When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, he made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel, as the LORD had promised through Samuel.. . . These were the chiefs of David's mighty warriors -- they, together with all Israel, gave his kingship strong support to extend it over the whole land, as the LORD had promised. . .Jashobeam, a...  Read More

Now the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before them, and many fell dead on Mount Gilboa. The Philistines were in hot pursuit of Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua. The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded him.Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and run me through, or these unc...  Read More

The people of the half tribe of Manasseh were numerous; they settled in the land from Bashan to Baal Hermon…These were the heads of their families: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah and Jahdiel. They were brave warriors, famous men, and heads of their families. But they were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors and prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land, who...  Read More

Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His Name; worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness.The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the glory of God thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic…The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of l...  Read More

The Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 men ready for military service -- able-bodied men who could handle shield and sword, who could use a bow, and who were trained for battle. They waged war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish and Nodab. They were helped in fighting them, and God delivered the Hagrites and all their allies into their hands, because they cried out ...  Read More

The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father's marriage bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph . . . so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright, and though Judah was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler came from him, the rights of the firstborn belonged to Joseph) . . .   I ...  Read More

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.. . . For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.I praise you beca...  Read More

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked Him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?""The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength....  Read More

So in the ninth year of Zedekiah's reign . . . Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army. He encamped outside the city and built siege works all around it. The city was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.By the ninth day of the fourth month the famine in the city had become so severe that there was no food for the people to eat. Then the c...  Read More

To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.   John 8:32; 36."The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery o...  Read More

"Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were cut and from the quarry from which you were hewn; look to Abraham, your father and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him he was only one man, and I blessed him and made him many. The LORD will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; He will make her deserts ...  Read More

Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. He went up to the temple of the LORD with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets -- all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the LORD. The king stood by the pillar and renewed th...  Read More