Exodus Cross References - ISV

¹ The Israelis Prosper in EgyptThese are the names of the Israelis who entered Egypt with Jacob, each one having come with his family: ² Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, ³ Issacar, Zebulun, Benjamin, ⁴ Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. ⁵ All those who descended from Jacob totaled 75 persons. Now Joseph was already in Egypt. ⁶ Then Joseph, all his brothers, and that entire generation died. ⁷ But the Israelis were fruitful and increased abundantly. They multiplied in numbers and became very, very strong. As a result, the land was filled with them.
⁸ The Israelis Become SlavesEventually a new king who was unacquainted with Joseph came to power in Egypt. ⁹ He told his people, “Look, the Israeli people are more numerous and more powerful than we are. ¹⁰ Come on, let’s be careful how we treat them, so that when they grow numerous, if a war breaks out they won’t join our enemies, fight against us, and leave our land.” ¹¹ So the Egyptians placed supervisors over them, oppressing them with heavy burdens. The Israelis built the supply cities of Pithom and Rameses for Pharaoh. ¹² But the more the Egyptians afflicted the Israelis, the more they multiplied and flourished, so that the Egyptians became terrified of the Israelis. ¹³ The Egyptians ruthlessly forced the Israelis to serve them, ¹⁴ making their lives bitter through hard labor with mortar, bricks, and all kinds of outdoor labor. They ruthlessly imposed all this work on them.
¹⁵ Pharaoh Orders Male Children KilledLater, the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah. ¹⁶ “When you help the Hebrew women give birth,” he said, “watch them as they deliver. If it’s a son, kill him; but if it’s a daughter, let her live.” ¹⁷ But the midwives feared God and didn’t do what the king of Egypt told them. Instead, they let the boys live.
¹⁸ When the king of Egypt called for the midwives, he asked them, “Why have you done this and allowed the boys to live?”
¹⁹ “Hebrew women aren’t like Egyptian women,” the midwives replied to Pharaoh. “They’re so healthy that they give birth before the midwives arrive to help them.”
²⁰ God was pleased with the midwives, and the people multiplied and became very strong. ²¹ Because the midwives feared God, he provided families for them. ²² Meanwhile, Pharaoh continued commanding all of his people, “You’re to throw every Hebrew son who is born into the Nile River, but you’re to allow every Hebrew daughter to live.”

³¹ Leah’s ChildrenLater, the LORD noticed that Leah was being neglected, so he made her fertile, while Rachel remained childless.

¹⁸ Just before she died, Rachel called her son’s name Ben-oni, but his father Jacob named him Benjamin.

²³ Leah’s sons were Reuben (Jacob’s first-born), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. ²⁴ Rachel’s sons were Joseph and Benjamin. ²⁵ Rachel’s servant Bilhah’s sons were Dan and Naphtali. ²⁶ Leah’s servant Zilpah’s sons were Gad and Asher. These were Jacob’s sons who were born to him while he lived in Paddan-aram.

⁸ List of Those who Went to Egypt
Here’s a list of the names of Israel’s sons, that is, of Jacob and his sons who moved to Egypt: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn; ⁹ Reuben’s sons Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi; ¹⁰ Simeon’s sons Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, who was the son of a Canaanite woman; ¹¹ Levi’s sons Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; ¹² and Judah’s sons Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah. (Technically, Er and Onan had died in the land of Canaan.) Perez’s sons were Hezron and Hamul. ¹³ Also included were Issachar’s sons Tola, Puvvah, Job, and Shimron; ¹⁴ along with Zebulun’s sons Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. ¹⁵ These were all sons from Leah, whom she bore for Jacob in Paddan-aram, along with his daughter Dinah. He had 33 sons and daughters.
¹⁶ Also included were Gad’s sons Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli; ¹⁷ Asher’s sons Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah. Beriah’s sons Heber and Malchiel were also included. ¹⁸ These were all sons from Zilpah, whom Laban had given to his daughter Leah. She bore these sixteen children for Jacob.
¹⁹ Jacob’s wife Rachel’s sons were Joseph and Benjamin.
²⁰ Joseph’s sons born in the land of Egypt were Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On, bore for him. ²¹ Benjamin’s sons included Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. ²² These were all the sons of Rachel, who were born for Jacob—fourteen in all.
²³ Also included were Dan’s son Hushim; ²⁴ Naphtali’s sons Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. ²⁵ These were sons of Bilhah, whom Laban had given to his daughter Rachel. She bore these children for Jacob—seven in all.
²⁶ All of these people, who belonged to Jacob’s family, traveled to Egypt. All of Jacob’s direct descendants, not including his sons’ wives, numbered 66 persons in all.

³ On the Future of Reuben“Reuben, you’re my firstborn, my strength, and the first fruit of my vitality. You excel in rank and excel in power. ⁴ But you’re as undisciplined as a roaring river, so eventually you won’t succeed, because you got in your father’s bed, defiled it, and then approached my couch.”
⁵ On the Future of Simeon and Levi“Simeon and Levi are brothers; their swords are violent weapons. ⁶ I’ll never join their council; I’ll never enter their assembly. In their anger they committed murder and lamed cattle just for fun. ⁷ Their anger is cursed, because it is so fierce, as is their vehemence, because it is so cruel. I will separate them throughout Jacob’s territory and disperse them throughout Israel.”
⁸ On the Future of Judah“Your brothers will praise you, Judah. Your hand will be at the throat of your enemies, and your father’s children will bow down to you. ⁹ Judah is a lion cub. My son, you have gone up from the prey. Crouching like a lion, he lies down, Like a lioness, who would dare rouse him? ¹⁰ The scepter will never depart from Judah, nor a ruler’s staff from between his feet, until the One comes, who owns them both, and to him will belong the allegiance of nations. ¹¹ Binding his donkey to the vine and his mare’s foal to its thick tendrils, he will wash his garments in wine and his robe in the juice of grapes. ¹² His eyes are darker than wine and his teeth whiter than milk.”
¹³ On the Future of Zebulun“Zebulun will settle down near the sea shore and become a safe haven for shipping, bordering Sidon.”
¹⁴ On the Future of Issachar“Issachar is a strong donkey, resting between sheepfolds. ¹⁵ He observed that his resting place was excellent, and that the land was pleasant; he bent down, picked up his burdens, and became a slave at forced labor.”
¹⁶ On the Future of Dan“Dan will judge his people as one of Israel’s tribes. ¹⁷ Dan will be a snake on the path, a viper on the road that snaps at the heels of horses, causing their riders to fall off. ¹⁸ “LORD, I’m waiting for your salvation.”
¹⁹ On the Future of Gad“Bandits will raid Gad, but Gad will raid them back.”
²⁰ On the Future of Asher“Asher’s food will be delicious; he will be a provider of delicacies fit for royalty.”
²¹ On the Future of Naphtali“Naphtali is a free running deer who produces eloquent literature.”
²² On the Future of Joseph“Joseph is descended from a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine planted near springs of water. His branches climb over walls. ²³ Even though enemies attacked him, shooting at him and pursuing him viciously, ²⁴ nevertheless his bow remained steady and his arms kept in shape by the strength of Jacob’s Mighty One, in the name of the Shepherd, Israel’s Rock, ²⁵ by your father’s God who helps you, by the Almighty who will keep on blessing you with blessings from heaven above, with blessings from the deepest ocean, with blessing from the breasts and the womb. ²⁶ Your father’s blessings will prove to be stronger than blessings from the eternal mountains or bounties from the everlasting hills. May they come to rest on Joseph’s head, May they be set upon the brow of the one who was separated from his own brothers.”
²⁷ On the Future of Benjamin“Benjamin is vicious like a wolf; what he kills in the morning he devours in the evening.”

¹⁴ Genealogies of Moses and AaronThese are the heads of their ancestors’ households: the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch and Pallu; Hezron and Carmi.
These are the families of Reuben, including ¹⁵ Simeon’s sons Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the Canaanite woman’s son. These are the families of Simeon.
¹⁶ These are the names of Levi’s sons according to their genealogies: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Levi lived 137 years.

¹ Genealogies of Israel and Judah
Here’s a list of Israel’s sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, ² Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

²³ David’s Army at HebronWhat follows is a listing of the divisions of battle-ready troops who joined David in Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, in accordance with what the LORD had spoken. ²⁴ The army of Judah, equipped with both shields and spears, numbered 6,800 warriors, ²⁵ the elite warriors of Simeon numbered 7,100, ²⁶ and the descendants of Levi numbered 4,600.
²⁷ Jehoiada, a senior officer in the house of Aaron, brought with him 3,700. ²⁸ Zadok, a young and valiant soldier, brought 22 commanders from his own ancestral house.
²⁹ The tribe of Benjamin, relatives of Saul numbered 3,000, of whom most had remained allied to what remained of Saul’s dynasty.
³⁰ The tribe of Ephraim supplied 20,800 valiant soldiers who were well known in their ancestral households.
³¹ The half-tribe of Manasseh supplied 18,000, who had been appointed specifically to come and establish David as king.
³² The tribe of Issachar supplied 200 leaders, along with all of their relatives under their command. They kept up-to-date in their understanding of the times and knew what Israel should do.
³³ The tribe of Zebulun supplied 50,000 experienced troops, trained in the use of every kind of war weapon, in order to help David with undivided loyalty.
³⁴ The tribe of Naphtali supplied 1,000 commanders, accompanied by 37,000 troops armed with shields and spears.
³⁵ The tribe of Dan supplied 28,600 battle-ready troops.
³⁶ The tribe of Asher supplied 40,000 experienced, battle-ready troops.
³⁷ The tribes of Reuben and Gad, along with the half-tribe of Manasseh east of the Jordan supplied 120,000 men armed with every kind of war weapon.
³⁸ All these warriors arrived in battle order at Hebron, fully intending to establish David as king over all Israel. Furthermore, all of the rest of Israel were united in their intent to make David king. ³⁹ They spent three days eating and drinking with David, since their relatives had supplied provisions for them.
⁴⁰ Their neighbors came from as far away as the territories of Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, bringing provisions loaded on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. They brought abundant provisions of meal, fig bars, raisins, wine, oil, oxen, and sheep, because there was joy in Israel.

¹⁶ Tribal LeadersWielding the scepters of Israel for the descendants of Reuben, there was Zichri’s son Eliezer as chief officer; for the descendants of Simeon there was Maacah’s son Shephatiah; ¹⁷ for Levi there was Kemuel’s son Hashabiah; for Aaron there was Zadok; ¹⁸ for Judah there was Elihu, one of David’s brothers; for Issachar there was Michael’s son Omri; ¹⁹ for Zebulun there was Obadiah’s son Ishmaiah; for Naphtali, there was Azriel’s son Jerimoth; ²⁰ for the descendants of Ephraim, there was Azaziah’s son Hoshea; for the half-tribe of Manasseh, there was Pedaiah’s son Joel; ²¹ for the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, there was Zechariah’s son Iddo; for Benjamin, there was Abner’s son Jaasiel; ²² for Dan, there was Jeroham’s son Azarel. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel.

⁴ I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000. Those who were sealed were from every tribe of Israel: ⁵ 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 from the tribe of Gad, ⁶ 12,000 from the tribe of Asher, 12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh, ⁷ 12,000 from the tribe of Simeon, 12,000 from the tribe of Levi, 12,000 from the tribe of Issachar, ⁸ 12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000 from the tribe of Joseph, and 12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed.

²² But while Israel lived in that land, Reuben went inside his father’s tent and had sexual relations with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Now Jacob had twelve sons. ²³ Leah’s sons were Reuben (Jacob’s first-born), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.

²⁰ the fourth row beryl, onyx, and jasper, and they are to be set in gold filigree.

²⁶ All of these people, who belonged to Jacob’s family, traveled to Egypt. All of Jacob’s direct descendants, not including his sons’ wives, numbered 66 persons in all. ²⁷ Joseph had two sons born to him in Egypt, and all of Jacob’s household who went to Egypt numbered 70.

²⁰ God was pleased with the midwives, and the people multiplied and became very strong.

²² Your ancestors went down to Egypt with 70 people, but the LORD your God has now made you as numerous as the stars in the sky.”

³⁰ Gideon raised 70 sons as his direct descendants, since he had many wives.

²⁴ Later, Joseph told his brothers, “I’m going to die soon, but God will certainly provide for you and bring you up from this land to the land that he promised with an oath to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

²⁶ Some time later, Joseph died at the age of 110 years, and he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.

¹⁴ Then Joseph invited his father Jacob and all his relatives to come to him in Egypt—75 persons in all. ¹⁵ So Jacob went down to Egypt. Then he and our ancestors died. ¹⁶ They were brought back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought at a high price from Hamor’s descendants in Shechem.

²⁰ Then God said, “Let the oceans swarm with living creatures, and let flying creatures soar above the earth throughout the sky!”

²⁸ God blessed the humans by saying to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it! Be masters over the fish in the ocean, the birds that fly, and every living thing that crawls on the earth!”

¹ The Covenant with NoahGod blessed Noah and his sons and ordered them, “Be productive, multiply, and fill the earth.

² I’ll make a great nation of your descendants, I’ll bless you, and I’ll make your reputation great, so that you will be a blessing.

¹⁶ I’ll make your descendants as plentiful as the specks of dust of the earth, so that if one could count the specks of dust of the earth, then your descendants could also be counted.

⁵ Then the LORD took him outside. “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if you can!” he said. “Your descendants will be that numerous.”

⁴ “Look, I’ve made a covenant with you. You will be the father of many nations. ⁵ Your name is no longer to be Abram. Instead your name will be Abraham, since I’ll make you the father of many nations. ⁶ I’m going to cause you to have many descendants, and I’ll bring nations from you. Kings will come from you.

¹⁶ I will bless her. Furthermore, I will give you a son from her. I will bless her, so that nations, kings, and people will come from her.”

¹⁷ I will certainly bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in heaven and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the gates of their enemies.

⁴ I’ll cause you to have as many descendants as the stars of the heavens, and I’ll certainly give all these lands to your descendants. Later on, through your descendants all the nations of the earth will bless one another.

³ May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful so that your descendants become a whole group of people. ⁴ May he give you and your descendants the blessings that he gave Abraham. May you possess the land where you have lived that God gave to Abraham.”

¹⁴ Your descendants are going to become like the dust of the earth and spread out to the west, east, north, and south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants.

¹¹ and also told him, “I am God Almighty. You are to be fruitful and multiply. You will become a nation— in fact, an assembly of nations! Kings will come from you— they’ll emerge from your own loins!

³ “I’m God, your father’s God. Don’t be afraid to move down to Egypt, because I’m going to turn you into a mighty nation there.

²⁷ Israel remained in Egypt’s Goshen territory, acquired land there, became prosperous, and his descendants grew very numerous.

⁴ He told me, ‘Pay attention! I’m going to make you fruitful and numerous. I’m going to build you into a vast nation of people and then I’ll give this land to your descendants for an eternal possession.’

¹⁶ the angel who has been rescuing me from all sorts of evil, bless these young men. May my name continue to live on within them, including the names of my ancestors Abraham and Isaac, and may they grow into a vast multitude throughout the earth.”

³⁷ The Exodus BeginsAbout 600,000 Israeli men traveled from Rameses to Succoth on foot, not counting children.

⁵ Then you are to affirm and declare in the presence of the LORD your God: ‘A wandering Aramean was my ancestor, who went down to Egypt and traveled there with very few family members, yet there he became a great, powerful, and populous nation.

²³ “You multiplied their descendants like the stars in heaven and brought them to the land about which you told their ancestors to enter and possess.

²⁴ He caused his people to multiply greatly; and be more numerous than their enemies.

¹⁷ “Now as the time approached for the fulfillment of the promise that God had made to Abraham, the people’s population increased a great deal in Egypt. ¹⁸ Eventually, a different king who had not known Joseph became ruler of Egypt.

¹⁸ The Pointlessness of LaborThen I despised everything I had worked for on earth, that is, the things that I will leave to the person who will succeed me. ¹⁹ And who knows whether he will be wise or foolish? Either way, he will take possession of everything that I have done on earth, especially where I have excelled. This also is pointless.

¹⁵ Now there was found within it a poor, but wise man. He delivered the city by his wisdom, but not one person remembered that poor man.

¹⁸ Eventually, a different king who had not known Joseph became ruler of Egypt.

⁴ the Moabites told the elders of Midian, “This horde of people is about to lick up everything around us, like an ox licks up the green ground.”
At that time, Zippor’s son Balak was the king of Moab. ⁵ He sent messengers to Beor’s son Balaam in Pethor, near the Euphrates River, the land where the descendants of his people originated, to summon his aid. He said, “Look! A group of people have escaped from Egypt. They cover the surface of the whole earth, and are sitting here right in front of me.

² For wrath will slay a fool; zealous anger will kill the naive.

²⁴ He caused his people to multiply greatly; and be more numerous than their enemies. ²⁵ He caused them to hate his people and to deceive his servants.

²⁸ A large population is a king’s glory, but a shortage of people is a ruler’s ruin.

⁴ Wrath can be fierce and anger overwhelms but who can stand up to jealousy?

⁴ Then I examined all sorts of work, including all kinds of excellent achievements that create envy in others. This also is pointless and chasing after the wind.

³ After all, we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, and misled. We were slaves to many kinds of lusts and pleasures, spending our days in malice and jealousy. We were despised, and we hated one another.

¹⁴ But if you have bitter jealousy and rivalry in your hearts, stop boasting and slandering the truth. ¹⁵ That kind of wisdom does not come from above. No, it is worldly, self-centered, and demonic. ¹⁶ For wherever jealousy and rivalry exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil.

⁵ Or do you think the Scripture means nothing when it says that the Spirit that God caused to live in us jealously yearns for us?

⁶ So come right now and curse this people for me, because there are too many of them for me to handle. Perhaps I’ll be able to strike them down and drive them out of the land, since I know that whomever you bless is blessed and whomever you curse is cursed.”

¹³ He captures the wise in their own craftiness, bringing a quick end to their cunning advice.

² The wicked one arrogantly pursues the afflicted, who are trapped in the schemes he devises.

³ They plot against your people and conspire against your cherished ones. ⁴ They say, “Let us go and erase them as a nation so the name of Israel will not be remembered anymore.”

²⁵ He caused them to hate his people and to deceive his servants.

¹¹ If they say, “Come with us! Let’s lie in wait for blood; let’s ambush some innocent person for no reason at all.

²⁵ Advice to the WiseThere is a road that seems right for a man to travel, but in the end it’s the road to death.

³⁰ No wisdom, insight, or counsel can prevail against the LORD.

¹⁹ By shrewdly scheming against our people, he oppressed our ancestors and forced them to abandon their infants to the elements, so that they wouldn’t live.

¹² Some Jews Plot to Kill PaulIn the morning, the Jewish leaders formed a conspiracy and took an oath not to eat or drink anything before they had killed Paul.

¹⁸ True WisdomLet no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in the ways of this world, he must become a fool to become really wise. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is nonsense in God’s sight. For it is written, “He catches the wise with their own trickery,”
²⁰ and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are worthless.”

¹⁵ That kind of wisdom does not come from above. No, it is worldly, self-centered, and demonic. ¹⁶ For wherever jealousy and rivalry exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil.
¹⁷ However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, willing to yield, full of compassion and good deeds, and without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. ¹⁸ And a harvest of righteousness is grown from the seed of peace planted by peacemakers.

¹³ Then the LORD told Abram, “You can be certain about this: Your descendants will be foreigners in a land that isn’t theirs. They will be slaves there and will be oppressed for 400 years.

¹¹ Joseph settled his father and brothers, assigning them their own land in the best part of Egypt (in the territory of Rameses), just as Pharaoh had ordered.

¹¹ Moses Kills an EgyptianYears later, after Moses had grown up, he went out to his own people, and took notice of their heavy burdens. He saw an Egyptian beating up a Hebrew, one of his own people.

⁷ The LORD said, “I have certainly seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and I have heard their cry caused by their slave masters. I really do understand their pain,

⁴ The king of Egypt replied to them, “Moses and Aaron, why are you keeping the people from their labor? Go back to your work!” ⁵ Then Pharaoh said, “Look, the people in the land are now numerous, and you are stopping them from working.”
⁶ Pharaoh Increases the Israelis’ WorkThat day Pharaoh ordered the taskmasters of the people and their officials,

¹⁵ The Israelis’ Appeal Rejected by PharaohThe Israeli supervisors came and cried out to Pharaoh, “Why are you doing this to us?

⁶ Therefore, tell the Israelis, ‘I am the LORD. I’ll bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I’ll deliver you from their bondage. I’ll redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. ⁷ I’ll take you for my own people, and I’ll be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

¹⁵ Our ancestors went down to Egypt, where we lived for many years. But the Egyptians treated us and our ancestors viciously.

⁶ But the Egyptians oppressed us, afflicted us, and assigned us to hard labor.

¹⁹ along with the storage cities that Solomon used for his chariots and for his cavalry, everything that Solomon felt like building in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in every territory under his control.

⁴ Then he rebuilt Tadmor in the desert, along with supply centers that he had built in Hamath.

¹³ When you men lie down among the sheepfolds, you are like the wings of the dove covered with silver, with its feathers in glittering gold.”

⁶ I removed the burden from your shoulder; your hands were freed of the burdensome basket.

¹³ they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.

⁹ He told his people, “Look, the Israeli people are more numerous and more powerful than we are.

¹⁹ Then the Pharisees told one another, “You see, there is nothing you can do. Look, the world has gone after him!”

² They were greatly disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people and announcing that Jesus had been resurrected from the dead. ³ So they arrested them and placed them in custody until the next day, since it was already evening. ⁴ But many of those who heard their message believed, and the men grew to number about 5,000.

²⁸ He said, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in his name, didn’t we? Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to bring this man’s blood on us!”
²⁹ But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men! ³⁰ The God of our ancestors raised Jesus to life after you killed him by hanging him on a tree. ³¹ God has exalted to his right hand this very man as our Leader and Savior in order to extend repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. ³² We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who keep on obeying him.”
³³ When the Council heard this, they became furious and wanted to kill them.

²⁸ And we know that for those who love God, that is, for those who are called according to his purpose, all things are working together for good.

⁶ For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he punishes every son he accepts.” ⁷ What you endure disciplines you: God is treating you as sons. Is there a son whom his father does not discipline? ⁸ Now if you are without any discipline, in which all sons share, then you are illegitimate and not God’s sons. ⁹ Furthermore, we had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them for it. We should submit even more to the Father of our spirits and live, shouldn’t we? ¹⁰ For a short time they disciplined us as they thought best, but God does it for our good, so that we may share in his holiness. ¹¹ No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, for those who have been trained by it, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace.

²⁰ For the LORD took you and brought you out of the iron-smelting furnace—out of Egypt—to be the people of his inheritance, as you are today.

¹³ The Egyptians ruthlessly forced the Israelis to serve them,

²³ The Israelis Cry Out to GodThe king of Egypt eventually died, and the Israelis groaned because of the bondage. They cried out, and their cry for deliverance from slavery ascended to God.

⁷ “You’re no longer to give the people straw for making bricks, as in the past. They must gather straw for themselves. ⁸ But you’re to impose the previous quota of bricks that they’re making. You’re not to reduce it! It is because they’re lazy that they’re crying out, ‘Let’s go offer sacrifices to our God.’ ⁹ So increase the work load on the people, and let them do it so they don’t pay attention to deceptive speeches.”
¹⁰ Then the taskmasters of the people and their officials went out and told the people, “This is Pharaoh’s response: ‘I’ll no longer give you any straw. ¹¹ Go get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work quotas won’t be reduced at all.’” ¹² So the people scattered throughout the entire land of Egypt to collect stubble for straw.
¹³ The taskmasters pressured them by saying, “Finish your work—each day’s quota—just as when you were given straw.”
¹⁴ The Israeli supervisors whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had appointed over them were beaten and told, “Why didn’t you, both yesterday and today, fulfill your quota for making bricks as before?”
¹⁵ The Israelis’ Appeal Rejected by PharaohThe Israeli supervisors came and cried out to Pharaoh, “Why are you doing this to us? ¹⁶ No straw is being given to us, yet they’re saying to us, ‘Make bricks!’ Look, we are being beaten. It’s wrong how you are treating your people!”
¹⁷ Then Pharaoh said, “You are lazy, lazy! That’s why you’re saying, ‘Let’s go offer sacrifices to the LORD.’ ¹⁸ Now, go! Get to work! And straw won’t be given to you, but you are to deliver the same number of bricks!” ¹⁹ The Israeli supervisors realized they were in trouble when he said, “You won’t reduce each day’s quota of bricks!”
²⁰ The Israelis Blame Moses and Moses Complains to GodAs they left Pharaoh’s presence, they met Moses and Aaron standing there. ²¹ The supervisors told them, “May the LORD look on you and judge you! You have made us repulsive to Pharaoh and his servants. You have put a sword in their hands to kill us.”

⁹ Then Moses reported this to the Israelis, but they did not listen to Moses due to their irritation and impatience because there was no deliverance and because of the cruel bondage.

² “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

⁴³ You are not to rule over them with harshness. You are to fear your God.”

⁴⁶ You may give them as inherited property to your children after you, to own as properties in perpetuity. You may make bond slaves of them, but no one is to rule over his fellow Israeli with harshness.

⁵³ Like a hired servant, he is to remain with him year after year, but he is not to rule over him with what you see as severity.

²⁰ But Naomi replied, “Don’t call me ‘Naomi’! Call me ‘Mara’! That’s because the Almighty has dealt bitterly with me.

⁶ that struck down peoples in anger with unceasing blows, that oppressed nations in fury with relentless persecution.

²³ But I will put it into the hands of those who tormented and oppressed you, those who said to you, ‘Lie down, so we can step over you,’ so that you had to make your back like the ground, and like a street for them to walk over.”

⁵ “Now therefore, what am I doing here,” asks the LORD, “seeing that my people are taken away without cause? Those who rule over them are deluded,” says the LORD, “and continuously, all the day long, my name is blasphemed.

⁶ Isn’t this the fast that I have been choosing: to loose the bonds of injustice, and to untie the cords of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?

³³ This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: “The people of Israel are oppressed, along with the people of Judah. All their captors have held on to them and refused to let them go. ³⁴ Their Redeemer is strong, the LORD of the Heavenly Armies is his name. He will vigorously plead their case in order to bring rest to the earth, but turmoil to the inhabitants of Babylon.

³ You eat the flesh of my people, flaying their skin from them. You break their bones, chopping them in pieces like meat for a pot, like meat destined for a soup kettle.’

¹⁴ The Futility of Avoiding God’s Judgment“Draw water, because a siege is coming! Strengthen your fortresses! Make the clay good and strong! Mix the mortar! Go get your brick molds!

³⁴ I have surely seen the oppression of my people in Egypt, I’ve heard their groans, and I’ve come down to rescue them. Now come, I’ll send you to Egypt.’

²² Meanwhile, Pharaoh continued commanding all of his people, “You’re to throw every Hebrew son who is born into the Nile River, but you’re to allow every Hebrew daughter to live.”

³⁸ But when the tenant farmers saw his son, they told one another, ‘This is the heir. Come on, let’s kill him and get his inheritance!’

⁴ Its tail swept away one-third of the stars in the sky and knocked them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth so that it could devour her child when it was born.

¹¹ “I thought that there’s no fear of God in this place,” Abraham replied, “and that they would kill me because of my wife.

¹⁸ Three days later, Joseph told them, “I fear God, so do this and you’ll live.

²¹ Because the midwives feared God, he provided families for them.

¹⁵ Nevertheless, the former governors before me placed a heavy burden on the people. They received food and wine, plus a tax of 40 shekels of silver. Even their young men took advantage of the people, but I never did so because I feared God.

¹⁹ How great is your goodness that you have reserved for those who fear you, that you have set in place for those who take refuge in you, in the presence of the children of men.

¹³ The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. Pride, arrogance, an evil lifestyle, and perverted speech I despise.

⁶ Iniquity is atoned for by gracious love and truth, and through fear of the LORD people turn from evil.

¹¹ Rescue those who are being led away to death, and save those who stumble toward slaughter. ¹² If you say, “Look here, we didn’t know about this,” doesn’t God, who examines motives, discern it? Doesn’t the one who guards your soul know about it? Won’t he repay each person according to what he has done?

¹² Even though a sinner does what is wrong a hundred times and still survives, nevertheless I also know that things will go well for those who fear God, who fear in his presence.

¹³ Let the conclusion of all of these thoughts be heard: Fear God and obey his commandments, for this is what it means to be human.

¹⁶ Daniel’s Friends Answer King NebuchadnezzarShadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, “It’s not necessary for us to respond in this matter. ¹⁷ Your majesty, if it be his will, our God whom we serve can deliver us from the blazing fire furnace, and he will deliver us from you. ¹⁸ But if not, rest assured, your majesty, that we won’t serve your gods, and we won’t worship the golden statue that you have set up.”

¹³ Then they told the king, “Daniel, who is one of the Judean exiles, pays no attention to you, your majesty, or to the written decree, since he is still praying three times a day.”

¹¹ Ephraim is crushed, broken by judgment, because he willingly pursued idols.

¹⁶ You keep Omri’s statutes and observe the customs of the house of Ahab. Because you live according to their advice, I’ll make you desolate and turn your inhabitants into an object of scorn. Therefore you will bear the shame of my people.”

²⁸ Stop being afraid of those who kill the body but can’t kill the soul. Instead, be afraid of the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell.

⁵ I’ll show you the one you should be afraid of. Be afraid of the one who has the authority to throw you into hell after killing you. Yes, I tell you, be afraid of him!

¹⁸ So they called Peter and John back in and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ But Peter and John answered them, “You must decide whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than God, ²⁰ for we cannot stop talking about what we’ve seen and heard.”

²⁹ But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men!

²⁸ Then Absalom instructed his young men, “Please keep watching Amnon until he’s drunk. Then I’ll tell you, ‘Attack Amnon!’ As soon as I do, kill him and don’t be afraid! You have your orders, so be strong and brave!”

⁴ Since a king’s command is powerful, who is able to challenge him, asking, “What are you doing?”

⁴ Now the woman had taken the two men and hid them. So she replied, “The men really did come to me, but I didn’t know from where they came. ⁵ At dusk, when it was time to close the city gates, the men left. I don’t know where the men went. Go after them quickly, and you might overtake them.”
⁶ But she had taken them up to the roof and had hidden them among stalks of flax that she had laid out in order on the roof. ⁷ So the men pursued them along the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan River. As soon as the search party had left, they shut the city gate after them.
⁸ Rahab Seeks ProtectionBefore the scouts had lain down, she went up to them on the roof ⁹ “I’m really convinced that the LORD has given you the land,” she said, “because we’re overwhelmed with fear of you. All the other inhabitants of the land are demoralized at your presence, ¹⁰ because we heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Reed Sea right in front of you as you were coming out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan River—to Sihon and Og—whom you completely destroyed. ¹¹ When we heard these reports, we all became terrified and discouraged because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath. ¹² Now therefore, since I’ve treated you so kindly, please swear in the name of the LORD that you’ll also be kind to my father’s household by giving me this sure sign: ¹³ Spare my father, my mother, and my brothers and sisters, along with everyone who belongs with them so we won’t be killed.”
¹⁴ A Promise of ProtectionSo the men told her, “Our life for yours—even to death—if you don’t betray this mission of ours. Then when the LORD gives us this land, we’ll treat you graciously and faithfully.”
¹⁵ So she let them down by a rope through the window, since her house was built into the town wall where she lived. ¹⁶ She told them, “Go out to the hill country, so the search party won’t find you, and hide for three days. After that, you may go on your own way.”
¹⁷ The men replied, “We’ll be free from our commitment to you to which you’ve obligated us ¹⁸ when we invade the land, if you don’t tie this rope made with red cords in the window through which you let us down, and if you don’t gather your father, your mother, your brothers, and all of the rest of your father’s household into your house. ¹⁹ Everyone who leaves through the doors of your house into the street will be responsible for his own death, but we’ll be responsible for anyone who remains with you in the house if even so much as a hand is laid on him. ²⁰ But if you report this incident, we’ll be free from the oath to which you’ve made us swear.”
²¹ “Since you put it that way,” she replied, “I agree.” After she sent them on their way and they had left, she tied the red cord in the window.
²² The Scouts Report to JoshuaThe scouts left for the hill country and remained there for three days until the search party returned. The search party searched the entire road, but was unable to find them. ²³ Later, the two men returned from the hill country, crossed over the Jordan River, approached Nun’s son Joshua, and told him everything that had happened to them. ²⁴ They reported to Joshua, “The LORD really has given the entire land into our control. The inhabitants of the land have melted away right in front of us!”

² David told Ahimelech the priest, “The king commanded me about a matter, saying to me, ‘Don’t let anyone know anything about the matter I’m sending you to do and about which I’ve commanded you. I’ve directed the young men to a certain place.’

¹⁹ The man’s wife grabbed a sheet, covered the mouth of the well with it, and spread some dried grain over it. As a result, nobody could tell it was a hiding place.
²⁰ When Absalom’s servants approached the woman of the house, they asked her, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”
“They’ve already crossed the brook,” the woman answered. So Absalom’s servants went away in search of Jonathan and Ahimaaz, but they couldn’t find them, so they returned to Jerusalem.

⁷ But the Israelis were fruitful and increased abundantly. They multiplied in numbers and became very, very strong. As a result, the land was filled with them.

¹² But the more the Egyptians afflicted the Israelis, the more they multiplied and flourished, so that the Egyptians became terrified of the Israelis.

¹ To the Director: A Davidic Psalm.
When Things Go Wrong Blessed is the one who is considerate of the destitute; the LORD will deliver him when the times are evil. ² The LORD will protect him and keep him alive; he will be blessed in the land; and he will not be handed over to the desires of his enemies.

⁵ For you, God, have heard my promises; you have assigned to me the heritage of those who fear your name.

⁹ Surely, he will soon deliver those who fear him, for his glory will live in our land.

¹¹ As high as heaven rises above earth, so his gracious love strengthens those who fear him.

⁵ He prepares food for those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant.

¹⁹ He fulfills the desire of those who fear him, hearing their cry and saving them.

¹⁸ Evil people earn deceptive wages, but those who plant righteousness are truly rewarded.

¹⁷ Whoever is kind to the poor is lending to the LORD— the benefit of his gift will return to him in abundance.

¹⁰ Encouragement to the Righteous“Tell the righteous that things will go well, because they will enjoy the fruit of their actions.”

⁴² I tell all of you with certainty, whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple will never lose his reward.”

⁴⁰ The king will answer them, ‘I tell all of you with certainty, since you did it for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.’

⁵⁰ His mercy lasts from generation to generation for those who fear him.

¹⁰ For God is not so unjust as to forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have ministered to the saints and continue to minister to them.

³⁵ And I’ll raise up for myself a faithful priest who will do according to what is in my heart and according to my desire. I’ll build for him an enduring house and he will walk before my anointed one forever.

²⁸ Please forgive the offense of your servant. For the LORD will certainly make a strong dynasty for your majesty, for your majesty is fighting the LORD’s battles. May evil not be found in you for all of your life.

¹¹ when I had commanded judges to administer my people Israel. I’ll also grant you relief from all your enemies.”’ “‘The LORD also announces to you: “The LORD will himself build a house for you. ¹² When your life is complete and you go to join your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who will come forth from your body, and I will fortify his kingdom. ¹³ He will build a Temple dedicated to my Name, and I will make the throne of his kingdom last forever.

²⁷ For you, LORD of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, have revealed this to your servant, telling him, ‘I will build a dynasty for you,’ so that your servant has found fortitude to pray this prayer to you. ²⁸ “Now therefore, Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are true, and you have spoken to your servant these good things. ²⁹ So may it please you to bless the household of your servant, so that it might remain forever in your presence, because you, Lord GOD, have spoken, and from your blessing may the household of your servant be blessed forever.”

²⁴ Now therefore, as the LORD lives, who has established me and set me on the throne of my father David, and who has established a dynasty, just like he promised, Adonijah will surely be executed today.”

³⁸ If you listen to everything that I command you to do, and if you live your life my way, and if you do what I consider to be right by observing my statutes and my commandments, just like my servant David did, then I will be with you, I will build an enduring dynasty for you, just like I did for David, and I’ll give Israel to you.

³ Trust in the LORD and do good. Dwell in the land and feed on faithfulness.

¹ A Solomonic Song of Ascents
God’s Blessing in the Family Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor uselessly. Unless the LORD guards the city, its security forces keep watch uselessly.

³ Children are a gift from the LORD; a productive womb, the LORD’s reward.

³ By wisdom a house is built; it is made secure through understanding.

² “Go to the house of the Rechabites and speak to them. Bring them into the LORD’s Temple, to one of the offices, and offer them wine to drink.”

¹ Pharaoh’s DreamTwo years later—to the day—Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile River,

¹⁶ “When you help the Hebrew women give birth,” he said, “watch them as they deliver. If it’s a son, kill him; but if it’s a daughter, let her live.”

¹⁹ The LORD also told Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their Nile River, over their ponds, and over their reservoirs, and they’ll become blood. There will be blood throughout the land of Egypt, even in their wood and stone containers.’”
²⁰ Moses and Aaron did just what the LORD had commanded. Aaron raised his staff and struck the water in the Nile River in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and all the water in the Nile River turned to blood. ²¹ The fish in the Nile River died and the river stank. The Egyptians were not able to drink water from the Nile River, and blood was throughout the land of Egypt.

¹⁶ For they run toward evil; these enticers shed blood without hesitation.

¹⁶ For they cannot sleep unless they are doing evil, and they are robbed of their sleep unless they cause someone to stumble.

⁴ The third angel poured his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they turned into blood. ⁵ Then I heard the angel in charge of the water say, “You are just. You are the one who is and who was, the Holy One, because you have judged these things. ⁶ You have given them blood to drink because they spilled the blood of saints and prophets. This is what they deserve.”