161 passages · Kingdom
Jacob calls his sons together to tell them what will happen to them in days to come.
Jacob gives brief images for six sons: Zebulun by the sea, Issachar the strong laborer, Dan the judge and viper, Gad the raider, Asher with rich food, Naphtali the free doe.
The LORD says Moses will speak to Pharaoh with Aaron as his prophet. God will harden Pharaoh's heart and bring judgments so that Egypt will know he is the LORD, and Moses and Aaron obey.
God puts His Spirit on seventy elders, who prophesy. Eldad and Medad prophesy in the camp, and Moses tells Joshua he wishes all God's people were prophets.
God summons the three to the Tent of Meeting. He says Moses is unique among prophets, faithful and spoken to face to face, and asks why they did not fear to speak against him.
Seeing Israel camped by tribes, Balaam is seized by the Spirit of God. He describes Israel's tents as beautiful, prosperous like gardens, strong like a lion, and says those who bless Israel will be blessed and those who curse it cursed.
Balaam speaks of a distant future in which a star and scepter rise from Israel, defeating Moab and Edom. A ruler from Jacob will overcome their enemies.
If a prophet or dreamer performs a sign but urges Israel to follow other gods, they must not listen. God is testing their love, and such a prophet is to be put to death.
Moses says God will raise up a prophet like him whom Israel must heed, because the people asked at Horeb not to hear God's voice directly. A prophet who speaks falsely, or whose word does not come true, is not from God.
Joshua, filled with wisdom after Moses laid hands on him, leads Israel, and the people obey. The book ends by saying no later prophet equaled Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, or his signs and wonders.
Deborah, a prophetess who judges Israel, tells Barak that the LORD commands him to gather ten thousand men at Mount Tabor. Barak will go only if she comes, so she agrees but says the honor of victory will go to a woman.
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.
An unnamed man of God tells Eli that because he honored his sons above God, his family will lose strength, his sons will die on one day, and a faithful priest will be raised up in their place.
In a time when God's word was rare, Samuel hears a voice in the night and thinks it is Eli. After the third time, Eli realizes it is the LORD and tells Samuel how to answer.
Afraid at first, Samuel obeys when Eli insists on knowing the message and hides nothing. Eli accepts it, saying the LORD may do what is good in his eyes.
The LORD is with Samuel and none of his words fail. All Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, knows he is a confirmed prophet, and God continues to reveal himself at Shiloh.
The servant proposes consulting a respected man of God in the nearby city and offers a quarter shekel of silver as a gift. Saul agrees.
Young women drawing water tell Saul the seer has just arrived for a sacrifice at the high place. Saul and his servant enter the city and meet Samuel coming toward them.
God changes Saul's heart, and the signs happen that day. Saul prophesies with a group of prophets, which sparks the saying 'Is Saul also among the prophets?', but he tells his uncle nothing about the kingdom.
David goes to Samuel at Naioth in Ramah. Three sets of Saul's messengers are overcome by the Spirit and prophesy, and finally Saul himself does.
The prophet Ahijah tears a cloak into twelve pieces and tells Jeroboam that God will give him ten tribes because Solomon worshiped other gods. Solomon tries to kill Jeroboam, who flees to Egypt.
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.
When Jeroboam's son Abijah falls ill, Jeroboam sends his wife in disguise to the prophet Ahijah. God has already told Ahijah who is coming.
Ahijah says Jeroboam has done more evil than any before him. God will cut off his house, the child will die, and Israel will be uprooted from the land for its sins.
God tells Baasha through Jehu that his house will end like Jeroboam's, because he followed Jeroboam's sin. Baasha dies and his son Elah reigns.
Elijah tells Ahab there will be no rain except at his word. God sends him to hide by the Brook of Cherith, where ravens feed him, until it dries up.
The angel of the LORD sends Elijah to intercept the messengers and ask why they consult Baal-zebub instead of God. Elijah announces that Ahaziah will die, and the king recognizes the messenger as Elijah from their description.
Ahaziah sends three captains with fifty men each to summon Elijah. Fire from heaven consumes the first two companies, and the third captain begs for mercy on his knees.
The angel tells Elijah to go with the third captain without fear. Elijah repeats the message to Ahaziah's face, the king dies as foretold, and his brother Jehoram succeeds him.
Boys from Bethel mock Elisha as he goes up the road. He curses them in the LORD's name, and two bears attack forty-two of them, after which Elisha continues to Carmel and Samaria.