Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are Genesis 35:1–36:43; Matthew 12:1-21; Psalm 15:1-5; and Proverbs 3:21-26. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.
Genesis 35-36:43 (Contemporary English Version)
Genesis 35
Jacob Returns to Bethel
1God told Jacob, "Return to Bethel, where I appeared to you when you were running from your brother Esau. Make your home there and build an altar for me." 2Jacob said to his family and to everyone else who was traveling with him:
Get rid of your foreign gods! Then make yourselves acceptable to worship God and put on clean clothes. 3Afterwards, we'll go to Bethel. I will build an altar there for God, who answered my prayers when I was in trouble and who has always been at my side.
4So everyone gave Jacob their idols and their earrings, a<="" value="[a]" >[] and he buried them under the oak tree near Shechem. 5While Jacob and his family were traveling through Canaan, God terrified the people in the towns so much that no one dared bother them. 6Finally, they reached Bethel, also known as Luz. 7Jacob built an altar there and called it "God of Bethel," because that was the place where God had appeared to him when he was running from Esau. 8While they were there, Rebekah's personal servant Deborah [b<="">] died. They buried her under an oak tree and called it "Weeping Oak."
Get rid of your foreign gods! Then make yourselves acceptable to worship God and put on clean clothes. 3Afterwards, we'll go to Bethel. I will build an altar there for God, who answered my prayers when I was in trouble and who has always been at my side.
4So everyone gave Jacob their idols and their earrings, a<="" value="[a]" >[] and he buried them under the oak tree near Shechem. 5While Jacob and his family were traveling through Canaan, God terrified the people in the towns so much that no one dared bother them. 6Finally, they reached Bethel, also known as Luz. 7Jacob built an altar there and called it "God of Bethel," because that was the place where God had appeared to him when he was running from Esau. 8While they were there, Rebekah's personal servant Deborah [b<="">] died. They buried her under an oak tree and called it "Weeping Oak."
God Blesses Jacob at Bethel
9-11After Jacob came back to the land of Canaan, God appeared to him again. This time he gave Jacob a new name and blessed him by saying: I am God All-Powerful, and from now on your name will be Israel [c<="">] instead of Jacob. You will have many children. Your descendants will become nations, and some of the men in your family will even be kings. 12I will give you the land that I promised Abraham and Isaac, and it will belong to your family forever. 13After God had gone, 14Jacob set up a large rock, so that he would remember what had happened there. Then he poured wine and olive oil on the rock to show that it was dedicated to God, 15and he named the place Bethel. [d<="">]
Benjamin Is Born
16Jacob and his family had left Bethel and were still a long way from Ephrath, when the time came for Rachel's baby to be born. 17She was having a rough time, but the woman who was helping her said, "Don't worry! It's a boy." 18Rachel was at the point of death, and right before dying, she said, "I'll name him Benoni." [e<="">] But Jacob called him Benjamin. [f<="">] 19Rachel was buried beside the road to Ephrath, which is also called Bethlehem. 20Jacob set up a tombstone over her grave, and it is still there. 21Jacob, also known as Israel, traveled to the south of Eder Tower, where he set up camp. 22During their time there, Jacob's oldest son Reuben slept with Bilhah, who was one of Jacob's other wives. [g<="">] And Jacob found out about it.
Jacob's Twelve Sons
23-26Jacob had twelve sons while living in northern Syria. [h<="">] His first-born Reuben was the son of Leah, who later gave birth to Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. Leah's servant Zilpah had two sons: Gad and Asher. Jacob and his wife Rachel had Joseph and Benjamin. Rachel's servant woman Bilhah had two more sons: Dan and Naphtali.
Isaac Dies
27Jacob went to his father Isaac at Hebron, also called Mamre or Kiriath-Arba, where Isaac's father Abraham had lived as a foreigner. 28-29Isaac died at the ripe old age of one hundred eighty, then his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
Genesis 36
Esau's Family
1Esau, also known as Edom, had many descendants. 2He married three Canaanite women: The first was Adah, the daughter of Elon the Hittite; the second was Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah and the granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite; 3the third was Basemath, who was Ishmael's daughter and Nebaioth's sister. 4-5Esau and his three wives had five sons while in Canaan. Adah's son was Eliphaz; Basemath's son was Reuel; Oholibamah's three sons were Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.
6Esau took his children and wives, his relatives and servants, his animals and possessions he had gotten while in Canaan, and moved far from Jacob. 7He did this because the land was too crowded and could not support him and his brother with their flocks and herds. 8That's why Esau made his home in the hill country of Seir.
9-14Esau lived in the hill country of Seir and was the ancestor of the Edomites. Esau had three wives: Adah, Basemath, and Oholibamah. Here is a list of his descendants: Esau and Adah had a son named Eliphaz, whose sons were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz. Timna was the other wife [i<="">] of Esau's son Eliphaz, and she had a son named Amalek. Esau and Basemath had a son named Reuel, whose sons were Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.
Esau and Oholibamah had three sons: Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.
6Esau took his children and wives, his relatives and servants, his animals and possessions he had gotten while in Canaan, and moved far from Jacob. 7He did this because the land was too crowded and could not support him and his brother with their flocks and herds. 8That's why Esau made his home in the hill country of Seir.
9-14Esau lived in the hill country of Seir and was the ancestor of the Edomites. Esau had three wives: Adah, Basemath, and Oholibamah. Here is a list of his descendants: Esau and Adah had a son named Eliphaz, whose sons were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz. Timna was the other wife [i<="">] of Esau's son Eliphaz, and she had a son named Amalek. Esau and Basemath had a son named Reuel, whose sons were Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.
Esau and Oholibamah had three sons: Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.
Chiefs and Leaders in Edom
15Esau and Adah's oldest son was Eliphaz, and the clans that descended from him were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz, 16Korah, Gatam, and Amalek. These and Esau's other descendants lived in the land of Edom. 17The clans that descended from Esau and Basemath's son Reuel were Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.
18The clans that descended from Esau and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah were Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. 19All of these clans descended from Esau, who was known as Edom.
20Seir was from the Horite tribe that had lived in Edom before the time of Esau. The clans that had descended from him were Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 21Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.
22Lotan's sons were Hori and Heman; his sister was Timna.
23Shobal's sons were Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.
24Zibeon's sons were Aiah and Anah--the same Anah who found an oasis [j<="">] in the desert while taking the donkeys of his father out to pasture. 25Anah's children were Dishon and Oholibamah.
26Dishon's sons were Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.
27Ezer's sons were Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.
28Dishan's sons were Uz and Aran.
29The clans of the Horites were Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 30Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan, and they lived in the land of Seir.
31-39Before there were kings in Israel, the following kings ruled Edom one after another:
Bela son of Beor from Dinhabah;
Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah;
Husham from the land of Teman;
Hadad son of Bedad from Avith (Bedad had defeated the Midianites in Moab);
Samlah from Masrekah;
Shaul from the city of Rehoboth on the Euphrates River;
Baalhanan son of Achbor;
Hadar from the city of Pau (his wife Mehetabel was the daughter of Matred and the granddaughter of Mezahab).
40The clans that descended from Esau took their names from their families and the places where they lived. They are Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, 41Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 42Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, 43Magdiel, and Iram. These clans descended from Esau, who was known as Edom, the father of the Edomites. They took their names from the places where they settled.
Footnotes:- Genesis 35:4 earrings: These would have had symbols of foreign gods on them.
- Genesis 35:8 Deborah: See 24.59 and the note there.
- Genesis 35:9 Israel: See the note at 32.28.
- Genesis 35:15 Bethel: See the note at 28.19.
- Genesis 35:18 Benoni: In Hebrew "Benoni" means "Son of my Sorrow."
- Genesis 35:18 Benjamin: In Hebrew "Benjamin" can mean "Son at my Right Side" (the place of power).
- Genesis 35:22 other wives: See the note at 22.24. Bilhah had been Rachel's servant woman (see 29.28-30).
- Genesis 35:23 northern Syria: See the note at 24.10.
- Genesis 36:9 other wife: See the note at 22.24.
- Genesis 36:24 an oasis: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
18The clans that descended from Esau and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah were Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. 19All of these clans descended from Esau, who was known as Edom.
20Seir was from the Horite tribe that had lived in Edom before the time of Esau. The clans that had descended from him were Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 21Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.
22Lotan's sons were Hori and Heman; his sister was Timna.
23Shobal's sons were Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.
24Zibeon's sons were Aiah and Anah--the same Anah who found an oasis [j<="">] in the desert while taking the donkeys of his father out to pasture. 25Anah's children were Dishon and Oholibamah.
26Dishon's sons were Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.
27Ezer's sons were Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.
28Dishan's sons were Uz and Aran.
29The clans of the Horites were Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 30Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan, and they lived in the land of Seir.
31-39Before there were kings in Israel, the following kings ruled Edom one after another:
Bela son of Beor from Dinhabah;
Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah;
Husham from the land of Teman;
Hadad son of Bedad from Avith (Bedad had defeated the Midianites in Moab);
Samlah from Masrekah;
Shaul from the city of Rehoboth on the Euphrates River;
Baalhanan son of Achbor;
Hadar from the city of Pau (his wife Mehetabel was the daughter of Matred and the granddaughter of Mezahab).
40The clans that descended from Esau took their names from their families and the places where they lived. They are Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, 41Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 42Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, 43Magdiel, and Iram. These clans descended from Esau, who was known as Edom, the father of the Edomites. They took their names from the places where they settled.
Footnotes:
- Genesis 35:4 earrings: These would have had symbols of foreign gods on them.
- Genesis 35:8 Deborah: See 24.59 and the note there.
- Genesis 35:9 Israel: See the note at 32.28.
- Genesis 35:15 Bethel: See the note at 28.19.
- Genesis 35:18 Benoni: In Hebrew "Benoni" means "Son of my Sorrow."
- Genesis 35:18 Benjamin: In Hebrew "Benjamin" can mean "Son at my Right Side" (the place of power).
- Genesis 35:22 other wives: See the note at 22.24. Bilhah had been Rachel's servant woman (see 29.28-30).
- Genesis 35:23 northern Syria: See the note at 24.10.
- Genesis 36:9 other wife: See the note at 22.24.
- Genesis 36:24 an oasis: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
Matthew 12:1-21 (Contemporary English Version)
Matthew 12
A Question about the Sabbath
(Mark 2.23-28; Luke 6.1-5)
1One Sabbath, Jesus and his disciples were walking through some wheat fields. a<="" value="[a]" >[] His disciples were hungry and began picking and eating grains of wheat. 2Some Pharisees noticed this and said to Jesus, "Why are your disciples picking grain on the Sabbath? They are not supposed to do that!" 3Jesus answered: You surely must have read what David did when he and his followers were hungry. 4He went into the house of God, and then they ate the sacred loaves of bread that only priests are supposed to eat. 5Haven't you read in the Law of Moses that the priests are allowed to work in the temple on the Sabbath? But no one says that they are guilty of breaking the law of the Sabbath. 6I tell you that there is something here greater than the temple. 7Don't you know what the Scriptures mean when they say, "Instead of offering sacrifices to me, I want you to be merciful to others?" If you knew what this means, you would not condemn these innocent disciples of mine. 8So the Son of Man is Lord over the Sabbath.
A Man with a Crippled Hand
(Mark 3.1-6; Luke 6.6-11)
9Jesus left and went into one of the Jewish meeting places, 10where there was a man whose hand was crippled. Some Pharisees wanted to accuse Jesus of doing something wrong, and they asked him, "Is it right to heal someone on the Sabbath?" 11Jesus answered, "If you had a sheep that fell into a ditch on the Sabbath, wouldn't you lift it out? 12People are worth much more than sheep, and so it is right to do good on the Sabbath." 13Then Jesus told the man, "Hold out your hand." The man did, and it became as healthy as the other one.
14The Pharisees left and started making plans to kill Jesus.
14The Pharisees left and started making plans to kill Jesus.
God's Chosen Servant
15When Jesus found out what was happening, he left there and large crowds followed him. He healed all of their sick, 16but warned them not to tell anyone about him. 17So God's promise came true, just as Isaiah the prophet had said, 18"Here is my chosen servant!
I love him,
and he pleases me.
I will give him my Spirit,
and he will bring justice
to the nations.
19He won't shout or yell
or call out in the streets.
20He won't break off a bent reed
or put out a dying flame,
but he will make sure
that justice is done.
21All nations will place
their hope in him."
Footnotes:- Matthew 12:1 walking through some wheat fields: It was the custom to let hungry travelers pick grains of wheat.
I love him,
and he pleases me.
I will give him my Spirit,
and he will bring justice
to the nations.
19He won't shout or yell
or call out in the streets.
20He won't break off a bent reed
or put out a dying flame,
but he will make sure
that justice is done.
21All nations will place
their hope in him."
Footnotes:
- Matthew 12:1 walking through some wheat fields: It was the custom to let hungry travelers pick grains of wheat.
Psalm 15:1-5 (Contemporary English Version)
Psalm 15
(A psalm by David.)
Who May Worship the LORD?
1Who may stay in God's temple or live on the holy mountain
of the LORD?
2Only those who obey God
and do as they should.
They speak the truth
3and don't spread gossip;
they treat others fairly
and don't say cruel things.
4They hate worthless people,
but show respect for all
who worship the LORD.
And they keep their promises,
no matter what the cost.
5They lend their money
without charging interest,
and they don't take bribes
to hurt the innocent.
Those who do these things
will always stand firm.
of the LORD?
2Only those who obey God
and do as they should.
They speak the truth
3and don't spread gossip;
they treat others fairly
and don't say cruel things.
4They hate worthless people,
but show respect for all
who worship the LORD.
And they keep their promises,
no matter what the cost.
5They lend their money
without charging interest,
and they don't take bribes
to hurt the innocent.
Those who do these things
will always stand firm.
Proverbs 3:21-26 (Contemporary English Version)
21My child, use common sense
and sound judgment!
Always keep them in mind.
22They will help you to live
a long and beautiful life.
23You will walk safely
and never stumble;
24you will rest without a worry
and sleep soundly.
25So don't be afraid
of sudden disasters
or storms that strike
those who are evil.
26You can be sure
that the LORD
will protect you from harm.
and sound judgment!
Always keep them in mind.
22They will help you to live
a long and beautiful life.
23You will walk safely
and never stumble;
24you will rest without a worry
and sleep soundly.
25So don't be afraid
of sudden disasters
or storms that strike
those who are evil.
26You can be sure
that the LORD
will protect you from harm.
Thought for the Day
Do everything without grumbling or arguing. Then you will be the pure and innocent children of God. You live among people who are crooked and evil, but you must not do anything that they can say is wrong. Try to shine as lights among the people of this world, as you hold firmly to the message that gives life. Then on the day when Christ returns, I can take pride in you. I can also know that my work and efforts were not useless.” (Philippians 2:14-16 - Contemporary English Version) Maybe it's time for us to stop whining, grumbling and arguing. And maybe it's time for us to stand up for what's right and good and stand against hatred and lies. In words, maybe it's time for us to live the kind of lives that will make Christ proud when he returns.
Quote for the Day
American poet and pacifist, William Stafford wrote, “Kids: they dance before they learn there is anything that isn't music.”
A Joke for Today
A woman was trying hard to get the catsup to come out of the bottle. During her struggle the phone rang so she asked her four-year-old daughter to answer the phone.
"It's the minister, Mommy" the child said to her mother.
Then she added, "Mommy can't come to the phone right now. She's hitting the bottle."
A Prayer Request
As Christians, we can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Below is the need that we're laying before God today.
That we focus on containing COVID-19.
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