So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart. But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. But...  Read More

When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, "What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble -- burned as they are?...  Read More

Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of the Hananel.The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zakkur son of Imri built next to them.The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid its bea...  Read More

Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, He did not resort to divination as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness. When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him and he spoke his message:"The prophecy of Balaam . . . the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly, the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who ...  Read More

This was the message Balaam delivered:"God is not a man, so He does not lie. He is not human, so He does not change His mind.Has He ever spoken and failed to act? Has He ever promised and not carried it through? Listen, I received a command to bless; God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it!No misfortune is in His plan for Jacob; no trouble is in store for Israel. For the LORD their God is with th...  Read More

Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron.  . . . "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place?           . . . And there is no water to drink!"Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them. The LORD said to Moses, "Take the staff, a...  Read More