Friday, 3 Tevet 5784 / December 15, 2023
Day 349 Readings
Torah: Mikeitz, 6th Portion Bereshit (Genesis) 43:16-43:29
Genesis 43:16-29
New American Standard Bible 1995
Joseph Sees Benjamin
16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to his house steward, “Bring the men into the house, and slay an animal and make ready; for the men are to dine with me at noon.” 17 So the man did as Joseph said, and [a]brought the men to Joseph’s house. 18 Now the men were afraid, because they were brought to Joseph’s house; and they said, “It is because of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time that we are being brought in, that he may [b]seek occasion against us and fall upon us, and take us for slaves with our donkeys.” 19 So they came near to Joseph’s house steward, and spoke to him at the entrance of the house, 20 and said, “Oh, my lord, we indeed came down the first time to buy food, 21 and it came about when we came to the lodging place, that we opened our sacks, and behold, each man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in [c]full. So we have brought it back in our hand. 22 We have also brought down other money in our hand to buy food; we do not know who put our money in our sacks.” 23 He said, “[d]Be at ease, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; [e]I had your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them. 24 Then the man brought the men into Joseph’s house and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys fodder. 25 So they prepared the present [f]for Joseph’s coming at noon; for they had heard that they were to eat [g]a meal there.
26 When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present which was in their hand and bowed to the ground before him. 27 Then he asked them about their welfare, and said, “Is your old father well, of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” 28 They said, “Your servant our father is well; he is still alive.” They bowed down [h]in homage. 29 As he lifted his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, he said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me?” And he said, “May God be gracious to you, my son.”
Bible Study Together
1 Chronicles 11:20-47
New American Standard Bible 1995
20 As for [a]Abshai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the [b]thirty, and he swung his spear against three hundred [c]and killed them; and he had a name as well as the [d]thirty. 21 Of the three in the second rank he was the most honored and became their commander; however, he did not attain to the first three.
22 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, mighty in deeds, struck down the [e]two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and [f]killed a lion inside a pit on a snowy day. 23 He [g]killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature five [h]cubits tall. Now in the Egyptian’s hand was a spear like a weaver’s beam, but he went down to him with a club and snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and [i]killed him with his own spear. 24 These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and had a name as well as the three mighty men. 25 Behold, he was honored among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three; and David appointed him over his guard.
26 Now the mighty men of the armies were Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 27 [j]Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the [k]Pelonite, 28 Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite, 29 [l]Sibbecai the Hushathite, [m]Ilai the Ahohite, 30 Maharai the Netophathite, [n]Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite, 31 Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the sons of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, 32 [o]Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, [p]Abiel the Arbathite, 33 Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, 34 the sons of [q]Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite, 35 Ahiam the son of [r]Sacar the Hararite, [s]Eliphal the son of Ur, 36 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, 37 Hezro the Carmelite, [t]Naarai the son of Ezbai, 38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri, 39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, 40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 41 Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai, 42 Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a chief of the Reubenites, and thirty with him, 43 Hanan the son of Maacah and Joshaphat the Mithnite, 44 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite, 45 Jediael the son of Shimri and Joha his brother, the Tizite, 46 Eliel the Mahavite and Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, 47 Eliel and Obed and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.
Matthew 19:1-12
New American Standard Bible 1995
Concerning Divorce
19 When Jesus had finished these words, He departed from Galilee and came into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan; 2 and [a]large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there.
3 Some Pharisees came to [b]Jesus, testing Him and asking, “Is it lawful for a man to [c]divorce his wife for any reason at all?” 4 And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” 7 They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give her a certificate of divorce and send her away?” 8 He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to [d]divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way. 9 And I say to you, whoever [e]divorces his wife, except for [f]immorality, and marries another woman [g]commits adultery[h].”
10 The disciples *said to Him, “If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry.” 11 But He said to them, “Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given. 12 For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this, let him accept it.”
365 Daily Kingdom Living
Do We Understand The Plan?
In Micah’s prophecies of judgement for nations who have stood against Israel, he notes their lack of understanding of God’s plans. They don’t take him into consideration; he seems irrelevant. But it is not only Israel’s enemies who don’t understand God. Micah here is also informing the Jews what God is doing and why; he’s giving them an idea of God’s sovereignty that they are unaware of. What about us? Do we see and God at work?
Prayer: Dear Lord, even though I don’t always know what you’re acting in certain situations or why, I choose to put my trust in you. You are God of no error and perfect timing. I know you have our best interests at heart. You love us completely and thoroughly. And who could ask for anything more. I am grateful to you, God. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture
Micah 1
New American Standard Bible 1995
Destruction in Israel and Judah
1 The word of the Lord which came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.
2 Hear, O peoples, all of [a]you;Listen, O earth and [b]all it contains,And let the Lord [c]God be a witness against you,The Lord from His holy temple.3 For behold, the Lord is coming forth from His place.He will come down and tread on the high places of the [d]earth.4 The mountains will melt under HimAnd the valleys will be split,Like wax before the fire,Like water poured down a steep place.5 All this is for the rebellion of JacobAnd for the sins of the house of Israel.What is the rebellion of Jacob?Is it not Samaria?What is the high [e]place of Judah?Is it not Jerusalem?6 For I will make Samaria a heap of ruins [f]in the open country,Planting places for a vineyard.I will pour her stones down into the valleyAnd will lay bare her foundations.7 All of her idols will be smashed,All of her earnings will be burned with fireAnd all of her images I will make desolate,For she collected them from a harlot’s earnings,And to the earnings of a harlot they will return.
8 Because of this I must lament and wail,I must go barefoot and naked;I must make a lament like the jackalsAnd a mourning like the ostriches.9 For her [g]wound is incurable,For it has come to Judah;It has reached the gate of my people,Even to Jerusalem.10 Tell it not in Gath,Weep not at all.At [h]Beth-le-aphrah roll yourself in the dust.11 [i]Go on your way, inhabitant of [j]Shaphir, in shameful nakedness.The inhabitant of [k]Zaanan does not [l]escape.The lamentation of [m]Beth-ezel: “He will take from you its [n]support.”12 For the inhabitant of [o]MarothBecomes weak waiting for good,Because a calamity has come down from the LordTo the gate of Jerusalem.13 Harness the chariot to the team of horses,O inhabitant of Lachish—She was the beginning of sinTo the daughter of Zion—Because in you were foundThe rebellious acts of Israel.14 Therefore you will give parting giftsOn behalf of Moresheth-gath;The houses of Achzib will become a deceptionTo the kings of Israel.15 Moreover, I will bring on youThe one who takes possession,O inhabitant of [p]Mareshah.The glory of Israel will enter Adullam.16 Make yourself bald and cut off your hair,Because of the children of your delight;Extend your baldness like the eagle,For they will go from you into exile.
Micah 2
Woe to Oppressors
1 Woe to those who scheme iniquity,Who work out evil on their beds![q]When morning comes, they do it,For it is in the power of their hands.2 They covet fields and then seize them,And houses, and take them away.They [r]rob a man and his house,A man and his inheritance.
3 Therefore thus says the Lord,
“Behold, I am planning against this family a calamityFrom which you cannot remove your necks;And you will not walk haughtily,For it will be an evil time.4 “On that day they will take up against you a [s]tauntAnd [t]utter a bitter lamentation and say,‘We are completely destroyed!He exchanges the portion of my people;How He removes it from me!To the apostate He apportions our fields.’5 “Therefore you will have no one [u]stretching a measuring lineFor you by lot in the assembly of the Lord.
6 ‘Do not [v]speak out,’ so they [w]speak out.But if [x]they do not [y]speak out concerning these things,Reproaches will not be turned back.7 “Is it being said, O house of Jacob:‘Is the Spirit of the Lord impatient?Are these His doings?’Do not My words do goodTo the one walking uprightly?8 “[z]Recently My people have arisen as an enemy—You strip the [aa]robe off the garmentFrom unsuspecting passers-by,From those returned from war.9 “The women of My people you evict,Each one from her pleasant house.From her children you take My splendor forever.10 “Arise and go,For this is no place of restBecause of the uncleanness that brings on destruction,A painful destruction.11 “If a man walking after wind and falsehoodHad told lies and said,‘I will [ab]speak out to you concerning wine and liquor,’He would be [ac]spokesman to this people.
12 “I will surely assemble all of you, Jacob,I will surely gather the remnant of Israel.I will put them together like sheep in the fold;Like a flock in the midst of its pastureThey will be noisy with men.13 “The breaker goes up before them;They break out, pass through the gate and go out by it.So their king goes on before them,And the Lord at their head.”
Micah 3
Rulers Denounced
1 And I said,
“Hear now, heads of JacobAnd rulers of the house of Israel. Is it not for you to know justice? 2 “You who hate good and love evil,Who tear off their skin from them And their flesh from their bones, 3 Who eat the flesh of my people,Strip off their skin from them,Break their bonesAnd chop them up as for the potAnd as meat in a kettle.”4 Then they will cry out to the Lord,But He will not answer them.Instead, He will hide His face from them at that timeBecause they have practiced evil deeds.
5 Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray;
When they have something to bite with their teeth,They cry, “Peace,”But against him who puts nothing in their mouthsThey declare holy war.6 Therefore it will be night for you—without vision,And darkness for you—without divination.The sun will go down on the prophets,And the day will become dark over them.7 The seers will be ashamedAnd the diviners will be embarrassed.Indeed, they will all cover their [ad]mouthsBecause there is no answer from God.8 On the other hand I am filled with power—With the Spirit of the Lord—And with justice and courageTo make known to Jacob his rebellious act,Even to Israel his sin.9 Now hear this, heads of the house of JacobAnd rulers of the house of Israel,Who abhor justiceAnd twist everything that is straight,10 Who build Zion with bloodshedAnd Jerusalem with violent injustice.11 Her leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe,Her priests instruct for a priceAnd her prophets divine for money.Yet they lean on the Lord saying,“Is not the Lord in our midst?Calamity will not come upon us.”12 Therefore, on account of youZion will be plowed as a field,Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins,And the mountain of the [ae]temple will become high places of a forest.
Micah 4
Peaceful Latter Days
1 And it will come about in the last daysThat the mountain of the house of the LordWill be established [af]as the chief of the mountains. It will be raised above the hills,And the peoples will stream to it.2 Many nations will come and say,“Come and let us go up to the mountain of the LordAnd to the house of the God of Jacob,That He may teach us about His waysAnd that we may walk in His paths.”For from Zion will go forth the law,Even the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.3 And He will judge between many peoplesAnd render decisions for mighty, [ag]distant nations.Then they will hammer their swords into plowsharesAnd their spears into pruning hooks;Nation will not lift up sword against nation,And never again will they [ah]train for war.4 Each of them will sit under his vineAnd under his fig tree,With no one to make them afraid,For the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.5 Though all the peoples walkEach in the name of his god,As for us, we will walkIn the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.
6 “In that day,” declares the Lord,“I will assemble the lameAnd gather the outcasts,Even those whom I have afflicted.7 “I will make the lame a remnantAnd the outcasts a strong nation,And the Lord will reign over them in Mount ZionFrom now on and forever.8 “As for you, [ai]tower of the flock,[aj]Hill of the daughter of Zion,To you it will come—Even the former dominion will come,The kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.
9 “Now, why do you cry out loudly?Is there no king among you,Or has your counselor perished,That agony has gripped you like a woman in childbirth?10 “Writhe and labor to give birth,Daughter of Zion,Like a woman in childbirth;For now you will go out of the city,Dwell in the field,And go to Babylon.There you will be rescued;There the Lord will redeem youFrom the hand of your enemies.11 “And now many nations have been assembled against youWho say, ‘Let her be polluted,And let our eyes [ak]gloat over Zion.’12 “But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord,And they do not understand His purpose;For He has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor.13 “Arise and thresh, daughter of Zion,For your horn I will make ironAnd your hoofs I will make bronze,That you may pulverize many peoples,That you may devote to the Lord their unjust gainAnd their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.
Revelation 6
New American Standard Bible 1995
The First Seal—Rider on White Horse
1 Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come[a].” 2 I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
The Second Seal—War
3 When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come[b].” 4 And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.
The Third Seal—Famine
5 When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come[c].” I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, “A [d]quart of wheat for a [e]denarius, and three [f]quarts of barley for a [g]denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine.”
The Fourth Seal—Death
7 When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come[h].” 8 I looked, and behold, an [i]ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with [j]pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.
The Fifth Seal—Martyrs
9 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; 10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O [k]Lord, holy and true, [l]will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.
The Sixth Seal—Terror
12 I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. 14 The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the [m]commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; 16 and they *said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the [n]presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”
Psalm 134
New American Standard Bible 1995
Greetings of Night Watchers.
A Song of Ascents.
1 Behold, bless the Lord, all servants of the Lord,Who [a]serve by night in the house of the Lord! 2 Lift up your hands to the sanctuaryAnd bless the Lord.3 May the Lord bless you from Zion,He who made heaven and earth.
Proverbs 29:26-27
New American Standard Bible 1995
26 Many seek the ruler’s [a]favor,But justice for man comes from the Lord. 27 An unjust man is abominable to the righteous,And he who is upright in the way is abominable to the wicked.