and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later,

Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?

And to whom did he swear that they would never enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient?

So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.

For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, "As I swore in my wrath, 'They shall never enter my rest,'" although his works were finished from the foundation of the world.

The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office;

Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law.

For there was a tabernacle prepared, the first one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread; this is called the holy place.

and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. But of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

But remember the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings,

sometimes being publicly exposed to insult and persecution; and at other times standing side by side with those who were so treated.

Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from a distance, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's edict.

By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had welcomed the spies.

Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection.

They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated

Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.