319 passages · Kingdom
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.
Abimelech returns Sarah with livestock, servants, and silver, and offers Abraham land. Abraham prays and God heals Abimelech's household, whose wombs God had closed.
The servant travels to Nahor's city and stops at the well at evening. He prays that God will show him the right woman by a specific sign: she will offer water to him and his camels.
Before he finishes praying, Rebekah arrives and generously waters all ten camels. The servant gives her gifts, learns she is Abraham's relative, and worships God for guiding him.
Isaac prays because Rebekah is barren, and she conceives twins who struggle in her womb. God tells her two nations are within her and the older will serve the younger; Esau and Jacob are born.
Jacob prays, reminding God of His promises. He admits he is unworthy of God's kindness and asks to be delivered from Esau.
Moses asks the LORD why he has brought trouble on the people, since his going to Pharaoh has only made things worse and no rescue has come.
Pharaoh asks Moses to pray to remove the frogs and promises to let Israel go. Moses prays and the frogs die, but when Pharaoh sees relief he hardens his heart.
After three days without water, Israel finds bitter water at Marah and grumbles. Moses cries out and the LORD shows him a log that sweetens it, and he says he is the healer of those who obey; they then camp at Elim.
With no water at Rephidim, the people quarrel with Moses. At the LORD's direction, Moses strikes a rock before the elders and water flows, and he names the place Massah and Meribah.
The Amalekites attack, and Joshua leads the fight while Moses, Aaron, and Hur are on the hill. Israel wins while Moses' hands are raised, and Aaron and Hur hold them up when he tires.
God describes a small gold-covered altar to be placed before the veil, where Aaron will burn incense every morning and twilight. No unauthorized offerings may be made on it, and once a year atonement is made on its horns.
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.
The next day Moses returns to the LORD and asks him to forgive the people, or else blot Moses out of his book. God says he will blot out those who sinned, tells Moses to lead on with his angel, and sends a plague.
Moses regularly pitches a tent of meeting outside the camp. When he enters, the pillar of cloud descends and the LORD speaks with him face to face like a friend, while the people watch and worship.
Moses says he has not been told who will go with him, and asks to know God's ways. God promises his Presence will go with them, and Moses insists the people would otherwise not be distinct from other nations.
Israel journeys three days with the ark ahead and the cloud above. When the ark set out, Moses called on the LORD to rise and scatter enemies, and when it rested, to return to Israel.
Hearing the weeping, Moses is troubled and asks God why He put the burden of all the people on him. He says he cannot carry them alone and asks to die.
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.
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 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.
Joshua and the elders mourn before the ark. Joshua asks the LORD why He brought Israel across the Jordan, and he worries about what the defeat will do to God's name.
The LORD promises victory, and Joshua attacks after a night march. God confuses the enemy and sends hailstones, and Joshua asks the sun and moon to stand still until the battle is won.
Manoah prays that the man of God return to teach them how to raise the boy. The angel comes again to the woman in the field, and when Manoah asks, repeats that she must follow the earlier instructions.
Thirsty, Samson cries to the LORD, saying he has been given a great victory and now might die. God opens a spring at Lehi, and Samson revives; the narrator adds that he judged Israel twenty years.
The Philistine lords gather to praise Dagon for delivering Samson and bring him out to entertain them. Samson prays for strength one last time, pushes the pillars, and the temple falls, killing more Philistines in his death than in his life; his family buries him near Zorah.
Israel asks God who should go first, and He says Judah, but Benjamin cuts down 22,000 on the first day and 18,000 on the second. Israel weeps, fasts, and offers sacrifices at Bethel, and the LORD tells them to attack the next day.
In deep distress Hannah weeps and prays, promising that if God gives her a son she will dedicate him to the LORD for life.
Eli sees her lips moving and wrongly thinks she is drunk. Hannah explains she is pouring out her sorrow to the LORD, and Eli sends her off with a blessing, after which she is no longer downcast.