Thematic Bible: Functions of


Thematic Bible




He'll send out his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven."

The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom everything that causes others to sin and those who practice lawlessness

That is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out, cull out the evil people from among the righteous ones,








Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied about these people when he said, "Look! The Lord has come with countless thousands of his holy ones. 15He will judge all people and convict everyone of all the ungodly things that they have done in such an ungodly way, including all the harsh things that these ungodly sinners have said about him."


After he had thought about it, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. "Joseph, son of David," he said, "don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he is the one who will save his people from their sins."

The angel came to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you!" Startled by his statement, she tried to figure out what his greeting meant. Then the angel told her, "Stop being afraid, Mary, because you have found favor with God. read more.
Listen! You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end." Mary asked the angel, "How can this happen, since I have not had relations with a man?" The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come over you, and the power of the Most High will surround you. Therefore, the child will be holy and will be called the Son of God. And listen! Elizabeth, your relative, has herself conceived a son in her old age, this woman who was rumored to be barren is in her sixth month. Nothing is impossible with respect to any of God's promises." Then Mary said, "Truly I am the Lord's servant. Let everything you have said happen to me." Then the angel left her.

and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no place for them in the guest quarters. In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, watching their flock during the night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. read more.
Then the angel told them, "Stop being afraid! Listen! I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people. Today your Savior, the Lord Messiah, was born in the City of David. And this will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a feeding trough." Suddenly, a multitude of the Heavenly Army appeared with the angel, praising God by saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to people who enjoy his favor!" When the angels had left them and gone back to heaven, the shepherds told one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see what has taken place that the Lord has told us about."







Why, then, was the Law added? Because of transgressions, until the descendant came about whom the promise pertained. It was put into effect through angels by means of a mediator.

because if the message spoken by angels was reliable, and every violation and act of disobedience received its just punishment,


At this, the anger of the LORD flared up against Balaam, because he was leaving. So the angel of the LORD stood in the way to oppose him. As Balaam was riding his donkey, accompanied by two of his servants, all of a sudden the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with an unsheathed sword in his hand! The donkey turned off the road and went into an open field. Balaam started beating the donkey in order to turn her back to the road, but the angel of the LORD stood on a narrow path that crossed the vineyards. It had walls on both sides of the path. read more.
When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she squeezed herself so close to the wall that Balaam's foot was pressed to the wall. So he beat her again! Then the angel of the LORD went along a little further and stood in a much narrower space, where it was impossible to turn either right or left. When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she crouched down under Balaam. As a result, Balaam got so angry that he started to whip the donkey with his staff.


An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the incense altar. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled, and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel told him, "Stop being afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to name him John. read more.
You will have great joy, and many people will rejoice at his birth, because he will be great in the Lord's presence. He will never drink wine or any strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring many of Israel's descendants back to the Lord their God. He is the one who will go before the Lord with the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and to prepare the people to be ready for the Lord." Then Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this, since I am an old man, and my wife is getting older?" The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. I have been sent to speak to you and to announce this good news to you. But because you did not believe my announcement, which will be fulfilled at its proper time, you will become silent and unable to speak until the day this happens."


Suddenly, there was a powerful earthquake, because an angel of the Lord had come down from heaven, approached the stone, rolled it away, and was sitting on top of it. His appearance was bright as lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. Trembling from fear, even the guards themselves became catatonic. read more.
Responding to the women, the angel said, "Stop being frightened! I know you're looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here. He has been raised, just as he said. Come and see the place where he was lying.




After he had expelled the man, the LORD God placed winged angels at the eastern end of the garden of Eden, along with a fiery, turning sword, to prevent access to the tree of life.


After they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt," he said. "Stay there until I tell you, because Herod intends to search for the child and kill him."


They asked, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you saw him go up into heaven."



Instead, appoint the descendants of Levi over the Tent of Meeting, all the vessels, and everything in it. They are to carry the tent and all the vessels in it. They are to attend to it and camp around it. Whenever the tent is ready for travel, the descendants of Levi are to take it down. When it's time to encamp, the descendants of Levi are to set it up. Any unauthorized person who approaches it is to be executed. Then the Israelis are to encamp around the tent, arranged according to their company and the standard of their army. read more.
But the descendants of Levi are to encamp on all sides of the Tent of Meeting so that divine wrath won't fall on the congregation of Israel. The descendants of Levi are to take care of the Tent of Meeting."

"Bring the tribe of Levi near and present them to Aaron the priest so they may serve him. They are to take care of his needs and the needs of the whole congregation at the Tent of Meeting by performing duties at the tent. They are to take charge of the utensils at the Tent of Meeting and meet the needs of the Israelis by performing duties on behalf of the tent. read more.
Assign the descendants of Levi to Aaron and his sons from among the Israelis.

The families of Libni and Shimei were descendants of Gershon. As families of the descendants of Gershon, all the males a month old and above numbered 7,500. The families of the descendants of Gershon encamped behind the tent toward the west. read more.
The leader of the tribe and family of Gershon was Lael's son Eliasaph. The duties of the descendants of Gershon at the Tent of Meeting pertained to the tent, the tent covering, the curtain to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the hangings at the courtyard, the curtain at the entrance of the courtyard that surrounded the tent, the altar, and all of the tent cords in use. The families of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel were descendants of Kohath. As families of the descendants of Kohath, all the males a month old and above numbered 8,600. They were tasked to the care of the sanctuary. The descendants of Kohath encamped beside the tent toward the south. The leader of the tribe and family of Kohath was Uzziel's son Elizaphan. Their duties pertained to the ark, the table, the lamp stand, the altars, the utensils of the sanctuary with which they ministered, and all the curtains in use. The chief of all the leaders of the descendants of Levi was Aaron the priest's son Eleazar. He was assigned to oversee those who were in charge of the services of the sanctuary. The families of Mahli and Mushi were descendants of Merari. As families of Merari, all the males a month old and above numbered 6,200. The leader of the tribe and family of Merari was Abihail's son Zuriel. The descendants of Merari encamped beside the tent toward the north. The duties of the caretakers from the descendants of Merari included the boards of the tent, its bars, crossbars, sockets, all its utensils for their services, the pillars around the courtyard, their sockets, pegs, and tent cords.

The LORD told Moses and Aaron, "Take a census of the descendants of Kohath from among the descendants of Levi according to their tribes and ancestral houses from 30 years and older through the age of 50 years, from everyone who can enter the service to perform work at the Tent of Meeting. read more.
"Here's what the descendants of Kohath are to do regarding the Tent of Meeting and what's inside the Most Holy Place: When the camp is about to travel, Aaron and his sons are to come and take down the veil of the curtain and cover the Ark of the Testimony with it. They are to set a leather-dyed skin covering over it, cover it with a pure blue cloth, and then insert its poles. "They are to spread a blue cloth over the table of the Presence and on top of it the dishes, pans, bowls, pitchers for drink offerings, and the bread of presence are to be on it continually. They are to spread over them a scarlet cloth and a leather-dyed skin covering and then insert its poles. "They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lamp stand for the light with its lamp, lamp-snuffers, censer, and all the utensils for its oil with which they minister. Then they are to put them with all the other utensils on the leather-dyed skin covering and set them on the beams for transport. "On the golden altar, they are to spread a blue cloth, cover it with a leather-dyed skin covering, and then insert its poles. Then they are to take all the utensils for service with which they minister at the sanctuary, set them on the blue cloth, cover them with the leather-dyed skin covering, and then set them on the beams for transport. They are also to remove the ashes on the altar and spread a purple cloth over it. Then they are to put all the instruments with which they minister there trays, forks, shovels, bowls, and all the utensils of the altar. They are to spread over it a leather-dyed skin covering and then insert its poles. "When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the utensils of the sanctuary, and the camp is about to travel, then the descendants of Kohath are to come and carry them, but they are not to touch the most sacred objects, so they won't die. These are the duties of the descendants of Kohath at the Tent of Meeting."

Then the LORD told Moses and Aaron, "You are not to eliminate the tribe of the families of the descendants of Kohath from the descendants of Levi. But do this for them so that they may live and not die when they approach the Most Holy Place: Aaron and his sons are to go in and set specific responsibilities for each of them to carry out. read more.
But they are not to go in to see the sanctuary as it is being covered, so they won't die." Then the LORD told Moses, "Take a census of the descendants of Gershon according to their ancestral house and tribes. Count their number from between 30 to 50 years old, including everyone who can enter the service to perform work at the Tent of Meeting." "These are the responsibilities that the descendants of Gershon are to have: They are to carry the curtain of the tent, the covering of the Tent of Meeting, the dyed leather covering that goes over it, the curtain for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the hangings for the courtyard, the curtain for the entrance to the gate of the courtyard that surrounds the tent, the altar, the ropes, all the service utensils, and everything made for them. This is to be their service area. The descendants of Gershon are to carry out the instructions of Aaron and his sons. You are to assign them their responsibilities to carry out. This is the work of the tribes of Gershon at the Tent of Meeting their duties under the supervision of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest. "For the descendants of Merari, number them according to their tribes and ancestral houses from 30 to 50 years old as you count them, including everyone who can enter service and perform work at the Tent of Meeting. This is to be their area of responsibility to carry out with respect to their service at the Tent of Meeting: the board of the tent, its bars, its crossbars, its sockets, the pillars around the courtyard, their sockets, their pegs, their ropes, and all the utensils for all their services. Assign the utensils by name to each person whose responsibility it will be to carry them. This is the work of the tribes of the descendants of Merari with reference to their service at the Tent of Meeting under the supervision of Aaron the priest's son Ithamar." Moses, Aaron, and the congregational leaders numbered the descendants of Kohath according to their tribes and ancestral houses from 30 to 50 years old that is, everyone who entered the service to perform work at the Tent of Meeting. The total according to their tribe numbered 2,750 from the tribe of the descendants of Kohath, everyone who would be serving at the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to what the LORD had said, under the supervision of Moses. The tribes and the ancestral houses of the descendants of Gershon were numbered from 30 to 50 years old; that is, everyone who entered the service to perform work at the Tent of Meeting. The total according to their tribes and ancestral house numbered 2,630 from the tribes of the descendants of Gershon, everyone who would be serving at the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to what the LORD had said. The tribes and ancestral house of Merari were numbered from 30 to 50 years old; that is, everyone who entered the service to perform work at the Tent of Meeting. The total according to their tribes numbered 3,200 from the tribes of the descendants of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to what the LORD had said, under the supervision of Moses. The total of those who were numbered from the descendants of Levi by Moses and Aaron; that is, from the leaders of Israel counted according to their tribes and ancestral houses from 30 to 50 years old, who entered the service for work at the Tent of Meeting was 8,580. They were numbered under the supervision of Moses according to what the LORD had said. Each person was assigned a responsibility to carry out, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

I've set the descendants of Levi apart from the Israelis so that Aaron and his sons would work in service at the appointed place of meeting, making atonement on behalf of the Israelis so that there won't be a plague among the Israelis whenever they approach the sanctuary."

They are to take care of your concerns and all the responsibilities involved with the tent. But they're not to approach the holy vessels or the altar. That way, neither you nor they will die. They are to join you to maintain services related to the Tent of Meeting, for all the responsibilities involved with the tent. But no unauthorized person is to approach you. Take care of the sanctuary and the services of the altar so that there won't be any more wrath on the Israelis. read more.
Notice that I've taken your brothers, the descendants of Levi, from among the Israelis, giving them to you as a gift from the LORD to perform the service of the Tent of Meeting.


They spent the night near the Temple of God, since they had been entrusted to guard it. They were in charge of opening it every morning. Some were responsible for the service utensils, and they were required to take an inventory of them when they were brought in and out. Others were responsible for the furniture and for all of the holy utensils, including the flour, wine, oil, incense, and spices.

David then gathered together all of the leaders of Israel, including the priests and descendants of Levi. descendants of Levi 30 years old and above were counted for a total of 38,000. "24,000 of these," David said, "are to be set in charge of the work of the Temple of the LORD, with 6,000 serving as officers and judges, read more.
with 4,000 gatekeepers, and with 4,000 offering praises to the LORD with the musical instruments that I have had crafted." David divided them into divisions based on Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, Levi's sons. The descendants of Gershon were Ladan and Shimei. The three descendants of Ladan included Jehiel (their chief), Zetham, and Joel. The three descendants of Shimei included Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran. These were the heads of families of Ladan. The descendants of Shimei included Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah. These four were sons of Shimei. Jahath served as chief and Zizah was second in rank, but since Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, they were enrolled as a single family unit. The four descendants of Kohath included Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. The descendants of Amram included Aaron and Moses. Aaron had been set apart to consecrate the most holy things, with the intent that he and his sons should present offerings in the LORD's presence forever, ministering to him and pronouncing blessings in his name forever. Meanwhile, as for Moses the man of God, his sons were considered among the tribe of Levi. The descendants of Moses included Gershom and Eliezer. The descendants of Gershom included Shebuel as their chief. The descendants of Eliezer included Rehabiah as their chief. Eliezer had no other sons, but Rehabiah had many descendants. The descendants of Izhar included Shelomith their chief. The descendants of Hebron included Jeriah their chief, Amariah their second in rank, Jahaziel their third, and Jekameam their fourth. The descendants of Uzziel included Micah their chief and Isshiah their second in rank. The descendants of Merari included Mahli and Mushi. The descendants of Mahli included Eleazar and Kish, but Eleazar died having no sons, but only daughters. Their relatives (the descendants of Kish) married them. The three descendants of Mushi included Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth. These were the descendants of Levi according to their ancestral households, with family heads documented according to the names of persons 20 years and older who were appointed to perform work in service to the Temple of the LORD. For David had said "The LORD God of Israel has granted rest to his people, and he has taken Israel as his eternal residence. Therefore the descendants of Levi are no longer to carry the Tent or its service implements." Since, according to David's final instructions, the list above contains the total number of descendants of Levi from the age of 20 years and upward, David issued these orders: "Instead, they are to assist by lending a hand to the descendants of Aaron regarding service to the Temple of the LORD relating to the courts, the chambers, purification of everything pertaining to holiness, and to anything else pertaining to service on behalf of the Temple of God, including assisting with the rows of showbread, selecting flour for the grain offerings, the unleavened bread, baked offerings, and oil-based offerings, no matter what the quantity or sizes. They are to take their stand morning by morning, thanking and praising the LORD right through until the evening, whenever burnt offerings are presented to the LORD, whether on Sabbaths, New Moons, or scheduled festivals, regularly in the LORD's presence in accordance with the number required to conduct their service. By doing this, they will fulfill their obligation as trustees over the Tent of Assembly and the Sanctuary, attending to the needs of their relatives, who are descendants of Aaron, in keeping with their service on behalf of the Temple of the LORD."

Next I selected twelve of the chief priests Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers with them and divided between them the silver, the gold, the vessels, and the offering for the Temple of our God which the king had offered, along with his advisors, his senior officials, and all of Israel assembled there. I divided among them 650 silver talents, silver utensils weighing 100 talents, 100 talents of gold, read more.
20 gold basins weighing 1,000 darics each, and two vessels made of polished brass, as valuable as gold. I told them, "You are consecrated to the LORD, and the vessels are also consecrated. The silver and the gold are a freely given offering to the LORD God of your ancestors. Guard and protect them until you disperse them to the chief priests, the descendants of Levi, and to the family leaders of Israel at Jerusalem in the chambers of the Temple of the LORD." So the priests and descendants of Levi took possession of the silver, the gold, and the vessels in order to bring them to Jerusalem, to the Temple of our God. Then we left the Ahava River for Jerusalem on the twelfth day of the first month. Our God's protection was with us, and he delivered us from the enemy's power and from ambush along the way. We arrived in Jerusalem and remained there three days. On the fourth day the silver, the gold, and the vessels were distributed at the Temple of our God into the care of Uriah's son Meremoth the priest, Phinehas' son Eleazar, Jeshua's son Jozabad, and Binnui's son Noadiah, the descendants of Levi. Distribution was according to inventory and weight, with all weights being recorded at that time.


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