281 passages · Jesus and the church
A new king fears the growing Israelite population and sets taskmasters over them. They are forced into brutal labor building store cities, yet they keep multiplying.
Pharaoh orders the Hebrew midwives to kill baby boys, but they fear God and let them live. When questioned, they give an excuse, and Pharaoh then orders all newborn Hebrew boys thrown into the Nile.
Moses and Aaron relay the LORD's demand that Israel be allowed to hold a feast in the wilderness. Pharaoh answers that he does not know the LORD and will not let them go.
Pharaoh stops supplying straw but demands the same brick quota, calling the Israelites lazy. The people scatter to gather stubble and the Israelite foremen are beaten for falling short.
The foremen appeal to Pharaoh, who calls them slackers and repeats the order. They then turn on Moses and Aaron, saying they have made Israel a stench to Pharaoh.
Korah, Dathan, Abiram, On and 250 leaders challenge Moses and Aaron, saying all the people are holy. Moses says the LORD will show whom He chooses and rebukes the Levites for seeking the priesthood.
Dathan and Abiram refuse Moses' summons, accusing him of failing to bring them to a good land and of ruling over them. Moses angrily asks God not to regard their offering.
After Ehud's death, Israel again does evil, and the LORD gives them to Jabin, a Canaanite king in Hazor whose commander is Sisera. With 900 iron chariots he harshly oppresses Israel for twenty years, and they cry out.
Israel does evil and the LORD gives them to Midian for seven years. Midianite raiders devastate the crops and livestock until Israel cries out, and the LORD sends a prophet who reminds them of the exodus and that they did not obey Him.
Gideon and his weary three hundred pursue the Midianite kings Zebah and Zalmunna and ask Succoth and Penuel for bread. Both towns refuse, and Gideon vows to punish them when he returns.
Jephthah, a mighty warrior, was driven out by his half-brothers and lived in Tob among outlaws. When the Ammonites attack, the elders ask him to lead, and after they agree to make him head over Gilead, he accepts.
The Philistines camp in Judah at Lehi to arrest Samson, and 3,000 men of Judah go to Samson's cave to bind him. He lets them tie him with two new ropes after they promise not to kill him.
Micah rallies neighbors and catches up with the Danites, asking what else he has left since they took his gods and priest. The Danites tell him to be quiet or lose his life, and he sees they are too strong and goes home.
Late in the day the Levite refuses to stop in Jebus, a foreign city, and continues to Gibeah in Benjamin. No one takes him in until an old man from Ephraim offers his house, and they eat and drink there.
After another victory, the spirit of distress returns and Saul throws his spear at David, who flees. Michal warns him and lowers him through a window, then puts an idol in the bed to trick Saul's messengers.
David asks Jonathan what he has done wrong, since Saul wants him dead. Jonathan doubts it, but David proposes a test at the New Moon feast.
Saul notices David's empty place and asks Jonathan. When Jonathan defends David, Saul insults him and hurls his spear at him, so Jonathan leaves in anger.
David flees to Gath, and Achish's servants recall the song about him. Afraid, David acts insane, and Achish sends him away.
Saul complains that his men conspire against him. Doeg the Edomite reports that he saw David at Nob with Ahimelech, who helped him.
The Ziphites tell Saul where David hides and offer to deliver him. Saul blesses them and tells them to scout carefully.
The Ziphites tell Saul where David is hiding. Saul takes three thousand chosen men to the Wilderness of Ziph, and David sends spies and then goes to see Saul's camp.
David decides that Saul will eventually catch him and takes his six hundred men and families to Achish, king of Gath. Saul stops searching for him.
After four years, Absalom asks permission to fulfill a vow at Hebron and sends messengers to proclaim him king. He brings 200 unknowing guests and summons David's counselor Ahithophel.
Absalom arrives with Ahithophel, and Hushai greets him as king. Questioned about leaving David, he says he will serve the one chosen by the LORD and the people.
God raises up Hadad the Edomite, who had fled to Egypt, and Rezon of Damascus as enemies of Solomon. Both trouble Israel during his reign.
A man of God from Judah denounces the altar at Bethel and predicts Josiah. The altar splits, Jeroboam's hand withers and is healed, and the man refuses to eat there.
In the third year of drought God tells Elijah to go to Ahab and promises rain. Meanwhile Ahab and his palace manager Obadiah, who had secretly saved a hundred prophets, split up to search for grass.
Elijah meets Obadiah and tells him to announce him to Ahab. Obadiah fears Ahab will kill him if Elijah vanishes again, but Elijah swears he will appear that day, so Obadiah goes.
Ahab calls Elijah the troubler of Israel; Elijah replies that Ahab and his family are the real cause because they abandoned God's commands for the Baals. He demands a gathering on Mount Carmel, and Ahab complies.
Ahab reports everything to Jezebel, who vows to kill Elijah within a day. Elijah runs to Beersheba, leaves his servant, and sits under a broom tree praying to die.