55 Bible Verses about Jews, The

King Jehoash of Israel captured King Amaziah, son of Joash and grandson of Ahaziah of Judah, at Beth Shemesh and brought him to Jerusalem. He tore down a six hundred foot section of the wall around Jerusalem from Ephraim Gate to Corner Gate.

Rezin king of Aram, and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came to Jerusalem to make war. They attacked Ahaz but could not conquer him.

([Psalm of Asaph]) O God, the nations have invaded the land that belongs to you. They have dishonored (defiled) your holy temple. They have left Jerusalem in ruins.

Jehoash king of Israel made Amaziah king of Judah son of Jehoash, son of Ahaziah, prisoner at Bethshemesh. He went to Jerusalem and had the wall of Jerusalem pulled down from the Gate of Ephraim to the gate in the angle, six hundred feet.

King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem in the fifth year of Rehoboam's reign.

I will scatter you among the nations. War will follow you. Your country will be in ruins. Your cities will be deserted.

This letter is from James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. Greetings to the twelve tribes that are scattered.

Keep in mind, O Jehovah, the order you gave your servant Moses, saying: 'If you do wrong I will send you wandering among the peoples:

Haman said to King Ahasuerus, There is a nation living here and there in small groups among the people in all the divisions of your kingdom. Their laws are different from those of any other nation. They do not keep the king's laws. For this reason it is not right for the king to let them be.

You give us over to be butchered like sheep and scatter us among the nations.

Then it will happen in that day that Jehovah will again recover the second time with his hand the remnant of his people. They will remain, from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

he will restore your fortunes. He will have mercy on you and gather you from all the nations of the world where he has scattered you.

But they will say: Jehovah brought the people of Israel out of the land of the north and all the lands where he had scattered them. They will say this because I will bring them back to the land that I gave their fathers.

Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and bring them back to their pasture. Then they will be fruitful and multiply.

At that time I will bring you in! At that time I will gather you together. I will give you a name (honor) and praise among all the peoples of the earth! This will happen when I gather back your captive ones before your very eyes, declares Jehovah.

In the days of Pekah king of Israel Tiglathpileser king of Assyria captured Ijon and Abelbethmaacah and Janoah and Kedesh and Hazor and Gilead and Galilee and all the land of Naphtali. He took the people captive to Assyria.

Nebuchadnezzar carried away as prisoners the people of Jerusalem, all the royal princes, and all the leading men, ten thousand in all. He also deported all the skilled workers, including the blacksmiths, leaving only the poorest of the people behind in Judah.

The rest of the people still in the town, and all those who had given themselves up to the king of Babylon, and all the rest of the workmen were taken away as prisoners by Nebuzaradan, the captain of the army.

In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria. He led the Israelites away to Assyria. He stationed them in Halah and Habor on the Gozan River, and in the towns of the Medes.

The king of Assyria took Israel away as prisoners into Assyria. They placed them in Halah and in Habor on the river Gozan, and in towns of the Medes.

There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus who is currently from Italy with his wife Priscilla. Claudius commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. So he came to them.

Then the king of Edom got Elath back for Edom, and sent the Jews out of Elath. The Edomites returned to Elath where they are living to this day.

Runners delivered letters to every division of the kingdom. They ordered the death and destruction of all Jews, young and old, little children and women, on the same day, even the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month Adar, and the taking of all their goods by force.

They said in their hearts: We will destroy them completely. They burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.

They say: Come and let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.

The cities in the Negev will be locked up. There will be no one to reopen them. All the people of Judah will be taken away into captivity.

Jehovah will bring you and your king, whom you set over you, to a nation that neither you nor your fathers have known. There you will serve other gods made of wood and stone.

They will be killed by the edge of the sword. Some will be led captive into all the nations. The people of the nations will tread down Jerusalem until the time of the Nations is fulfilled.

Jehovah will punish Israel, and she will shake like a reed shaking in a stream. He will uproot the people of Israel from this good land that he gave to their ancestors. He will scatter them beyond the Euphrates River, because they have aroused his anger by making idols of the goddess Asherah.

Some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away! They will become officers in the palace of the king of Babylon.'

Since we have heard, that certain ones who went out from us have troubled you with speeches, subverting you, saying: You must be circumcised, and keep the law. We gave no such commandment!

Some men came down from Judea to teach the brothers. They said: You cannot be saved unless you become circumcised according to the custom of Moses.

Those who desire to make a showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised. This is done so they may not be persecuted for the stake of Christ.

This occurred because of the false brothers brought in secretly. They came to spy out our liberty that we have in Christ Jesus. This was so they might bring us into bondage.

He will set you high above all nations that he has made, for praise, fame, and honor. You will be a consecrated people to Jehovah your God, as he has spoken.

Jehovah will give power (strength) to his people. Jehovah will bless his people with peace (prosperity) (health) (safety).

Jehovah made a solemn promise. He will not abandon you. You are his people for his great name's sake.

Then I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying: Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men. He will dwell with them and they will be his people! God will be with them, and be their God.

This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,' said Jehovah: 'I will put my teachings (laws) in their mind, I will write them upon their hearts (deep thought) (understanding). I will be their God, and they will be my people. (Jeremiah 31:32)

For this reason I endure all things for the sake of the chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.

Know that Jehovah is God. He has made us, and not we ourselves. We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

He led his own people out like sheep and guided them like a flock through the wilderness.

He will go before God in the spirit and power of Elijah. He will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and wrongdoers to the way of righteousness. This will make ready a people whose hearts have been directed to Jehovah (YHWH). (Malachi 3:1)

Simeon declared how God first visited the nations to take out of them a people for his name.

You are a holy people to Jehovah your God. Out of all the people on the face of the earth Jehovah has chosen you to be a people for His own possession.

If you will obey me and are faithful to the terms of my covenant, then out of all the nations you will be my own special possession, for all the earth is mine.

He (Jesus Christ) gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify a people for himself, who are special people, zealous for good works.

I have sent all my servants the prophets to you again and again. They said: Turn from your evil ways, do what is right, and do not follow other gods in order to serve them. Then you will live in the land that I gave you and your ancestors. However, you refused to listen to me or obey me.

I kept sending you my servants the prophets, who told you not to do this terrible thing that I hate.

Since the day your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have sent you all my servants the prophets, daily rising early and sending them.

Jehovah told me to say to the people: 'I Jehovah said that you must obey me by following the teaching that I gave you.

The Lord Jehovah says: 'Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days through my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you against them?

I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of you. I will surely gather the remnant of Israel! I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as a flock in the midst of their pasture. They will make great noise because of the crowd of men.

Then the nation of Judah will live with the nation of Israel. They will come together from the land of the north to the land that I gave their ancestors as their own inheritance.

Son of man, take a stick and write on it: For Judah and for the Israelites who are associated with it.' Then take another stick and write on it: 'The stick of Ephraim, for Joseph and for all the people of Israel associated with it.' Then join both sticks together so that they will be one in your hand. Your people will say to you:

When you hold the sticks in your hand, let the people see them. Tell them: 'The Lord Jehovah says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from everywhere and bring them to their own land. I will form them into one nation in the land on the mountains of Israel. One king will rule all of them. They will no longer be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms.

The children of Judah and the children of Israel will be gathered together. They will appoint for themselves one leader, and will leave the land of Jezreel. It will be a great day for Jezreel.

They made God furious because they worshiped foreign gods and angered him (stirred up his zeal) because they worshiped worthless idols.

Woe to the sinful nation, people heavy with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, sons who are corrupt! They have forsaken Jehovah! They have despised the Holy One of Israel. They have turned away from him.

So Israel joined itself to Baal of Peor. Jehovah was angry against Israel.

I lifted you out of the dust and made you ruler over my people Israel. You have gone the way of Jeroboam. You made my people Israel do evil, moving me to wrath by their sins.

You will go up in flames like straw and hay! You have rejected the law of the holy God Jehovah the All-Powerful Holy One of Israel. Now your roots will rot, and your blossoms will turn to dust. You are Jehovah's people, but you made him terribly angry, and he struck you with his mighty arm. Mountains shook, and dead bodies covered the streets like garbage. Jehovah is still angry. He is ready to strike you again.

He found his people in a desert land, in a barren place where animals howl. He guarded them, took care of them, and protected them because they were the precious apple (pupil) of his eye.

He will not allow your foot to slip. He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. Jehovah is your keeper. Jehovah is your shade on your right hand.

The eternal God is a dwelling place. Underneath are the everlasting arms. He drove out the enemy from before you, and said: 'Destroy!' Israel dwells in security. The fountain of Jacob is secluded in a land of grain and new wine. His heavens also drop down dew. You are blessed O Israel. Who is like you, a people saved by Jehovah? He is the shield of your help and the sword of your majesty! So your enemies will cringe before you and you will tread upon their high places.

They went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people. He permitted no man to do them wrong and he reproved kings for their sakes. He said: Do not touch my anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

Then you will see this and rejoice. Your heart will shake with joy. The riches of the sea will be brought to you. The wealth of the nations will come to you.

The vision and prophetic message Isaiah, son of Amoz, saw about Judah and Jerusalem. In the last days the mountain of the house of Jehovah will be established as the highest of the mountains and exalted above the hills. All the nations will stream to it. Then many people will come and say: Let us go to the mountain of Jehovah, to the House of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways so that we may live by them. The law will go out from Zion. The word of Jehovah will go out from Jerusalem. read more.
Then he will judge disputes between nations and settle matters between many people. They will beat (hammer) their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nations will not fight against each other, and they will not learn war anymore. Come, descendants of Jacob, let us live in the light of Jehovah.

I will set up a sign among them and send some of their survivors to the nations: to Tarshish, Put and Lud, Meshech, Rosh, Tubal, Javan, and to the distant coastlands who have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will tell about my glory among the nations.

Now if their fall into sin means riches to the world, and their decrease means riches of the nations how much more will their full number mean?

If their rejection means reconciliation for the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?

I will leave seven thousand people alive in Israel; all those who are loyal to me and have not bowed to Baal or kissed his idol.

I ask has God rejected his people? Certainly not! I also am an Israelite, a descendant of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

Even so at this present time there is a remnant chosen according to God's grace.

Even if one out of ten people are left it will be destroyed (burned) again. When a strong tree or an oak is cut down, a stump is left. The holy seed is the stump.

It is not as if the word of God failed. Not all who come from Israel are really Israel.

Jehovah said to Abram: Leave your country, your people, and your father's household, and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you. I will make your name great. You will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you. I will curse whoever curses you. All the people on earth will be blessed through you.

After Lot had parted from Abram, Jehovah said to Abram: Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring (descendants) from generation to generation. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth. If anyone could count the dust, your offspring could be counted. read more.
Go walk through the length and breadth of the land that I am giving to you.

On that day Jehovah made a covenant with Abram. He said: To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,

I will establish my covenant as a long lasting covenant between us. It will be for your descendants after you, for the generations to come. I will be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you are now a guest (alien) (foreigner) (stranger), I will give a long lasting possession to you and your descendants after you. I will be their God.

They forsook Jehovah and served Baal and Ashtaroth.

Jehovah let them be conquered by Jabin, a Canaanite king who ruled in the city of Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived at Harosheth-Hagoyim.

The Midianites were very oppressive over Israel. So much so that the people of Israel hid from them in caves and other safe places in the mountains.

And Pharaoh Necho put him in chains at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So that he was not king in Jerusalem. Pharaoh Necho extracted from the land a tax of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.

Israel was helpless against them.

Moses said to the fathers, 'Jehovah will raise up for your brothers a prophet like me. You must listen to all the things he speaks to you.' (Deuteronomy 18:18)

Finally he sent his son to them, saying, 'Certainly they will respect my son.'

God raised up his servant and sent him to you first. He sent him to bless you and to turn every one of you from your wicked ways.

He answered: I was sent only to the wandering sheep of the house of Israel.

He will send Jesus Christ, who preached to you.

I will sprinkle clean water on you and make you clean instead of unclean. Then I will cleanse you from all your idols.

I will cleanse them from all the sins that they have committed against me. I will forgive them for all the sins that they have committed against me and for rebelling against me.

The prophetic utterance of the word of Jehovah concerning Israel. Jehovah declared: Who stretches forth the heavens? Who lays the foundation of the earth? Who forms the spirit of man within him?

It will happen at that time. I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

The rest of the people still in the town, and all those who had given themselves up to the king of Babylon, and all the rest of the workmen were taken away as prisoners by Nebuzaradan, the captain of the army.

The king of Assyria took Israel away as prisoners into Assyria. They placed them in Halah and in Habor on the river Gozan, and in towns of the Medes.

So they worshipped Jehovah. They appointed priests from the people for the high places. The priests were to make offerings for them in the houses of the high places.

Included as prisoners were all the men of war, seven thousand of them, and a thousand expert workmen and metalworkers, all of them strong and able to take up arms.

When he arrived at his house he got a knife. He took his concubine's body and cut it into twelve pieces. He sent one piece to each of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Moses answered: If you really mean what you say, then here in the presence of Jehovah get ready to go into battle. All your fighting men are to cross the Jordan and under Jehovah's command they are to attack our enemies until Jehovah defeats them and takes possession of the land. You may return after that, because you will have fulfilled your obligation to Jehovah and to the other Israelites. Then Jehovah will acknowledge that this land east of the Jordan is yours.

Saul took a pair of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent them by messengers throughout the territory of Israel with the following message: This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel into battle. The people were afraid of Jehovah. They came out united behind Saul. When Saul counted them at Bezek, there were three hundred thousand troops from Israel and thirty thousand troops from Judah.

not in the lust of sexual desire like the nations who do not know God.

They did not like to retain God in their knowledge, so God gave them over to a reprobate (depraved) mind, to do things that are not fitting.

([Psalm of Asaph]) God is known in Judah. His name is great in Israel.

God is in his citadel. He has made himself known.

Surely the coastlands wait with hope for me. The ships from Tarshish are the first to bring your children from far away. They bring their silver and their gold with them to honor the name of Jehovah your God, the Holy One of Israel, because he has honored you.

Many camels will cover your land, young camels from Midian and Ephah. Everyone from Sheba will come. They will bring gold and incense. They will sing the praises of Jehovah. All of the flocks from Kedar will gather and come to you. The rams of Nebaioth will serve you. They will be sacrificed as acceptable offerings on my altar. So I will honor my beautiful Temple.

They will rebuild the ancient ruins. They will raise up the former devastations. And they will repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations. Strangers will stand and shepherd your flocks. Foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers. You will be called the priests of Jehovah. You will be spoken of as ministers of our God. You will eat the wealth of nations, you will boast in their riches.

I will be like the dew to Israel. He will blossom like the lily and he will take root like the cedars of Lebanon. His shoots will sprout and his beauty will be like the olive tree. His fragrance will be like the cedars of Lebanon.

Shout for joy, O heavens! Rejoice, O earth! Break into joyful shouting, O mountains! For Jehovah has comforted his people. He will have compassion on his afflicted.

All who love Jerusalem, be happy and rejoice with her. All who mourn for her be glad with her.

Shout for joy, you heavens! Shout, deep places of the earth! Shout for joy, mountains, and every tree of the forest! Jehovah has shown his greatness by saving his people Israel.

Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices. Together they shout for joy. They will see it with their own eyes when Jehovah returns to Zion.

Gideon and the hundred men, who were with him, came to the outside of the camp. It was the beginning of the middle watch and they had just posted the new watch. They blew the trumpets, and broke the jars that were in their hands. The three companies blew the trumpets, and broke the jars, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands. Then they cried: The sword of Jehovah, and of Gideon! Every man stood in his place around the camp. The army ran, and cried, and fled. read more.
The three hundred blew the trumpets. Jehovah set every man's sword against his companions. They turned on each other throughout all the army. The army fled to Beth-shittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abel-meholah, to Tabbath. The men of Israel gathered together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites.

Jonathan said to the young man: Let us cross over to the camp of those heathen Philistines. Maybe Jehovah will help us. If he does, nothing can keep him from giving us the victory no matter how few of us there are. His armor bearer answered him: Do whatever you have in mind. Go ahead! I agree with you. We will do this, Jonathan said. We will go across so they can see us. read more.
If they agree to come to us down the hill and fight where we are, then we will not climb up to their camp. But we will go to them if they tell us to come up the hill and fight. That will mean Jehovah will help us win. So they let the Philistines see them. The Philistines said: Some Hebrews are coming out of the holes they were hiding in! They called out to Jonathan and the young man: Come up here! We have something to tell you! Jonathan said to the young man: Follow me, for Jehovah gives Israel victory over them. Jonathan climbed out of the pass on his hands and knees. The young man followed him. Jonathan attacked the Philistines and knocked them down. The young man killed them.

David told Saul: No one should be discouraged because of this. I will go and fight this Philistine. Saul responded to David: You cannot fight this Philistine. You are just a boy. He has been a warrior since he was your age.

Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew. He was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner. They were Abram's allies.

I was in fact kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews. And here I have done nothing that they should have put me into the dungeon.

Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I!

Concerning the good news, they are enemies for your sakes. With reference to the chosen ones, they are beloved for the fathers' sake.

He loved your fathers. Therefore he chose their descendants. In fact he watched over you and he brought you out of Egypt with his mighty power.

Yet Jehovah set his affection on your fathers. He loved them. He chose you their descendants above all peoples, as it is this day.

Jehovah appeared to him from afar, saying: I have loved you with an everlasting love. Therefore I have drawn you with loving-kindness.

Jehovah your God was not willing to listen to Balaam. Jehovah your God turned the curse into a blessing for you because Jehovah your God loves you.

You were chosen because Jehovah loved you and kept the oath he swore to your fathers. So he used his mighty hand to bring you out. He freed you from slavery under Pharaoh king of Egypt.

The first covenant had ordinances for divine service, and an earthly sanctuary.

I am Jehovah your God! You must obey my teachings.

Do not behave the way we do here today, every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes. For you have not as yet come to the resting place and the inheritance that Jehovah your God is giving you. When you cross the Jordan and live in the land Jehovah your God gives you to inherit, and he gives you rest from all your enemies around you so that you live in security. read more.
It will happen in the place Jehovah choose for his name to dwell, there you shall bring all that I command you. Bring your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the contribution of your hand, and all your choice vowed offerings that you will vow to Jehovah.

Beware that you do not forget Jehovah, for he brought you out of Egypt your house of bondage.

Remember that you were servants in the land of Egypt, and that Jehovah your God brought you out through a mighty act. Jehovah your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.

It is a night to be observed for Jehovah for having brought them out from the land of Egypt. This night is for Jehovah and should be observed by all the sons of Israel throughout their generations.

Look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him he was only one. I blessed him and made him many.

It is not because they are Abraham's that they are all children, but: What will be called 'your seed' will be through Isaac. (Genesis 21:12)

They answered him: We are Abraham's seed, and have never been in bondage to any man. How can you say we will be made free?

You seed of Abraham his servant, you children of Jacob his chosen ones.

There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout. He was waiting for God to save Israel. God's Holy Spirit was working in him.

They asked Jesus: Are you the Expected One or should we look for another?

Even up to that time she gave thanks to God and spoke to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

If only salvation for Israel would come from Zion! When Jehovah restores his captive people, Jacob will rejoice. Israel will be glad.

When the Jews of Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Beroea, they went there and stirred up the crowds and caused trouble.

The Jews were moved with jealousy so they gathered bad people who organized a crowd for a riot. They assaulted the house of Jason in order to bring them out to the crowd.

You brothers became imitators of the congregations of God that are in Judea in Christ Jesus. You also suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews. They killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They did not please God and are contrary to all men. They hindered us from speaking to the nations so that they may be saved. The result was that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the utmost.

The Lord Jehovah says: 'I will treat you the way you deserve, because you ignored your promises and broke the covenant.

It will not be like the promise that I made to their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of Egypt. They rejected that promise, although I was a husband to them, says Jehovah.

During the reign of King Josiah, Jehovah asked me: Did you see what unfaithful Israel did? She went up every high mountain and under every large tree, and she acted like a prostitute there. I thought that after she had done all this she would come back to me. But she did not come back, and her treacherous (unstable) (unreliable) (false) sister Judah saw her. Judah saw that I sent unfaithful Israel away because of her adultery and that I gave Israel her divorce papers. But treacherous Judah, her sister, was not afraid. She also acted like a prostitute.

However, I will let some people live. Some people will escape the battle among the nations and be scattered throughout the countries.

I forced them into other nations. They became scattered among the nations. I judged them based on the way that they lived and based on everything that they had done.

Jehovah will scatter you among all the people of the world. He will scatter you from one end of the earth to the other. There you will serve gods made of wood and stone that neither you nor your ancestors ever knew.

Jehovah's people were his property. Jacob was God's own possession.

I have put my words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand (protection of my power, Holy Spirit). I set the heavens in place and laid the foundations of the earth. Yet I say to Zion: 'You are my people!'

You chose Israel to be your people from generation to generation! You have become their God.

Tell the nation of Israel: 'This is what the Lord Jehovah says: Will you dishonor yourselves the way your ancestors did? Will you chase their detestable idols like a prostitute?

I said to their children in the desert: Do not live by the laws of your ancestors. Do not obey their rules or dishonor yourselves with their disgusting idols.

We will do everything that we said we would. We will offer sacrifices to our goddess, the Queen of Heaven, and we will pour out wine offerings to her, just as our ancestors, our king and our leaders, and we used to do in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. Then we had plenty of food, we were prosperous, and had no troubles.

In that day Jehovah will thresh from the flowing Euphrates River to the Wadi (streambed) of Egypt. You, O Israelites, will be gathered up one by one. A great trumpet will sound. Those who were perishing in Assyria and those who were exiled in Egypt will come and worship Jehovah on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.

Jehovah will utterly destroy the tongue of the Sea of Egypt. He will wave his hand, his mighty Spirit, over the (Euphrates) River. He will strike it into seven streams and make men walk over on dry land.

Jehovah will have compassion on Jacob and again choose Israel. He will resettle them in their own country. Foreigners will join them and unite with the descendants of Jacob. People will take them and bring them to their own place. The nation of Israel will possess nations as male and female slaves in Jehovah's land. They will take their captors captive and rule their oppressors. When that day comes, Jehovah will give you relief from your pain and suffering, from the hard slavery you were forced to do.

The Pharisee saw it and thought to himself if this man were a prophet he would know what kind of woman touched him. She is a sinner.

Pharisees and teachers of the Law complained: This man welcomes sinners and even eats with them!

They say: 'Keep away! Do not come near me, for I am too sacred for you! Such people are smoke in my nostrils, a fire that keeps burning all day.'

They knew me from the beginning. They could testify that I was from the strictest sect of our religion and I lived as a Pharisee.

If you do go with us, everyone will know that you are pleased with your people and with me. That way, we will be different from the rest of the people on earth.

I see them from the top of rocky cliffs. I look at them from the hills. I see a nation that lives by itself! These are people who do not consider themselves to be like other nations.

Has God attempted to take a nation from the middle of another nation? Has he done this by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by great terrors? Yes, and by the use of his great power! Jehovah your God did all this for you in Egypt before your very eyes!

These people praise me with their words, said Jehovah, but they never draw near to me in their hearts (deepest thoughts). Their reverence for me comes from the repetitious tradition of men.

Then they come to you, as if they are still my people, and they sit down in front of you. They listen to what you say, but they do not do it. They say that they love me, but in their hearts they chase dishonest profits.

You hypocrites (liars)! Isaiah's prophecy was right about you. These people honor me with their lips, but their heart (innermost thoughts) is far from me. But their worship is to no purpose, while they give as their teaching the rules (commands) of men.'

If you do go with us, everyone will know that you are pleased with your people and with me. That way, we will be different from the rest of the people on earth.

I am Jehovah your God. I have promised you their land that is rich with milk and honey. I have chosen you to be different from other people.

You Jehovah set them apart from all the people of the world. They are your own as you promised through your servant Moses when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt.

Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you. I struck you because of my anger, but in my favor I have compassion on you.

They will rebuild the ancient ruins. They will raise up the former devastations. And they will repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations. Strangers will stand and shepherd your flocks. Foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers. You will be called the priests of Jehovah. You will be spoken of as ministers of our God. You will eat the wealth of nations, you will boast in their riches.

Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, said Jehovah. I will set up my standard for the peoples. They will bring your sons and your daughters in their bosom and carried on their shoulders.

O Jehovah, your hand is lifted high, but they do not see it. Let them see your zeal for your people and be put to shame. Let the fire reserved for your enemies consume them.

Therefore as I live,' declares the Lord Jehovah, 'I will deal with you according to your anger and according to your envy, what you showed because of your hatred against them. I will make myself known among them when I judge you.

Now, Sanballat, hearing that we were building the wall, was very angry, and in his wrath made sport of the Jews.

Israel, Jehovah will get rid of the nations you attack. You may have their land. Be careful that you are not ensnared to follow them, for they will be destroyed. Do not inquire after their gods, saying: How do these nations serve their gods that I also may do likewise? Do not behave this way toward Jehovah your God, for every abominable act Jehovah hates they have done for their gods. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.

When you come into the land that Jehovah your God gives you, do not follow the disgusting practices of the nations that are there. Do not sacrifice your children in the fires on your altars. Do not let your people practice divination or look for omens or use spells or charms. Do not allow them to consult the spirits of the dead. read more.
Jehovah your God hates people who do these disgusting things. That is why he is driving those nations out of the land as you advance. Be perfect (without blemish) with Jehovah your God. These nations whom you shall possess listened to observers of clouds and to diviners. As for you, Jehovah your God has not allowed you to do so.

Your servants find pleasure in her stones and feel pity for her dust.

If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget how to play the harp.

You people escaped from the sword. Now leave! Do not just stand there. Remember Jehovah in a distant land and think about Jerusalem.

I, even I, am the one who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mortal men? The sons of men are like grass!

The Israelites saw the king coming with his army. They were frightened and begged Jehovah for help.

Why is Jehovah bringing us to this land? Is it just to have us die in battle? Our wives and children will be taken as prisoners of war! Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?

Jehovah continued: Bring your brother Aaron and his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar to you from all the Israelites. They will serve me as priests.

I chose the other Levites from among the Israelites to help you. They are a gift given to Jehovah to do the necessary work at the tent of meeting.

You will know I sent this commandment to you! This way my covenant with Levi will continue, said Jehovah of Hosts. My covenant was with him [Levi]. It was of life and peace. I gave them to him that he might reverence me. He respected me and stood in awe of my name. The law of truth was in his mouth. Unrighteousness was not found in his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness. He turned many away from iniquity. read more.
The priests should teach the true knowledge of God. They are the messengers of Jehovah of Hosts. Therefore the people should learn (my will) the law from them.

They covet fields and seize them. They covet houses and confiscate them! They oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.

Then they come to you, as if they are still my people, and they sit down in front of you. They listen to what you say, but they do not do it. They say that they love me, but in their hearts they chase dishonest profits.

From the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for gain! From the prophet even to the priest everyone deals falsely!

Moses took half of the blood of the animals and put it in bowls. The other half he threw against the altar. He took the book of the covenant, in which Jehovah's commandments were written, and read it aloud to the people. They said: We will obey Jehovah. We will do everything that he has commanded. Moses took the blood from the bowls and sprinkled it on the people. Next, he told them: With this blood Jehovah makes his agreement with you.

I also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as foreigners.

Jehovah told Moses: Put these laws in writing, as part of my agreement (covenant) with Israel.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May those who love you prosper.

For Zion's sake I will not remain silent. For Jerusalem's sake I will not rest until its righteousness shines like the sunrise and its salvation burns brightly like a torch.

I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem. They will never be silent day or night. Whoever calls on Jehovah, do not allow yourselves any rest, and do not give him any rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it an object of praise throughout the earth.

For all the gods of the nations are idols; but Jehovah made the heavens.

The king replied: You are lazy. You are just lazy! That is why you keep asking me to let you go and sacrifice to Jehovah.

Our God is in heaven. He does whatever he pleases. Their idols are made of silver and gold. Human hands made them.

The uncircumcised man may not eat it. If a foreigner has settled among you and wants to celebrate Passover to honor Jehovah, you must first circumcise all the males of his household. He is then to be treated like a native-born Israelite and may join in the festival.

Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

After you have circumcised your purchased slave he may eat of it.

You do the works of your father. They said: We were not born of fornication. We have one Father, God!

They answered him: We are Abraham's seed, and have never been in bondage to any man. How can you say we will be made free?

Jeremiah, I will use Babylon to destroy the pride of the people of Judah and Jerusalem.

Their minds were blinded. Until this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It is not revealed to them that Christ voided it. But to this day, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies upon their heart. When one turns to God, the veil is taken away.

I do not want you to be ignorant of this secret, lest you should be wise in your own conceits (estimation). Blindness has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the nations comes in.

Jabin had nine hundred iron chariots, and he ruled the people of Israel with cruelty and violence for twenty years. The people of Israel cried out to Jehovah for help.

My people have begged for my help. I have seen how cruel the Egyptians are to them.

When Jehovah established judges he supported each judge. He delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days the judge lived. He had compassion for them as they groaned under those who oppressed and afflicted them.

What is your desire? he asked. She said to him: Let my two sons be seated, the one at your right hand, and the other at your left, in your kingdom.

We hoped he would redeem Israel. Yes and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.

When they met they asked him: Lord will you restore the kingdom to Israel at this time?

Our attackers are on our necks. We are overcome with weariness and we have no rest.

Judah has been taken away as a prisoner because of trouble and hard work. She dwells among the nations. There is no rest for her. Her attackers have overtaken her in the midst of her distress.

Do not eat anything that dies by itself. You may give it to the alien who is in your town, so that he may eat it. You may sell it to a foreigner, for you are a holy people to Jehovah your God. Do not boil a young goat in its mother's milk.

You are a holy people to Jehovah your God. Jehovah your God has chosen you to be his own special people out of all the nations of the earth.

You will receive power, when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

He said: Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

He had a dream in which he saw a stairway set up on the earth with its top reaching up to heaven. He saw the angels of God going up and coming down on it. Jehovah was standing above the stairway. He proclaimed: I am Jehovah, the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give the land on which you are lying to you and your descendants. Your descendants will be like the dust on the earth. You will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. Every family on earth will be blessed through you and through your descendants. read more.
Remember, I am with you. I will watch over you wherever you go. I will also bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I do what I have promised you.

God appeared to Jacob again when he came from Paddan-aram. He blessed him. God said to him: Your name is Jacob. You shall no longer be called Jacob. Israel shall be your name. Thus He called him Israel. God also said: I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and an assembly of nations will come from you. Kings shall come forth from you. read more.
The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you. I will give the land to your descendants after you.

We are not like Moses, who put a veil upon his face, that the children of Israel should not look steadily on the end of that which was passing away: Their minds were blinded. Until this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It is not revealed to them that Christ voided it. But to this day, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies upon their heart.

The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not know Jesus. They fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath when they condemned Jesus.

Never forget how you made Jehovah your God angry in the desert. You rebelled against Jehovah from the day you left Egypt until you came here.

You have rebelled against Jehovah from the day I knew you.

I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up here in Jerusalem as a student of Gamaliel. I received instruction in the Law of our ancestors and was just as zealous for God as are all of you.

They have been informed concerning you, that you teach all the Jews who are among the nations to forsake Moses. You tell them not to circumcise their children neither to walk after the customs.

We heard him say: 'This Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.'

Is this the carpenter, the son of Mary, brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Are not his sisters here with us? He offended them.

He was despised and rejected by men. He was a man of sorrows familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised. We did not consider him to be worth much.

He came to his own. They did not receive him!

They will be killed by the edge of the sword. Some will be led captive into all the nations. The people of the nations will tread down Jerusalem until the time of the Nations is fulfilled.

Jehovah will bring a nation against you from far away, from the end of the earth, as the eagle swoops down, a nation whose language you will not understand, a nation of fierce countenance who will have no respect for the old, nor show favor to the young. They will eat the offspring of your animals and the crops from your fields until you are destroyed. They will leave you no grain, no new wine, no olive oil, no calves from your herds, and no lambs or kids from your flocks. They will continue to do this until you are completely desolate. read more.
They will blockade all your cities until the high, fortified walls you trust come down everywhere in your land. They will blockade all the cities everywhere in the land that Jehovah your God is giving you.

I have killed lions and bears. I will do the same to this heathen Philistine. He has defied the army of the living God.

What will a man profit, if he gains the whole world, and gives up his life? What will a man give in exchange for his life? The Son of man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels. He will then reward each man according to his deeds.

My servant David will be their king. All of them will have one shepherd. They will live by my rules, and they will obey my laws. They will live in the land that I gave my servant Jacob, the land where their ancestors lived. They, their children, and their grandchildren will live in it for a very long time. My servant David will be their prince for a very long time.

I will place one shepherd over them, my servant David. He will take care of them. He will take care of them and be their shepherd.

Which of the prophets have your fathers not persecuted? They killed those who announced in advance the coming of the righteous one whom you have betrayed and murdered.

They killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They did not please God and are contrary to all men.

Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day. When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had come back, they requested a meeting of the people. At that meeting they made him king over Israel. There was none who followed the house of David except the tribe of Judah.

He said to Jeroboam: Take ten of the parts, for this is what Jehovah said: 'I will take the kingdom away from Solomon by force. I will give ten tribes to you.

You are blessed O Israel. Who is like you, a people saved by Jehovah? He is the shield of your help and the sword of your majesty! So your enemies will cringe before you and you will tread upon their high places.

I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you. I will make your name great. You will be a blessing.

The people of Jerusalem turned away from me without ever returning. They still cling to deceit. They refuse to return.

Has any nation ever exchanged gods? Their gods are not really gods. Yet my people have exchanged their glory for something that does not help them. Be horrified over this, heaven. Be terribly afraid, declares Jehovah. My people have done two things wrong: (l) They have abandoned me, the fountain (source) of living waters. They have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water. (Revelation 4:11)

I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of kindness and of supplication. They will look to the one whom they pierced; and they will mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son. There will be a bitter lamentation for him, like one who grieves for his first-born.

I will no longer hide my face (withdraw my support) from them. I will pour out my Spirit on the nation of Israel,' declares the Lord Jehovah.

Therefore hear this, you afflicted one, made drunk, but not with wine. This is what your Lord Jehovah says, your God, who defends his people: See, I have taken out of your hand the cup that made you stagger. You will never drink from that cup, that cup of wrath, again. I will put it into the hands of your tormentors, who said to you: 'Lie down that we may walk all over you. You made your back like the ground like a street to be walked over.'

I will feed oppressors with their own flesh. They will be intoxicated with their own blood as if by sweet wine. Everyone will know that I am Jehovah, your Savior and Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.

That night Jehovah appeared to Isaac. Jehovah said: I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, because I am with you. I will bless you and increase the number of your descendants for my servant Abraham's sake.

Jehovah appeared to Isaac and said: Isaac, stay away from Egypt! I will show you where I want you to go. You will live there as a foreigner. I will be with you and bless you. I will keep my promise to your father Abraham by giving this land to you and your descendants. I will give you as many descendants as there are stars in the sky. I will give your descendants all of this land. They will be a blessing to every nation on earth. read more.
This is because Abraham did everything I told him to do.

Listen, heaven, and pay attention, earth! Jehovah (YHWH) has spoken: I raised my children and helped them grow, but they have rebelled against me.

Jeshurun (Israel) grew fat and disrespectful. You got fat! You were stuffed! You over eat! He abandoned the God who made him and scornfully treated the rock of his salvation.

The sons of those who oppress you will bow in front of you. All who loathe you will bow at your feet. They will call you the city of Jehovah, Zion, the city of the Holy One of Israel.

Your gates will always be open. They will never be closed day or night so that people may bring you the wealth of the nations. Even their kings are led as prisoners. Nations and kingdoms that do not serve you will be destroyed. The nations will definitely be ruined.

Do not make any agreement with them or with their gods.

Jehovah your God will deliver them to you. You must crush them! Completely destroy them. You should make no covenant with them. Do not show them mercy.

Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons.

If you are disloyal and join with the nations that are still left among you and intermarry with them,

They provoked him to anger (indignation) because of their illegal worship sites. They made him furious because they worshiped idols. When God heard, he became furious. He greatly abhorred Israel. He abandoned his dwelling place in Shiloh, the tent where he had lived among humans. read more.
He allowed his power to be taken captive and handed his glory over to an oppressor. He let swords kill his people. He was furious with those who belonged to him. Fire consumed his best young men, so his virgins were not given in marriage. His priests were cut down with swords. The widows of his priests could not even weep for them.

a people who continually provoke me to my very face, offering sacrifices in gardens and burning incense on altars of brick. They sit among the graves and spend their nights keeping secret vigil. They eat the flesh of pigs. Their pots are full of unclean meat. They say: 'Keep away! Do not come near me, for I am too sacred for you! Such people are smoke in my nostrils, a fire that keeps burning all day.' read more.
See, it stands written before me. I will not keep silent but will pay back in full; I will pay it back into their laps both your sins and the sins of your fathers, says Jehovah. This is because they burned sacrifices on the mountains and defied me on the hills. I will measure into their laps the full payment for their former deeds.

If you were cut out of the olive tree that is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a garden olive tree: how much more could these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

The hand of Jehovah was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of Jehovah and set me down in the middle of the valley. The valley was full of bones. He caused me to pass among them round about. There were very many on the surface of the valley and they were very dry. He said to me: Son of man, can these bones live? I answered, O Lord Jehovah, you know. read more.
Again he said: Prophesy over these bones and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of Jehovah. The Lord Jehovah says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life. I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you may come alive. You will know that I am Jehovah.' So I prophesied as I was commanded. As I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling. The bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, sinews were on them, and flesh grew and skin covered them. But there was no breath in them. Then Jehovah said to me: Prophesy to the wind (ruach: air, breath, spirit, life)! Prophesy, son of man. Tell the wind, this is what the Lord Jehovah says: 'Come from the four winds, O Breath, and breathe on these people who were killed so that they will live.' So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath of life entered them. Then they came to life and stood on their feet. There were enough of them to form a very large army. Jehovah also said: Son of man, all the people of Israel are like these bones. The people say: Our bones are dry, and our hope has vanished. We are completely destroyed. Prophesy and tell them: 'This is what the Lord Jehovah says: My people, I will open your graves and take you out of them. I will bring you to Israel. Then, my people, you will know that I am Jehovah, because I will open your graves and bring you out of your graves.' I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live. I will place you in your own land. Then you will know that I, Jehovah, have spoken, and I have done it,' declares Jehovah.

([Psalm of Asaph]) O God, the nations have invaded the land that belongs to you. They have dishonored (defiled) your holy temple. They have left Jerusalem in ruins. They have given the dead bodies of your servants to the birds for food. They have given the flesh of your godly ones to the animals. They have shed the blood of your people around Jerusalem as though it were water. There is no one to bury your people. read more.
We have become a disgrace to our neighbors, an object of ridicule and contempt to those around us. How long, O Jehovah? Will you remain angry forever? Will your fury (zeal) continue to burn like fire? Pour your fury (anger) on the nations that do not know you, on the kingdoms that have not called you. They have devoured Jacob. They have destroyed his home.

Because you have had everlasting enmity and have delivered the sons of Israel to the power of the sword (to die by warfare) at the time of their calamity, at the time of the punishment of the end.' Therefore as I live, declares the Lord Jehovah: I will give you over to bloodshed (death), and bloodshed (death) will pursue you. Since you have not hated bloodshed, therefore bloodshed will pursue you.

A Savior will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from sin, declares Jehovah.

His feet will stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east. The Mount of Olives will be split in half toward the east and toward the west. There will be a very large valley. Half of the mountain will move toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

The Law is a shadow of the good things to come. It is not the actual things. The continual yearly sacrifices can never make those who worship perfect.

The Holy Spirit revealed that the way into the Most Holy Place was not open while the tent was still in use. This is a symbol that points to the present time. It means that the offerings and animal sacrifices presented to God cannot make the worshiper's heart perfect, since they have to do only with food, drink, and various purification ceremonies. These are all outward rules, which apply only until the time comes to change them for something better. read more.
Christ came as the high priest of the good things that are now here. He also went into a much better tent that is not made by humans and does not belong to this creation.

I will certainly bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of their enemies' cities.

And when it stopped, he would say: RETURN, O JEHOVAH, to the countless thousands of Israel!

We will not return to our homes until every Israelite has received his own land.

These are the countries that the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for their inheritance. Their inheritance was by lot. Jehovah commanded the hand of Moses to distribute to the nine tribes and the half tribe. Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and a half tribe on the other side of the Jordan. He gave no inheritance to the Levites. read more.
The children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. No part of the land was given to the Levites. They were given cities in which to live and a place for their cattle and personally property. The people of Israel did as Jehovah commanded Moses. They divided the land.

While Israel lived in that region, Reuben went to bed with his father's concubine Bilhah. Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons.

These are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is how Jacob blessed each of them.

May peoples serve you. And nations bow down to you. Be master of your brothers. And may your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be those who curse you. Blessed be those who bless you.

He bows down and he lies down like a lion. Like a lion, who dares rouse him? Blessed is everyone who blesses you! Cursed is everyone who curses you!

Because you have had everlasting enmity and have delivered the sons of Israel to the power of the sword (to die by warfare) at the time of their calamity, at the time of the punishment of the end.' Therefore as I live, declares the Lord Jehovah: I will give you over to bloodshed (death), and bloodshed (death) will pursue you. Since you have not hated bloodshed, therefore bloodshed will pursue you.

May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned backward.

The sun will no longer be your light during the day. The brightness of the moon will not give you light, for Jehovah will be your everlasting light. Your God will be your glory.

You will be a beautiful crown in the hand of Jehovah, a royal crown in the hand of your God. You will no longer be called Deserted, and your land will no longer be called Destroyed. You will be named My Delight. Your land will be named Married (owned as a wife). Jehovah is delighted with you, and your land will be married.

He said: Do not touch my anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

Jehovah of Hosts proclaims: 'He sent me after glory! He sent me to the nations that plundered you. For he that touches you touches the pupil of his eye.'

The inhabitants of the earth pollute the earth. They transgress laws and violate statutes. They break the everlasting covenant.

They went back to the evil ways of their ancestors and refused to obey my words. They followed other gods and worshiped them. The nations of Israel and Judah have rejected the covenant that I made to their ancestors.

Promise me that you will take my body with you when God leads you to that land.

In that day Jehovah will thresh from the flowing Euphrates River to the Wadi (streambed) of Egypt. You, O Israelites, will be gathered up one by one.

Jehovah answered: Samuel, do everything they want you to do. I am really the one they have rejected as their king.

You have seen what I did to Egypt and how I carried you on the wings of eagles and brought you to me. If you will obey me and are faithful to the terms of my covenant, then out of all the nations you will be my own special possession, for all the earth is mine. You will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation. These are the words you must speak to the children of Israel.'

Why are you going to Egypt to drink water from the Nile (Shihor) River? You will not gain anything by going to Assyria to drink water from the Euphrates River.

An angel of Jehovah came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said: I led you out of Egypt and brought you to the land about which I swore to your fathers that I would never break my covenant with you. You will make no covenant with people of this land. You will throw down their altars. You have not obeyed my voice. Why have you done this? I also said: 'I will not drive them out from before you. They will be thorns in your sides. Their gods will snare (trap) you.'

They said: You are an old man. You set a good example for your sons. But they have not followed it. Now we want a king to be our leader like all the other nations. Choose one for us!

Jehovah answered: Do what they want. Give them a king. Then Samuel told all the men of Israel to go back home.

He remembered his loving kindness and faithfulness to Israel's descendants. All the ends of the earth have seen how our God saves them.

Can a woman forget her nursing child? Will she have no compassion on the child from her womb? Although mothers forget, I will not forget you. I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands. Your walls are constantly before me.

Certainly Jehovah says: The captives of the strong man will be taken away. The prey of the tyrant will be rescued. I will contend with the one who grapples with you and I will save your sons.

All who rage against you will be ashamed and disgraced. Those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish.

Jehovah said to Moses: How much longer will these people reject me? How much longer will they refuse to trust in me, even though I have performed many miracles among them?

Because they did not believe in God and did not trust in his salvation.

The voice said: Son of man, this is the place where my throne is and the place where my feet rest. This is where I will live among the Israelites for a very long time. Then the people of Israel and their kings will no longer dishonor my holy name by acting like prostitutes. They will not dishonor it with the dead bodies of their kings.

They must stop acting like prostitutes and take the dead bodies of their kings far away from me. Then I will live among them for a very long time.

I have swept your sins away like a cloud. Come back to me! I am the one who saves you.

For this is my covenant with them, when I shall take away their sins.

A Savior will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from sin, declares Jehovah.

In this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: The deliverer will come out of Zion and will remove ungodliness from Jacob.

Know and discern, that from the utterance of the commandment to restore and to rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One (Messiah), the Leader: there shall be seven weeks, also sixty-two weeks. It shall be built again with a public square and moat, even in terrible times.

The royal scepter shall not depart from Judah. His descendants will always rule. Nations will bring him tribute and bow in obedience before him. This, until Shiloh comes and all will obey him.

She said to the men: I know Jehovah has given you the land and the terror of you has fallen on us. All the inhabitants of the land are afraid of you. We heard how Jehovah dried up the water of the Red sea for you when you came out of Egypt. And what you did to the two kings of the Amorites that were on the other side of Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. As soon as we heard these things we became discouraged. No man had courage because of you. Jehovah your God is God in heaven above and on earth below.

And Haman gave his wife Zeresh and all his friends an account of what took place. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, If Mordecai, who is starting to get the better of you, is of the seed of the Jews, you will not be able to do anything against him, but you will certainly go down before him.

Some of the branches are broken off. You, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them. Therefore you partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree with them.

They were broken off because of unbelief! You stand by faith! Do not be conceited but be reverent.

I will make you my people, and I will be your God. You will know that I am Jehovah your God. I brought you out from under the forced labor of the Egyptians.

If you will obey me and are faithful to the terms of my covenant, then out of all the nations you will be my own special possession, for all the earth is mine. You will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation. These are the words you must speak to the children of Israel.'

I was circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

The number of disciples increased at that time. A murmuring arose on the part of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.

You made us a reproach to our neighbors and an object of ridicule and contempt to those around us.

You made them eat tears as food. You often made them drink their own tears. You made us a source of conflict to our neighbors. Our enemies make fun of us.

You make us retreat from the enemy. Those who hate us rob us at will.

Because you have had everlasting enmity and have delivered the sons of Israel to the power of the sword (to die by warfare) at the time of their calamity, at the time of the punishment of the end.'

Woe to the sinful nation, people heavy with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, sons who are corrupt! They have forsaken Jehovah! They have despised the Holy One of Israel. They have turned away from him.