M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
The Korahite Trustees
26 The guild[a] of trustees[b] included, from the descendants of Korah, Kore’s son Meshelemiah from Asaph’s descendants; 2 Meshelemiah’s sons Zechariah, his firstborn, Jediael his second, Zebadiah his third, Jathniel his fourth, 3 Elam his fifth, Jehohanan his sixth, and Eliehoenai his seventh; 4 Obed-edom’s sons Shemaiah, his firstborn, Jehozabad his second, Joah his third, Sachar his fourth, Nethanel his fifth, 5 Ammiel his sixth, Issachar his seventh, and Peullethai his eighth, since God had blessed him.
6 Furthermore, his son Shemaiah had sons born to him who wielded authority in their ancestral households, since they were mighty men of valor. 7 These sons of Shemaiah included[c] Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers were valiant, able men, Elihu and Semachiah. 8 All of these sons of Obed-edom, along with their sons and brothers, were valiant men, fully qualified for duty—62 descendants[d] of Obed-edom. 9 Meshelemiah had 18 sons and brothers who were valiant men. 10 Hosah, one of Merari’s sons, had these[e] sons: Shimri their chief (though not the firstborn, his father had appointed him chief), 11 Hilkiah his second, Tebaliah his third, and Zechariah his fourth, with a total of 13 sons and brothers of Hosah.
12 With respect to their leaders, these courses of trustees had responsibilities, along with their relatives, regarding ministry within the Temple of the Lord 13 assigned by lottery according to their ancestral households, whether large or small alike, for their gate assignments. 14 The lot for the eastern gate[f] fell to Shelemiah. They also cast lots for his son Zechariah, who was a wise counselor, and his lot indicated the northern gate.[g] 15 Obed-edom’s lot indicated the south gate,[h] and his sons were also allotted responsibility for the storehouse. 16 For Shuppim and Hosah the lot indicated the west at the gate of Shallecheth on the ascending road.
Each guard corresponding to each guard, 17 on the east six descendants of Levi were assigned[i] for each day, on the north four for each day, on the south four for each day (as well as two pairs of guards assigned[j] to the storehouse), 18 and for the colonnade on the west four were assigned at the road and two at the colonnade. 19 These were the ranks of trustees assigned among the descendants of Korah and the sons of Merari.
Oversight of the Treasuries
20 Now with respect to the descendants of Levi, Ahijah was responsible for the treasuries of the Temple of God, including the treasuries containing dedicated gifts. 21 With respect to the descendants of Ladan, the Gershonite descendants pertaining to Ladan, the heads of families pertaining to Ladan the Gershonite, there was Jehieli. 22 The descendants of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel, were responsible for the treasuries of the Temple of the Lord.
23 From the descendants of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel were assigned 24 Shebuel, a descendant of Gershom and a descendant of Moses (as chief officer[k] in charge of the treasuries) 25 and his brothers from Eliezer, including his son Rehabiah, his son Jeshaiah, his son Joram, his son Zichri, and his son Shelomoth.
26 Shelomoth and his brothers were responsible for all of the treasuries of dedicated gifts given by King David, by the heads of families, by the officers of groups of thousands and groups of hundreds, and by the leading army officers. 27 They dedicated gifts for the maintenance of the Temple of the Lord from spoils of war. 28 Furthermore, everything that Samuel the seer, Kish’s son Saul, Ner’s son Abner, and Zeruiah’s son Joab had dedicated—all of their dedicated gifts—were under the care of Shelomoth and his brothers.
29 From the descendants of Izhar, Chenaniah and his sons were assigned as officers and judges with responsibilities relating to external duties. 30 From the descendants of Hebron, Hashabiah and his relatives—1,700 outstanding men—were assigned oversight of Israel west of the Jordan regarding all of the Lord’s work and services on behalf of the king.
31 From the descendants of Hebron, Jerijah was assigned chief of the descendants of Hebron. During the fortieth year of David’s administration, a search was made by genealogical record, family by family, to find men of great ability, including those found at Jazer in Gilead. 32 King David appointed Jerijah,[l] his relatives, and 2,700 competent men who were each family heads, to oversee the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh regarding everything pertaining to God as well as matters relating to the king.
Military Divisions
27 The Israelis, according to the number of the leaders of their families, the officers of groups of thousands and groups of hundreds, and their leaders who served the king on behalf of the army divisions of 24,000 soldiers on duty month by month throughout the year, consisted of the following.
2 Zabdiel’s son Jashobeam was responsible[m] for the first division of 24,000 soldiers[n] for the first month. 3 A descendant of Perez, he was chief of all the commanders of the army for the first month.
4 Dodai the Ahohite was responsible for the division of the second month. Mikloth served as chief officer[o] of his division, consisting of 24,000 soldiers.
5 Jehoiada’s son Benaiah the priest was commander of the third division for the third month, consisting of 24,000 soldiers. 6 This was the same Benaiah who was one of the elite men of the Thirty and in command of the Thirty. His son Ammizabad was responsible for his division.
7 Joab’s brother Asahel was fourth for the fourth month, assisted[p] by his son Zebadiah, with 24,000 soldiers in his division.
8 The fifth commander for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite. His division consisted of 24,000 soldiers.
9 Ikkesh’s son Ira from Tekoa was sixth for the sixth month; there were 24,000 soldiers in his division.
10 Helez the Pelonite, an Ephraimite, was seventh for the seventh month; 24,000 soldiers served in his division.
11 Sibbecai the Hushathite, a Zerahite, was eighth for the eighth month; 24,000 soldiers served in his division.
12 Abiezer from Anathoth, a descendant of Benjamin, was ninth for the ninth month; 24,000 soldiers served in his division.
13 Mahari from Netophah, a Zerahite, was tenth for the tenth month; 24,000 soldiers served in his division.
14 Benaiah from Pirathon, an Ephraimite, was eleventh for the eleventh month; 24,000 soldiers served in his division.
15 Heldai the Netophathite, from Othniel, was twelfth for the twelfth month; 24,000 soldiers served in his division.
Tribal Leaders
16 Wielding the scepters of Israel for the descendants of Reuben, there was[q] Zichri’s son Eliezer as chief officer;[r] for the descendants of Simeon there was Maacah’s son Shephatiah; 17 for Levi there was Kemuel’s son Hashabiah; for Aaron there was Zadok; 18 for Judah there was Elihu, one of David’s brothers; for Issachar there was Michael’s son Omri; 19 for Zebulun there was Obadiah’s son Ishmaiah; for Naphtali, there was Azriel’s son Jerimoth; 20 for the descendants of Ephraim, there was Azaziah’s son Hoshea; for the half-tribe of Manasseh, there was Pedaiah’s son Joel; 21 for the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, there was Zechariah’s son Iddo; for Benjamin, there was Abner’s son Jaasiel; 22 for Dan, there was Jeroham’s son Azarel. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel.
23 David did not complete a census of those younger than 20 years of age, since the Lord had said he would make Israel as numerous as the stars of heaven. 24 Zeruiah’s son Joab began the census, but never completed it. Nevertheless, God became angry with Israel because of this, so the number was never entered into the official records of the Annals of King David.[s]
Civic Leaders
25 Adiel’s son Azmaveth was responsible for the king’s treasuries. Uzziah’s son Jonathan was in charge of treasuries located in the country, in cities, in villages, and in towers. 26 Chelub’s son Ezri supervised the field workers who tilled the soil. 27 Shimei the Ramathite supervised the vineyards. In charge over the produce of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite. 28 Baal-hanan the Gederite supervised the olive and sycamore[t] trees in the Shephelah.[u] Joash supervised the oil reserves. 29 Shitrai the Sharonite supervised the herds that were pastured in Sharon. Adlai’s son Shaphat supervised the herds in the valleys. 30 Obil the Ishmaelite supervised the camels. Jehdeiah the Meronothite supervised the donkeys. Jaziz the Hagrite supervised the flocks. 31 All of these served as stewards over King David’s property.
32 David’s uncle Jonathan was a counselor, since he was a man of understanding and a scribe, and Hachmoni’s son Jehiel was an attendant to the king’s sons. 33 Ahithophel served as an advisor to the king, Hushai the Archite was the king’s trusted associate, 34 and under Ahithophel there was Benaiah’s son Jehoiada and Abiathar. Joab served as commander of the king’s army.
Greetings
1 From:[a] Simeon[b] Peter, a servant[c] and apostle of Jesus, the Messiah.[d]
To: Those who have received faith that is as valuable as ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus the Messiah.[e]
2 May grace and peace be yours in abundance through full knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord!
We are Called to Holy Living
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the full knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence. 4 Through these he has given us his precious and wonderful promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, seeing that you have escaped the corruption that is in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, you must make every effort to supplement your faith with moral character, your moral character with knowledge, 6 your knowledge with self-control, your self-control with endurance, your endurance with godliness, 7 your godliness with brotherly kindness, and your brotherly kindness with love. 8 For if you possess these qualities, and if they continue to increase among you, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in attaining a full knowledge of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah.[f] 9 For the person who lacks these qualities is blind and shortsighted, and has forgotten the cleansing that he has received from his past sins.
10 So then, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election certain, for if you keep on doing this you will never fail. 11 For in this way you will be generously granted entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus, the Messiah.[g]
12 Therefore, I intend to keep on reminding you about these things, even though you already know them and are firmly established in the truth that you now have. 13 Yet I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I am living in this bodily tent, 14 because I know that the removal of my bodily tent will come soon, as indeed our Lord Jesus, the Messiah,[h] has shown me. 15 And I will make every effort to see that you will always remember these things after I am gone.
Pay Attention to God’s Word
16 When we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah,[i] we did not follow any clever myths. Rather, we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when these words from the Majestic Glory were spoken about him: “This is my Son, whom I love. I am pleased with him.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 Therefore we regard the message of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp that is shining in a gloomy place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 First of all, you must understand this: No prophecy in Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 because no prophecy ever originated through a human decision. Instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
The Future Reign of God
4 “But in the last days it will come about
that the Temple Mount of the Lord will be firmly set
as the leading mountain.
It will be exalted above its surrounding[a] hills,
and people will stream toward it.
2 Many nations will approach and say,
‘Come, let’s go up to the mountain of the Lord,
and to the Temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us about his ways,
and we will walk according to his directions.’
“Indeed, the Law will proceed from Zion,
and the message of the Lord from Jerusalem.
3 And he will judge among many people,
rebuking strong nations far away;
and they will reshape their swords as plowshares
and their spears as pruning hooks.
No nation will threaten another,[b]
nor will they train for war anymore.
4 Instead, each man will sit in the shade of[c] his grape vines
and beneath the shade of[d] his fig tree,”
since the[e] Lord of the Heavenly Armies has spoken.
5 “Because all of the people will walk,
each person in the name of his God,
and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.
6 “At that time,” declares the Lord,
“I will assemble the lame;
and I will gather those whom I have scattered,
along with those whom I have afflicted.
7 I will transform the lame into survivors,
and those who were scattered into a strong nation;
and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion,
now and forever.”
Zion’s Captivity
8 “And you, watchtower of the flock,
you stronghold of the daughter of Zion,
it will happen even to you:
The former dominion, even the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem, will come.
9 Why are you crying so loud now?
There’s no king among you, is there?
Perhaps your advisor has died?
For pain has overtaken you like a woman in labor.
10 Be in pain! Be in labor, you daughter of Zion,
like a woman about to give birth,
because now you will depart from the city,
living in the open fields.
To Babylon you will go.
There you will be delivered,
there the Lord will rescue you from the power[f] of your enemies.”
The Nations Despise Zion
11 “Now many nations have gathered against you, saying,
‘Let her be defiled,’ and
‘Let’s look down on Zion.’
12 But they don’t know the thoughts of the Lord,
and they don’t understand his tactics,
for he will gather them like harvested grain to his threshing floor.
13 Get up and smash[g] them to pieces, daughter of Zion,
because I will make your horn like iron
and your hooves like bronze!
And you will beat many people to pieces,
and I will consecrate their dishonest[h] gain to the Lord
and their assets to the Lord of the entire earth.”
Repent or Die
13 At that time, some people who were there told Jesus[a] about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.[b] 2 He asked them, “Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all the other Galileans because they suffered like this? 3 Absolutely not, I tell you! But if you don’t repent, then you, too, will all die. 4 What about those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them? Do you think they were worse offenders than all the other people living in Jerusalem? 5 Absolutely not, I tell you! But if you don’t repent, then you, too, will all die.”
The Parable about an Unfruitful Fig Tree
6 Then Jesus[c] told them this parable: “A man had a fig tree that had been planted in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on it but didn’t find any. 7 So he told the gardener, ‘Look here! For three years I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this tree but I haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it waste the soil?’ 8 But the gardener[d] replied, ‘Sir, leave it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 Maybe next year it will bear fruit. If not, then cut it down.’”
Jesus Heals a Woman on the Sabbath
10 Jesus[e] was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 A woman was there who had a spirit that had disabled her for eighteen years. She was hunched over and completely unable to stand up straight. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, “Woman, you are free from your illness.” 13 Then he placed his hands on her, and immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.
14 But the synagogue leader, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, told the crowd, “There are six days when work is to be done. So come on those days to be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.”
15 The Lord replied to him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey and lead it out of its stall to give it some water? 16 Shouldn’t this woman, a descendant of Abraham whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the Sabbath day?” 17 Even as he was saying this, all of his opponents were blushing with shame. But the rest of the crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things he was doing.
The Parables about a Mustard Seed and Yeast(A)
18 So Jesus[f] went on to say, “What is the kingdom of God like? What can I compare it to? 19 It is like a mustard seed that someone took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches.”
20 Again he said, “To what can I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It’s like yeast that a woman took and mixed with[g] three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”
The Narrow Door(B)
22 Then Jesus[h] taught in one town and village after another as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord,[i] are only a few people going to be saved?”
He told them, 24 “Keep on struggling to enter through the narrow door, because I tell you that many people will try to enter, but won’t be able to do so. 25 After the homeowner gets up and closes the door, you can stand[j] outside, knock on the door, and say again and again, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will answer you, ‘I don’t know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will say,[k] ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will tell you, ‘I don’t know where you come from. Get away from me, all you who practice evil!’ 28 In that place there will be crying and gnashing of teeth[l] when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves being driven away on the outside. 29 People will come from east and west, and from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God. 30 You see, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.
Jesus Rebukes Jerusalem(C)
31 At that hour some Pharisees came and told Jesus,[m] “Leave and get away from here, because Herod wants to kill you!”
32 He told them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Listen! I am driving out demons and healing today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will finish my work. 33 But I must be on my way today, tomorrow, and the next day, because it’s not possible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’ 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones to death those who have been sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you people were unwilling! 35 Look! Your house is left vacant to you. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘How blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”[n]
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