249 passages · God
Cain protests his punishment is too great. God places a mark on him so no one will kill him, and Cain settles in Nod, east of Eden.
God sends a wind and closes the springs of the deep and the heavens' floodgates. The waters recede, the ark rests on the mountains of Ararat, and mountaintops become visible later.
The angel finds Hagar fleeing and tells her to return and submit. He promises many descendants and says she will bear Ishmael, and she names God 'the God who sees me'.
Abraham asks whether God will sweep away the righteous with the wicked and bargains down from fifty righteous to ten. The Lord agrees each time to spare the city, and then leaves.
The angels warn Lot to gather his family since the city will be destroyed. His sons-in-law don't take it seriously. The angels lead Lot's family out, and Lot asks to go to nearby Zoar.
Sent away with bread and water, Hagar despairs when the water runs out. God hears the boy, opens her eyes to a well, and promises to make Ishmael a great nation.
Seeing Leah unloved, God gives her children while Rachel is barren. She has Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, naming each in hope of her husband's love and, finally, in praise.
Joseph orders their sacks filled and their silver secretly returned. At a night stop, one brother finds his silver and they tremble, wondering what God has done.
Joseph sees Benjamin and orders a midday meal for them. Frightened, the brothers explain the returned silver to the steward, who reassures them and brings out Simeon.
Pharaoh is pleased and invites Joseph's family to come, promising the best of the land. Joseph sends them off with wagons, provisions, clothes and extra gifts for Benjamin.
Fearing Joseph will now take revenge, the brothers plead for forgiveness. Joseph weeps and says what they meant for evil, God meant for good, and promises to provide for them.
Quail cover the camp in the evening and in the morning flakes lie on the ground. The people call it what is it, gather what they need, and those who keep it overnight find it spoiled.
God tells Moses the people have corrupted themselves and threatens to destroy them and start over with Moses. Moses appeals to God's reputation and his promises to Abraham, Isaac and Israel, and God relents.
Moses asks to see God's glory. The LORD says he will let his goodness pass by and proclaim his name, but Moses cannot see his face and live, so he will be sheltered in a rock cleft and see God's back.
God tells Moses to cut two new tablets and climb Sinai alone. The LORD descends in a cloud and declares he is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger and forgiving, yet does not overlook guilt. Moses worships and asks him to go with them.
A person too poor for a lamb may bring two birds, one for a sin offering and one for a burnt offering. If even that is too much, a tenth of an ephah of fine flour, without oil or frankincense, is accepted.
When the days are complete, the woman brings a lamb and a bird to the priest, who offers them for her cleansing. If she cannot afford a lamb, she brings two birds instead.
A person who cannot afford all these offerings brings one lamb, less flour, and two birds. The ritual is the same, and the passage concludes it is the law for someone who cannot afford full cleansing.
If the exiles confess their sins and humble themselves, God promises to remember his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and not to destroy them. The chapter closes by noting these are the laws given at Sinai.
The LORD allows those unclean or traveling to keep the Passover a month later. Those who neglect it while clean are cut off, and foreigners may join under the same rules.
Miriam becomes leprous, and Aaron begs Moses for mercy. Moses prays for her healing, and God orders seven days outside the camp, after which Israel moves on.
God threatens to destroy the people and start over with Moses. Moses pleads for them, appealing to God's reputation and His character of mercy.
Six cities, three on each side of the Jordan, are to serve as refuge for anyone who kills someone unintentionally, protecting him from the avenger until he stands trial.
Moses recalls asking God to let him cross the Jordan. God refused, telling him to view the land from Pisgah and to strengthen Joshua, who would lead the people in.
Moses warns that if Israel later makes idols, they will be scattered among the nations. If they seek God with all their heart from there, they will find Him, because He is merciful and will not forget His covenant.
Moses lists other times Israel provoked God, including at Kadesh. He recalls pleading with God not to destroy His people, citing Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and God's reputation among the nations.
Moses commands Israel not to harden their hearts against the poor as the release year nears, but to lend freely and give generously. There will always be poor in the land, so they are to open their hands.
After Israel settles the land, they are to set apart three cities, and three more if the land expands, so that someone who kills accidentally can flee there safely and not be killed by an avenger of blood.
Israel is to offer peace to distant cities before attacking. If they refuse, males are to be killed and the rest taken as plunder; the nations in Canaan itself are to be completely destroyed so they cannot lead Israel into idolatry.
Moses says that when Israel, scattered after curses, returns to the LORD with all their heart, he will bring them back, have compassion, and prosper them. God will circumcise their hearts so they love him.