302 passages · God
The Bible opens with God creating the heavens and the earth. The earth is at first formless and dark, with God's Spirit hovering over the waters.
Abraham again calls Sarah his sister, and Abimelech takes her. God warns him in a dream that she is married, and Abimelech pleads his innocence, so God tells him to return her.
Jacob uses peeled branches at the troughs so that the flocks bear streaked and spotted young, and he takes the stronger animals for himself. He becomes very wealthy.
Laban chases Jacob for a week, but God warns him in a dream not to harm him. Laban confronts Jacob about leaving secretly and the missing gods, and Rachel hides them so they are not found.
God tells Moses to gather the elders and ask Pharaoh for a three-day journey to sacrifice. He warns that Pharaoh will refuse until compelled by wonders, after which the Israelites will leave with Egyptian valuables.
Moses gets Jethro's blessing and sets out with his family and the staff of God. The LORD warns that Pharaoh's heart will be hardened and gives the message to deliver: let my firstborn son Israel go.
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.
The LORD tells Moses to meet Pharaoh at the Nile and again demand that Israel be released. If he refuses, the Nile will turn to blood.
The LORD warns that swarms of flies will fill Egypt but not Goshen, so that the difference between his people and Pharaoh's will be clear. It happens as he said.
The LORD warns of a severe plague on livestock and sets a time. Egypt's animals die while none of Israel's do, yet Pharaoh remains unmoved.
The LORD tells Moses to warn Pharaoh again that he could have destroyed Egypt but has raised him up to show his power. Hail is coming, and those who fear the LORD's word bring their servants and animals inside.
The LORD says he has hardened Pharaoh's heart so his signs may be told to future generations. Moses warns of locusts, Pharaoh's officials plead with him, and Pharaoh will allow only the men to go.
Moses declares that at midnight every firstborn in Egypt will die and a great cry will rise, but Israel will be unharmed. He leaves in anger, and the text notes that Pharaoh's heart remains hardened.
God tells Israel to camp by the sea, saying he will harden Pharaoh's heart so he pursues. Pharaoh regrets releasing them and sets out with 600 chariots and overtakes them.
The angel of the LORD blocks Balaam's path three times, seen only by his donkey, who turns aside and is beaten. God opens her mouth to protest, then opens Balaam's eyes. He confesses and is told to go on but to speak only God's words.
Balak meets Balaam at the border and Balaam warns that he can only speak what God puts in his mouth. Balak sacrifices and next morning takes Balaam up to Bamoth-baal, from where Israel's camp is visible.
Balaam has Balak build seven altars and offer a bull and a ram on each. Balaam goes off alone to a barren height, where God meets him and gives him a message to bring back.
Balak moves Balaam to the top of Pisgah, hoping a different view will help, and again builds seven altars. Balaam meets the LORD and returns with a message.
Balak takes Balaam to the top of Peor, and Balaam again has seven altars built with a bull and ram on each. Balak follows his instructions.
Balak strikes his hands together in anger and tells Balaam to go home, saying the LORD has denied his reward. Balaam repeats that he can only speak the LORD's words, and offers to warn Balak what Israel will do in future.
Moses recalls that after years wandering near Mount Seir, God told Israel to pass peacefully through the land of their relatives, Esau's descendants, and to pay for food and water.
God tells Israel not to provoke Moab, the descendants of Lot. A note explains earlier peoples of the area, and the crossing of the Zered marks thirty-eight years since Kadesh, when the old generation had died.
With the fighting men dead, God tells Israel to respect Ammon's land, then to cross the Arnon and begin taking the land of Sihon, the Amorite king, promising that the nations will fear Israel.
Moses offered Sihon peaceful passage, but Sihon refused. God gave him and his army to Israel at Jahaz, and Israel captured all his cities while keeping away from Ammon's land.
Israel defeated Og, king of Bashan, and captured his sixty fortified cities after God told Moses not to fear him. A note mentions Og's huge iron bed as evidence he was among the last of the Rephaim.
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, at 120, says he can no longer lead and will not cross the Jordan. He assures Israel that the LORD himself will go ahead of them with Joshua and tells them to be strong and courageous.
Moses says Israel lacks understanding and their defeat happens because the LORD gave them up. Their enemies' rock is not like Israel's Rock, and the LORD will repay in his time.
The song promises that the LORD will have compassion on his servants when their strength is gone. He mocks the useless idols, declares there is no God besides him, and promises vengeance on his enemies, so the nations rejoice.
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.