. He was faithful, always responsible,
and completely trustworthy. 5 So they concluded, “Our only chance of finding grounds
for accusing Daniel will be in connection with
the rules of his religion.”
6
So the administrators and high officers
went to the king and said, “Long live King
Parsin* means ‘divided’—your kingdom has
been divided and given to the Medes and
Persians.”
5:22 Aramaic son. 5:28 Aramaic Peres, the singular of Parsin.
5:30a Or Chaldean. 5:30b The Persians and Medes conquered
Babylon in October 539 b.c. 5:31 Verse 5:31 is numbered 6:1 in
Aramaic text. 6:1 Verses 6:1-28 are numbered 6:2-29 in Aramaic text.
9/24/2013 11:51:47 AM
EXPLORATION POINT
In biblical times, lions inhabited Asia Minor, Syria,
Mesopotamia, and Persia. Asian lions differed from
their African counterparts in that they were smaller
and had thicker coats and thinner manes. Lions were
often trophies of kings and nobles, who kept them
in captivity or used them in executions of political
prisoners. Lions became extinct in the Middle East
hundreds of years ago, but they could still be found
in the area around the Euphrates River until the
1800s AD.
Darius! 7 We are all in agreement—we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and
governors—that the king should make a law
that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that
for the next thirty days any person who prays
to anyone, divine or human— except to you,
Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of
lions. 8 And now, Your Majesty, issue and sign
this law so it cannot be changed, an official
law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be
revoked.” 9 So King Darius signed the law.
10
But when Daniel learned that the law had
been signed, he went home and knelt down
as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three
times a day, just as he had always done, giving
thanks to his God. 11 Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help. 12 So they went
straight to the king and reminded him about
his law. “Did you not sign a law that for the
next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human— except to you, Your
Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions?”
“Yes,” the king replied, “that decision
stands; it is an official law of the Medes and
Persians that cannot be revoked.”
13
Then they told the king, “That man Daniel,
one of the captives from Judah, is ignoring you
and your law. He still prays to his God three
times a day.”
14
Hearing this, the king was deeply troubled,
and he tried to think of a way to save Daniel.
He spent the rest of the day looking for a way
to get Daniel out of this predicament.
15
In the evening the men went together to
the king and said, “Your Majesty, you know
that according to the law of the Medes and
PG
95
4
6
53
PG
6
53
PG
OBSERVATION POINT
951
DANIEL 6
What happened to Daniel was simple: He was set up.
The officials were jealous of this Jewish immigrant
who had risen to a high government position, and they
were out for revenge. Daniel had climbed the royal
ranks, adjusting to the changes of three administrations, but he had never altered his stance with God.
Daniel remained firm in his faith, and God always
protected him. Our lives move fast. Circumstances,
positions, and power all will change, but God never
changes. He is the one we need to hold on to, to
keep us focused when uncertainty swirls around us.
the Persians, no law that the king signs can be
changed.”
16
So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to
be arrested and thrown into the den of lions.
The king said to him, “May your God, whom
you serve so faithfully, rescue you.”
17
A stone was brought and placed over the
mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone
with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel. 18 Then
the king returned to his palace and spent the
night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn’t sleep at all that night.
19
Very early the next morning, the king got
up and hurried out to the lions’ den. 20 When
he got there, he called out in anguish, “Daniel,
servant of the living God! Was your God, whom
you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from
the lions?”
21
Daniel answered, “Long live the king! 22 My
God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so
that they would not hurt me, for I have been
found innocent in his sight. And I have not
wronged you, Your Majesty.”
23
The king was overjoyed and ordered that
Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was
found on him, for he had trusted in his God.
24
Then the king gave orders to arrest the
men who had maliciously accused Daniel. He
had them thrown into the lions’ den, along
with their wives and children. The lions leaped
on them and tore them apart before they even
hit the floor of the den.
25
Then King Darius sent this message to the
people of every race and nation and language
throughout the world:
27_Dan.indd 951
“Peace and prosperity to you!
26
“I decree that everyone throughout my
9/24/2013 11:51:56 AM
952
DANIEL 7
10
kingdom should tremble with fear before
the God of Daniel.
For he is the living God,
and he will endure forever.
His kingdom will never be destroyed,
and his rule will never end.
He rescues and saves his people;
he performs miraculous signs and
wonders
in the heavens and on earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions.”
27
28
So Daniel prospered during the reign
of Da ri us and the reign of Cy rus the
Persian.*
a | VISIONS | 7:1-28
Earlier, during the first year of King Belshazzar’s reign in Babylon,* Daniel had
a dream and saw visions as he lay in his bed.
He wrote down the dream, and this is what he
saw.
2
In my vision that night, I, Daniel, saw a
great storm churning the surface of a great
sea, with strong winds blowing from every direction. 3 Then four huge beasts came up out of
the water, each different from the others.
4
The first beast was like a lion with eagles’
wings. As I watched, its wings were pulled off,
and it was left standing with its two hind feet
on the ground, like a human being. And it was
given a human mind.
5
Then I saw a second beast, and it looked
like a bear. It was rearing up on one side, and
it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth.
And I heard a voice saying to it, “Get up! Devour the flesh of many people!”
6
Then the third of these strange beasts appeared, and it looked like a leopard. It had four
bird’s wings on its back, and it had four heads.
Great authority was given to this beast.
7
Then in my vision that night, I saw a fourth
beast—terrifying, dreadful, and very strong. It
devoured and crushed its victims with huge
iron teeth and trampled their remains beneath
its feet. It was different from any of the other
beasts, and it had ten horns.
8
As I was looking at the horns, suddenly another small horn appeared among them. Three
of the first horns were torn out by the roots to
make room for it. This little horn had eyes like
human eyes and a mouth that was boasting
arrogantly.
PG 897
7
PG 956
THE VISION IS EXPLAINED
15
I, Daniel, was troubled by all I had seen, and
my visions terrified me. 16 So I approached one
of those standing beside the throne and asked
him what it all meant. He explained it to me
like this: 17 “These four huge beasts represent
four kingdoms that will arise from the earth.
18
But in the end, the holy people of the Most
High will be given the kingdom, and they will
rule forever and ever.”
19
Then I wanted to know the true meaning
of the fourth beast, the one so different from
the others and so terrifying. It had devoured
and crushed its victims with iron teeth and
bronze claws, trampling their remains beneath
its feet. 20 I also asked about the ten horns on
the fourth beast’s head and the little horn that
came up afterward and destroyed three of the
other horns. This horn had seemed greater
than the others, and it had human eyes and
a mouth that was boasting arrogantly. 21 As I
watched, this horn was waging war against
God’s holy people and was defeating them,
22
until the Ancient One—the Most High—came
and judged in favor of his holy people. Then
the time arrived for the holy people to take over
the kingdom.
23
Then he said to me, “This fourth beast is
the fourth world power that will rule the earth.
It will be different from all the others. It will devour the whole world, trampling and crushing
everything in its path. 24 Its ten horns are ten
kings who will rule that empire. Then another
king will arise, different from the other ten,
who will subdue three of them. 25 He will defy
11
I continued to watch because I could hear
the little horn’s boastful speech. I kept watching until the fourth beast was killed and its
body was destroyed by fire. 12 The other three
beasts had their authority taken from them,
but they were allowed to live a while longer.*
13
As my vision continued that night, I saw
someone like a son of man* coming with the
clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient
One and was led into his presence. 14 He was
given authority, honor, and sovereignty over
all the nations of the world, so that people
of every race and nation and language would
obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end.
His kingdom will never be destroyed.
DANIEL’S VISION OF FOUR BEASTS
and a river of fire was pouring out,
flowing from his presence.
Millions of angels ministered to him;
many millions stood to attend him.
Then the court began its session,
and the books were opened.
 9
I watched as thrones were put in place
and the Ancient One* sat down
to judge.
His clothing was as white as snow,
his hair like purest wool.
He sat on a fiery throne
with wheels of blazing fire,
27_Dan.indd 952
6:28 Or of Darius, that is, the reign of Cyrus the Persian. 7:1 The
first year of Belshazzar’s reign (who was co-regent with his
father, Nabonidus) was 556 b.c. (or perhaps as late as 553 b.c.).
7:9 Aramaic an Ancient of Days; also in 7:13, 22. 7:12 Aramaic for
a season and a time. 7:13 Or like a Son of Man.
9/24/2013 11:51:57 AM
953
DANIEL 8
the Most High and oppress the holy people of
the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed
under his control for a time, times, and half a
time.
26
“But then the court will pass judgment,
and all his power will be taken away and
completely destroyed. 27 Then the sovereignty,
power, and greatness of all the kingdoms
under heaven will be given to the holy people
of the Most High. His kingdom will last forever,
and all rulers will serve and obey him.”
28
That was the end of the vision. I, Daniel,
was terrified by my thoughts and my face was
pale with fear, but I kept these things to myself.
truth was overthrown. The horn succeeded in
everything it did.*
13
Then I heard two holy ones talking to each
other. One of them asked, “How long will the
events of this vision last? How long will the rebellion that causes desecration stop the daily
sacrifices? How long will the Temple and heaven’s army be trampled on?”
14
The other replied, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the Temple will be
made right again.”
GABRIEL EXPLAINS THE VISION
15
As I, Daniel, was trying to understand the
meaning of this vision, someone who looked
like a man stood in front of me. 16 And I heard
a human voice calling out from the Ulai River,
“Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of his
vision.”
17
As Gabriel approached the place where I
was standing, I became so terrified that I fell
with my face to the ground. “Son of man,” he
said, “you must understand that the events
you have seen in your vision relate to the time
of the end.”
18
While he was speaking, I fainted and lay
there with my face to the ground. But Gabriel
roused me with a touch and helped me to my
feet.
19
Then he said, “I am here to tell you what
will happen later in the time of wrath. What
you have seen pertains to the very end of time.
20
The two-horned ram represents the kings of
Media and Persia. 21 The shaggy male goat represents the king of Greece,* and the large horn
between his eyes represents the first king of
the Greek Empire. 22 The four prominent horns
that replaced the one large horn show that the
Greek Empire will break into four kingdoms,
but none as great as the first.
23
“At the end of their rule, when their sin
is at its height, a fierce king, a master of intrigue, will rise to power. 24 He will become very
strong, but not by his own power. He will cause
a shocking amount of destruction and succeed
in everything he does. He will destroy powerful
leaders and devastate the holy people. 25 He
will be a master of deception and will become
arrogant; he will destroy many without warning. He will even take on the Prince of princes
in battle, but he will be broken, though not by
human power.
26
“This vision about the 2,300 evenings and
mornings* is true. But none of these things will
happen for a long time, so keep this vision a
secret.”
27
Then I, Daniel, was overcome and lay
DANIEL’S VISION OF A RAM AND GOAT
8
1
*During the third year of King Belshazzar’s reign, I, Daniel, saw another vision,
following the one that had already appeared
to me. 2 In this vision I was at the fortress of
Susa, in the province of Elam, standing beside
the Ulai River.*
3
As I looked up, I saw a ram with two long
horns standing beside the river.* One of the
horns was longer than the other, even though
it had grown later than the other one. 4 The ram
butted everything out of his way to the west, to
the north, and to the south, and no one could
stand against him or help his victims. He did as
he pleased and became very great.
5
While I was watching, suddenly a male
goat appeared from the west, crossing the land
so swiftly that he didn’t even touch the ground.
This goat, which had one very large horn between its eyes, 6 headed toward the two-horned
ram that I had seen standing beside the river,
rushing at him in a rage. 7 The goat charged furiously at the ram and struck him, breaking off
both his horns. Now the ram was helpless, and
the goat knocked him down and trampled him.
No one could rescue the ram from the goat’s
power.
8
The goat became very powerful. But at the
height of his power, his large horn was broken
off. In the large horn’s place grew four prominent horns pointing in the four directions of
the earth. 9 Then from one of the prominent
horns came a small horn whose power grew
very great. It extended toward the south and
the east and toward the glorious land of Israel.
10
Its power reached to the heavens, where it
attacked the heavenly army, throwing some
of the heavenly beings and some of the stars
to the ground and trampling them. 11 It even
challenged the Commander of heaven’s army
by canceling the daily sacrifices offered to him
and by destroying his Temple. 12 The army of
heaven was restrained from responding to this
rebellion. So the daily sacrifice was halted, and
27_Dan.indd 953
8:1 The original text from this point through chapter 12 is in Hebrew.
See note at 2:4. 8:2 Or the Ulai Gate; also in 8:16. 8:3 Or the gate;
also in 8:6. 8:11-12 The meaning of the Hebrew for these verses
is uncertain. 8:21 Hebrew of Javan. 8:26 Hebrew about the
evenings and mornings; compare 8:14.
9/24/2013 11:51:57 AM
992
Jonah 1
1:1–2:10
PG 418
FLYOVER
PG 446
DIRECT
PG 446
SCENIC
1:1–2:10
1:1–2:10
23
89
168
Jonah Runs from the Lord
Long ago God promised Abraham that his descendants would be a blessing to all
nations. Jonah was one of God’s prophets who was sent to a foreign nation with a
clear warning: Change your sinful ways or God will punish you. Throughout the
big story, God has love and compassion for all people of every nation. He gives
fair warning to everyone that their actions will be judged. God summons Jonah
to warn the Assyrians of Nineveh to repent or face impending doom.
Jonah Runs from the Lord 1
The Lord gave this message to Jo­nah son
of Amit­tai: 2 “Get up and go to the great city
of Nin­e­veh. Announce my judgment against it
because I have seen how wicked its people
are.”
3
But Jo­nah got up and went in the opposite
direction to get away from the Lord. He went
down to the port of Jop­pa, where he found a
ship leaving for Tar­shish. He bought a ticket
and went on board, hoping to escape from the
Lord by sailing to Tar­shish.
Joppa
Jon 1:3
But all this time Jo­nah was sound asleep
down in the hold. 6 So the captain went down
after him. “How can you sleep at a time like
this?” he shouted. “Get up and pray to your
god! Maybe he will pay attention to us and
spare our lives.”
7
Then the crew cast lots to see which of them
had offended the gods and caused the terrible
storm. When they did this, the lots identified
Jo­nah as the culprit. 8 “Why has this awful
storm come down on us?” they demanded.
“Who are you? What is your line of work?
What country are you from? What is your
nationality?”
9
­Jo­nah answered, “I am a Hebrew, and I
worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who
made the sea and the land.”
10
The sailors were terrified when they heard
this, for he had already told them he was run­
ning away from the Lord. “Oh, why did you
do it?” they groaned. 11 And since the storm
was getting worse all the time, they asked
him, “What should we do to you to stop this
storm?”
12
“Throw me into the sea,” Jo­nah said, “and
it will become calm again. I know that this
terrible storm is all my fault.”
13
Instead, the sailors rowed even harder to
get the ship to the land. But the stormy sea was
too violent for them, and they couldn’t make it.
14
Then they cried out to the Lord, Jo­nah’s God.
“O Lord,” they pleaded, “­don’t make us die for
this man’s sin. And ­don’t hold us responsible
for his death. O Lord, you have sent this storm
upon him for your own good reasons.”
15
Then the sailors picked Jo­nah up and
threw him into the raging sea, and the storm
stopped at once! 16 The sailors were awestruck
Joppa was an ancient fortified city on the Bay
of Acre along the coast of the Mediterranean
Sea. Located just thirty-eight miles northwest
of Jerusalem on the only natural harbor in
the region, Joppa was considered the seaport
of Jerusalem. The cedar timbers from
Lebanon used to build Solomon’s Temple and
the second Temple were floated from Tyre
and arrived through this port. Although Joppa
was part of the territory of the tribe of Dan at
one point, Israel lost control of the city just
before the Exile. Today this seaport is known
as Jaffa, a suburb of Tel Aviv.
But the Lord hurled a powerful wind over
the sea, causing a violent storm that threat­
ened to break the ship apart. 5 Fearing for their
lives, the desperate sailors shouted to their
gods for help and threw the cargo overboard
to lighten the ship.
4
0
45
PG
0
96
PG
Jonah 2993
PG 994
Observation Point
The Hebrew phrase used here for “great fish” could
refer to any large animal that lives primarily underwater. The exact species of animal or fish referred to
is unknown. Perhaps it was a unique fish God made
for just this purpose, or perhaps it was a type of
shark or whale. The great white shark, the whale,
and the whale shark all have throats large enough
to swallow a human.
by the Lord’s great power, and they offered
him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him.
17
*Now the Lord had arranged for a great
fish to swallow Jo­nah. And Jo­nah was inside
the fish for three days and three nights.
Jonah’s Prayer
2
1
*Then Jo­nah prayed to the Lord his God
from inside the fish. 2 He said,
“I sank beneath the waves,
and the waters closed over me.
Seaweed wrapped itself around my
head.
 6
I sank down to the very roots of the
mountains.
I was imprisoned in the earth,
whose gates lock shut forever.
But you, O Lord my God,
snatched me from the jaws
of death!
 5
Jonah was startled and angry to think that God
could care for or love Israel’s worst enemy, Assyria.
Jonah was sure that it wasn’t fair that the bloodthirsty Assyrians would get a chance at God’s salvation. God’s radical forgiveness did not fit Jonah’s
paradigm of justice. But this was a glimpse of what
God had in mind for the world: a salvation that came
from his grace alone, available to all—rich and poor,
righteous and wicked.
As my life was slipping away,
I remembered the Lord.
And my earnest prayer went out
to you
in your holy Temple.
 8
Those who worship false gods
turn their backs on all God’s
mercies.
 9
But I will offer sacrifices to you with
songs of praise,
and I will fulfill all my vows.
For my salvation comes from the Lord
alone.”
 7
10
Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jo­
nah out onto the beach.
1:17 Verse 1:17 is numbered 2:1 in Hebrew text. 2:1 Verses 2:1-10
are numbered 2:2-11 in Hebrew text. 2:2 Hebrew from Sheol. Tarshish
The location of Tarshish is uncertain. Its
name suggests a place that specialized
in metalworking. Ezekiel 27:12 refers to
Tarshish as being rich in silver, iron, tin, and
lead. Many possible locations have been
proposed by scholars: Tartessos in southern
Spain, Tyrseni in Italy, Carthage in northern
Africa, and Tarsus in modern-day Turkey.
What’s clear is that it represents a place
far from Israel and Nineveh. Jonah had no
intention of going to Nineveh; he was doing
everything in his power to avoid taking God’s
message to its citizens.
Jon 1:3
“I cried out to the Lord in my great
trouble,
and he answered me.
I called to you from the land of
the dead,*
and Lord, you heard me!
 3
You threw me into the ocean depths,
and I sank down to the heart of
the sea.
The mighty waters engulfed me;
I was buried beneath your wild and
stormy waves.
 4
Then I said, ‘O Lord, you have driven me
from your presence.
Yet I will look once more toward your
holy Temple.’
Exploration Point
1044
PG 992
FLYOVER
PG 1038
DIRECT
PG 1040
SCENIC
32
139
266
BETWEEN THE TESTAMENTS:
WAITING FOR THE MESSIAH
Since the beginning of time God has desired to have a relationship
with his creation. He chose to share the joys of his created world
with humans made in his likeness. He has been present with
humans since he made them: He walked and talked with them
in the Garden of Eden; appeared to them in dreams and visions;
and revealed himself in clouds, a fiery pillar, and laws written
in stone. He demonstrated his presence with them through
the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant. His Spirit worked
through their leaders, judges, priests, prophets, and kings,
who all represented him on earth. God’s presence and blessing
continued through the Exile as he protected his people.
GETTING YOUR
BEARINGS
At the end of the Old Testament, God’s people have become a
scattered people, living in Egypt, Judea, Syria, and Persia. In
a world pervaded by Greek thought and culture, they preserve
their own history and zealously fight for independence. For
four hundred years, they hold faithfully to the messages of the
prophets, the laws of Moses, and the rituals of the Temple. The
Jews wait with great anticipation for God’s promise to come true,
for the great king of David’s line to arrive.
YEAR:
6 BC
CURRENT WORLD POWER:
Rome
STATUS OF GOD’S PEOPLE:
Roman Subjects
WHERE ARE WE GOING?
The whole Old Testament has prepared us for this moment. We are
reaching a major turning point in the history of the world. Soon God
will come to earth as a man. He will be Immanuel, which means
“God with us.” For thousands of years, the Tabernacle, the Temple,
the priesthood, the prophets, and the kings all foreshadowed God’s
ultimate goal. Now he will physically be with his people. Jesus
Christ will be born as a human.
The Temple is
completed
Malachi
prophesies
in Judah
Scribes begin
translating the
Hebrew Scriptures
into Greek (the
Septuagint)
515 BC
430? BC
255 BC?
The Maccabees
revolt against
Antiochus IV
165 BC
445 BC
330 BC
167 BC
165 BC
The people
rebuild
Jerusalem’s
walls
Alexander the
Great of Greece
conquers the
Persian Empire
Antiochus IV
of the Seleucid
Empire desecrates
the Temple in
Jerusalem
Judas Maccabeus
rededicates the
Temple (Hanukkah)
PG
11
18
PG
11
18
PG
11
18
1045
But even as God’s plans culminate in Jesus, many of the Jews who have been waiting for this very
moment will completely disregard him as the king they have yearned for. They will miss the King of
kings and Lord of lords who walks and talks with them during everyday tasks: working in the fields,
raising families, baking bread, drawing water. Some will have their eyes opened and will believe that
Jesus is the promised Messiah. Others will keep looking elsewhere, hoping for a powerful ruler who
will liberate their people through military force.
JESUS AS TRUE NORTH
Very soon now, Jesus will come. After the end of the Old Testament era the Jewish people faced
tumultuous times, being conquered and oppressed first by the Greeks and then by the Romans. They
endured persecution and even rebelled against their oppressors for a time, but they still awaited the
Messiah—the one God promised who would free them from tyranny and fulfill the righteous hopes
of the people. Jesus will be that Messiah. But he will not be the warrior-king they’re expecting, but
rather a humble infant. Nonetheless, he will change the world. He will show the world who God is—
nothing will ever be the same.
WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE WE?
ROMAN
EMPIRE
THE REGION OF JUDEA has been
claimed by three empires since
the time of Malachi: Persia, then
Greece, and now Rome. The
Roman Empire will continue for
nearly 500 years.
TURKEY
JERUSALEM
IRAQ
IRAN
EGYPT
SAUDI ARABIA
The first Chinese
ships reach the
east coast of India
Herod the
Great begins
reconstruction
on the Temple in
Jerusalem
102 BC
20 BC
YOU ARE
HERE
Jesus’
ministry
begins
Saul is converted
on the road to
Damascus
AD 27
AD 34
55 BC
4 BC
AD 30
AD 37
Julius Caesar
begins his
campaign in Britain
Jesus
is born
Jesus dies, is
resurrected,
and ascends to
heaven / The
Holy Spirit comes
at Pentecost
Barnabas and
Paul’s first trip
to Jerusalem
1052
MATTHEW 3
PG 1122
FLYOVER
PG 1124
DIRECT
PG 1124
SCENIC
3:13-17
3:13-17
3:1-17
35
146
274
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
In the big story, God spoke through the prophets, sometimes revealing details
about the coming King of the Jews. In the birth of Jesus, many of those prophecies were fulfilled. Now, after living in a small town and working at Joseph’s
trade for about thirty years, the King steps out into the world to begin the work he
has been sent from God to do. Jesus is ready to preach, teach, heal, and declare
the good news—God is present with his people!
JOHN THE BAPTIST PREPARES
THE WAY
3
In those days John the Baptist came to
the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, 2 “Repent of your sins
and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven
is near.*” 3 The prophet Isaiah was speaking
about John when he said,
“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!
Clear the road for him!’”*
denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he
exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee God’s
coming wrath? 8 Prove by the way you live that
you have repented of your sins and turned to
God. 9 Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe,
for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That
means nothing, for I tell you, God can create
children of Abraham from these very stones.
10
Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised,
ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every
tree that does not produce good fruit will be
chopped down and thrown into the fire.
11
“I baptize with* water those who repent
of their sins and turn to God. But someone
is coming soon who is greater than I am—so
much greater that I’m not worthy even to be
his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize
you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.* 12 He is
ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with
his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the
threshing area, gathering the wheat into his
barn but burning the chaff with never-ending
fire.”
Matt 3:13-17
BAPTISM IN THE JORDAN RIVER
John probably baptized Jesus on the east
side of the Jordan River. The eastern river
valley is quite lush along the gradual banks
of the meandering river. Jesus was baptized
near a town named Bethany (not the Bethany
near Jerusalem), which some scholars think
was about six miles north of the Dead Sea.
The precise location is unknown. Over time
the river has changed course and flooding
has completely destroyed any evidence of
this city.
4
John’s clothes were woven from coarse
camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around
his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild
honey. 5 People from Jerusalem and from all
of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went
out to see and hear John. 6 And when they
confessed their sins, he baptized them in the
Jordan River.
7
But when he saw many Pharisees and
Sadducees coming to watch him baptize,* he
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
13
Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan
River to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried
to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to
be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you
coming to me?”
15
But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we
must carry out all that God requires.*” So John
agreed to baptize him.
16
After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of
the water, the heavens were opened* and he
saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove
and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven
3:2 Or has come, or is coming soon. 3:3 Isa 40:3 (Greek version).
3:7 Or coming to be baptized. 3:11a Or in. 3:11b Or in the Holy
Spirit and in fire. 3:15 Or for we must fulfill all righteousness.
3:16 Some manuscripts read opened to him.
PG
11
26
PG
11
26
1053
MATTHEW 4
PG 1054
OBSERVATION POINT
EXPLORATION POINT
At Jesus’ baptism all three persons of the Trinity
were actively present: the Father (the voice from
heaven), the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit (the
descending dove). The Christian doctrine of the Trinity declares that God is one essence but at the same
time is three persons. This great mystery of the faith
is worth thinking about deeply, even if we can’t fully
understand it. The eternal unity of God in loving
relationship with himself as Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit is a beautiful image to ponder.
said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings
me great joy.”
THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS
4
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the
wilderness to be tempted there by the
devil. 2 For forty days and forty nights he fasted
and became very hungry.
3
During that time the devil* came and said
to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these
stones to become loaves of bread.”
4
But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,
In his usual humble way, Jesus sought the appropriate sanction before beginning his ministry. He went
to John the Baptist, a well-known preacher of that
time, to be baptized. Jesus’ approval for ministry
came not from John but from God the Father and
the Holy Spirit. He was now ready and ordained for
his life’s calling to minister God’s love to his people,
and to tell them that God’s promise to restore his
Kingdom was being fulfilled.
THE MINISTRY OF JESUS BEGINS
12
When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee.
13
He went first to Nazareth, then left there and
moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.
14
This fulfilled what God said through the
prophet Isaiah:
15
“In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali,
beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River,
in Galilee where so many Gentiles live,
the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light.
And for those who lived in the land where
death casts its shadow,
a light has shined.”*
16
‘People do not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the
mouth of God.’*”
5
Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple,
6
and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off!
For the Scriptures say,
17
From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.*”
‘He will order his angels to protect you.
And they will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a
stone.’*”
JESUS’ TEMPTATION
IN THE WILDERNESS
Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say,
‘You must not test the Lord your God.’*”
8
Next the devil took him to the peak of a very
high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 “I will give
it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down
and worship me.”
10
“Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him.
“For the Scriptures say,
THE FIRST DISCIPLES
18
One day as Jesus was walking along the
shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two
brothers— Simon, also called Peter, and
‘You must worship the Lord your God
and serve only him.’*”
11
Then the devil went away, and angels came
and took care of Jesus.
4:3 Greek the tempter. 4:4 Deut 8:3. 4:6 Ps 91:11-12. 4:7 Deut 6:16.
4:10 Deut 6:13. 4:15-16 Isa 9:1-2 (Greek version). 4:17 Or has
come, or is coming soon.
Matt 4:1-11
The wilderness in which Jesus was tempted
was probably the Judean wilderness south
of Jericho: the same region where John the
Baptist had lived. It was relatively close to
the Jordan River, where Jesus had been
baptized.
7
1054
MATTHEW 5
PG 1052
FLYOVER
PG 1090
DIRECT
PG 1090
SCENIC
5:1-26
5:1-26, 38-48
5:1-48
36
153
281
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
The big story culminates in the life of Jesus. The Messiah the Jews have been
waiting for walks and talks among the common people. He chooses disciples,
faces the devil in the wilderness, and performs miracles. And when he preaches,
people pour out of their towns and come to hear him. Jesus’ preaching is full of
God’s wisdom. Now he presents his most famous sermon with images of common objects and everyday events. Large crowds gather from all over the region
to experience Jesus’ healing touch and to hear him speak.
Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for
they fished for a living. 19 Jesus called out to
them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you
how to fish for people!” 20 And they left their
nets at once and followed him.
21
A little farther up the shore he saw two
other brothers, James and John, sitting in a
boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their
nets. And he called them to come, too. 22 They
immediately followed him, leaving the boat
and their father behind.
Jerusalem, from all over Judea, and from east
of the Jordan River.
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
5
One day as he saw the crowds gathering,
Jesus went up on the mountainside and
sat down. His disciples gathered around him,
2
and he began to teach them.
CAPERNAUM AND NAZARETH
Matt 4:13
Capernaum in Galilee was a large town
on the northwest shore of the Sea of
Galilee, about twenty miles from Nazareth.
Situated on the highway leading from the
Mediterranean Sea to Damascus, Syria, it
had a large enough population to justify its
own tax collector. Capernaum was located
in the ancient tribal territory of Naphtali;
Nazareth was in the territory of Zebulun.
THE BEATITUDES
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8
 9
CROWDS FOLLOW JESUS
23
Jesus traveled throughout the region of
Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom.
And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 24 News about him spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to him all
who were sick. And whatever their sickness
or disease, or if they were demon possessed
or epileptic or paralyzed—he healed them
all. 25 Large crowds followed him wherever he
went—people from Galilee, the Ten Towns,*
10
“God blesses those who are poor and
realize their need for him,*
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
God blesses those who are humble,
for they will inherit the whole earth.
God blesses those who hunger and thirst
for justice,*
for they will be satisfied.
God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.
God blesses those who are persecuted for
doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
11
“God blesses you when people mock you
and persecute you and lie about you and say
all sorts of evil things against you because you
are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very
glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven.
And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.
4:25 Greek Decapolis.
righteousness.
5:3 Greek poor in spirit.
5:6 Or for
PG
11
74
PG
10
94
1055
MATTHEW 5
PG 1056
OBSERVATION POINT
EXPLORATION POINT
The nine opening statements that begin with “God
blesses” are called the Beatitudes. The word “beatitude” is taken from the Latin word beatus, meaning
“blessed” or “fortunate.” The rhetorical device of
giving a blessing as encouragement was common
in Greek and Jewish literature of the first century.
Although the sermon’s structure would have been
familiar to the disciples, its message challenged their
long-standing attitudes and values.
Jesus’ sermon advocates new values for his followers, and his words of two thousand years ago are
as relevant today as they were then. Although his
standards for ethical and moral living are very high,
we are not expected to achieve them on our own.
When we are filled with God’s powerful Spirit, we will
be able to cultivate these Christ-like characteristics
and further God’s Kingdom.
TEACHING ABOUT SALT AND LIGHT
THE TEN TOWNS
13
The Ten Towns was a federation of cities,
most of which were located east of the
Jordan River and southeast of the Sea of
Galilee. They were populated by Gentiles who
were heavily influenced by Greek culture.
The cities included Damascus, Raphana,
Hippus, Gadara, Abila, Scythopolis, Pella,
Dion, Gerasa, and Philadelphia.
TEACHING ABOUT THE LAW
17
“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I
did not come to abolish the law of Moses or
the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. 18 I tell you the truth,
until heaven and earth disappear, not even
the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear
until its purpose is achieved. 19 So if you ignore
the least commandment and teach others to
do the same, you will be called the least in the
Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys
God’s laws and teaches them will be called
great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
20
“But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the
teachers of religious law and the Pharisees,
you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!
court. And if you curse someone,* you are in
danger of the fires of hell.*
23
“So if you are presenting a sacrifice* at the
altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you,
24
leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and
be reconciled to that person. Then come and
offer your sacrifice to God.
25
“When you are on the way to court with
your adversary, settle your differences quickly.
Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to
the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 And
if that happens, you surely won’t be free again
until you have paid the last penny.*
SKIP TO 5:38
TEACHING ABOUT ADULTERY
TEACHING ABOUT ANGER
27
21
“You have heard that our ancestors were told,
‘You must not murder. If you commit murder,
you are subject to judgment.’* 22 But I say, if you
are even angry with someone,* you are subject
to judgment! If you call someone an idiot,*
you are in danger of being brought before the
“You have heard the commandment that
says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’* 28 But I
5:21 Exod 20:13; Deut 5:17. 5:22a Some manuscripts add without
cause. 5:22b Greek uses an Aramaic term of contempt: If you
say to your brother, ‘Raca.’ 5:22c Greek if you say, ‘You fool.’
5:22d Greek Gehenna; also in 5:29, 30. 5:23 Greek gift; also in
5:24. 5:26 Greek the last kodrantes [i.e., quadrans]. 5:27 Exod
20:14; Deut 5:18.
Matt 4:25
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good
is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it
salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled
underfoot as worthless.
14
“You are the light of the world—like a city on
a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a
lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead,
a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light
to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let
your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that
everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
1112
Mark 15
PG 1188
FLYOVER
PG 1156
DIRECT
PG 1156
SCENIC
15:1-47
15:1-47
15:1-47
40
173
313
The Death of Jesus
The climax of the big story has come. God’s plan to bring his people back to himself is about to unfold. After three years of ministry, Jesus knows he is about to
give the world the greatest gift of ­all—​­himself. His body will be the sacrifice, once
and forever, to save people from their sins. He has come to earth as a human
in order to be among his people and restore a right relationship with them. His
life and ministry has drawn them close and built their understanding and faith
in God. But his death begins to reveal his ultimate purpose in becoming human.
68
But Pe­ter denied it. “I d
­ on’t know what
you’re talking about,” he said, and he went
out into the entryway. Just then, a rooster
crowed.*
Mark 14:53
The Home of the High Priest
The home of Caiaphas was located in the
southwestern corner of Jerusalem, about
a mile across the city from the garden of
Gethsemane. The rooms of the two-story
buildings overlooked a central courtyard,
which was spacious enough to accommodate
a large group like the seventy-one members
of the Sanhedrin (Jewish high council), who
gathered there in secret. The next day the
Sanhedrin and Caiaphas held an official
trial.
Jesus’ Trial before Pilate
15
Very early in the morning the leading
priests, the elders, and the teachers of
religious l­ aw—​­the entire high council*—​­met to
discuss their next step. They bound ­Jesus, led
him away, and took him to Pi­late, the Ro­man
governor.
2
Pi­late asked J­ esus, “Are you the king of the
J­ ews?”
­Jesus replied, “You have said it.”
3
Then the leading priests kept accusing him
of many crimes, 4 and Pi­late asked him, “­Aren’t
you going to answer them? What about all these
charges they are bringing against you?” 5 But
­Jesus said nothing, much to Pi­late’s surprise.
6
Now it was the governor’s custom each
year during the Passover celebration to release
one p
­ risoner—​­anyone the people requested.
7
One of the prisoners at that time was Bar­ab­
bas, a revolutionary who had committed mur­
der in an uprising. 8 The crowd went to Pi­late
and asked him to release a prisoner as usual.
9
“Would you like me to release to you this
‘King of the J­ ews’?” Pi­late asked. 10 (For he re­
alized by now that the leading priests had ar­
rested J­ esus out of envy.) 11 But at this point the
leading priests stirred up the crowd to demand
the release of Bar­ab­bas instead of ­Jesus. 12 Pi­
late asked them, “Then what should I do with
this man you call the king of the ­Jews?”
13
They shouted back, “Crucify him!”
14
“Why?” Pi­late demanded. “What crime
has he committed?”
But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify
him!”
When the servant girl saw him standing
there, she began telling the others, “This man
is definitely one of them!” 70 But Pe­ter denied
it again.
A little later some of the other bystanders
confronted Pe­ter and said, “You must be one
of them, because you are a Gal­i­le­an.”
71
Pe­ter swore, “A curse on me if I’m ­lying—​
I­ d
­ on’t know this man you’re talking about!”
72
And immediately the rooster crowed the sec­
ond time.
Suddenly, ­Jesus’ words flashed through Pe­
ter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows twice,
you will deny three times that you even know
me.” And he broke down and wept.
69
14:68 Some manuscripts do not include Just then, a rooster crowed. 15:1 Greek the Sanhedrin; also in 15:43. Mark 151113
PG
11
58
PG
11
58
PG
11
58
Observation Point
Exploration Point
Crucifixion was a widespread Roman punishment for
military and political offenders, particularly slaves,
rebels, and insurrectionists. The sheer cruelty and
public spectacle of crucifixion worked as a powerful
social deterrent. Victims were flogged and then crucified naked, adding to the humiliation. It was seen as
the most painful of possible deaths, involving intense
suffering, exposure to weather and insects, and suffocation. The cross consisted of a vertical post in the
ground, with a horizontal crossbeam often attached.
A person was either affixed to the beams with ropes
or, as with Jesus, nails between the bones of the
wrists.
15
So to pacify the crowd, Pi­late released Bar­
ab­bas to them. He ordered J­ esus flogged with a
­lead-​­tipped whip, then turned him over to the
Ro­man soldiers to be crucified.
We can hardly comprehend the agony Christ endured
on the cross for ­us—​­rejection, mockery, harassment,
torture, humiliation, isolation. In addition to the
physical and mental anguish, Jesus also suffered
the unimaginable pain of taking on our sin. We all
have experienced suffering, but Christ’s suffering
for the entire world was infinitely greater. He knows
every aspect of suffering. He has endured it himself.
Through his death, Jesus not only secured forgiveness for our sins, he also demonstrated decisively
that he shares in our ­suffering—​­regardless of what
it may be.
29
The people passing by shouted abuse,
shaking their heads in mockery. “Ha! Look at
you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you
were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild
it in three days. 30 Well then, save yourself and
come down from the cross!”
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
The soldiers took ­Jesus into the courtyard of
the governor’s head­quarters (called the Prae­
to­ri­um) and called out the entire regiment.
17
They dressed him in a purple robe, and they
wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on
his head. 18 Then they saluted him and taunted,
“Hail! King of the ­Jews!” 19 And they struck him
on the head with a reed stick, spit on him,
and dropped to their knees in mock worship.
20
When they were finally tired of mocking him,
they took off the purple robe and put his own
clothes on him again. Then they led him away
to be crucified.
16
The Crucifixion
A passerby named Si­mon, who was from
Cy­re­ne,* was coming in from the countryside
just then, and the soldiers forced him to carry
­Jesus’ cross. (Si­mon was the father of Al­ex­an­
der and Ru­fus.) 22 And they brought ­Jesus to a
place called Gol­go­tha (which means “Place of
the Skull”). 23 They offered him wine drugged
with myrrh, but he refused it.
24
Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross.
They divided his clothes and threw dice* to
decide who would get each piece. 25 It was nine
o’clock in the morning when they crucified
him. 26 A sign announced the charge against
him. It read, “The King of the ­Jews.” 27 Two
revolutionaries* were crucified with him, one
on his right and one on his left.*
21
31
The leading priests and teachers of re­
ligious law also mocked ­Jesus. “He saved
others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save him­
self! 32 Let this Messiah, this King of Is­ra­el,
come down from the cross so we can see it and
15:21 Cyrene was a city in northern Africa. 15:24 Greek cast lots.
See Ps 22:18. 15:27a Or Two criminals. 15:27b Some manuscripts
add verse 28, And the Scripture was fulfilled that said, “He was
counted among those who were rebels.” See Isa 53:12; also compare
Luke 22:37. Mark 15:22
Golgotha
Golgotha is a Greek transliteration of the
Hebrew word gulgoleth, which means “skull.”
It was the name given to the hill where
Jesus was led to be crucified. It is uncertain
whether this place got its name because
it was a place of death or because the hill
physically resembled a skull. In Jesus’ day
Golgotha lay outside the city limits—the
standard place for executions and for
outcasts of society—near the Jerusalem’s
northwestern wall. Herod Agrippa I later
enlarged the city and extended its wall to
include this area, which is inside modern
Jerusalem at the Church of the Holy
Sepulchre.
1114
Mark 16
believe him!” Even the men who were crucified
with ­Jesus ridiculed him.
The Death of Jesus
At noon, darkness fell across the whole land
until three o’clock. 34 Then at three o’clock J­ esus
called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema
sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God,
why have you abandoned me?”*
35
Some of the bystanders misunderstood
and thought he was calling for the prophet Eli­
jah. 36 One of them ran and filled a sponge with
sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick
so he could drink. “Wait!” he said. “Let’s see
whether Eli­jah c­ omes to take him down!”
37
Then ­Jesus uttered another loud cry and
breathed his last. 38 And the curtain in the
sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from
top to bottom.
39
When the Ro­man officer* who stood fac­
ing him* saw how he had died, he exclaimed,
“This man truly was the Son of God!”
40
Some women were there, watching from
a distance, including Mary M
­ ag­da­lene, Mary
(the mother of James the younger and of Jo­
seph*), and Sa­lo­me. 41 They had been follow­
ers of J­ esus and had cared for him while he was
in Gal­i­lee. Many other women who had come
with him to Je­ru­sa­lem were also there.
33
Then he took ­Jesus’ body down from the cross,
wrapped it in the cloth, and laid it in a tomb
that had been carved out of the rock. Then he
rolled a stone in front of the entrance. 47 Mary
­Mag­da­lene and Mary the mother of Jo­seph saw
where J­ esus’ body was laid.
The Resurrection
16
Saturday evening, when the Sab­bath
Mag­
da­
lene, Mary the
ended, Mary ­
mother of James, and Sa­lo­me went out and
purchased burial spices so they could anoint
­Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on Sunday morning,*
just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. 3 On the
way they were asking each other, “Who will
roll away the stone for us from the entrance to
the tomb?” 4 But as they arrived, they looked up
and saw that the stone, which was very large,
had already been rolled aside.
5
When they entered the tomb, they saw
a young man clothed in a white robe sitting
on the right side. The women were shocked,
6
but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You
are looking for ­Jesus of Naz­a­reth,* who was
crucified. He ­isn’t here! He is risen from the
dead! Look, this is where they laid his body.
7
Now go and tell his disciples, including Pe­ter,
that J­ esus is going ahead of you to Gal­il­ ee. You
will see him there, just as he told you before
he died.”
8
The women fled from the tomb, trembling
and bewildered, and they said nothing to any­
one because they were too frightened.*
Mark 15:42–16:1
Ancient Burial Practices
The tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathea had
not been used at the time of Christ’s death.
It was a hole chiseled out of the stone cliff in
the burial area, which was about fifty yards
from Golgotha. The Jews did not use caskets
or embalm their dead; the burial spices only
alleviated the stench of a decomposing body.
They wrapped the body in cloths and spices
and placed it on a ledge inside the tomb. A
large stone, weighing one to three tons, was
rolled in front of the tomb’s opening with the
help of gravity and a sloping groove.
[The most ancient manuscripts of Mark
conclude with verse 16:8. Later manuscripts
add one or both of the following endings.]
[Shorter Ending of Mark]
Then they briefly reported all this to Pe­ter and
his companions. Afterward J­ esus himself sent
them out from east to west with the sa­cred and
unfailing message of salvation that gives eter­
nal life. Amen.
[Longer Ending of Mark]
After J­esus rose from the dead early on Sun­
day morning, the first person who saw him
was Mary ­Mag­da­lene, the woman from whom
he had cast out seven demons. 10 She went to
the disciples, who were grieving and weeping,
and told them what had happened. 11 But when
she told them that J­ esus was alive and she had
seen him, they d
­ idn’t believe her.
9
The Burial of Jesus
This all happened on Friday, the day of prep­
aration,* the day before the Sab­bath. As eve­
ning approached, 43 Jo­seph of Ar­i­ma­thea took
a risk and went to Pi­late and asked for J­esus’
body. (Jo­seph was an honored member of the
high council, and he was waiting for the King­
dom of God to come.) 44 Pi­late couldn’t believe
that J­esus was already dead, so he called for
the Ro­man officer and asked if he had died yet.
45
The officer confirmed that ­Jesus was dead,
so Pi­late told Jo­seph he could have the body.
46
Jo­seph bought a long sheet of linen cloth.
42
15:34 Ps 22:1. 15:39a Greek the centurion; similarly in 15:44, 45. 15:39b Some manuscripts add heard his cry and. 15:40 Greek
Joses; also in 15:47. See Matt 27:56. 15:42 Greek It was the day
of preparation. 16:2 Greek on the first day of the week; also
in 16:9. 16:6 Or Jesus the Nazarene. 16:8 The most reliable
early manuscripts of the Gospel of Mark end at verse 8. Other
manuscripts include various endings to the Gospel. A few include
both the “shorter ending” and the “longer ending.” The majority of
manuscripts include the “longer ending” immediately after verse 8. Mark 161115
12
Afterward he appeared in a different form
to two of his followers who were walking from
Je­ru­sa­lem into the country. 13 They rushed back
to tell the others, but no one believed them.
14
Still later he appeared to the eleven dis­
ciples as they were eating together. He rebuked
them for their stubborn unbelief because they
refused to believe those who had seen him after
he had been raised from the dead.*
15
And then he told them, “Go into all the
world and preach the Good News to every­one.
16
Anyone who believes and is baptized will be
saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will
be condemned. 17 These miraculous signs will
accompany those who believe: They will cast
out demons in my name, and they will speak in
new languages.* 18 They will be able to handle
snakes with safety, and if they drink anything
poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be
able to place their hands on the sick, and they
will be healed.”
19
When the Lord ­Jesus had finished talking
with them, he was taken up into heaven and
sat down in the place of honor at God’s right
hand. 20 And the disciples went every­where
and preached, and the Lord worked through
them, confirming what they said by many mi­
raculous signs.
16:14 Some early manuscripts add: And they excused themselves,
saying, “This age of lawlessness and unbelief is under Satan,
who does not permit God’s truth and power to conquer the evil
[unclean] spirits. Therefore, reveal your justice now.” This is what
they said to Christ. And Christ replied to them, “The period of years
of Satan’s power has been fulfilled, but other dreadful things will
happen soon. And I was handed over to death for those who have
sinned, so that they may return to the truth and sin no more, and
so they may inherit the spiritual, incorruptible, and righteous glory
in heaven.” 16:17 Or new tongues; some manuscripts do not
include new. 1118
LUKE 1
PG 1044
FLYOVER
PG 1044
DIRECT
PG 1044
SCENIC
1:5-56
1:5-56
1:5-56
33
140
267
TWO BIRTHS FORETOLD
Thousands of years of waiting are about to end. In the big story, God promised
to restore his relationship with his people. He continued to remind his people
of his promise over and over again. Now it is about to be fulfilled in a matter of
months. At first only a few individuals know what is coming. The angel Gabriel
first brings great news to Elizabeth and Zechariah—they will have a son whose
name will be John. Gabriel then visits Mary, declaring that she also will have a
son, who will be called the Son of the Most High.
INTRODUCTION
1
Many people have set out to write accounts
about the events that have been fulfilled
among us. 2 They used the eyewitness reports
circulating among us from the early disciples.*
3
Having carefully investigated everything from
the beginning, I also have decided to write a
careful account for you, most honorable Theophilus, 4 so you can be certain of the truth of
everything you were taught.
THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
FORETOLD
When Herod was king of Judea, there was
a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a
member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his
wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line
of Aaron. 6 Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the
Lord’s commandments and regulations. 7 They
had no children because Elizabeth was unable
to conceive, and they were both very old.
8
One day Zechariah was serving God in the
Temple, for his order was on duty that week.
9
As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord
and burn incense. 10 While the incense was
being burned, a great crowd stood outside,
praying.
11
While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an
angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to
the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah was
shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he
saw him. 13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid,
Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your
wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you
are to name him John. 14 You will have great
42_Luke.indd 1118
5
joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at
his birth, 15 for he will be great in the eyes of
the Lord. He must never touch wine or other
alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the
Holy Spirit, even before his birth.* 16 And he
will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God.
17
He will be a man with the spirit and power of
Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the
fathers to their children,* and he will cause
those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom
of the godly.”
18
Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I
be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now,
and my wife is also well along in years.”
19
Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand
in the very presence of God. It was he who sent
me to bring you this good news! 20 But now,
since you didn’t believe what I said, you will
be silent and unable to speak until the child is
born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at
the proper time.”
21
Meanwhile, the people were waiting for
Zechariah to come out of the sanctuary, wondering why he was taking so long. 22 When
he finally did come out, he couldn’t speak to
them. Then they realized from his gestures and
his silence that he must have seen a vision in
the sanctuary.
23
When Zechariah’s week of service in the
Temple was over, he returned home. 24 Soon
afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months.
25
“How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He
has taken away my disgrace of having no
children.”
1:2 Greek from those who from the beginning were servants of the
word. 1:15 Or even from birth. 1:17 See Mal 4:5-6.
9/24/2013 12:24:02 PM
PG
11
22
48
10
PG
48
10
PG
OBSERVATION POINT
1119
EXPLORATION POINT
Although Mary was probably in her early teens, she
revealed her maturity and faith in God through her
song of praise. This psalm came to be known as the
Magnificat, from the first word in the Latin translation
of this passage. Some English translations render
the opening line as “My soul magnifies the Lord,”
reflecting this Latin root. This poem expresses Mary’s
great joy at being chosen as the mother of the Messiah and celebrates God’s faithfulness and mercy
to his people.
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy,
God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She
was engaged to be married to a man named
Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel
appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored
woman! The Lord is with you!*”
29
Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to
think what the angel could mean. 30 “Don’t
be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you
have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive
and give birth to a son, and you will name
him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be
called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God
will give him the throne of his ancestor David.
33
And he will reign over Israel* forever; his
Kingdom will never end!”
34
Mary asked the angel, “But how can this
happen? I am a virgin.”
35
The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will
come upon you, and the power of the Most
High will overshadow you. So the baby to be
born will be holy, and he will be called the Son
of God. 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth
has become pregnant in her old age! People
used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month.
37
For the word of God will never fail.*”
38
Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant.
May everything you have said about me come
true.” And then the angel left her.
Jesus’ conception was miraculous. We know no
details of how this occurred, only that the power
of the Most High came upon Mary and she became
pregnant, carrying Jesus in her womb in an otherwise normal pregnancy. The Virgin Birth is a critical
belief of the Christian faith. We believe that Jesus is
completely human and yet fully God. Mary conceived
and gave birth to the Son of God so that God could
truly become one of us and restore his relationship
with his people. The virgin birth remains a mystery
in some ways, but there is no mystery about its
importance.
PG 1040
THE BIRTH OF JESUS FORETOLD
26
A few days later Mary hurried to the hill
country of Judea, to the town 40 where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted
THE MAGNIFICAT: MARY’S SONG
OF PRAISE
47
49
50
51
52
PG 1120
MARY VISITS ELIZABETH
39
48
b | SONGS | 1:46-55
PG 679
Mary responded,
46
PG 1441
Elizabeth. 41 At the sound of Mary’s greeting,
Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42
Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to
Mary, “God has blessed you above all women,
and your child is blessed. 43 Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit
me? 44 When I heard your greeting, the baby
in my womb jumped for joy. 45 You are blessed
because you believed that the Lord would do
what he said.”
a | THE MESSIAH | 1:26-56
42_Luke.indd 1119
LUKE 1
“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
How my spirit rejoices in God
my Savior!
For he took notice of his lowly
servant girl,
and from now on all generations will
call me blessed.
For the Mighty One is holy,
and he has done great things for me.
He shows mercy from generation to
generation
to all who fear him.
His mighty arm has done tremendous
things!
He has scattered the proud and haughty
ones.
He has brought down princes from their
thrones
and exalted the humble.
1:28 Some manuscripts add Blessed are you among women.
1:33 Greek over the house of Jacob. 1:37 Some manuscripts read
For nothing is impossible with God.
9/24/2013 12:24:14 PM
1120
LUKE 1
PG 1048
1:57-80
SCENIC
269
THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
The birth of John, the son of Elizabeth and Zechariah, is an occasion for celebration. Everyone rejoices with them for several reasons: It is their first child, it is
a son, and the baby and mother are healthy. Elizabeth had thought that she was
barren, so the blessing of a son in her old age is even more reason to praise God.
This child will become a mighty prophet, preparing the way for the long-awaited
Messiah.
53
68
He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away with empty
hands.
He has helped his servant Israel
and remembered to be merciful.
For he made this promise to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his children forever.”
54
55
69
70
71
56
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three
months and then went back to her own home.
PG 1119
THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
72
57
When it was time for Elizabeth’s baby to be
born, she gave birth to a son. 58 And when her
neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord
had been very merciful to her, everyone rejoiced with her.
59
When the baby was eight days old, they
all came for the circumcision ceremony. They
wanted to name him Zechariah, after his father.
60
But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John!”
61
“What?” they exclaimed. “There is no one
in all your family by that name.” 62 So they
used gestures to ask the baby’s father what he
wanted to name him. 63 He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote,
“His name is John.” 64 Instantly Zechariah
could speak again, and he began praising God.
65
Awe fell upon the whole neighborhood,
and the news of what had happened spread
throughout the Judean hills. 66 Everyone who
heard about it reflected on these events and
asked, “What will this child turn out to be?”
For the hand of the Lord was surely upon him
in a special way.
74
a | SONGS | 1:57-80
73
75
76
77
PG 1123
78
79
“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has visited and redeemed his
people.
He has sent us a mighty Savior*
from the royal line of his servant David,
just as he promised
through his holy prophets long ago.
Now we will be saved from our enemies
and from all who hate us.
He has been merciful to our ancestors
by remembering his sacred covenant—
the covenant he swore with an oath
to our ancestor Abraham.
We have been rescued from our enemies
so we can serve God without fear,
in holiness and righteousness
for as long as we live.
“And you, my little son,
will be called the prophet of the
Most High,
because you will prepare the way for
the Lord.
You will tell his people how to find
salvation
through forgiveness of their sins.
Because of God’s tender mercy,
the morning light from heaven is about
to break upon us,*
to give light to those who sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
and to guide us to the path of peace.”
80
John grew up and became strong in spirit.
And he lived in the wilderness until he began
his public ministry to Israel.
1:69 Greek has raised up a horn of salvation for us.
Morning Light from Heaven is about to visit us.
1:78 Or the
ZECHARIAH’S PROPHECY
67
Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with
the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy:
42_Luke.indd 1120
9/24/2013 12:24:15 PM
1121
LUKE 1
PG 1122
OBSERVATION POINT
EXPLORATION POINT
Traditionally, a firstborn son was named after his
father. Although Elizabeth announced that the child’s
name would be John, the people turned to Zechariah
for his opinion. Since he had been stricken mute,
Zechariah confirmed his son’s name in writing.
Zechariah’s obedience to the angel Gabriel (see 1:13)
confirmed his faith, and his voice was restored. The
circumstances of John’s birth and his unusual name
gave the people throughout the region something
to talk about!
Old Testament
EXODUS
12:46
NUMBERS
DEUTERONOMY
9:12
24:8
7:11-12
8:2
16:10
22:7-8
22:15
22:16
22:18
31:5
34:20
41:9
45:7
69:8
69:9
69:21
72:10
110:1
118:22
118:22-23
119:139
132:11
PROPHECIES OF THE MESSIAH
The Gospels record many of the prophecies that
Jesus fulfilled. These prophecies had first been
written in the Jewish Scriptures, which Christians call the Old Testament. In fulfilling these
prophecies, the Gospel writers believed there
was no doubt: Jesus was the Savior of the world.
18:15, 18-19
2 SAMUEL
PSALMS
This story again shows that God is faithful to his
promises and answers prayers. As a faithful priest,
Zechariah probably prayed for the Messiah of Israel
to come; as a faithful husband he would have prayed
for a child for his family. Zechariah’s song of praise
explained the significance of John’s birth and the
role he would play in announcing the Lord’s coming. In a few months another baby would be born:
Jesus Christ, who would bring “light to those who
sit in darkness.”
See page 1459 for a complete listing of prophecies.
New Testament
rejected by his
own people
PS 118:22
MATTHEW
1:22-23
2:5-6
2:11
2:15
2:17-18
3:1-3
4:13-16
8:16-17
12:17-21
13:10-15
21:16
21:42
21:4-5
26:3-4
26:14-16, 47-50
26:31,56
26:37-38
26:67
27:9-10
27:12-14
27:26,30
27:34, 48
27:35
27:36
27:38
27:39-44
27:57-60
28:2-7
ISAIAH
6:9-10
7:14
9:1-2
9:6-7
11:2
16:5
40:3-5
42:1-3, 6-7
50:6
53:1, 3
53:3
53:4
53:5-6, 8, 10-12
53:7
53:9
53:12
60:1-3
60:3-6
61:2
JEREMIAH
DANIEL
HOSEA
MICAH
ZECHARIAH
MALACHI
42_Luke.indd 1121
23:5
31:15
2:44
7:14, 27
11:1
would die as a
sacrifice for sin
ISA 53:5-6, 8, 10-12
14:65
15:3-4
15:25
15:27-28
15:29-32
16:19
1:31-32
1:31-34
1:33
1:76-78
2:4-6
3:3-6
4:18-19
23:8-10
22:19-23
22:37
23:11, 35
23:34
23:46
born in Bethlehem
MIC 5:2
1:11
1:29
2:13-17
7:5
7:40
11:49-52
12:12-16
12:37-43
19:23-24
19:28
19:28-30
19:33-36
19:34, 37
20:25-27
hands and feet
would be pierced
ZECH 12:10
5:2
9:9
11:12-13
12:10
13:7
2:22-32
4:1-12
10:43
13:38-39
13:47
3:1
MARK
LUKE
JOHN
ACTS
Dots indicate number of relevant prophetic passages.
9/24/2013 12:24:15 PM
1122
LUKE 2
PG 1118
FLYOVER
PG 1048
DIRECT
PG 1120
SCENIC
2:1-52
2:1-52
2:1-52
34
142
270
THE BIRTH OF JESUS
Every event so far in the big story has been leading up to the greatest event in
history. The moment that millions waited for is here. These people lived their
entire lives waiting for God’s promise to come true, but they died still hoping that
the Promised One would come. Now the time is right for the birth of a King who
will save the world. Yet there are no trumpets, no fanfares, no feasts to mark
the occasion. The King of kings is born in an ordinary place when everyone is too
busy to notice. Only some shepherds know that something special has occurred.
THE BIRTH OF JESUS
2
15
When the angels had returned to heaven,
the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to
Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16
They hurried to the village and found Mary
and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in
the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds
told everyone what had happened and what
the angel had said to them about this child.
18
All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in
her heart and thought about them often. 20 The
shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying
and praising God for all they had heard and
seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken
throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the
first census taken when Quirinius was governor
of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral
towns to register for this census. 4 And because
Joseph was a descendant of King David, he
had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village
of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary,
his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant.
6
And while they were there, the time came
for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her
first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in
strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
THE SHEPHERDS AND ANGELS
8
That night there were shepherds staying in
the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of
sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the
Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be
afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that
will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—
yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born
today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And
you will recognize him by this sign: You will
find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth,
lying in a manger.”
13
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast
host of others—the armies of heaven—praising
God and saying,
JESUS IS PRESENTED IN THE TEMPLE
21
Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given
him by the angel even before he was conceived.
22
Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after
the birth of a child; so his parents took him to
Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. 23 The law
of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a
boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord.”* 24 So
they offered the sacrifice required in the law of
the Lord—“either a pair of turtledoves or two
young pigeons.”*
14
“Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom
God is pleased.”
42_Luke.indd 1122
THE PROPHECY OF SIMEON
25
At that time there was a man in Jerusalem
named Simeon. He was righteous and devout
and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to
come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was
upon him 26 and had revealed to him that he
would not die until he had seen the Lord’s
Messiah. 27 That day the Spirit led him to the
2:23 Exod 13:2.
2:24 Lev 12:8.
9/24/2013 12:24:36 PM
52
10
PG
50
10
PG
50
10
PG
OBSERVATION POINT
Determined to restore his relationship with his creation and show his love for his people, God sent his
Son to earth. Jesus Christ was the King of kings,
but he did not enter on a charging white stallion or
in a chariot preceded by a hundred foot soldiers.
He came as a lowly, dependent infant. From these
humble beginnings he grew to become part of the
everyday world, building a relationship with others
on love, not fear; on fellowship, not power.
Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to
present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law
required, 28 Simeon was there. He took the
child in his arms and praised God, saying,
MARY AND JOSEPH’S JOURNEY
TO BETHLEHEM
31
32
33
Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was
being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed
them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother,
“This child is destined to cause many in Israel
to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He
has been sent as a sign from God, but many
will oppose him. 35 As a result, the deepest
thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And
a sword will pierce your very soul.”
Luke 2:4-5
The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem
takes about two hours today by car. Two
thousand years ago, the same journey, a
ninety-mile trip, would have taken as long as
two weeks. Joseph and Mary would have had
to traverse hilly, rocky terrain as they made
their way south. Bethlehem, a small town
five miles south of Jerusalem, sits on a ridge
2,000 feet above sea level.
“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die
in peace,
as you have promised.
I have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared for all people.
He is a light to reveal God to the nations,
and he is the glory of your people Israel!”
30
1123
EXPLORATION POINT
Natural and man-made caves are common in the Holy
Land because of the deposits of limestone, chalk,
and sandstone found in the hills of the region. These
minerals are relatively soft, making it easy to enlarge
existing caves and carve out new ones. Throughout
biblical history, caves were used as living quarters
for humans and animals, places of refuge during war,
or final resting places for the dead. It is possible
that the stable used for shelter for Mary, Joseph,
and Jesus was a cave located behind the inn, used
to shelter animals.
29
LUKE 2
PG 1120
home to Nazareth in Galilee. 40 There the child
grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with
wisdom, and God’s favor was on him.
36
Anna, a prophet, was also there in the
Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from
the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her
husband died when they had been married
only seven years. 37 Then she lived as a widow
to the age of eighty-four.* She never left the
Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. 38 She
came along just as Simeon was talking with
Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God.
She talked about the child to everyone who
had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.
39
When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned
a | SONGS | 2:25-35
THE PROPHECY OF ANNA
42_Luke.indd 1123
PG 1309
Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem
for the Passover festival. 42 When Jesus was
twelve years old, they attended the festival as
usual. 43 After the celebration was over, they
started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him
at first, 44 because they assumed he was among
the other travelers. But when he didn’t show
up that evening, they started looking for him
among their relatives and friends.
45
When they couldn’t find him, they went
back to Jerusalem to search for him there.
46
Three days later they finally discovered him
in the Temple, sitting among the religious
teachers, listening to them and asking questions. 47 All who heard him were amazed at his
understanding and his answers.
JESUS SPEAKS WITH THE TEACHERS
41
2:37 Or She had been a widow for eighty-four years.
9/24/2013 12:24:37 PM
1124
LUKE 3
PG 1164
DIRECT
PG 1164
SCENIC
3:1-20
3:1-20
145
273
JOHN THE BAPTIST PREPARES THE WAY
John lives a solitary life in the wilderness before he begins his ministry as a
prophet. He calls the people to repent of their sins and turn back to God, just as
the Old Testament prophets had done for the kingdoms of Israel and Judah long
ago. He announces that the Lord is coming soon.
48
His parents didn’t know what to think.
“Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you
done this to us? Your father and I have been
frantic, searching for you everywhere.”
49
“But why did you need to search?” he
asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my
Father’s house?”* 50 But they didn’t understand
what he meant.
51
Then he returned to Nazareth with them
and was obedient to them. And his mother
stored all these things in her heart.
52
Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in
favor with God and all the people.
JOHN THE BAPTIST PREPARES THE WAY
3
It was now the fifteenth year of the reign of
Tiberius, the Roman emperor. Pontius Pilate was governor over Judea; Herod Antipas
was ruler* over Galilee; his brother Philip was
ruler* over Iturea and Traconitis; Lysanias was
ruler over Abilene. 2 Annas and Caiaphas were
the high priests. At this time a message from
God came to John son of Zechariah, who was
living in the wilderness. 3 Then John went from
place to place on both sides of the Jordan River,
preaching that people should be baptized to
show that they had repented of their sins and
turned to God to be forgiven. 4 Isaiah had spoken of John when he said,
 5
 6
“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!
Clear the road for him!
The valleys will be filled,
and the mountains and hills made level.
The curves will be straightened,
and the rough places made smooth.
And then all people will see
the salvation sent from God.’”*
7
When the crowds came to John for baptism,
he said, “You brood of snakes! Who warned
42_Luke.indd 1124
you to flee God’s coming wrath? 8 Prove by the
way you live that you have repented of your
sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each
other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of
Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you,
God can create children of Abraham from
these very stones. 9 Even now the ax of God’s
judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of
the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce
good fruit will be chopped down and thrown
into the fire.”
10
The crowds asked, “What should we do?”
11
John replied, “If you have two shirts, give
one to the poor. If you have food, share it with
those who are hungry.”
12
Even corrupt tax collectors came to be
baptized and asked, “Teacher, what should
we do?”
13
He replied, “Collect no more taxes than the
government requires.”
14
“What should we do?” asked some soldiers.
John replied, “Don’t extort money or make
false accusations. And be content with your
pay.”
15
Everyone was expecting the Messiah to
come soon, and they were eager to know
whether John might be the Messiah. 16 John
answered their questions by saying, “I baptize you with* water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much
greater that I’m not even worthy to be his
slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He
will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with
fire.* 17 He is ready to separate the chaff from
the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he
will clean up the threshing area, gathering
the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff
with never- ending fire.” 18 John used many
2:49 Or “Didn’t you realize that I should be involved with my Father’s
affairs?” 3:1a Greek Herod was tetrarch. Herod Antipas was a son
of King Herod. 3:1b Greek tetrarch; also in 3:1c. 3:4-6 Isa 40:3-5
(Greek version). 3:16a Or in. 3:16b Or in the Holy Spirit and in fire.
9/24/2013 12:24:39 PM
52
10
PG
52
10
PG
LUKE 3
OBSERVATION POINT
1125
EXPLORATION POINT
John wore clothes made from coarse camel hair
gathered around his waist with a leather belt. He
survived by eating locusts and wild honey. His clothes
were reminiscent of the garments that the prophet
Elijah wore (2 Kings 1:8), and his practice of baptizing
his followers may have originated with Old Testament
purification rites (Leviticus 8:6).
John’s preaching and call to repentance prepared the
hearts and minds of the Jews to believe that Jesus
was the Messiah. Many Jews relied on their traditions and ancestry to save them. They needed time
to change their thinking and prepare themselves
for the way of salvation. Today the Holy Spirit does
this preparatory work, opening people’s hearts and
minds to receive faith and to believe in Jesus and
his holy Word.
such warnings as he announced the Good
News to the people.
19
John also publicly criticized Herod Antipas,
the ruler of Galilee,* for marrying Herodias, his
brother’s wife, and for many other wrongs he
had done. 20 So Herod put John in prison, adding this sin to his many others.
THE JUDEAN WILDERNESS
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
21
One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was
praying, the heavens opened, 22 and the Holy
Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a
dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are
my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great
joy.*”
Luke 3:2
John lived in the Judean wilderness, an
area between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea.
Most of this territory was barren, desolate,
and sparsely populated. John ministered
to people who came looking for him. They
desired to separate themselves from others
so much that they went to the Judean
wilderness to confess their sins and be
baptized.
28
THE ANCESTORS OF JESUS
23
Jesus was about thirty years old when he
began his public ministry.
24
25
26
27
Jesus was known as the son of Joseph.
Joseph was the son of Heli.
Heli was the son of Matthat.
Matthat was the son of Levi.
Levi was the son of Melki.
Melki was the son of Jannai.
Jannai was the son of Joseph.
Joseph was the son of Mattathias.
Mattathias was the son of Amos.
Amos was the son of Nahum.
Nahum was the son of Esli.
Esli was the son of Naggai.
Naggai was the son of Maath.
Maath was the son of Mattathias.
Mattathias was the son of Semein.
Semein was the son of Josech.
Josech was the son of Joda.
Joda was the son of Joanan.
Joanan was the son of Rhesa.
Rhesa was the son of Zerubbabel.
42_Luke.indd 1125
29
30
31
32
Zerubbabel was the son of Shealtiel.
Shealtiel was the son of Neri.
Neri was the son of Melki.
Melki was the son of Addi.
Addi was the son of Cosam.
Cosam was the son of Elmadam.
Elmadam was the son of Er.
Er was the son of Joshua.
Joshua was the son of Eliezer.
Eliezer was the son of Jorim.
Jorim was the son of Matthat.
Matthat was the son of Levi.
Levi was the son of Simeon.
Simeon was the son of Judah.
Judah was the son of Joseph.
Joseph was the son of Jonam.
Jonam was the son of Eliakim.
Eliakim was the son of Melea.
Melea was the son of Menna.
Menna was the son of Mattatha.
Mattatha was the son of Nathan.
Nathan was the son of David.
David was the son of Jesse.
Jesse was the son of Obed.
Obed was the son of Boaz.
3:19 Greek Herod the tetrarch. 3:22 Some manuscripts read my
Son, and today I have become your Father.
9/24/2013 12:24:39 PM
1158
LUKE 23
PG 1112
FLYOVER
PG 1112
DIRECT
PG 1112
SCENIC
24:1-12
24:1-12
24:1-12
41
174
314
THE RESURRECTION
Three agonizing days pass (Friday evening, all day Saturday, and early Sunday
morning). For three days Satan thinks he is victorious. Jesus is dead and out of
the way. Then the most spectacular event takes place—Jesus shows up alive!
The big story is not over. God’s plan ends in victory, not death. Jesus has conquered the powers of death and hell, not just for himself but for everyone! The
barrier between God and his people has been shattered; sin is defeated!
PG 1148
thoroughly on this point in your presence and
find him innocent. 15 Herod came to the same
conclusion and sent him back to us. Nothing
this man has done calls for the death penalty.
16
So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him.”*
18
Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd,
and with one voice they shouted, “Kill him,
and release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas was
in prison for taking part in an insurrection in
Jerusalem against the government, and for
murder.) 20 Pilate argued with them, because he
wanted to release Jesus. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
22
For the third time he demanded, “Why?
What crime has he committed? I have found
no reason to sentence him to death. So I will
have him flogged, and then I will release
him.”
23
But the mob shouted louder and louder,
demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their
voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate sentenced Jesus
to die as they demanded. 25 As they had requested, he released Bar abbas, the man
in prison for insurrection and murder. But
he turned Jesus over to them to do as they
wished.
THE CRUCIFIXION
26
As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon,
who was from Cyrene,* happened to be coming
in from the countryside. The soldiers seized
him and put the cross on him and made him
carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large crowd trailed
behind, including many grief-stricken women.
28
But Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep
for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the
days are coming when they will say, ‘Fortunate
indeed are the women who are childless, the
42_Luke.indd 1158
PG 1188
b | AFTERLIFE | 23:32-43
wombs that have not borne a child and the
breasts that have never nursed.’ 30 People will
beg the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and plead with
the hills, ‘Bury us.’* 31 For if these things are
done when the tree is green, what will happen
when it is dry?*”
32
Two others, both criminals, were led out to
be executed with him. 33 When they came to a
place called The Skull,* they nailed him to the
cross. And the criminals were also crucified—
one on his right and one on his left.
34
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they
don’t know what they are doing.”* And the
soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing
dice.*
35
The crowd watched and the leaders
scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him
save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the
Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers mocked him, too,
by offering him a drink of sour wine. 37 They
called out to him, “If you are the King of the
Jews, save yourself!” 38 A sign was fastened
above him with these words: “This is the King
of the Jews.”
39
One of the criminals hanging beside him
scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove
it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re
at it!”
40
But the other criminal protested, “Don’t
you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our
crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything
wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me
when you come into your Kingdom.”
23:16 Some manuscripts add verse 17, Now it was necessary for
him to release one prisoner to them during the Passover celebration.
Compare Matt 27:15; Mark 15:6; John 18:39. 23:26 Cyrene was a
city in northern Africa. 23:30 Hos 10:8. 23:31 Or If these things
are done to me, the living tree, what will happen to you, the dry tree?
23:33 Sometimes rendered Calvary, which comes from the Latin word
for “skull.” 23:34a This sentence is not included in many ancient
manuscripts. 23:34b Greek by casting lots. See Ps 22:18.
9/24/2013 12:24:40 PM
PG
11
98
PG
11
94
1159
LUKE 24
PG 1160
OBSERVATION POINT
EXPLORATION POINT
The four Gospel writers concur that at least one
figure appeared in or near Jesus’ tomb. Matthew
mentions an angel (Matthew 28:2); Mark mentions
a young man (Mark 16:5); Luke describes two men
in dazzling robes, whereas John refers to them as
angels (Luke 24:4; John 20:12). Angels sometimes
appeared on earth as male figures in white robes,
but the Bible never mentions wings or halos, despite
popular modern depictions. One common responsibility of angels was to bring good news.
43
And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you
will be with me in paradise.”
THE DEATH OF JESUS
44
By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three
o’clock. 45 The light from the sun was gone.
And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of
the Temple was torn down the middle. 46 Then
Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit
into your hands!”* And with those words he
breathed his last.
47
When the Roman officer* overseeing the
execution saw what had happened, he worshiped God and said, “Surely this man was
innocent.*” 48 And when all the crowd that
came to see the crucifixion saw what had happened, they went home in deep sorrow.* 49 But
Jesus’ friends, including the women who had
followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance
watching.
THE BURIAL OF JESUS
his body. But by the time they were finished
the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law.
THE RESURRECTION
24
But very early on Sunday morning* the
women went to the tomb, taking the
spices they had prepared. 2 They found that
the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 3 So they went in, but they didn’t find
the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 As they stood there
puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them,
clothed in dazzling robes.
5
The women were terrified and bowed
with their faces to the ground. Then the men
asked, “Why are you looking among the dead
for someone who is alive? 6 He isn’t here! He is
risen from the dead! Remember what he told
you back in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man* must
be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and
be crucified, and that he would rise again on
the third day.”
8
Then they remembered that he had said
this. 9 So they rushed back from the tomb
to tell his eleven disciples— and everyone
else—what had happened. 10 It was Mary
Magda lene, Jo an na, Mary the mother of
James, and several other women who told the
apostles what had happened. 11 But the story
sounded like nonsense to the men, so they
didn’t believe it. 12 However, Peter jumped
up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping,
he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering
what had happened.
50
Now there was a good and righteous man
named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council, 51 but he had not agreed with
the decision and actions of the other religious
leaders. He was from the town of Arimathea
in Judea, and he was waiting for the Kingdom
of God to come. 52 He went to Pilate and asked
for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took the body down
from the cross and wrapped it in a long sheet
of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that
had been carved out of rock. 54 This was done
late on Friday afternoon, the day of preparation,* as the Sabbath was about to begin.
55
As his body was taken away, the women
from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where
his body was placed. 56 Then they went home
and prepared spices and ointments to anoint
Shortly after Adam and Eve sinned, God graciously
promised that he would send someone to crush Satan
(Genesis 3:15). That promise was fulfilled in Christ’s
resurrection. Satan “struck” Jesus with suffering and
a torturous death. But the true victory was God’s—
Jesus was alive! He had conquered death, the powers
of hell, and Satan himself. God’s plan worked, and he
freely shares the victory with all of us.
23:46 Ps 31:5. 23:47a Greek the centurion. 23:47b Or righteous.
23:48 Greek went home beating their breasts. 23:54 Greek It was
the day of preparation. 24:1 Greek But on the first day of the week,
very early in the morning. 24:7 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used
for himself.
42_Luke.indd 1159
9/24/2013 12:24:41 PM
1174
JOHN 6
6:1-15
PG 1054
FLYOVER
PG 1096
DIRECT
PG 1060
SCENIC
6:1-15
6:1-59
37
156
288
JESUS FEEDS FIVE THOUSAND
In the big story, God always fulfills his promises to his people. He sent his Son,
Jesus, to be with his people, not only to love them and save them but also to teach
them more about the Father and his Kingdom. Crowds follow Jesus to hear his
words of hope or see his hands heal. They gather in the marketplaces and follow
Jesus to remote regions. Excitement fills the air wherever Jesus travels as the
crowds expect to witness wonders in his words or actions.
JESUS FEEDS FIVE THOUSAND
JESUS WALKS ON WATER
After this, Jesus crossed over to the far side
of the Sea of Galilee, also known as the
Sea of Tiberias. 2 A huge crowd kept following
him wherever he went, because they saw his
miraculous signs as he healed the sick. 3 Then
Jesus climbed a hill and sat down with his
disciples around him. 4 (It was nearly time for
the Jewish Passover celebration.) 5 Jesus soon
saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for
him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can
we buy bread to feed all these people?” 6 He
was testing Philip, for he already knew what
he was going to do.
7
Philip replied, “Even if we worked for
months, we wouldn’t have enough money* to
feed them!”
8
Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke
up. 9 “There’s a young boy here with five barley
loaves and two fish. But what good is that with
this huge crowd?”
10
“Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So
they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The
men alone numbered about 5,000.) 11 Then
Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and
distributed them to the people. Afterward he
did the same with the fish. And they all ate
as much as they wanted. 12 After everyone was
full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the
leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” 13 So they
picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets
with scraps left by the people who had eaten
from the five barley loaves.
14
When the people saw him* do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the
Prophet we have been expecting!”* 15 When
Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to
be their king, he slipped away into the hills by
himself.
16
6
That evening Jesus’ disciples went down to
the shore to wait for him. 17 But as darkness fell
and Jesus still hadn’t come back, they got into
the boat and headed across the lake toward
Capernaum. 18 Soon a gale swept down upon
them, and the sea grew very rough. 19 They had
rowed three or four miles* when suddenly they
saw Jesus walking on the water toward the
boat. They were terrified, 20 but he called out
to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!*” 21 Then
they were eager to let him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination!
JESUS, THE BREAD OF LIFE
22
The next day the crowd that had stayed on
the far shore saw that the disciples had taken
the only boat, and they realized Jesus had not
gone with them. 23 Several boats from Tiberias
landed near the place where the Lord had
blessed the bread and the people had eaten.
24
So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus
nor his disciples were there, they got into the
boats and went across to Capernaum to look
for him. 25 They found him on the other side
of the lake and asked, “Rabbi, when did you
get here?”
26
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you
want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs.
27
But don’t be so concerned about perishable
things like food. Spend your energy seeking
the eternal life that the Son of Man* can give
you. For God the Father has given me the seal
of his approval.”
6:7 Greek Two hundred denarii would not be enough. A denarius was
equivalent to a laborer’s full day’s wage. 6:14a Some manuscripts
read Jesus. 6:14b See Deut 18:15, 18; Mal 4:5-6. 6:19 Greek 25 or
30 stadia [4.6 or 5.5 kilometers]. 6:20 Or The ‘I Am’ is here; Greek
reads I am. See Exod 3:14. 6:27 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used
for himself.
PG
11
78
68
10
PG
68
10
PG
JOHN 6
OBSERVATION POINT
1175
EXPLORATION POINT
The loaves of bread were small flat barley loaves,
similar to pita bread. They were inexpensive and
most often eaten by the poor. The fish would have
been dried and salted; two fish and five loaves would
have made an average-sized meal for one person.
The baskets for the leftovers were readily available
because many Jews carried small baskets containing food for the day so they would not have to eat the
food of the Gentiles. Late in the day, those baskets
would have been empty.
28
They replied, “We want to perform God’s
works, too. What should we do?”
29
Jesus told them, “This is the only work
God wants from you: Believe in the one he has
sent.”
30
They answered, “Show us a miraculous
sign if you want us to believe in you. What can
you do? 31 After all, our ancestors ate manna
while they journeyed through the wilderness!
The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread
from heaven to eat.’*”
32
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses
didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father
did. And now he offers you the true bread from
heaven. 33 The true bread of God is the one who
comes down from heaven and gives life to the
world.”
34
“Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every
day.”
35
Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again.
Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
36
But you haven’t believed in me even though
you have seen me. 37 However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will
never reject them. 38 For I have come down from
heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not
to do my own will. 39 And this is the will of God,
that I should not lose even one of all those he
has given me, but that I should raise them up
at the last day. 40 For it is my Father’s will that
all who see his Son and believe in him should
have eternal life. I will raise them up at the
last day.”
41
Then the people* began to murmur in
disagreement because he had said, “I am the
bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They
said, “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We
know his father and mother. How can he say,
‘I came down from heaven’?”
Jesus had compassion for the crowd. He wanted
to take care of them before sending them home.
Creating food out of thin air was possible but not
his style. He worked with something that was available and made it more than enough. The disciples
gathered what they could—five loaves, two fish—and
Jesus turned it into enough supper for everyone.
The miracle demonstrates that if we are willing to
give even a little, Jesus can bless it and make it go
a long way.
43
But Jesus replied, “Stop complaining
about what I said. 44 For no one can come to
me unless the Father who sent me draws them
to me, and at the last day I will raise them up.
45
As it is written in the Scriptures,* ‘They will
all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to
the Father and learns from him comes to me.
46
(Not that anyone has ever seen the Father;
only I, who was sent from God, have seen him.)
47
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes
has eternal life. 48 Yes, I am the bread of life!
49
Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness,
but they all died. 50 Anyone who eats the bread
from heaven, however, will never die. 51 I am
the living bread that came down from heaven.
Anyone who eats this bread will live forever;
and this bread, which I will offer so the world
may live, is my flesh.”
52
Then the people began arguing with each
other about what he meant. “How can this
man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked.
53
So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth,
unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and
drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life
within you. 54 But anyone who eats my flesh
and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will
raise that person at the last day. 55 For my flesh
is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood
remains in me, and I in him. 57 I live because
of the living Father who sent me; in the same
way, anyone who feeds on me will live because
of me. 58 I am the true bread that came down
from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will
not die as your ancestors did (even though
they ate the manna) but will live forever.”
59
He said these things while he was teaching
in the synagogue in Capernaum.
6:31 Exod 16:4; Ps 78:24. 6:41 Greek Jewish people; also in 6:52.
6:45 Greek in the prophets. Isa 54:13.
1178
JOHN 8
PG 1174
FLYOVER
PG 1138
DIRECT
PG 1140
SCENIC
9:1-41
9:1-41
9:1-41
38
162
296
JESUS HEALS A MAN BORN BLIND
God created people in his own image in order to have a relationship with them.
One of the purposes of the big story is God’s revealing himself to his people, a
little at a time. The greatest revelation is through Jesus. During his ministry,
Jesus performs many miracles, including miraculous healings. The primary purpose of these miracles is to reveal that Jesus is the divine Son of God. Miracles
aren’t magic; rather, they demonstrate the power of the Almighty God working
through the Son. Jesus’ miraculous healing of a blind man combined a significant
spiritual teaching with physical reality.
20
Jesus made these statements while he was
teaching in the section of the Temple known as
the Treasury. But he was not arrested, because
his time* had not yet come.
THE UNBELIEVING PEOPLE WARNED
21
Later Jesus said to them again, “I am going
away. You will search for me but will die in
your sin. You cannot come where I am going.”
22
The people* asked, “Is he planning to commit suicide? What does he mean, ‘You cannot
come where I am going’?”
23
Jesus continued, “You are from below;
I am from above. You belong to this world; I
do not. 24 That is why I said that you will die in
your sins; for unless you believe that I Am who
I claim to be,* you will die in your sins.”
25
“Who are you?” they demanded.
Jesus replied, “The one I have always
claimed to be.* 26 I have much to say about
you and much to condemn, but I won’t. For I
say only what I have heard from the one who
sent me, and he is completely truthful.” 27 But
they still didn’t understand that he was talking
about his Father.
28
So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up
the Son of Man on the cross, then you will
understand that I Am he.* I do nothing on my
own but say only what the Father taught me.
29
And the one who sent me is with me—he has
not deserted me. For I always do what pleases
him.” 30 Then many who heard him say these
things believed in him.
JESUS AND ABRAHAM
31
Jesus said to the people who believed in
him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain
faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know
the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33
“But we are descendants of Abraham,”
they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?”
34
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave is not
a permanent member of the family, but a son
is part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son
sets you free, you are truly free. 37 Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And
yet some of you are trying to kill me because
there’s no room in your hearts for my message.
38
I am telling you what I saw when I was with
my Father. But you are following the advice of
your father.”
39
“Our father is Abraham!” they declared.
“No,” Jesus replied, “for if you were really
the children of Abraham, you would follow
his example.* 40 Instead, you are trying to kill
me because I told you the truth, which I heard
from God. Abraham never did such a thing.
41
No, you are imitating your real father.”
They replied, “We aren’t illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father.”
42
Jesus told them, “If God were your Father,
you would love me, because I have come to you
from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent
me. 43 Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! 44 For
you are the children of your father the devil,
and you love to do the evil things he does. He
8:20 Greek his hour. 8:22 Greek Jewish people; also in 8:31, 48,
52, 57. 8:24 Greek unless you believe that I am. See Exod 3:14.
8:25 Or Why do I speak to you at all? 8:28 Greek When you have
lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am. “Son of Man”
is a title Jesus used for himself. 8:39 Some manuscripts read if you
are really the children of Abraham, follow his example.
PG
11
88
46
11
PG
1179
JOHN 9
PG 1180
OBSERVATION POINT
EXPLORATION POINT
Roman writers and Jewish rabbis of this time period
considered saliva an effective medicinal treatment.
Jesus was more than capable of healing the man’s
blindness without the saliva-and-mud mixture, but
he incorporated the use of the simple materials on
hand. One possible explanation for this is that Jesus
used dirt to heal this man as a reminder that God
originally created humans from the dust. In the end
the man’s spiritual sight increased as his physical
sight was restored.
was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth
in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his
character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.
45
So when I tell the truth, you just naturally
don’t believe me! 46 Which of you can truthfully
accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you
the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Anyone
who belongs to God listens gladly to the words
of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t
belong to God.”
48
The people retorted, “You Samaritan
devil! Didn’t we say all along that you were
possessed by a demon?”
49
“No,” Jesus said, “I have no demon in me.
For I honor my Father—and you dishonor me.
50
And though I have no wish to glorify myself,
God is going to glorify me. He is the true judge.
51
I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my
teaching will never die!”
52
The people said, “Now we know you are
possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the
prophets died, but you say, ‘Anyone who obeys
my teaching will never die!’ 53 Are you greater
than our father Abraham? He died, and so did
the prophets. Who do you think you are?”
54
Jesus answered, “If I want glory for myself, it doesn’t count. But it is my Father who
will glorify me. You say, ‘He is our God,’* 55 but
you don’t even know him. I know him. If I said
otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you!
But I do know him and obey him. 56 Your father
Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my
coming. He saw it and was glad.”
57
The people said, “You aren’t even fifty
years old. How can you say you have seen
Abraham?*”
We cannot assume that a handicap or illness is
punishment from God. This belief was common in
Jesus’ day and has persisted to some extent in modern times. The complaint “What did I do to deserve
this?” is similar to the question the disciples asked in
verse 2. Sometimes innocent people suffer because
we live in a sinful world. If God relieved his followers of all suffering, some would become Christians
just for the guarantee of comfort, convenience, and
opportunity, not out of love for and obedience to God.
Jesus provides us with a new perspective from which
to view our difficulties.
58
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am!*” 59 At that
point they picked up stones to throw at him.
But Jesus was hidden from them and left the
Temple.
JESUS HEALS A MAN BORN BLIND
9
PG 1204
b | HEALING | 9:1-11
PG 1100
As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man
who had been blind from birth. 2 “Rabbi,”
his disciples asked him, “why was this man
born blind? Was it because of his own sins or
his parents’ sins?”
3
“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened
so the power of God could be seen in him. 4 We
must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by
the one who sent us.* The night is coming, and
then no one can work. 5 But while I am here in
the world, I am the light of the world.”
6
Then he spit on the ground, made mud with
the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind
man’s eyes. 7 He told him, “Go wash yourself
in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”).
So the man went and washed and came back
seeing!
8
His neighbors and others who knew him as
a blind beggar asked each other, “Isn’t this the
man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some said he
was, and others said, “No, he just looks like
him!”
But the beggar kept saying, “Yes, I am the
same one!”
8:54 Some manuscripts read You say he is your God. 8:57 Some
manuscripts read How can you say Abraham has seen you? 8:58 Or
before Abraham was even born, I have always been alive; Greek reads
before Abraham was, I am. See Exod 3:14. 9:4 Other manuscripts
read I must quickly carry out the tasks assigned me by the one who
sent me; still others read We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned
us by the one who sent me.
1180
JOHN 9
PG 1178
10:1-42
SCENIC
297
THE GOOD SHEPHERD AND HIS SHEEP
Jesus stays in Jerusalem to celebrate the Festival of Dedication (Hanukkah), a
Jewish festival that originated during the time between the Old and New Testaments. While in Jerusalem, he continues to teach the crowds. He often uses
familiar images to illustrate deeper truths about his identity. Sometimes his
teaching creates controversy and division among the Jews. But he always makes
an impression.
10
They asked, “Who healed you? What happened?”
11
He told them, “The man they call Jesus
made mud and spread it over my eyes and
told me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash
yourself.’ So I went and washed, and now I can
see!”
man who had been blind and demanded,
“What’s your opinion about this man who
healed you?”
The man replied, “I think he must be a
prophet.”
18
The Jewish leaders still refused to believe
the man had been blind and could now see, so
they called in his parents. 19 They asked them,
“Is this your son? Was he born blind? If so,
how can he now see?”
20
His parents replied, “We know this is our
son and that he was born blind, 21 but we don’t
know how he can see or who healed him. Ask
him. He is old enough to speak for himself.”
22
His parents said this because they were afraid
of the Jewish leaders, who had announced that
anyone saying Jesus was the Messiah would
be expelled from the synagogue. 23 That’s why
they said, “He is old enough. Ask him.”
24
So for the second time they called in the
man who had been blind and told him, “God
should get the glory for this,* because we
know this man Jesus is a sinner.”
25
“I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the
man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and
now I can see!”
26
“But what did he do?” they asked. “How
did he heal you?”
27
“Look!” the man exclaimed. “I told you
once. Didn’t you listen? Why do you want to
hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?”
28
Then they cursed him and said, “You are
his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses!
29
We know God spoke to Moses, but we don’t
even know where this man comes from.”
30
“Why, that’s very strange!” the man replied. “He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t
know where he comes from? 31 We know that
John 9:7
THE POOL OF SILOAM
The pool of Siloam was a reservoir in the
southeast corner of Jerusalem. It was built
by King Hezekiah in the eighth century BC to
ensure that the people would have drinking
water if an enemy ever laid siege to the city.
Water from the Gihon Spring flowed into the
reservoir through an underground tunnel.
The pool’s water was considered sacred and
was used for ceremonies in the Temple. This
pool is still in existence today.
12
“Where is he now?” they asked.
“I don’t know,” he replied.
13
Then they took the man who had been
blind to the Pharisees, 14 because it was on the
Sabbath that Jesus had made the mud and
healed him. 15 The Pharisees asked the man all
about it. So he told them, “He put the mud over
my eyes, and when I washed it away, I could
see!”
16
Some of the Pharisees said, “This man
Jesus is not from God, for he is working on the
Sabbath.” Others said, “But how could an ordinary sinner do such miraculous signs?” So
there was a deep division of opinion among
them.
17
Then the Pharisees again questioned the
9:24 Or Give glory to God, not to Jesus; Greek reads Give glory to God.
44
11
PG
JOHN 10
OBSERVATION POINT
1181
EXPLORATION POINT
Sheep were important domesticated animals in this
society. They were used as sacrifices, and they also
provided milk, meat, fat, wool, hides, and horns for
various uses. Many people tended sheep on a parttime or full-time basis. Good shepherds cared for
their sheep and could account for each one in the
flock. Shepherds were willing to sacrifice their own
comfort, but they were never expected to die for
their sheep.
God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to
hear those who worship him and do his will.
32
Ever since the world began, no one has been
able to open the eyes of someone born blind.
33
If this man were not from God, he couldn’t
have done it.”
34
“You were born a total sinner!” they answered. “Are you trying to teach us?” And they
threw him out of the synagogue.
SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
In the Psalms, God was called “Shepherd” (Psalms
23, 80). Throughout the Old Testament, Israel’s leaders and kings were referred to as shepherds. Good
leaders loved and cared for God’s people and kept
them focused on God and his Word. Bad leaders
abandoned the people when tough times came, or
else they led the people away from God and forgot
God’s Word.
out. 4 After he has gathered his own flock, he
walks ahead of them, and they follow him
because they know his voice. 5 They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because
they don’t know his voice.”
6
Those who heard Jesus use this illustration
didn’t understand what he meant, 7 so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am
the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before
me* were thieves and robbers. But the true
sheep did not listen to them. 9 Yes, I am the
gate. Those who come in through me will be
saved.* They will come and go freely and will
find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to
steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give
them a rich and satisfying life.
11
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. 12 A hired
hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He
will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And
so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock.
13
The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care
about the sheep.
14
“I am the good shepherd; I know my own
sheep, and they know me, 15 just as my Father
knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep,
too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring
them also. They will listen to my voice, and
there will be one flock with one shepherd.
17
“The Father loves me because I sacrifice
my life so I may take it back again. 18 No one can
take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily.
For I have the authority to lay it down when
35
When Jesus heard what had happened, he
found the man and asked, “Do you believe in
the Son of Man?*”
36
The man answered, “Who is he, sir? I want
to believe in him.”
37
“You have seen him,” Jesus said, “and he
is speaking to you!”
38
“Yes, Lord, I believe!” the man said. And
he worshiped Jesus.
39
Then Jesus told him,* “I entered this world
to render judgment—to give sight to the blind
and to show those who think they see* that
they are blind.”
40
Some Pharisees who were standing nearby
heard him and asked, “Are you saying we’re
blind?”
41
“If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,”
Jesus replied. “But you remain guilty because
you claim you can see.
THE GOOD SHEPHERD AND HIS SHEEP
10
“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks
over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than
going through the gate, must surely be a thief
and a robber! 2 But the one who enters through
the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The
gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the
sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He
calls his own sheep by name and leads them
9:35 Some manuscripts read the Son of God? “Son of Man” is a
title Jesus used for himself. 9:38-39a Some manuscripts do not
include “Yes, Lord, I believe!” the man said. And he worshiped Jesus.
Then Jesus told him. 9:39b Greek those who see. 10:8 Some
manuscripts do not include before me. 10:9 Or will find safety.
1188
JOHN 14
14:1-31
PG 1178
FLYOVER
PG 1186
DIRECT
PG 1186
SCENIC
14:1-31
14:1-31
39
169
308
JESUS, THE WAY TO THE FATHER
God’s revelation of himself to humans through Jesus the Son continues in the
big story. As his ministry progresses, Jesus reveals more and more about God
through his actions and words. Jesus performs miracles to demonstrate God’s
power, and he relates to people in ways that clearly display God’s love. His disciples, however, do not fully grasp the fact that Jesus is in fact God himself, the
second person of the Trinity. In this farewell speech, Jesus clearly and emphatically states this astonishing fact: Anyone who has seen him has seen the Father.
26
Jesus responded, “It is the one to whom I
give the bread I dip in the bowl.” And when
he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of
Simon Iscariot. 27 When Judas had eaten the
bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told
him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.”
28
None of the others at the table knew what
Jesus meant. 29 Since Judas was their treasurer,
some thought Jesus was telling him to go and
pay for the food or to give some money to the
poor. 30 So Judas left at once, going out into the
night.
JESUS, THE WAY TO THE FATHER
14
b | AFTERLIFE | 14:1-14
31
As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said,
“The time has come for the Son of Man* to
enter into his glory, and God will be glorified
because of him. 32 And since God receives glory
because of the Son,* he will give his own glory
to the Son, and he will do so at once. 33 Dear
children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will
search for me, but you can’t come where I am
going. 34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have
loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your
love for one another will prove to the world
that you are my disciples.”
36
Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are you
going?”
And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with me
now, but you will follow me later.”
37
“But why can’t I come now, Lord?” he
asked. “I’m ready to die for you.”
38
Jesus answered, “Die for me? I tell you the
truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that
you even know me.
PG 1283
JESUS PREDICTS PETER’S DENIAL
PG 1158
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust
in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is
more than enough room in my Father’s home.*
If this were not so, would I have told you that
I am going to prepare a place for you?* 3 When
everything is ready, I will come and get you, so
that you will always be with me where I am.
4
And you know the way to where I am going.”
5
“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said.
“We have no idea where you are going, so how
can we know the way?”
6
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth,
and the life. No one can come to the Father
except through me. 7 If you had really known
me, you would know who my Father is.* From
now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
8
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and
we will be satisfied.”
9
Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this
time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who
I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the
Father! So why are you asking me to show him
to you? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak
are not my own, but my Father who lives in me
does his work through me. 11 Just believe that
I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or
at least believe because of the work you have
seen me do.
12
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes
in me will do the same works I have done, and
13:31 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself. 13:32 Several
early manuscripts do not include And since God receives glory
because of the Son. 14:2a Or There are many rooms in my Father’s
house. 14:2b Or If this were not so, I would have told you that I am
going to prepare a place for you. Some manuscripts read If this were
not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you.
14:7 Some manuscripts read If you have really known me, you will
know who my Father is.
12
11
PG
84
10
PG
84
10
PG
OBSERVATION POINT
JOHN 15
1189
EXPLORATION POINT
Jesus’ statement that he was one with the Father
(10:30) declared that he, a human, was also God.
This would have rattled his Jewish audience, who
out of respect never allowed themselves even to pronounce God’s name. To hear that Jesus, obviously a
human being, claimed to be God would have been
outrageous! Jesus’ claim is one big reason why some
people have opposed Christianity throughout history.
The incarnation of God is not feasible to them. The
early Christian church wrestled with how to understand this mystery for over four hundred years.
even greater works, because I am going to be
with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in
my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can
bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
JESUS PROMISES THE HOLY SPIRIT
15
“If you love me, obey* my commandments.
16
And I will ask the Father, and he will give
you another Advocate,* who will never leave
you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all
truth. The world cannot receive him, because
it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize
him. But you know him, because he lives with
you now and later will be in you.* 18 No, I will
not abandon you as orphans—I will come to
you. 19 Soon the world will no longer see me,
but you will see me. Since I live, you also will
live. 20 When I am raised to life again, you will
know that I am in my Father, and you are in
me, and I am in you. 21 Those who accept my
commandments and obey them are the ones
who love me. And because they love me, my
Father will love them. And I will love them and
reveal myself to each of them.”
22
Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why
are you going to reveal yourself only to us and
not to the world at large?”
23
Jesus replied, “All who love me will do
what I say. My Father will love them, and we
will come and make our home with each of
them. 24 Anyone who doesn’t love me will not
obey me. And remember, my words are not my
own. What I am telling you is from the Father
who sent me. 25 I am telling you these things
now while I am still with you. 26 But when the
Father sends the Advocate as my representa Since the beginning of time, God has been revealing himself to his people little by little. Throughout
the Old Testament he showed himself to his people
in visions, dreams, miracles, angelic sightings, and
visible manifestations of his glory at the Tabernacle
and the Temple. When the time was right, he came to
earth as a human to openly reveal himself to his creation, to walk with and teach his people, and to build
an intimate relationship with them. He had become
what he had long ago promised through the prophets:
Immanuel, “God with us.”
tive—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you
everything and will remind you of everything
I have told you.
27
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of
mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift
the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or
afraid. 28 Remember what I told you: I am going
away, but I will come back to you again. If you
really loved me, you would be happy that I
am going to the Father, who is greater than I
am. 29 I have told you these things before they
happen so that when they do happen, you will
believe.
30
“I don’t have much more time to talk
to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, 31 but I will
do what the Father requires of me, so that the
world will know that I love the Father. Come,
let’s be going.
JESUS, THE TRUE VINE
15
“I am the true grapevine, and my Father
is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch
of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he
prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they
will produce even more. 3 You have already
been pruned and purified by the message I
have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit
if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be
fruitful unless you remain in me.
5
“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches.
Those who remain in me, and I in them, will
produce much fruit. For apart from me you can
do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in
14:15 Other manuscripts read you will obey; still others read you
should obey. 14:16 Or Comforter, or Encourager, or Counselor. Greek
reads Paraclete; also in 14:26. 14:17 Some manuscripts read and
is in you.
1198
ACTS 1
PG 1158
FLYOVER
PG 1194
DIRECT
PG 1194
SCENIC
1:1-11
1:1-11
1:1-26
42
176
317
THE ASCENSION OF JESUS
After the resurrection, Jesus continues his ministry for another forty days,
appearing to his disciples and clarifying all that has happened. Jesus’ time on
earth is about to end, but the big story continues. Jesus sends the disciples to
proclaim the Good News to the ends of the world. Jesus is returning to the Father
and the Holy Spirit will come to be with his disciples. But the disciples do not
want to lose him. They don’t realize that the indwelling Holy Spirit is far more
powerful than they can imagine.
THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
MATTHIAS REPLACES JUDAS
In my first book* I told you, Theophilus,
about everything Jesus began to do and
teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven
after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit. 3 During the
forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and
he proved to them in many ways that he was
actually alive. And he talked to them about the
Kingdom of God.
4
Once when he was eating with them, he
commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem
until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. 5 John baptized with*
water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
12
1
THE ASCENSION OF JESUS
6
So when the apostles were with Jesus, they
kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for
you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”
7
He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not
for you to know. 8 But you will receive power
when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you
will be my witnesses, telling people about me
everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea,
in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9
After saying this, he was taken up into a
cloud while they were watching, and they could
no longer see him. 10 As they strained to see him
rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 “Men of Galilee,”
they said, “why are you standing here staring
into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into
heaven, but someday he will return from heaven
in the same way you saw him go!”
44_Acts.indd 1198
Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from
the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile.*
13
When they arrived, they went to the upstairs
room of the house where they were staying.
Here are the names of those who were
present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip,
Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of
Alphaeus), Simon (the Zealot), and Judas (son
of James). 14 They all met together and were
constantly united in prayer, along with Mary
the mother of Jesus, several other women, and
the brothers of Jesus.
15
During this time, when about 120 believers* were together in one place, Peter stood
up and addressed them. 16 “Brothers,” he said,
“the Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning
Judas, who guided those who arrested Jesus.
This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit,
speaking through King David. 17 Judas was one
of us and shared in the ministry with us.”
18
(Judas had bought a field with the money
he received for his treachery. Falling headfirst
there, his body split open, spilling out all his
intestines. 19 The news of his death spread to
all the people of Jerusalem, and they gave the
place the Aramaic name Akeldama, which
means “Field of Blood.”)
20
Peter continued, “This was written in the
book of Psalms, where it says, ‘Let his home
become desolate, with no one living in it.’ It
also says, ‘Let someone else take his position.’*
21
“So now we must choose a replacement for
Judas from among the men who were with us
the entire time we were traveling with the Lord
Jesus—22 from the time he was baptized by John
1:1 The reference is to the Gospel of Luke. 1:5 Or in; also in 1:5b.
1:12 Greek a Sabbath day’s journey. 1:15 Greek brothers.
1:20 Pss 69:25; 109:8.
9/24/2013 12:56:03 PM
1199
ACTS 1
PG 1200
PG 1200
PG 1200
OBSERVATION POINT
Throughout Israel’s history, clouds often indicated the
presence of God. A pillar of cloud led the Hebrews
out of Egypt and through the wilderness. A cloud
appeared on Mount Sinai when God gave Moses the
law; it filled the Tabernacle and, later, the Temple. A
bright cloud appeared at Jesus’ transfiguration, and
God spoke from within it. At Jesus’ ascension the
location (a high mountain), the upward movement,
and the cloud all indicated that Jesus was ascending
into God’s presence in heaven, where he would sit
at his right hand.
EXPLORATION POINT
Jesus’ ascension into heaven concluded his time on
earth. By restoring God’s relationship with his creation, he had accomplished all that the Father had
sent him to do; now it was time for him to return to
the Father and sit in a position of honor at his right
side in heaven. In no way was Jesus abandoning his
followers; the Holy Spirit would come to give them
the power and ability to establish the church and
spread the Good News throughout the world. The
Spirit continues to be present with us today.
until the day he was taken from us. Whoever
is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus’
resurrection.”
23
So they nominated two men: Joseph called
Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you
know every heart. Show us which of these men
you have chosen 25 as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us
and gone where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast
lots, and Matthias was selected to become an
apostle with the other eleven.
MOUNT OF OLIVES
Acts 1:6-12
The Ascension took place on the Mount of Olives, a peak on a two-mile-long ridge that
rose 250 feet higher than the Temple area in Jerusalem. The garden of Gethsemane,
where Jesus had prayed, was located on the lower slopes of this mountain. Since King
Solomon’s time, this location was used as a lookout point to protect the city.
Modern-day view from the northwest of the Mount of
Olives (upper left) and Gethsemane (lower right)
44_Acts.indd 1199
9/24/2013 12:56:13 PM
1200
ACTS 2
2:1-47
PG 1198
FLYOVER
PG 1198
DIRECT
PG 1198
SCENIC
2:1-47
2:1-47
43
177
318
THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES
After Jesus ascends into heaven, his disciples gather in a room in Jerusalem. Not
knowing what to expect, they follow Jesus’ last instructions and wait. They are
about to experience another high point of the big story. God came in human form
to live among humans. Now he sends his Spirit to remain with us forever. The
Spirit’s presence will be a comfort and a strength to every believer throughout
the world until Christ comes again.
THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES
2
On the day of Pentecost* all the believers
were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the
roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the
house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what
looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared
and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone
present was filled with the Holy Spirit and
began speaking in other languages,* as the
Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
5
At that time there were devout Jews from
every nation living in Jerusalem. 6 When they
heard the loud noise, everyone came running,
and they were bewildered to hear their own
languages being spoken by the believers.
7
They were completely amazed. “How can
this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are
all from Galilee, 8 and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! 9 Here we
are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from
Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the
province of Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt,
and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors
from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear
these people speaking in our own languages
about the wonderful things God has done!”
12
They stood there amazed and perplexed.
“What can this mean?” they asked each other.
13
But others in the crowd ridiculed them,
saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!”
you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning
is much too early for that. 16 No, what you see
was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:
PG 893
17
a | HOLY SPIRIT | 2:1-13
18
19
PETER PREACHES TO THE CROWD
14
Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven
other apostles and shouted to the crowd,
“Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and
residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about
this. 15 These people are not drunk, as some of
44_Acts.indd 1200
20
PG 1218
21
‘In the last days,’ God says,
‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all
people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.
In those days I will pour out my Spirit
even on my servants—men and women
alike—
and they will prophesy.
And I will cause wonders in the heavens
above
and signs on the earth below—
blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
The sun will become dark,
and the moon will turn blood red
before that great and glorious day of the
Lord arrives.
But everyone who calls on the name of
the Lord
will be saved.’*
22
“People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene* by doing powerful
miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as
you well know. 23 But God knew what would
happen, and his prearranged plan was carried
out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of
lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and
killed him. 24 But God released him from the
horrors of death and raised him back to life,
for death could not keep him in its grip. 25 King
David said this about him:
2:1 The Festival of Pentecost came 50 days after Passover (when Jesus
was crucified). 2:4 Or in other tongues. 2:17-21 Joel 2:28-32.
2:22 Or Jesus of Nazareth.
9/24/2013 12:56:17 PM
1201
ACTS 2
PG 1202
PG 1202
PG 1202
OBSERVATION POINT
EXPLORATION POINT
Pentecost was an annual Jewish festival that was
established during the time of Moses. Originally it
was an agricultural celebration called the Festival
of Harvest, falling on the fiftieth day after Passover.
During the Hellenistic period (300 BC–AD 300), the
Jews dropped the agricultural association of Pentecost and viewed it instead as a day to give thanks
for the law of Moses (the Torah). After the coming of
the Holy Spirit on this day, Christians designated it
as the start of the church. Both Jews and Christians
continue to celebrate Pentecost today.
26
27
28
‘I see that the Lord is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right
beside me.
No wonder my heart is glad,
and my tongue shouts his praises!
My body rests in hope.
For you will not leave my soul among the
dead*
or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.
You have shown me the way of life,
and you will fill me with the joy of your
presence.’*
29
“Dear brothers, think about this! You can
be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried,
and his tomb is still here among us. 30 But he
was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne. 31 David was
looking into the future and speaking of the
Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God
would not leave him among the dead or allow
his body to rot in the grave.
32
“God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are
all witnesses of this. 33 Now he is exalted to the
place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right
hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave
him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just
as you see and hear today. 34 For David himself
never ascended into heaven, yet he said,
35
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
until I humble your enemies,
making them a footstool under your
feet.”’*
36
“So let everyone in Israel know for certain
that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”
44_Acts.indd 1201
Jesus came to earth to restore God’s relationship
with his people. Adam and Eve had destroyed their
relationship with God in the Garden; subsequently,
everyone continued to reject God through sinful living. But no one and nothing can ever stop God from
fulfilling his plan for the human race. By sending
the Holy Spirit to fill believers, God made it possible for us to have fellowship with him until Christ
comes again. Living in the Spirit is a precious gift
that enables us to be in close relationship with the
King of kings and Lord of lords.
37
Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and
they said to him and to the other apostles,
“Brothers, what should we do?”
38
Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of
your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in
the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of
your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the
Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is to you, to your
children, and to those far away*—all who have
been called by the Lord our God.” 40 Then Peter
continued preaching for a long time, strongly
urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from
this crooked generation!”
41
Those who believed what Peter said were
baptized and added to the church that day—
about 3,000 in all.
THE BELIEVERS FORM A COMMUNITY
42
All the believers devoted themselves to the
apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to
sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper*), and to prayer.
43
A deep sense of awe came over them all,
and the apostles performed many miraculous
signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met
together in one place and shared everything
they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in
need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple
each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper,
and shared their meals with great joy and generosity*—47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each
day the Lord added to their fellowship those
who were being saved.
2:27 Greek in Hades; also in 2:31. 2:25-28 Ps 16:8-11 (Greek
version). 2:34-35 Ps 110:1. 2:39 Or and to people far in the future,
or and to the Gentiles. 2:42 Greek the breaking of bread; also in
2:46. 2:46 Or and sincere hearts.
9/24/2013 12:56:18 PM
1202
PG 1200
FLYOVER
PG 1200
DIRECT
PG 1200
SCENIC
44
178
319
THE CHURCH BEGINS
God sent his Son to restore his relationship with his people, which
was lost long ago when Adam and Eve disobeyed his command.
He came to save the world and to fulfill the promise that all
people would be blessed through Abraham’s descendants. Jesus
was present in a human body, and he chose to minister primarily
to people whom he could make direct, often physical, contact
with. After his ministry and purpose for coming to earth came to
an end, he victoriously returned to his Father in heaven.
GETTING YOUR
Jesus’ disciples—witnesses to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection—
take up Jesus’ commission to “go and make disciples of all the
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son
and the Holy Spirit.” They believe in Jesus; they have seen his
miracles and heard his teachings. As soon as God’s Spirit fills
them at Pentecost, they are prepared to go out and share the Good
News with others.
BEARINGS
YEAR:
AD 30
WHERE ARE WE GOING?
CURRENT WORLD POWER:
God’s people, now equipped with God’s Spirit and called the
church, preach boldly, heal the sick, and cast out demons in the
name of Jesus. God is present with them, and membership in the
new church explodes. Thousands believe. Both Jews and Gentiles
believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, whose death and
resurrection have saved them. The church will grow: first in Judea
and Samaria, next into Asia Minor and Greece, and then into Italy,
Spain, and other parts of Europe. But challenges will come as the
church grows and the Good News spreads.
Rome
STATUS OF GOD’S PEOPLE:
Free in Christ
Wherever Christianity goes, it begins to uproot long-standing
cultural traditions and practices. People fear and resist these
changes. Many Jews hold firmly to the law and the old ways,
YOU ARE
HERE
Herod the Great
becomes king
of Judea
Herod the
Great begins
reconstruction
on the Temple in
Jerusalem
Jesus’ ministry
begins
Saul is converted
on the road to
Damascus
37 BC
20 BC
AD 27
AD 34
44_Acts.indd 1202
27 BC
4 BC
AD 30
AD 37
Augustus becomes
the first emperor
of Rome
Jesus
is born
Jesus dies, is
resurrected, and
ascends to heaven /
The Holy Spirit comes
at Pentecost
Barnabas and
Paul’s first trip
to Jerusalem
9/24/2013 12:56:18 PM
1203
PG 1204
PG 1204
PG 1204
and many Gentiles violently resist giving up their old lifestyles. But God’s church will prevail, and
Christianity will be firmly established.
JESUS AS TRUE NORTH
The Spirit of God is the heart of the new church. Christ’s followers take on his name and are called
Christians. Because of his work—coming to earth, preaching, healing, dying, and rising again—the
apostles’ message is one of hope. Filled with the Holy Spirit, the apostles proclaim that Jesus is Lord
and Caesar is not. When Saul begins killing Christians for corrupting Judaism, Jesus appears to
him and sets him on a new course. Transformed, this man will explain to the world just how Jesus
fulfilled God’s laws and set the world free from slavery to sin.
WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE WE?
ROME
BULGARIA
ITALY
ATHENS
EPHESUS
TURKEY
SYRIA
THE NEWS about Jesus' death
and resurrection spreads fast.
His disciples take the news
beyond Jerusalem and Judea,
into Samaria. The apostle Paul
continues spreading it further
to Asia Minor, into Greece, and
eventually to Rome.
JERUSALEM
The city of London
is founded
Paul’s second
missionary
journey begins
Paul is
imprisoned
in Rome
Buddhism
spreads
to China
AD 43
AD 50
AD 60
AD 65
p
44_Acts.indd 1203
AD 47
AD 53
AD 60?
AD 70
Paul’s first
missionary
journey begins
Paul’s third
missionary
journey begins
Luke writes
the book
of Acts
War between
Romans and
Jews leads to the
destruction of
Jerusalem
9/24/2013 12:56:18 PM
1204
ACTS 3
PG 1202
FLYOVER
PG 1202
DIRECT
PG 1202
SCENIC
3:1-11
3:1-11
3:1-26
45
179
320
PETER HEALS A CRIPPLED BEGGAR
Throughout the big story God has revealed his power through miracles. He
showed his control over nature through the ten plagues in Egypt and by dividing
the waters of the Red Sea. He provided food and water for his people while they
wandered in the wilderness. He displayed his power through the Old Testament
prophets and, most clearly, in his Son Jesus. Now that same power is with the
apostles. The apostle Peter, one of Jesus’ original twelve disciples, continues
the tradition of performing miracles, displaying God’s power in Christ’s name.
He then boldly preaches in the Temple about Jesus’ life and death.
PETER HEALS A CRIPPLED BEGGAR
PG 1444
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our
ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus
whom you handed over and rejected before
Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him.
14
You rejected this holy, righteous one and
instead demanded the release of a murderer.
15
You killed the author of life, but God raised
him from the dead. And we are witnesses of
this fact!
16
“Through faith in the name of Jesus, this
man was healed—and you know how crippled
he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed
him before your very eyes.
17
“Friends,* I realize that what you and your
leaders did to Jesus was done in ignorance.
18
But God was fulfilling what all the prophets had foretold about the Messiah—that he
must suffer these things. 19 Now repent of your
sins and turn to God, so that your sins may
be wiped away. 20 Then times of refreshment
will come from the presence of the Lord, and
he will again send you Jesus, your appointed
Messiah. 21 For he must remain in heaven until
the time for the final restoration of all things,
as God promised long ago through his holy
prophets. 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord your God
will raise up for you a Prophet like me from
among your own people. Listen carefully to
everything he tells you.’* 23 Then Moses said,
‘Anyone who will not listen to that Prophet will
be completely cut off from God’s people.’*
24
“Starting with Samuel, every prophet
spoke about what is happening today. 25 You
a | HEALING | 3:1-11
PG 1179
3
Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer
service. 2 As they approached the Temple, a man
lame from birth was being carried in. Each day
he was put beside the Temple gate, the one
called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from
the people going into the Temple. 3 When he saw
Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for
some money.
4
Peter and John looked at him intently, and
Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 The lame man looked
at them eagerly, expecting some money. 6 But
Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for
you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of
Jesus Christ the Nazarene,* get up and* walk!”
7
Then Peter took the lame man by the right
hand and helped him up. And as he did, the
man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed
and strengthened. 8 He jumped up, stood on
his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking,
leaping, and praising God, he went into the
Temple with them.
9
All the people saw him walking and heard
him praising God. 10 When they realized he
was the lame beggar they had seen so often
at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! 11 They all rushed out in amazement
to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was
holding tightly to Peter and John.
PETER PREACHES IN THE TEMPLE
12
Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the
crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so
surprising about this? And why stare at us as
though we had made this man walk by our
own power or godliness? 13 For it is the God of
44_Acts.indd 1204
3:6a Or Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 3:6b Some manuscripts do
not include get up and. 3:17 Greek Brothers. 3:22 Deut 18:15.
3:23 Deut 18:19; Lev 23:29.
9/24/2013 12:56:19 PM
PG
12
14
PG
12
12
1205
ACTS 4
PG 1206
OBSERVATION POINT
EXPLORATION POINT
In Jewish society, imperfection of any kind made a
person an outcast. In the Old Testament, God commanded his people to sacrifice only animals that
“have no defect of any kind” (Leviticus 22:21). God
also required priests to be without blemish. God’s
law held other people to a high standard as well, but
over the centuries Jewish culture had generalized
these rules in a way that was harsh and unrealistic. A
person had to be practically perfect to be part of the
Jewish community. Peter’s healing was a great gift.
It restored this man physically and socially.
PETER AND JOHN
BEFORE THE COUNCIL
4
Most Holy Place
Holy Place
Acts 21:28-29;
Eph 2:14
Court of
Israel
Court
of the
Gentiles
Washbasin
Exod 30:18
Altar of Burnt
Offering
TH
NOR
While Peter and John were speaking to
the people, they were confronted by the
priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and
some of the Sadducees. 2 These leaders were
very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a
resurrection of the dead. 3 They arrested them
and, since it was already evening, put them
in jail until morning. 4 But many of the people
who heard their message believed it, so the
number of believers now totaled about 5,000
men, not counting women and children.*
5
The next day the council of all the rulers
and elders and teachers of religious law met in
Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there,
along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and
other relatives of the high priest. 7 They brought
in the two disciples and demanded, “By what
power, or in whose name, have you done this?”
8
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said
to them, “Rulers and elders of our people,
9
are we being questioned today because we’ve
done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you
want to know how he was healed? 10 Let me
THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM
The Temple in Jerusalem was like a city
within a city. The Temple area was made up
of buildings and courtyards surrounded by a
high wall. People entered different areas of
the Temple by going through various gates.
Gentiles were not allowed beyond the outer
court. The Beautiful Gate was located on
the east side, directly in front of the main
entrance to the Temple and near the covered
porch of Solomon’s Colonnade. After walking
through the Beautiful Gate, Jews would have
found themselves in the Court of Women.
Acts 3:1-26
are the children of those prophets, and you are
included in the covenant God promised to your
ancestors. For God said to Abraham, ‘Through
your descendants* all the families on earth
will be blessed.’ 26 When God raised up his servant, Jesus, he sent him first to you people of
Israel, to bless you by turning each of you back
from your sinful ways.”
Peter and John had been empowered by the Holy
Spirit and were energized to see God working through
them to spread the Good News. God’s power flowed
through them so that Peter even healed a lame
man in the name of Jesus Christ. This is a wonderful example of how God can do more than we can
ask or imagine. The beggar was merely hoping for
a coin or two to help him survive one more day. The
possibility of being whole again and walking out of
the Temple didn’t even enter his mind. But it happened. God can, will, and does do what we perceive
as impossible.
Court of
Women
Exod 27:1-8
3:25 Greek your seed; see Gen 12:3; 22:18.
males.
4:4 Greek 5,000 adult
Jews only
past this
point
Beautiful
Gate
Acts 3:2, 10
44_Acts.indd 1205
9/24/2013 12:56:19 PM
1214
ACTS 9
9:1-31
PG 1204
FLYOVER
PG 1212
DIRECT
PG 1212
SCENIC
9:1-31
9:1-43
46
181
324
SAUL’S CONVERSION
In the big story, God revealed himself to Abraham and formed a great nation to
be his holy, chosen people. When God sent his Son to earth, he sent him to his
chosen people. Many of the Jews rejected Jesus, but others believed in him. After
Jesus’ return to heaven, Saul, a devoted Jew, vehemently opposes anyone who
believes in Jesus. But God transforms this strong and forceful leader. He turns
Saul’s energies away from evil and toward spreading the Good News throughout
the world, first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles.
SAUL’S CONVERSION
9
Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with
every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s
followers.* So he went to the high priest. 2 He
requested letters addressed to the synagogues
in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in
the arrest of any followers of the Way he found
there. He wanted to bring them—both men and
women—back to Jerusalem in chains.
3
As he was approaching Damascus on this
mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone
down around him. 4 He fell to the ground and
heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why
are you persecuting me?”
5
“Who are you, lord?” Saul asked.
And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the
one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go
into the city, and you will be told what you
must do.”
7
The men with Saul stood speechless, for
they heard the sound of someone’s voice but
saw no one! 8 Saul picked himself up off the
ground, but when he opened his eyes he was
blind. So his companions led him by the hand
to Damascus. 9 He remained there blind for
three days and did not eat or drink.
10
Now there was a believer* in Damascus
named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord!” he replied.
11
The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street,
to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask
for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. 12 I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and
laying hands on him so he can see again.”
13
“But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard
many people talk about the terrible things this
44_Acts.indd 1214
man has done to the believers* in Jerusalem!
And he is authorized by the leading priests
to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”
15
But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my
chosen instrument to take my message to the
Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people
of Israel. 16 And I will show him how much he
must suffer for my name’s sake.”
17
So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid
his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the
Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road,
has sent me so that you might regain your sight
and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Instantly
something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and
he regained his sight. Then he got up and was
baptized. 19 Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength.
14
SAUL IN DAMASCUS AND JERUSALEM
Saul stayed with the believers* in Damascus
for a few days. 20 And immediately he began
preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!”
21
All who heard him were amazed. “Isn’t this
the same man who caused such devastation
among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?” they
asked. “And didn’t he come here to arrest them
and take them in chains to the leading priests?”
22
Saul’s preaching became more and more
powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t
refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the
Messiah. 23 After a while some of the Jews plotted together to kill him. 24 They were watching
for him day and night at the city gate so they
could murder him, but Saul was told about
their plot. 25 So during the night, some of the
9:1 Greek disciples. 9:10 Greek disciple; also in 9:26, 36.
9:13 Greek God’s holy people; also in 9:32, 41. 9:19 Greek disciples;
also in 9:26, 38.
9/24/2013 12:56:23 PM
1215
ACTS 9
PG 1216
PG 1216
PG 1216
OBSERVATION POINT
EXPLORATION POINT
Light of any kind illuminates and makes sight possible. The bright light that initially blinded Saul did
exactly that in a spectacular fashion. This was no
ordinary phenomenon. Unlike a bright ray of sun or
a flash of lightning, it was supernaturally brilliant
and seems to have been localized around only Saul.
It was a unique heavenly light, created for this particular event. And while it temporarily blinded Saul
physically, it allowed him to finally see Jesus for who
he really was: the Son of God.
always doing kind things for others and helping the poor. 37 About this time she became ill
and died. Her body was washed for burial and
laid in an upstairs room. 38 But the believers
had heard that Peter was nearby at Lydda, so
they sent two men to beg him, “Please come as
soon as possible!”
DAMASCUS
Damascus is about 140 miles northeast
of Jerusalem and 60 miles east of the
Mediterranean Sea. It is perhaps the oldest
continuously occupied city in the world,
dating as far back as the time of Abraham
(Genesis 14:15). In Bible times it was
strategically located between two rivers
and along three major trade routes. Today
Damascus is the capital city of Syria.
Acts 9:2
other believers* lowered him in a large basket
through an opening in the city wall.
26
When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried
to meet with the believers, but they were all
afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly
become a believer! 27 Then Barnabas brought
him to the apostles and told them how Saul
had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus
and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also
told them that Saul had preached boldly in the
name of Jesus in Damascus.
28
So Saul stayed with the apostles and went
all around Jerusalem with them, preaching
boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He debated
with some Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried
to murder him. 30 When the believers* heard
about this, they took him down to Caesarea
and sent him away to Tarsus, his hometown.
31
The church then had peace throughout
Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became
stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the
Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy
Spirit, it also grew in numbers.
Most conversions to Christianity are not as dramatic
as Saul’s. A conversion can come as a sudden and
radical change or as a gradual coming to faith over
years. There is no single “right” way to come to know
Christ. The method of receiving Christ may vary, but
the result is the same: true faith in Christ as our Lord
and Savior. This kind of faith will inevitably change
our perspective on the world, and the indwelling Holy
Spirit will change the way that we live as a result.
39
So Peter returned with them; and as soon
as he arrived, they took him to the upstairs
room. The room was filled with widows who
were weeping and showing him the coats and
other clothes Dorcas had made for them. 40 But
Peter asked them all to leave the room; then he
knelt and prayed. Turning to the body he said,
“Get up, Tabitha.” And she opened her eyes!
When she saw Peter, she sat up! 41 He gave her
his hand and helped her up. Then he called
in the widows and all the believers, and he
presented her to them alive.
42
The news spread through the whole town,
and many believed in the Lord. 43 And Peter
PETER HEALS AENEAS AND RAISES
DORCAS
32
Meanwhile, Peter traveled from place to
place, and he came down to visit the believers in the town of Lydda. 33 There he met a man
named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and
bedridden for eight years. 34 Peter said to him,
“Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up, and
roll up your sleeping mat!” And he was healed
instantly. 35 Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas walking around,
and they turned to the Lord.
36
There was a believer in Joppa named
Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas*). She was
44_Acts.indd 1215
9:25 Greek his disciples. 9:30 Greek brothers. 9:36 The names
Tabitha in Aramaic and Dorcas in Greek both mean “gazelle.”
9/24/2013 12:56:23 PM
1216
ACTS 10
10:1-48
PG 1214
FLYOVER
PG 1214
DIRECT
PG 1214
SCENIC
10:1-48
10:1-48
47
182
325
PETER VISITS CORNELIUS
As God guided each chapter of the big story through the centuries, he commanded his chosen people to set themselves apart from other peoples of the
world. When Jesus came to earth, everything changed. God’s gift of salvation is
for everyone. The early church struggles with this concept. To help clarify this
issue, God sends a vision to the apostle Peter while he is in Joppa. At about the
same time God also sends a vision to Cornelius in Caesarea. God wants to be
certain that people of every race and religious background hear of his great gift.
stayed a long time in Joppa, living with Simon,
a tanner of hides.
CORNELIUS CALLS FOR PETER
10
In Caesarea there lived a Roman army
officer* named Cornelius, who was a
captain of the Italian Regiment. 2 He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his
household. He gave generously to the poor and
prayed regularly to God. 3 One afternoon about
three o’clock, he had a vision in which he saw
an angel of God coming toward him. “Cornelius!” the angel said.
4
Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is
it, sir?” he asked the angel.
And the angel replied, “Your prayers and
gifts to the poor have been received by God
as an offering! 5 Now send some men to Joppa,
and summon a man named Simon Peter. 6 He
is staying with Simon, a tanner who lives near
the seashore.”
7
As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius
called two of his household servants and a
devout soldier, one of his personal attendants.
8
He told them what had happened and sent
them off to Joppa.
PETER VISITS CORNELIUS
The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were
nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat
roof to pray. It was about noon, 10 and he was
hungry. But while a meal was being prepared,
he fell into a trance. 11 He saw the sky open, and
something like a large sheet was let down by
its four corners. 12 In the sheet were all sorts of
animals, reptiles, and birds. 13 Then a voice said
to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.”
14
“No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never
44_Acts.indd 1216
9
eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.*”
15
But the voice spoke again: “Do not call
something unclean if God has made it clean.”
16
The same vision was repeated three times.
Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to
heaven.
17
Peter was very perplexed. What could the
vision mean? Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house. Standing outside the
gate, 18 they asked if a man named Simon Peter
was staying there.
19
Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the
vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men
have come looking for you. 20 Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation.
Don’t worry, for I have sent them.”
21
So Peter went down and said, “I’m the man
you are looking for. Why have you come?”
22
They said, “We were sent by Cornelius, a
Roman officer. He is a devout and God-fearing
man, well respected by all the Jews. A holy
angel instructed him to summon you to his
house so that he can hear your message.” 23 So
Peter invited the men to stay for the night. The
next day he went with them, accompanied by
some of the brothers from Joppa.
24
They arrived in Caesarea the following day.
Cornelius was waiting for them and had called
together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell at his feet
and worshiped him. 26 But Peter pulled him up
and said, “Stand up! I’m a human being just
like you!” 27 So they talked together and went
inside, where many others were assembled.
28
Peter told them, “You know it is against our
10:1 Greek a centurion; similarly in 10:22.
common and unclean.
10:14 Greek anything
9/24/2013 12:56:24 PM
PG
12
24
PG
12
20
1217
ACTS 10
PG 1218
OBSERVATION POINT
EXPLORATION POINT
The law of Moses clearly stated which animals were
impure or unclean (Leviticus 11). For centuries the
Jews had carefully followed these laws, eating
only certain animals and not even touching some
birds, reptiles, and animals. The instructions given
in Peter’s vision represented a radical new way of
thinking, not just about food but about the Jewish
laws in general. Peter now realized that he should no
longer consider anyone impure or unclean. Everyone
is saved by God’s grace, not by adherence to the law.
CAESAREA
Caesarea was a city on the Mediterranean
Sea, thirty-five miles north of Joppa. Herod
the Great built the seaport in the first century
BC and named it for the Roman emperor
Caesar Augustus. It remained the capital of
the province of Judea for over six hundred
years. It was home to the governors of Judea
and was the regional headquarters for the
Roman army.
Acts 10:1
laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home
like this or to associate with you. But God has
shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. 29 So I came without
objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me
why you sent for me.”
30
Cornelius replied, “Four days ago I was
praying in my house about this same time,
three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man
in dazzling clothes was standing in front of me.
31
He told me, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been
heard, and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God! 32 Now send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter.
He is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner
who lives near the seashore.’ 33 So I sent for you
at once, and it was good of you to come. Now
we are all here, waiting before God to hear the
message the Lord has given you.”
In the vision he gave to Peter, God made it very
clear that he showed no favoritism. Jesus was Lord
of all. He saw no differences between the Jews—
God’s chosen people—and the Gentiles who were
outside the Jewish heritage. Jews and Gentiles were
equally welcome to the message of salvation and to
the church. Christ had fulfilled all the obligations of
the law of Moses, so the new believers did not have
to follow those requirements. The Good News was
for everyone who believed in Jesus.
THE GENTILES HEAR THE GOOD NEWS
34
Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that
God shows no favoritism. 35 In every nation
he accepts those who fear him and do what is
right. 36 This is the message of Good News for
the people of Israel—that there is peace with
God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
37
You know what happened throughout Judea,
beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. 38 And you know
that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the
Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went
around doing good and healing all who were
oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
39
“And we apostles are witnesses of all he
did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They
put him to death by hanging him on a cross,*
40
but God raised him to life on the third day.
44_Acts.indd 1217
Then God allowed him to appear, 41 not to the
general public,* but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were
those who ate and drank with him after he rose
from the dead. 42 And he ordered us to preach
everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one
appointed by God to be the judge of all—the
living and the dead. 43 He is the one all the
prophets testified about, saying that everyone
who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.”
THE GENTILES RECEIVE
THE HOLY SPIRIT
44
Even as Peter was saying these things, the
Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening
to the message. 45 The Jewish believers* who
came with Peter were amazed that the gift of
the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the
Gentiles, too. 46 For they heard them speaking
in other tongues* and praising God.
Then Peter asked, 47 “Can anyone object to
10:39 Greek on a tree. 10:41 Greek the people. 10:45 Greek The
faithful ones of the circumcision. 10:46 Or in other languages.
9/24/2013 12:56:25 PM
1218
ACTS 11
PG 1216
12:1-19
SCENIC
326
PETER’S MIRACULOUS ESCAPE
FROM PRISON
Peter returns to Jerusalem and continues to preach the Good News there.
Meanwhile, King Herod Agrippa begins persecuting the Christians to please the
Jewish population. First, he has the apostle James put to death. Then, during
the annual festival of Passover, when Jews from all over stream to Jerusalem to
celebrate, Herod imprisons Peter, who must await a public trial. In the middle of
the night, God does what appears to be impossible.
their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” 48 So he
gave orders for them to be baptized in the name
of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him
to stay with them for several days.
Acts 10:23
JOPPA
PG 1200
Joppa was an important harbor in the region.
It was a significant port during David and
Solomon’s reign, but it is best known for
its connection to the prophet Jonah, who
boarded a ship there to sail to Tarshish.
The cedars of Lebanon used in building the
Temple were transported to Jerusalem
through this seaport. Today it is a suburb
of Tel Aviv.
anything that our Jewish laws have declared
impure or unclean.*’
9
“But the voice from heaven spoke again:
‘Do not call something unclean if God has
made it clean.’ 10 This happened three times before the sheet and all it contained was pulled
back up to heaven.
11
“Just then three men who had been sent
from Caesarea arrived at the house where we
were staying. 12 The Holy Spirit told me to go
with them and not to worry that they were Gentiles. These six brothers here accompanied me,
and we soon entered the home of the man who
had sent for us. 13 He told us how an angel had
appeared to him in his home and had told him,
‘Send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man
named Simon Peter. 14 He will tell you how you
and everyone in your household can be saved!’
15
“As I began to speak,” Peter continued, “the
Holy Spirit fell on them, just as he fell on us at
the beginning. 16 Then I thought of the Lord’s
words when he said, ‘John baptized with* water,
but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
17
And since God gave these Gentiles the same
gift he gave us when we believed in the Lord
Jesus Christ, who was I to stand in God’s way?”
18
When the others heard this, they stopped
objecting and began praising God. They said,
“We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and
receiving eternal life.”
11
44_Acts.indd 1218
THE CHURCH IN ANTIOCH OF SYRIA
19
Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s
death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus,
PG 1445
Soon the news reached the apostles and
other believers* in Judea that the Gentiles had received the word of God. 2 But when
Peter arrived back in Jerusalem, the Jewish believers* criticized him. 3 “You entered the home
of Gentiles* and even ate with them!” they said.
4
Then Peter told them exactly what had happened. 5 “I was in the town of Joppa,” he said,
“and while I was praying, I went into a trance
and saw a vision. Something like a large sheet
was let down by its four corners from the sky.
And it came right down to me. 6 When I looked
inside the sheet, I saw all sorts of tame and
wild animals, reptiles, and birds. 7 And I heard
a voice say, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.’
8
“‘No, Lord,’ I replied. ‘I have never eaten
b | HOLY SPIRIT | 11:19-24
PETER EXPLAINS HIS ACTIONS
11:1 Greek brothers. 11:2 Greek those of the circumcision.
11:3 Greek of uncircumcised men. 11:8 Greek anything common
or unclean. 11:16 Or in; also in 11:16b.
9/24/2013 12:56:26 PM
1219
ACTS 12
PG 1220
OBSERVATION POINT
EXPLORATION POINT
God released Peter from prison for reasons besides
keeping him safe from King Herod’s injustice. God
displayed his power over the Roman guards and
chains and declared Peter “not guilty” of any government charges. By freeing Peter from prison, God also
demonstrated that his will could not be hindered by
human powers. When Peter preached and healed
in Jesus’ name, he was being obedient to the divine
authority of God; the commands of King Herod did
not discourage him.
and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word
of God, but only to Jews. 20 However, some of
the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus
and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles*
about the Lord Jesus. 21 The power of the Lord
was with them, and a large number of these
Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord.
22
When the church at Jerusalem heard what
had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw this evidence
of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and
he encouraged the believers to stay true to
the Lord. 24 Barnabas was a good man, full of
the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many
people were brought to the Lord.
25
Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look
for Saul. 26 When he found him, he brought
him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there
with the church for a full year, teaching large
crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the
believers* were first called Christians.)
27
During this time some prophets traveled
from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them
named Agabus stood up in one of the meetings
and predicted by the Spirit that a great famine
was coming upon the entire Roman world. (This
was fulfilled during the reign of Claudius.) 29 So
the believers in Antioch decided to send relief
to the brothers and sisters* in Judea, everyone
giving as much as they could. 30 This they did,
entrusting their gifts to Barnabas and Saul to
take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem.
The church was being persecuted—James had been
killed, and Peter was in prison. It was a dangerous
time to be together, but the church members gathered and prayed. They believed in the power of prayer
and held firm to Jesus’ promise: “Ask me for anything
in my name, and I will do it!” (John 14:14). Their
earnest prayers were answered, but the answer surprised them. When we pray earnestly and sincerely
in Christ’s name, we too may be surprised with the
way God answers.
brother) killed with a sword. 3 When Herod saw
how much this pleased the Jewish people, he
also arrested Peter. (This took place during the
Passover celebration.*) 4 Then he imprisoned
him, placing him under the guard of four
squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended
to bring Peter out for public trial after the
Passover. 5 But while Peter was in prison, the
church prayed very earnestly for him.
PETER’S MIRACULOUS ESCAPE
FROM PRISON
PG 1027
a | ANGELS | 12:1-19
12
About that time King Herod Agrippa*
began to persecute some believers in
the church. 2 He had the apostle James (John’s
44_Acts.indd 1219
PG 1241
JAMES IS KILLED AND PETER
IS IMPRISONED
6
The night before Peter was to be placed on
trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains
between two soldiers. Others stood guard at
the prison gate. 7 Suddenly, there was a bright
light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord
stood before Peter. The angel struck him on
the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get
up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. 8 Then
the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on
your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your
coat and follow me,” the angel ordered.
9
So Peter left the cell, following the angel.
But all the time he thought it was a vision.
He didn’t realize it was actually happening.
10
They passed the first and second guard
posts and came to the iron gate leading to the
city, and this opened for them all by itself.
So they passed through and started walking
down the street, and then the angel suddenly
left him.
11
Peter finally came to his senses. “It’s really
true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel
11:20 Greek the Hellenists (i.e., those who speak Greek); other
manuscripts read the Greeks. 11:26 Greek disciples; also in 11:29.
11:29 Greek the brothers. 12:1 Greek Herod the king. He was
the nephew of Herod Antipas and a grandson of Herod the Great.
12:3 Greek the days of unleavened bread.
9/24/2013 12:56:27 PM
1224
ACTS 15
PG 1216
FLYOVER
PG 1368
DIRECT
PG 1370
SCENIC
15:1-35
15:1-35
15:1-35
48
186
332
THE COUNCIL AT JERUSALEM:
CONFLICT OVER GENTILES
The successful missionary work of Paul and others among the Gentiles is a cause
for the new church to rejoice! The Good News is spreading all over the world,
just as God had always planned in the big story. But for some early Jewish Christians, this raises some difficult questions. God had always worked through his
chosen people, the Jews. Many believe that Gentiles, in addition to believing in
Jesus, should be required to convert to a Jewish lifestyle in order to be saved.
This is a significant issue for the leaders of the early church, and they gather in
Jerusalem to address it.
THE COUNCIL AT JERUSALEM
15
While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea
arrived and began to teach the believers*:
“Unless you are circumcised as required by
the law of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 Paul
and Barnabas disagreed with them, arguing
vehemently. Finally, the church decided to
send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers, to talk to the
apostles and elders about this question. 3 The
church sent the delegates to Jerusalem, and
they stopped along the way in Phoenicia and
Samaria to visit the believers. They told them—
much to everyone’s joy—that the Gentiles, too,
were being converted.
4
When they arrived in Jerusalem, Barnabas
and Paul were welcomed by the whole church,
including the apostles and elders. They reported everything God had done through
them. 5 But then some of the believers who
belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up
and insisted, “The Gentile converts must be
circumcised and required to follow the law of
Moses.”
6
So the apostles and elders met together
to resolve this issue. 7 At the meeting, after a
long discussion, Peter stood and addressed
them as follows: “Brothers, you all know that
God chose me from among you some time ago
to preach to the Gentiles so that they could
hear the Good News and believe. 8 God knows
people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit,
just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction
between us and them, for he cleansed their
hearts through faith. 10 So why are you now
challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers* with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? 11 We believe that we
are all saved the same way, by the undeserved
grace of the Lord Jesus.”
12
Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and
Paul told about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among the
Gentiles.
13
When they had finished, James stood and
said, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Peter* has told
you about the time God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for himself.
15
And this conversion of Gentiles is exactly
what the prophets predicted. As it is written:
16
17
44_Acts.indd 1224
18
‘Afterward I will return
and restore the fallen house* of David.
I will rebuild its ruins
and restore it,
so that the rest of humanity might seek
the Lord,
including the Gentiles—
all those I have called to be mine.
The Lord has spoken—
he who made these things known so
long ago.’*
19
“And so my judgment is that we should
not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are
turning to God. 20 Instead, we should write and
15:1 Greek brothers; also in 15:3, 23, 32, 33, 36, 40. 15:10 Greek
disciples. 15:14 Greek Simeon. 15:16 Or kingdom; Greek reads
tent. 15:16-18 Amos 9:11-12 (Greek version); Isa 45:21.
9/24/2013 12:56:27 PM
1225
PG
12
74
ACTS 15
PG 1226
PG 1226
OBSERVATION POINT
EXPLORATION POINT
Circumcision had religious significance for Jews as
the sign of the covenant that God had established with
the people of Israel. It was normally performed on the
eighth day of a male infant’s life, but adult converts
to Judaism were required to get circumcised, too.
Circumcision became a metaphor for the renewal
of a person’s relationship with God. But after Jesus’
resurrection and the gift of the Holy Spirit, faith in
Jesus was all that would be required to be in right
relationship with God. Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the Jewish law, and now all people everywhere relate to God through him.
tell them to abstain from eating food offered to
idols, from sexual immorality, from eating the
meat of strangled animals, and from consuming blood. 21 For these laws of Moses have been
preached in Jewish synagogues in every city on
every Sabbath for many generations.”
Ethnic background has no impact on how a person
relates to God. Faith in Jesus is the only way to have
a right relationship with God, and the presence of
the Holy Spirit in a person’s life is clear evidence
of that relationship. During their missionary travels, Paul and Barnabas gave clear testimony of the
transforming presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives
of Gentiles. Peter reminded everyone in Jerusalem
that, years earlier, he had been sent by God to preach
to a Gentile, Cornelius. No matter where you come
from, trust in Jesus! He is the only way to God.
idols, from consuming blood or the meat
of strangled animals, and from sexual
immorality. If you do this, you will do well.
Farewell.”
THE LETTER FOR GENTILE BELIEVERS
22
Then the apostles and elders together with
the whole church in Jerusalem chose delegates, and they sent them to Antioch of Syria
with Paul and Barnabas to report on this decision. The men chosen were two of the church
leaders*—Judas (also called Barsabbas) and
Silas. 23 This is the letter they took with them:
“This letter is from the apostles and elders,
your brothers in Jerusalem. It is written to
the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and
Cilicia. Greetings!
24
“We understand that some men from
here have troubled you and upset you
with their teaching, but we did not send
them! 25 So we decided, having come to
complete agreement, to send you official
representatives, along with our beloved
Barnabas and Paul, 26 who have risked their
lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27
We are sending Judas and Silas to confirm
what we have decided concerning your
question.
28
“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit
and to us to lay no greater burden on
you than these few requirements: 29 You
must abstain from eating food offered to
44_Acts.indd 1225
30
The messengers went at once to Antioch,
where they called a general meeting of the
believers and delivered the letter. 31 And there
was great joy throughout the church that day
as they read this encouraging message.
32
Then Judas and Silas, both being prophets,
spoke at length to the believers, encouraging
and strengthening their faith. 33 They stayed for
a while, and then the believers sent them back
to the church in Jerusalem with a blessing of
peace.* 35 Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch.
They and many others taught and preached
the word of the Lord there.
PAUL AND BARNABAS SEPARATE
36
After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s
go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see
how the new believers are doing.” 37 Barnabas
agreed and wanted to take along John Mark.
38
But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark
had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not
continued with them in their work. 39 Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated.
Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed
for Cyprus. 40 Paul chose Silas, and as he left,
the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious care. 41 Then he traveled throughout Syria
and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there.
15:22 Greek were leaders among the brothers. 15:33 Some
manuscripts add verse 34, But Silas decided to stay there.
9/24/2013 12:56:28 PM
1274
1 Corinthians 13
PG 1224
FLYOVER
PG 1232
DIRECT
PG 1272
SCENIC
13:1-13
13:1-13
13:1-13
49
193
342
Love Is the Greatest
After his conversion, Paul brings the Good News to Asia Minor and Europe. He
establishes churches in many cities and later stays in touch with the new believers by writing letters. This section of the letter he writes to the Corinthian church
contains the great message that God has been conveying throughout the big
story: He is a God of love. Everything he has done and continues to do for his
people comes from his love for us. When God loves us and his Spirit lives in us,
we naturally should display love to others.
29
Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets?
Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power
to do miracles? 30 Do we all have the gift of
healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in
unknown languages? Do we all have the abil­
ity to interpret unknown languages? Of course
not! 31 So you should earnestly desire the most
helpful gifts.
But now let me show you a way of life that
is best of all.
Love Is the Greatest
13
If I could speak all the languages of
earth and of angels, but d
­ idn’t love
others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clang­
ing cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if
I understood all of God’s secret plans and pos­
sessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith
that I could move mountains, but d
­ idn’t love
others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave every­
thing I have to the poor and even sacrificed my
body, I could boast about it;* but if I ­didn’t love
others, I would have gained nothing.
4
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jeal­
ous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not
demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it
keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not
rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever
the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never
loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures
through ­every circumstance.
8
Prophecy and speaking in unknown lan­
guages* and special knowledge will become
useless. But love will last forever! 9 Now our
knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even
the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the
whole picture! 10 But when the time of perfection
­comes, these partial things will become useless.
11
When I was a child, I spoke and thought
and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I
put away childish things. 12 Now we see things
imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mir­
ror, but then we will see every­thing with perfect
clarity.* All that I know now is partial and in­
complete, but then I will know every­thing com­
pletely, just as God now knows me completely.
13
Three things will last ­forever—​­faith, hope,
and ­love—​­and the greatest of these is love.
Tongues and Prophecy
14
Let love be your highest goal! But you
should also desire the special abili­
ties the Spirit ­gives—​­especially the ability to
prophesy. 2 For if you have the ability to speak
in tongues,* you will be talking only to God,
since people won’t be able to understand
you. You will be speaking by the power of the
Spirit,* but it will all be mysterious. 3 But one
who prophesies strengthens others, encour­
ages them, and comforts them. 4 A person who
speaks in tongues is strengthened person­
ally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy
strengthens the entire church.
5
I wish you could all speak in tongues, but
even more I wish you could all prophesy. For
prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues,
unless someone interprets what you are saying
so that the whole church will be strengthened.
6
Dear brothers and sisters,* if I should come
to you speaking in an unknown language,*
how would that help you? But if I bring you
a revelation or some special knowledge or
13:3 Some manuscripts read sacrificed my body to be burned. 13:8 Or in tongues. 13:12 Greek see face to face. 14:2a Or in
unknown languages; also in 14:4, 5, 13, 14, 18, 22, 26, 27, 28, 39. 14:2b Or speaking in your spirit. 14:6a Greek brothers; also in
14:20, 26, 39. 14:6b Or in tongues; also in 14:19, 23. 1 Corinthians 141275
PG
13
08
PG
12
80
PG 1276
Observation Point
Exploration Point
Mirrors in Paul’s day were usually made from hammered and highly polished bronze. These metal
mirrors were round with handles carved from wood,
ivory, or bone. They resembled contemporary handheld mirrors but did not give a clear image of the
viewer as glass mirrors do today. Because they were
never perfectly flat and reflective, they provided a
reflection that was distorted and unclear.
prophecy or teaching, that will be helpful.
7
Even lifeless instruments like the flute or the
harp must play the notes clearly, or no one
will recognize the melody. 8 And if the bugler
­doesn’t sound a clear call, how will the sol­
diers know they are being called to battle?
9
It’s the same for you. If you speak to people
in words they ­don’t understand, how will they
know what you are saying? You might as well
be talking into empty space.
10
There are many different languages in the
world, and ­every language has meaning. 11 But
if I d
­ on’t understand a language, I will be a for­
eigner to someone who speaks it, and the one
who speaks it will be a foreigner to me. 12 And
the same is true for you. Since you are so eager
to have the special abilities the Spirit gives, seek
those that will strengthen the whole church.
13
So anyone who speaks in tongues should
pray also for the ability to interpret what has
been said. 14 For if I pray in tongues, my spirit
is praying, but I ­don’t understand what I am
saying.
15
Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the
spirit,* and I will also pray in words I under­
stand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also
sing in words I understand. 16 For if you praise
God only in the spirit, how can those who
­don’t understand you praise God along with
you? How can they join you in giving thanks
when they ­don’t understand what you are say­
ing? 17 You will be giving thanks very well, but
it won’t strengthen the people who hear you.
18
I thank God that I speak in tongues more
than any of you. 19 But in a church meeting I
would rather speak five understandable words
to help others than ten thousand words in an
unknown language.
Love is at the core of God’s commandments for living: first, to “love the Lord your God”; and second,
to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Love is central
to Christianity. God loves us, forgives us, and cares
deeply for us. Because of God’s love for us, he sent his
Son to be with us, take on the punishment we deserve
for our sins, and conquer death. Out of gratitude and
love for all that he has done for us, we who bear the
name of Christ must willingly and openly love God,
ourselves, and others.
20
Dear brothers and sisters, ­don’t be childish
in your understanding of these things. Be in­
nocent as babies when it c­ omes to evil, but be
mature in understanding matters of this kind.
21
It is written in the Scriptures*:
“I will speak to my own people
through strange languages
and through the lips of foreigners.
But even then, they will not listen to me,”*
says the Lord.
22
So you see that speaking in tongues is a
sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers.
Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believ­
ers, not unbelievers. 23 Even so, if unbelievers or
people who ­don’t understand these things come
into your church meeting and hear every­one
speaking in an unknown language, they will
think you are crazy. 24 But if all of you are proph­
esying, and unbelievers or people who ­don’t
understand these things come into your meet­
ing, they will be convicted of sin and judged by
what you say. 25 As they listen, their secret
thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to
their knees and worship God, declaring, “God is
truly here among you.”
A Call to Orderly Worship
Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summa­
rize. When you meet together, one will sing,
another will teach, another will tell some
special revelation God has given, one will
speak in tongues, and another will interpret
what is said. But every­thing that is done must
strengthen all of you.
27
No more than two or three should speak in
26
14:15 Or in the Spirit; also in 14:15b, 16. 14:21b Isa 28:11-12. 14:21a Greek in the law. 1308
PHILIPPIANS 1
PG 1274
FLYOVER
PG 1304
DIRECT
PG 1304
SCENIC
2:1-18
2:1-18
1:1-11; 2:1-18
50
199
356
HAVE THE ATTITUDE OF CHRIST
While traveling throughout the Mediterranean world, Paul continues to write
letters in order to teach the churches he started. He writes to the church in
Philippi while he is under house arrest in Rome. Out of concern and love for the
members of this church, Paul encourages them in their Christian life. In the
big story, God continually wants to be in close relationship with his people. In
humility, he became human in the person of Jesus and even suffered death for
our sins. Paul calls Christians to follow Christ’s example of humility as we live
in the power of the Spirit.
GREETINGS FROM PAUL
PAUL’S JOY THAT CHRIST IS PREACHED
This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves
of Christ Jesus.
I am writing to all of God’s holy people in
Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including
the elders* and deacons.
2
May God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ give you grace and peace.
12
1
PAUL’S THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER
3
Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my
God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for
all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ
from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And
I am certain that God, who began the good
work within you, will continue his work until
it is finally finished on the day when Christ
Jesus returns.
7
So it is right that I should feel as I do about
all of you, for you have a special place in my
heart. You share with me the special favor of
God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News.
8
God knows how much I love you and long
for you with the tender compassion of Christ
Jesus.
9
I pray that your love will overflow more
and more, and that you will keep on growing
in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want
you to understand what really matters, so that
you may live pure and blameless lives until
the day of Christ’s return. 11 May you always
be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the
righteous character produced in your life by
Jesus Christ*—for this will bring much glory
SKIP TO 2:1
and praise to God.
And I want you to know, my dear brothers and
sisters,* that everything that has happened to
me here has helped to spread the Good News.
13
For everyone here, including the whole palace guard,* knows that I am in chains because
of Christ. 14 And because of my imprisonment,
most of the believers* here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message* without fear.
15
It’s true that some are preaching out of
jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about
Christ with pure motives. 16 They preach because they love me, for they know I have
been appointed to defend the Good News.
17
Those others do not have pure motives as
they preach about Christ. They preach with
selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to
make my chains more painful to me. 18 But that
doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false
or genuine, the message about Christ is being
preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will
continue to rejoice. 19 For I know that as you
pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps
me, this will lead to my deliverance.
PAUL’S LIFE FOR CHRIST
20
For I fully expect and hope that I will never be
ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for
Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust
that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether
I live or die. 21 For to me, living means living for
Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I
can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really
1:1 Or overseers; or bishops. 1:11 Greek with the fruit of righteousness
through Jesus Christ. 1:12 Greek brothers. 1:13 Greek including
all the Praetorium. 1:14a Greek brothers in the Lord. 1:14b Some
manuscripts read speak the message.
1309
PG
13
62
PHILIPPIANS 2
PG 1310
PG 1310
OBSERVATION POINT
EXPLORATION POINT
The Greeks had a high regard for competitive sports,
particularly chariot-, horse-, and footraces. Paul
used sports as a metaphor for the Christian life,
describing it as a strenuous contest or even combat against evil and former practices. He often used
athletic language (“I did not run the race in vain”) as
a way of illustrating the concepts he was teaching.
Because athletic analogies would have been familiar to the new believers, Paul used them to make
his teaching about Christian living more vivid and
memorable.
Philippians 2:6-11 is often called the Christ Hymn
because most scholars think Paul is actually quoting
something widely used in the worship of the early
church. It reveals the early church’s belief in Christ’s
nature: fully human yet fully divine. It declares that
although he was God, Jesus humbled himself,
became human, and died for the sins of all human
beings so that we could be restored to relationship
with God. The church remains unified in these beliefs
and waits with eager anticipation for the day when
Jesus will come again. On that day, every knee should
bow at the name of Jesus.
don’t know which is better. 23 I’m torn between
two desires: I long to go and be with Christ,
which would be far better for me. 24 But for your
sakes, it is better that I continue to live.
25
Knowing this, I am convinced that I will
remain alive so I can continue to help all of
you grow and experience the joy of your faith.
26
And when I come to you again, you will have
even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus
because of what he is doing through me.
3
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others.
Be humble, thinking of others as better than
yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own
interests, but take an interest in others, too.
PHILIPPI
LIVE AS CITIZENS OF HEAVEN
27
Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven,
conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of
the Good News about Christ. Then, whether
I come and see you again or only hear about
you, I will know that you are standing together
with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.
28
Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are
going to be destroyed, but that you are going
to be saved, even by God himself. 29 For you
have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering
for him. 30 We are in this struggle together. You
have seen my struggle in the past, and you
know that I am still in the midst of it.
PG 1123
b | SONGS | 2:6-11
HAVE THE ATTITUDE OF CHRIST
Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love?
Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your
hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make
me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly
with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.
PG 1412
2
5
You must have the same attitude that Christ
Jesus had.
 6
 7
 8
 9
Though he was God,*
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges*;
he took the humble position of a slave*
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,*
he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of
highest honor
2:6 Or Being in the form of God. 2:7a Greek he emptied himself.
2:7b Or the form of a slave. 2:7c Some English translations put this
phrase in verse 8.
Phil 1:1
Philippi was an ancient city in northeastern
Macedonia (modern Greece), ten miles
inland from the port city of Neapolis. It was
a colony established for Roman soldiers who
were stationed in the area. It soon became a
significant settlement because of its location
on the main east-west Roman road, the
Egnatian Way. In AD 50 Paul founded the first
Christian church in Europe here with the help
of Lydia and a Roman jailer.
1310
PHILIPPIANS 3
PG 1308
DIRECT
PG 1308
SCENIC
3:12–4:1
3:12–4:23
200
357
PRESSING TOWARD THE GOAL
Paul writes letters to real people who are dealing with real issues. Sometimes
this entails giving specific instructions directed at individuals in a specific church.
Paul obviously cares about them and wants them to live the way God calls them
to live in every situation. Even though he is addressing specific issues, Paul’s
advice on Christian living is as applicable in a modern context as it was for the
people named in the Bible text.
10
11
and gave him the name above all other
names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should
bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the
earth,
and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ
is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a
son with his father, he has served with me in
preaching the Good News. 23 I hope to send him
to you just as soon as I find out what is going
to happen to me here. 24 And I have confidence
from the Lord that I myself will come to see you
soon.
PAUL COMMENDS EPAPHRODITUS
25
Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, coworker, and fellow soldier. And he was your
messenger to help me in my need. 26 I am sending him because he has been longing to see
you, and he was very distressed that you heard
he was ill. 27 And he certainly was ill; in fact, he
almost died. But God had mercy on him—and
also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another.
28
So I am all the more anxious to send him
back to you, for I know you will be glad to see
him, and then I will not be so worried about
you. 29 Welcome him in the Lord’s love* and
with great joy, and give him the honor that
people like him deserve. 30 For he risked his life
for the work of Christ, and he was at the point
of death while doing for me what you couldn’t
do from far away.
SHINE BRIGHTLY FOR CHRIST
12
Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I
am away, it is even more important. Work hard
to show the results of your salvation, obeying
God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is
working in you, giving you the desire and the
power to do what pleases him.
14
Do everything without complaining and
arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live
clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked
and perverse people. 16 Hold firmly to the word
of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will
be proud that I did not run the race in vain and
that my work was not useless. 17 But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a
liquid offering to God,* just like your faithful
service is an offering to God. And I want all of
you to share that joy. 18 Yes, you should rejoice,
and I will share your joy.
PAUL COMMENDS TIMOTHY
19
If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send
Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can
cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. 20 I have no one else like Timothy,
who genuinely cares about your welfare. 21 All
the others care only for themselves and not
for what matters to Jesus Christ. 22 But you
THE PRICELESS VALUE OF KNOWING
CHRIST
3
Whatever happens, my dear brothers and
sisters,* rejoice in the Lord. I never get
tired of telling you these things, and I do it to
safeguard your faith.
2
Watch out for those dogs, those people who
do evil, those mutilators who say you must be
circumcised to be saved. 3 For we who worship
2:17 Greek I will rejoice even if I am to be poured out as a liquid offering.
2:29 Greek in the Lord. 3:1 Greek brothers; also in 3:13, 17.
PG
13
16
PG
13
14
PHILIPPIANS 4
OBSERVATION POINT
EXPLORATION POINT
The Book of Life (4:3) is mentioned only eight times
in the Bible: once in Psalm 69:28, here in Philippians, and six times in Revelation. This book contains
the names of those who will survive God’s wrath on
the day of the Lord and will have citizenship in the
Kingdom of God. It includes true believers of all times
and ages. According to Revelation 21:27, only people
named in this book will enter the new Jerusalem.
by the Spirit of God* are the ones who are truly
circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has
done for us. We put no confidence in human
effort, 4 though I could have confidence in my
own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others
have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!
5
I was circumcised when I was eight days
old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and
a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of
the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. 6 I was so zealous that
I harshly persecuted the church. And as for
righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.
7
I once thought these things were valuable,
but now I consider them worthless because
of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else
is worthless when compared with the infinite
value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his
sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ
9
and become one with him. I no longer count
on my own righteousness through obeying the
law; rather, I become righteous through faith
in Christ.* For God’s way of making us right
with himself depends on faith. 10 I want to
know Christ and experience the mighty power
that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer
with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one
way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!
We are saved by God’s grace, not by what we do or
don’t do. But in gratitude to God, we should strive to
live godly lives. As we grow spiritually and become
mature in our faith, we trust and obey God more.
Doing good deeds does not perfect us because we
are already declared perfect in God’s eyes through
Christ. God refines and transforms us as we strive
to do good deeds. Our ultimate perfection will come
when Christ returns.
thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward
to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end
of the race and receive the heavenly prize for
which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
15
Let all who are spiritually mature agree on
these things. If you disagree on some point, I
believe God will make it plain to you. 16 But we
must hold on to the progress we have already
made.
17
Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your
lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. 18 For I have told you often
before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes,
that there are many whose conduct shows they
are really enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 They
are headed for destruction. Their god is their
appetite, they brag about shameful things, and
they think only about this life here on earth.
20
But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord
Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting
for him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take
our weak mortal bodies and change them into
glorious bodies like his own, using the same
power with which he will bring everything
under his control.
4
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters,*
stay true to the Lord. I love you and long
to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and
the crown I receive for my work.
WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
2
Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please,
because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. 3 And I ask you, my true partner,* to
help these two women, for they worked hard
with me in telling others the Good News. They
PRESSING TOWARD THE GOAL
12
I don’t mean to say that I have already
achieved these things or that I have already
reached perfection. But I press on to possess
that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I
have not achieved it,* but I focus on this one
1311
3:3 Some manuscripts read worship God in spirit; one early
manuscript reads worship in spirit. 3:9 Or through the faithfulness
of Christ. 3:13 Some manuscripts read not yet achieved it.
4:1 Greek brothers; also in 4:8. 4:3 Or loyal Syzygus.
1362
Hebrews 11
PG 1308
FLYOVER
PG 1396
DIRECT
PG 1360
SCENIC
11:1-40
11:1-40
11:1-40
51
209
375
Great Examples of Faith
In the big story, God has always wanted his people to rely on him and demonstrate their faith by the way they lived. There are many examples of these faithful
people throughout the Bible. The writer of Hebrews regularly refers to Jewish
history in order to connect with the audience and keep their attention. Now the
writer focuses on the great heroes of Jewish history who remained strong in
their faith. This passage expounds on the lives of well-known historical figures
as examples of those who believed in God’s promise.
But we are not like those who turn away from
God to their own destruction. We are the faith­
ful ones, whose souls will be saved.
39
Great Examples of Faith
11
Faith is the confidence that what we
hope for will actually happen; it gives
us assurance about things we cannot see.
2
Through their faith, the people in days of old
earned a good reputation.
3
By faith we understand that the entire
universe was formed at God’s command, that
what we now see did not come from anything
that can be seen.
4
It was by faith that Abel brought a more ac­
ceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s
offering gave evidence that he was a righteous
man, and God showed his approval of his gifts.
Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to
us by his example of faith.
5
It was by faith that Enoch was taken up
to heaven without d
­ ying—“he disappeared,
because God took him.”* For before he was
taken up, he was known as a person who
pleased God. 6 And it is impossible to please
God without faith. Anyone who wants to come
to him must believe that God exists and that he
rewards those who sincerely seek him.
7
It was by faith that Noah built a large boat
to save his fam­i­ly from the flood. He obeyed
God, who warned him about things that had
never happened before. By his faith Noah con­
demned the rest of the world, and he received
the righteousness that ­comes by faith.
8
It was by faith that Abra­ham obeyed when
God called him to leave home and go to an­
other land that God would give him as his
inheritance. He went without knowing where
he was going. 9 And even when he reached
the land God promised him, he lived there
by f­aith—​­for he was like a foreigner, living
in tents. And so did I­saac and Jacob, who in­
herited the same promise. 10 ­Abra­ham was
confidently looking forward to a city with
eternal foundations, a city designed and built
by God.
11
It was by faith that even Sar­ah was able to
have a child, though she was barren and was
too old. She believed* that God would keep his
promise. 12 And so a whole nation came from
this one man who was as good as ­dead—​­a na­
tion with so many people that, like the stars in
the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is
no way to count them.
13
All these people died still believing what
God had promised them. They did not receive
what was promised, but they saw it all from a
distance and welcomed it. They agreed that
they were foreigners and nomads here on
earth. 14 Obviously people who say such things
are looking forward to a country they can call
their own. 15 If they had longed for the country
they came from, they could have gone back.
16
But they were looking for a better place, a
heavenly homeland. That is why God is not
ashamed to be called their God, for he has pre­
pared a city for them.
17
It was by faith that Abra­ham offered ­Isaac
as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abra­
ham, who had received God’s promises, was
ready to sacrifice his only son, ­Isaac, 18 even
though God had told him, “­Isaac is the son
11:5 Gen 5:24. 11:11 Or It was by faith that he [Abraham] was able
to have a child, even though Sarah was barren and he was too old.
He believed. Hebrews 111363
PG
14
16
PG
13
88
PG 1364
Observation Point
Exploration Point
Many heroes are mentioned by name; others are
not. The phrase “shut the mouths of lions, [and]
quenched the flames of fire” probably refers, respectively, to Daniel in the lions’ den and to Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. The
prophets Elijah and Jeremiah both escaped death
by the sword, and Elijah and Elisha brought people
back from the dead. But faith doesn’t guarantee
good outcomes. It is believed that Jeremiah was
stoned to death and that Isaiah was sawed in half.
Almost two centuries before Christ’s birth, many
faithful Jews suffered and died in a struggle against
Antiochus IV.
through whom your descendants will be
counted.”* 19 ­Abra­ham reasoned that if I­saac
died, God was able to bring him back to life
again. And in a sense, Abra­ham did receive his
son back from the dead.
20
It was by faith that I­saac promised bless­
ings for the future to his sons, Jacob and Esau.
21
It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old
and dying, blessed each of Jo­seph’s sons and
bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff.
22
It was by faith that Jo­seph, when he was
about to die, said confidently that the people
of Is­ra­el would leave Egypt. He even com­
manded them to take his bones with them
when they left.
23
It was by faith that ­Moses’ parents hid him
for three months when he was born. They saw
that God had given them an unusual child,
and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s
command.
24
It was by faith that M
­ oses, when he grew
up, refused to be called the son of Pha­raoh’s
daughter. 25 He chose to share the oppression
of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleet­
ing pleasures of sin. 26 He thought it was better
to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the
treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead
to his great reward. 27 It was by faith that M
­ oses
left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s
anger. He kept right on going because he kept
his eyes on the one who is invisible. 28 It was by
faith that ­Moses commanded the people of Is­
ra­el to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood
on the doorposts so that the angel of death
would not kill their firstborn sons.
29
It was by faith that the people of Is­ra­el
went right through the Red Sea as though they
These Old Testament heroes are examples of faith for
Christians to follow. They were not perfect; they were
flawed humans, and yet Hebrews holds them up as
worthy of our recognition and emulation. They persevered as they clung to God’s promise, even though
they died long before the promise was fulfilled. We
live knowing that God did keep his promise to send
the Messiah and save the world. Knowing that God’s
promises are secure should help us endure any suffering or trying times we face in life.
were on dry ground. But when the Egyptians
tried to follow, they were all drowned.
30
It was by faith that the people of Is­ra­el
marched around Jer­i­cho for seven days, and
the walls came crashing down.
31
It was by faith that Ra­hab the prostitute
was not destroyed with the people in her city
who refused to obey God. For she had given a
friendly welcome to the spies.
32
How much more do I need to say? It would
take too long to recount the stories of the faith
of Gid­e­on, Bar­ak, Sam­son, Jeph­thah, Da­vid,
Sam­ue­ l, and all the prophets. 33 By faith these
people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice,
and received what God had promised them.
They shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the
flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge
of the sword. Their weakness was turned to
strength. They became strong in battle and put
whole armies to flight. 35 Women received their
loved ones back again from death.
But others were tortured, refusing to turn
from God in order to be set free. They placed
their hope in a better life after the resurrection.
36
Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut
open with whips. Others were chained in pris­
ons. 37 Some died by stoning, some were sawed
in half,* and others were killed with the sword.
Some went about wearing skins of sheep and
goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated.
38
They were too good for this world, wandering
over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves
and holes in the ground.
39
All these people earned a good reputa­
tion because of their faith, yet none of them
received all that God had promised. 40 For God
11:18 Gen 21:12. 11:37 Some manuscripts add some were tested. 1364
Hebrews 12
PG 1362
12:1-29
SCENIC
376
God’s Discipline Proves His Love
In this section, the author gives Christians instructions for living holy, Christlike
lives. Sometimes they will face difficulties as a result of God’s discipline in their
lives, but this discipline is always intended to direct them to greater holiness.
As our loving Father, God corrects us because he cares for us, training us in his
way of right living.
had something better in mind for us, so that
they would not reach perfection without us.
a few years, doing the best they knew how.
But God’s discipline is always good for us, so
that we might share in his holiness. 11 No dis­
cipline is enjoyable while it is ­happening—​­it’s
painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful
harvest of right living for those who are trained
in this way.
12
So take a new grip with your tired hands
and strengthen your weak knees. 13 Mark out a
straight path for your feet so that those who
are weak and lame will not fall but become
strong.
God’s Discipline Proves His Love
12
Therefore, since we are surrounded by
such a huge crowd of witnesses to the
life of faith, let us strip off ­every weight that
slows us down, especially the sin that so eas­
ily trips us up. And let us run with endurance
the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by
keeping our eyes on J­ esus, the champion who
initiates and perfects our faith.* Because of
the joy* awaiting him, he endured the cross,
disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in
the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think
of all the hostility he endured from sinful
people;* then you won’t become weary and
give up. 4 After all, you have not yet given your
lives in your struggle against sin.
5
And have you forgotten the encouraging
words God spoke to you as his children?* He
said,
“My child,* don’t make light of the Lord’s
discipline,
and don’t give up when he corrects you.
 6
For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes each one he accepts as
his child.”*
7
As you endure this divine discipline, remem­
ber that God is treating you as his own children.
Who ever heard of a child who is never disci­
plined by its father? 8 If God ­doesn’t discipline
you as he does all of his children, it means that
you are illegitimate and are not real­ly his chil­
dren at all. 9 Since we respected our earthly fa­
thers who disciplined us, ­shouldn’t we submit
even more to the discipline of the Father of our
spirits, and live forever?*
10
For our earthly fathers disciplined us for
A Call to Listen to God
Work at living in peace with every­one, and
work at living a holy life, for those who are not
holy will not see the Lord. 15 Look after each
other so that none of you fails to receive the
grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root
of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupt­
ing many. 16 Make sure that no one is immoral
or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright
as the firstborn son for a single meal. 17 You
know that afterward, when he wanted his fa­
ther’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late
for repentance, even though he begged with
bitter tears.
18
You have not come to a physical moun­
tain,* to a place of flaming fire, darkness,
gloom, and whirlwind, as the I­s­ra­elites did
at Mount Si­nai. 19 For they heard an awesome
trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they
begged God to stop speaking. 20 They staggered
back under God’s command: “If even an ani­
mal touches the mountain, it must be stoned
to death.”* 21 ­Moses himself was so frightened
14
12:2a Or Jesus, the originator and perfecter of our faith. 12:2b Or
Instead of the joy. 12:3 Some manuscripts read Think of how people
hurt themselves by opposing him. 12:5a Greek sons; also in 12:7, 8. 12:5b Greek son; also in 12:6, 7. 12:5‑6 Prov 3:11‑12 (Greek version). 12:9 Or and really live? 12:18 Greek to something that can be
touched. 12:20 Exod 19:13. Hebrews 131365
PG
13
86
Observation Point
Exploration Point
Allusions to athletic activities were common in letter
writing during the first century. Physical contests,
particularly races, were very popular in Greco-Roman
culture. Spectators would line the course and fill
the stadium, but the runners would stay focused on
the goal by fixing their eyes on the judges at the finish line. Athletes ran in races unhindered by excess
clothing to avoid even the slightest encumbrance.
at the sight that he said, “I am terrified and
trembling.”*
22
No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the
city of the living God, the heavenly Je­ru­sa­lem,
and to countless thousands of angels in a joy­
ful gathering. 23 You have come to the assem­
bly of God’s firstborn children, whose names
are written in heaven. You have come to God
himself, who is the judge over all things. You
have come to the spirits of the righteous ones
in heaven who have now been made perfect.
24
You have come to J­esus, the one who me­
diates the new cov­enant between God and
people, and to the sprinkled blood, which
speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for
vengeance like the blood of Abel.
25
Be careful that you do not refuse to listen
to the One who is speaking. For if the people
of Is­ra­el did not escape when they refused to
listen to M
­ oses, the earthly messenger, we will
certainly not escape if we reject the One who
speaks to us from heaven! 26 When God spoke
from Mount Si­nai his voice shook the earth,
but now he makes another promise: “Once
again I will shake not only the earth but the
heavens also.”* 27 This means that all of cre­
ation will be shaken and removed, so that only
unshakable things will remain.
28
Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is
unshakable, let us be thankful and please God
by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.
29
For our God is a devouring fire.
Concluding Words
13
Keep on loving each other as brothers
and sisters.* 2 Don’t forget to show hos­
pitality to strangers, for some who have done
this have entertained angels without realizing
it! 3 Remember those in prison, as if you were
there yourself. Remember also those being
The Christian life is a long-distance run rather than
a sprint. To keep our faith strong for an entire lifetime, we can follow these tips: (1) Run the race that
God has for you, (2) focus on Jesus, (3) remember
that “the Lord disciplines those he loves,” (4) mark
out a straight path so you don’t stumble, (5) live in
peace, (6) pursue holiness, (7) look after each other,
(8) listen to God, (9) be thankful, and (10) worship
God with fear and awe.
mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own
bodies.
4
Give honor to marriage, and remain faith­
ful to one another in marriage. God will surely
judge people who are immoral and those who
commit adultery.
5
Don’t love money; be satisfied with what
you have. For God has said,
“I will never fail you.
I will never abandon you.”*
6
So we can say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper,
so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?”*
7
Remember your leaders who taught you
the word of God. Think of all the good that has
come from their lives, and follow the example
of their faith.
8
­Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today,
and forever. 9 So do not be attracted by strange,
new ideas. Your strength c­ omes from God’s
grace, not from rules about food, which ­don’t
help those who follow them.
10
We have an altar from which the priests in
the Tab­er­nacle* have no right to eat. 11 Under
the old system, the high priest brought the
blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacri­
fice for sin, and the bodies of the animals were
burned outside the camp. 12 So also J­esus suf­
fered and died outside the city gates to make
his people holy by means of his own blood.
13
So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and
bear the disgrace he bore. 14 For this world is
not our permanent home; we are looking for­
ward to a home yet to come.
15
Therefore, let us offer through ­Jesus a con­
tinual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming
12:21 Deut 9:19. 12:26 Hag 2:6. 13:1 Greek Continue in brotherly
love. 13:5 Deut 31:6, 8. 13:6 Ps 118:6. 13:10 Or tent. 1416
Revelation 21
PG 1362
FLYOVER
PG 1408
DIRECT
PG 1410
SCENIC
21:1–22:6
21:1–22:6
21:1–22:6
52
213
384
The New Jerusalem
While in exile on the island of Patmos, John experiences amazing visions. These
visions give the early Christian church great hope that God will be victorious in
all things. God’s big story has always been a story of hope for the future. God
made covenant promises with his people—for a son, a great nation, a homeland. He provided hope even in times of despair—hope for restoration, renewal,
and a Messiah. God continues to promise a future of hope for his church. He
shows John his plans through this vision, and God has preserved it to share with
the world.
thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is
the second death. 15 And anyone whose name
was not found recorded in the Book of Life was
thrown into the lake of fire.
5
This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the
dead did not come back to life until the thou­
sand years had ended.) 6 Blessed and holy are
those who share in the first resurrection. For
them the second death holds no power, but
they will be priests of God and of Christ and
will reign with him a thousand years.
The New Jerusalem
21
The Defeat of Satan
When the thousand years come to an end,
Sa­tan will be let out of his prison. 8 He will go
out to deceive the n
­ ations—​­called Gog and Ma­
gog—​­in e­ very corner of the earth. He will gather
them together for ­battle—​­a mighty army, as
numberless as sand along the seashore. 9 And I
saw them as they went up on the broad plain of
the earth and surrounded God’s people and the
beloved city. But fire from heaven came down
on the attacking armies and consumed them.
10
Then the devil, who had deceived them,
was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sul­
fur, joining the beast and the false prophet.
There they will be tormented day and night
forever and ever.
7
PG 1384
The Final Judgment
And I saw a great white throne and the one
sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his
presence, but they found no place to hide.
12
I saw the dead, both great and small, stand­
ing before God’s throne. And the books were
opened, including the Book of Life. And the
dead were judged according to what they had
done, as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave
up its dead, and death and the grave* gave up
their dead. And all were judged according to
their deeds. 14 Then death and the grave were
11
b | The Future | 21:1-8
PG 1447
Then I saw a new heaven and a new
earth, for the old heaven and the old
earth had disappeared. And the sea was also
gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Je­ru­sa­
lem, coming down from God out of heaven like
a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
3
I heard a loud shout from the throne, say­
ing, “Look, God’s home is now among his
people! He will live with them, and they will
be his people. God himself will be with them.*
4
He will wipe e­ very tear from their eyes, and
there will be no more death or sorrow or cry­
ing or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
5
And the one sitting on the throne said,
“Look, I am making every­thing new!” And
then he said to me, “Write this down, for what
I tell you is trustworthy and true.” 6 And he
also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and
the Ome­ga—​­the Beginning and the End. To
all who are thirsty I will give freely from the
springs of the water of life. 7 All who are victo­
rious will inherit all these blessings, and I will
be their God, and they will be my children.
8
“But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt,
murderers, the immoral, those who practice
witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all l­ iars—​­their
fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is
the second death.”
9
Then one of the seven angels who held the
20:13 Greek and Hades; also in 20:14. 21:3 Some manuscripts read
God himself will be with them, their God. Revelation 221417
PG 1418
PG 1418
PG 1418
Observation Point
Exploration Point
The description of the holy city contains imagery from
the Garden of Eden, the city of Jerusalem, and the
Temple. The Eden imagery is seen in God’s dwelling
among his people, the springs of the water of life, and
the tree of life. The city of Jerusalem is depicted in
the imagery of foundation stones, gates, and massive
walls. And the shape of the city (a perfect square)
corresponds with that of the Most Holy Place, the
innermost sanctum of the Temple. An actual Temple
is no longer needed because God’s presence permeates the entire holy city.
22
I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord
God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
23
And the city has no need of sun or moon, for
the glory of God illuminates the city, and the
Lamb is its light. 24 The nations will walk in its
light, and the kings of the world will enter the
city in all their glory. 25 Its gates will never be
closed at the end of day because there is no
night there. 26 And all the nations will bring
their glory and honor into the city. 27 Nothing
evil* will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who
practices shameful idolatry and d
­ ishonesty—​
­but only those whose names are written in the
Lamb’s Book of Life.
Jerusalem
In ad 70 the Romans destroyed the Temple
and much of Jerusalem during their war
against the Jews. Throughout their history
the Jews had taken pride in their glorious
city, which was situated high on a hill and
could be seen for miles around. John’s vision
of a restored Jerusalem, more glorious than
the earthly city had ever been, would have
given the church of new believers great joy
and hope.
Rev 21:1-2
seven bowls containing the seven last plagues
came and said to me, “Come with me! I will
show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
10
So he took me in the Spirit* to a great, high
mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Je­
ru­sa­lem, descending out of heaven from God.
11
It shone with the glory of God and sparkled
like a precious ­stone—​­like jasper as clear as
crystal. 12 The city wall was broad and high,
with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels.
And the names of the twelve tribes of Is­ra­el
were written on the gates. 13 There were three
gates on each ­side—​­east, north, south, and
west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foun­
dation stones, and on them were written the
names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15
The angel who talked to me held in his
hand a gold measuring stick to measure the
city, its gates, and its wall. 16 When he mea­
sured it, he found it was a square, as wide as
it was long. In fact, its length and width and
height were each 1,400 miles.* 17 Then he mea­
sured the walls and found them to be 216 feet
thick* (according to the human standard used
by the angel).
18
The wall was made of jasper, and the city
was pure gold, as clear as glass. 19 The wall of
the city was built on foundation stones inlaid
with twelve precious stones:* the first was
jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate,
the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth
carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth
beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase,
the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.
21
The twelve gates were made of ­pearls—​
­each gate from a single pearl! And the main
street was pure gold, as clear as glass.
God created humans so that he could be in loving
relationship with them. Ever since sin shattered that
intended relationship, God has been working toward
restoration. Covenants, promises, commandments,
and the incarnate presence of his Son have all been
steps in the process of showing humans his great love
for them. The day will come when God will make all
things new again. His creation will be restored, and
his relationship with his children will be perfected.
On that day, sin will be completely eradicated, and
every human will bow before him and call him Lord!
22
Then the angel showed me a river with
the water of life, clear as crystal, flow­
ing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 It
21:10 Or in spirit. 21:16 Greek 12,000 stadia [2,220 kilometers]. 21:17 Greek 144 cubits [65 meters]. 21:19 The identification of
some of these gemstones is uncertain. 21:27 Or ceremonially
unclean. 1418
Revelation 22
PG 1416
FLYOVER
PG 1416
DIRECT
PG 1416
SCENIC
22:7‑21
22:7‑21
22:7‑21
53
214
385
Jesus Is Coming
As the Christian church grew, so did opposition to the new Christian beliefs and
their new way of living. The persecuted churches needed hope to persevere. The
vision God gave to the apostle John provided great comfort for the early church,
and it has continued to do so for the church through the centuries. That story of
God’s hope continues today. The big story that started at the beginning of time
is not over yet. God will reveal himself in Christ the conquering King, and he will
unite himself with his followers for all time.
flowed down the center of the main street. On
each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing
twelve crops of fruit,* with a fresh crop each
month. The leaves were used for medicine to
heal the nations.
3
No longer will there be a curse upon any­
thing. For the throne of God and of the Lamb
will be there, and his servants will worship
him. 4 And they will see his face, and his
name will be written on their foreheads. 5 And
there will be no night ­there—​­no need for lamps
or ­sun—​­for the Lord God will shine on them.
And they will reign forever and ever.
6
Then the angel said to me, “Everything you
have heard and seen is trustworthy and true.
The Lord God, who inspires his prophets,* has
sent his angel to tell his servants what will
happen soon.*”
Jesus Is Coming
7
“Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are
those who obey the words of prophecy
written in this book.*”
8
I, John, am the one who heard and saw
all these things. And when I heard and saw
them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the
angel who showed them to me. 9 But he said,
“No, ­don’t worship me. I am a servant of God,
just like you and your brothers the prophets,
as well as all who obey what is written in this
book. Worship only God!”
10
Then he instructed me, “Do not seal up the
prophetic words in this book, for the time is
near. 11 Let the one who is doing harm continue
to do harm; let the one who is vile continue to
be vile; let the one who is righteous continue
to live righteously; let the one who is holy con­
tinue to be holy.”
“Look, I am coming soon, bringing
my reward with me to repay all people
according to their deeds. 13 I am the Alpha
and the Omega, the First and the Last, the
Beginning and the End.”
12
14
Blessed are those who wash their robes.
They will be permitted to enter through the
gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of
life. 15 Outside the city are the ­dogs—​­the sorcer­
ers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the
idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.
16
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you
this message for the churches. I am both
the source of David and the heir to his
throne.* I am the bright morning star.”
17
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let
anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let any­
one who is thirsty come. Let anyone who de­
sires drink freely from the water of life. 18 And
I solemnly declare to every­one who hears the
words of prophecy written in this book: If any­
one adds anything to what is written here, God
will add to that person the plagues described in
this book. 19 And if anyone removes any of the
words from this book of prophecy, God will re­
move that person’s share in the tree of life and
in the holy city that are described in this book.
20
He who is the faithful witness to all these
things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!”
Amen! Come, Lord J­ esus!
21
May the grace of the Lord J­esus be with
God’s holy people.*
22:2 Or twelve kinds of fruit. 22:6a Or The Lord, the God of the
spirits of the prophets. 22:6b Or suddenly, or quickly; also in 22:7,
12, 20. 22:7 Or scroll; also in 22:9, 10, 18, 19. 22:16 Greek I am
the root and offspring of David. 22:21 Other manuscripts read
be with all; still others read be with all of God’s holy people. Some
manuscripts add Amen. Revelation 221419
PG 1420
PG 1420
PG 1420
Observation Point
Exploration Point
In 22:16, Jesus clearly identifies himself and ties
the past to the future. Long ago God promised his
people that a star would come from Jacob (Numbers
24:17). To Isaiah he promised that a shoot would come
from “the stump of David’s family” (Isaiah 11:1). When
Jesus walked the earth, people knew he was the
son of David (Matthew 22:42). What was promised so
many centuries before has come true. In one statement, Jesus unites thousands of years of prophecies
and history.
THE SON OF MAN
Revelation 1; 13; 17
FOUR LIVING
BEINGS
Revelation 4
FOUR HORSEMEN
Revelation 6
THE SEAL OR
THE MARK
Revelation 7; 13
TRUMPET & BOWL
PLAGUES
Revelation 8; 16
GOD REIGNS IN THE
NEW JERUSALEM
Revelation 21
THE TREE OF LIFE
& RIVER OF LIFE
Revelation 22
What a triumphant ending! God promises to come
again to earth to be with his people. We can rejoice—
there’s a happy ending to God’s big story. And we are
all going to be part of it!
Revelation’s Old
Testament Imagery
Daniel 7; 10
John’s thinking and writing were
steeped in the Old Testament. The
book of Revelation adopts imagery
that appears everywhere from
Genesis to Malachi. Understanding
the meaning of these images in
the Old Testament can help make
sense of what John meant in
Revelation.
Ezekiel 1; 10
Zechariah 6
Ezekiel 9
Exodus 7–10
Tracing over 500 connections
to the Old Testament, here’s
a picture of how much
those books contributed to
Revelation’s famous imagery
and indelible prophecy.
Isaiah 60; Ezekiel 28;
Zechariah 14
Genesis 2–3;
Ezekiel 47
1 Samuel
Esther
Lamentations
Jonah
Nahum
Nehemiah
Micah
Ezra
Judges
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Zephaniah
Malachi
2 Samuel
Amos
Numbers
Proverbs
Joel
Hosea
2 Kings
Job
Leviticus
Deuteronomy
1 Kings
Zechariah
Daniel
Genesis
Jeremiah
Exodus
Ezekiel
Psalms
Isaiah
1420
PG 1418
FLYOVER
PG 1418
DIRECT
PG 1418
SCENIC
Waiting for Christ
The story of God’s chosen people did not end with the Revelation
of John; it continued through the centuries to the present.
Although the writings of the early church fathers are not included
in the Bible, they contributed to the church’s foundation and its
beliefs. The beliefs established and recorded during the early
centuries of church history are expressed in the creeds and
confessions that are based on the biblical canon and have guided
the church for ages.
GETTING YOUR
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In the two thousand years since Jesus came to earth, his followers
have spread the Good News to every continent of the world.
Christianity has greatly shaped Western civilization, influencing
law, ethics, social practices, philosophy, the arts, and politics.
Much of the modern West is steeped in Judeo-Christian beliefs,
first formed in the Old Testament and renewed by Jesus Christ.
Today, over two billion people call themselves Christians and are
waiting for Christ’s glorious return to earth.
CURRENT WORLD POWER:
Where Are We Going?
BEARINGS
YEAR:
Rome
Just as all believers in the past have waited, we too wait for
God to fulfill his promise that Jesus will come again to reign in
glory. We do not know when he will come, but we live in faithful
anticipation of his triumphant return. As we wait, we live in
faithful obedience to God, doing what he has called us to do in life
to bring him glory and promote his Kingdom. With expectation,
we pray with the church through the ages this simple prayer:
“Come, Lord Jesus!”
STATUS OF GOD’S PEOPLE:
Filled with God’s Spirit
Paul’s second
missionary
journey begins
Paul’s third
missionary
journey begins
Fire destroys
much of Rome
War between
Romans and
Jews leads to the
destruction of
Jerusalem
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Paul’s first
missionary
journey begins
The apostle
Thomas brings
Christianity to India
Paul is
imprisoned
in Rome
Buddhism
spreads to China
1421
54
215
386
Jesus as True North
From the time of Creation, Jesus has been present in the world. He was present when the universe
was set in place, and he was present with the chosen people of the Old Testament. He came to earth
as a human baby and lived with his people for thirty-three years. He suffered and died for the sins of
the world, then he conquered death when he rose again—all so that he could be with the people and
creation he loved. After he ascended into heaven, he gave his Spirit to his people, comforting them
and enabling them to boldly share the Good News with others. Jesus’ followers live for him, worship
him, and bring him glory. At a time known only to God, Jesus will come again to earth and reign in
glory over the new creation. He will be with us forever.
Where in the World Are We?
LONDON
COLOGNE
The Christian message
continues to spread all around
the Mediterranean. By the end
of the second century, Christian
communities exist in cities as
far away as North Africa, Spain,
France, Germany, and England.
ISTANBUL
CORDOVA
CARTHAGE
JERUSALEM
ALEXANDRIA
John writes the
Gospel of John
and 1– 3 John
YOU ARE
HERE
ad 85?
Hadrian forces
the Jews to leave
Jerusalem
The world still
waits for Christ’s
return
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Mount Vesuvius
erupts, destroying
Pompeii
John is exiled
to Patmos and
writes the book
of Revelation
Emperor
Constantine
legalizes
Christianity
throughout the
Roman Empire