139 passages · Life and end
Joseph asks about his father, blesses Benjamin, and withdraws to weep. He then seats his brothers by age and gives Benjamin a portion five times larger.
The brothers tell Jacob that Joseph is alive and ruling Egypt. Jacob doubts, but the wagons revive his spirit, and he resolves to go see Joseph before he dies.
Judah goes ahead, and Joseph meets his father in Goshen with tears. Jacob says he can now die in peace, and Joseph coaches his brothers on how to answer Pharaoh.
A peace offering of thanksgiving comes with cakes and must be eaten the same day. Vow or freewill offerings can be eaten for two days, and anyone unclean who eats the meat is cut off from the people.
For seven days beginning on the fifteenth of the seventh month, Israel is to celebrate the harvest by rejoicing and living in booths, remembering the exodus from Egypt. The chapter closes by summarizing the feasts and noting that Moses announced them.
Israel is to set aside a tenth of its produce each year and eat it at God's chosen place, or exchange it for money if too far. Every third year the tithe is stored in the towns for the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows.
Israel is to keep the Feast of Weeks seven weeks after harvest begins, and the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days after the harvest. All must rejoice with their households, the Levites, foreigners, and the poor.
Deborah and Barak begin a victory song, calling on the LORD to be blessed and on kings and princes to listen. They recall how the LORD marched out from Seir so that the earth shook, before the God of Sinai.
Boaz marries Ruth and she bears a son. The women bless the LORD for giving Naomi a redeemer, and the child, named Obed, is the grandfather of David.
Hearing that Obed-edom was blessed, David brings the ark up with sacrifices, dancing, shouting and the ram's horn. He offers sacrifices, blesses the people, and gives everyone food.
Solomon and Israel offer huge numbers of sacrifices and keep a feast for fourteen days. The people go home joyful.
All the men came determined to make David king over all Israel and shared a three-day feast. Neighbors brought abundant food, and there was joy in Israel.
David and Israel go to Kiriath-jearim and set the ark on a new cart. With Uzzah and Ahio guiding it, the people celebrate before God with songs and instruments.
David, the elders and commanders bring the ark from Obed-edom with sacrifices, shouting, trumpets and music. As it enters the City of David, David dances in a linen ephod and Michal despises him in her heart.
The song ends with thanks for God's goodness and lasting love, and a prayer to gather and save Israel from the nations. It closes with a blessing, and the people answer Amen and Praise the Lord.
On the fourth day the people bless the LORD in the Valley of Beracah and return joyfully to the temple with instruments. Surrounding kingdoms fear God and Jehoshaphat's kingdom has rest.
A chest is placed at the temple gate and the people joyfully bring the tax set by Moses. The money pays workers to restore the temple, and leftover funds make gold and silver articles.
The people bring sacrifices and thank offerings in great numbers. Levites help the too few priests, and the people rejoice at how quickly God had prepared everything.
The people celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread with great joy and music, and agree to extend it another seven days, helped by generous gifts from the king and officials. The celebration is described as unmatched since Solomon, and the priests and Levites bless the people.
When the foundation is laid, priests and Levites praise the LORD as David had prescribed, and the people shout. Older people who remembered the first temple weep, and joy and weeping blend into one great sound.
The priests and Levites purify themselves, and the exiles keep Passover and then a joyful seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread. The writer credits the LORD with giving them joy.
Hearing the Law, the people weep. Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites tell them the day is holy and to celebrate with food and sharing, for the joy of the LORD is their strength, and the people rejoice because they understood.
The Levites and singers are brought to Jerusalem for a joyful dedication of the wall with music. The priests and Levites purify themselves, and then the people, the gates, and the wall.
Nehemiah leads two large choirs in opposite directions along the top of the wall, with priests and musicians. They meet at the temple, offer sacrifices, and rejoice so loudly that Jerusalem is heard from afar.
Mordecai leaves the king in royal robes and a gold crown, and Susa rejoices. Jews everywhere celebrate with feasting, and many people of the land join them out of fear.
Mordecai writes to all Jews to observe the fourteenth and fifteenth of Adar yearly as days of feasting, gifts, and giving to the poor. The name Purim comes from Pur, the lot Haman cast.
Many ask who can show them good, but the psalmist asks the LORD to let His face shine on them. He says God has given him deeper joy than a good harvest, and he will lie down in peace because God keeps him safe.
The psalm ends by asking that all who take refuge in God be glad and sing for joy. It affirms that the LORD blesses the righteous and covers them with His favor like a shield.
The mood changes to trust: the psalmist says he trusts God's loving devotion and will rejoice in salvation and sing to the LORD for His goodness.
He calls the LORD his chosen portion and says his inheritance is pleasant. He blesses God for counsel and keeps Him always before him, so he will not be shaken.