M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
David Anointed King of Israel(A)
11 All Israel gathered around David at Hebron. “We are your own flesh and blood,” they said. 2 “Even in the past when Saul ruled, you were the one who led Israel on its campaigns to war. Yahweh your Elohim has said to you, ‘You will be shepherd of my people Israel, the leader of my people Israel.’”
3 All the leaders of Israel had come to Hebron. David made an agreement with them at Hebron in front of Yahweh. So they anointed David king of Israel, as Yahweh had spoken through Samuel.
David Captures Jerusalem(B)
4 David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). The Jebusites were living in that region. 5 They told David, “You will never get in here.” But David captured the fortress Zion (that is, the City of David).
6 Now, David said, “Whoever is the first to kill a Jebusite will be made a general and a prince.” Zeruiah’s son Joab was the first to go into Jerusalem, so he became the general.
7 David lived in the fortress, so it was called the City of David. 8 He built the city of Jerusalem around it, starting from the Millo[a] and making a complete circuit. Joab rebuilt the rest of the city. 9 David continued to grow more powerful because Yahweh Tsebaoth was with him.
David’s Three Fighting Men(C)
10 Now, these were the commanders of David’s fighting men, who exercised power with him in his kingdom, and with all Israel they made him king according to Yahweh’s word to Israel. 11 The first of David’s fighting men was Jashobeam, son of Hachmon, the leader of the three.[b] He used his spear to kill 300 men on one occasion. 12 Next in rank to him was Eleazar, another one of the three fighting men. He was the son of Dodo and grandson of Aho. 13 Eleazar was with David at Pas Dammim when the Philistines gathered there for battle. There was a field of ripe barley. When the troops fled from the Philistines, 14 they stood in the middle of the field and defended it by killing Philistines. So Yahweh saved them with an impressive victory. 15 Once three of the thirty leading men went down to David’s rock at the cave of Adullam when the army of the Philistines was camping in the valley of Rephaim. 16 While David was in the fortified camp, Philistine troops were in Bethlehem.
17 David was thirsty and said, “I wish I could have a drink of water from the cistern at the city gate of Bethlehem.” 18 So the three burst into the Philistine camp and drew water from the cistern. They brought it to David, but he refused to drink it. He poured it out as an offering to Yahweh 19 and said, “It’s unthinkable that I would do this, Elohim. Should I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives? They had to risk their lives to get this water.” So he refused to drink it.
These are the things which the three fighting men did.
David’s Thirty Fighting Men(D)
20 Joab’s brother Abishai was the leader of the thirty. He used his spear to kill 300 men, but he was not one of the three, 21 although he was honored more than they were. So he became their captain but didn’t become a member of the three.
22 Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was from Kabzeel and was a brave man who did many things. He killed two distinguished soldiers from Moab. He also went into a cistern and killed a lion on the day it snowed. 23 He killed an eight-foot-tall Egyptian. The Egyptian had a spear like a weaver’s beam in his hand. But Benaiah went to him with a club, grabbed the spear away from him, and killed him with it. 24 These are the things that Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, did. He was as famous as the three fighting men. 25 He was honored more than the thirty, but he was not a member of the three. David put him in charge of his bodyguards.
26 The distinguished fighting men were
Joab’s brother Asahel,
Elhanan (son of Dodo) from Bethlehem,
27 Shammoth from Harod,
Helez the Pelonite,
28 Ira (son of Ikkesh) from Tekoa,
Abiezer from Anathoth,
29 Sibbecai (son of Hushai),
Ilai (descendant of Ahohi),
30 Maharai from Netophah,
Heled (son of Baanah) from Netophah,
31 Ithai (son of Ribai) from Gibeah in Benjamin,
Benaiah from Pirathon,
32 Hurai from the Gaash ravines,
Abiel from Beth Arabah,
33 Azmaveth from Bahurim,
Eliahba from Shaalbon,
34 Bene Hashem from Gizon,
Jonathan (son of Shage the Hararite),
35 Ahiam (son of Sachar the Hararite),
Eliphal (son of Ur),
36 Hepher the Mecherathite,
Ahijah the Pelonite,
37 Hezro from Carmel,
Naari (son of Ezbai),
38 Joel (son of Nathan),
Mibhar (son of Hagri),
39 Zelek from Ammon,
Naharai from Beroth, armorbearer for Zeruiah’s son Joab,
40 Ira (descendant of Ithra),
Gareb (descendant of Ithra),
41 Uriah the Hittite,
Zabad (son of Ahlai),
42 Adina (son of Shiza) from the tribe of Reuben (who was leader of the tribe of Reuben and had his own group of thirty soldiers),
43 Hanan (son of Maacah),
and Joshaphat the Mithnite,
44 Uzzia from Ashteroth,
Shama and Jeiel (sons of Hotham from Aroer),
45 Jediael (son of Shimri) and
his brother Joha the Tizite,
46 Eliel the Mahavite,
Jeribai and Joshaviah (sons of Elnaam),
Ithmah from Moab,
47 Eliel,
Obed, and
Jaasiel the Mezobaite.
The Men Who Helped David Become King
12 These are the men who came to David at Ziklag when he was banished by Saul, son of Kish. They were among the soldiers who went into battle with David. 2 They were armed with bows and could sling stones or shoot arrows with either their right or their left hands. They were Saul’s relatives, from the tribe of Benjamin. 3 Ahiezer was the leader, then Joash (they were the sons of Shemaah from Gibeah), Azmaveth’s sons Jeziel and Pelet, Beracah and Jehu from Anathoth, 4 Ishmaiah from Gibeon (one of the thirty fighting men and one of their leaders),[c] Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, and Jozabad from Gederah, 5 Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, and Shephatiah from Haruph, 6 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam (Korah’s descendants), 7 and Joelah and Zebadiah, Jeroham’s sons from Gedor.
8 Some men left Gad to join David at the fortified camp in the desert. They were warriors, trained soldiers, able to fight with shields and spears. They looked like lions and were as fast as gazelles on the hills. 9 Ezer was the first of these soldiers. The second was Obadiah. The third was Eliab. 10 The fourth was Mishmannah. The fifth was Jeremiah. 11 The sixth was Attai. The seventh was Eliel. 12 The eighth was Johanan. The ninth was Elzabad. 13 The tenth was Jeremiah. The eleventh was Machbannai. 14 These descendants of Gad were army officers. The least able one was in command of 100 men, and the best one was in command of 1,000. 15 In the first month of the year, these men crossed the Jordan River when it was flooding its banks. They chased away all the people in the valleys to the east and west.
16 Some of the men of Benjamin and Judah came to David at the fortified camp. 17 David went to meet them. He told them, “If you’ve come to help me as friends would, then you may join me. But if you’ve come to betray me to my enemies, even though I haven’t committed a crime, may the Elohim of our ancestors see this and judge you.”
18 Then the Ruach gave Amasai, the leader of the thirty, the strength to say,
“We are yours, David.
We are with you, son of Jesse.
Success, success to you!
Success to those who help you,
because your Elohim is helping you.”
So David welcomed them and made them officers over his troops.
19 Some men from Manasseh had deserted Saul’s army to join David when he went with the Philistines to attack Saul. (However, David didn’t help the Philistines because their rulers sent him away after considering the matter. They said, “It will cost us our heads when he deserts and joins his master Saul.”) 20 When David went to Ziklag, these men from Manasseh deserted to join him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai. Each one was an officer over 1,000 men in Manasseh. 21 They helped David fight raiding parties because they were all warriors, commanders in the army. 22 From day to day, men came to help David until he had an army as large as Elohim’s army.
23 These are the numbers of the men equipped for war. The men joined David at Hebron to turn Saul’s kingship over to David, as Yahweh had said.
24 From Judah’s descendants there were 6,800 men equipped for war. They carried shields and spears.
25 From Simeon’s descendants there were 7,100 warriors.
26 From Levi’s descendants there were 4,600 27 as well as Jehoiada (leader of Aaron’s families). With him there were 3,700 men, 28 and Zadok, a young warrior from whose family came 22 officers.
29 From Benjamin’s descendants, Saul’s relatives, there were 3,000 men, though most of them remained loyal to Saul’s family. 30 From Ephraim’s descendants there were 20,800 warriors who were famous among their families.
31 From half of the tribe of Manasseh there were 18,000 who had been designated by name to make David king.
32 From Issachar’s descendants there were 200 leaders who understood the times and knew what Israel should do. Their relatives were under their command.
33 From Zebulun there were 50,000 experienced soldiers. They were equipped for battle with every kind of weapon. Their loyalty was unquestioned.[d]
34 From Naphtali there were 1,000 commanders. With them were 37,000 who fought with shields and spears.
35 From Dan there were 28,600 ready for battle.
36 From Asher there were 40,000 experienced soldiers ready for battle.
37 From the east side of the Jordan River, from Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, there were 120,000 soldiers ready to fight with all kinds of weapons.
38 All of these soldiers, who were prepared for battle, came with a single purpose to Hebron—to make David king of all Israel. The rest of Israel also had agreed to make David king. 39 They ate and drank with David for three days because their relatives in Judah had provided enough for them. 40 Also, their neighbors as far as the territories of Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali brought food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. There was plenty of flour, fig cakes, raisins, wine, olive oil, cattle, and sheep, because Israel was celebrating.
13 Continue to love each other. 2 Don’t forget to show hospitality to believers you don’t know. By doing this some believers have shown hospitality to angels without being aware of it. 3 Remember those in prison as if you were in prison with them. Remember those who are mistreated as if you were being mistreated.
4 Marriage is honorable in every way, so husbands and wives should be faithful to each other. God will judge those who commit sexual sins, especially those who commit adultery.
5 Don’t love money. Be happy with what you have because God has said, “I will never abandon you or leave you.” 6 So we can confidently say,
“The Lord is my helper.
I will not be afraid.
What can mortals do to me?”
7 Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. Think about how their lives turned out, and imitate their faith.
8 Yeshua Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
9 Don’t get carried away by all kinds of unfamiliar teachings. Gaining inner strength from God’s kindness[a] is good for us. This strength does not come from following rules about food, rules that don’t help those who follow them. 10 Those who serve at the tent have no right to eat what is sacrificed at our altar.
11 The chief priest brings the blood of animals into the holy place as an offering for sin. But the bodies of those animals were burned outside the Israelite camp. 12 That is why Yeshua suffered outside the gates of Jerusalem. He suffered to make the people holy with his own blood. 13 So we must go to him outside the camp and endure the insults he endured. 14 We don’t have a permanent city here on earth, but we are looking for the city that we will have in the future. 15 Through Yeshua we should always bring God a sacrifice of praise, that is, words that acknowledge him. 16 Don’t forget to do good things for others and to share what you have with them. These are the kinds of sacrifices that please God.
17 Obey your leaders, and accept their authority. They take care of you because they are responsible for you. Obey them so that they may do this work joyfully and not complain about you. (Causing them to complain would not be to your advantage.)
18 Pray for us. We are sure that our consciences are clear because we want to live honorably in every way. 19 I especially ask for your prayers so that I may come back to you soon.
20 The God of peace brought the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Yeshua, back to life through the blood of an eternal promise.[b] 21 May this God of peace prepare you to do every good thing he wants. May he work in us through Yeshua Christ to do what is pleasing to him. Glory belongs to Yeshua Christ forever. Amen.
Farewell
22 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to listen patiently to my encouraging words. I have written you a short letter. 23 You know that Timothy, our brother, has been freed. If he comes here soon, both of us will visit you.
24 Greet all your leaders and all God’s holy people. Those who are with us from Italy greet you.
25 May God’s good will[c] be with all of you!
The Lord Threatens to Bring a Famine by Locusts
7 This is what Adonay Yahweh showed me: He was preparing swarms of locusts when the second crop was being harvested. It was the harvest that followed the harvest for the king. 2 When the locusts had finished eating every plant in the land, I said, “Adonay Yahweh, please forgive us! How can the descendants of Jacob survive? There are so few of them.”
3 Yahweh changed his plans about this. “This won’t happen,” Yahweh said.
The Lord Threatens to Bring a Drought by Fire
4 This is what Adonay Yahweh showed me: Adonay Yahweh was calling for judgment by fire. The fire dried up the ocean and burned up the land. 5 Then I said, “Adonay Yahweh, please stop! How can the descendants of Jacob survive? There are so few of them.”
6 Yahweh changed his plans about this. “This won’t happen either,” Adonay Yahweh said.
The Lord Refuses to Overlook Israel’s Sin
7 This is what he showed me: Adonay was standing by a wall built with the use of a plumb line, and he had a plumb line in his hand. 8 Yahweh asked me, “What do you see, Amos?”
I answered, “A plumb line.”
Then Adonay said, “I’m going to hold a plumb line in the middle of my people Israel. I will no longer overlook what they have done. 9 The worship sites of Isaac will be destroyed, and the holy places of Israel will be in ruins. I will attack Jeroboam’s heirs with my sword.”
Amaziah Opposes Amos
10 Then Amaziah, the priest at Bethel, sent a message to King Jeroboam of Israel. It read, “Amos is plotting against you among the people of Israel. The country isn’t able to endure everything he is saying. 11 Amos says that Jeroboam will be killed with a sword and that Israel cannot avoid being taken from its land into exile.”
12 Then Amaziah said to Amos, “You seer,[a] run away to Judah! Eat there, and prophesy there! 13 But don’t ever prophesy again in Bethel, because this is the king’s holy place and the king’s palace.”
14 Amos responded, “I’m not a prophet, and I’m not a disciple of the prophets. I am a rancher and a grower of figs. 15 But Yahweh took me away from herding the flock and said to me, ‘Prophesy to my people Israel.’
16 “Now listen to the word of Yahweh: You said, ‘Stop prophesying against Israel, and stop preaching against the descendants of Isaac.’
17 “However, this is what Yahweh says: Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and daughters will be killed with swords. Your land will be surveyed and divided up, and you will die in an unclean[b] land. Israel cannot avoid being taken from its land into exile.”
Jesus Is Born
2 At that time the Emperor Augustus ordered a census of the Roman Empire. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All the people went to register in the cities where their ancestors had lived.
4 So Joseph went from Nazareth, a city in Galilee, to a Judean city called Bethlehem. Joseph, a descendant of King David, went to Bethlehem because David had been born there. 5 Joseph went there to register with Mary. She had been promised to him in marriage and was pregnant.
6 While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to have her child. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger because there wasn’t any room for them in the inn.
Angels Announce the Birth of Jesus
8 Shepherds were in the fields near Bethlehem. They were taking turns watching their flock during the night. 9 An angel from the Lord suddenly appeared to them. The glory of the Lord filled the area with light, and they were terrified. 10 The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, a message that will fill everyone with joy. 11 Today your Savior, Christ the Lord, was born in David’s city. 12 This is how you will recognize him: You will find an infant wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly, a large army of angels appeared with the angel. They were praising God by saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those who have his good will!”
15 The angels left them and went back to heaven. The shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has told us about.”
16 They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph with the baby, who was lying in a manger. 17 When they saw the child, they repeated what they had been told about him. 18 Everyone who heard the shepherds’ story was amazed.
19 Mary treasured all these things in her heart and always thought about them.
20 As the shepherds returned to their flock, they glorified and praised God for everything they had seen and heard. Everything happened the way the angel had told them.
Jesus’ Parents Obey Moses’ Teachings
21 Eight days after his birth, the child was circumcised and named Yeshua. This was the name the angel had given him before his mother became pregnant.
22 After the days required by Moses’ Teachings to make a mother clean[a] had passed, Joseph and Mary went to Jerusalem. They took Yeshua to present him to the Lord. 23 They did exactly what was written in the Lord’s Teachings: “Every firstborn boy is to be set apart as holy to the Lord.” 24 They also offered a sacrifice as required by the Lord’s Teachings: “a pair of mourning doves or two young pigeons.”
Simeon’s Prophecy
25 A man named Simeon was in Jerusalem. He lived an honorable and devout life. He was waiting for the one who would comfort Israel. The Holy Spirit was with Simeon 26 and had told him that he wouldn’t die until he had seen the Messiah, whom the Lord would send.
27 Moved by the Spirit, Simeon went into the temple courtyard. Mary and Joseph were bringing the child Yeshua into the courtyard at the same time. They brought him so that they could do for him what Moses’ Teachings required. 28 Then Simeon took the child in his arms and praised God by saying,
29 “Now, Lord, you are allowing your servant to leave in peace
as you promised.
30 My eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared for all people to see.
32 He is a light that will reveal salvation to the nations
and bring glory to your people Israel.”
33 Yeshua’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, “This child is the reason that many people in Israel will be condemned and many others will be saved. He will be a sign that will expose 35 the thoughts of those who reject him. And a sword will pierce your heart.”
Anna’s Prophecy
36 Anna, a prophet, was also there. She was a descendant of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was now very old. Her husband had died seven years after they were married, 37 and she had been a widow for 84 years. Anna never left the temple courtyard but worshiped day and night by fasting and praying. 38 At that moment she came up to Mary and Joseph and began to thank God. She spoke about Yeshua to all who were waiting for Jerusalem to be set free.
39 After doing everything the Lord’s Teachings required, Joseph and Mary returned to their hometown of Nazareth in Galilee. 40 The child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor[b] was with him.
Mary and Joseph Find Jesus with the Teachers in the Temple Courtyard
41 Every year Yeshua’s parents would go to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. 42 When he was 12 years old, they went as usual.
43 When the festival was over, they left for home. The boy Yeshua stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents didn’t know it. 44 They thought that he was with the others who were traveling with them. After traveling for a day, they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they didn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.
46 Three days later, they found him in the temple courtyard. He was sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and asking them questions. 47 His understanding and his answers stunned everyone who heard him.
48 When his parents saw him, they were shocked. His mother asked him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been worried sick looking for you!”
49 Yeshua said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you realize that I had to be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they didn’t understand what he meant.
51 Then he returned with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them.
His mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 Yeshua grew in wisdom and maturity. He gained favor from God and people.
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.