Biblische Geschichten
Abimelech and Jotham's Curse
Abimelech is made king after killing his seventy brothers, but Jotham, the only survivor, tells the parable of the trees and pronounces a curse over Shechem and Abimelech that later comes true through internal strife and violent death.
Die RichterDeborah and Barak
The prophetess Deborah and the military commander Barak defeat the Canaanite army led by Sisera, who is killed by Jael. Afterwards, Deborah and Barak sing a song of victory.
Die RichterEhud and King Eglon
The judge Ehud, who is left-handed, hides a double-edged sword and kills the Moabite king Eglon. He then leads Israel to victory over Moab, and the land has peace for eighty years.
Die RichterGideon's Calling
The angel of the Lord appears to Gideon while he is threshing wheat in secret from the Midianites at Ophrah. Gideon tears down his father's altar to Baal, gathers an army from Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and asks God to confirm his calling with a fleece of wool.
Die RichterGideon's Death and Israel's Apostasy
After the victory over Midian, the land had rest for forty years. Gideon had seventy sons by his many wives, and a concubine in Shechem bore him Abimelech. Gideon died at an old age and was buried in Ophrah. After his death, Israel turned away from the Lord, worshiped Baal-Berith, and showed no loyalty to Gideon's house. [ref:Judg 8:28-35|Judges 8:28-35]
Die RichterGideon's Revenge and Victory over Midian
Gideon pursues the two Midianite kings Zebah and Zalmunna, punishes the cities of Sukkot and Penuel for their resistance, and kills the kings after confirming that they killed his brothers. He ends the war by taking plunder and making an ephod that becomes a snare to Israel.
Die RichterGideon's victory over the Midianites
With only 300 men selected through a water test, and equipped with trumpets, torches, and empty jars, the Lord gives Gideon victory over the mighty Midianite army.
Die RichterIsrael's Repentance and Preparation Against the Ammonites
Israel falls into idolatry and is oppressed by the Philistines and Ammonites for eighteen years. When they cry out to the Lord, He first rejects them and tells them to cry out to the gods they have chosen. After removing the foreign gods and serving the Lord, the Israelites gather at Mizpah against the Ammonites who have camped in Gilead, and the leaders of Gilead seek a commander to lead the battle.
Die RichterJephthah and the Conflict with Ephraim
The men of Ephraim confront Jephthah and threaten to burn his house because he did not call them to fight against the Ammonites. Jephthah gathers the men of Gilead and defeats Ephraim. The Gileadites seize the fords across the Jordan and use the word 'shibboleth' as a language test—those who say 'sibboleth' are exposed as Ephraimites and killed. Forty-two thousand Ephraimites fall.
Die RichterJephthah's Vow
Jephthah promises God to sacrifice the first thing that comes out of his house if he defeats the Ammonites, but it is his only daughter who greets him.
Die RichterJudges: Ibzan, Elon and Abdon
The chapter summarizes the lives and service of three lesser-known judges: Ibzan from Bethlehem, who had thirty sons and thirty daughters; Elon from Zebulun; and Abdon from Pirathon, who had forty sons and thirty grandsons. All three died and were buried in their hometowns.
Die RichterMicah, the House of God, and the Levitical Priest
A man named Micah from the hill country of Ephraim confesses to his mother that he took eleven hundred silver pieces from her. When he returns the silver, his mother dedicates it to the Lord, and two hundred silver pieces are used so a silversmith makes a carved image and a cast idol, which is placed in Micah's house. Micah sets up a shrine with an ephod and household gods, and first appoints one of his sons as priest. The narrator notes that in those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in their own eyes. Later, a young Levite from Bethlehem in Judah passes by looking for a place to stay, and Micah hires him as priest for ten silver pieces a year, along with clothing and food. Micah now believes the Lord will do good to him because he has a Levite serving as his priest.
Die RichterOthniel Delivers Israel
The Israelites did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord and worshiped Baal and Asherah. So the Lord gave them into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim, king of Aram-Naharaim, for eight years. When they cried out to the Lord, he raised up Othniel, the son of Caleb's younger brother, as their deliverer. The spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he became a judge; he went out to war and won victory. The land had peace for forty years until Othniel died.
Die RichterRuth and Boaz
Ruth gleans grain in Boaz's field. Boaz takes her as his wife as the kinsman-redeemer and raises up the name of the deceased. From them descends King David.
Die RichterRuth and Naomi
After Naomi loses her husband and sons in Moab, she returns to Bethlehem. Her daughter-in-law Ruth refuses to leave her, saying: 'Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.'
Die RichterRuth and the Kinsman-Redeemer at the City Gate
Boaz negotiates with a closer kinsman-redeemer at the city gate in Bethlehem and secures the right to redeem Naomi's land and marry Ruth. They marry, and Ruth gives birth to a son named Obed, who becomes the grandfather of King David.
Die RichterRuth Gleans in Boaz's Field
Ruth goes out to glean grain in the fields and ends up in Boaz's field, where he shows her great kindness and protection.
Die RichterSamson and Delilah
Delilah tricks Samson into revealing the secret of his strength. The Philistines cut his hair and capture him.
Die RichterSamson in Gaza
Samson visits a prostitute in Gaza, but when the Philistines lie in ambush to kill him at dawn, he escapes at midnight and carries the city gate's doors, doorposts, and bar up to the mountain toward Hebron. [ref:Judg 16:1-3|Judges 16:1-3]
Die RichterSamson, the Lion and the Honey
On the way to Timnah, Samson meets a roaring young lion. The Spirit of the Lord comes upon him, and he tears the lion apart with his bare hands without telling his parents. Later, when he returns to fetch the woman, he finds a swarm of bees with honey in the carcass of the lion. He takes the honey, eats it, and also gives some to his parents, but does not reveal where it came from.
Die RichterSamson's Birth
The angel of the Lord appears to Manoah's barren wife and announces that she will give birth to a son who will be a Nazarite and begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines. The angel appears again to both spouses and ascends in the flame from the altar. The woman gives birth to Samson, and the Spirit of the Lord begins to stir him.
Die RichterSamson's Last Victory and Death
Samson, blind and captured by the Philistines, asks God for strength one last time and brings down Dagon's temple, killing more enemies in his death than he did during his life.
Die RichterSamson's Revenge and the Jawbone of a Donkey
Samson takes revenge on the Philistines by burning their grain fields with three hundred foxes and torches. The Philistines strike back, but when the Spirit of the Lord comes upon him, he tears off his bonds and strikes down a thousand men with a fresh jawbone of a donkey at Lehi.
Die RichterSamson's Riddle at the Wedding
At the wedding feast, Samson posed a riddle to his thirty companions and promised thirty linen garments and thirty festive robes to whoever solved it. The Philistines threatened Samson's wife with burning her and her father's house, so she pressured him to reveal the answer. When the men gave the answer before sunset on the seventh day, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson. He went down to Ashkelon, struck down thirty men, and gave their festive robes to those who had solved the riddle. His wife was given to his best man.
Die RichterSamuel is Called by God
The young Samuel hears the voice of God at night in the temple and answers: "Speak, for your servant is listening." All Israel understood that Samuel was established as a prophet for the Lord.
Die RichterSamuel Leads Israel's Repentance and Victory at Mizpah
Samuel calls Israel to turn away from foreign gods and gathers the people at Mizpah, where they fast and confess their sins. When the Philistines attack, Samuel sacrifices a nursing lamb and cries out to the Lord, who responds with powerful thunder that causes confusion among the Philistines. Israel pursues and defeats them all the way to Beth-car. Samuel sets up a stone he calls Eben-ezer ("Thus far has the Lord helped us"), and the Philistines are humbled as long as Samuel lives.
Die RichterSamuel's Judgeship and Travels Throughout the Land
Samuel judged Israel all his life. Year after year he traveled to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah to judge the people at these places before returning to his home in Ramah, where he also judged Israel and built an altar for the Lord.
Die RichterShamgar Kills the Philistines
Shamgar, son of Anat, strikes down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad and saves Israel. It is a short but striking account of a judge in Israel. [ref:Judg 3:31|Judges 3:31]
Die RichterThe Angel of the Lord at Bokim and a New Generation
The Angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bokim and accused Israel of breaking the covenant by failing to tear down the altars of foreign gods. The people wept and offered sacrifices to the Lord. After Joshua's death, a new generation arose that did not know the Lord, and they worshiped Baal and Ashtoreth. The Lord handed them over to their enemies, but raised up judges who delivered them as long as the judge lived—and so began the cycle that characterizes the period of the judges.
Die RichterThe Ark of the Covenant is taken by the Philistines
The Philistines defeat Israel at Ebenezer and capture the Ark of the Covenant. Eli's sons Hophni and Phinehas die in battle, and Eli himself falls backward from his chair, breaking his neck when he hears the news. Phinehas' wife gives birth to a son named Ichabod and says, "The glory has departed from Israel," before she herself dies.
Die RichterThe Civil War Against Benjamin
After the horrific crime in Gibeah, the tribes of Israel gather at Mizpah to punish the tribe of Benjamin. The Benjamites refuse to hand over the guilty parties, and a civil war breaks out. Israel loses the first two battles with heavy casualties, but after fasting and praying to the Lord before the ark of the covenant at Bethel, they win a decisive victory using an ambush. The tribe of Benjamin is nearly wiped out; only six hundred men survive at the rock of Rimmon.
Die RichterThe Danites Scout and Conquer Laish
The tribe of Dan sends out five scouts who find a peaceful people in Laish. On the way back, six hundred Danites steal Micah's idols and take the young Levite as their priest. They conquer Laish, burn the city, and rebuild it under the name Dan, where they set up the carved image.
Die RichterThe Judgeship of Jair
After Tola, Jair from Gilead arises and judges Israel for twenty-two years. He has thirty sons who ride on thirty donkey colts and control thirty towns in Gilead, known as the villages of Jair. When he dies, he is buried in Kamon. [ref:Judg 10:3-5|Judges 10:3-5]
Die RichterThe Levite and His Concubine in Gibeah
A Levite retrieves his concubine from her father's house in Bethlehem. On the way home, they stay overnight in Gibeah of Benjamin, where an old man takes them in. During the night, worthless men from the city surround the house, and the Levite sends out his concubine. They rape and abuse her all night, and in the morning he finds her lifeless on the doorstep. He places her on a donkey, returns home, and cuts her into twelve pieces, which he sends to the tribes of Israel—a deed that shocks the entire nation.
Die RichterThe people of Beth-Shemesh are punished for looking into the ark
The Lord strikes down seventy men in Beth-Shemesh because they looked into the Lord's ark. The people mourn and ask who can stand before the holy God, and send word to Kiriath-Jearim to bring back the ark. [ref:1 Sam 6:19-21|1 Samuel 6:19-21]
Die RichterThe Period of Tola
After Abimelech, Tola arose to save Israel. He was the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, from the tribe of Issachar. He lived in Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim and judged Israel for twenty-three years before he died and was buried in Shamir. [ref:Judg 10:1-2|Judges 10:1-2]
Die RichterThe Philistines Return the Ark of the Lord
After the ark of the Lord had been among the Philistines for seven months, they sent it back to Israel on a new cart pulled by two cows that went straight toward Beth-shemesh, along with golden tumors and golden mice as a guilt offering. The people of Beth-shemesh received the ark during the wheat harvest and offered the cows as a burnt offering. [ref:1 Sam 6:1-18|1 Samuel 6:1-18]
Die RichterThe Rescue of the Tribe of Benjamin
After the Israelites had sworn at Mizpah not to give their daughters to the Benjamites, the tribe faced extinction. The assembly sent twelve thousand warriors against Jabesh in Gilead and brought four hundred virgins as wives. When this was not enough, they advised the remaining Benjamites to abduct dancing women during the annual festival at Shiloh so that the tribe could survive [ref:Judg 21:1-25|Judges 21:1-25].
Die RichterThe Sin of Eli's Sons and the Judgment on Eli's House
Eli's sons Hophni and Phinehas abuse the priestly service by forcibly taking sacrificial meat and sleeping with the women who serve at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Eli rebukes them, but they do not listen. A man of God comes to Eli and announces the Lord's judgment: Eli's house will lose its priesthood, both sons will die on the same day, and the Lord will raise up a faithful priest in their place.
Die RichterThe Sounding Spring in Lehi
After the great victory, Samson becomes very thirsty and cries out to the Lord. God splits the hollow at Lehi, and water flows out so that Samson can drink and regain his strength. The place is called "The Sounding Spring in Lehi".
ExilCyrus's Decree and the First Return
King Cyrus of Persia issues a decree allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Lord's house, and he returns the sacred temple articles that Nebuchadnezzar had taken away. This marks the end of the exile and the beginning of the restoration under the leadership of Sheshbazzar.
ExilDaniel and his friends at the king's court in Babylon
After Nebuchadnezzar has conquered Jerusalem, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah are chosen among young men from Israel for training at the court in Babylon. They receive new names – Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Daniel refuses to defile himself with the king's food and wine, and asks to be given vegetables and water for ten days. After the trial period they look healthier and stronger than the others. God gives the four knowledge and insight, and Daniel receives understanding of visions and dreams. The king finds them ten times more capable than all the magicians in the kingdom.
ExilDaniel in the Lions' Den
Daniel is thrown into the lions' den because he refuses to stop praying to God, but God sends his angel and shuts the lions' mouths.
ExilDaniel Interprets Nebuchadnezzar's Dream
Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar's dream about a statue made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, and clay, which is shattered by a stone—a picture of coming kingdoms and God's eternal kingdom.
ExilDaniel's Prayer for the Seventy Years
In the first year of Darius's reign, Daniel studied the words of the prophet Jeremiah concerning that Jerusalem would lie in ruins for seventy years. He turned to God in prayer and fasting, wearing sackcloth and sitting in ashes, confessed the people's sin and rebellion, and pleaded for God's mercy and forgiveness for Jerusalem and His people.
ExilEsther Becomes Queen
The Jewish girl Esther is chosen as queen of Persia after Vashti, guided by her cousin and foster father Mordecai, who also uncovers a conspiracy against King Ahasuerus.
ExilEsther Saves Her People
Esther risks her life by going to the king and exposes Haman's evil plan to destroy the Jews, which leads to Haman himself being hanged on the gallows he had built for Mordecai.
ExilEzekiel's Vision of the Dry Bones
Ezekiel sees a valley full of dry bones. At God's command, he prophesies over them, and God gives them spirit and life as a picture of Israel's restoration.
ExilEzra and the Dealing with Foreign Wives
While Ezra prays and confesses before the house of God, a large assembly gathers in bitter weeping. Shecaniah proposes making a covenant to send away the foreign wives and their children. Ezra makes the leaders swear an oath, and it is announced that all who have been in exile must gather in Jerusalem within three days. The people confess their sins, and an investigation is carried out over three months. Finally, the names of the priests, Levites, and other men who had taken foreign wives are recorded.
ExilEzra gathers the Levites and travels to Jerusalem
Ezra gathers the people at the River Ahava, discovers that there are no Levites, and sends messengers to Iddo in Casiphia to bring servants for the house of God. He proclaims a fast to seek God's protection on the journey, then weighs out silver, gold, and holy vessels which he entrusts to priests and Levites. On the twelfth day of the first month they set out from the River Ahava, and God protects them from enemies along the way. Upon arriving in Jerusalem, the treasures are weighed in the temple, and the returning exiles offer burnt offerings to the Lord.
ExilEzra Reads the Law to the People
Ezra reads the Law of Moses aloud to all the people at the Water Gate in Jerusalem. The people weep when they hear the words of the law, but are encouraged to rejoice. Then they celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles as written in the law.
ExilEzra's Journey from Babylon to Jerusalem
Ezra, a scribe priest descended from the high priest Aaron, travels up from Babylon to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes' reign. The king grants him everything he asks for, because the hand of the Lord is upon him. Together with Israelites, priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers and temple servants, he begins his journey on the first day of the first month and arrives in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month. Ezra has set his heart to study the law of the Lord, to live by it and to teach Israel its statutes and ordinances.
ExilEzra's Praise for the King's Favor
Ezra praises the Lord, the God of our ancestors, for putting it in the king's heart to glorify the Lord's house in Jerusalem. He recounts that he found favor with the king, his counselors and officials, took courage because the hand of God was upon him, and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with him.
ExilEzra's Prayer After the Mixed Marriages
Ezra reacts with deep sorrow when he learns that the people, leaders, and priests have married into foreign nations. He tears his clothes, pulls hair from his head and beard, and sits in despair until the evening sacrifice. Then he falls on his knees, stretches out his hands to the Lord, and offers a humble prayer in which he confesses the people's guilt and praises God's grace for allowing a remnant to survive.
ExilGabriel's Vision of the Seventy Weeks
While Daniel prays and confesses his own sin and the sin of his people, the angel Gabriel flies to him at the time of the evening sacrifice to give him understanding. He reveals the prophecy of the seventy weeks decreed for his people and the holy city: Jerusalem will be rebuilt, an Anointed One will come and be cut off, and finally the city and the sanctuary will be destroyed.
ExilGedaliah's Murder and the Flight to Egypt
Nebuchadnezzar appoints Gedaliah as governor over the people remaining in Judah. The commanders gather with him at Mizpah, and he promises that they will fare well if they serve the king of Babylon. But in the seventh month, Ishmael, a member of the royal family, arrives with ten men and kills Gedaliah along with the Jews and Chaldeans in Mizpah. Fearing the Chaldeans, all the people flee to Egypt.
ExilHaman's plan to exterminate the Jews
Haman is elevated above all the princes, but becomes furious because Mordecai refuses to bow down to him. He persuades King Ahasuerus to issue a decree to exterminate all the Jews in the empire, and the day is set by casting lots (pur).
ExilIshmael kills Gedaliah and takes the people captive
Ishmael, of royal lineage, kills the Babylonian governor Gedaliah in Mizpah, massacres visiting pilgrims and throws them into a cistern, and takes the king's daughters captive before fleeing to the Ammonites. [ref:Jer 41:1-10|Jeremiah 41:1-10]
ExilJehoiachin's Release in Babylon
In the thirty-seventh year of the exile, the new Babylonian king Evil-Merodach released King Jehoiachin from prison, spoke kindly to him and gave him a place of honor at the king's table for all the days of his life. [ref:2 Kings 25:27-30|2 Kings 25:27-30]
ExilJeremiah is Released and Gedaliah Appointed Governor
The commander Nebuzaradan releases the prophet Jeremiah from his chains in Ramah and gives him the choice of going to Babylon or staying in the land. Jeremiah chooses to stay and settles with Gedaliah son of Ahikam in Mizpah, whom the king of Babylon had appointed over the cities of Judah.
ExilJeremiah's Letter to the Exiles in Babylon
The prophet Jeremiah sends a letter from Jerusalem to the exiles in Babylon. He urges them to build houses, plant gardens, start families, and seek peace for the city where they have been taken. He warns against false prophets and proclaims the Lord's promise to bring the people back after seventy years, with plans for peace, future, and hope.
ExilJohanan Saves the People and Ishmael Flees
Johanan son of Kareah, along with the army commanders, meets Ishmael at the great waters of Gibeon. The captives taken from Mizpah return to Johanan, while Ishmael escapes with eight men to the Ammonites. Johanan takes the people with him to Geruth-Kimham near Bethlehem, intending to go on to Egypt out of fear of the Chaldeans.
ExilKing Ahasuerus' Feast and the Deposition of Queen Vashti
King Ahasuerus holds a great feast in the citadel of Susa, but becomes furious when Queen Vashti refuses to appear before his guests. Memukan and the advisors suggest that she be deposed to maintain order in the kingdom, and the king sends letters stating that every man should be master in his own house.
ExilKing Artaxerxes' Letter and Authority to Ezra
King Artaxerxes gives Ezra broad authority to collect silver and gold, purchase sacrificial animals for the temple, obtain funds from the royal treasury, appoint judges, and ensure tax exemption for temple servants, with a threat of severe punishment for those who break God's or the king's law.
ExilKing Jehoiachin Released from Prison
In the thirty-seventh year after Jehoiachin was taken into exile, Evil-Merodach, the new king of Babylon, showed favor to Jehoiachin and brought him out of prison. He spoke kindly to him and gave him a higher position than the other kings in Babylon. Jehoiachin was allowed to take off his prisoner's clothes, ate regularly at the king's table, and received a daily allowance for all the days of his life.
ExilMordecai is promoted and Esther's plea to revoke the decree
After Haman's death, King Ahasuerus gives Haman's house to Esther and the signet ring to Mordecai. Esther falls weeping before the king and asks him to revoke the decree to destroy the Jews. The king extends the golden scepter and grants Esther and Mordecai authority to write new edicts in the king's name, sealed with the signet ring [ref:Ester 8:1-8|Ester 8:1-8].
ExilNebuchadnezzar's Dream About the Tree and His Humbling
King Nebuchadnezzar has a frightening dream about a great tree that is cut down, and Daniel interprets the dream as a judgment against the king. After a voice from heaven, the king is driven away from people, lives like an animal for seven times, and is then restored to his throne after acknowledging the dominion of the Most High.
ExilNebuzaradan's Mercy and Jeremiah's Release
After the fall of Jerusalem, Nebuzaradan takes the people into exile in Babylon but leaves the poor behind and gives them vineyards and plots of land. By order of Nebuchadnezzar, Jeremiah is brought out from the guard post and handed over to Gedaliah so that he may live among the people.
ExilNehemiah Builds Jerusalem's Wall
Nehemiah leads the rebuilding of Jerusalem's wall despite strong opposition from enemies like Sanballat and Tobiah, completing the work in fifty-two days.
ExilNehemiah Cleanses God's House and Restores the Service
Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem and discovers that the priest Eliashib has set up a chamber in God's house for Tobiah. He throws out Tobiah's belongings, cleanses the chamber, and restores the arrangement for the Levites and the tithes.
ExilNehemiah dissolves mixed marriages and purifies the priesthood
Nehemiah discovers that many Jews have married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab, and that half of their children cannot speak Jewish. He rebukes the men, strikes some, pulls out their hair, and makes them swear not to give their daughters in mixed marriages. He points out how foreign women led Solomon astray. A son of the high priest Eliashib’s family who is Sanballat’s son-in-law is driven away. Nehemiah cleanses the priesthood and establishes duties for the priests and Levites. [ref:Neh 13:23-31|Nehemiah 13:23-31]
ExilNehemiah finds the genealogy of those who returned
After the wall is finished, God puts it on Nehemiah's heart to gather the nobles, officials, and people to register them by family lines. He finds the book containing the genealogy of those who first returned from exile with Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the other leaders. The list shows the number of men from the tribes and cities of Israel, priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, and Solomon's servants, as well as those who could not prove their Israelite ancestry and were therefore excluded from the priesthood. The chapter ends with figures for the entire assembly, their servants and animals, and the gifts of gold, silver, and priestly garments given for the work, before the people settled in their towns.
ExilNehemiah forbids trade and work on the Sabbath
Nehemiah discovers that people in Judah and merchants from Tyre are conducting trade on the Sabbath day. He rebukes the nobles, orders the gates to be closed before the Sabbath, threatens the sellers who spend the night outside the wall, and appoints the Levites to keep watch so as to sanctify the day.
ExilNehemiah's Prayer and Calling
Nehemiah hears about Jerusalem's miserable condition, prays earnestly to God, and receives permission from King Artaxerxes to return and rebuild the city.
ExilNehemiah's Wall Dedication
After Jerusalem's wall was fully rebuilt, Nehemiah held a great dedication festival with two praise processions that walked in opposite directions along the wall and met at the temple with sacrifices and rejoicing.
ExilRestoration for the Name's Sake
God explains that He will gather His people and cleanse them, not for their own sake, but to hallow His own name which was profaned among the nations. He promises to give them a new heart and a new spirit so that they may follow His laws [ref:Ezekiel 36:16-32|Ezekiel 36:16-32].
ExilSeventy Years of Exile and Cyrus's Decree to Rebuild
The land rests for seventy years, fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecy. Then in the first year of his reign as king of Persia, King Cyrus issues a decree allowing God's people to return to Jerusalem and build a house for the Lord.
ExilShadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the Fiery Furnace
Three Jewish men refuse to worship King Nebuchadnezzar's golden statue and are thrown into a blazing fiery furnace, but God sends his angel and saves them unharmed.
ExilThe Agreement on Obedience and Reform
Nehemiah, the priests, the Levites, and the leaders of the people entered into a written agreement and sealed it, committing themselves to follow God's law, keep the Sabbath, avoid intermarriage with foreign peoples, and give tithes for temple service [ref:Neh 10:1-40|Nehemiah 10:1-40].
ExilThe City Has Fallen
A refugee brings news that Jerusalem has fallen, which ends the prophet Ezekiel's muteness. God uses this moment to judge those still living in the ruins who wrongly believe they will inherit the land despite their detestable actions.
ExilThe destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the people
The Babylonian army under Nebuzaradan burns down the temple and palaces, tears down the walls around Jerusalem, and carries away bronze objects and valuable vessels. The high priest Seraiah and other leaders are taken to the king at Riblah and executed. The rest of the people are exiled, while some poor remain as vineyard workers and field laborers.
ExilThe Fall of Zedekiah and the Destruction of Jerusalem
After a long siege, Nebuchadnezzar's army breaks through Jerusalem's walls. King Zedekiah flees at night, but the Chaldeans catch him on the plains of Jericho. He is taken to Riblah, where his sons and the nobles of Judah are slaughtered before his eyes. Then he is blinded and led in chains to Babylon, while the city is burned and its walls torn down.
ExilThe Institution of the Feast of Purim
Mordecai and Queen Esther sent letters to all the Jews in the kingdom of Ahasuerus, establishing the 14th and 15th days of the month of Adar as an annual festival to commemorate when sorrow was turned into joy. These days are to be celebrated with feasting, gladness, giving gifts to one another, and giving gifts to the poor. They are called Purim after the word pur (lot). [ref:Est 9:19-32|Esther 9:19-32]
ExilThe Jews' victory over their enemies in Susa and the provinces
On the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, the Jews gather in all King Ahasuerus' provinces and defend themselves against their enemies. Fear of Mordecai, who has become powerful in the king's house, falls upon princes and officials who support the Jews. They kill five hundred men in the fortress Susa and Haman's ten sons. After Esther's plea to the king, Haman's sons are hanged, and on the following day the Jews in Susa kill another three hundred, while the other Jews in the provinces kill seventy-five thousand of those who hated them. They do not lay hands on the plunder. Then they rest and make the day a day of celebration and joy.
ExilThe Judgment on the False Prophets Ahab and Zedekiah
In his letter to the exiles, Jeremiah warns that the false prophets Ahab and Zedekiah, who prophesy lies in the Lord's name, will be handed over to King Nebuchadnezzar and killed before the eyes of the people. The king of Babylon will roast them in fire so that their names become a curse among the exiles. This is because they have committed adultery with their neighbors' wives and spoken lying words which the Lord did not command.
ExilThe Lord's Redemption of Zion
The Lord calls Zion and Jerusalem to wake up, shake off the dust, and put on strength, for He promises to redeem His people without silver. A messenger proclaims peace and salvation over the mountains: Your God reigns as King! The Lord reveals His holy arm to all nations, and the people are called to go out in peace and purity, with the Lord Himself leading them from the front and protecting them from behind.
ExilThe Opposition to Nehemiah's Building Work
Nehemiah faces strong opposition from Sanballat, Tobiah and other enemies while the wall of Jerusalem is being rebuilt, but the people work with one hand and hold a weapon in the other, trusting that God will fight for them.
ExilThe People's Confession of Sin under Nehemiah
After the reading of the Law, the people of Israel gathered in mourning and fasting. The Levites led a great prayer in which they praised God as Creator, remembered His faithfulness from Abraham through the Exodus and the wilderness journey, confessed the people's repeated rebellion, and acknowledged that they were now slaves in their own land because of their sins.
ExilThe Priests and Levites after Zerubbabel
An overview of the priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel and Joshua, including lineage from Joshua to Jaddua, heads of families in the days of Joiakim, and the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers who served during the time of Nehemiah and Ezra.
ExilThe Punishment of Shemaiah from Nehelam
The false prophet Shemaiah from Nehelam sends letters from Babylon to the priest Zephaniah in Jerusalem, demanding that Jeremiah be put in a yoke and neck stock because he has prophesied that the exile will last long. Zephaniah reads the letter to Jeremiah, and the word of the Lord comes: Shemaiah shall be punished because he has prophesied lies without being sent. None of his descendants shall live among the people or see the good that the Lord intends to do.
ExilThe remaining Jews gather at Gedaliah in Mizpah
When the commanders who were in the fields heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah over the land, they came to him at Mizpah—among them Ishmael, Johanan and Jonathan. Gedaliah swore to them not to fear serving the Chaldeans, but to stay in the land, gather wine, summer fruit and oil, and serve the king of Babylon, so that things would go well for them. Also, Jews who had been scattered in Moab, among the Ammonites and in Edom returned to Judah and gathered large amounts of wine and summer fruit.
ExilThe Return from Exile to Jerusalem
An overview of the first to return from captivity in Babylon to Jerusalem and Judah under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua. The text provides a detailed census of the tribes of Israel, priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon's servants. It also mentions those who could not prove their lineage and were therefore excluded from priestly service, as well as the voluntary gifts from family heads for the rebuilding of God's house.
ExilThe Second Decree: The Jews Are Granted the Right to Defend Themselves
The king's scribes issue a new decree in the name of King Ahasuerus that gives the Jews in every city the right to gather and defend themselves against attackers on the thirteenth day of the month Adar. Heralds riding swift royal horses spread the message to all the provinces from India to Cush. Mordecai goes out from the king wearing royal garments of blue and white cloth, with a large gold crown and a robe of fine linen and purple, and the city of Susa rejoices. For the Jews there is light, joy, gladness, and honor, and many of the people of the land convert to Judaism because they fear them.
ExilThe Temple is Rebuilt
The exiles return and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua, supported by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, and by decree of the Persian kings Cyrus and Darius.
ExilThe Writing on the Wall
During King Belshazzar's feast in Babylon, a human hand appears and writes mysterious words on the wall. Daniel interprets the message MENE, TEKEL, and PARSIN as judgment against the king, and that same night Belshazzar is killed.
ExilWarning about Ishmael's murder plot against Gedaliah
Johanan son of Kareah and the army commanders came to Gedaliah at Mizpah and warned him that Baalis, king of the Ammonites, had sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to take his life. But Gedaliah would not believe them. Johanan offered secretly to kill Ishmael to prevent the Jews from being scattered, but Gedaliah rejected him and called the accusation a lie.
ExilZedekiah, the Rebellion and the Fall of Jerusalem
King Zedekiah refuses to humble himself before the prophet Jeremiah and rebels against Nebuchadnezzar. The people and priests act treacherously, mocking God's messenger until the Lord's wrath falls upon them. The Chaldeans capture Jerusalem, burn down the temple, tear down the walls, and lead the people into exile in Babylon.
ExilZedekiah's Rebellion and the Fall of Jerusalem
King Zedekiah rebels against the king of Babylon, and Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to Jerusalem for a year and a half. The famine becomes so severe that the city eventually falls. Zedekiah flees but is caught on the plains of Jericho and brought to Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah. There he watches his sons be slaughtered before he himself is blinded, bound with bronze chains, and taken to Babylon, where he remains in prison until the day of his death.
Die PassionJesus Anointed in Bethany
In Bethany, a woman anoints Jesus with expensive nard oil. According to Matthew and Mark, she anoints his head in the house of Simon the Leper, while according to John, Mary anoints his feet. The disciples react against what they see as waste, but Jesus defends her, saying she has prepared him for burial.
Die PassionJesus Appears to the Disciples
The risen Jesus appears to the disciples, shows them his wounds, and gives them the Holy Spirit. Thomas, who was not present, believes only after he sees Jesus himself.
Die PassionJesus Before the Sanhedrin
Jesus is brought before the high priest and the entire Council. False witnesses accuse him, including claiming he said he would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, but their testimonies do not agree. When the high priest asks if he is the Messiah, Jesus confirms it and speaks of the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power. He is found guilty of blasphemy and sentenced to death; then he is spat on, beaten, and mocked [ref:Mark 14:53-14:65|Markus 14:53-14:65].
Die PassionJesus before the Sanhedrin
When it became day, the council of elders gathered with the chief priests and scribes and brought Jesus before them. When asked if he is the Messiah, he answers that from now on the Son of Man will sit at the right hand of the Almighty. When they ask if he is the Son of God, he replies: "You say that I am." They then conclude that they need no further witnesses.
Die PassionJesus in Gethsemane
Jesus prays in anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane: 'Let this cup pass from me.' Judas betrays him with a kiss, and Jesus is arrested.
Die PassionJesus is Brought to Trial before Caiaphas
Jesus is taken to the high priest Caiaphas, where the Council seeks false testimony against him. Finally, two witnesses claim he said he could destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days. When the high priest puts him under oath, Jesus confirms that he is the Christ, the Son of God, and speaks of the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power. He is found guilty of blasphemy and sentenced to death, then spat upon and beaten.
Die PassionJesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection
On the way up to Jerusalem, Jesus took the twelve disciples aside and predicted that the Son of Man would be handed over to the chief priests and teachers of the law, condemned to death, delivered to the Gentiles to be mocked, flogged, and crucified, but on the third day he would be raised.
Die PassionJesus predicts the disciples' scattering and assures them of his victory
Jesus predicts that the disciples will be scattered, each to their own home, leaving him alone. Yet he is not alone, for the Father is with him. He has said this so that they may have peace in him. In the world they will face tribulation, but they should be bold, for he has conquered the world.
Die PassionJesus washes the disciples' feet
During the meal before Passover, Jesus rises, takes off his outer garment, ties a towel around himself and begins to wash the disciples' feet. Peter protests at first but yields when Jesus says that whoever is not washed by him has no part with him. Afterwards, Jesus explains that he has given them an example: just as he, their Lord and Teacher, has served them, so they should serve one another.
Die PassionJesus Weeps Over Jerusalem
When Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said: 'If only you had known on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes.' He warned that enemies would build a rampart against the city, surround it, and level it to the ground, leaving not one stone upon another, because it did not recognize the time when God visited it.
Die PassionJesus withdraws to Ephraim
Because the chief priests and the Pharisees plan to arrest him, Jesus no longer walks openly among the Jews but withdraws with his disciples to a town called Ephraim near the wilderness. As Passover approaches, people go up to Jerusalem to cleanse themselves and look for Jesus in the temple, asking if he will come to the feast [ref:Joh 11:54-57|John 11:54-57].
Die PassionJesus' burial
Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for Jesus' body and, together with Nicodemus, laid it in a new tomb cut out of the rock. A large stone was rolled in front of the entrance, and the chief priests had Pilate secure the tomb with guards and a seal.
Die PassionJudas agrees to betray Jesus
Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, goes to the chief priests to betray Jesus. They are glad and promise him money, and he looks for a suitable opportunity to hand him over.
Die PassionJudas negotiates to betray Jesus
Judas Iscariot goes to the chief priests and offers to hand Jesus over to them for thirty silver coins, then looks for an opportunity to do so. [ref:Matt 26:14-16|Matthew 26:14-16]
Die PassionJudas' anger and death
When Judas, who had betrayed Jesus, saw that he was condemned, he regretted his actions and brought the thirty silver coins back to the chief priests and the elders. He said, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood", but they replied, "What is that to us? See to it yourself." Judas threw the money into the temple and went away and hanged himself. The chief priests decided the money could not be put into the temple treasury since it was payment for blood, so they used it to buy the potter's field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why the place has been called the Field of Blood to this day. In this way the prophecy spoken through Jeremiah about the thirty silver coins and the potter's field was fulfilled.
Die PassionPeter confesses Jesus as the Messiah and the first prediction of suffering
At Caesarea Philippi, Peter confesses that Jesus is the Messiah. Then Jesus openly predicts his suffering, death, and resurrection for the first time. When Peter rebukes him, Jesus responds sharply: "Get behind me, Satan!" He then teaches the disciples and the crowd that whoever wants to follow him must deny themselves and take up their cross.
Die PassionPeter denies Jesus
Peter denies Jesus three times before the rooster crows, just as Jesus had predicted, and he goes out and weeps bitterly.
Die PassionPlans to kill Jesus
The chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the courtyard of the high priest Caiaphas to plot how they might arrest Jesus by deceit and kill him. They decided to wait until after the festival to avoid an uprising among the people.
Die PassionSecond Prediction of Jesus' Death
While they are in Galilee, Jesus tells the disciples that the Son of Man will be handed over to men, killed, and raised again on the third day, which fills them with deep grief.
Die PassionSorrow Turned to Joy
In the farewell discourse, Jesus tells his disciples that they will weep and mourn while the world rejoices, but their sorrow will turn to joy. He uses the image of a woman in labor who forgets her pain once the child is born. Jesus promises that he will see them again and that no one will take away their joy. He encourages them to pray to the Father in his name, so that their joy may be complete.
Die PassionThe chief priests plan to kill Lazarus
After Lazarus was raised from the dead, the chief priests gathered to plan his death because many Jews believed in Jesus on account of him. [ref:Jn 12:9-11|John 12:9-11]
Die PassionThe Conspiracy Against Jesus
After Lazarus is raised from the dead, the chief priests and Pharisees convene the Council to discuss the threat Jesus poses. They fear that if everyone begins to believe in him, the Romans will intervene. Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, says it is better for one man to die for the people than for the whole nation to perish. Unknowingly, he prophesies that Jesus would die for the people and gather God's scattered children into one. From that day on, they make plans to kill Jesus [ref:Joh 11:47-53|John 11:47-53].
Die PassionThe Crucifixion
Jesus is crucified at Golgotha between two thieves. Darkness falls over the land, the temple veil tears, and Jesus dies after crying out his last words.
Die PassionThe First Passion Prophecy
While Jesus and his disciples were walking through Galilee, he taught them that the Son of Man would be handed over into human hands, killed, and rise again three days later. The disciples did not understand what he said, and they dared not ask him.
Die PassionThe Greeks Want to See Jesus
During the festival some Greeks who had come to worship ask Philip to see Jesus. Philip goes to Andrew, and together they bring the message to Jesus. Jesus answers: "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just one seed. But if it dies, it bears much fruit." He says that whoever serves him must follow him. Jesus feels his soul troubled, but prays: "Father, glorify your name!" A voice from heaven answers that he has glorified it and will glorify it again.
Die PassionThe Guards Are Bribed at the Tomb
After Jesus' resurrection, some of the guards go to the chief priests and report what has happened. The chief priests and elders hold a meeting and bribe the soldiers with a large sum of money to say that the disciples stole Jesus' body while they were asleep. They also promise to persuade the governor if he hears about it. The soldiers accept the money, and the rumor of the theft spreads among the Jews to this day. [ref:Matt 28:11-15|Matthew 28:11-15]
Die PassionThe High Priestly Prayer
After the farewell discourses, Jesus looks up to heaven and prays the long prayer known as the High Priestly Prayer. He first prays for himself to be glorified, then for his disciples that they may be kept in the Father's name and sanctified in the truth, and finally for all who will come to believe through their message: that they all may be one, just as the Father and the Son are one, so that the world may know that the Father has sent him.
Die PassionThe Last Supper
Jesus prepares and celebrates the Passover meal with his disciples, washes their feet, institutes communion with the bread and wine as his body and blood, and predicts that one of them will betray him.
Die PassionThe New Commandment and the Prediction of Peter's Denial
After Judas had left the upper room, Jesus spoke about how the Son of Man is glorified and gave his disciples a new commandment: they must love one another just as he has loved them. When Peter asked where he was going and promised to lay down his life for him, Jesus predicted that Peter would deny him three times before the rooster crows.
Die PassionThe Prophecy of Peter's Denial
Jesus warns the disciples that they will all fall away this night, quoting the prophecy that the shepherd will be struck and the sheep scattered. Peter insists he will never fall away, but Jesus says that before the rooster crows, Peter will deny him three times. Peter and the other disciples insist they would rather die with him.
Die PassionThe Question of Jesus' Authority
While Jesus is walking around in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes and the elders come and ask by what authority he does these things. Jesus answers with a counter-question: Was John's baptism from heaven or from men? They dare not answer, because they fear the crowd who regarded John as a prophet. Then Jesus refuses to answer them.
Die PassionThe Soldiers' Mocking of Jesus
The governor's soldiers took Jesus into the praetorium, clothed him in a scarlet robe, put a crown of thorns on his head, and placed a reed in his right hand. They knelt before him, mocked him as King of the Jews, spat on him, and struck him with the reed. Then they took off the robe, dressed him in his own clothes, and led him away to be crucified. [ref:Matt 27:27-31|Matthew 27:27-31]
Die PassionThe Third Prediction of the Passion
On the way up to Jerusalem, Jesus goes ahead of his disciples, who are amazed and afraid. For the third time he takes the twelve aside and predicts exactly what will happen: The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law, condemned to death, and handed over to the Gentiles, who will mock him, spit on him, flog him and kill him - but he will rise again three days later. [ref:Mark 10:32-34|Markus 10:32-34]
Die PassionThe Trial Before Pilate
Pilate interrogates Jesus and finds no guilt in him, but yields to the pressure of the crowd, releases Barabbas, and hands Jesus over for crucifixion.
Die Gleichnisse JesuQuestion about fasting
John's disciples ask Jesus why they and the Pharisees fast, but his disciples do not. Jesus answers that wedding guests cannot mourn while the bridegroom is with them, but when he is taken away from them, they will fast. He also uses the parables of a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak and new wine in old wineskins.
Die Gleichnisse JesuQuestion about Fasting and the Parable of New Wine
When Jesus is asked why his disciples do not fast as the disciples of John and the Pharisees do, he answers that wedding guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them. He then tells the parables about a patch from a new garment on an old one, and about new wine that cannot be put into old wineskins.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Good Samaritan
A lawyer asks Jesus who his neighbor is. Jesus tells of a man who was attacked by robbers on the way from Jerusalem to Jericho. A priest and a Levite passed by on the other side, but a Samaritan felt compassion, bound up his wounds, brought him to an inn, and paid for his care. Jesus asks who was the victim's neighbor and urges the lawyer to do likewise.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe House on the Rock and the House on the Sand
Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount with the parable of two builders: The wise man who heard Jesus' words and acted on them built his house on the rock, and it stood firm when the rain poured down, the rivers flooded, and the winds beat against it. The foolish man who heard the words but did not act on them built on sand, and the house collapsed with a great crash. The crowd was amazed at Jesus' teaching, for he spoke with authority, not like their teachers of the law.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Lamp Under a Bowl and Bed
Jesus uses the image of a lamp that is not placed under a bowl or under a bed, but on the candelabrum, to illustrate that nothing is hidden without it being revealed. He encourages his listeners to pay attention to what they hear, for with the measure they use, it will be measured back to them, and whoever has will receive more.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Lost Coin
A woman with ten silver coins loses one and searches diligently until she finds it. She celebrates with her friends and neighbors—just as there is joy among God's angels over one sinner who repents.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Lost Sheep
Jesus tells the parable of the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine sheep to search for the one that is lost, and rejoices when he finds it. In the same way, there is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
A man had a fig tree in his vineyard that had not borne fruit for three years, and he wanted to cut it down. The gardener asked for one more year to care for it before the decision was made.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Parable of the Faithful and Wicked Servant
In response to Peter's question, Jesus tells about a faithful and wise steward who is put in charge of everything the master owns, and about a wicked servant who thinks the master will be delayed, mistreats the other servants, and is severely punished when the master returns unexpectedly.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Parable of the Friend at Midnight
Jesus tells a parable about a man who, in the middle of the night, asks a friend for three loaves of bread to serve an unexpected guest. The friend inside the house initially refuses to get up but eventually gives in because of the man's persistence. Jesus uses this story to teach his disciples about persistent prayer: ask, seek, knock – and the Father in heaven will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him. [ref:Luk 11:5-13|Luke 11:5-13]
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Parable of the Great Banquet
Jesus tells the parable about a man who holds a great banquet and invites many. When the meal is ready, those invited refuse with various excuses: one has bought a field, another five yoke of oxen, and a third has just gotten married. The master becomes angry and sends his servant out to bring in the poor, crippled, blind, and lame from the streets and alleys of the city, and then out to the roads and along the fences, so that the house will be full. None of those originally invited will get to taste his feast.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Parable of the Lamp
Jesus uses the image of a lamp that is not hidden under a bowl or a bed, but placed on a stand so its light can be seen. He emphasizes that nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, and urges listeners to pay attention to how they hear, for whoever has will receive more, while whoever does not have will lose even what they think they possess.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Parable of the Leaven
Jesus compares the kingdom of God to leaven that a woman hid in three measures of flour, until it was all permeated. [ref:Luk 13:20-21|Luke 13:20-21]
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Parable of the Mustard Seed
The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed – the smallest of all seeds, but it grows into a large tree.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Parable of the Rich Farmer
A man in the crowd asked Jesus to tell his brother to share the inheritance with him. Jesus replied that he was not appointed as a judge or arbitrator, and warned: "Beware of all greed! For a person's life does not consist in the abundance of what they possess." Then he told a parable: A rich man had land that produced well, and he did not know where to store his harvest. He decided to tear down his barns and build larger ones, gather all his grain and goods, and say to himself: "You have many good things stored up for many years. Rest easy, eat, drink and be merry!" But God said to him: "You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Who then will get what you have gathered?" That is how it goes with the one who stores up treasures for themselves but is not rich toward God.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Parable of the Salt
Jesus ends his speech with a short parable about salt that loses its power and becomes useless – neither for soil nor for a manure heap – and urges those who have ears to listen.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Parable of the Seats at the Table
Jesus tells a parable to the guests who chose the places of honor at the table. He advises them to take the lowest seat at a wedding, so that the host may invite them to move higher up, and they avoid being asked to give up their place in shame. He concludes with the principle that whoever exalts themselves will be humbled, and whoever humbles themselves will be exalted.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Parable of the Seed Growing by Itself
Jesus tells about a man who sows seed and then sleeps and rises while the earth bears fruit by itself – first stalk, then head, then full grain in the head – until harvest comes and the sickle is sent out. This is a parable about the kingdom of God growing in a way that humans do not understand.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Parable of the Sheep and the Goats
When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all the angels, he will sit on his glorious throne. All nations are gathered before him, and he separates them from one another as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. He places the sheep on his right hand and the goats on the left. Then the king says to those on his right: "Come here, you who are blessed by my Father, and inherit the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed me; naked, sick, and in prison, and you cared for me." The righteous ask when they did this, and he answers: "Whatever you did for one of the least of these my brothers, you did it for me." To those on his left he says the opposite and sends them away to eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Parable of the Sower
Jesus tells about a sower who sows seed in different soils – an image of how people receive God's word.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Parable of the Talents
A master entrusts his servants with talents before he goes away. Two manage them well and double the amount, and are rewarded by their master. The third buries his talent in the ground out of fear and is punished as a worthless servant.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Parable of the Two Sons
Jesus asks the chief priests and the elders of the people: A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, "Go and work in the vineyard today." "I don't want to," he answered, but later changed his mind and went. The father went to the second son and said the same thing. He replied, "I will, sir," but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father? "The first," they answered. Jesus said to them: "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did believe him."
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Parable of the Unworthy Servant
Jesus teaches the disciples: He warns against causing others to stumble, commands unlimited forgiveness for a brother who repents, and speaks of the power of faith like a mustard seed that can uproot a mulberry tree. He concludes with the parable of the servant returning from the field, reminding the disciples that even after doing all they are commanded, they are merely 'unworthy servants' who have only done their duty.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Parable of the Watchful Servants
Jesus urges the disciples to have their belts fastened and their lamps burning, telling a parable about servants waiting for their master returning from a wedding feast. Blessed are those found awake when he comes—then the master himself will gird himself and serve them. Like a thief, the Son of Man comes at an hour no one expects, so they must be ready. [ref:Luk 12:35-40|Luke 12:35-40]
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Parable of the Wedding Feast
Jesus tells a parable about a king who holds a wedding feast for his son. The invited guests refuse to come and mistreat the servants, so the king punishes them and invites new guests from the crossroads. A man without wedding garments is cast out into darkness, for many are called, but few are chosen.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Parable of the Wicked Tenants
Jesus tells of a man who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug out a winepress and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went abroad. When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to collect the fruit, but the tenants beat some, killed others and stoned the rest. He sent more servants, but they were treated the same way. Finally he sent his own son, saying, "They will respect my son." But the tenants said, "This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and take his inheritance!" So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Jesus asks what the owner of the vineyard will do, and answers that he will give the vineyard to others who will bear its fruit. He quotes Scripture: "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." The kingdom of God will be taken from them and given to a people who produce its fruits. The chief priests and the Pharisees understood that he was speaking about them, and wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowd.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Parables of the Treasure, the Pearl, and the Net
Jesus uses three short parables to describe the infinite value of the kingdom of heaven: a treasure hidden in a field, a costly pearl, and a net that catches all. He concludes by explaining that at the end of the age, angels will separate the wicked from the righteous.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Pharisee and the Tax Collector
A Pharisee and a tax collector pray in the temple. The tax collector's humble prayer is the one God hears.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Prodigal Son
A son squanders his inheritance, but returns home to a father who welcomes him with open arms and throws a feast.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Question about Fasting
Some ask Jesus why the disciples of John and the Pharisees fast, while his own disciples do not. Jesus answers with the image of the bridegroom: wedding guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, but days will come when he is taken from them. He also uses the parables about a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment and new wine in old wineskins to show that the new requires new forms.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Requirement of Discipleship
Jesus turns to the crowds following him and says that whoever wants to be his disciple must put him above family and their own life, and carry their cross. He uses two parables – one about a man who wants to build a tower and another about a king who goes to war – to show that one must calculate the cost. Finally, he says that no one can be his disciple without giving up everything they have.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Rich Man and Lazarus
A rich man and the poor Lazarus die. The roles are reversed in the afterlife.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Sign of Jonah and the Return of the Unclean Spirit
Scribes and Pharisees demand a sign from Jesus, but he answers that this evil and unfaithful generation will receive no other sign than the sign of the prophet Jonah – just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the depths of the earth. The men of Nineveh, who turned from their ways at Jonah’s preaching, and the queen of the South, who came to hear Solomon’s wisdom, will rise up at the judgment and condemn this generation, for here is something greater than both Jonah and Solomon. Jesus concludes with an illustration about an unclean spirit that returns to its empty, swept, and adorned house with seven spirits worse than itself – so it will also be with this evil generation.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Ten Virgins
Five wise and five foolish virgins wait for the bridegroom. Only those who have oil in their lamps are allowed into the wedding feast—a parable about watching and being ready.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Unclean Spirit Returns with Seven Others
Jesus describes how an unclean spirit that has left a person wanders through dry places looking for rest. When it finds none, it returns to its house and finds it swept and put in order. It then takes with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, so that the person's last state becomes worse than the first. [ref:Luk 11:24-26|Luke 11:24-26]
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Unjust Judge
Jesus tells a parable about an unjust judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. A widow kept coming to him, asking for justice against her adversary. Finally, the judge granted her request just to get rid of her. Jesus uses this parable to teach his disciples that they should always pray and never give up, because God will quickly bring justice to his chosen ones. [ref:Luk 18:1-8|Luke 18:1-8]
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Unjust Steward
Jesus tells of a steward accused of wasting his master's possessions. Before losing his job, he reduces the debts owed to his master by the debtors to secure friends for himself. The master commends his shrewdness, and Jesus urges faithfulness, stating that one cannot serve both God and mammon.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Unmerciful Servant
A servant whose enormous debt was forgiven refuses to forgive a small debt from his fellow servant.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Weeds Among the Wheat
Jesus tells the parable of a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat. The servants wanted to pull them up, but the master told them to let both grow together until the harvest, when the weeds would be burned and the wheat gathered into the barn.
Die Gleichnisse JesuThe Workers in the Vineyard
All the workers in the vineyard receive equal pay regardless of when they started – a picture of God's grace.
Die Wunder JesuBartimaeus
The blind beggar Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sits by the road outside Jericho. When he hears that Jesus is passing by, he cries out: "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" He does not let the crowd stop him from shouting at him; instead, he throws off his cloak and comes to Jesus. At Jesus' question about what he wants, he asks to regain his sight, and Jesus heals him because of his faith. Bartimaeus then follows Jesus on the way.
Die Wunder JesuHealing and Feeding of the Four Thousand by the Sea of Galilee
Jesus went to the Sea of Galilee and went up on a mountain. Large crowds came to him with mute, blind, paralyzed, and disabled people, and he healed them all, so that the people praised the God of Israel. After three days Jesus had compassion for the crowd, and he took seven loaves of bread and a few small fish, gave thanks, broke them, and had the disciples distribute them. All four thousand men, besides women and children, were filled, and seven full baskets of leftovers were collected. Then he got into a boat and went to the region of Magadan.
Die Wunder JesuHealing at Gennesaret
After crossing the sea, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret. As soon as they stepped out of the boat, people recognized him and ran throughout that whole region, carrying the sick on stretchers to wherever they heard he was. Wherever he went—into villages, towns, or countryside—they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him to let them touch even the hem of his cloak. And all who touched it were healed [ref:Mark 6:53-56|Mark 6:53-56].
Die Wunder JesuHealing of a Demon-Possessed Boy
The day after the transfiguration on the mountain, Jesus meets a large crowd. A father cries out and asks Jesus to look at his only son, who is tormented by a spirit that seizes and convulses him. The disciples have been unable to drive it out, and Jesus rebukes the unbelieving and perverse generation. He commands the unclean spirit, heals the boy, and gives him back to his father. While the people marvel at God's greatness, Jesus predicts that the Son of Man will be handed over into human hands, but the disciples do not understand.
Die Wunder JesuHealing of a Leper
A man full of leprosy threw himself down before Jesus and begged: "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus reached out his hand, touched him, and said: "I am willing. Be clean!" Immediately the leprosy left him. Jesus ordered him to say nothing about it, but sent him to the priest to present an offering for his cleansing as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.
Die Wunder JesuHealing of a Man with Dropsy on the Sabbath
Jesus heals a man with dropsy on the Sabbath at the home of a leader of the Pharisees. He asks the experts in the law and the Pharisees whether it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath, but they remain silent. After the healing, Jesus justifies his action by saying that even they would pull out a son or an ox that had fallen into a well on the Sabbath.
Die Wunder JesuHealing of Many Sick and Oppressed
When evening came, people brought many who were oppressed to Jesus. He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick, fulfilling what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 'He took our afflictions and bore our diseases.'
Die Wunder JesuHealing of Many Sick at Sunset
When the sun set, people brought to Jesus those who were sick with various diseases. He laid his hands on each one and healed them. Demons also came out of many, crying out that he was the Son of God. But Jesus rebuked them and would not let them speak, because they knew he was the Messiah [ref:Luke 4:40-41|Luke 4:40-41].
Die Wunder JesuHealings at Gennesaret
After walking on water, Jesus comes to land at Gennesaret. The men there recognize him and send word throughout the region, bringing all the sick to him. They ask only to touch the edge of his garment, and everyone who touches it is healed. [ref:Matt 14:34-36|Matthew 14:34-36]
Die Wunder JesuJairus' Daughter Raised
Jesus raises the daughter of the synagogue ruler Jairus from the dead. He takes the child's hand and says: "Talita kum!" — "Little girl, I say to you: Get up!"
Die Wunder JesuJesus Calms the Storm
Jesus and his disciples were crossing the sea in a boat when a violent storm broke out. Jesus was sleeping, but the disciples woke him in fear. He rebuked the wind and the waves: "Be quiet! Be still!" It became completely calm, and the disciples wondered who he was.
Die Wunder JesuJesus Curses the Fig Tree
On the way from Bethany, Jesus became hungry and went to a fig tree with leaves, but found no fruit because it was not the season for figs. He said: 'May no one ever eat fruit from you again.' Early the next morning, the disciples discovered that the tree had withered from the roots, and Peter exclaimed: 'Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered.'
Die Wunder JesuJesus Feeds the Five Thousand
Jesus feeds more than five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish.
Die Wunder JesuJesus Heals Two Blind Men near Jericho
Two blind men sat by the road outside Jericho and cried out to Jesus for mercy. Even though the crowd told them to be quiet, they shouted even louder. Jesus had compassion, touched their eyes, and immediately they received their sight and followed him.
Die Wunder JesuJesus Walks on Water
Jesus walks on water toward the disciples' boat during a storm. Peter tries too, but begins to sink when he doubts, and Jesus saves him.
Die Wunder JesuPeter's Mother-in-Law Healed
After Jesus had been in the synagogue in Capernaum, he went home to Simon Peter and Andrew. Peter's mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever. Jesus went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them.
Die Wunder JesuThe Accusation of Beelzebul and the Parable of the Strong Man
Jesus drives out a demon that had made a man mute, and the crowd wonders. Some accuse him of casting out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of evil spirits. Jesus answers that a kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and that if he casts out demons by God's finger, the kingdom of God has come upon them. He tells the parable of the strong man who is overcome by someone stronger.
Die Wunder JesuThe Blind and Mute Demon-Possessed Man
Jesus heals a demon-possessed man who is both blind and mute, so that he can see and speak. The people wonder if he is the son of David, but the Pharisees accuse Jesus of casting out demons by Beelzebul. Jesus answers that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, and that he casts out demons by the Spirit of God – a sign that the kingdom of God has come. He warns against blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which cannot be forgiven.
Die Wunder JesuThe Blind Man in Bethsaida
People bring a blind man to Jesus in Bethsaida and ask him to touch the man. Jesus takes the man by the hand, leads him out of the village, spits on his eyes, and lays his hands on him. When asked if he sees anything, the man answers: "I see people; they look like walking trees." Jesus then lays his hands on the man's eyes again, and his sight is restored so that he sees everything clearly. Finally, Jesus sends him home with instructions not to go back into the village.
Die Wunder JesuThe Centurion's Servant in Capernaum
A Roman centurion in Capernaum comes to Jesus and asks for help for his servant, who is paralyzed and suffering greatly. When Jesus offers to come to his home, he replies: "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof. Just say the word, and my servant will be healed." He understands authority because he himself is under authority. Jesus marvels at his faith and says: "I have not found such great faith in anyone in Israel." The servant is healed at that very moment.
Die Wunder JesuThe Demon in the Synagogue at Capernaum
On the Sabbath, Jesus teaches in the synagogue at Capernaum, and people are amazed by his teaching, for he teaches with authority and not like the scribes. A man with an unclean spirit cries out: "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God!" Jesus speaks sternly to the spirit and says: "Be silent and come out of him!" The unclean spirit convulses the man, cries out loudly, and comes out of him. Everyone is filled with awe and discusses what this new teaching is – he even commands the unclean spirits, and they obey him. The news about Jesus spreads quickly throughout Galilee.
Die Wunder JesuThe Demon-Possessed Man in the Country of the Gerasenes
Jesus delivers a demon-possessed man in the country of the Gerasenes. The evil spirits, calling themselves Legion because they are many, ask to be sent into a herd of pigs. Jesus allows them, and the herd rushes down a steep bank into the sea and drowns. The healed man is sent home to tell what the Lord has done for him.
Die Wunder JesuThe Faith of the Canaanite Woman
A Canaanite woman from Tyre and Sidon asks Jesus for help for her demon-possessed daughter. Despite being rejected, she persists, and Jesus commends her great faith and heals her daughter.
Die Wunder JesuThe Feeding of the Four Thousand
After a large crowd had been with Jesus for three days without food, he felt compassion for them. The disciples had only seven loaves and a few small fish. Jesus gave thanks, broke the bread, and had the disciples distribute it to the people. About four thousand people were fed, and seven baskets of leftovers were collected. [ref:Mark 8:1-9|Markus 8:1-9]
Die Wunder JesuThe Fig Tree Withers
On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus was hungry and went over to a fig tree, but found no fruit, only leaves. He said it would never bear fruit again, and the tree withered at once. When the disciples were amazed, Jesus used the event to teach about the power of faith: with faith without doubt, they could both move mountains and receive everything they ask for in prayer.
Die Wunder JesuThe Great Catch of Fish
After a fruitless night, Simon Peter casts his nets at Jesus' word and catches an enormous amount of fish. Jesus calls him to become a fisher of men.
Die Wunder JesuThe Healing of the Boy with a Mute Spirit
Jesus heals a boy possessed by a mute and deaf spirit after the disciples failed to cast it out. He emphasizes that this kind can only be driven out through prayer, and the father confesses both his faith and his unbelief.
Die Wunder JesuThe Healing of the Crippled Woman on the Sabbath
Jesus teaches in a synagogue on the Sabbath and heals a woman who has been crippled for eighteen years. The leader of the synagogue is angry because this happens on the Sabbath, but Jesus answers that when one unties an ox or donkey and leads it to water on the Sabbath, then this daughter of Abraham should also be freed from Satan's bonds.
Die Wunder JesuThe Healing of the Deaf and Mute Man
In the Decapolis region, people bring a man who is deaf and has difficulty speaking to Jesus, asking him to lay his hand on him. Jesus takes him aside, puts his fingers into the man's ears, spits, and touches his tongue. He looks up to heaven, sighs, and says "Effata!" – "Be opened!". Immediately the man's ears are opened and the bond of his tongue is loosened, so that he speaks clearly. Jesus commands them not to tell anyone, but the more he forbids it, the more they proclaim it, and the people are greatly amazed. [ref:Mark 7:31-37|Mark 7:31-37]
Die Wunder JesuThe Healing of the Leper
A leper falls on his knees before Jesus and says: "If you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus is moved with compassion, touches him, and heals him. He commands the man not to tell anyone, but the man spreads the word far and wide anyway.
Die Wunder JesuThe Healing of the Man Born Blind
Jesus heals a man who had been blind from birth by making mud, putting it on his eyes, and sending him to the Pool of Siloam to wash. The healing takes place on the Sabbath and leads to a confrontation with the Pharisees, ending with the man being cast out of the synagogue and confessing his faith in Jesus.
Die Wunder JesuThe Healing of the Moonstruck Boy
A father comes to Jesus and asks for help with his moonstruck son, whom the disciples could not heal. Jesus rebukes the unbelieving generation, drives the demon out of the boy, and explains to the disciples that such demons can only be driven out by faith, prayer, and fasting.
Die Wunder JesuThe Healing of the Royal Official's Son
A royal official from Capernaum went to Jesus in Cana and asked him to come and heal his dying son. Jesus told him that his son would live, and the man believed what Jesus said and left. On his way home, his servants met him and told him that his boy had recovered at the exact hour Jesus spoke. The father and all his household came to believe. This was the second sign Jesus performed in Galilee.
Die Wunder JesuThe Leper Is Healed
A leper fell down before Jesus and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus reached out his hand, touched him, and said, "I am willing. Be clean!" Immediately the man was cleansed. Jesus warned him not to tell anyone, but to show himself to the priest and offer the sacrifice that Moses commanded as a testimony. [ref:Matt 8:2-4|Matthew 8:2-4]
Die Wunder JesuThe Man with the Withered Hand
Jesus enters the synagogue on the Sabbath, where there is a man with a withered hand. The Pharisees watch him closely to see if he will heal on the Sabbath, so that they may accuse him. Jesus tells the man to stand up and come forward, and asks: "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they remain silent. He looks around at them with anger, grieved by the hardness of their hearts, and says to the man: "Stretch out your hand." The man stretches it out, and his hand is restored. The Pharisees go out immediately and begin plotting with the Herodians how they may destroy him.
Die Wunder JesuThe Paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda
Jesus heals a man who had been sick for 38 years at the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem on the Sabbath.
Die Wunder JesuThe Paralytic Lowered Through the Roof
Four men lower a paralyzed man through the roof to Jesus, who forgives his sins and heals him while the scribes accuse him of blasphemy.
Die Wunder JesuThe Raising of Lazarus
Jesus raises his friend Lazarus from the dead after four days in the tomb.
Die Wunder JesuThe Syrophoenician Woman and Her Daughter
A Greek woman of Syrophoenician descent comes to Jesus in the region of Tyre and asks him to drive an unclean spirit out of her little daughter. Jesus replies that the children must be fed first, and that it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the small dogs. The woman answers that even the dogs under the table eat the crumbs from the children's plates. Because of this reply, Jesus heals her daughter, and when the woman returns home, she finds her child well.
Die Wunder JesuThe Temple Tax and the Stater in the Fish
In Capernaum, those who collected the temple tax asked Peter if Jesus paid the tax. Jesus explained that kings' sons are free, but to avoid causing offense, he told Peter to cast a hook into the sea. In the mouth of the first fish, Peter would find a stater to pay the tax for both of them. [ref:Matt 17:24-27|Matthew 17:24-27]
Die Wunder JesuThe Ten Lepers
Jesus heals ten lepers, but only one—a Samaritan—returns to give thanks.
Die Wunder JesuThe Wedding at Cana
Jesus performs his first sign by turning water into wine at a wedding in Cana of Galilee.
Die Wunder JesuThe Widow's Son at Nain Raised to Life
Jesus meets a funeral procession in Nain and raises the widow's only son from the dead.
Die Wunder JesuThe Woman with the Issue of Blood
A woman who had been bleeding for twelve years touched Jesus' cloak and was healed.
Die Wunder JesuTwo Blind Men Receive Sight
Two blind men followed Jesus and cried out, 'Son of David!' After they confessed their faith, Jesus touched their eyes so that they could see, but he commanded them to be silent. Nevertheless, they spread the news. Then Jesus drove a demon out of a mute man, to the amazement of the crowd, while the Pharisees accused him of acting by the power of the ruler of demons.
Das Leben JesuAccusation of Beelzebul and the Sin Against the Holy Spirit
Scribes from Jerusalem accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the prince of demons. Jesus responds with parables about a divided kingdom and the house of the strong man, warning that whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven but is guilty of an eternal sin.
Das Leben JesuConflict Resolution in the Church
Jesus gives concrete guidance on how to handle sin among believers: first a private conversation, then with one or two witnesses, and finally before the church. He gives the disciples authority to bind and loose, and promises that where two or three are gathered in his name, he is there among them.
Das Leben JesuDemanding Requirements to Follow Jesus
On the way, Jesus meets three men who want to follow him. To the first one who promises to follow him everywhere, Jesus says that the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head. He calls the second himself, but the man wants first to bury his father; Jesus answers that the dead should bury their own dead and sends him out to proclaim the kingdom of God. The third wants first to say farewell to his family, but Jesus says that no one who looks back after putting a hand on the plow is fit for the kingdom of God.
Das Leben JesuDiscussion about cleansing
A discussion arises between John's disciples and a Jew about cleansing, which leads John to confirm his role as the friend of the bridegroom and state that Jesus must increase while he himself must decrease. [ref:Jn 3:25-30|John 3:25-30]
Das Leben JesuHerod hears about Jesus
Tetrarch Herod is perplexed when he hears about all that is happening around Jesus. Some say that John has risen from the dead, others that Elijah has appeared, and still others that one of the old prophets has been raised up. Herod remembers that he himself beheaded John and wonders who this man is about whom he hears such things. He therefore seeks to see Jesus.
Das Leben JesuHow can the Messiah be David's son?
While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he asked the scribes a question: How can the Messiah be David's son when David himself, by the Holy Spirit, calls him Lord in Psalm 110? The crowd listened to him with delight.
Das Leben JesuI am the light of the world
Jesus declares himself to be the light of the world in the temple and comes into conflict with the Pharisees over his testimony and origin. He speaks of the Father who sent him, about the truth that sets free, and about how those who sin are slaves to sin. The discussion intensifies when Jesus says they have the devil as their father, and culminates in his statement: "Before Abraham was born, I am." Then they pick up stones to stone him, but Jesus hides himself and goes out of the temple.
Das Leben JesuJames and John Ask for Places of Honor
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, ask Jesus to let them sit at his right and left hands in his glory. Jesus answers that they do not know what they are asking, and asks if they can drink the cup he drinks and be baptized with the baptism he is baptized with. When the other ten disciples become angry, Jesus teaches them that whoever wants to be great in God's kingdom must be a servant, just as the Son of Man came to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.
Das Leben JesuJesus and Divorce
The Pharisees test Jesus with a question about divorce, and he answers by referring to creation, emphasizing that marriage is a divine union that should not be separated. Later, he explains to the disciples that whoever divorces and marries another commits adultery.
Das Leben JesuJesus and John the Baptist in Judea
After this, Jesus and his disciples went to the land of Judea. There he stayed with them and baptized. John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water there, and people kept coming to be baptized. John had not yet been thrown into prison.
Das Leben JesuJesus and Nicodemus
The Pharisee Nicodemus visits Jesus at night. Jesus explains that one must be born again of water and the Spirit to see the kingdom of God, and speaks about God's love for the world and eternal life through faith.
Das Leben JesuJesus and the Samaritan Woman
Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at Jacob's Well in Sychar and offers her living water. He reveals her life, discusses true worship, and reveals himself as the Messiah. Many Samaritans come to faith.
Das Leben JesuJesus at the Feast of Dedication
During the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, Jesus walks in Solomon's Colonnade, and the Jews demand that he plainly state whether he is the Messiah. Jesus points to his works and declares that he and the Father are one. The Jews pick up stones to stone him for blasphemy, but he escapes and goes across the Jordan to the place where John first baptized, where many come to believe in him.
Das Leben JesuJesus Blesses the Children
People brought little children to Jesus so that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. Jesus became indignant and said: "Let the little children come to me; do not stop them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." He took them in his arms and blessed them.
Das Leben JesuJesus Cleanses the Temple
Jesus drives out the money changers from the temple: 'My house shall be called a house of prayer!'
Das Leben JesuJesus in the synagogue at Nazareth
Jesus comes to Nazareth where he was raised, enters the synagogue on the Sabbath, and reads from the book of Isaiah: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me ... to proclaim a year of favor from the Lord." He rolls up the scroll and says that this scripture has been fulfilled today. The people are amazed at first and ask if he is not Joseph's son, but when he reminds them that no prophet is accepted in his hometown and refers to Elijah being sent to the widow in Zarephath and Elisha who cleansed the Syrian Naaman, they become furious. They drive him out of the city to throw him off a cliff, but he walks right through the crowd and leaves.
Das Leben JesuJesus in the Temple at Twelve Years Old
The twelve-year-old Jesus remained in Jerusalem after the Passover celebration. After three days of searching, his parents found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers and astonishing everyone with his understanding and answers.
Das Leben JesuJesus is the bread of life
After the miracle of the loaves, Jesus teaches in the synagogue at Capernaum and says that he is the true bread from heaven that gives eternal life. The people refer to the manna in the wilderness, but Jesus says that he himself is the bread of life. The Jews grumble because they know his family, and when he speaks about eating his body and drinking his blood, it causes controversy among the listeners.
Das Leben JesuJesus on Herod and the Lament over Jerusalem
The Pharisees warn Jesus that Herod wants to kill him. Jesus calls Herod a fox and says he will finish his work on the third day, for a prophet cannot perish outside Jerusalem. He laments over the city that kills the prophets and says their house will be left desolate until they say, 'Blessed is he who comes.'
Das Leben JesuJesus on Impurity and the Condition of the Heart
Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem confront Jesus, saying that his disciples do not wash their hands before eating. Jesus replies that they themselves nullify God's command for the sake of their own traditions, and calls them hypocrites, quoting Isaiah. He explains to the crowd and the disciples that it is not what enters the mouth that makes a person unclean, but what comes out of the mouth and originates from the heart—evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and blasphemy.
Das Leben JesuJesus Praises the Father and Invites the Weary to Rest
Jesus thanks the Father for revealing the truth to the little ones, and then invites all who are weary and carrying heavy burdens to come to him to find rest and learn from his gentleness and humility [ref:Matt 11:25-30|Matthew 11:25-30].
Das Leben JesuJesus prayed in a deserted place
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and went to a deserted place to pray. Simon and those with him hurried after him, and when they found him, they said that everyone was looking for him. Jesus answered that they should go on to the nearby towns so he could preach there too, for that was why he had come out. So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and driving out evil spirits.
Das Leben JesuJesus Proclaims the Kingdom of God in Galilee
After John was handed over, Jesus came to Galilee and proclaimed the good news from God: The time has come, and the kingdom of God is near. He calls the people to repent and believe in the gospel.
Das Leben JesuJesus Rebukes Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum
Jesus pronounces woe upon the cities where he performed most of his mighty works because they did not repent, comparing them to the Gentile cities Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom, which would have repented.
Das Leben JesuJesus Rejected in His Hometown
Jesus returns to his hometown and teaches in the synagogue, but the people take offense at him because they know his family and background. Because of their unbelief, he does not perform many miracles there.
Das Leben JesuJesus Sends Out the Twelve
Jesus called the twelve to himself and sent them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them not to take anything for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts. They were to wear sandals but not an extra shirt. Wherever they entered a house, they were to stay there until they left that place. If any place would not welcome them or listen to them, they were to shake the dust off their feet as a testimony against them. The disciples went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.[ref:Mark 6:7-13|Mark 6:7-13]
Das Leben JesuJesus speaks about John the Baptist
Jesus praises John as more than a prophet, but emphasizes that the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. He compares his generation to children in the marketplace who neither dance nor weep, and points out that they rejected both John's asceticism and the Son of Man's feasts.
Das Leben JesuJesus speaks about light, judgment, and the Father's command
In his final public words, Jesus emphasizes that he has come as light to the world, that he does not come to judge but to save, and that his word is the Father's command for eternal life. [ref:Joh 12:44-50|John 12:44-50]
Das Leben JesuJesus speaks about the Father and the Son
After healing a man at the Pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath, the Jews pursue Jesus. He responds with an extensive discourse about his unity with the Father, his authority to give life and execute judgment, and the testimonies that point to him—from John the Baptist, from his own works, from the Father himself, and from the Scriptures written by Moses.
Das Leben JesuJesus Teaches About Divorce and Eunuchs
Pharisees put Jesus to the test with a question about divorce. Jesus points to the Creator's original plan: man and woman shall be one flesh, and what God has joined together must not be separated. He explains that Moses permitted divorce because of people's hard hearts, but says that anyone who divorces for any reason other than sexual immorality and marries another commits adultery. When the disciples react, Jesus speaks about three kinds of eunuchs, including those who make themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.
Das Leben JesuJesus Teaches About Impurity and Korban
The Pharisees and the scribes from Jerusalem confront Jesus because his disciples eat with unwashed hands. Jesus answers by quoting Isaiah about hypocrites who honor God with their lips, and he accuses them of setting aside God's command in favor of human tradition. He uses the example of Korban, where people declare property as a gift to God so they can avoid helping their parents. To the crowd he explains that it is not what enters a person from outside that makes them unclean, but what comes out of the heart—evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, and more. In this way he declares all food clean.
Das Leben JesuJesus urges people to walk in the light
Jesus urges the crowd to walk and believe in the light while they have it, so that they may become children of light. Then he goes away and hides himself from them.
Das Leben JesuJesus' Ascension from Bethany
Jesus led the disciples out toward Bethany, lifted his hands, and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he parted from them and was taken up into heaven. The disciples worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God. [ref:Luk 24:50-53|Luke 24:50-53]
Das Leben JesuJesus' Baptism
Jesus comes from Galilee to the Jordan and is baptized by John. As he rises out of the water, the heavens open, the Spirit descends like a dove, and a voice from heaven says: "This is my Son, the beloved."
Das Leben JesuJesus' Birth
Jesus is born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger. Angels announce the good news to the shepherds, and wise men from the East come to worship him.
Das Leben JesuJesus' Brothers and the Feast of Tabernacles
The Feast of Tabernacles was approaching, and Jesus' brothers wanted him to go up to Judea and show himself openly to the world, for they did not believe in him. Jesus answered: "My time has not yet come, but for you it is always the right time. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its deeds are evil." His brothers went up to the feast, but Jesus remained in Galilee.
Das Leben JesuJesus' Discourse on the Last Days
On the Mount of Olives, Jesus teaches his disciples about the signs of the end times, the destruction of Jerusalem, the glorious return of the Son of Man, and the need for vigilance and readiness.
Das Leben JesuJesus' Entry into Jerusalem
Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a young donkey while the crowd spreads their cloaks on the road, waves branches and shouts: "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
Das Leben JesuJesus' Genealogy from Abraham to Christ
Matthew introduces his Gospel with a structured genealogy tracing Jesus' line from Abraham through King David to Joseph, the husband of Mary. The list is divided into three groups of fourteen generations each: from Abraham to David, from David to the exile in Babylon, and from the exile up to Christ. This genealogy emphasizes that Jesus is the promised Messiah and the son of David [ref:Matt 1:1-17|Matthew 1:1-17].
Das Leben JesuJesus' Ministry in Galilee
After John is imprisoned, Jesus moves from Nazareth to Capernaum in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah about a great light for people living in darkness. He begins to preach repentance because the kingdom of heaven is near, calls his first disciples by the Sea of Galilee, and travels throughout Galilee teaching in synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and sickness, so that his fame spreads everywhere.
Das Leben JesuJesus' resurrection
Early on the first day of the week, the women come to the tomb and find it empty. Angels proclaim: "He is not here; he has risen!" Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene, and the message is brought to the disciples.
Das Leben JesuJesus' Teaching in the Temple at the Feast of Tabernacles
In the middle of the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus goes up to the temple and begins to teach. The Jews are amazed at his teaching, and Jesus explains that his teaching is from the one who sent him. He confronts them with their attempt to kill him, and defends his healing on the Sabbath by pointing to circumcision. On the last great day of the feast, he cries out the promise of living water to anyone who thirsts – a word about the Spirit. The crowd is divided: some believe he is the prophet or the Messiah, while others reject him because he is from Galilee. The chief priests and Pharisees send guards to arrest him, but the guards return empty-handed, captivated by his speech. Nicodemus speaks up on his behalf, reminding them that the law requires hearing a man before judging him.
Das Leben JesuJesus' true family
Jesus' mother and brothers come and stand outside, sending word to him. When the crowd tells him that his family is looking for him, Jesus asks: "Who are my mother and my brothers?" He looks around at those sitting with him and says that whoever does God's will is his brother, sister, and mother. [ref:Mark 3:31-35|Mark 3:31-35]
Das Leben JesuJesus' True Family
While Jesus is speaking to the crowd, he is told that his mother and brothers are outside wanting to speak with him. He reaches out his hand toward his disciples and says that whoever does the will of his Heavenly Father is his brother, sister, and mother.
Das Leben JesuJesus' Woes Against the Hypocrites
Jesus pronounces a series of woes against the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy: they shut the kingdom of heaven, make converts children of Gehenna, act as blind guides in matters of oaths, tithe while neglecting justice and mercy, clean only the outside of the cup, and build the tombs of the prophets while being themselves descendants of those who murdered them. Finally, he laments over Jerusalem for killing the prophets and predicts that their house will be left desolate.
Das Leben JesuJohn Testifies about the Son
John concludes his testimony by describing Jesus as the one who comes from above and has all things in His hand, emphasizing that faith in the Son gives eternal life while disobedience leads to God's wrath.
Das Leben JesuJohn the Baptist asks about Jesus
John the Baptist sends two disciples to Jesus to ask if he is the one who was to come. Jesus answers by pointing out that the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news preached to them.
Das Leben JesuJohn the Baptist Beheaded
Herod Antipas orders John the Baptist to be beheaded after Herodias' daughter asks for his head on a platter, and the disciples then take the body and bury it.
Das Leben JesuJohn the Baptist Preaches
John the Baptist appears in the wilderness of Judea, preaching repentance because the kingdom of heaven is near. He baptizes people in the Jordan River, warns the Pharisees and Sadducees against false security in their descent from Abraham, and points to a stronger one who will come after him and baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. [ref:Matt 3:1-12|Matthew 3:1-12]
Das Leben JesuJohn the Baptist Preaches Repentance
John, the son of Zechariah, preaches a baptism of repentance in the wilderness around the Jordan and calls people to bear fruit that matches their repentance. He gives practical advice to the crowds, tax collectors, and soldiers, pointing forward to someone stronger who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. Finally, he is thrown into prison by Herod after rebuking him [ref:Luk 3:1-20|Luke 3:1-20].
Das Leben JesuJohn the Baptist prepares the way
John the Baptist appears in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People from all over Judea and Jerusalem come to him, confess their sins, and are baptized in the Jordan River. Dressed in a garment of camel hair with a leather belt, and eating locusts and wild honey, he proclaims that one more powerful is coming after him, someone he is not worthy to untie the sandals of. He baptizes with water, but the one who comes will baptize with the Holy Spirit.
Das Leben JesuJohn the Baptist sends a message and Jesus answers
John the Baptist sends disciples from prison to ask if Jesus is the one who was to come, and Jesus answers by pointing to his miracles: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Then Jesus praises John as more than a prophet and the greatest born of women, but emphasizes that the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater, and identifies John as the Elijah who was to come.
Das Leben JesuJohn the Baptist's Testimony about the Messiah
John the Baptist is questioned by priests and Levites from Jerusalem and denies being the Messiah, Elijah, or the Prophet. He identifies himself as the voice crying out in the wilderness and points to Jesus as the Lamb of God and the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.
Das Leben JesuMary and Martha
Jesus arrives in a village where Martha welcomes him into her home. Her sister Mary sits at the Lord's feet and listens to his words, while Martha is busy with all she has to do. Martha complains to Jesus that her sister has left her alone to serve, and asks him to tell Mary to help her. Jesus answers: "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things. But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken from her."
Das Leben JesuMary's Song of Praise (Magnificat)
Mary visits Elizabeth in the hill country of Judea. The baby leaps in Elizabeth's womb, and she blesses Mary. Mary joins in with the song of praise known as the Magnificat: 'My soul magnifies the Lord.' She stays with Elizabeth for about three months.
Das Leben JesuMatthew Called
Jesus calls the tax collector Matthew from the tax booth to follow him. Later, Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners, and when the Pharisees criticize this, he answers that it is the sick who need a doctor, and that he has come to call sinners, not the righteous.
Das Leben JesuPeter Confesses Jesus as the Messiah and the Teaching on the Cross
While Jesus is praying alone with his disciples, he asks them who the people say he is, and Peter confesses him as God's Messiah. Jesus predicts his suffering, death, and resurrection on the third day, teaching that whoever wants to follow him must deny themselves and take up their cross daily. He warns against being ashamed of him and promises that some will see the Kingdom of God before they die.
Das Leben JesuPeter's Confession and Jesus' First Passion Prediction
At Caesarea Philippi, Peter confesses that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Jesus calls him the rock and promises him the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Then he tells his disciples for the first time that he must go to Jerusalem, suffer, die, and rise on the third day. When Peter objects, Jesus rebukes him sharply and teaches the disciples to take up their cross and follow him. [ref:Matt 16:13-28|Matthew 16:13-28]
Das Leben JesuPeter's Restoration by the Sea of Tiberias
After the resurrection, Jesus reveals himself to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. They have fished all night without catching anything, but at Jesus' word they cast the net on the right side of the boat and catch 153 large fish without the net tearing. The disciple whom Jesus loved recognizes him, and Peter throws himself into the sea and swims to shore. By a fire they eat fish and bread together. After the meal, Jesus asks three times: "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter answers yes each time, and Jesus gives him the task: "Feed my lambs", "Be shepherd to my sheep", "Feed my sheep." In this way Jesus restores Peter after his triple denial, foretells what kind of death he will glorify God with, and calls him anew: "Follow me!"
Das Leben JesuSamaritan Village Rejects Jesus
As the time drew near for Jesus to be taken up, he resolutely set his face toward Jerusalem and sent messengers ahead of him. They entered a Samaritan village to make preparations for him, but the village did not welcome him because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked the Lord if they should command fire to come down from heaven and consume them. But Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went on to another village.
Das Leben JesuSending of the Twelve Apostles
Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority over unclean spirits and to heal diseases. He named the twelve apostles and sent them out to the lost sheep of the house of Israel with the message that the kingdom of heaven has come near. He instructed them not to take gold, silver, or extra supplies for their journey, and told them how to greet the houses they entered. Jesus warned them about persecution, saying they would be brought before councils, governors, and kings, and that they would be hated for his name's sake. He urged them not to fear people but to trust in the Father's care – he who counts every hair on their head and knows when a sparrow falls. Finally, he said that whoever takes up their cross and follows him, and loses their life for his sake, will find it.
Das Leben JesuSimeon and Anna in the Temple
When Jesus is brought to the temple so that his parents may do as the law commanded, the righteous and devout Simeon, whom the Holy Spirit had revealed would not die before he had seen the Lord's Anointed, takes the child in his arms and praises God: "Lord, now you let your servant depart in peace ... my eyes have seen your salvation." He blesses the parents and tells Mary that this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and that a sword will pierce her own soul. At that same moment comes the prophetess Anna, daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, an elderly widow who serves God with fasting and prayer night and day in the temple. She praises God and speaks about the child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Das Leben JesuThe Advocate and the Disciples' Testimony
Jesus promises the disciples that he will send the Advocate, the Spirit of truth, from the Father. The Spirit will testify about Jesus, and the disciples will also testify because they have been with him from the beginning.
Das Leben JesuThe Angel Gabriel Visits Mary
The angel Gabriel is sent to Nazareth and tells the virgin Mary that she will give birth to God's Son, Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Das Leben JesuThe Ascension
After the Lord Jesus had spoken to the disciples, he was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. The disciples went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through signs that followed [ref:Mark 16:19-20|Mark 16:19-20].
Das Leben JesuThe Birth of John the Baptist
Elizabeth gives birth to a son in her old age. When the child is to be circumcised on the eighth day, Elizabeth insists on the name John, and Zechariah confirms this by writing it on a tablet. Immediately he regains his speech and praises God in a prophetic hymn about the child's calling as prophet of the Most High.
Das Leben JesuThe Calling of Levi
Jesus calls the tax collector Levi from his tax booth, and Levi leaves everything to follow him. Levi hosts a great feast where Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners. When the Pharisees complain, Jesus answers that he has not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Das Leben JesuThe Calling of the First Disciples
Jesus calls his first disciples. By the Sea of Galilee, he calls fishermen Simon Peter and Andrew, as well as the brothers James and John, to become fishers of men. In the Gospel of John, Philip and Nathanael are also called to follow him.
Das Leben JesuThe Child and the Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven
The disciples ask Jesus who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus places a child among them and says that one must turn around and become like a child to enter, and that whoever humbles themselves like this child is the greatest. He warns strongly against causing one of these little ones who believe in him to stumble – it would be better to have a millstone hung around your neck and be thrown into the sea. He urges to cut off your hand or foot, or tear out your eye, if it causes you to stumble. Finally, he warns against despising these little ones, for their angels in heaven always see the face of the Father.
Das Leben JesuThe Cost of Following Jesus
A scribe comes to Jesus and says that he will follow him wherever he goes. Jesus answers that the foxes have dens and the birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head. Another disciple asks first to go and bury his father, but Jesus says: "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
Das Leben JesuThe Crowd by the Sea and the Choosing of the Twelve
Jesus withdrew to the sea where large crowds from all over the region followed him to be healed, and unclean spirits confessed him as the Son of God. Then he went up on the mountain and appointed the twelve apostles to be with him, to preach, and to have authority to drive out demons.
Das Leben JesuThe Day of the Son of Man – as in the days of Noah and Lot
When the Pharisees asked when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus answered that it does not come in a visible way, but is already among them. To his disciples he spoke about the Day of the Son of Man, which will come as suddenly as lightning. Just as it was in Noah's days when the flood came, and in Lot's days when fire and sulfur fell on Sodom, so it will be when the Son of Man is revealed. He urges them to remember Lot's wife, saying that one will be taken and the other left behind.
Das Leben JesuThe Death of John the Baptist
King Herod has John the Baptist beheaded in prison after Herodias' daughter danced for him and asked for the prophet's head on a platter.
Das Leben JesuThe Disciples Pluck Grain on the Sabbath
Jesus defends the disciples who plucked grain on the Sabbath by referring to David's time and the priests' service, declaring that he is Lord of the Sabbath.
Das Leben JesuThe Eschatological Discourse on the Mount of Olives
On the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Jesus predicts that not one stone will be left upon another. To Peter, James, John, and Andrew, he speaks of wars, earthquakes, persecution, the abomination of desolation, and the great tribulation. He warns against false messiahs and prophets, and foretells that the Son of Man will come in clouds with great power and glory to gather his elect. Jesus concludes with the parable of the fig tree and urges vigilance, since no one knows the day or the hour.
Das Leben JesuThe Flight to Egypt
Joseph takes Mary and Jesus and flees to Egypt after an angel warns him of Herod's plans. After Herod's death, the family returns and settles in Nazareth.
Das Leben JesuThe Fulfillment of Isaiah's Prophecy about Unbelief
Despite the many signs Jesus performed, the people did not believe in him. John explains this as a fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy that God has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts. Yet many did believe, even among the rulers, but they would not confess it openly for fear of being expelled from the synagogue, because they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
Das Leben JesuThe Good Shepherd
Jesus says: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." He also calls himself the door – whoever enters through him will be saved and find abundant life.
Das Leben JesuThe Great Commission
After his resurrection, Jesus meets the eleven disciples on a mountain in Galilee. He declares that he has been given all authority in heaven and on earth, and gives them the Great Commission: to go out and make disciples of all nations, baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey his commands. He promises to be with them every day until the end of the age. Parallel accounts in Mark and Luke emphasize the preaching of the gospel to all nations.
Das Leben JesuThe Greatest and the Least Among the Disciples
The disciples discuss which of them is the greatest. Jesus, knowing what they are thinking, places a little child beside him and teaches them that whoever is least among them all is the greatest. John then tells him that they tried to stop someone who was casting out demons in Jesus' name because he was not following with them, but Jesus answers that whoever is not against them is for them.
Das Leben JesuThe Greatest Commandment
A lawyer asks Jesus which commandment is the greatest in the Law. Jesus answers by summarizing the entire Law in two commands: to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself.
Das Leben JesuThe harvest is plentiful
Jesus travels through towns and villages, teaching, preaching the good news about the kingdom, and healing. When he sees the crowds, he has compassion on them because they are like sheep without a shepherd, and he tells his disciples to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers.
Das Leben JesuThe Majority Leave Jesus
Many of the disciples react to Jesus' teaching as hard sayings and withdraw. Jesus asks the twelve if they also want to go away, and Simon Peter confesses: "You have the words of eternal life, and we believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." Jesus answers that one of the twelve is a devil, referring to Judas Iscariot who would betray him.
Das Leben JesuThe Mother of the Sons of Zebedee Asks for Honor
The mother of James and John asks Jesus to grant her sons places of honor at his right and left hand in the kingdom. Jesus answers that they do not know what they are asking, and teaches the disciples that whoever wants to be great must become a servant to others—just as he came to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.
Das Leben JesuThe Narrow Door
Jesus answers the question about whether few will be saved by urging people to strive to enter through the narrow door. He describes how the master of the house shuts the door and rejects those who knock, while people from all corners of the earth will sit at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of God.
Das Leben JesuThe Pharisees Demand a Sign
The Pharisees came to Jesus and demanded a sign from heaven to test him. Jesus sighed deeply and said that this generation would never receive any sign. Then he left them and went over to the other side of the sea.
Das Leben JesuThe Pharisees demand a sign and Jesus points to the sign of Jonah
The Pharisees and Sadducees come to Jesus to test him and demand a sign from heaven. Jesus replies that they can interpret the signs in the sky but not the signs of the times, and says that no other sign will be given to an evil and unfaithful generation except the sign of Jonah. Then he leaves them.
Das Leben JesuThe Promise of the Advocate and Guidance in Truth
Jesus promises the disciples that He will send the Advocate, the Spirit of truth, who will convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment, and guide the disciples into all truth. [ref:Jn 16:7-15|John 16:7-15]
Das Leben JesuThe Promise of the Holy Spirit and Peace
Jesus promises the disciples another Advocate, the Spirit of truth, who will be with them forever, and gives them his peace, which is not like the world's peace.
Das Leben JesuThe Prophecy about the Destruction of the Temple
Jesus predicts the total destruction of the temple and describes the coming sufferings, persecutions, and signs before the Son of Man comes in glory. He warns the disciples to be watchful and persevere until the end.
Das Leben JesuThe Question about John's Baptism
The chief priests and the scribes challenge Jesus about his authority, but he avoids answering directly by asking a counter-question about John's baptism that they dare not answer.
Das Leben JesuThe Question About Paying Taxes to the Emperor
The Pharisees and Herodians try to trap Jesus with a question about whether it is lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, but he answers with the famous statement: Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.
Das Leben JesuThe Question about Paying Taxes to the Emperor
Spies try to trap Jesus with a question about whether it is lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, but he answers with the famous saying: Give to the emperor what belongs to the emperor, and to God what belongs to God.
Das Leben JesuThe Question about Paying Taxes to the Emperor
The Pharisees and Herodians try to trap Jesus in his words by asking whether it is lawful to pay taxes to the emperor. Jesus asks them to show him a denarius, questions whose image and inscription are on it, and answers that they should give to the emperor what belongs to the emperor, and to God what belongs to God.
Das Leben JesuThe Resurrection Witnesses
After he had risen early on the first day of the week, Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had previously driven out seven evil spirits. She told those who had been with him, who were now mourning and weeping, but they did not believe her. Then he appeared in another form to two of them while they were walking into the countryside, and they went back and told the others—but even them they did not believe. Finally, he appeared to the eleven while they were at table, and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen him risen [ref:Mark 16:9-14|Markus 16:9-14].
Das Leben JesuThe Rich Young Man
A rich young man asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus tells him to sell everything he owns and follow him, but the man goes away sad because he is very wealthy.
Das Leben JesuThe Sabbath Question About Plucking Grain
The disciples pluck grain on the Sabbath as they walk through the fields, leading the Pharisees to accuse them of breaking the Sabbath law. Jesus defends them by pointing out how David ate the showbread when he was in need, and declares that the Sabbath was made for man's sake, not the other way around—and that the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.
Das Leben JesuThe Sadducees and the Question about the Resurrection
The Sadducees, who deny the resurrection, pose a hypothetical question to Jesus about a woman who, according to Mosaic law, had been married to seven brothers in succession, intending to mock belief in the resurrection. Jesus replies that they are mistaken because they know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God: in the resurrection people do not marry but are like angels in heaven. He points out that God called himself the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—he is not a God of the dead but of the living. The crowd was amazed at his teaching.
Das Leben JesuThe Selection of the Twelve Apostles
After spending the night in prayer on the mountain, Jesus chooses twelve of his disciples and gives them the title apostles, including Simon Peter and Judas Iscariot. [ref:Luke 6:12-16|Luke 6:12-16]
Das Leben JesuThe Sending of the Seventy-Two
Jesus appointed seventy-two others and sent them out two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he himself was about to go. He said, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest. Go! I am sending you like lambs among wolves." The seventy-two returned with joy and reported that even the evil spirits were subject to them in Jesus' name. He answered, "Rejoice rather that your names are written in heaven."
Das Leben JesuThe Sending of the Twelve
Jesus gathers the twelve together and gives them power and authority over evil spirits and to heal diseases. He sends them out to preach the kingdom of God, instructing them to travel without a staff, bag, bread, money, or extra tunic. They are to stay in the house that welcomes them, and shake the dust off their feet against those who reject them. The disciples go out and travel from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.
Das Leben JesuThe Sermon on the Mount
Jesus' central teaching on the mountain, including the Beatitudes, teachings on the law, love for enemies, almsgiving, prayer and the Lord's Prayer, fasting, treasures and worry, judgment, the golden rule, the narrow gate, false prophets, and the parable of the house built on the rock.
Das Leben JesuThe Sign of Jonah and the Queen of the South
Jesus rebukes the evil generation that demands a sign, saying they will receive only the sign of Jonah. The queen of the South and the people of Nineveh will stand up in judgment against this generation, for here is more than Solomon and more than Jonah. [ref:Luk 11:29-32|Luke 11:29-32]
Das Leben JesuThe Sinful Woman Anoints Jesus' Feet
Jesus is invited to a meal at the Pharisee Simon's house. A woman with a bad reputation comes in, weeps at Jesus' feet, wipes them with her hair, kisses them, and anoints them with expensive oil. Simon is offended, but Jesus tells the parable of the two debtors and says that her many sins are forgiven – therefore her love is great. To the woman he says: "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
Das Leben JesuThe Temptation in the Wilderness
Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness for forty days, but overcame the temptation with God's word.
Das Leben JesuThe Transfiguration on the Mountain
Jesus is transfigured on the mountain before Peter, James, and John. His face shines like the sun, Moses and Elijah appear, and a voice from the cloud says: "This is my Son, the beloved. Listen to him!"
Das Leben JesuThe Vine and the Branches
Jesus says: 'I am the true vine, you are the branches.' The Father is the vinedresser who prunes the branches so that they bear more fruit. Whoever abides in Jesus bears much fruit, and he commands his disciples to love one another as he has loved them.
Das Leben JesuThe Walkers to Emmaus
Two disciples meet the risen Jesus on the road to Emmaus without recognizing him, until he breaks the bread.
Das Leben JesuThe Way, the Truth, and the Life
Jesus comforts his disciples and says that there are many rooms in the Father's house. Thomas asks about the way, and Jesus answers that He Himself is the way, the truth, and the life. Philip asks to see the Father, and Jesus explains that whoever has seen Him has seen the Father. [ref:Joh 14:1-11|John 14:1-11]
Das Leben JesuThe Widow's Mites
Jesus sits directly opposite the temple treasury and watches how people put money into it. Many rich people give large amounts. Then a poor widow comes and puts in two small coins. Jesus calls his disciples to him and says: 'Truly, I tell you: This poor widow has given more than all the others who put money into the temple treasury. For they all gave out of their surplus, but she gave out of her poverty—everything she had, all she had to live on.'
Das Leben JesuThe Wise Men from the East
Wise men from the East follow a star to Bethlehem and bring gifts to the baby Jesus.
Das Leben JesuThe Woman Caught in Adultery
Scribes and Pharisees bring a woman caught in adultery before Jesus in the temple and ask if she should be stoned as the Law of Moses commands. Jesus bends down and writes with his finger on the ground, then says: 'Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.' One by one, the accusers leave, beginning with the elders. To the woman he says: 'Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.'
Das Leben JesuThe Woman's Cry and Jesus' Answer
While Jesus was speaking, a woman in the crowd called out that blessed is the womb that bore him and the breasts he nursed. Jesus answered that rather blessed are those who hear God's word and keep it. [ref:Luke 11:27-28|Luke 11:27-28]
Das Leben JesuThe Women Who Followed Jesus
Jesus traveled from town to town, preaching the good news about God's kingdom together with the twelve. With them also followed some women who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases: Mary Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out; Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza; Susanna; and many others. These women provided for them out of their own resources. [ref:Luk 8:1-3|Luke 8:1-3]
Das Leben JesuThe Word became flesh
John's Gospel opens with a theological prologue about the Word who was with God from the beginning and through whom all things were made. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. John the Baptist testified to the light that came into the world, but his own people did not receive him. Those who received him were given the right to become children of God. The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Das Leben JesuThomas Doubts and Believes
The disciple Thomas refuses to believe that Jesus has risen until he himself sees and touches the wounds. A week later, Jesus appears and Thomas confesses his faith.
Das Leben JesuWarning about Division and Readiness
Jesus speaks about his coming suffering as a fire and a baptism, warns that he will bring division into households, and urges the crowd to interpret the signs of the times and seek reconciliation with their opponent before judgment.
Das Leben JesuWarning about repentance and the killed
Jesus uses two tragic events – the Galileans whom Pilate had killed, and the eighteen who died when the tower of Siloam fell – to warn that everyone must repent to avoid perishing.
Das Leben JesuWarning about the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod
While the disciples are worried because they have only one loaf of bread with them in the boat, Jesus warns them against the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod. He rebukes them for their lack of understanding and reminds them of the two miracles where he fed five thousand and four thousand people respectively.
Das Leben JesuWarning against hypocrisy and fear
Jesus warns the disciples against the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and urges them to fear God alone, not people. He assures them of God's care through the image of sparrows and the hairs that are numbered, and promises the help of the Holy Spirit when they are brought before authorities.
Das Leben JesuWarning against the scribes
Jesus warns the crowd against the scribes who love honors, long prayers for show, and who exploit widows. He warns that they will receive a stricter judgment. [ref:Mark 12:38-40|Mark 12:38-40]
Das Leben JesuWho is the greatest?
In Capernaum, Jesus asks his disciples what they were discussing on the way, and they remain silent because they had argued about who was the greatest. Jesus teaches them that whoever wants to be first must be last and a servant of all, and he places a child among them. He warns against causing little ones who believe in him to stumble and urges them to remove anything that leads to sin. Finally, he speaks about being salted with fire and keeping peace with one another.
Das Leben JesuWho is the Messiah? David's son or Lord?
While the Pharisees were gathered, Jesus asked them a question about whose son the Messiah is. They answered, "David's son." Jesus challenged them by pointing out that David, inspired by the Spirit, calls the Messiah his Lord, quoting the words that the Lord will set him at his right hand until his enemies are made a footstool for his feet. How then can the Messiah be David's son? No one could answer him a word, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Das Leben JesuWoe to you, Pharisees and experts in the law
During a meal at a Pharisee's house, Jesus rebukes the Pharisees and legal experts with several woes. He accuses them of cleaning only the outside while the inside is full of greed, of tithing on herbs but neglecting justice and love for God, of loving places of honor, of being like unmarked graves, of loading people with heavy burdens without lifting a finger themselves, of building tombs for the prophets whom their ancestors killed, and of taking away the key to knowledge. Afterward, the scribes and Pharisees begin to press him hard to catch him in his words. [ref:Luk 11:37-54|Luke 11:37-54]
Das Leben JesuZacchaeus in the Sycamore Tree
Zacchaeus, a rich chief tax collector in Jericho, climbs up into a sycamore-fig tree to see Jesus because he is short in stature. Jesus sees him and says he must stay at his house today. The crowd grumbles that Jesus has gone to be the guest of a sinner, but Zacchaeus promises to give half of his possessions to the poor and repay four times the amount to anyone he has cheated. Jesus declares that salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham.
Das Leben JesuZechariah and the Angel Gabriel
The priest Zechariah is visited by the angel Gabriel in the temple while he is burning incense. The angel announces that the barren Elizabeth will give birth to a son, John, but Zechariah becomes mute because he does not believe the message until it happens.
Die KönigszeitAbiathar and Joab are removed from power
Solomon removes the priest Abiathar and sends him to Anathoth, so that the word of the Lord against the house of Eli is fulfilled. Joab flees to the tent of the Lord and grabs the horns of the altar, but Benaiah executes him on the king's command to atone for the bloodguilt from the murders of Abner and Amasa. Benaiah is placed over the army, and Zadok becomes priest in Abiathar's place. [ref:1 Kings 2:26-35|1 Kings 2:26-35]
Die KönigszeitAbijah's War Against Jeroboam
King Abijah of Judah delivers a speech from Mount Semaraim to Jeroboam and the army of Israel before the battle, reminding them of the Lord's covenant of salt with David and condemning the idolatry involving golden calves. Although the army of Israel is twice as large, God grants victory to Judah when the priests blow trumpets and the people cry out to the Lord. Abijah pursues Jeroboam and captures the cities of Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephraim. Jeroboam never regains his strength during Abijah's lifetime, and the Lord strikes him down so that he dies.
Die KönigszeitAbner Breaks with Ish-bosheth and Makes a Covenant with David
Abner strengthens his position in Saul's house, but becomes furious when Ish-bosheth accuses him of having gone to Saul's concubine Rizpah. He swears to transfer the kingdom to David and sends word of a covenant. David demands that Michal, his former wife, be brought back, and Ish-bosheth takes her from Paltiel, who follows her weeping to Bahurim before Abner sends him back. Abner then negotiates with the elders of Israel and the house of Benjamin, and afterward goes to Hebron where David holds a feast for him. Abner is allowed to leave in peace to gather all Israel into covenant with David.
Die KönigszeitAbsalom Kills Amnon at the Sheep Shearing
Two years after Amnon had violated Tamar, Absalom arranged a sheep-shearing festival in Baal-Hazor and invited all the king's sons. He ordered his servants to kill Amnon when he became merry with wine. After the murder, the other king's sons fled, and a false rumor reached David that all his sons were dead. Jonadab explained that only Amnon had been killed. Absalom fled to Talmai in Geshur, where he stayed for three years, while David mourned.
Die KönigszeitAbsalom's Rebellion
Absalom wins the hearts of the people and proclaims himself king in Hebron. David flees from Jerusalem across the Kidron and Jordan, while Hushai works against Ahithophel's advice. In the battle in the forest of Ephraim, Absalom gets caught by his hair in a terebinth tree and is killed by Joab.
Die KönigszeitAdministration of the Gifts and the Register of Priests
During King Hezekiah's reign, the Levite Conaniah and his brother Shimi were placed in charge of the gifts, tithes, and holy things in the temple, with ten overseers under them. The Levite Kore distributed the voluntary offerings, while other Levites assigned shares in the priestly cities. A careful register was kept of priests, Levites, and their families to ensure fair distribution.
Die KönigszeitAdonijah Sets Himself Up and Solomon Becomes King
King David is old, and his son Adonijah sets himself up and has himself proclaimed king with support from Joab and the priest Abiathar. The prophet Nathan and Bathsheba intervene and remind David of his promise that Solomon will inherit the throne. David orders that Solomon be anointed as king at Gihon by the priest Zadok and the prophet Nathan. When Adonijah hears the shouting, he becomes afraid and grabs hold of the horns of the altar to save his life, but Solomon promises to spare him if he proves himself worthy.
Die KönigszeitAdonijah's Attempt to Seize Power
Adonijah asks Bathsheba to convey a request to Solomon for Abishag of Shunem as his wife. Solomon interprets this as a claim to the throne and orders Benaiah to execute him.
Die KönigszeitAhab and Jehoshaphat at Ramoth in Gilead
Israelite King Ahab and Judahite King Jehoshaphat plan a campaign against Ramoth in Gilead. Despite the warning from the prophet Michah, who reveals a lying spirit in the mouths of the other prophets, they go to war. Ahab disguises himself but is struck by an arrow at random and dies, just as the Lord had foretold.
Die KönigszeitAhab and Jezebel's Worship of Baal
Ahab, son of Omri, marries Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal from Sidon, and introduces the worship of Baal in Israel. He builds an altar for Baal in a temple of Baal in Samaria and makes an Asherah pole. Ahab does more to provoke the Lord's anger than all the kings of Israel before him.
Die KönigszeitAhab's Legacy and Jehoshaphat's Reign
After a brief summary of Ahab's deeds, his son Ahaziah becomes king over Israel. Then the chapter tells about Jehoshaphat's reign in Judah: he walked in the ways of his father Asa and did what was right in the Lord's eyes, but the high places were not removed. He made peace with the king of Israel, removed the male temple prostitutes, and built ships at Tarshish to bring gold from Ophir, but the ships were wrecked at Ezion-Geber. Jehoshaphat refused Ahaziah's request for a joint voyage. After Jehoshaphat's death, his son Joram became king in Judah, while Ahaziah ruled wickedly in Israel and worshiped Baal.
Die KönigszeitAhaziah becomes king and is killed by Jehu
Ahaziah, the youngest son of Joram, was made king over Judah after his older brothers were killed by a band of raiders. He walked in the ways of the house of Ahab according to the counsel of his mother Athaliah. He went with Joram king of Israel against Hazael, king of Aram, and was eventually found hiding in Samaria and killed by Jehu, whom the Lord had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab [ref:2 Chr 22:1-9|2 Chronicles 22:1-9].
Die KönigszeitAhaziah becomes king of Judah
The chapter tells about King Jehoram of Judah, son of Jehoshaphat, who walked in the ways of Ahab's house because he was married to Ahab's daughter. In his days Edom and Libnah revolted from Judah's rule. After Jehoram's death, his son Ahaziah became king of Judah. Ahaziah's mother was Athaliah, granddaughter of Omri. Ahaziah went with Jehoram of Israel to war against Hazael, king of Aram, at Ramoth in Gilead, where Jehoram was wounded. Ahaziah then went down to Jezreel to visit the sick Jehoram.
Die KönigszeitAhaziah destroys the royal line and Joash is hidden
When Athaliah learns that her son Ahaziah is dead, she destroys the entire royal family of Judah. But Jehosheba, the king's daughter and wife of the priest Jehoiada, saves the little Joash and hides him in God's house for six years while Athaliah reigns.
Die KönigszeitAhaziah's Mother Athaliah Destroys the Royal Line and Joash is Saved
When Athaliah, Ahaziah's mother, learned that her son was dead, she destroyed the entire royal line. But Jehosheba rescued the little Joash and hid him in the house of the Lord for six years while Athaliah reigned. In the seventh year, the priest Jehoiada organized a revolt: he gathered the officers and bodyguards, crowned and anointed Joash as king in the temple, and had Athaliah killed at the Horse Gate when she cried out "Treason!"
Die KönigszeitAhijah Predicts Jeroboam's Kingdom
Jeroboam, a capable and hardworking man in Solomon's service, meets the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh on the road outside Jerusalem. Ahijah tears his new cloak into twelve pieces and gives ten of them to Jeroboam as a sign that the Lord will tear the kingdom away from Solomon's son and give Jeroboam rule over ten tribes, while one tribe shall remain for the sake of David and Jerusalem.
Die KönigszeitAhijah's Message to Jeroboam's Wife
Jeroboam sent his wife in disguise to the blind prophet Ahijah at Shiloh to learn what would happen to their sick son Abijah. Ahijah saw through her disguise and proclaimed the Lord's harsh judgment against Jeroboam's royal house: the boy would die as soon as she returned home, and the entire family would be wiped out. When she stepped across the threshold at Tirzah, the boy died.
Die KönigszeitAmaziah Becomes King and Hires Israeli Mercenaries
Amaziah becomes king of Judah at twenty-five years old and does what is right in the Lord's eyes, but not with a whole heart. He executes those who killed his father, yet spares their children as the Law of Moses commands. To wage war, he musters 300,000 men from Judah and hires an additional 100,000 warriors from Israel for one hundred talents of silver. A man of God warns him that the Lord is not with Israel, and that he will fall if he takes them along. When Amaziah asks about the lost money, the prophet replies that the Lord can give far more. Amaziah sends the troops home, and they return in anger to Ephraim.
Die KönigszeitAmaziah defeats Edom and falls into idolatry
Amaziah defeats Edom in the Valley of Salt, but brings home the gods of the Seirites and worships them. A prophet warns him, but the king rejects the warning and threatens to kill the prophet. Then the prophet declares that God has decided to destroy him because of his idolatry and disobedience.
Die KönigszeitAmaziah's Victory over Edom and Defeat by Israel
King Amaziah of Judah defeats Edom in the Valley of Salt and captures Sela. Arrogantly, he challenges King Joash of Israel but loses the battle at Beth-Shemesh. Joash takes Amaziah prisoner, breaks down part of Jerusalem's wall, and loots the temple and the king's treasures. Later, Amaziah is killed in a conspiracy after fleeing to Lachish.
Die KönigszeitAmnon Violates Tamar
Amnon, David's eldest son, falls in love with his half-sister Tamar. Following the advice of his cunning friend Jonadab, he pretends to be ill so that Tamar comes to prepare food for him. He rapes her and then casts her out in shame. Tamar remains alone with her brother Absalom, and the event sows deep hatred within the royal house.
Die KönigszeitAsa Cleanses Judah and Builds Fortified Cities
King Asa does what is good in the Lord's eyes and leads a religious reform in Judah: he removes foreign altars, high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles, urging the people to seek the Lord and keep the law. During a time of peace, he builds fortified cities with walls, towers, gates, and bars, and gathers a large army from Judah and Benjamin.
Die KönigszeitAsa Defeats the Cushites in the Valley of Zephath
King Asa faces an overwhelming Cushite army led by Zerah at Mareshah, cries out to the Lord for help, and wins a great victory in the Valley of Zephath. The men of Judah pursue the enemy all the way to Gerar, plunder the surrounding towns, and return with vast amounts of plunder to Jerusalem.
Die KönigszeitAsa's Alliance with Aram and the Prophet Hanani's Rebuke
King Asa seeks help from Ben-Hadad, king of Aram, against Baasha of Israel instead of trusting in the Lord. The seer Hanani rebukes him sharply, but Asa becomes angry and puts the prophet in prison. Later, Asa is afflicted with a disease in his feet, yet even then he does not seek the Lord, only the physicians, before he dies and is buried in the City of David.
Die KönigszeitAsaiah's Prophecy and Asa's Reform
The prophet Asaiah urges King Asa to seek the Lord. This leads to a comprehensive religious reform in Judah: idols are removed, the altar is renewed, the people make a covenant to seek the Lord, and Queen Mother Maacah is deposed for her idol.
Die KönigszeitAzariah, king of Judah
Azariah becomes king over Judah, rules righteously but does not remove the high places, and is struck with leprosy while his son Jotham governs in his place.
Die KönigszeitBen-Hadad besieges Samaria and Ahab's victory
Ben-Hadad of Aram besieges Samaria with thirty-two kings and demands Ahab's silver, gold, wives, and sons. Ahab refuses after counsel from the elders. A prophet promises victory from the Lord, and 232 young men who served the provincial governors lead the way. The Arameans are defeated, and Ben-Hadad flees on horseback.
Die KönigszeitBaasha becomes king over Israel
In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha son of Ahijah became king over all Israel in Tirzah. He reigned for twenty-four years and did what was evil in the Lord's sight, walking in the way of Jeroboam and in the sin he caused Israel to commit. [ref:1 Kings 15:33-34|1. Kongebok 15:33-34]
Die KönigszeitCollection of Tithes and Offerings for the House of the Lord
At Hezekiah's command, the Israelites gave generously of their firstfruits: grain, wine, oil, and honey, as well as tithes from their herds and flocks. The offerings were piled in heap after heap from the third month until the seventh. When Hezekiah and the leaders saw the heaps, they praised the Lord. The high priest Azariah reported that since the gifts began to arrive, the people had eaten their fill and still had plenty left over. Then Hezekiah gave orders to prepare storehouses in the house of the Lord.
Die KönigszeitDavid acts mad before King Achish in Gath
David flees from Saul and comes to King Achish in Gath. When Achish's servants recognize him as the one they sang about – "Saul has struck his thousands, and David his ten thousands" – David becomes very afraid. He pretends to be mad and behaves like a crazy man, scratching on the gate doors and letting saliva run down into his beard. Achish dismisses him as a madman and asks the servants why they have brought him there.
Die KönigszeitDavid and Bathsheba
David sins with Bathsheba and sends her husband Uriah to his death. The prophet Nathan confronts him about his sin, and the child conceived dies, but Bathsheba later gives birth to Solomon.
Die KönigszeitDavid and Goliath
The young shepherd boy David defeats the Philistine giant Goliath with a sling and a stone.
Die KönigszeitDavid and Jonathan's Friendship
David and Jonathan form a deep friendship and make a covenant. Saul becomes jealous of David and repeatedly tries to kill him, but Jonathan and Michal help David escape.
Die KönigszeitDavid and Nabal: Abigail's Intervention
David and his men had protected Nabal's shepherds in the wilderness, but when David asked for a reward during the sheep-shearing at Carmel, the wealthy and hard-hearted Nabal scornfully rejected him. In anger, David armed four hundred men for revenge. Nabal's wise wife Abigail heard about it and rode out with a large gift. She bowed before David and begged him to refrain from shedding blood, so that he would not be guilty of bloodshed when the Lord made him prince. David blessed her wisdom and turned back. When Abigail told Nabal about this the next morning, his heart became like stone, and ten days later the Lord struck him down so that he died. David then proposed to Abigail, who became his wife.
Die KönigszeitDavid and the Ammonites: The War against Hanun
After King Hanun of the Ammonites humiliates David's envoys by shaving off half their beards, he triggers a major war in which Joab and Abishai defeat the Ammonites and their Aramean mercenaries. Later, Hadadezer gathers the Arameans at Helam, but David strikes them down and kills the commander Shobak.
Die KönigszeitDavid Anointed King
Samuel anoints the young David, son of Jesse, as the new king. God looks at the heart, not the outward appearance.
Die KönigszeitDavid Anointed King and Captures Jerusalem
All Israel gathers in Hebron to anoint David king over Israel. Then he leads a campaign against Jebus (Jerusalem) and captures the fortress of Zion, which becomes the city of David. Joab distinguishes himself as the first man up and is made commander.
Die KönigszeitDavid attacks the Amalekites and rescues the captives
After the Amalekites had burned Ziklag and taken David's family, as well as the wives and children of his people, captive, David sought counsel from the Lord through the priest Abiathar and the ephod. With 400 men, he pursued the enemy, aided by a sick Egyptian slave they found in the field. David defeated the Amalekites, rescued all the captives and recovered all the plunder. He then established a law that the plunder should be shared equally between those who fought and those who stayed behind with the equipment. He also sent gifts to the elders of Judah.
Die KönigszeitDavid becomes king over all Israel
David is anointed king over all Israel in Hebron, conquers Jerusalem from the Jebusites and makes it his capital.
Die KönigszeitDavid becomes king over Judah and Ish-bosheth over Israel
After Saul's death, David asks the Lord where he should go and is led to Hebron. There, the men of Judah anoint him king over the house of Judah, and David sends thanks to the men of Jabesh in Gilead for burying Saul. Meanwhile, Abner takes Saul's son Ish-bosheth to Mahanaim and makes him king over the rest of Israel. David rules in Hebron for seven years and six months.
Die KönigszeitDavid Becomes Saul's Harpist
After the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, he was troubled by an evil spirit from the Lord. His servants suggested finding a harpist who could soothe him, and one of them recommended David, the son of Jesse from Bethlehem. Saul sent for David, who came with gifts from his father. David became Saul's armor-bearer, and whenever the evil spirit came upon Saul, David played the harp to ease the king [ref:1 Sam 16:14-23|1 Samuel 16:14-23].
Die KönigszeitDavid Brings the Ark of God and the Death of Uzzah
David gathers all Israel to bring the Ark of God from Kiriath-Jearim. But when Uzzah reaches out his hand toward the ark because the oxen stumble, the Lord strikes him down. David is filled with fear and leaves the ark in the house of Obed-Edom for three months, where the Lord blesses his household.
Die KönigszeitDavid Brings the Ark to Jerusalem
David prepares a place for God's ark in the City of David and gathers all Israel to Jerusalem. He commands that only the Levites are to carry the ark, and the heads of the Levite families consecrate themselves for this task. The Levites carry the ark on their shoulders with poles, just as Moses had commanded, while the singers play harps, lyres, cymbals, and trumpets. David and the people bring the ark from the house of Obed-Edom with joy and offer seven bulls and seven rams. Dressed in linen and an ephod, David dances before the ark, but Michal, Saul's daughter, looks out through a window and despises him in her heart.[ref:1 Chr 15:1-29|1 Chronicles 15:1-29]
Die KönigszeitDavid brings the ark to the tent
David brings the ark of God into the tent he has pitched for it and offers burnt offerings and peace offerings. He blesses the people in the name of the Lord and distributes bread, meat, and raisin cakes to every Israelite. He appoints Asaf and the Levites to serve before the ark with songs of praise, using harps, lyres, cymbals, and trumpets, giving them a song that praises the Lord's deeds and covenant. At the same time, he has the priest Zadok and his brothers serve at the altar for burnt offerings on the high place in Gibeon, along with Heman and Jedutun as singers. Finally, David returns home to bless his household.
Die KönigszeitDavid Builds a House and Has Children in Jerusalem
King Hiram of Tyre sends cedar trees, masons, and carpenters to David to build a house for him. David understands that the Lord has established him as king over Israel, and he takes more wives in Jerusalem and has many sons and daughters, who are listed by name.
Die KönigszeitDavid buys the threshing floor and builds an altar
At the prophet Gad's command, David goes up and buys the threshing floor from Araunah the Jebusite to build an altar to the Lord. David insists on paying the full price—fifty shekels of silver—and refuses to offer anything that has cost him nothing. He presents a burnt offering and a peace offering, and the plague stops and turns away from Israel.
Die KönigszeitDavid Captures Rabbah
Joab fights against Rabbah in Ammon and captures the water city, but asks David to gather the rest of the army to complete the conquest so that the honor does not fall to Joab. David captures the city, takes the king's gold crown which is placed on his own head, brings out great spoils, sets the people to hard labor, and then returns to Jerusalem.
Die KönigszeitDavid Conquers Rabbah
Joab leads the army out and besieges Rabbah, the capital of the Ammonites, while David remains in Jerusalem. When the city is captured, David comes and takes the king's gold crown, which weighs a talent, and places it on his own head. He brings out great plunder from the city and sets its inhabitants to work with saws, iron picks, and axes, before returning to Jerusalem. [ref:1 Chr 20:1-3|1 Chronicles 20:1-3]
Die KönigszeitDavid conquers the Philistines, Moabites, and Zobah
David leads a series of military campaigns and subdues the Philistines, Moabites, Hadadezer king of Zobah, the Arameans from Damascus, and the Edomites, making them tributary subjects. He gathers large amounts of gold, silver, and bronze from these campaigns, which he dedicates to the Lord in Jerusalem.
Die KönigszeitDavid defeats the Edomites and places garrisons
Abishai, son of Zeruiah, strikes down 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. David places garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites become his servants. The Lord gives David victory wherever he goes.
Die KönigszeitDavid defeats the Philistines at Baal-perazim
When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they went up to search for him and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. David sought counsel from God and received a promise of victory. At Baal-perazim he struck down the enemy, saying that God had broken through like bursting waters. The Philistines left their idols behind, and David ordered them to be burned.
Die KönigszeitDavid defeats the Philistines at the balsam trees
The Philistines attack again and spread out in the valley. David asks God, who tells him to go around the enemy and attack when he hears the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees. David follows the order, defeats the Philistine army from Gibeon all the way to Gezer, and his name becomes known in all lands. [ref:1 Chr 14:13-17|1 Chronicles 14:13-17]
Die KönigszeitDavid defeats the Philistines twice
The Philistines attack David twice in the Valley of Rephaim. After seeking counsel from the Lord, David first defeats them at Baal-Perazim, and then outflanks them from behind near the balsam trees, pursuing them from Geba to Gezer.
Die KönigszeitDavid flees to Gath and settles in Ziklag
David fled from Saul to the land of the Philistines and received Ziklag as a place of refuge from King Achish of Gath. David and his men raided among the Geshurites, Girzites, and Amalekites, but lied to Achish, claiming they had attacked areas in the Negev belonging to Israelites, so that Achish would believe David had made himself hated by his own people [ref:1 Sam 27:1-12|1. Samuel 27:1-12].
Die KönigszeitDavid flees to Nob and receives holy bread
David flees from Saul to the priest Ahimelech at Nob. He pretends to be on a secret royal mission, receives the bread of the Presence to eat, and retrieves Goliath's sword that was wrapped behind the ephod. Doeg the Edomite, chief of Saul's shepherds, witnesses the meeting.
Die KönigszeitDavid hands over the task to Solomon
King David gathers the leaders of Israel in Jerusalem and entrusts his son Solomon with the task of building the house of the Lord. He explains that God himself has chosen Solomon for this work because David, as a man of war, has shed blood. David gives Solomon detailed plans for the porch, the rooms, and the utensils, instructions on the weight of gold and silver, and the division of priests and Levites. He encourages his son to be strong and courageous, for the Lord will be with him until the work is finished.
Die KönigszeitDavid in Adullam and the Massacre at Nob
After Saul tries to kill him, David flees to the cave of Adullam and gathers a group of men around him. Saul has the priests at Nob killed because they helped David, but the priest Abjathar escapes and flees to David.
Die KönigszeitDavid in the Cave of Adullam and the Massacre at Nob
David flees to the cave of Adullam, where he gathers about 400 men. Saul accuses the priests at Nob of helping David and orders the Edomite Doeg to kill 85 priests, but Abjathar escapes and joins David.
Die KönigszeitDavid is rejected by the Philistine commanders
The Philistine commanders suspect David when they see him marching at the rear with King Achish at Aphek. They demand that he be sent back so that he does not turn against them in battle and regain Saul's favor. Reluctantly, Achish sends David and his men home, while the Philistine army marches up to Jezreel.
Die KönigszeitDavid organizes the kingdom and appoints officials
David rules over all Israel with justice and righteousness. He organizes the kingdom with Joab as commander, Jehoshaphat as recorder, Zadok and Ahimelech as priests, Seraiah as scribe, and Benaiah over the Cherethites and Pelethites.
Die KönigszeitDavid organizes the Levites
When David was old and had made Solomon king, he gathered the leaders of Israel, the priests and the Levites to organize the service at the house of the Lord. The Levites were counted from thirty years of age and totaled 38,000 men, who were assigned as overseers, supervisors and judges, gatekeepers and singers with instruments. David divided them according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari, and appointed the heads of their families. Since the Lord had given rest to the people in Jerusalem and the tabernacle no longer needed to be carried, the service age was lowered to twenty years. The Levites were to assist Aaron's sons with the courtyards, the showbread, measures and weights, and to praise the Lord morning and evening. [ref:1 Chr 23:1-32|1 Chronicles 23:1-32]
Die KönigszeitDavid prepares for the building of the temple
David gathers enormous amounts of materials for the house of the Lord and instructs his son Solomon to build the temple. He explains that he himself was not allowed to build because he had shed much blood, and that Solomon is to be a man of peace. David urges the leaders of Israel to support Solomon in the work.
Die KönigszeitDavid Returns to Jerusalem
After Absalom's death, Joab persuades King David to stop mourning and show himself to the people. David returns toward Jerusalem and crosses the Jordan. Shimei throws himself down and begs for forgiveness, and David promises that he will not die. Mephibosheth explains why he did not follow the king, and Barzillai from Gilead accompanies the king part of the way before declining to go further and sending Kimham in his place. Finally, a dispute arises between the men of Judah and the men of Israel over who has the greater right to the king.
Die KönigszeitDavid Saves Keila and Flees
David asks the Lord and goes to Keila to defeat the Philistines and save the city from plunder. When Saul learns that David is there, he plans to besiege the city. David consults the Lord through the ephod that the priest Abjathar has with him, and is told that the inhabitants will hand him over. Therefore, he flees from Keila with his about six hundred men, and Saul gives up pursuing him there.
Die KönigszeitDavid Spares Saul on the Hill of Hachilah
The Ziphites reveal to Saul that David is hiding on the Hill of Hachilah, and Saul sets out with three thousand men to hunt him down. During the night, David and Abishai sneak into the camp where Saul is sleeping, but David refuses to let Abishai kill the Lord's anointed. Instead, they take the spear and water jug from beside Saul's head as proof. From a distant height, David calls out to Abner and Saul, and Saul acknowledges his sin and blesses David. [ref:1 Sam 26:1-25|1 Samuel 26:1-25]
Die KönigszeitDavid Spares Saul's Life in the Cave
Saul pursues David in the wilderness of En-Gedi and enters a cave where David and his men are hiding. David secretly cuts off a corner of Saul's cloak but regrets it and refuses to harm the Lord's anointed. Afterwards, he calls out to Saul and shows him the piece as proof of his innocence. Saul weeps, acknowledges David's righteousness and that David will become king.
Die KönigszeitDavid's Census and God's Punishment
David orders Joab to count the people of Israel and Judah, which provokes the Lord's anger. After repenting of his sin, David is given a choice among three punishments through the prophet Gad. He chooses to fall into the Lord's hands, and a plague kills seventy thousand in Israel until the Lord relents and stops the angel at Araunah's threshing floor. David prays that the punishment should instead fall on him.
Die KönigszeitDavid's Death and Solomon's Accession to the Throne
When David's days drew near their end, he gave Solomon his final instructions: to keep the Lord's commands, settle accounts with Joab and Shimei, and show kindness to Barzillai's sons. Then David died and was buried in the City of David, and Solomon sat on his father's throne, establishing the kingdom firmly.
Die KönigszeitDavid's Generous Gift to the Temple
King David urges the entire assembly to give voluntary gifts of gold, silver, and precious stones for the building of the house of the Lord, and the people give wholeheartedly. [ref:1 Chr 29:1-9|1 Chronicles 29:1-9]
Die KönigszeitDavid's Lament over Abner
David mourns deeply over Abner's death, commands the people to tear their clothes and put on sackcloth, and sings a lament for the fallen leader. He swears not to eat until sunset, and all the people understand that the king was not behind Abner's murder.
Die KönigszeitDavid's Lament over Saul and Jonathan
David receives the news of Saul's and Jonathan's death from an Amalekite, has the messenger executed, and sings a moving lament over Israel's fallen heroes.
Die KönigszeitDavid's Last Words
David speaks his last words as a prophetic declaration. He calls himself the anointed one of Jacob's God and the sweet singer of Israel, stating that the Lord's Spirit has spoken through him. He describes the righteous ruler who reigns in the fear of God, like the morning light after rain, and points to the eternal covenant God made with his house. Finally, this is contrasted with the godless, who are like thorns that are thrown away and burned up.
Die KönigszeitDavid's Mighty Men and the Three Brave Ones
This chapter introduces David's brave men, with special focus on the three heroes who broke through the Philistine camp to fetch water from the well at Bethlehem's gate for David, who poured it out as an offering to the Lord. Benaiah distinguished himself by killing a lion in a pit on a snowy day and an Egyptian giant with his own spear.
Die KönigszeitDavid's Prayer and Praise
David leads a great praise where he acknowledges God's sovereignty over all, gives thanks for the gifts the people have given for temple building, and prays that Solomon may have a whole heart to keep God's commands and complete the temple.
Die KönigszeitDavid's Prayer to God
King David enters into the presence of the Lord and offers a deep prayer in which he expresses his awe at God's grace, praises God's greatness and Israel's unique position, and asks that God's promise concerning his house may stand firm forever.
Die KönigszeitDavid's Song of Victory
David offers a great song of praise to the Lord, thanking him for delivering him from all his enemies and from Saul's hand. The song describes the Lord's mighty intervention in nature, David's own righteousness, and God's faithfulness toward the anointed king and his descendants.
Die KönigszeitDavid's Sons Born in Jerusalem
After David moved from Hebron to Jerusalem, he took more concubines and wives, and several sons and daughters were born to him. The eleven sons born in Jerusalem were: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
Die KönigszeitElijah and the Prophets of Baal on Carmel
Elijah challenges 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel to a test to determine who is the true God. Fire from the Lord falls from heaven and consumes the sacrifice, the people confess that the Lord is God, and God sends rain over the land after a long drought.
Die KönigszeitElijah at Horeb
Elijah flees from Jezebel and wishes for death, but an angel strengthens him for the journey to Mount Horeb. There God meets him in a gentle, quiet whisper and gives him a new mission.
Die KönigszeitElijah Calls Fire from Heaven
King Ahaziah sends captains with soldiers to fetch the prophet Elijah, but Elijah calls fire down from heaven that consumes the first two groups.
Die KönigszeitElijah's Ascension
Elijah is taken up to heaven in a whirlwind while a chariot of fire with horses of fire separates him from Elisha. Elisha picks up his mantle and continues his work.
Die KönigszeitElisha and the Bears
Some young boys mocked the prophet Elisha on his way to Bethel, and two bears came out of the forest and tore forty-two of them apart.
Die KönigszeitElisha and the Shunammite Woman
Elisha promises a childless woman from Shunem a son in return for her hospitality. When the boy later dies, the woman goes to Elisha, who comes and raises him from the dead.
Die KönigszeitFire falls and the Lord's glory fills the house
After Solomon's prayer, fire falls from heaven and consumes the sacrifices, while the Lord's glory fills the temple so that the priests cannot enter. The whole people celebrate with great offerings and a seven-day festival before being sent home in joy over God's good deeds [ref:2 Chr 7:1-11|2 Chronicles 7:1-11].
Die KönigszeitGod's Covenant with David
God promises David through the prophet Nathan that his kingdom and lineage will stand firm forever.
Die KönigszeitHadad the Edomite as an adversary
The Lord raised up Hadad the Edomite, of royal descent, as an adversary against Solomon. When David was in Edom, Joab and the army had spent six months destroying all the men in Edom. The young Hadad fled through Midian and Paran to Egypt, where Pharaoh welcomed him, gave him a house and land, and married him to the sister of Queen Takpenes. They had a son named Genubath, who grew up in Pharaoh's household. When Hadad heard that David and Joab were dead, he asked Pharaoh for permission to return to his own country.
Die KönigszeitHannah's Prayer for a Son
The barren Hannah prays earnestly to the Lord in Shiloh and promises to dedicate her child to God's service. The priest Eli first thinks she is drunk, but blesses her. God hears her prayer, and she gives birth to Samuel, whom she later entrusts to the Lord.
Die KönigszeitHannah's Song and Samuel's Growth
Hannah praises the Lord in a deep prayer after she has received her son Samuel. The boy remains in Shiloh and serves the Lord under the priest Eli, wearing a linen ephod. Eli blesses Elkanah and Hannah, and the Lord gives her three more sons and two daughters. Samuel grows up with the Lord and is pleasing to both God and people. [ref:1 Sam 2:1-11|1. Samuel 2:1-11] [ref:1 Sam 2:18-21|1. Samuel 2:18-21] [ref:1 Sam 2:26|1. Samuel 2:26]
Die KönigszeitHezekiah Calls a Passover Celebration
King Hezekiah sent messengers throughout all Israel and Judah, calling the people to celebrate Passover in Jerusalem during the second month. Despite mockery from some and ritual impurity among many, a large assembly gathered, and the festival was celebrated for fourteen days with great joy and God's blessing.
Die KönigszeitHezekiah Cleanses the House of the Lord
King Hezekiah begins his reign by reopening and cleansing the House of the Lord, which had been closed and defiled during the time of his father Ahaz. He gathers the priests and Levites, who in an eight-day ceremony remove all uncleanness and rededicate the temple.
Die KönigszeitHezekiah prepares Jerusalem for an Assyrian attack
King Hezekiah prepares Jerusalem for an attack from Sennacherib by blocking water sources, building walls, and encouraging the people to trust in God rather than the Assyrian army.
Die KönigszeitHezekiah shows the Babylonian envoys everything in his treasury
Berodach-Baladan, king of Babylon, sends letters and gifts to Hezekiah after his illness. Hezekiah shows the envoys his entire treasury and everything in his kingdom. The prophet Isaiah comes and proclaims that all will be carried off to Babylon, and that some of Hezekiah's descendants will become officials there.
Die KönigszeitHezekiah shows the Babylonian envoys his treasures
King Hezekiah receives envoys from Merodach-Baladan of Babylon and shows them his entire treasury and armory. The prophet Isaiah then declares that everything will be carried off to Babylon, and that Hezekiah's sons will become eunuchs there. Hezekiah accepts the word and finds comfort in the fact that there will be peace during his own lifetime.
Die KönigszeitHezekiah's Illness and Healing
King Hezekiah became mortally ill, but prayed to the Lord with weeping. Through the prophet Isaiah, God promised him fifteen additional years of life and healed him with a fig cake. God gave him a sign by making the shadow go ten steps backward on the steps of Ahaz.
Die KönigszeitHezekiah's Illness, Humiliation, and Great Wealth
Hezekiah becomes mortally ill and receives a sign from God, but he becomes proud before humbling himself. He gains great wealth but is tested by envoys from Babylon before his death.
Die KönigszeitHezekiah's Prayer and Sennacherib's Defeat
When the Assyrian king Sennacherib threatens Jerusalem, King Hezekiah tears his clothes, puts on sackcloth, and goes into the house of the Lord. He sends word to the prophet Isaiah, who answers that the Lord will make Sennacherib return to his own land and fall by the sword there. Sennacherib sends a mocking letter to Hezekiah, who spreads it out before the face of the Lord and prays for deliverance, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that the Lord alone is God. Isaiah brings the Lord's answer: Sennacherib will not enter the city, and a remnant will go out from Jerusalem. The angel of the Lord strikes down 185,000 in the Assyrian camp, and Sennacherib returns to Nineveh, where he is killed by his own sons Adrammelech and Sharezer while worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch.
Die KönigszeitHezekiah's Reform: Idols Destroyed
When all this was finished, all the Israelites who were present went out to the towns of Judah. They smashed the stone pillars, cut down the Asherah poles, and tore down the sacrificial mounds and altars throughout Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, until everything was destroyed. Then all the people of Israel returned, each to their own property in their towns.
Die KönigszeitHiel rebuilds Jericho
In the days of Ahab, Hiel from Bethel rebuilds Jericho. It cost him his firstborn son Abiram when he laid the foundation, and his youngest son Segub when he set up the gates—just as the Lord had spoken through Joshua son of Nun.
Die KönigszeitHosea and the Assyrian Conquest of Israel
Hosea, son of Ela, becomes king of Israel and becomes a vassal of Assyria under Shalmaneser. He attempts to throw off the overlordship by seeking help from So, king of Egypt, but is discovered, arrested, and thrown into prison. The king of Assyria besieges Samaria for three years, captures the city, and carries the Israelites away to Assyria, where they are settled in Halah, by the Habor River in Gozan, and in the cities of Media.
Die KönigszeitJabez's Prayer and God's Answer
Jabez, who was more honored than his brothers, was named so because his mother gave birth to him in pain. He called on the God of Israel and asked for blessing, expansion of his territory, God's hand with him, and protection from evil and pain. God granted what he asked.
Die KönigszeitJehoahaz becomes king and is imprisoned by Pharaoh Neco
Jehoahaz, son of Josiah, becomes king of Judah at the age of twenty-three and reigns for three months in Jerusalem. He does what is evil in the Lord's sight. Pharaoh Neco imprisons him at Riblah, imposes a tribute on the land, and makes his brother Eljakim king under the name Jehoiakim. Jehoahaz is taken to Egypt and dies there.
Die KönigszeitJehoahaz, Jehoiakim and Jeconiah: The Kings of Judah Before the Exile
A chronological account of three kings of Judah in the period before the exile: Jehoahaz, who reigned for three months before being deposed by the king of Egypt and taken to Egypt; Jehoiakim, who was bound with bronze chains by Nebuchadnezzar and had vessels from the temple carried off to Babylon; and Jeconiah, who after three months and ten days was taken to Babylon along with the precious vessels from the Lord's house.
Die KönigszeitJehoiada crowns Jehoash and kills Athaliah
The priest Jehoiada leads a successful coup in the seventh year, where the young Joash is crowned king in the house of the Lord. The wicked queen Athaliah is taken out and killed at the Horse Gate. Then Jehoiada makes a covenant between the Lord, the king, and the people, the temple of Baal is torn down, and Mattan, the priest of Baal, is killed.
Die KönigszeitJehoiakim's Rebellion and Jehoiachin's Exile
The chapter tells of King Jehoiakim's rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, his death, and the succession of his son Jehoiachin. Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem, and King Jehoiachin surrenders. The king of Babylon carries away the temple treasures, cuts up the gold vessels that Solomon had made, and exiles Jehoiachin along with the royal family, nobles, warriors, and craftsmen to Babylon. He installs Mattaniah, Jehoiakim's uncle, as king and gives him the name Zedekiah.
Die KönigszeitJehoshaphat and Ahab: The War over Ramoth in Gilead
King Jehoshaphat joins King Ahab in a war against Aram but insists on consulting a true prophet of the Lord. The prophet Michah reveals that a lying spirit has deceived Ahab's 400 prophets into speaking lies and predicts Ahab's death, which indeed occurs at the battle of Ramoth in Gilead.
Die KönigszeitJehoshaphat and Ahaziah's Unfortunate Ships
King Jehoshaphat formed an alliance with the wicked King Ahaziah of Israel to build ships at Ezion-Geber that were to sail to Tarshish. The prophet Eliezer from Mareshah proclaimed God's judgment against the alliance, and the ships were destroyed before they could set sail.
Die KönigszeitJehoshaphat and the Victory of Praise
King Jehoshaphat faces an overwhelming enemy army from Moab, Ammon, and the mountains of Seir, but instead of fighting, he sends praise leaders ahead of his troops, and the Lord defeats the enemies without Judah having to fight.
Die KönigszeitJehoshaphat Appoints Judges and Urges Justice
After receiving a warning from the seer Jehu, King Jehoshaphat travels through the land from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim to bring the people back to the Lord. He appoints judges in the fortified cities of Judah and in Jerusalem, instructing them to judge with fear of the Lord, without partiality or bribery. The high priest Amariah is to lead in matters concerning the Lord, and Zebadiah the prince in matters concerning the king.
Die KönigszeitJehoshaphat Strengthens Judah and Sends Out Teachers
King Jehoshaphat strengthens his kingdom and walks in the ways of the Lord. In his third year as king, he sends officials, Levites, and priests throughout the cities of Judah to teach the people from the Book of the Law of the Lord. Fear of the Lord falls upon neighboring nations; the Philistines and Arabs bring gifts, and Jehoshaphat builds fortresses and gathers a large army.
Die KönigszeitJehu Anointed King and the House of Ahab Destroyed
A young prophet disciple anoints Jehu as king over Israel on the orders of the prophet Elisha. This triggers a bloody revolt in which Jehu kills Joram, king of Israel, at Naboth's vineyard in Jezreel and pursues Ahaziah, king of Judah, who dies at Megiddo. Then Jehu comes to Jezreel, where Queen Mother Jezebel is thrown from the window and trampled to death by horses. Dogs eat her body, just as the prophet Elijah had foretold. The chapter marks the fulfillment of the Lord's judgment against Ahab's house and vengeance for the blood of Naboth and the prophets that Jezebel had shed.
Die KönigszeitJehu Destroys Ahab's House
Jehu sends letters to Samaria demanding that Ahab's seventy sons be executed. After their heads are brought to Jizreel, he kills the rest of Ahab's house there, as well as Ahaziah's brothers at Beth-Eked. Together with Jonadab son of Rekab, he goes to Samaria and wipes out the last of Ahab's family, just as the Lord had spoken through Elijah.
Die KönigszeitJehu Destroys the Servants of Baal
Through a cunning plan, Jehu gathers all the prophets and priests of Baal into the house of Baal under the pretext of a great sacrifice, then orders his guards to kill them all and completely destroy the house of Baal.
Die KönigszeitJehu holds fast to the golden calves and Israel loses land
Although Jehu is promised that his descendants will sit on the throne of Israel for four generations because of his actions against the house of Ahab, he does not turn away from Jeroboam's sin with the golden calves in Bethel and Dan. Therefore, the Lord begins to cut off parts of Israel, and Hazael defeats the Israelites in the regions east of the Jordan. Jehu reigns 28 years in Samaria, and his son Jehoahaz becomes king after him.
Die KönigszeitJeroboam Flees to Egypt
Solomon sought to kill Jeroboam, but Jeroboam fled to Egypt, to King Shishak. There he remained in exile until Solomon died [ref:1 Kings 11:40|1 Kings 11:40].
Die KönigszeitJeroboam II Restores Israel's Borders
King Jeroboam II becomes king over Israel in Samaria and restores the country's borders from Lebo-Hamah to the Sea of the Arabah, just as the prophet Jonah son of Amittai had predicted. The Lord sees Israel's bitter distress and saves the people through Jeroboam, even though the king does what is evil in the Lord's sight.
Die KönigszeitJoab kills Abner in revenge
Joab returns from a military campaign and is displeased when he hears that David let Abner go in peace. He brings Abner back from the well of Sirah without David's knowledge, takes him aside at the gate of Hebron, and stabs him in the stomach as revenge for Abner having killed his brother Asahel. David declares himself and his kingdom innocent of this blood guilt and curses the house of Joab.
Die KönigszeitJoab Stops the Pursuit and Buries Asahel
Abner calls out to Joab and asks him to stop the fighting to avoid further bitterness between brothers. Joab blows the horn, and the army halts the pursuit. David's men gather the fallen, bury Asahel in his father's tomb in Bethlehem, and march back to Hebron.
Die KönigszeitJoahaz's Reign and the Lord's Deliverance
Joahaz becomes king over Israel and suffers under Aram's oppression, but when he cries out to the Lord, God sends a deliverer who frees the people, even though they continue in their sin.
Die KönigszeitJoash Becomes King and Elisha Dies
Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, becomes king over Israel in Samaria and does evil in the Lord's sight. He visits the sick prophet Elisha, who gives him a prophetic sign with a bow and arrows about victory over Aram at Aphek. Joash strikes the arrows against the ground only three times, and Elisha says that because of this he will strike Aram only three times. Then Elisha dies and is buried.
Die KönigszeitJoash Killed by His Servants
King Joash of Judah took the sacred gifts and gold from the temple and the royal palace and sent them to Hazael, king of Aram, to avert an attack on Jerusalem. Later, his own servants formed a conspiracy and struck him down at Beth-Millo, on the road going down to Silla.
Die KönigszeitJoash pays Hazael to spare Jerusalem
When Hazael, king of Aram, had captured Gath and turned his attention to Jerusalem, Joash king of Judah took all the sacred gifts that his fathers Jehoshaphat, Joram, and Ahaziah had dedicated to the Lord, along with his own sacred offerings and all the gold found in the treasuries of the house of the Lord and the royal palace, and sent it to Hazael. Then Hazael withdrew from Jerusalem.
Die KönigszeitJoash Repairs the House of the Lord
King Joash decided to repair the House of the Lord after Athaliah and her sons had desecrated it. At the king's command, a chest was placed outside the temple gate where the people gave silver according to Moses' instruction. The silver was used to pay stonemasons, craftsmen, and smiths, and the temple was rebuilt according to its original measurements. As long as Jehoiada lived, regular burnt offerings were brought into the House of the Lord.
Die KönigszeitJoash Repairs the Temple
King Joash introduces a new system for collecting silver to repair the damage to the house of the Lord. The priest Jehoiada places a chest by the altar, and the silver is given directly to craftsmen, carpenters, masons, and stonecutters working on the temple.
Die KönigszeitJoash Restores the Cities of Israel
After Hazael died, Joash defeated his son Ben-Hadad three times and took back the cities that Aram had taken from Israel, according to the Lord's grace.
Die KönigszeitJonathan Attacks the Philistine Outpost
Jonathan and his armor-bearer secretly cross over to the Philistine outpost at Micmash. They present a sign to the Lord, climb up the cliff, and kill about twenty men. A panic from God comes over the Philistine camp, the ground shakes, and the enemy turns their swords against each other. Saul and the people join the battle, and the Lord saves Israel that day.
Die KönigszeitJonathan is brought to trial and saved by the people
After Saul had sworn an oath that no one should eat until evening, he sought God's counsel but received no answer. He cast lots to find the guilty party, and the lot fell on his son Jonathan, who had tasted honey. Saul wanted Jonathan to die, but the people intervened and saved him because he had won a great victory for Israel.
Die KönigszeitJonathan Strengthens David in the Forest
Jonathan, Saul's son, seeks out David in the forest area and strengthens his hand in God. He assures David that Saul will not find him and confirms that David will become king over Israel while Jonathan himself will be second in command. They make a covenant before the Lord, after which David remains in the forest while Jonathan returns home.
Die KönigszeitJosiah Celebrates the Passover
King Josiah organizes a large-scale Passover celebration in Jerusalem during his eighteenth year of reign. He assigns the priests to their duties and instructs the Levites to slaughter the Passover lamb and carry out the sacrifices according to the Lord's command given through Moses. Josiah and the leaders provide abundant sheep and cattle for the people, and the service is conducted according to the regulations of David and Solomon. It is recorded that no such Passover had been celebrated in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel.
Die KönigszeitJosiah Cleanses the Land and Finds the Book of the Law
King Josiah leads a thorough cleansing of Judah and Jerusalem from idolatry and sends workers to repair the temple. During the work, the priest Hilkiah finds the Book of the Law of the Lord. When the king hears its words, he tears his clothes and sends messengers to the prophetess Huldah. She proclaims that disaster will come upon the place, but not in Josiah's lifetime because he humbled himself before God. The king gathers the people, reads from the Book of the Covenant, and renews the covenant with the Lord.
Die KönigszeitJotham, King of Judah
Jotham, the son of Uzziah, became king over Judah at the age of twenty-five and reigned for sixteen years. He did what was right in the Lord's eyes, but the high places were not removed. He built the upper gate of the house of the Lord. In his time, the Lord began to send Rezin, king of Aram, and Pekah, son of Remaliah, against Judah. After his death, his son Ahaz became king.
Die KönigszeitKing Ahaz: Idolatry and Alliance with Assyria
King Ahaz introduces idolatry in Judah, makes his own son pass through the fire, and allies himself with Tiglath-Pileser, king of Assyria, to save himself from Aram and Israel. He travels to Damascus, sends a drawing of a foreign altar to priest Uria who builds it, and has it replace the bronze altar in front of the house of the Lord. To accommodate the king of Assyria, he also removes several temple furnishings.
Die KönigszeitKing Amon and His Death
Amon became king after his father Manasseh at the age of 22 and reigned for two years in Jerusalem. He worshiped the idols that his father had made, but he did not humble himself before the Lord as his father had done. His servants conspired against him and killed him in his own house. The people of the land struck down the conspirators and made his son Josiah king in his place.
Die KönigszeitKing Amon is killed by his servants
Amon became king of Judah at the age of twenty-two, succeeding his father Manasseh, and reigned two years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the Lord's sight, serving the idols his father had served, and abandoned the Lord, the God of his ancestors. His own servants conspired against him and killed the king in his own house. The people of the land struck down the conspirators and made his son Josiah king in his place. Amon was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza.
Die KönigszeitKing Asa's Reforms and War
King Asa introduces religious reforms in Judah, removes idols and deposes his mother Maacah as queen mother. Later, war breaks out with the king of Israel, Baasha, and Asa makes a pact with Ben-Hadad, king of Aram, to force Baasha back. In his old age, Asa is struck by disease in his feet before he dies and is succeeded by his son Jehoshaphat.
Die KönigszeitKing Hezekiah Removes the Bronze Serpent
King Hezekiah carried out a religious reform in Judah. He removed the high places, broke down the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherah pole, and smashed to pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because the Israelites had been burning incense to it. It was called Nehushtan.
Die KönigszeitKing Hezekiah's Prayer and the Fall of Sennacherib
King Hezekiah receives a threatening letter from the Assyrian king Sennacherib and brings it before the Lord in the temple. The prophet Isaiah delivers God's answer, and the angel of the Lord strikes down 185,000 men in the Assyrian camp. Sennacherib returns home to Nineveh and is killed by his own sons.
Die KönigszeitKing Jehoiakim's Reign and Taxation
Jehoiakim taxes Judah to pay Pharaoh Neco. He becomes king at the age of 25, reigns for eleven years in Jerusalem, and does what is evil in the Lord's sight.
Die KönigszeitKing Joram's Reign and the Prophet Elijah's Judgment
King Joram succeeds his father Jehoshaphat but turns to idolatry and kills his brothers. The prophet Elijah sends a letter with a harsh judgment against the king, who is then attacked by Philistines and Arabs, loses his sons, and dies in great suffering from an intestinal disease.
Die KönigszeitKing Josiah Falls in Battle at Megiddo
Despite a warning from the Egyptian king Necho that God was with him, King Josiah goes out to fight on the plain of Megiddo. He is severely wounded by archers, taken to Jerusalem where he dies, and buried in the tombs of his ancestors. Jeremiah and the singers compose laments for him.
Die KönigszeitKing Josiah's Reform
The Book of the Law is found in the temple, and King Josiah renews the covenant with the Lord and carries out a comprehensive religious reform by removing idolatry and celebrating Passover.
Die KönigszeitKing Jotham's Reign and Death
The story of King Jotham, who did what was right in the Lord's eyes. He reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, built gates, walls and fortifications, defeated the Ammonites, then died and was succeeded by his son Ahaz.
Die KönigszeitKing Tou sends gifts to David
When King Tou of Hamat heard that David had defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah, he sent his son Hadoram to David to greet him and bless him, bringing articles of gold, silver, and bronze. David dedicated these gifts to the Lord along with the spoils from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and the Amalekites.
Die KönigszeitManasse: The King's Apostasy and Repentance
King Manasseh leads Judah into deep idolatry and is taken captive to Babylon by the commanders of the Assyrian army. In his distress, he humbles himself before God, is brought back to Jerusalem, removes the idols, and restores the Lord's altar. [ref:2 Chr 33:1-20|2 Chronicles 33:1-20]
Die KönigszeitManasse's Reign and Idolatry
Manasseh became king of Judah at twelve years old and reigned for fifty-five years. He reintroduced widespread idolatry in Jerusalem, built altars to Baal and the host of heaven in the temple of the Lord, set up an Asherah pole, made his son pass through fire, and shed innocent blood. The Lord spoke through the prophets and pronounced a severe judgment against Jerusalem and Judah. Finally, Manasseh died, and his son Amon became king after him.
Die KönigszeitMephibosheth at David's Table
David seeks out Jonathan's son Mephibosheth to show him kindness for Jonathan's sake, and gives him a place at the king's table as one of his own sons.
Die KönigszeitMoab's Rebellion and the Campaign of the Three Kings
King Joram of Israel allies with King Jehoshaphat of Judah and the king of Edom to crush Mesha's rebellion in Moab. After a seven-day detour through the wilderness of Edom, the army has no water, but the prophet Elisha declares that the Lord will fill the valley with water and deliver Moab into their hands. In the morning, the Moabites see the water red as blood and think the kings have killed each other. They rush forward to plunder, but are driven back. The Israelites ravage the land until only Kir-Hareseth remains. Then the king of Moab sacrifices his firstborn son as a burnt offering on the wall, and great wrath comes upon Israel so that they withdraw.
Die KönigszeitNaboth's Vineyard
King Ahab and Jezebel seize Naboth's vineyard through false witnesses and murder, but the prophet Elijah proclaims God's judgment against them. Ahab humbles himself, and God postpones the punishment.
Die KönigszeitNahash besieges Jabesh and Saul's first victory
The Ammonites under Nahash besiege Jabesh in Gilead and demand a cruel treaty. When Saul hears about it, the Spirit of God comes upon him. He gathers Israel by sending pieces of ox as a warning, musters the army at Bezek, crushes the Ammonites, and saves the city. Then the people gather at Gilgal, where Saul is crowned king with peace offerings and great joy.
Die KönigszeitNathan Admonishes David
The prophet Nathan confronts King David with his sin against Uriah and Bathsheba through the parable of the poor man's lamb. David repents of his sin.
Die KönigszeitNathan's Parable of the Poor Man's Lamb
The prophet Nathan tells David the parable of the rich man who took the poor man's only lamb, and David realizes that the parable is about himself.
Die KönigszeitNaaman Healed of Leprosy
The Aramean commander Naaman is healed of leprosy by bathing seven times in the Jordan River at the prophet Elisha's instruction, but Elisha's servant Gehazi is punished with leprosy for his greed.
Die KönigszeitOmri Builds Samaria
Omri becomes king of Israel in the thirty-first year of Asa's reign and rules for twelve years, six of them in Tirzah. He buys the hill country of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver, builds a city there, and names it Samaria after its former owner. Omri does what is evil in the Lord's sight, more than all who came before him, and follows the sins of Jeroboam. After his death, his son Ahab becomes king.
Die KönigszeitRabshakeh's Mockery and Threats Against Jerusalem
The king of Assyria sends Tartan, Rab-Saris, and Rabshakeh with a large army from Lachish to Jerusalem. Rabshakeh stands by the aqueduct from the upper pool and speaks loudly in Hebrew so that the people on the wall can hear. He mocks Hezekiah's trust in Egypt and in the Lord, claiming that none of the gods of the nations have been able to save their lands from the king of Assyria. The people remain silent as the king commanded, while Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah go to Hezekiah with torn clothes to report what Rabshakeh has said.
Die KönigszeitRehoboam and the Division of the Kingdom
Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders and chose the harsh response of the young men, causing the ten tribes of Israel to turn away from him and form their own kingdom under Jeroboam, while only Judah remained under the house of David.
Die KönigszeitRehoboam Builds Fortified Cities
After the prophet Shemaiah, on the Lord's command, warns Rehoboam not to go to war against his brothers in the north, the army returns. Rehoboam stays in Jerusalem and builds up a number of fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin, including Bethlehem, Tekoa, Lachish, and Hebron. He strengthens the fortifications, places commanders over them, and stores large supplies of food, oil, and wine, as well as shields and spears, to secure the kingdom.
Die KönigszeitRehoboam's Reign and Death
Rehoboam strengthened his power in Jerusalem and reigned for seventeen years. He did what was evil because he did not turn his heart to seek the Lord. There was constant war between him and Jeroboam. He died, was buried in the City of David, and his son Abijah became king after him.
Die KönigszeitRehoboam's Reign in Judah
Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, became king in Judah and reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem. The people did what was evil in the Lord's sight; they built high places for sacrifices and worshiped idols. In his fifth year as king, Shishak, king of Egypt, marched up against Jerusalem and took away the treasures from the house of the Lord and the royal palace, including the gold shields that Solomon had made. Rehoboam replaced them with bronze shields. There was constant war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam.
Die KönigszeitRehoboam's Wives, Children, and Heir
The chapter concludes with an overview of Rehoboam's family: his wives Mahalath and Maakah, his eighteen other wives and sixty concubines, as well as his twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters. He loved Maakah the most and appointed her son Abijah as leader among his brothers to make him king. Wisely, he scattered the other sons throughout the fortified cities of Judah and Benjamin, providing them with abundant supplies and many wives.
Die KönigszeitReign and Death of Abijah
Abijah strengthened his power, took fourteen wives, and had twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters. The rest of his deeds are recorded in the exposition of the prophet Iddo. Abijah died and was buried in the city of David, and his son Asa became king after him, with ten years of peace in the land.
Die KönigszeitRestoration of Sacrifice and Praise under Hezekiah
After the temple was cleansed, Hezekiah gathered the city leaders and brought a sin offering for all Israel. The Levites stood ready with David's instruments, and the priests with trumpets. As the burnt offering began, singing and music rose to the Lord. The assembly worshiped, knelt, and brought abundant sacrifices and thank offerings. Because there were so many gifts, the Levites had to help the priests, and service in the house of the Lord was restored with great joy.
Die KönigszeitReuben, Gad and Manasseh: The War against the Hagrites
The Transjordanian tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh win a great victory over the Hagrites because they cry out to God and trust in him. Later they become unfaithful and practice idolatry, so God allows the Assyrian kings Pul and Tiglath-Pileser to carry them away into captivity.
Die KönigszeitRezon becomes king over Aram
God raised up Rezon, son of Eliada, as an adversary against Solomon. Rezon had fled from his master Hadadezer, king of Zobah, and gathered a band of raiders around him after David had defeated them. They went to Damascus, settled there, and Rezon became king over Aram. He was an adversary of Israel throughout all the days of Solomon and hated Israel [ref:1 Kings 11:23-25|1 Kings 11:23-25].
Die KönigszeitSamuel's Farewell Speech and the Thunder Sign
Samuel delivers his farewell speech to Israel, defending his integrity and reminding the people of the Lord's history of salvation from Moses and Aaron to the time of the judges. He reminds them that they have rejected God as king by asking for a human king, and sends a divine sign with thunder and rain during the wheat harvest to show the seriousness of their actions. The people are seized with fear and ask Samuel to pray for them, and he promises to continue praying for them and teaching them the right way, but warns that both the people and the king will perish if they do evil.
Die KönigszeitSaul and the Medium at En-Dor
In despair before the battle against the Philistines, King Saul seeks out the medium at En-Dor to summon the deceased prophet Samuel, who predicts the death of Saul and his sons and Israel's defeat.
Die KönigszeitSaul Becomes Israel's First King
Samuel anoints Saul as prince, and Saul is proclaimed king by lot at Mizpah.
Die KönigszeitSaul's Death and Burial
The story of how King Saul and his sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua fell in battle against the Philistines on Mount Gilboa. Saul was wounded by archers and threw himself upon his own sword when his armor-bearer refused to kill him. The Philistines plundered the dead, fastened Saul's skull in the temple of Dagon and his weapons in the temple of the gods. The men of Jabesh-gilead retrieved the bodies and buried the bones under the terebinth tree at Jabesh. The chapter concludes with a theological reflection: Saul died because of his unfaithfulness to the Lord, and the kingdom was transferred to David.
Die KönigszeitSaul's Death on Mount Gilboa
The Philistines defeat Israel on Mount Gilboa, and Saul's sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua fall in battle. Severely wounded, Saul asks his armor-bearer to kill him, but when he refuses, Saul throws himself on his own sword. The Philistines dishonor the body, but men from Jabesh in Gilead retrieve it and bury the bones.
Die KönigszeitSaul's Disobedience to Amalek
Saul spares King Agag and the best of the plunder instead of devoting everything to destruction as God commanded. Samuel declares that obedience is better than sacrifice, and that the Lord has rejected Saul as king. Finally, Samuel himself cuts down Agag in Gilgal.
Die KönigszeitSaul's Foolish Sacrifice and the Loss of the Kingdom
Saul waited seven days at Gilgal, but when Samuel did not arrive and the people began to scatter, he offered the burnt offering himself. When Samuel arrived, he declared that Saul had acted foolishly and broken the Lord's command, and therefore his kingdom would not endure. The Lord has sought out a man after His own heart to be ruler over His people.
Die KönigszeitSaul's Oath and Jonathan Eating Honey
Saul places the people under a strict oath not to eat until evening. Jonathan, who has not heard the oath, tastes some honey and is strengthened. The people become exhausted, and after defeating the Philistines, they sin by eating meat with the blood still in it. Saul makes them slaughter the animals on a large stone and builds his first altar to the Lord.
Die KönigszeitSennacherib's Attack on Jerusalem
In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah's reign, the Assyrian king Sennacherib captures the fortified cities of Judah and sends the field commander Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem. Rabshakeh mocks Hezekiah's trust in Egypt and in the Lord, and demands surrender. The palace administrator Eliakim, the secretary Shebna, and the recorder Joah ask him to speak Aramaic, but he answers in Hebrew to frighten the people on the wall. The people remain silent as Hezekiah had commanded, and the three men return to the king with their clothes torn and report what was said.
Die KönigszeitSennacherib's Demands and Hezekiah's Payment
The king of Assyria, Sennacherib, captures the fortified cities of Judah. Hezekiah sends a message to Lachish, acknowledges his sin, and asks for peace. He pays three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold, taking them from the house of the Lord and the royal treasuries, and even strips the gold from the temple doors.
Die KönigszeitSennacherib's Honey and God's Deliverance of Jerusalem
The Assyrian king Sennacherib sends servants and letters to mock the Lord and intimidate Jerusalem into surrender. King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah cry out to heaven, and the Lord sends an angel who destroys the Assyrian army. Sennacherib returns home in shame and is killed by his own sons in the house of his god.
Die KönigszeitSheba's Rebellion and Joab's Murder of Amasa
The Benjamite Sheba, son of Bichri, blows the trumpet and leads Israel's men in rebellion against King David. David sends Amasa to gather Judah's men, but when he is delayed, the king sends Abisai and Joab with the warriors. At the great stone in Gibeon they meet Amasa. Joab pretends to greet him warmly, seizes his beard as if to kiss him, and stabs him in the belly so that his entrails spill out. Then Joab and Abisai continue the pursuit of Sheba [ref:2 Sam 20:1-13|2 Samuel 20:1-13].
Die KönigszeitShimei's Death
Solomon orders Shimei to live in Jerusalem and never leave the city, under threat of death. After three years, Shimei goes to Gath to retrieve two runaway slaves. Solomon confronts him with his broken oath and has Benaiah execute him, and the kingdom is firmly established.
Die KönigszeitShishak's Entry into Jerusalem and Rehoboam's Humiliation
King Shishak of Egypt attacks Jerusalem because Judah has forsaken the Lord, but the prophet Shemaiah warns that God will spare the city when the king and leaders humble themselves. Nevertheless, Shishak plunders the house of the Lord and the king's palace, taking Solomon's gold shields with him, which are later replaced by bronze shields.
Die KönigszeitShort-lived Kings of Israel: Zechariah to Pekah
A series of kings in Israel (Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, and Pekah) succeed one another through murder and conspiracies, while Assyria threatens the land.
Die KönigszeitSimeon's Expedition to Gedor and Seir
In the days of King Hezekiah, Simeonites traveled east toward Gedor to find pasture for their flocks. They found rich and good pasture in a wide and peaceful land where descendants of Ham had lived. The Simeonites struck down the tents and Meunites who were there, completely destroyed them, and settled in their place. Later, five hundred men from the tribe of Simeon, led by Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel – the sons of Jishai – went to Mount Seir. They struck down the remaining Amalekites who were still there, and settled on the mountain to this day. [ref:1 Chr 4:39-43|1 Chronicles 4:39-43]
Die KönigszeitSolomon Asks for Wisdom
At Gibeon the Lord appears to Solomon in a dream and offers him whatever he wants. Solomon asks for an attentive heart to judge the people, and God gives him wisdom, wealth, and honor.
Die KönigszeitSolomon Asks for Wisdom at Gibeon
At the high place in Gibeon, God appears to Solomon at night and offers him whatever he asks for. Solomon requests wisdom and knowledge to lead God's people, and God grants this to him along with wealth, treasures, and honor. Then Solomon returns to Jerusalem.
Die KönigszeitSolomon Brings the Ark to the Temple
Solomon gathers Israel's leaders and the Levites to bring the ark of the covenant from Zion to the new temple. At its dedication, the house is filled with the Lord's glory in the form of a cloud, so that the priests cannot carry out their service [ref:2 Chr 5:1-14|2 Chronicles 5:1-14].
Die KönigszeitSolomon builds the temple on Mount Moriah
Solomon begins building the house of the Lord on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, where the Lord had appeared to David, at the threshing floor of the Jebusite Ornan. He builds the porch, the main hall, and the Most Holy Place, covering everything with fine gold and precious stones. He makes two cherubim of cast metal for the Most Holy Place and a curtain embroidered with cherubim. In front of the temple he erects two pillars which he names Jakin and Boaz.
Die KönigszeitSolomon establishes a regular system of offerings and service
Solomon establishes a fixed system for burnt offerings on the altar, observes the Sabbath and feasts, and organizes the priests, Levites, and gatekeepers according to the regulations from his father David.
Die KönigszeitSolomon gathers forces and plans the temple construction
After returning to Jerusalem, Solomon strengthens the kingdom by assembling a large army with fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen. Silver and gold become as common as stone in Jerusalem, and he establishes trade for horses and chariots from Egypt and Kue, which are then resold to Hittite and Aramean kings. The chapter concludes with his decision to build a house for the name of the Lord and a house for his kingdom.
Die KönigszeitSolomon gives Hiram twenty cities in Galilee
After Solomon had finished building the Lord's house and the king's palace in twenty years, he gave King Hiram of Tyre twenty cities in Galilee as payment for cedar trees, cypress, and gold. Hiram went himself to see the cities but was not pleased and called the area the land of Cabul. Hiram had sent Solomon one hundred and twenty talents of gold.
Die KönigszeitSolomon's Apostasy
King Solomon marries many foreign women who turn his heart to foreign gods. The Lord becomes angry and warns that the kingdom will be divided after his death.
Die KönigszeitSolomon's Building Projects and the Division of the People
After twenty years, when Solomon had finished building the house of the Lord and his own palace, he rebuilt the towns that Hiram had given him. He marched to Hamath-Zobah and conquered it. He also built Tadmor in the wilderness and constructed store cities, chariot cities, and fortified cities such as Upper Beth Horon and Lower Beth Horon. To the descendants of the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites who remained in the land, he assigned forced labor. But the Israelites were not made to serve as slaves; instead, they served as soldiers, officers, commanders, chariot drivers, and horsemen. There were 250 overseers in charge of the work.
Die KönigszeitSolomon's Building Projects and the Fleet to Ophir
The chapter describes Solomon's extensive building projects, including the Millo, the walls of Jerusalem, Hazor, Megiddo, and the rebuilt Gezer which Pharaoh had given to his daughter as a dowry. Solomon conscripted the remaining Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites for forced labor, while the Israelites served as warriors and officials. Finally, he built a fleet at Ezion-Geber that brought back 420 talents of gold from Ophir.
Die KönigszeitSolomon's Coronation and the Death of David
The assembly praises the Lord and brings great sacrifices. Solomon is made king a second time and anointed as prince, and Zadok is anointed as priest. Solomon sits on the Lord's throne, and David dies at a ripe old age after reigning for forty years—seven in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem.
Die KönigszeitSolomon's Death and Rehoboam's Succession
After forty years of reign over all Israel in Jerusalem, Solomon rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. His son Rehoboam became king after him. The rest of Solomon's acts are recorded in the chronicle of Nathan the prophet, in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam son of Nebat.
Die KönigszeitSolomon's Dedication of the Temple
Solomon dedicates the temple in Jerusalem with a great prayer and sacrifices. God's glory fills the temple in the form of a cloud, and the Lord confirms His covenant with Israel.
Die KönigszeitSolomon's Dedication Prayer for the Temple
King Solomon dedicates the temple in Jerusalem with an extensive prayer. He praises God for fulfilling His promise to David and asks God to hear prayers directed toward the temple in various situations: during oaths and judgments, defeat in war, drought, famine, plague, when foreigners seek God, warfare, and when the people are taken into captivity. He concludes by asking God to come to His resting place and remember His covenant with David.
Die KönigszeitSolomon's Judgment
Two prostitutes come to King Solomon with a dispute over a living child. Solomon orders that the child be cut in two with a sword, thereby revealing who is the true mother. All Israel understands that God's wisdom is in the king.
Die KönigszeitSolomon's Merchant Fleet to Ophir
Solomon goes to Ezion-Geber and Elath on the coast of Edom. Hiram sends him ships and experienced sailors who go with Solomon's servants to Ophir and bring back 450 talents of gold for the king.
Die KönigszeitSolomon's Request to Hiram for Help with the Temple
Solomon musters workers and sends a message to King Hiram of Tyre, asking for a skilled craftsman and timber from Lebanon to build the house of the Lord. He promises payment in wheat, barley, wine, and oil. Hiram replies with a letter, praising the God of Israel, and sends the expert craftsman Huram-Abi. He pledges to cut down trees in Lebanon and float them by sea to Joppa.
Die KönigszeitSolomon's Temple
Solomon builds the magnificent temple in Jerusalem. At the dedication, God's glory fills the house.
Die KönigszeitSolomon's Temple: Equipment and Hiram's Work
The chapter describes in detail the bronze and gold items made for God's house: the bronze altar, the great Sea resting on twelve oxen, the ten basins for cleansing water, the ten golden lampstands, and the ten tables in the temple hall, as well as the priests' courtyard and the large outer court. Master Hiram completed the casting of the pillars, pomegranates, pots, and bowls on the plain of Jordan between Succoth and Zeredatha, while Solomon provided all the gold utensils for the Most Holy Place and the temple hall.
Die KönigszeitSolomon's Wealth and Power
Description of King Solomon's immense wealth: 666 talents of gold annually, two hundred large and three hundred small shields of beaten gold, a magnificent throne of ivory overlaid with pure gold with lions on the steps, four thousand stalls for horses and twelve thousand horsemen, as well as merchant ships that every third year sailed to Tarshish bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks. Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in wealth and wisdom, and silver was as common as stones in Jerusalem.
Die KönigszeitSolomon's Wealth and Wisdom
After the visit of the Queen of Sheba, Solomon's immense wealth is described: his famous throne made of ivory and gold, his fleet that brought rare goods, and his collection of chariots and horses from Egypt.
Die KönigszeitSolomon's Wisdom and Wealth
Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt, and these peoples brought him tribute. His daily provisions were enormous, and he had peace on every side while Judah and Israel lived in safety, each man under his own vine and fig tree. God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, so that he became wiser than all the people of the East and all the wise men of Egypt. He spoke three thousand proverbs and composed a thousand and five songs. He spoke about trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop on the wall; he also spoke about animals, birds, creeping things, and fish. People came from all nations to hear his wisdom.
Die KönigszeitThe Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem
David brings the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. On the way, Uzzah dies because he touches the ark, and the ark remains with Obed-Edom for three months. Finally, the ark is brought to the City of David with dancing and rejoicing, but Michal despises David for his dancing.
Die KönigszeitThe Assyrians Conquer Samaria
The Assyrian king Shalmaneser besieges Samaria during the reign of King Hosea, and after three years the city falls. The Israelites are taken into exile in Assyria and settled in Halah, by the Habor River in Gozan, and in the cities of Media. This happens because the people have broken the Lord's covenant and have not listened to his voice.
Die KönigszeitThe Battle at the Pool of Gibeon and the Death of Asahel
A bloody confrontation unfolds at the Pool of Gibeon where twelve men from each side fall in a duel, before a fierce battle breaks out. In it, the swift-footed Asahel pursues Abner and is killed despite Abner's warnings.
Die KönigszeitThe Battles Against the Philistines and the Descendants of the Giants
A series of battles between David and the Philistines, in which four descendants of the giants from Gath were struck down. David himself became exhausted in battle and was nearly killed by Ishbi-Benob, but Abishai rescued him, and David's men swore that he should not go out to war again, so as not to extinguish the lamp of Israel. Sibbecai killed Saph at Gob, Elhanan struck down the Gittite Goliath with a spear shaft like a weaver's beam, and Jonathan, the son of David's brother, felled a giant who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot.
Die KönigszeitThe Burial of the Man of God
The old prophet retrieved the body of the man of God and buried him in his own tomb during a funeral ceremony. He asked his sons to place his bones beside the bones of the man of God when he died, and confirmed that the prophecy against the altar at Bethel and the high places would be fulfilled. Yet Jeroboam did not turn from his evil ways, which led to the extermination of his house.
Die KönigszeitThe Civil War between Omri and Tibni
The people of Israel split into two camps, with half supporting Tibni son of Ginat and the other half supporting Omri. Omri's supporters won, Tibni died, and Omri became king over Israel.
Die KönigszeitThe Covenant Between Solomon and Hiram
King Hiram of Tyre, who had been a friend of David, sent word to Solomon after he was anointed king. Solomon asked Hiram for cedar and cypress trees from Lebanon to build the temple for the Lord, promising payment for the workers. Hiram agreed to the deal and sent the timber as rafts along the coast. In return, Solomon gave him twenty thousand cors of wheat and twenty cors of fine oil each year. The two kings made a peace covenant. [ref:1 Kings 5:15-26|1 Kings 5:15-26]
Die KönigszeitThe Covenant of the Lord's People and Baal's Temple Torn Down
The priest Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord, the king, and the people that they would be the Lord's people. All the people then went to Baal's temple, tore it down, smashed the altars and idols, and killed Baal's priest Mattan in front of the altars. Jehoiada posted guards at the house of the Lord, and King Joash was brought down from the house of the Lord to the king's house and seated on the royal throne. The people rejoiced, and the city was peaceful after Athaliah had been killed with a sword at the king's house.
Die KönigszeitThe Death of Jehoiada and Joash's Apostasy from the Lord
After the faithful priest Jehoiada died at the age of 130 and was buried among the kings, King Joash allowed himself to be persuaded by the leaders of Judah to abandon the house of the Lord and worship Asherah poles and idols. Then God's wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem, and the Lord sent prophets to bring the people back, but they would not listen.
Die KönigszeitThe Death of King Josiah at Megiddo
Pharaoh Neco marched up against the king of Assyria at the Euphrates. King Josiah went out to meet him, but was killed at Megiddo. His servants carried his dead body to Jerusalem and buried him. Then the people anointed his son Jehoahaz as king.
Die KönigszeitThe Death of Nadab and the Rise of Baasha
Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, became king over Israel and did evil in the Lord's sight. While he and all Israel were besieging the Philistine city of Gibbethon, Baasha, the son of Ahijah from the house of Issachar, conspired against him and killed him. Baasha became king in his place and wiped out the entire house of Jeroboam, just as the Lord had spoken through His servant the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh, because of the sins that Jeroboam had committed.
Die KönigszeitThe Division of the Kingdom
After Solomon's death, the kingdom was divided into two when Rehoboam rejected the people's plea for a lighter yoke. Jeroboam became king over Israel in the north and set up golden calves in Bethel and Dan.
Die KönigszeitThe Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar besieges and conquers Jerusalem. King Zedekiah is captured, the temple is burned down, the city walls are torn down, and the people are taken into exile in Babylon.
Die KönigszeitThe Famine and Atonement with the Gibeonites
A three-year famine in David's days reveals that blood guilt rests on Saul's house because Saul had broken the oath and killed the Gibeonites. David hands over seven of Saul's descendants – two sons of Rizpah and five grandsons through Merab – who are hanged at Gibeah, while Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, is spared for the sake of the oath. Rizpah faithfully guards the bodies from harvest until the rain comes, and David arranges to bring the bones of Saul and Jonathan from Jabesh in Gilead and bury them in the family tomb at Zela in Benjamin's land. After this, God responded to prayer for the land.
Die KönigszeitThe Judgment on Coniah
The Lord promises to tear Coniah, son of Jehoiakim, away like a signet ring and hand him over to Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon, explaining that none of his descendants will succeed in sitting on David's throne [ref:Jer 22:24-30|Jeremiah 22:24-30].
Die KönigszeitThe Judgment on Jehoiakim
Jeremiah condemns King Jehoiakim for building his palace through injustice, exploiting workers without pay, and seeking personal gain through oppression and bloodshed. The prophet predicts that he will be buried like a donkey, dragged away, and cast outside the gates of Jerusalem [ref:Jer 22:13-19|Jeremiah 22:13-19].
Die KönigszeitThe Judgment on Shallum
The Lord declares through Jeremiah that Shallum, son of Josiah, who became king after his father, will never return to Judah. He shall die in the land where he was taken into exile.
Die KönigszeitThe Lord Appears to Solomon a Second Time
The Lord appears to Solomon a second time after the temple has been built. He confirms that the house is dedicated for His name and promises to establish Solomon's royal throne if he walks faithfully as David did. But if Solomon or his descendants turn away and worship other gods, God will cut Israel off from the land and reject the temple, so that it becomes an object of scorn among the nations.
Die KönigszeitThe Lord's Promise to Solomon Regarding the Temple and the Royal Throne
The Lord appears to Solomon at night and promises to hear prayers offered in the temple, but also gives a conditional warning: If the people turn back, God will forgive and heal the land; however, if they abandon Him, He will reject the house and uproot them from the land [ref:2 Chr 7:12-22|2 Chronicles 7:12-22].
Die KönigszeitThe Man of God from Judah and King Jeroboam
A man of God from Judah came to Bethel and prophesied that a son named Josiah would be born in the house of David, who would sacrifice the priests of the high places on the altar. King Jeroboam reached out his hand to seize him, but his hand withered, and the altar split as a sign. After the man of God prayed for the king and his hand was healed, he refused to eat or drink in Bethel and returned home by another route.
Die KönigszeitThe Murder of Ish-bosheth
Rekab and Baana, the sons of Rimmon from Beeroth, crept into Ish-bosheth's house while he was resting at midday and killed him. They cut off his head and brought it to David in Hebron, hoping for a reward because they had taken the life of Saul's son. David became angry and reminded them how he had executed the messenger who reported Saul's death. He sentenced the two men to death for killing an innocent man in his own bed, ordered their execution, and hung their bodies by the pool in Hebron. Ish-bosheth's head was buried with honor in Abner's tomb.
Die KönigszeitThe Origin and Mixed Faith of the Samaritans
The Assyrian king moved people from Babel, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim to the cities of Samaria. When lions attacked them because they did not fear the Lord, a priest taken captive was sent to Bethel to teach them the customs of the land. The peoples feared the Lord, but at the same time continued to worship their own gods such as Succoth-Benoth, Nergal, and Ashima—a mixed faith that endured.
Die KönigszeitThe People of Israel Ask for a King
When Samuel grew old and his sons did not follow his ways, the elders of Israel gathered in Ramah and demanded a king like all the other nations. Samuel was displeased and prayed to the Lord, who said that the people had rejected Him as their king. Samuel warned the people about the burdens of kingship, but they insisted on their demand, so the Lord told him to grant them a king.
Die KönigszeitThe Philistine raiding parties and Israel's lack of weapons
From the Philistine camp, raiding parties went out in three detachments that spread toward Ophrah, Beth-Horon and the Valley of Zeboim. There was no blacksmith to be found in all Israel, for the Philistines had forbidden the Hebrews to make swords or spears. The Israelites had to go down to the Philistines to have their plowshares, mattocks, axes and sickles sharpened, and they paid for the work. On the day of battle, none in Saul's army had a sword or spear—only Saul and Jonathan were armed.
Die KönigszeitThe Philistines Capture the Ark of God
The Philistines take the Ark of God and bring it to Ashdod, where they place it beside their god Dagon in his temple. Two mornings in a row, they find Dagon fallen face down before the ark, eventually with his head and hands cut off. Then the hand of the Lord strikes Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron with boils and deadly terror, and the Philistine rulers decide that the ark must be sent back to Israel.
Die KönigszeitThe Priests and Levites Move to Jerusalem
Because Jeroboam and his sons rejected the Levites as priests for the Lord and instead appointed their own priests for the high places, the goat demons, and the calves, the priests and Levites from all Israel left their pasture lands and property and moved to Judah and Jerusalem. People from all the tribes of Israel who sought the Lord with all their heart followed them, strengthening the kingdom of Judah and supporting Rehoboam for three years as they walked in the ways of David and Solomon.
Die KönigszeitThe Prophet Judges Ahab Through the Parable of the Escaped Prisoner
A prophet's disciple asks another man to strike him at the Lord's command, but the man refuses and is killed by a lion. Another man then strikes him so that he is wounded. The prophet disguises himself with ash over his eyes and waits for King Ahab along the road. He tells the king a made-up story about a prisoner he was ordered to guard, who escaped, and the king passes judgment on himself. Then the prophet removes the bandage, and the king recognizes him. The prophet declares the Lord's word: because Ahab set free the man whom the Lord had devoted to destruction, his life shall be for that man's life, and his people for that man's people. Ahab goes home to Samaria, angry and gloomy.
Die KönigszeitThe Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon
The Queen of Sheba travels to Jerusalem to test Solomon's wisdom with riddles, and is overwhelmed by his wisdom, wealth, and splendor at the court.
Die KönigszeitThe Reason for Israel's Fall
The text gives a theological summary of why the Lord allowed Israel to fall and be taken into exile in Assyria. The Israelites feared other gods, followed the customs of the nations, built high places, set up Asherah poles, worshiped Baal and the host of heaven, made their children pass through the fire, and practiced divination. They rejected the covenant and did not listen to the warnings of the prophets, but continued in the sin of Jeroboam until the Lord drove them away from his presence.
Die KönigszeitThe Reign and Fall of King Ahaz
King Ahaz of Judah does evil in the Lord's sight, makes idols for the Baals and burns his sons in the valley of Hinnom. As punishment, Judah suffers defeat against the Arameans and Israel, and Pekah kills 120,000 men. The prophet Oded and the leaders of Ephraim persuade the Israelites to send the captives back. Edomites and Philistines also attack Judah. Ahaz seeks help from Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria and sacrifices to the gods of Damascus, but this only leads him deeper into unfaithfulness. He shuts the doors of the Lord's house and dies, and his son Hezekiah becomes king.
Die KönigszeitThe Reign and Fall of King Uzziah
Uzziah becomes king of Judah at the age of sixteen and reigns for 52 years. As long as he seeks the Lord, God gives him success: he defeats the Philistines, Arabs, and Meunites, strengthens Jerusalem, and builds a large army. But when he has become powerful, he becomes proud and enters the temple to burn incense on the altar of incense. The priest Azariah and eighty other priests confront him, and while he is raging, leprosy breaks out on his forehead. He remains leprous until his death, while his son Jotham rules the land.
Die KönigszeitThe Second Battle at Aphek and Ben-Hadad's Peace
The Arameans attack again at Aphek, but a man of God reminds them that the Lord is not only a mountain god but also a valley god. Israel defeats them once more, and Ben-Hadad makes a covenant with Ahab that sets him free.
Die KönigszeitThe Temple Workforce
King Solomon conscripted forced laborers from all Israel: 30,000 men were sent to Lebanon in shifts—one month in Lebanon and two months at home—under the supervision of Adoniram. In addition, he had 70,000 carriers and 80,000 stonecutters in the hills, as well as 3,300 foremen. By the king's command, large, costly stones were quarried for the foundation of God's house, and Solomon's and Hiram's builders, together with the men from Gebal, cut the stones and prepared the timber for the temple.
Die KönigszeitThe Three Warriors and the Water of Bethlehem
While David was in the stronghold at Adullam and the Philistines had a garrison at Bethlehem, he longed for water from the well by the gate of Bethlehem. Three of his most courageous warriors broke through the enemy camp to fetch the water, but David refused to drink it and poured it out as an offering to the Lord, because it was like the blood of men who risked their lives.
Die KönigszeitThe War between Amaziah and Joash and the Fall of Amaziah
Amaziah challenges the king of Israel, Joash, to battle. Joash responds with the parable of the thistle and the cedar, but Amaziah refuses to listen. The armies meet at Beth-Shemesh, where Judah is defeated and Amaziah taken captive. Joash tears down part of Jerusalem's wall, takes gold, silver, and hostages, and returns to Samaria. Later, a conspiracy is plotted against Amaziah; he flees to Lachish but is overtaken and killed there.
Die KönigszeitThe Warriors Who Joined David
An extensive list of the brave warriors from all the tribes of Israel who joined David – first in Ziklag and the mountain fortress while he was fleeing from Saul, and later in Hebron where they gathered to make him king over all Israel.
Die KönigszeitThe Wise Woman of Abel-Beth-Maacah
The city of Abel-Beth-Maacah is besieged by Joab's army because of Sheba's rebellion against King David. A wise woman negotiates with Joab and convinces the inhabitants to cut off Sheba's head to save the city from destruction [ref:2 Sam 20:14-22|2 Samuel 20:14-22].
Die KönigszeitThe Woman of Tekoa and the Return of Absalom
Joab sends a wise woman from Tekoa to King David with a fabricated story about two sons and brother-slaying, to persuade David to bring back his son Absalom, who had fled after killing Amnon. The king sees through Joab's plan but relents and allows Absalom to return to Jerusalem. However, Absalom is not permitted to see the king's face for two years. Finally, he sets fire to Joab's field to force him to intercede, and the king summons Absalom and kisses him.
Die KönigszeitThe Ziphites' Betrayal and the Cliff of Separation
The Ziphites reveal David's hiding place to Saul, who marches out with his army to capture him in the Desert of Maon. Just as Saul is about to surround David, word comes that the Philistines have invaded the land, and Saul must turn back. That is why the place was named the Cliff of Separation.
Die KönigszeitVictories over the Philistines and the Giants
In several battles against the Philistines, David's men defeated descendants of the giant clan: Sibbecai struck down Sippai at Gezer, Elhanan killed Lahmi (the brother of Goliath), and Jonathan struck down a man with six fingers and toes at Gath.
Die KönigszeitZechariah is Stoned and Joash Murdered
The Spirit of God came upon Zechariah, the son of the priest Jehoiada, who warned the people that they had forsaken the Lord. He was stoned in the courtyard of the house of the Lord at the command of King Joash. At the turn of the year, a small Aramean army defeated Judah as God's judgment, and finally the severely wounded King Joash was murdered on his bed by his own servants in revenge for the blood of Zechariah.
Die KönigszeitZedekiah becomes king and rebels against Babylon
Zedekiah became king of Jerusalem at the age of twenty-one and reigned for eleven years. He did what was evil in the Lord's sight, just as Jehoiakim had done. Because of the Lord's anger toward Jerusalem and Judah, he drove them from his presence, and Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
Die KönigszeitZimri's Conspiracy and Death
Zimri, commander of half the chariots, killed King Elah while he was getting drunk in Tirzah and wiped out the entire house of Baasha, just as the Lord had spoken through the prophet Jehu. But Zimri reigned for only seven days before the army proclaimed Omri king. When Omri besieged Tirzah, Zimri went into the citadel of the royal palace and set fire to it over himself, dying in the flames.
Die LandnahmeA New Circumcision at Gilgal
The Lord commanded Joshua to make flint knives and circumcise the new generation of Israelites at the Hill of Foreskins, since those born during the wilderness wanderings had not been circumcised. After the people were healed, the Lord said that He had rolled away the disgrace of Egypt from them, and the place was called Gilgal [ref:Jos 5:2-9|Joshua 5:2-9].
Die LandnahmeAchan's Sin
Achan took some of the devoted things from Jericho, which led to Israel's defeat at Ai. The sin was exposed, and Achan was punished in the Valley of Achor.
Die LandnahmeAksa Asks for Water Springs
Kaleb promised his daughter Aksa to whoever captured Kirjat-Sefer. Otniel, the son of Kenas and Kaleb's brother, took the city and received Aksa as his wife. When she arrived, she urged him to ask her father for a piece of land. She dismounted from her donkey, and Kaleb asked what she wanted. Aksa requested water springs in addition to the land in the Negev, and Kaleb gave her both the upper and lower springs.
Die LandnahmeAsher's Inheritance
The fifth lot fell to the tribe of Asher. The area included cities such as Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph, Allammelech, Amad and Mishal, and extended from Carmel in the west to great Sidon and the fortified city of Tyre – a total of twenty-two cities with their surrounding villages.
Die LandnahmeBoundaries of Manasseh and Incomplete Conquest
The tribe of Manasseh was allotted land extending from Asher to Issachar, including cities such as Beth-shean, Taanach, and Megiddo. The sons of Manasseh were unable to completely drive out the Canaanites, but when the Israelites grew strong, they put them to forced labor.
Die LandnahmeBurial of Joseph's bones in Shechem
Joseph's bones, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried in Shechem on the plot of land that Jacob had bought from Hamor's sons for a hundred kesitahs. The place became an inheritance for Joseph's descendants.
Die LandnahmeCaleb Claims Hebron as an Inheritance
Caleb, who remained faithful to the Lord when the other spies caused the people to lose heart, now claims the promise of Hebron as his inheritance. Although he is 85 years old and the land is inhabited by the powerful Anakim, he asks Joshua to help drive them out with the Lord's aid. Joshua blesses him and gives him Hebron, formerly known as Kirjath-Arba, as an inheritance. Thus, the land had rest from war.
Die LandnahmeCaleb Conquers Hebron and Debir
Caleb son of Jephunneh receives Hebron (Kiriath-Arba) as his inheritance among the descendants of Judah and drives out the three sons of Anak: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai. Then he moves against Debir (formerly Kiriath-Sepher) and promises his daughter Achsah to whoever captures the city. Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's brother, takes the city and marries Achsah. Achsah asks her father for a field and water springs, and Caleb gives her both the upper and lower springs.
Die LandnahmeCurse and Blessing on Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim
After the victory over Ai, Joshua built an altar of uncut stones on Mount Ebal and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. He wrote a copy of the Mosaic Law on the stones, and all Israel stood in two groups on either side of the Ark of the Covenant—half facing Mount Gerizim and half facing Mount Ebal. Joshua then read aloud all the words of the law, both the blessings and the curses, to the entire assembly.
Die LandnahmeDan's Inheritance and the Conquest of Laish
The seventh lot fell to the tribe of Dan, including cities such as Zorah, Eshtaol, Ekron, and the area near Jaffa. When their allotted territory was lost to them, the Danites went up, fought against Laish, captured the city, and renamed it Dan after their ancestor.
Die LandnahmeDistribution of the Land East of the Jordan to Reuben, Gad and Half-Manasseh
Joshua has grown old, and the Lord reminds him that much land remains to be taken. The chapter describes how Moses earlier distributed the land east of the Jordan to the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half-Manasseh, with detailed borders and cities from the conquered kingdoms of kings Sihon and Og. The tribe of Levi receives no land inheritance, for the Lord himself is their inheritance.
Die LandnahmeGibeon's Deceit
The Gibeonites trick the Israelites into making a peace treaty by pretending to be travelers from a distant land. When the deception is revealed, Joshua must keep his oath but makes them woodcutters and water carriers.
Die LandnahmeJoshua Completes the Conquest and Destroys the Anakim
Joshua takes possession of the entire land from the bare mountain at Seir to Baal-Gad in the valley of Lebanon near Mount Hermon, and captures all their kings, putting them to death. Not a single city made peace with the Israelites, except for the Hivites living in Gibeon—the Lord hardened the hearts of these kings so that they went to war and were devoted to destruction. Joshua also drives out the Anakim from the mountains around Hebron, Debir, and Anab, and from all the hill country of Judah and Israel. Only in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod do some Anakim remain. Finally, Joshua distributes the land as an inheritance among the tribes of Israel, and the land rests from war.
Die LandnahmeJoshua Encourages the Sons of Joseph to Clear the Forest
The sons of Joseph complain to Joshua that they have received only one portion, even though they are a numerous people. Joshua replies that they should go up into the forest in the land of the Perizzites and Refaim and clear out territory for themselves. When they object that the Canaanites in the valley regions have iron chariots, Joshua promises them that the mountain will be theirs all the way to its outer limits, and that they will drive out the Canaanites.
Die LandnahmeJoshua prepares the people to cross the Jordan
Joshua commands the leaders of the people to prepare provisions, for in three days they will cross the Jordan to take possession of the land. He reminds the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh of Moses' command: their armed men must cross ahead of their brothers and help them until they also find rest, before returning to their own land east of the Jordan. The people promise to obey Joshua just as they obeyed Moses.
Die LandnahmeJoshua's Conquest of Southern Canaan
After defeating the five Amorite kings, Joshua continues his military campaign in the south. He captures Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish (with the help of the king of Gezer who is defeated), Eglon, Hebron, and Debir. He strikes down these cities and their kings with devotion to destruction, from Kadesh-Barnea to Gaza, for the Lord fought for Israel. Finally, he returns to the camp at Gilgal [ref:Jos 10:28-43|Joshua 10:28-43].
Die LandnahmeJoshua's Farewell Address to Israel
An aging Joshua gathers the leaders of Israel to remind them of God's faithfulness, warn against mixing with the remaining nations, and urge them to remain faithful to God's law before he dies.
Die LandnahmeJoshua's Farewell Speech
Joshua gathers the people at Shechem, reminds them of the Lord's deeds, and challenges them to choose whom they will serve. The people promise to serve the Lord, and Joshua makes a covenant with them.
Die LandnahmeJoshua's Inheritance
When the distribution of the land was finished, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun an inheritance among them. At the Lord's command, he received the city he asked for: Timnath-Serah in the hill country of Ephraim. There he rebuilt the city and settled in it. Thus Eleazar the priest, Joshua, and the heads of families completed the distribution of the land by casting lots at Shiloh before the Lord.
Die LandnahmeJoshua's Meeting with the Commander of the Lord's Army
Before the conquest of Jericho, Joshua meets a man with a drawn sword who reveals himself as the commander of the Lord's army. Joshua falls down and worships, and is told to take off his sandals because the place is holy.
Die LandnahmeJudah's Conquest and Adoni-Bezek
After Joshua's death, Judah and Simeon go to war against the Canaanites. They capture King Adoni-Bezek and cut off his thumbs and big toes. Then they take Jerusalem, Hebron, and Debir, where Caleb gives his daughter Aksah to Othniel as a reward for capturing the city.
Die LandnahmeNaphtali's Inheritance
The sixth lot fell to the tribe of Naphtali. The boundary ran from Heleph, from the oak in Zaanannim, past Adami-nekeb and Jabneel to the Jordan, then turned westward through Ashtaroth-karnaim and Hukkok toward Zebulun and Asher. They received nineteen fortified cities with their surrounding villages, including Kinnereth, Hazor, and Kedesh. [ref:Joshua 19:32-39|Joshua 19:32-39]
Die LandnahmePassover Celebration and the End of Manna
The children of Israel camp at Gilgal and celebrate Passover on the plains of Jericho. The next day they eat from the produce of the land—unleavened bread and roasted grain—and the manna stops. From then on, they live off the crops of the land of Canaan.
Die LandnahmeRahab and the Spies
Rahab hides the Israelite spies in Jericho and is saved from the city's destruction.
Die LandnahmeReuben and Gad's Children Ask for Gilead
The tribes of Reuben and Gad ask to receive the land east of the Jordan because they have much livestock, but Moses warns them not to discourage the people as their fathers did at Kadesh-Barnea. They promise to go armed at the front of Israel until the land is conquered, and Moses gives them and half the tribe of Manasseh the kingdoms of Sihon and Og as a possession. They build cities in Gilead, and Makir, Jair, and Nobah take over areas in the north.
Die LandnahmeReuben, Gad and Manasseh Build an Altar by the Jordan
The two and a half tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh build a large altar by the Jordan on their way home to Gilead. The other tribes gather at Shiloh to go to war but first send the priest Phinehas and ten leaders to confront them. The tribes explain that the altar is not for sacrifices but as a witness to their share in the Lord. Phinehas and the assembly accept the explanation, and the altar is named "Witness".
Die LandnahmeSimeon's Inheritance
The second lot fell to the tribe of Simeon, and their inheritance was within the territory of Judah because Judah's portion was too large. The text lists the cities and villages that fell to Simeon, including Beer-Sheba, Moladah, Ziklag, and Rimmon. [ref:Joshua 19:1-9|Joshua 19:1-9]
Die LandnahmeThe allotment for the tribe of Benjamin
The whole assembly of Israel gathers at Shiloh and sets up the tent of meeting. Joshua sends three men from each of the seven remaining tribes to map out the land into seven parts, then casts lots before the Lord. The lot falls first on the tribe of Benjamin, which receives its territory between Judah and the house of Joseph. The account describes the boundaries and lists the cities—twelve and fourteen—that belonged to the tribe, including Jericho and Jebus (Jerusalem).
Die LandnahmeThe Battle Against Og, King of Bashan
Moses tells how Israel defeated Og, king of Bashan, the last of the giants, and took over his entire kingdom with sixty fortified cities in the region of Argob. The cities were devoted to destruction as they had done with Sihon. The chapter also describes the distribution of the land east of the Jordan—from the Arnon to Hermon—to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, with Jair and Makir mentioned separately.
Die LandnahmeThe Battle at Merom and the Conquest of Hazor
The kings of the north, led by Jabin of Hazor, gather at the waters of Merom with a large army, horses, and chariots to fight against Israel. The Lord promises victory, and Joshua attacks suddenly and defeats them. He then captures Hazor, burns the city, and destroys the kings and peoples in the region as Moses had commanded.
Die LandnahmeThe Battle of Ai
Joshua leads a strategic operation against the city of Ai by using an ambush and a false retreat to lure out the enemy, before destroying the city and executing its king.
Die LandnahmeThe Cities of Refuge Are Selected
The Lord commanded Joshua to select the cities of refuge that Moses had spoken about, so that anyone who kills a person by accident can flee there and be safe from the avenger of blood. The killer must present his case to the elders at the city gate and remain there until he stands trial before the assembly and until the high priest dies. They set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hills of Naphtali, Shechem in the hills of Ephraim, and Hebron in the hills of Judah on the west side of the Jordan, as well as Bezer in the wilderness, Ramoth in Gilead, and Golan in Bashan on the east side. These cities applied both to the Israelites and to the foreigners living among them.
Die LandnahmeThe Crossing of the Jordan
The Israelites cross the River Jordan on dry ground while the priests carry the Ark of the Covenant, and twelve stones are set up as a memorial at Gilgal.
Die LandnahmeThe Daughters of Zelophehad Receive an Inheritance
Zelophehad from the tribe of Manasseh had no sons, only five daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah. They came forward before the priest Eleazar, Joshua and the leaders and reminded them that the Lord had commanded Moses to give them an inheritance among their brothers. They received an inheritance according to the Lord's command, and thus ten allotments fell to Manasseh in addition to Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan.
Die LandnahmeThe Death and Burial of Eleazar
Eleazar, son of Aaron, dies and is buried in Gibath-Phinehas in the hill country of Ephraim, the city that was given to his son Phinehas.
Die LandnahmeThe Death and Burial of Joshua
Joshua, son of Nun, servant of the Lord, died at the age of one hundred and ten and was buried in his allotted inheritance in Timnath-Serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.
Die LandnahmeThe Five Kings in the Cave at Makkedah
The five Amorite kings fled and hid in the cave at Makkedah. Joshua ordered large stones rolled to block the entrance and set guards, while the army pursued the enemy. After the victory, the kings were brought forward, and the commanders placed their feet on their necks. Joshua struck them down, hung them on five trees until evening, and threw them into the cave with large stones blocking the entrance [ref:Jos 10:16-27|Joshua 10:16-27].
Die LandnahmeThe Incomplete Conquests
Several tribes fail to drive out the original inhabitants of the land. Benjamin allows the Jebusites to remain in Jerusalem, while the house of Joseph takes Bethel with the help of a man who shows them the way inside. Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, and Naphtali do not drive out the Canaanites but put them to forced labor. The Amorites press the tribe of Dan up into the mountains.
Die LandnahmeThe Inheritance of Ephraim and Manasseh
The lot fell to the children of Joseph, and the chapter describes the borders of the inheritance for Ephraim and Manasseh, from the Jordan at Jericho through the wilderness and the mountains to Bethel, continuing via Beth-Horon and Gezer to the sea. It concludes with the note that Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites in Gezer but made them perform forced labor.
Die LandnahmeThe Inheritance of Issachar
The fourth lot fell to the tribe of Issachar. Their territory included sixteen cities with their surrounding villages, among them Jezreel, Shunem, and Tabor, and the boundary ended at the Jordan.
Die LandnahmeThe Kenites Settle Down and Judah Continues the Conquests
The descendants of the Kenites, Moses' father-in-law's clan, set out from the City of Palms with Judah's sons and settle in the Negev of Judah near Arad. Judah and his brother Simeon defeat the Canaanites at Zephath, devote the city to destruction, and rename it Hormah. Judah takes Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron along with their surrounding territories. The Lord is with Judah, and they drive out the inhabitants of the hill country, but cannot dislodge those in the valley because they have iron chariots. Hebron is given to Caleb, as Moses had said, and he drives out the three sons of Anak.
Die LandnahmeThe Levites Receive Cities and Pastures
The heads of the Levite families came to Eleazar, Joshua, and the tribal leaders at Shiloh and reminded them of the Lord's command through Moses regarding cities for them to live in. By lot, the Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites received a total of 48 cities with their pastures from the various tribes, including six cities of refuge for those who killed someone [ref:Joshua 21:1-42|Joshua 21:1-42].
Die LandnahmeThe Lord gives Israel rest and fulfills the promise
The chapter ends with a summary: The Lord gave Israel the whole land he had sworn to give their fathers, gave them rest on every side, and not one word of all the good things he had spoken failed to come true—everything was fulfilled [ref:Josh 21:43-45|Josh 21:43-45].
Die LandnahmeThe Sun Stands Still over Gibeon
Five Amorite kings attacked Gibeon because the city had made peace with Israel. Joshua marched out from Gilgal, and the Lord threw the enemy into confusion and sent hailstones from heaven. Joshua prayed that the sun and moon would stand still, and the sun remained in the middle of the sky until Israel had won the victory.
Die LandnahmeThe Walls of Jericho Fall
The Israelites march around Jericho for six days. On the seventh day, they circle the city seven times, and the walls collapse after a blast from the trumpets and the people's shout. Only Rahab and her family are spared.
Die LandnahmeZebulun's Inheritance
The third lot fell to the descendants of Zebulun. The boundary ran from Sarid westward toward Maralah and Jokneam, and eastward through Kishloth-Tabor, Daberath and Japhia, continuing to Gath-hepher, Rimmon and Hannathon, ending in the valley of Jiftah-el. Altogether, the tribe received twelve cities with their surrounding villages as an inheritance.
MoseAge limits for the service of the Levites
The Lord sets the age limits for the service of the Levites in the tent of meeting: they are to begin their service at twenty-five years of age and retire from the main work when they reach fifty, though they may continue to assist their brothers with guard duty. [ref:Num 8:23-26|Numbers 8:23-26]
MoseAppointment of Leaders and Judges
Moses explained how he could not carry the responsibility for the people alone because they had become so numerous. He asked them to choose wise, understanding, and experienced men from each tribe and appointed them as leaders over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, as well as overseers. He also commanded the judges to judge fairly without showing partiality, for judgment belongs to God.
MoseAtonement for innocent blood
A ritualized procedure to cleanse the land of innocent blood when a murdered man is found with no known killer. The elders of the nearest city lead an unused heifer down to a valley with a flowing stream, break its neck, wash their hands over the heifer, and ask the Lord to forgive the people so that the guilt for the blood may be atoned.
MoseBezalel and Oholiab Appointed as Craftsmen
The Lord appoints Bezalel and Oholiab, fills them with God's Spirit and wisdom, and gives them the task of building the tent of meeting, the ark, and all the holy utensils.
MoseBezalel Builds the Ark and the Mercy Seat
Bezalel makes the ark of acacia wood overlaid with pure gold, and the mercy seat with two cherubim of hammered work covering it with their wings.
MoseBezalel Builds the Incense Altar and Makes Oil and Incense
Bezalel makes the incense altar of acacia wood overlaid with gold, and prepares the holy anointing oil and the fragrant incense.
MoseBezalel Makes the Table of Showbread and the Lampstand
Bezalel makes the table of acacia wood overlaid with pure gold, with a frame, a gold rim, rings, and carrying poles, as well as dishes, bowls, pitchers, and basins of pure gold. Then he makes the lampstand of pure gold, hammered out, with six branches, almond-shaped cups with buds and flowers, and seven lamps—all made from one talent of gold.
MoseCensus and Ransom
The Lord commands Moses that every Israelite over twenty years old who is counted in the census must give half a shekel as a ransom for their life, so that no plague may strike the people. The rich and the poor shall give the same amount, and the money shall be used for the service of the tent of meeting as an atonement and a reminder for the Israelites.
MoseChoose Life or Death
Moses presents a clear choice to the people: life and good, or death and evil. He urges them to love the Lord, walk in his ways, and keep his commandments so that they and their descendants may live in the land the Lord swore to give to their fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Heaven and earth are called as witnesses against the people when Moses says: Choose life.
MoseCities of Refuge for the Manslayer
Moses establishes rules for setting up three cities of refuge in the land Israel is to occupy, so that someone who has killed their neighbor unintentionally—such as by an accident while chopping wood—can flee there and save their life from the avenger of blood. The roads must be made passable, and the land divided into three parts; when the Lord expands the territory, three more cities shall be added. But if someone hates their neighbor and kills them with intent, the elders shall hand them over to the avenger of blood, so that innocent blood is not shed among the people.
MoseCleansing and Selection of the Levites
The Lord commands Moses to cleanse the Levites by sprinkling them with water for cleansing, shaving them, and having them wash their clothes before presenting them to the assembly. The Israelites lay their hands on the Levites, and Aaron presents them as a wave offering to the Lord. The Levites are taken in place of all the firstborn among the Israelites and given as a gift to Aaron and his sons to serve in the tent of meeting and make atonement for the people.
MoseConsecration of the Tabernacle and the Altar
When Moses had set up the tabernacle, he anointed and consecrated it along with the altar. The twelve tribal leaders of Israel first brought six carts and twelve oxen, which were distributed to the Levites according to their service. Then they presented identical offerings of silver, gold, and animals for the dedication of the altar, one leader each day over twelve days.
MoseCurses and Blessings from Gerizim and Ebal
Moses commands that the tribes be divided into two groups when they cross the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin are to stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, while Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali are to stand on Mount Ebal and pronounce the curse. The Levites then proclaim twelve curses in a loud voice against those who break God’s commands—from idolatry and dishonoring parents to injustice toward foreigners, sexual offenses, violence and bribery—and all the people answer "Amen" after each curse.
MoseDestruction of a city led into idolatry
Moses gives the procedure for when the inhabitants of an Israelite city are led by wicked men to serve other gods: the case must be investigated and examined carefully, and if it is true, the city's inhabitants and livestock shall be struck with the sword. The city and all its spoil shall be burned as a burnt offering to the Lord and become a ruin heap forever. Nothing of what is banned shall be kept, so that the Lord may turn from His wrath and show mercy.
MoseFirstfruits and the Tithe Confession
Moses gives instructions on how the Israelites are to bring the first fruits of the land's produce to the place the Lord chooses, place it in a basket, and hand it over to the priest with a declaration that they have come to the land the Lord swore to give their fathers. The confession tells of the homeless Aramean who went down to Egypt, about the oppression there, the cry to the Lord, and deliverance with a strong hand and an outstretched arm to a land flowing with milk and honey. In the third year, the tenth year, the tithe is to be given to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, and the giver shall before the face of the Lord confirm that the command has been fulfilled and ask the Lord to look down from his holy dwelling and bless the people and the land.
MoseGathering for the construction of the meeting tent
Moses gathers the entire congregation of Israel and first reminds them of the Sabbath command. Then he asks for voluntary offerings for the construction of the tabernacle, and the people—both men and women with willing hearts—bring gold, silver, bronze, wool, linen, skins, acacia wood, precious stones, spices, and oil. The women spin wool and goat hair. Moses announces that the Lord has called Bezalel from the tribe of Judah and Oholiab from the tribe of Dan, filled them with God's Spirit, wisdom, and skill in all kinds of craftsmanship to carry out the work.
MoseGenealogy of the Levites
An overview of the genealogical lines of Reuben, Simeon, and especially Levi, including Levi's sons Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, and the line leading to Moses and Aaron, sons of Amram and Jochebed.
MoseGod's Preparation for the Covenant at Sinai
Israel arrives in the Sinai desert in the third month after leaving Egypt. The Lord calls Moses up the mountain and promises that if they keep His covenant, the people will be His treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. The people answer with one voice, yes. Moses consecrates the people; they wash their clothes and prepare themselves. On the third day, the Lord comes down on Sinai amid thunder, lightning, a thick cloud, fire, and smoke, while the mountain shakes and the sound of the trumpet grows louder. Moses sets boundaries around the mountain so that no one may touch it and die, and he goes up and down between God and the people.
MoseInstructions for Building an Altar
After the Lord has spoken from heaven, he gives Moses instructions on how the Israelites are to worship him. They must not make gods of silver or gold beside him. The altar is to be built of earth or of uncut stones—hewn stones would desecrate it. At every place where the name of the Lord is remembered, he promises to come and bless the people. They must also not go up to the altar by steps, so that their nakedness may not be exposed.
MoseInstructions for the priestly garments
God gives Moses detailed instructions about the sacred garments for Aaron and his sons: the ephod with two onyx stones bearing the names of the tribes of Israel, the breastpiece with twelve precious stones and the Urim and Thummim, the robe with pomegranates and golden bells, the tunic and the turban, as well as the gold plate inscribed with "Holy to the Lord." The garments are to bring honor and splendor to the priestly service.
MoseInstructions for the Tabernacle and the Ark
The Lord spoke to Moses on the mountain and gave detailed instructions on how the Israelites were to bring an offering of gold, silver, bronze, wool, linen, and other materials to build a sanctuary where God could dwell among them. Moses received precise measurements and descriptions for the ark made of acacia wood overlaid with gold, the mercy seat with two cherubim, the table for the bread of the Presence, and the seven-branched lampstand of pure gold. Everything was to be made according to the pattern shown to Moses on the mountain.
MoseJethro Visits Moses in the Wilderness
Jethro, Moses' father-in-law and priest of Midian, travels to meet Moses in the wilderness at the mountain of God. He brings with him Moses' wife Zipporah and their two sons, Gershom and Eliezer. Moses tells him everything the Lord has done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians, and Jethro praises the Lord, acknowledging that He is greater than all gods. Jethro offers burnt offerings and sacrifices, and Aaron and the elders of Israel come to eat with him in God's presence.
MoseJethro's Advice on Delegating Judicial Authority
Jethro sees that Moses is burdening himself by judging the people alone from morning until evening, and advises him to select capable men as leaders over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens to handle the minor cases. Moses follows this advice, establishing a new structure for legal proceedings in the camp.
MoseLaw concerning the Kingdom and the King's Duties
Moses gives instructions on how Israel is to choose a king when they settle in the land. The king must be one of their own brothers, chosen by the Lord. He must not acquire many horses, many wives, or large amounts of silver and gold, so that his heart is not led astray. The king shall write a copy of the law for himself and read from it all the days of his life, so that he learns to fear the Lord and does not exalt himself above his brothers.
MoseLaw on Idolatry and the Central Court
Moses gives laws on how idolatry is to be handled: Anyone who worships other gods, the sun, the moon, or the host of heaven shall, after thorough investigation, be stoned to death at the city gate. Two or three witnesses are required to pronounce a death sentence, and the witnesses must be the first to lay hands on the guilty person. Difficult legal cases are to be brought to the Levitical priests and the judge in the place the Lord chooses, and the people must follow their ruling without turning aside to the right or to the left. Anyone who defies this authority shall die, so that all the people will hear it and fear.
MoseLaws about love for neighbors, purity, and sexual morality
The chapter gathers various laws given through Moses. First, about helping your brother with lost animals or property and lifting up an animal that has fallen. Then prohibitions against wearing clothing of the opposite sex, rules about bird's nests, requirements for a parapet on the roof, and prohibitions against mixing seeds, draft animals, and fabrics. Finally, a series of laws concerning sexual morality: false accusations of lack of virginity, adultery with a married woman, and abuse of an engaged or unmarried virgin, along with corresponding punishments.
MoseLaws concerning justice, the Sabbath, and festivals
A collection of laws and commandments in the Book of Exodus that regulate justice in legal cases, treatment of enemies and foreigners, as well as rules for the Sabbath year, the Sabbath day, and the three annual festivals.
MoseMaking of the Bars, the Veil, and the Entrance
The work is completed with the bars that hold the planks together, the inner veil with cherubim, and the entrance curtain with embroidery, as well as the posts and their bases in gold and bronze.
MoseMoses and Pharaoh – First Meeting
Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh and ask him to let the people of Israel go free. Pharaoh refuses, calls the people lazy, and increases forced labor by refusing them straw for making bricks. The people complain to Moses, but God promises to deliver them with a strong hand and reminds them of His covenant with their ancestors.
MoseMoses and Aaron Gather the Elders of Israel
Aaron meets Moses at God's mountain after the Lord's command, and Moses tells him everything the Lord has said and shown him. Together they gather the elders of Israel, and Aaron speaks the Lord's words and performs the signs before the people's eyes. The people believe, and when they hear that the Lord has seen their suffering, they bow down and worship.
MoseMoses asks to see the promised land
Moses begs the Lord to let him cross the Jordan and see the good land, that beautiful mountain country and Lebanon. But the Lord is angry with him because of the people and rejects his prayer. Instead, Moses is commanded to go up to Pisgah and see the land with his own eyes, and to strengthen and encourage Joshua, who will lead the people into the land. Then they remain in the valley opposite Beth-peor.
MoseMoses becomes angry with Eleazar and Ithamar about the sin offering
Moses gives instructions to Aaron and his surviving sons about eating the grain offering and the portions of the peace offerings in a holy place. When Moses discovers that the sin offering goat was burned up instead of eaten, he becomes angry with Eleazar and Ithamar. Aaron explains that it would not have been right to eat the sin offering on a day marked by such grief, and Moses accepts the explanation.
MoseMoses breaks the stone tablets at the golden calf
Moses tells how he was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights and received the tablets of the covenant written with God's finger. The Lord said that the people had made a cast calf, and Moses went down from the burning mountain. When he saw the sin, he threw the tablets away and broke them. He burned the calf, crushed it to dust, and threw it into the stream. Then he threw himself down before the Lord for another forty days and nights, praying for the people and for Aaron so that the Lord would not destroy them.
MoseMoses Flees to Midian
Moses kills an Egyptian who is mistreating a Hebrew and must flee from Pharaoh to Midian. There he helps the priest's daughters at the well, marries Zipporah, and has a son named Gershom.
MoseMoses is allowed to see the Promised Land from Nebo
The Lord commands Moses to go up the Abarim mountains, to Mount Nebo in the land of Moab opposite Jericho, to look out over the land of Canaan that the Israelites will receive as their possession. There Moses is to die and be gathered to his people, just as his brother Aaron died on Mount Hor. The reason is that Moses and Aaron were unfaithful to the Lord at the waters of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Sin and did not uphold His holiness among the Israelites. Moses sees the land before him but will not enter it.
MoseMoses Receives the Ten Commandments Again
The Lord commands Moses to carve two new stone tablets like the first ones and make a chest out of wood. Moses makes the chest from acacia wood, carves the tablets, and goes up the mountain. The Lord writes the Ten Words on the tablets again, and Moses places them in the chest as the Lord had commanded.
MoseMoses retells the Ten Commandments
Moses gathers all Israel and reminds them of the covenant the Lord made with them at Horeb, where God spoke face to face out of the fire. He retells the Ten Commandments – about having no other gods, making no idols, not misusing God's name, keeping the Sabbath, honoring father and mother, not killing, not committing adultery, not stealing, not giving false testimony, and not coveting – words that the Lord wrote on two stone tablets.
MoseMoses Returns to Egypt
Moses takes leave of his father-in-law Jethro and travels back to Egypt with his wife and sons, holding God's staff. Along the way, the Lord says He will harden Pharaoh's heart and that Moses must call Israel God's firstborn son—if Pharaoh refuses to let the people go, the Lord will kill Pharaoh's firstborn son.
MoseMoses Sees God's Glory
Moses asks to see God's glory. God hides him in a cleft of the rock and lets His goodness pass by while proclaiming His name and attributes: mercy, grace, and faithfulness. Moses sees God from behind and worships.
MoseMoses writes the song of praise and encourages the elders
Moses writes down the song of praise and teaches it to the children of Israel. The Lord encourages Joshua to be strong and courageous. Moses commands the Levites to place the book of the law beside the ark of the covenant as a witness against the people, and he gathers the elders together to speak these words and call heaven and earth as witnesses against their coming apostasy.
MoseMoses' Birth and Rescue
Moses is placed in a basket of reeds on the Nile and rescued by Pharaoh's daughter. His own mother becomes his nurse.
MoseMoses' Blessing Over the Tribes of Israel
Before his death, Moses pronounces blessings over the twelve tribes of Israel, with promises of God's protection and blessing for the future.
MoseMoses' Death
Moses sees the Promised Land from Mount Nebo but is not allowed to enter. He dies at 120 years old.
MoseMoses' Death Announced and Joshua Appointed as New Leader
The Lord tells Moses that he will die on Mount Abarim because of disobedience at the waters of Meribah. Moses asks the Lord to appoint a new leader, and Joshua son of Nun is chosen. Moses lays his hands on him in front of priest Eleazar and the whole congregation, appointing him as his successor.
MoseMoses' Prayer for the People at Horeb
After the people provoked God to anger with the golden calf, Moses threw himself down before the Lord for forty days and nights, pleading that He would not destroy them. He reminded God of His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of His power when He brought the people out of Egypt with a strong hand and an outstretched arm.
MoseMoses' radiant face and the veil
When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the testimony, the skin of his face shone because he had been speaking with the Lord. Aaron and the Israelites were afraid to come near him, but Moses called them to himself and gave them all that the Lord had commanded on the mountain. Afterward, he put a veil over his face, but took it off whenever he went in before the Lord to speak with him.
MoseMoses' Song and Warning
Moses delivers a prophetic song that recalls God's faithfulness, warns against Israel's future idolatry, and announces God's judgment, yet also His ultimate mercy toward His people. The song concludes with an exhortation to take these words as the source of life before Moses receives his final command.
MoseMoses' Song at the Sea
Moses and the Israelites sing a song of praise to the Lord after being saved through the Sea of Reeds, and Miriam leads the women in singing and dancing.
MoseMoses' warning about images of God and the consequences of the covenant
Moses warns the people against making carved images and reminds them of God's presence at Horeb, where they heard His voice but saw no form. He describes the consequences of breaking the covenant: being cut off from the land and scattered among the nations, but also the hope of restoration when the people turn back and seek the Lord with all their heart.
MoseNadab and Abihu Die for Offering Strange Fire
Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu offer strange fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. Fire comes out from the Lord and consumes them. Moses reminds Aaron that the Lord must be held holy, and calls Mishael and Elzaphan to carry the dead out of the camp. Aaron and his surviving sons Eleazar and Ithamar are forbidden to mourn openly.
MoseOil for the lampstand and the bread of the Presence
The Lord commands the children of Israel to bring pure, crushed olive oil for the light, so that the lamp may burn continually before the face of the Lord in the tent of meeting, and Aaron shall tend it from evening until morning outside the veil before the testimony. On the pure lampstand the lamps are to be set up at all times. Furthermore, twelve loaves shall be baked from fine flour, each weighing two-tenths of an ephah, and placed in two rows on the pure table, with pure frankincense as a memorial offering and a food offering to the Lord. Every Sabbath day the breads are to be set out before the face of the Lord as a perpetual covenant from the children of Israel, and they belong to Aaron and his sons, who shall eat them in a holy place [ref:3 Mos 24:2-9|Lev 24:2-9].
MosePassover and the Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites celebrate the first Passover with the lamb's blood on the doorposts and leave Egypt after 430 years of residence.
MoseProduction of priestly equipment and accessories
The chapter describes how the Israelites completed the holy garments for the priest Aaron and his sons: the ephod made of gold and colored wool, the breastpiece with twelve stones representing the tribes of Israel, the robe with bells and pomegranates along its hem, the tunics and turban of fine linen, as well as the plate for the sacred diadem inscribed with "Holy to the Lord". Finally, they brought all the equipment – both the tabernacle and the priestly garments – to Moses, who saw that everything had been done just as the Lord had commanded, and blessed them.
MoseProhibition against eating blood
The Lord establishes a fundamental prohibition against eating blood, both for the Israelites and for the foreigners living among them. The reason is that life is in the blood, and God has given it on the altar to make atonement. Anyone who hunts a wild animal or a bird must drain its blood and cover it with earth. Whoever eats an animal that died of itself or was torn by beasts will be unclean; they must wash their clothes and bathe themselves, otherwise they will bear their guilt.
MoseProhibition Against Occultism
Moses warns Israel not to follow the detestable practices of the nations they are about to displace: child sacrifice, divination, interpreting omens, sorcery, casting spells, consulting ghosts or spirits of the dead. Such things are an abomination to the Lord, and the people must be wholehearted toward their God.
MoseProhibition Against Private Slaughter Offerings
The Lord gives through Moses a strict command to Aaron, his sons, and all the Israelites that all slaughter of cattle, sheep, and goats must take place at the entrance to the tent of meeting, where the priest sprinkles the blood on the altar and burns the fat as an offering to the Lord. The purpose is that the people should no longer offer sacrifices to the hairy demons in the open fields. Anyone – including foreigners living among them – who slaughters or offers a sacrifice outside the tent of meeting shall be considered guilty of bloodguilt and must be cut off from the people.
MoseProhibition of wine and teaching duty for the priests
The Lord gives Aaron and his sons an eternal statute to abstain from wine and strong drink when serving in the tent of meeting, and commands them to distinguish between holy and common and to teach the Israelites all the Lord's statutes.
MosePunishment for those close who lead others to idolatry
Moses gives instructions that even one's closest relatives—brother, son, daughter, wife, or dear friend—who secretly entice you to serve other gods must not be spared. The seducer is to be stoned to death, and the person who was led astray must be the first to raise a hand against them. All Israel must hear this and fear, so that such evil is never done again.
MosePurity in the Camp and the Law of Restitution
The Lord commands Moses that anyone who is unclean because of a skin disease, a discharge, or contact with the dead must be sent outside the camp so that the camp will not become defiled where the Lord dwells. Furthermore, the Lord gives rules for how someone who has acted treacherously must confess their sin and make full restitution, adding one-fifth to what was taken from the person wronged. If there is no close relative to receive restitution, it goes to the priest along with the ram of atonement.
MoseRegulations concerning Vows and Redemption
The Lord gives Moses regulations on how to value and redeem people, animals, houses, and land that have been dedicated to the Lord by a vow. This includes rules for the poor, unclean animals, the Year of Jubilee, tithes, and things devoted to destruction.
MoseRemembering Amalek
An exhortation to remember what Amalek did to Israel on the way out of Egypt, when he attacked those who were exhausted and lagging behind. When the Lord gives rest from all enemies in the promised land, Israel must blot out the memory of Amalek under heaven.
MoseRequirements for Unblemished Sacrificial Animals
The Lord speaks to Moses and gives commands to Aaron and the people of Israel that sacrificial animals – both burnt offerings and peace offerings, given as vow offerings or freewill offerings – must be unblemished male animals from cattle, sheep, or goats to be accepted with favor. Blind, crippled, sick, or injured animals, animals with warts, scabs, or rashes, and animals with crushed, broken, torn, or cut-off testicles are not to be brought forward. Animals with limbs that are too long or too short may be given as freewill offerings, but not as vow offerings. Nor shall sacrificial animals from the hand of foreigners be accepted, because they have a blemish.
MoseRules for the priests' purification and marriage
The Lord gives Moses instructions to Aaron's sons that the priests must not make themselves unclean by contact with a dead body, except for close relatives, and that they may not marry prostitutes, women who have been defiled, or divorced women. The high priest has even stricter requirements: he must not go near any dead body and may only marry a virgin from his own people.
MoseRules of War and Offers of Peace
Moses gives Israel rules for warfare: the priest is to encourage the people before battle, and the officers are to send home anyone who has built a new house, planted a vineyard, become engaged, or is afraid. Cities far away must first be offered peace; if they accept, their inhabitants become forced laborers, otherwise the men are killed and the women, children, and spoils taken. The cities of the peoples in the land itself are to be devoted to destruction. Fruit trees must not be cut down during a siege.
MoseSetting up of the lampstand
The Lord gives Moses instructions on how Aaron should set up the lampstand in the tent of meeting, so that the seven lamps shine toward the front. Aaron carries this out exactly according to the pattern the Lord had shown Moses, and the lampstand is made of hammered gold in one piece, from its base to its flowers.
MoseSin Offering for a Common Person
Instructions for a common person who sins unintentionally. He must bring either a female goat or a female lamb without defect as a sin offering. He shall lay his hand on the animal's head and slaughter it; the priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and burn the fat. In this way, the priest makes atonement for him, and he will be forgiven.
MoseSin Offering for the Anointed Priest
Instructions on how the anointed priest is to perform a sin offering with a young bull when he sins unintentionally, including handling the blood in the holy place and burning the remainder outside the camp.
MoseSin Offering for the Whole Congregation
The procedure when the whole congregation of Israel sins unintentionally: the assembly brings a young bull, the elders lay their hands on its head, and the anointed priest performs the atonement ritual with the blood in the tent of meeting so that the people receive forgiveness.
MoseThe Altar of Burnt Offering
God gives Moses detailed instructions for making the altar of burnt offering from acacia wood overlaid with bronze. The altar is to be square, five cubits long and wide, and three cubits high, with horns on its four corners. It must also include buckets, shovels, basins, meat forks, and fire pans made of bronze, as well as a bronze grate with rings and carrying poles of acacia wood overlaid with bronze.
MoseThe Altar of Burnt Offering, the Basin, the Courtyard, and a Summary of the Materials
Bezalel and Oholiab made the altar of burnt offering from acacia wood overlaid with bronze, the basin from bronze mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting, and the courtyard with hangings of finely twisted linen, posts, and bases. The chapter ends with a summary of the materials used: gold, silver, and bronze collected from the people, counted out by Moses' command under the supervision of Itamar, Aaron's son.
MoseThe Altar of Incense
God gives Moses detailed instructions to make an acacia-wood altar overlaid with gold, along with rules for when Aaron should burn incense and how atonement is to be made on the altar.
MoseThe Appointment of the Cities of Refuge East of the Jordan
Moses set apart three cities on the east side of the Jordan as places of refuge for anyone who killed their neighbor unintentionally. The cities were Bezer in the wilderness for the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites, and Golan in Bashan for the Manassites.
MoseThe Bronze Basin
The Lord commanded Moses to make a bronze basin with a bronze base and place it between the tent of meeting and the altar. Aaron and his sons were to wash their hands and feet with water from the basin before entering the tent of meeting or approaching the altar to serve, so that they would not die. This was to be a permanent statute for the priests throughout their generations.
MoseThe Burning Bush
God reveals himself to Moses in a burning bush on Horeb and calls him to lead Israel out of Egypt.
MoseThe Consecration of Aaron and His Sons
Moses performs a seven-day ceremony to consecrate Aaron and his sons as priests, involving washing, clothing, anointing, and various offerings (sin offering, burnt offering, and ordination offering) at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
MoseThe Courtyard of the Tabernacle
The Lord gives Moses specific measurements and materials for building the courtyard around the dwelling: one hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide, with hangings of fine twisted linen, posts with silver hooks and bases of bronze. The gate is to have a colorful curtain made of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen.
MoseThe Covenant at Sinai
Moses tells the people all the Lord's words and laws, and the people promise to obey. He builds an altar with twelve stone pillars, offers burnt offerings and peace offerings, and sprinkles the blood of the covenant on the altar and the people. Together with Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders, he sees the God of Israel. Then Moses goes up the mountain, where the Lord's glory rests like a consuming fire, and he stays there for forty days and forty nights to receive the stone tablets.
MoseThe Covenant of the Sabbath
The Lord commands the Israelites to keep the Sabbath as an everlasting covenant and a sign between him and his people that he sets them apart. Whoever desecrates the Sabbath must die, for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day he rested.
MoseThe Covenant Renewed on the Plains of Moab
Moses reminds Israel of the Lord's deeds in Egypt and the journey through the wilderness, gathering all the people—leaders, women, children, and foreigners—to renew their covenant oath with the Lord. This covenant also applies to future generations. Moses warns against idolatry, which will bring the Lord's anger, curses, and exile upon the land, just as happened to Sodom and Gomorrah.
MoseThe Daily Burnt Offering
God establishes the order for the daily burnt offering, where two lambs are to be sacrificed each day, morning and evening, at the entrance to the tent of meeting. There the Lord promises to meet with the people of Israel, to sanctify the place by His glory, and to dwell among them as their God.
MoseThe Exodus from Egypt and the Guidance of the Cloud Pillar and Fire Pillar
God leads the people on a detour through the wilderness toward the Sea of Reeds to avoid war with the Philistines. Moses takes Joseph's bones with him, as he had sworn. From Sukkot they travel to Etham, and the Lord goes before them in a cloud pillar by day and a fire pillar by night.
MoseThe Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Redemption of the Firstborn
The Lord commands Moses to consecrate all the firstborn among the Israelites. Moses instructs the people to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days in the month of Abib, as a reminder of their departure from Egypt. When Israel enters the land, every firstborn animal shall be offered to the Lord, while firstborn donkeys and sons must be redeemed. This is to serve as a sign on your hand and a mark between your eyes, and parents are to explain its meaning when their children ask.
MoseThe Holy Anointing Oil
The Lord gives Moses the recipe for a holy anointing oil made from myrrh, cinnamon, calamus, cassia, and olive oil. The oil is to be used to anoint the tent of meeting, the ark, the altars, and the utensils, as well as Aaron and his sons for priestly service. It is strictly forbidden to make a similar mixture or use it on anyone else.
MoseThe Holy Incense
The Lord gave Moses the recipe for a holy incense made of stacte, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense in equal parts, prepared as a salted and pure spice mixture. It is to be placed before the testimony in the tent of meeting and must be most holy. Anyone who makes similar incense for their own use shall be cut off from the people.
MoseThe Israelites Cross the Red Sea
God parts the Red Sea so that the Israelites can cross on dry ground, while the Egyptian army drowns.
MoseThe Law Concerning the Prophet Like Moses
God promises through Moses to raise up a prophet like him from among the people, whom they must listen to. The promise is linked to the people's prayer at Horeb asking not to hear God's voice directly. The Lord will put his words in the prophet's mouth and hold accountable anyone who does not listen. A prophet who speaks in the name of the Lord without being sent, or in the names of other gods, must die. The mark of a true prophet is that what he predicts in the Lord's name actually comes to pass.
MoseThe Law of Clean and Unclean Animals
The Lord gives Moses and Aaron a detailed list of which land animals, water creatures, birds, and creeping things are clean and may be eaten, and which are unclean and must be avoided. The law also includes rules on how one becomes unclean by touching carcasses, and how to cleanse oneself and objects. The reason given is that Israel shall be holy because the Lord is holy.
MoseThe Law of Cleansing for the Leper
The Lord gives Moses detailed instructions on how a person healed of leprosy is to be cleansed. The priest goes outside the camp, and two birds are used in the cleansing ritual along with cedar wood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop. One bird is slaughtered, and the other is released alive. The one being cleansed washes their clothes, shaves off all hair, and bathes. On the eighth day, a male lamb, flour, and oil are brought as a guilt offering, sin offering, and burnt offering. Blood and oil are applied to the lobe of the right ear, the thumb of the right hand, and the big toe of the right foot. Those who are poor may bring a smaller offering.
MoseThe Law of Jealousy and the Bitter Water
A detailed legal provision on how a man should handle suspicion that his wife has been unfaithful. He must bring her to the priest with a barley flour offering for jealousy, and the priest gives her the bitter water that brings a curse to drink. If she is guilty, the curse strikes her; if she is innocent, she goes free and may bear children.
MoseThe Law of Leprosy in a House
The Lord gives Moses and Aaron instructions on how to handle houses in Canaan affected by a leprosy-like infection. The owner must report it to the priest, who inspects the house, seals it for seven days, removes infected stones, scrapes the walls, and replasters them. If the infection returns, the house must be demolished and its debris taken outside the city. If the house is healed, it is cleansed with two birds, cedar wood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop, and the priest makes atonement for the house.
MoseThe Law of Skin Diseases and the Declaration of Purity
The Lord gives Moses and Aaron detailed instructions on how the priest is to examine people with swellings, rashes, bright spots, sores, burns, scabs, and baldness, and decide whether they are clean or unclean. Anyone declared leprous must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the upper lip, cry out, "Unclean! Unclean!" and live alone outside the camp.
MoseThe Law of Spots on Garments and Skins
Instructions on how the priest is to handle and examine garments, wool, linen, and skins affected by greenish or reddish spots, with subsequent rules for washing, isolation, or burning of the unclean items.
MoseThe Law of the Burnt Offering
The Lord gave Moses this command for Aaron and his sons concerning the law of the burnt offering. The offering must remain on the hearth of the altar all night, and the fire must be kept burning. The priest shall put on a linen tunic and linen trousers when he removes the ashes and places them beside the altar. Then he shall change his clothes and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. Every morning the priest is to add wood to the fire, arrange the burnt offering, and burn the fat of the peace offerings. A perpetual fire must be kept burning on the altar; it must never go out.
MoseThe Law of the Female Captive Taken as a Wife
Rules for how an Israelite man must treat a beautiful woman he takes as a captive in war: she shall shave her head and trim her nails, remove her captive's garments, and mourn for her father and mother for a full month before he may take her as his wife. He must not sell her or exploit her, because he has humiliated her.
MoseThe Law of the Firstborn's Inheritance
The law states that when a man has two wives, one he loves and one he does not love, and both have borne him sons, and the firstborn is the son of the wife he does not love, he may not give the birthright to the son of the wife he loves on the day he distributes his inheritance. He must recognize the firstborn as the son of the unloved wife and give him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the firstfruits of his strength, and the right of the firstborn belongs to him.
MoseThe Law of the Grain Offering
The Lord gives the law concerning the grain offering to Moses: Aaron's sons are to present it before the altar, burn a handful of flour mixed with oil and frankincense as a memorial portion, and eat the remainder unleavened in a holy place within the courtyard of the tent of meeting. It is their share of the Lord's fire offerings; anything that touches them becomes holy. There is also a special rule for the daily grain offering of the anointed priest: one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour, half offered in the morning and half in the evening, prepared with oil, which must be burned completely and not eaten.
MoseThe Law of the Sin Offering and the Guilt Offering
The Lord gives Moses instructions concerning the sin offering and the guilt offering for various offenses: when someone fails to give testimony, touches something unclean, swears thoughtlessly, sins unintentionally against holy things, or acts treacherously toward a neighbor through deception, theft, or a false oath. The guilty person must confess the sin, bring an appropriate sacrifice according to their means, and make restitution by adding one-fifth. The priest makes atonement, and they are forgiven.
MoseThe Law on Uncleanness After Childbirth
The Lord gives Moses a law regarding how long a woman is unclean after giving birth to a boy or a girl, as well as the requirement for circumcision on the eighth day and the sacrifices she must bring to be cleansed again.
MoseThe Levirate Law and the Sandal
A law concerning levirate marriage: When a man dies without children, his brother must marry the widow so that the firstborn son may carry on the name of the deceased. If the brother refuses, the widow shall go to the elders at the city gate. There she shall pull the sandal from his foot, spit in his face, and say, 'This is what is done to a man who will not build up his brother's house.' His family line shall be known as "the house of him whose sandal was pulled off".
MoseThe Levites as a Substitute for the Firstborn
The Lord commands Moses to number the Levites and give them to Aaron as servants at the tabernacle, in place of all the firstborn boys in Israel. The chapter describes the division of the Levitical clans, their duties at the sanctuary, and the calculation of redemption prices for those firstborn who exceed the number of Levites [ref:Num 3:1-51|Numbers 3:1-51].
MoseThe Lord's Feasts: An Overview
The Lord gives Moses a detailed overview of the annual feasts and holy convocations that Israel is to celebrate, including the Sabbath, Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Firstfruits, the Feast of Tabernacles, and the Day of Atonement. [ref:Lev 23:1-44|Leviticus 23:1-44]
MoseThe Lord's prophecy about the people's apostasy and the song as a witness
The Lord calls Moses and Joshua to the tabernacle and appears in a pillar of cloud. He warns Moses that after entering the promised land, the people will turn to other gods and break the covenant. The Lord commands Moses to write down a song and teach it to the Israelites so that it may stand as a witness against them when disaster strikes.
MoseThe Man Who Blasphemed the Lord's Name
A man with an Egyptian father and an Israelite mother blasphemed and cursed God's name during a fight in the camp. He was held in custody until the Lord gave judgment, and then he was stoned outside the camp. This event became the basis for the law that anyone who blasphemes the Name must die, establishing the principle of 'eye for eye' and confirming that the same law applies to both native-born Israelites and foreigners.
MoseThe Nazirite Vow and the Rules for Consecration
The Lord gives Moses instructions on how a man or woman may make a Nazirite vow to set themselves apart for the Lord. Whoever takes the vow must stay away from wine and everything that comes from the grapevine, not shave their hair, and not go near a dead body—not even close relatives. If someone dies suddenly beside them, their consecration becomes unclean, and they must undergo cleansing with a sin offering, a burnt offering, and a guilt offering before starting the vow again. When the time of consecration is completed, the Nazirite shall bring a burnt offering, a sin offering, and a peace offering to the tent of meeting, shave off their consecrated hair, and place it on the fire beneath the peace offering. After the priest has waved the offerings before the Lord, the Nazirite may drink wine again.
MoseThe New Stone Tablets and the Renewal of the Covenant
The Lord commands Moses to carve two new stone tablets and reveals His name as a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Moses worships and asks the Lord to go with the people. The Lord renews the covenant, gives instructions to avoid idolatry, tear down altars, observe the festivals, and consecrate the firstborn. Moses stays on the mountain for forty days and forty nights, and the words of the covenant—the Ten Words—are written on the tablets.
MoseThe Ordination of Aaron and His Sons as Priests
God gives detailed instructions on how Aaron and his sons are to be washed, clothed in holy garments, anointed, and ordained for priestly service through a seven-day ceremony involving a bull as a sin offering, a ram as a burnt offering, and a ram of ordination with blood applied to the lobe of the ear, the thumb, and the big toe.
MoseThe People Ask Moses to Be a Mediator
Out of fear for God's voice and the burning fire, the people ask Moses to be a mediator between them and God so that they will not die. God approves this arrangement and calls Moses up to receive the commandments [ref:5 Mos 5:23-31|Deuteronomy 5:23-31].
MoseThe People Bring More Than Enough for the Sanctuary
The people brought so many voluntary gifts for the work on the sanctuary that Moses had to announce that no one should make any more, because what they had was more than enough for all the work. [ref:Exod 36:2-7|Exodus 36:2-7]
MoseThe People Fear God's Voice at Sinai
The whole people saw the thunder and the lightning, heard the sound of the trumpet, and saw the mountain covered in smoke. They trembled and kept their distance, asking Moses to speak to them instead of God, for they feared they would die. Moses reassured them that God had come to test them, so that fear of Him would keep them from sinning. While the people stood at a distance, Moses entered the darkness where God was.
MoseThe Priestly Blessing
The Lord spoke to Moses and gave Aaron and his sons a specific blessing they were to pronounce over the Israelites: 'The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.' In this way, the priests place the name of the Lord upon the people, and the Lord promises to bless them. [ref:Num 6:22-27|Numbers 6:22-27]
MoseThe Promise of the Angel and the Entry into Canaan
God promises to send His angel ahead of Israel to lead them into the promised land. He will gradually drive out the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites, set their boundaries from the Sea of Zin to the Philistine sea, and bless the people with health and fertility if they obey His voice and do not make covenants with the nations or their gods.
MoseThe Red Heifer and the Water of Purification
The Lord gives Moses and Aaron the instruction to slaughter a flawless red cow outside the camp. The priest Eleazar sprinkles some of its blood seven times toward the tent of meeting, and the cow is burned together with cedar wood, hyssop, and crimson wool. The ashes are collected and kept to make water for cleansing. The law describes how anyone who has touched a human corpse, a bone, someone killed, or a grave becomes unclean for seven days, and must be cleansed by having a clean man sprinkle the cleansing water on them on the third and seventh days. Anyone who does not cleanse themselves shall be cut off from Israel [ref:4 Mos 19:1-22|4. Mosebok 19:1-22].
MoseThe regulations for the Passover: who may participate
The Lord gives Moses and Aaron the regulations for the Passover: No foreigner or uncircumcised person may eat of the lamb, but a slave who is bought and circumcised may participate. Resident aliens and hired workers shall not eat of it. The lamb must be eaten in one house; no bone shall be broken, and the whole assembly of Israel shall celebrate the Passover. When a foreigner lives among you and wishes to celebrate the Passover, all males must first be circumcised. One law applies to both the native-born and the foreigner.
MoseThe Renewal of the Covenant between God and Israel
At the conclusion of Moses' speech on the plains of Moab, the Lord and Israel enter into a mutual covenant: The people declare that the Lord shall be their God, and they commit themselves to walk in his ways and keep his statutes, commandments, and judgments. For his part, the Lord declares that Israel shall be his treasured possession, set high above all nations for praise, honor, and glory, and be a holy people to him.
MoseThe Sabbatical Year and the Jubilee Year
On Mount Sinai the Lord gives Moses instructions that the land must observe a Sabbath every seventh year, and about the fiftieth year which is to be a Jubilee year. On the Jubilee year the horn shall sound on the Day of Atonement, liberty shall be proclaimed throughout the land, each man shall return to his property and family, and Israelites who have sold themselves as servants shall be set free. The chapter also sets out rules for redeeming land and houses, forbids charging interest from a poor brother, and reminds that the land belongs to the Lord and that the children of Israel are His servants whom He brought out of Egypt.
MoseThe Son's Question About the Lord's Laws
Moses gives the Israelites instructions on how to answer their son when he asks in the future about the meaning of the Lord's testimonies, statutes and laws. The answer should tell how they were slaves under Pharaoh in Egypt, how the Lord brought them out with a strong hand and performed great and awesome signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his household, and how he brought them to the land that he had sworn to give their fathers. The Lord commanded them to keep all these statutes and to fear him, so that it might always go well for them. It will be counted to them as righteousness when they are careful to keep the whole commandment before the Lord.
MoseThe Sons of Israel in Egypt and the Introduction of Slavery
After Joseph and his generation had died, the people of Israel grew so numerous that a new king in Egypt feared them. He imposed harsh slave labor and tried to limit their population by ordering the killing of newborn boys, but the midwives Shiphrah and Puah feared God and let the boys live. Finally, Pharaoh commanded that all newborn Hebrew boys be thrown into the Nile.
MoseThe Stones and the Altar on Mount Ebal
Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people that after crossing the Jordan they were to set up large whitewashed stones on Mount Ebal and write the entire law on them. There they were also to build an altar of uncut stones, without using iron tools, and offer burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord. This marked a significant covenant and consecration act before entering the promised land.
MoseThe Tabernacle's Curtains and Planks Are Made
The skilled craftsmen made the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen, blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim skillfully worked into them. They also made eleven curtains of goat hair for the tent over it. Over that they placed a covering of red-dyed ram skins and another layer of durable leather. They constructed upright frames of acacia wood: twenty on the south side, twenty on the north side, and six on the west side, plus two corner frames, all with silver bases.
MoseThe Tabernacle's Planks, Corners, and Crossbars
The instructions continue with the construction of the tabernacle's solid frame: twenty planks of acacia wood on each side facing south and north, with silver sockets; six planks at the back facing west, plus two additional corner planks; and five crossbars of gold-covered acacia wood on each side to hold the structure together. Finally, Moses is reminded to set up the tabernacle according to the pattern shown to him on the mountain.
MoseThe Ten Plagues of Egypt
God sends ten plagues upon Egypt—blood, frogs, gnats, flies, pestilence, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and the warning of the death of the firstborn—to force Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. Despite the plagues, Pharaoh repeatedly hardens his heart.
MoseThe Tent of Meeting Outside the Camp
Moses pitched a tent outside the camp and called it the tent of meeting. All who sought the Lord went there. When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance, and all the people would rise and bow down, each at the entrance of their own tent. The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Joshua son of Nun, his young assistant, did not leave the tent.
MoseThe Veil and the Furnishings of the Sanctuary
God gives Moses instructions for the veil that is to separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, with cherubim woven into it and hung on four overlaid acacia posts. Behind the veil, the ark of the testimony is to stand with the mercy seat above it. The table is placed on the north side and the lampstand on the south side outside the veil. For the entrance to the tent, a curtain made of embroidered work is also to be made, hung on five overlaid posts with bases of bronze.
MoseVengeance on the Midianites
The Lord commands Moses to take vengeance on the Midianites before he dies. An army of twelve thousand men, led by Phinehas, goes to war, kills all the men and the five Midianite kings, and also Balaam son of Beor. Women and children are taken captive. Moses is angry that the women have been spared, and commands that all male children and every woman who has slept with a man be killed, while the young girls are to be kept alive. The warriors and captives are purified for seven days, and the plunder is divided between the warriors and the congregation. A contribution is given to the priest Eleazar and the Levites. Finally, the officers bring gold jewelry as an atonement offering to the Lord.
MoseWarning against false prophets and dreamers
Moses warns the people against prophets or dreamers who give signs or wonders that come true, but who try to lead the people away from the Lord to other gods. Such ones must not be listened to, for the Lord tests the people to see if they love him with all their heart and all their soul. The false prophet or dreamer shall die, so that evil is removed from among the people.
MoseWarning Against Forgetting the Lord
Moses warns Israel not to forget the Lord when they enter the good land he promised their fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—a land with cities, houses, wells, and vineyards that they did not build or plant themselves. They are to fear and serve the Lord alone, swear by his name, and not follow other gods, for the Lord is a jealous God whose anger can flare up against them. They must also not put him to the test as they did at Massah.
MoseWhat the Lord Requires of Israel
Moses reminds Israel that he stood on the mountain for forty days and forty nights, and that the Lord heard him so that the people were not destroyed. Then he proclaims what the Lord requires: to fear Him, walk in all His ways, love and serve Him with all your heart and soul, and keep His commands. The Lord chose their fathers and their descendants above all peoples. The people are to circumcise the foreskin of their hearts, not be stiff-necked, and love the foreigner as they themselves were foreigners in Egypt. With seventy souls the fathers went down to Egypt, and now the Lord has made them numerous as the stars of heaven.
MoseZipporah and the Bridegroom of Blood
At the lodging place on the way to Egypt, the Lord meets Moses and seeks to kill him. Zipporah takes a sharp flint stone, cuts off her son's foreskin, touches Moses' feet, and calls him a bridegroom of blood. Then the Lord lets him go.
MoseAaron consecrates the altar and the glory of the Lord appears
On the eighth day, Aaron and his sons perform the first offerings after the consecration, and the glory of the Lord appears to all the people as fire consumes the offering. [ref: Lev 9:1-24|Leviticus 9:1-24]
MoseAaron's Staff Becomes a Snake
God commands Moses and Aaron to perform a sign for Pharaoh. Aaron throws down his staff, and it becomes a snake. Pharaoh's magicians do the same with their secret arts, but Aaron's staff swallows theirs. Yet Pharaoh's heart remains hardened.
Die WüstenwanderungA Census on the Plains of Moab
Moses and the priest Eleazar conduct a new census of all men twenty years old and older who are able to go to war, on the plains of Moab by the Jordan near Jericho. The count provides the basis for dividing the land as an inheritance among the tribes by casting lots, and marks that the entire generation from Sinai has died in the wilderness, except for Caleb and Joshua.
Die WüstenwanderungBalaam and Balak
The story of Balaam, who was summoned by King Balak to curse Israel but, after being stopped on the way by an angel visible only to his donkey, ended up blessing Israel three times.
Die WüstenwanderungBalaam's Donkey
Balaam is on his way to curse Israel, but his donkey sees the Lord's angel and refuses to go further. Finally, God opens the donkey's mouth so it speaks to Balaam.
Die WüstenwanderungCensus of the Levitical clans
Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the congregation mustered the Levites from the three clans: Kohath, Gershon, and Merari. These were all men between 30 and 50 years old who were fit for service in the tent of meeting. The Kohathites numbered 2,750, the Gershonites 2,630, and the Merarites 3,200—a total of 8,580 Levites.
Die WüstenwanderungCities of Refuge and the Law on Killing
The Lord speaks to Moses on the plains of Moab and commands that the Israelites give the Levites 48 cities to live in, with pasturelands around them. Six of these are to be cities of refuge, three on each side of the Jordan, where someone who has killed a person by accident can flee from the avenger of blood. The chapter clearly distinguishes between intentional murder, which is punished with death according to the testimony of witnesses, and unintentional killing, where the killer must remain in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest. No ransom may be accepted for blood, because blood defiles the land where the Lord dwells among his people.
Die WüstenwanderungCommand to drive out the inhabitants of Canaan
On the plains of Moab by the Jordan, opposite Jericho, the Lord spoke to Moses and commanded the Israelites to drive out all the inhabitants of the land when they entered Canaan. They were to destroy carved stones, cast idols, and sacrificial mounds, and distribute the land by casting lots according to the size of each tribe. If they allowed the inhabitants to remain, these would become thorns in their eyes and barbs in their sides, and the Lord would do to Israel what He had planned to do to them.
Die WüstenwanderungJoshua Chosen as Moses' Successor
Moses announces that he will not lead the people across the Jordan and appoints Joshua as his successor, urging him to be strong and courageous. After Moses' death, the Lord speaks directly to Joshua and confirms the call to lead the people into the promised land.
Die WüstenwanderungKorah's Rebellion
Korah, Dathan and Abiram rebel against Moses and Aaron along with 250 leaders. The earth opens up and swallows the rebels with their households, and fire from the Lord consumes the 250 men who offered incense.
Die WüstenwanderungManna from Heaven
God provides manna from heaven and quail to feed the Israelites in the desert, giving them rules for Sabbath rest.
Die WüstenwanderungMiriam and Aaron Speak Against Moses
Miriam and Aaron criticize Moses for his Cushite wife and claim that the Lord also speaks through them. The Lord calls them to the tent of meeting and defends Moses as His faithful servant, with whom He speaks face to face. Miriam is struck with a skin disease, but after Moses' prayer she is healed and kept outside the camp for seven days before being brought back in.
Die WüstenwanderungNames of the appointed land distributors
Moses receives the Lord's command on how the land of Canaan is to be distributed by casting lots among the nine and a half tribes, since Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh have already received their inheritance east of the Jordan. The priest Eleazar and Joshua son of Nun are appointed to lead the distribution, together with one leader from each tribe – among them Caleb son of Jephunneh from Judah.
Die WüstenwanderungPresumptuous Attack and Defeat at Hormah
After the Lord had commanded the people to turn toward the wilderness, they acknowledged their sin but presumptuously went up into the hill country to fight against the Lord's command. The Amorites came out, pursued them like bees, and struck them down in Seir as far as Hormah. The people wept before the Lord, but he did not listen to them, and they remained for a long time at Kadesh.
Die WüstenwanderungQuails and the Plague at Kibroth-hattaavah
The people weep for meat, remembering the food they had in Egypt. Moses complains to the Lord about his burden, and the Lord takes some of the Spirit that was on Moses and puts it on the seventy elders, who then prophesy. Eldad and Medad also prophesy in the camp. The Lord sends quails in abundance from the sea but strikes the people with a severe plague while the meat is still between their teeth. The place is called Kibroth-hattaavah because there they buried those who gave in to their craving.
Die WüstenwanderungRegulations for Holy Offerings and Firstborn
The Lord gives Aaron detailed regulations concerning which holy offerings, sacrifices, and firstborn belong to the priests as their share. Firstborn humans and unclean animals are to be redeemed, while the firstborn of cattle, sheep, and goats are holy to the Lord. This is established as an everlasting covenant of salt.
Die WüstenwanderungSecond Passover for the Unclean and Those on a Journey
A group of men who had become unclean by contact with a corpse asked Moses if they could celebrate the Passover. The Lord responded by instituting a second Passover on the fourteenth day of the second month for those who were unclean or on a journey, and established that the law also applies to foreigners.
Die WüstenwanderungShame at Baal-Peor and Phinehas's Zeal
The Israelites commit shame with Moabite women in Shittim and bind themselves to Baal-Peor, which triggers the Lord's anger and a deadly plague that takes 24,000 lives. The priest Phinehas, son of Eleazar, pierces the Israelite leader Simri and the Midianite woman Kosbi with a spear, thereby stopping the plague. The Lord gives Phinehas a covenant of peace and an everlasting priesthood because he was zealous for his God [ref:4 Mos 25:1-18|Numbers 25:1-18].
Die WüstenwanderungShema Israel
Moses exhorts the people with the central commandment: 'Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one.' The people are to love God with all their heart, soul and strength, and to impress these words upon their children.
Die WüstenwanderungThe Arrangement of Israel's Camp and March
The Lord gives Moses and Aaron detailed instructions on how the twelve tribes are to camp around the tent of meeting under their respective banners, as well as the order in which they are to break camp when traveling through the wilderness.
Die WüstenwanderungThe Borders of the Land of Canaan
The Lord gives Moses a detailed description of the borders of the land of Canaan that are to be given as an inheritance to the Israelites. The southern border runs from the Desert of Sin along Edom, past the Salt Sea, the Scorpion Pass, and Kadesh-Barnea to the Brook of Egypt. The western border is the Great Sea. The northern border runs from the Great Sea via Mount Hor to Lebo-Hamat and Hazar-Enan. The eastern border runs from Hazar-Enan through Riblah and the Sea of Kinnereth down along the Jordan to the Salt Sea.
Die WüstenwanderungThe Bronze Serpent
When God sends fiery serpents against the people as punishment for their complaints, Moses makes a bronze serpent and sets it on a pole. All who are bitten and look at it will live.
Die WüstenwanderungThe Census in the Wilderness of Sinai
The Lord commanded Moses in the wilderness of Sinai to count all the Israelite men twenty years old or older who were fit for war. One chief from each of the twelve tribes assisted with the counting, and the total number came to 603,550.
Die WüstenwanderungThe Cloud and Fire Over the Tabernacle
On the day the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tent of the testimony. At night it looked like fire. Whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, the Israelites broke camp; wherever the cloud settled, they made camp. By the Lord's command they broke camp, and by his command they made camp. Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for a day, several days, a month, or longer, they followed the Lord's instruction through Moses.
Die WüstenwanderungThe Consecration of the Trumpets and the Departure from Sinai
The Lord gives Moses instructions to make two silver trumpets for calling the assembly and signaling the camps to break camp. In the second year, the cloud lifts from the tabernacle, and the Israelites set out from the wilderness of Sinai toward the wilderness of Paran in a fixed order, tribe by tribe. Moses asks his brother-in-law Hobab to join them as a guide, and when the ark set out, Moses said: "Rise up, Lord! May your enemies be scattered."
Die WüstenwanderungThe Daughters of Zelophehad's Claim to an Inheritance
The daughters of Zelophehad claim an inheritance because their father died without sons, leading the Lord to establish new inheritance laws for Israel.
Die WüstenwanderungThe Death of Aaron and the Selection of Levi
On their journey through the wilderness, the Israelites came to Mosera, where Aaron died and was buried. His son Eleazar succeeded him as priest. They then traveled on to Gudgodah and Jotbathah, a land with flowing streams. At that time, the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the Ark of the Covenant, to stand before the Lord, to serve Him, and to bless in His name. Therefore, Levi received no portion or inheritance among his brothers; the Lord Himself is his inheritance.
Die WüstenwanderungThe Exploration of the Promised Land
At Kadesh-Barnea, the people asked Moses to send men ahead to explore the land. Moses chose twelve men, one from each tribe, who went up into the hill country and reached the Valley of Eshcol. They returned with fruit from the land and reported that the land the Lord was giving them was good. Nevertheless, the people refused to go up; they complained in their tents and said that the Lord hated them, fearing the fortified cities and the sons of Anak.
Die WüstenwanderungThe Fire at Taberah
The people complained, and the Lord heard it. His anger burned, and fire from the Lord broke out among them and consumed the outskirts of the camp. The people cried out to Moses, who prayed to the Lord, and the fire died down. So that place was called Taberah, because there the Lord's fire had burned. [ref:Num 11:1-3|Numbers 11:1-3]
Die WüstenwanderungThe fire pans become a covering for the altar
The Lord commands the priest Eleazar, son of Aaron, to take up the fire pans from the burnt site after Korah's company and scatter the embers far away, for the pans have become holy. The copper pans are hammered into plates to serve as a covering on the altar, as a sign and memorial to the Israelites that no outsider who is not of Aaron's descendants shall approach to burn incense before the Lord – so that they do not meet the same fate as Korah and his company. [ref:Num 17:1-5|Numbers 17:1-5]
Die WüstenwanderungThe Golden Calf
While Moses is on Mount Sinai, Aaron makes a golden calf that the people worship. Moses intercedes for the people, breaks the stone tablets in anger when he sees the dancing, and the Levites punish the idolaters.
Die WüstenwanderungThe Great Day of Atonement
God institutes the great day of atonement, where the high priest Aaron brings blood into the Most Holy Place to make atonement for the people's sins and places their wrongdoings on a live goat that is sent out into the wilderness to Azazel.
Die WüstenwanderungThe Journey Through Seir and Moab
Israel travels around Mount Seir and onward through the territories of Moab and the Ammonites. The Lord forbids them from attacking the descendants of Esau, Lot, and the Ammonites, because these lands have already been given as their possession. At the crossing of the Zered Brook, the end is marked for the old generation of fighting men after thirty-eight years of wandering from Kadesh-barnea.
Die WüstenwanderungThe Levites are appointed to serve at the tent of meeting
The Lord commands Moses that the tribe of Levi should not be counted with the other Israelites. Instead, the Levites are given responsibility for the tent of meeting: they must carry it, set it up and take it down, serve at it, and camp around it to protect the assembly from wrath. The Israelites did exactly as the Lord had commanded [ref:Num 1:47-54|Numbers 1:47-54].
Die WüstenwanderungThe Lord's Judgment on the Unbelieving Generation
When the people refused to believe in the Lord despite his care for them in Egypt and the wilderness, the Lord became angry and swore that none of the men from that evil generation would see the good land he had promised their fathers by oath. Only Caleb, son of Jephunneh, who followed the Lord wholeheartedly, was spared and received the promise of the land where he had set his foot. Moses also heard that he would not enter there because of the people, while Joshua, son of Nun, was to lead Israel into their inheritance. The little children, whom the people feared would be taken as plunder, would themselves receive the land as their possession.
Die WüstenwanderungThe Man Who Gathered Wood on the Sabbath
While the Israelites were in the wilderness, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day. He was brought before Moses, Aaron, and the whole congregation and placed under guard, because it was not yet clear what should be done with him. Then the Lord commanded that the man must die, so the entire congregation took him outside the camp and stoned him to death, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Die WüstenwanderungThe Marriage of Zelophehad's Daughters
The heads of the clans from Manasseh's family came to Moses and the leaders with a concern: If Zelophehad's daughters marry men from other tribes, their inheritance will be lost to their father's tribe. On the Lord's command, Moses gave an instruction that the daughters must marry within their father's tribe. Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah followed this command and married sons of their uncles in Manasseh's family, so that the inheritance remained within the tribe. This is among the last commands the Lord gave through Moses on the plains of Moab by the Jordan.
Die WüstenwanderungThe Plague Stops After Aaron's Atonement
The day after Korah's rebellion, the whole congregation complained against Moses and Aaron, saying that they had killed the people of the Lord. The glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting, and a plague broke out among the people. Moses told Aaron to take his firepan with fire from the altar and incense, and hurry out to the congregation to make atonement. Aaron ran into the midst of the assembly and stood between the dead and the living, and the plague stopped. Fourteen thousand seven hundred died, besides those who died because of Korah.
Die WüstenwanderungThe Service and Covering of the Sanctuary by the Sons of Kohath
The Lord gives Moses and Aaron detailed instructions about the service of Kohath's sons in the tent of meeting. When the camp is to break up, Aaron and his sons are to cover the ark, the table for the bread of the Presence, the lampstand, the gold altar, and the bronze altar with cloths and hides before the Kohathites may carry them. They are warned not to touch or look at the holy things before they are covered, for then they will die. Eleazar is put in charge of the oil, the incense, and the articles of the sanctuary.
Die WüstenwanderungThe Service and Responsibility of Aaron and the Levites
The Lord assigns responsibility to Aaron and his sons as priests at the altar and within the veil, and to the Levites who are to serve at the tent of meeting. The Levites receive tithes from Israel as their inheritance and wages for their service, while they themselves shall have no inheritance among the people of Israel.
Die WüstenwanderungThe Service of the Sons of Gershon and Merari in the Tabernacle
The Lord gave Moses instructions to register the sons of Gershon between thirty and fifty years old to carry the curtains, coverings, hangings, and cords of the tabernacle, and the sons of Merari to carry the planks, crossbars, pillars, and bases. Both clans were under the leadership of the priest Ithamar, son of Aaron.
Die WüstenwanderungThe Spies in Canaan
Twelve spies are sent into Canaan. Ten return with a negative report, but Caleb and Joshua trust in God's promise. The people rebel, and God condemns that generation to die in the wilderness.
Die WüstenwanderungThe Tabernacle is Erected and the Glory of the Lord Fills It
The Lord commands Moses to erect the tabernacle on the first day of the first month. Moses sets up the tent of meeting, places the ark, the table, the lampstand, the golden altar, the bronze altar, and the basin, and erects the courtyard. Aaron and his sons are consecrated for priestly service. When the work is completed, the cloud covers the tent of meeting and the glory of the Lord fills the tabernacle. The cloud then leads the Israelites onward on their journey.
Die WüstenwanderungThe Ten Commandments
God speaks the ten commandments to the people of Israel from Mount Sinai, with basic rules for the relationship with God and fellow humans.
Die WüstenwanderungVictory over Sihon, King of Heshbon
Moses sent a peace proposal from the wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon, king of the Amorites in Heshbon, asking for safe passage. But Sihon refused, for the Lord had made his spirit stubborn and his heart unyielding. Israel defeated him at Jahaz, captured all his cities from Aroer by the Arnon River to Gilead, and devoted them to destruction, but they stayed away from the land of the Ammonites along the Jabbok.
Die WüstenwanderungWater from the Rock at Massah and Meribah
At Rephidim the thirsty people complained to Moses because they lacked water. At the Lord's command, Moses struck the rock at Horeb with his staff, and water flowed out. The place was called Massah and Meribah.
Die WüstenwanderungAaron's Staff That Budded
God confirmed Aaron's calling by causing his staff to bud, blossom, and bear ripe almonds overnight in the Tent of Meeting, as a sign to the rebels that he was chosen to serve at the sanctuary.
Die PatriarchenAbraham and Abimelech in Gerar
Abraham lied about Sarah being his sister while living in Gerar, which led King Abimelech to take her. God warned the king in a dream, and after Sarah was returned, God healed Abimelech's household, which had been afflicted with infertility.
Die PatriarchenAbraham and the Three Guests
Three guests visit Abraham at Mamre and promise that Sarah will have a son. Sarah laughs at the news, but the Lord asks if anything is too hard for him.
Die PatriarchenAbraham's Call
God calls Abram to leave his country, his people and his father's household and go to Canaan. He promises to make him into a great nation and to bless all the families of the earth through him. Abram obeys, leaving Harran with Sarai and Lot, and builds altars to the Lord in the promised land.
Die PatriarchenAbraham's Death and Burial
Abraham takes a new wife, Keturah, and has several more sons with her. He gives everything he owns to Isaac but sends the sons of his concubines eastward with gifts. Abraham dies at an old age, and his sons Isaac and Ishmael bury him in the cave of Makpela together with Sarah. After Abraham's death, God blesses Isaac.
Die PatriarchenAbram and Lot Separate
Abram and Lot part ways due to conflict between their herders. Lot chooses the Jordan Valley, while Abram remains in Canaan and receives God's promise of the land and numerous descendants.
Die PatriarchenAbram and Sarai in Egypt
Due to a famine, Abram travels to Egypt, where he asks Sarai to say she is his sister to save his own life. Pharaoh takes her into his house and treats Abram well because of her, but the Lord strikes Pharaoh and his household with great plagues. Pharaoh discovers the truth, rebukes Abram, and sends him away with his wife and all that he owns.
Die PatriarchenAbram Rescues Lot
Abram gathers 318 men and rescues his relative Lot from hostile kings. Afterwards, he meets Melchizedek, the king of Salem, and gives him a tithe.
Die PatriarchenDinah and Shechem
Dinah, Jacob's daughter, is violated by Shechem, the son of the Hivite Hamor. Shechem wants to marry her, and her brothers respond with deceit, demanding that all the men in the city be circumcised as a condition for marriage. On the third day, while the men are still in pain, Simeon and Levi enter the city, kill all the men—including Hamor and Shechem—and bring Dinah back. Jacob's sons plunder the city, and Jacob rebukes Simeon and Levi for making him detestable in the land.
Die PatriarchenEsau moves to Seir and forms the tribes of Edom
The chapter tells how Esau (Edom) moved from Canaan to the mountains of Seir because his and Jacob's property had become too large for them to live together. It lists Esau's wives and descendants, the tribal chiefs who came from him, the chiefs of the Horites in the land, as well as the kings who reigned in Edom before Israel had kings.
Die PatriarchenEsau Sells His Birthright
Esau comes home exhausted from the field and sells his birthright to his twin brother Jacob for bread and lentil stew.
Die PatriarchenEsau Takes Hittite Wives
When Esau was forty years old, he married two Hittite women: Judith, daughter of Beeri, and Basemath, daughter of Elon. These marriages brought bitter grief to his parents Isaac and Rebekah. [ref:Gen 26:34-35|Genesis 26:34-35]
Die PatriarchenGod's Covenant with Abram
The Lord promises Abram a son from his own body and descendants as numerous as the stars. Abram believes the Lord, and it is counted to him as righteousness. God makes a covenant with him through a sacrificial ritual, promising his descendants the land from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates.
Die PatriarchenHagar and Ishmael
Sarai gives her Egyptian female slave Hagar to Abram. Hagar becomes pregnant and flees from Sarai into the desert, where the angel of the Lord meets her at a spring and promises her numerous descendants. She returns and gives birth to her son Ishmael.
Die PatriarchenIsaac and Rebekah
Abraham's servant is sent to Aram to find a wife for Isaac. At the well, he asks for a sign, and Rebekah fulfills it by giving water to him and his camels. Her family lets her go, and she becomes Isaac's wife.
Die PatriarchenIsaac in Gerar and the Covenant with Abimelech
During a famine, Isaac goes to Gerar, where he says out of fear that Rebekah is his sister. Abimelech discovers the lie and protects them. The Lord blesses Isaac with great wealth, but the Philistines become jealous and fill in his wells. After disputes over new wells, Isaac goes to Beersheba, where the Lord appears to him. Finally, Abimelech comes and makes a peace covenant with Isaac.
Die PatriarchenIsaac Sends Jacob to Paddan-Aram
Isaac called Jacob to him, blessed him, and commanded him not to take a wife from the daughters of Canaan, but to go to Paddan-Aram to find a wife among the daughters of Laban, his mother's brother. He asked El Shaddai to bless Jacob with Abraham's blessing. Jacob obeyed and set out. When Esau saw that his father had sent Jacob away and that the daughters of Canaan displeased Isaac, he went to Ishmael and took Mahalat, the daughter of Ishmael, as a wife in addition to his other wives.
Die PatriarchenJacob and Esau Reconcile
Jacob meets Esau again after many years, bows before him, and is received with an embrace. They reconcile, and Jacob gives Esau gifts before they part ways and go their separate paths.
Die PatriarchenJacob and Rachel
Jacob meets Rachel at the well and works seven years to win her, but Laban deceives him and gives him Leah first. He must work another seven years for Rachel.
Die PatriarchenJacob Builds an Altar at Shechem
When Jacob returned from Paddan-Aram, he arrived safely at Shechem in Canaan. He bought a plot of land from Hamor's sons for one hundred kesitahs and built an altar there, which he named "El the God of Israel".
Die PatriarchenJacob Flees from Laban
Jacob secretly flees from Laban with his wives and children after God's command. Rachel steals her father's household gods, and Laban pursues them to Gilead. The conflict ends with them making a covenant and raising a stone heap as a witness between them. [ref:Gen 31:1-54|Genesis 31:1-54]
Die PatriarchenJacob Receives the Name Israel
God appears to Jacob in Bethel after he returns from Paddan-Aram, changes his name to Israel, and confirms the promise of land and many descendants. Jacob sets up a stone pillar as a memorial and names the place Bethel. [ref:Gen 35:9-15|Genesis 35:9-15]
Die PatriarchenJacob Sends Messengers to Esau
Jacob meets God's angels at Mahanaim and sends messengers to his brother Esau with a large gift to win his favor before they meet. He divides his people into two camps out of fear of Esau's attack and prays to God for protection.
Die PatriarchenJacob Steals the Blessing
Jacob tricks his blind father Isaac and steals the blessing intended for Esau.
Die PatriarchenJacob Travels to Egypt
God promises Jacob at Beersheba to make him into a great nation in Egypt. Jacob travels with his entire family to Egypt, where they are reunited with Joseph and allowed to settle in Goshen with Pharaoh's blessing.
Die PatriarchenJacob Wrestles with God at the Jabbok
Jacob is left alone by the river Jabbok and wrestles with a man all night. His hip is put out of joint, but he refuses to let go until he receives a blessing, and he is given the new name Israel. He names the place Peniel because he has seen God face to face.
Die PatriarchenJacob's Agreement with Laban Regarding the Flocks
Jacob negotiates with Laban regarding his wages and is allowed to keep all the speckled and spotted animals. Through a special method using staffs in water troughs, he ensures that the strongest animals become his, making him exceedingly wealthy.
Die PatriarchenJacob's Blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh
The aging Jacob blesses Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. He crosses his hands so that the younger Ephraim receives the greater blessing, to Joseph's surprise, and adopts them as his own sons.
Die PatriarchenJacob's Blessing to His Sons
On his deathbed, Jacob gathers his twelve sons and tells them what will happen in the last days. He speaks prophetic words over each one: Reuben loses his birthright; Simeon and Levi are to be scattered because of their anger; Judah is promised the scepter and ruler's staff until Shiloh comes; and Joseph is richly blessed as a fruitful branch. Finally, he blesses each of Israel's twelve tribes.
Die PatriarchenJacob's Death and the Promise of Burial in Canaan
Before his death, Jacob asked Joseph to swear that he would carry his bones out of Egypt and bury him in the grave of his fathers in Canaan, and Joseph made the oath.
Die PatriarchenJacob's Dream at Bethel
On his way to Haran, Jacob spends the night at a certain place and dreams of a ladder reaching from earth to heaven with God's angels going up and down on it. The Lord stands above it and promises him the land, numerous descendants, and His presence. Jacob sets up the stone as a memorial pillar, names the place Bethel, and makes a vow to God.
Die PatriarchenJacob's Twelve Sons
Jacob had twelve sons with his wives Leah and Rachel, and their maidservants Bilhah and Zilpah. The sons became the ancestors of Israel's twelve tribes.
Die PatriarchenJoseph and Potiphar's Wife
Potiphar's wife tries to seduce Joseph. He refuses and is thrown into prison after a false accusation.
Die PatriarchenJoseph buys the land in Egypt
During the severe famine, Joseph gathers all the silver in Egypt and Canaan in exchange for grain. When the money runs out, the people give up their livestock, and then they sell both themselves and their land to Pharaoh for bread and seed grain. In this way, Joseph buys all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh, except for the priests' land, and establishes a law that one-fifth of the harvest must go to Pharaoh. [ref:1 Mos 47:13-26|1. Mosebok 47:13-26]
Die PatriarchenJoseph Interprets Dreams in Prison
Joseph interprets the dreams of Pharaoh's cupbearer and baker in prison.
Die PatriarchenJoseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dreams
Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dreams about seven fat and seven lean cows, and seven full and seven thin ears of grain, and is placed over all Egypt to prepare the land for the famine.
Die PatriarchenJoseph is thrown into the well and sold to Egypt
Jacob sends Joseph from the valley of Hebron to check on his brothers who are shepherding near Shechem, and he finds them in Dothan. The brothers plot to kill him, but Reuben persuades them to throw him into a pit instead. At Judah's suggestion, they sell him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They dip his robe in the blood of a goat and deceive Jacob into believing that a wild animal has killed him. Joseph is taken to Egypt and sold to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.
Die PatriarchenJoseph Meets His Brothers
Joseph's brothers come to Egypt to buy grain. Joseph recognizes them and tests them before revealing himself.
Die PatriarchenJoseph's Cup in Benjamin's Sack
Joseph places his silver cup in Benjamin's sack to test his brothers. When the cup is discovered, Judah steps forward and offers himself as a slave in Benjamin's place.
Die PatriarchenJoseph's Death and Final Words
Joseph lived to be one hundred and ten years old and saw his great-grandchildren. Before he died, he gave his brothers the promise that God would lead them out of Egypt to the land He had promised the patriarchs, and made them swear to take his bones with them. Joseph died, was embalmed, and placed in a coffin in Egypt.
Die PatriarchenJoseph's Dreams
Joseph, Jacob's favorite son, tells his brothers about two dreams in which sheaves of grain and heavenly bodies bow down to him. The brothers hate him out of jealousy, while the father rebukes him but keeps the matter in mind.
Die PatriarchenJoseph's Exaltation in Egypt
After interpreting Pharaoh's dreams, Joseph is appointed as Egypt's second most powerful man and leads the work of storing grain before the great famine.
Die PatriarchenJoseph's Reconciliation with His Brothers
After their father died, Joseph's brothers feared his revenge, but Joseph assured them of God's good plan and promised to provide for them. [ref:Gen 50:15-21|Genesis 50:15-21]
Die PatriarchenJudah and Tamar
The story of Judah's sons Er and Onan, who die because of their wickedness, and how his daughter-in-law Tamar—denied levirate marriage with Shelah—disguises herself as a prostitute and becomes pregnant by Judah himself. When she is exposed, Judah acknowledges that she is more righteous than he is, and she gives birth to the twins Peres and Zerah.
Die PatriarchenLot's Daughters and the Ancestors of Moab and Ammon
After the destruction of Sodom, Lot fled from Soar to the mountains with his two daughters and lived in a cave. Fearing they would have no descendants, the daughters got their father drunk on wine for two nights in a row and slept with him without his knowledge. The older daughter gave birth to Moab, the ancestor of the Moabites, and the younger gave birth to Ben-Ammi, the ancestor of the Ammonites.
Die PatriarchenNahor's Family and the Birth of Rebekah
After this, Abraham was told that Milcah had borne eight sons to his brother Nahor: Uz, Buz, Kemuel (the father of Aram), Kesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel—Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. In addition, Reumah bore four sons: Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah. This genealogy points forward to Rebekah, who later becomes Isaac's wife.
Die PatriarchenNoah's Ark and the Flood
God sends a great flood over the earth but saves Noah and his family in the ark along with animals of every kind. Afterwards, God makes a covenant with Noah and sets the rainbow as a sign that he will never again destroy the earth with a flood.
Die PatriarchenNoah's Covenant with God
After the flood, Noah builds an altar and offers sacrifices to God. God makes a covenant and sets the rainbow as a sign.
Die PatriarchenNoah's Vineyard and the Curse on Canaan
After the flood, Noah began to farm the land and planted a vineyard. He drank some of the wine, became drunk, and lay uncovered in his tent. Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father's nakedness and told his brothers about it, while Shem and Japheth walked backward into the tent and covered their father without looking at him. When Noah woke up and learned what had happened, he cursed Canaan to be a servant of servants among his brothers, but he blessed the God of Shem and prayed that Japheth would have room and live in Shem's tents.
Die PatriarchenSet is born
Adam and Eve have a new son, Set, as a replacement for Abel, whom Cain killed. Set later has a son named Enosh, and at that time people began to call on the name of the Lord.
Die PatriarchenShem's Lineage from Shem to Terah
An overview of the lineage from Shem to Terah, showing ages and descendants in the period after the flood, ending with Terah's sons Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
Die PatriarchenSodom and Gomorrah
Abraham intercedes for Sodom and asks God to spare the city if there are righteous people there. Two angels come to Lot in Sodom, and the men of the city surround his house. The angels lead Lot, his wife, and his daughters out of the city before God rains down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot's wife looks back and becomes a pillar of salt.
Die PatriarchenTerah's Family and Journey to Haran
Terah's family history is told: Haran dies in Ur of the Chaldeans, Abram marries Sarai who is barren, and Nahor marries Milcah. Terah takes Abram, Sarai, and Lot and leaves Ur for Canaan, but they settle in Haran, where Terah dies at 205 years old.
Die PatriarchenThe Binding of Isaac
God tests Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son Isaac on a mountain in the land of Moriah. Abraham obeys, but just as he raises the knife, the angel of the Lord calls out from heaven and stops him. A ram that has become entangled in a thicket is sacrificed instead, and God promises to bless Abraham's descendants.
Die PatriarchenThe Birth of Isaac and the Sending Away of Hagar
Sarah gives birth to Isaac in her old age, just as the Lord had promised, and Abraham circumcises him. Later, Sarah demands that Hagar and Ishmael be sent away, and God promises to make Ishmael into a great nation too.
Die PatriarchenThe Covenant at Beersheba
Abimelech and the commander of his army, Pikol, came to Abraham and asked him to swear an oath of loyalty. Abraham complained about a well that Abimelech's servants had seized by force, and the two made a covenant. Abraham gave seven ewe lambs as evidence that he had dug the well, and the place was called Beersheba. Abraham planted a tamarisk tree there and called on the name of the Lord.
Die PatriarchenThe Covenant of Circumcision
God gives Abram the name Abraham and Sarai the name Sarah, and promises them a son named Isaac. Circumcision is instituted as a sign of the eternal covenant between God and Abraham and his descendants.
Die PatriarchenThe Death and Burial of Isaac
Jacob returns home to his father Isaac in Mamre near Kiriath-Arba (Hebron). Isaac dies at the age of 180, old and full of days, and is buried by his sons Esau and Jacob.
Die PatriarchenThe Death and Burial of Jacob
Jacob instructs his sons to bury him in the cave of Machpelah in Canaan and dies in Egypt. Joseph has his father's body embalmed, and the Egyptians mourn for seventy days. With Pharaoh's permission, Joseph travels up with a large entourage, holds a mourning ceremony at Goren-Ha'atad, and buries Jacob in the cave that Abraham bought, before returning to Egypt.
Die PatriarchenThe Death and Burial of Sarah
Sarah dies at the age of 127 in Hebron. Abraham negotiates with Ephron the Hittite and buys the Cave of Makpelah for 400 shekels of silver as a burial site – his first property in Canaan.
Die PatriarchenThe Genealogy and Death of Ishmael
An overview of Ishmael's twelve sons who became princes over their respective tribes, information about his death at the age of 137, and where his descendants settled—from Havilah to Shur, east of Egypt.
Die PatriarchenThe Tower of Babel
People built a city with a tower that reached to the heavens. The Lord came down, confused their language, and scattered them over all the earth.
PaulusAbraham's Faith and Righteousness
Paul uses Abraham as the main example that righteousness is credited through faith and not by works. Abraham believed God before his circumcision, and he did not waver in faith regarding the promise of a great offspring, even though he was nearly a hundred years old and Sarah's womb was dead. In this way, he became the father of all who believe, and the same is credited to us who believe in him who raised Jesus from the dead.
PaulusAbraham's Faith and the Promise to All Nations
Paul reminds the Galatians that Abraham was counted righteous by faith, and that the promise of blessing for all nations is fulfilled through Christ. He explains that a confirmed covenant cannot be annulled by the law, which came 430 years later, and that the inheritance comes through God's promise to Abraham's one offspring, Christ [ref:Gal 3:6-9|Galatians 3:6-9] [ref:Gal 3:15-18|Galatians 3:15-18].
PaulusAbraham's Two Sons and the Two Covenants
Paul uses the story of Abraham's two sons as a symbolic picture of two covenants: one that bears children into slavery (Hagar, Mount Sinai, and the present Jerusalem) and one that gives freedom (the free woman and the heavenly Jerusalem). He urges believers to see themselves as children of the promise, like Isaac, and not as children of the slave woman. [ref:Gal 4:22-31|Galatians 4:22-31]
PaulusAdam's Fall and Christ's Salvation
Paul draws a parallel between the disobedience of one man (Adam), which brought sin and death to all people, and the obedience of one man (Jesus), which brought grace and righteousness. Where sin increased through the law, grace increased even more, so that it reigns through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ.
PaulusAll are one in Christ
Paul concludes the chapter by describing that all who have been baptized into Christ have clothed themselves with him, and that social and ethnic divisions are gone. Those who belong to Christ are Abraham's offspring and heirs according to the promise [ref:Gal 3:26-29|Galatians 3:26-29].
PaulusBarnabas and Saul Sent Out
The church in Antioch sends Barnabas and Saul on their first missionary journey. In Cyprus, they meet the sorcerer Elymas, and the proconsul Sergius Paulus comes to faith.
PaulusChrist as the Image of God and Creator of All Things
A deep theological description of Jesus Christ's supreme role as the invisible image of God, the creator of the entire universe, the head of the church, and the one who makes peace through his blood on the cross.
PaulusChrist redeemed us from the curse of the law
Paul explains how Christ bought our freedom from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, so that Abraham's blessing could come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus. The law was added because of transgressions and served as a guardian until Christ, so that we might be justified by faith.
PaulusChrist's Fragrance to the Saved and the Perishing
Paul thanks God, who always leads the apostles in triumph in Christ and spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him. They are a fragrance from Christ to God, both among those being saved and among those perishing—for some a fragrance from death to death, for others from life to life. Paul emphasizes that they do not peddle God's word but speak with sincerity before God in Christ.
PaulusChrist's peace and the unity of Jews and Gentiles
Paulus reminds Gentile Christians that they once were without Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and without hope. But through Christ's blood they have been brought near. Christ is their peace; he broke down the dividing wall of hostility between Jews and Gentiles, set aside the law with its commandments, and created one new humanity out of the two. Through the cross he reconciled both to God in one body. Now those who believe are no longer foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone – a holy temple and a dwelling place for God in the Spirit.
PaulusEncouragement to stand firm in the faith and fight for the gospel
Paul encourages the Philippians to live in a manner worthy of the gospel, to stand firm with one spirit, and not to be frightened by opponents, since suffering for Christ is a gift of grace. [ref:Phil 1:27-30|Philippians 1:27-30]
PaulusEnemies of the Cross and Our Heavenly Citizenship
Paul warns with tears against enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction and whose minds are set on earthly things. He reminds us that our citizenship is in heaven, where we await the Savior Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body.
PaulusExhortation concerning work and conduct with the disorderly
Paul exhorts the church in Thessalonica to stay away from those who live disorderly lives and refuse to work. He reminds them of his own example: he and his coworkers worked night and day so as not to be a burden, and gave the rule that 'the one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.' The disorderly should be admonished but not regarded as enemies, rather as brothers.
PaulusExhortations on Sanctification and Brotherly Love
Paul exhorts the believers in Thessalonica that God's will is their sanctification: they must stay away from sexual immorality, live in holiness, love one another as brothers and sisters, and work with their own hands to live respectably toward those outside. [ref:1 Thess 4:1-12|1 Thessalonians 4:1-12]
PaulusFestus, the charges against Paul and his appeal to the emperor
The new governor Festus meets the high priests' charges against Paul in Jerusalem and rejects their plan to have him transferred there. In Caesarea, the Jews bring many serious accusations without evidence, and Paul defends himself. When Festus suggests a trial in Jerusalem, Paul appeals his case to the emperor.
PaulusGifts of the Spirit and the Body of Christ
Paul teaches the church in Corinth about the various spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit and explains how believers together form the body of Christ with different, yet mutually dependent functions.
PaulusGod's grace makes the dead alive
Paul describes how God, because of His great love and mercy, made believers alive together with Christ even when they were dead in their trespasses and sins. He emphasizes that salvation is a gift of grace through faith, not the result of human works, but that we are created in Christ for good works.
PaulusGod's Temple and the World's Wisdom
Paul reminds the Corinthians that they are God's holy temple where the Spirit lives, and warns against destroying the temple. He says that the world's wisdom is foolishness for God, and that no one should boast about human leaders, for all things belong to them, and they belong to Christ. [ref:1 Cor 3:16-23|1 Corinthians 3:16-23]
PaulusJustification by Faith – Romans
In Romans, Paul sets forth the core of the gospel: All people have sinned but are justified through faith in Jesus Christ, apart from works of the law.
PaulusKing Agrippa and Bernice Visit Festus
King Agrippa and Bernice come to Caesarea to greet Festus, who presents Paul's case to the king. Festus explains that the dispute concerns a certain Jesus who is dead, but whom Paul claims is alive. The next day, Paul is brought into the audience hall with great ceremony so that Festus can have something to write to the emperor after the hearing.
PaulusMacedonia's Generosity and Titus' Mission
Paul speaks of the overflowing generosity of the poor churches in Macedonia, who gave beyond their ability out of their own free will. He urges the Corinthians to complete the collection for the saints with the same zeal, and sends Titus along with two brothers to organize the gift. [ref:2 Cor 8:1-5|Macedonia's overflowing gift] [ref:2 Cor 8:6-15|Call to equality and completion] [ref:2 Cor 8:16-24|Sending of Titus and the brothers]
PaulusPaul and Apollos: God's Fellow Workers
Paul warns the carnal Corinthians against dividing into factions around human leaders, using the image of a field where he planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
PaulusPaul and Barnabas in Lystra
Paul heals a lame man in Lystra, and the crowd believes Paul and Barnabas are gods (Hermes and Zeus) and wants to offer sacrifices to them. The apostles reject this and preach about the living God. Later, Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrive, and Paul is stoned and dragged out of the city.
PaulusPaul and Barnabas Return to Antioch
After preaching the gospel in Derbe and winning many disciples, Paul and Barnabas return through Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch in Pisidia. They strengthen the disciples, encourage them to remain firm in the faith, and appoint elders in each church with prayer and fasting. Through Pisidia, Pamphylia, Perga, and Attalia, they sail back to Antioch, where they gather the church and report all that God had done, and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
PaulusPaul and Silas begin the second missionary journey and meet Timothy
Paul and Barnabas disagree about taking John Mark along and part ways; Barnabas sails to Cyprus with Mark, while Paul chooses Silas. Paul travels through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. He arrives at Derbe and Lystra, where he meets the disciple Timothy, who has a good testimony from the brothers in Lystra and Iconium. Paul takes him along on the journey after circumcising him because of the Jews in that area. The churches are strengthened in faith and grow in number day by day.
PaulusPaul and Silas in Prison at Philippi
Paul and Silas were thrown into prison in Philippi after driving a spirit of divination out of a slave girl. At midnight they sang hymns, an earthquake opened the doors, and the jailer came to faith and was baptized along with his whole household. The next day Paul demanded redress as a Roman citizen.
PaulusPaul asks to speak to the people
When Paul was about to be taken into the fortress after being rescued from the mob, he asked the commander for permission to speak. The commander was surprised that he could speak Greek and thought he was the Egyptian who had led a revolt with four thousand sicarii. Paul replied that he was a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, and was granted permission to speak. From the steps he gestured with his hand, and when it became quiet, he spoke to the people in Hebrew.
PaulusPaul Before Governor Felix
The high priest Ananias and the lawyer Tertullus accuse Paul of rebellion and attempting to desecrate the temple. Paul defends himself before Governor Felix and confesses his faith in the Way and the resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. Felix postpones the case but later summons Paul together with his wife Drusilla to hear about faith in Christ Jesus. He hopes for a bribe and keeps Paul imprisoned for two more years until Porcius Festus takes over.
PaulusPaul Before King Agrippa
Paul defends himself before King Agrippa and tells of his conversion on the road to Damascus. Festus cries out that Paul is mad, but Agrippa replies: "With so little you will persuade me to become a Christian!" The king states that Paul could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.
PaulusPaul before the Council and the dispute between Pharisees and Sadducees
Paul defends himself before the Council, is struck on the order of the high priest Ananias, and creates division between Pharisees and Sadducees by declaring that he stands accused because of his hope in the resurrection of the dead. That night the Lord encourages him to bear witness also in Rome.
PaulusPaul Boasts About His Sufferings and Dangers
Paul responds to criticism from the false "super-apostles" by boasting in foolishness about his sufferings, dangers, and service for Christ—imprisonment, beatings, stoning, shipwrecks, and dangers on journeys—and concludes with his escape from Damascus, where he was lowered in a basket through an opening in the city wall.
PaulusPaul counts everything as loss to gain Christ
Paul describes his background as an impeccable Pharisee of the tribe of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin, but counts everything he had as gain as loss to win Christ and obtain the righteousness that comes through faith in him.
PaulusPaul defends his apostolic calling and recounts his conversion
Paul greets the churches in Galatia and expresses astonishment that they are turning to a different gospel. He explains that his apostolic calling and the gospel came directly through a revelation of Jesus Christ, not from human beings. He recounts his former persecution of the church, his conversion, his journey to Arabia, his return to Damascus, and his first meeting with Cephas and James in Jerusalem three years later.
PaulusPaul defends his rights and his adaptability
Paul argues for his rights as an apostle to receive financial support, but explains that he has voluntarily chosen not to exercise these rights so as not to place obstacles in the way of the gospel. He then describes his strategy of adapting to different groups to win them for Christ, and concludes with an exhortation to self-discipline like a runner striving for an imperishable crown.
PaulusPaul in Athens
Paul preaches at the Areopagus in Athens and uses the altar for 'an unknown god' as a starting point.
PaulusPaul in Berea
In Berea, the Jews received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if Paul's message was true. Many came to believe, including prominent Greek women and men. But when the Jews from Thessalonika heard that God's word was being preached in Berea, they came there and stirred up the crowds. The brothers sent Paul on to Athens, while Silas and Timothy remained behind.
PaulusPaul in Chains and the Advance of the Gospel
Paul tells from his prison how his chains have led to the spread of the gospel throughout the praetorium, and how even opponents preach Christ, which still serves God's purpose.
PaulusPaul in Corinth
Paulus comes to Corinth and stays with the tentmakers Aquila and Priscilla, who had recently come from Italy. He speaks every Sabbath in the synagogue, and when Silas and Timothy arrive, he testifies to the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah. After opposition, he turns to the Gentiles. The synagogue ruler Crispus and many Corinthians come to faith and are baptized. After a vision from the Lord, Paul remains for a year and a half. The Jews bring him before the proconsul Gallio, who dismisses the case, and Sosthenes is beaten in front of the judge's seat.
PaulusPaul in Rome
Paul arrives in Rome, meets the leading Jews, and proclaims the kingdom of God from his rented home for two years with full boldness and without hindrance.
PaulusPaul in Thessalonica
Paul and Silas arrive in Thessalonica, where Paul preaches in the synagogue for three Sabbaths that Jesus is the Messiah. Some Jews, many god-fearing Greeks, and prominent women come to faith, but jealous Jews gather a mob, storm Jason's house, and drag him before the city officials with accusations of acting against the emperor. Jason and the others are released on bail.
PaulusPaul longs to see the church, but Satan hinders him
Paul expresses his deep longing to see the church in Thessalonica again, but tells them that Satan prevented him from coming. He confirms that they are his hope, joy, and crown of glory before Jesus when he returns.
PaulusPaul on head coverings in worship
Paul instructs the church in Corinth on how men and women should behave during prayer and prophecy in worship, especially regarding head coverings. He bases this on the order of creation, what nature teaches, and consideration for angels.
PaulusPaul on Sexual Immorality and Church Discipline in Corinth
Paulus reacts strongly to reports that a man in the church at Corinth is living with his father's wife, an immorality not even found among pagans. He instructs the church to remove the sinner from their midst and hand him over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the Lord's day. Paulus uses the image of leaven that permeates the whole dough to urge the church toward purity, reminding them that Christ is their Passover lamb. He clarifies that they should not associate with anyone called a brother who lives in immorality, greed, idolatry, slander, drunkenness, or robbery—not even to eat with such people. Those outside the church God will judge.
PaulusPaul on the Eternal Home and the Ministry of Reconciliation
Paul describes the longing for the heavenly dwelling and life by faith, not by sight. He points forward to the judgment seat of Christ and explains that whoever is in Christ is a new creation. God has reconciled the world to himself through Christ and entrusted believers with the ministry of reconciliation.
PaulusPaul on the Lord's Supper
Paul corrects the church in Corinth for their wrong attitude toward the Lord's Supper, where they divided into groups and let the hungry go without. He reminds them of how Jesus himself instituted communion and warns against eating and drinking in an unworthy manner.
PaulusPaul Raises Eutychus in Troas
In Troas, a young man named Eutychus falls asleep while Paul speaks until midnight and falls dead from the third floor. Paul goes down, embraces him, and declares that life is in him. Then he breaks bread, continues speaking until dawn, and the congregation is comforted by having the boy returned to them alive.
PaulusPaul Receives the Vision of Macedonia
Paul receives a night vision in Troas where a Macedonian man asks him to come over and help them. After the Holy Spirit prevents them from preaching in Asia, the vision leads the missionary work further into Europe. [ref:Acts 16:6-10|Acts 16:6-10]
PaulusPaul Remembers His Time in Thessalonica
Paul reminds the church in Thessalonica how he and his companions preached the gospel boldly despite suffering in Philippi. He emphasizes that they did not preach with flattery or for personal gain, but were gentle like a nurse and encouraging like a father, working night and day so as not to be a burden.
PaulusPaul reminds of the gospel and resurrection witnesses
Paul reminds the church of the foundational gospel he delivered: that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures. He lists the witnesses who saw the risen Lord – Cephas, the twelve, more than five hundred brothers and sisters at once, James, all the apostles, and last of all himself – and confesses that by God's grace he is what he is. [ref:1 Cor 15:1-11|1 Corinthians 15:1-11]
PaulusPaul Sends Timothy to Thessalonica
When Paul could no longer bear the uncertainty about the faith in Thessalonica, he stayed alone in Athens and sent Timothy to strengthen the church and encourage them in their trials. Timothy returned with good news of their firm faith and love, which comforted Paul in his own distress.
PaulusPaul thanks the church in Philippi for their gift
Paul expresses joy that the church in Philippi has once again shown care for him by sending help through Epaphroditus. He tells them that he has learned to be content both in poverty and in plenty, and that he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him. He reminds the Philippians that from the very beginning of the gospel, when he left Macedonia, they were the only church that shared with him in giving and receiving, and that they also sent help to Thessalonica. The gift is described as a fragrant offering that God accepts with pleasure, and Paul promises that his God will meet every need they have according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
PaulusPaul travels from Troas to Macedonia
Paul tells that when he came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, a door was opened for him in the Lord. Yet he found no rest in his spirit because he did not meet his brother Titus there. Therefore he said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia [ref:2 Cor 2:12-13|2 Corinthians 2:12-13].
PaulusPaul Travels to Jerusalem and Agabus's Prophecy
On the journey to Jerusalem, Paul and his companions stop at Tyre, where the disciples warn him through the Spirit not to go on. They continue via Ptolemais to Caesarea, where they stay with the evangelist Philip and his four prophesying daughters. The prophet Agabus comes down from Judea, takes Paul's belt, binds himself, and predicts that the Jews in Jerusalem will bind Paul and hand him over to the Gentiles. Paul cannot be persuaded and says he is ready to die for the name of Jesus. In Jerusalem, the brothers welcome him, and following James' advice, he goes into the temple to be purified. Then he is seized by Jews from Asia, a crowd beats him, and the Roman commander arrests him and takes him away amid shouts of "Away with him!"
PaulusPaul urges Euodia and Syntyke to be of one mind
Paul urges Euodia and Syntyke to be of one mind in the Lord, and asks a faithful companion to help these women who have struggled alongside him in the gospel, together with Clement and his other fellow workers whose names are in the book of life. [ref: Phil 4:2-3|Philippians 4:2-3]
PaulusPaul urges forgiveness for the one who was corrected
Paul asks the church in Corinth to forgive and comfort the one who received correction from the majority, so that he is not overwhelmed by sorrow and Satan does not gain an advantage. He confirms his own forgiveness and emphasizes that this is a test of their obedience and love [ref:2 Cor 2:5-11|2 Corinthians 2:5-11].
PaulusPaul urges Timothy to suffer for the gospel
Paul urges Timothy not to be ashamed of the testimony about the Lord or of Paul as a prisoner, but to share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God. God has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
PaulusPaul warns Timothy against false teaching and recalls his own salvation
Paul urges Timothy to resist false teaching in Ephesus and reflects on his own journey from persecutor to apostle, before mentioning Hymenaeus and Alexander who have been handed over to Satan.
PaulusPaul's Confrontation with Cephas in Antioch
When Cephas came to Antioch, Paul opposed him to his face because he had withdrawn from eating with the Gentiles out of fear of those who were circumcised by James. Even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. Paul rebuked Cephas publicly and proclaimed that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.
PaulusPaul's confrontation with the false brothers in Jerusalem
Paul travels to Jerusalem to defend the truth of the gospel and refuses to let Titus be circumcised, despite pressure from false brothers. The recognized apostles (James, Cephas, and John) acknowledge Paul's calling to the Gentiles and give him the right hand as a sign of fellowship.
PaulusPaul's Defense Speech in Jerusalem
Paul delivers his defense speech to the crowd in Jerusalem, recounting his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, Ananias restoring his sight, and his call to the Gentiles. When the people rage and the commander orders him to be flogged, Paul reveals his Roman citizenship and avoids punishment.
PaulusPaul's Distress in Asia and God's Deliverance
Paul tells the church in Corinth about extreme distress he experienced in Asia, where he was pressed far beyond his strength and lost hope of survival. He felt that a death sentence had been passed on him, but this happened so that he would not rely on himself, but on God who raises the dead. God delivered him, and Paul asks the church to help with intercession so that many may give thanks to God for the deliverance.
PaulusPaul's Farewell Address to the Elders from Ephesus
In Miletus, Paul calls the elders of the congregation from Ephesus to him. He reminds them of his service among them, tells that he is bound by the Spirit and going to Jerusalem where chains await, and warns against ravenous wolves who will come into the flock. He commits them to God and the word of His grace, and they take a tearful farewell at the ship.
PaulusPaul's Farewell Words to Timothy
In his final letter, Paul urges his young coworker Timothy to preach the word and complete his service, declaring that he himself has fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith.
PaulusPaul's fear for the church in Corinth
Paul expresses fear about what he will find upon his arrival in Corinth: strife, jealousy, anger, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder. He fears that God may have to humble him again among them, and that he must mourn over many who have sinned and not repented of impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery.
PaulusPaul's First Missionary Journey: Antioch in Pisidia
Paulus and Barnabas come to Antioch in Pisidia and speak in the synagogue on the Sabbath. Paul delivers a long speech where he summarizes Israel's history from the election and the exodus from Egypt, through the judges, Saul and David, up to Jesus as the promised Savior, and proclaims forgiveness and justification by faith. The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathers, but the Jews are filled with jealousy and contradict them. Paulus and Barnabas then turn boldly to the Gentiles, who receive the word with joy. The Jews incite leading men and noble women, and persecution drives the apostles out to Iconium, while the disciples are filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
PaulusPaul's Greeting and Epaphras' Service in Colossae
Paul and Timothy greet the saints in Colossae with grace and peace from God. They thank God for the church's faith in Christ Jesus and their love for all the saints, motivated by the hope stored up for them in heaven. The gospel is bearing fruit and growing among them just as it does throughout the world. It was Epaphras, Paul's dear fellow servant and a faithful minister of Christ, who first preached the message to the Colossians and has told Paul about their love in the Spirit.
PaulusPaul's Greeting and Remembrance of Timothy's Faith
Paul thanks God for Timothy and recalls his sincere faith, which came from his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice, and encourages him to fan into flame the gift of grace he has received.
PaulusPaul's Last Words and Farewell
In his last letter, Paul urges Timothy to hurry and come before winter, bringing Mark, the cloak left with Carpus in Troas, and the books. He tells how Demas has deserted him out of love for this present world, while other fellow workers have been sent out or remain elsewhere. Only Luke is with him. Paul warns against Alexander the coppersmith, and recalls how no one stood up for him during his first defense, but the Lord himself strengthened him so that the message could be proclaimed to all nations, and he was rescued from the lion's mouth. He expresses confidence that the Lord will save him into his heavenly kingdom, and closes with greetings and a blessing.
PaulusPaul's Letter to Philemon about the Slave Onesimus
Paul writes from prison to Philemon, asking him to welcome back the runaway slave Onesimus—not as a slave anymore, but as a dear brother in Christ.
PaulusPaul's Ministry in Ephesus
Paulus arrives in Ephesus and meets some disciples who only knew John's baptism. He baptizes them in the name of Jesus, and when he lays hands on them, the Holy Spirit comes upon them, and they speak in tongues and prophesy. Paul preaches in the synagogue for three months, then daily at Tyrannus' school for two years, so that all Asia hears the word of the Lord. God performs extraordinary miracles through him, so that even handkerchiefs that had touched him healed the sick and drove out evil spirits. The seven sons of Sceva tried in vain to use the name of Jesus, but were overpowered by the evil spirit. Many turned away, confessed their deeds, and publicly burned their magic books, and the word of the Lord grew mightily.
PaulusPaul's Persecutions in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra
Paul reminds Timothy of the specific persecutions and sufferings he himself endured in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, and confirms that the Lord has rescued him from them all. [ref:2 Tim 3:10-11|2 Timothy 3:10-11]
PaulusPaul's Prayer for His Return and Holiness
Paul expresses his deep gratitude to God for the church in Thessalonica and earnestly prays to see them again to complete what is lacking in their faith. He asks that God and the Lord Jesus will direct their hearts, and that they may grow and overflow with love for one another and for all people. He also prays that the Lord will strengthen their hearts so that they may stand blameless in holiness at the coming of Jesus with all his saints.
PaulusPaul's Thorn in the Flesh
Paul speaks of a thorn in the flesh given to him so that he would not become proud because of the overwhelming revelations he had received. Three times he pleaded with the Lord to take it away, but God answered that his grace is sufficient, for power is made perfect in weakness.
PaulusPreservation of the teaching and Onesiphorus' faithfulness
Paul urges Timothy to hold fast to the pattern of sound words and to guard the good deposit through the Holy Spirit. He notes that everyone in Asia has turned away from him, but he remembers Onesiphorus, who was not ashamed of his chains and searched diligently for him when he arrived in Rome.
PaulusReconciliation and the Mystery: Christ in You
Paul explains to the Colossians that God has reconciled them, who were once enemies, through Christ's death, in order to present them holy and blameless. He reveals the mystery that was hidden from eternity but is now made known: Christ in you, the hope of glory. Paul rejoices over the sufferings he bears for the church and strives to present every person as perfect in Christ.
PaulusRunning toward the Goal
Paul explains that he has not already reached the goal or become perfect, but presses on toward it because he himself has been grasped by Christ. He forgets what is behind and reaches forward to what lies ahead, pressing on toward the prize of victory at God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus.
PaulusSaul Preaches in Damascus and Flees
Saul boldly proclaims that Jesus is the Son of God in the synagogues of Damascus, proving that he is the Messiah. When the Jews plot to kill him, his disciples lower him through the wall in a basket at night. In Jerusalem, the believers are afraid of him, but Barnabas brings him to the apostles. When the Greeks also seek to kill him, the brothers send him to Tarsus via Caesarea.
PaulusSaul's Conversion
Saul meets the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, becomes blind, and regains his sight through Ananias before being baptized.
PaulusShipwreck on the Way to Rome
Paul's ship is wrecked in a violent storm, but all 276 on board are saved and reach land on Malta, where Paul survives a snakebite and heals the sick.
PaulusThe Building on the Foundation Jesus Christ
Paul describes how, as a wise builder, he laid the foundation Jesus Christ, and how others build on it with various materials—gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw. On the day of judgment, each person's work will be tested by fire: what survives brings a reward, while what burns up leads to loss, even though the builder themselves is saved as through fire.
PaulusThe Call to Freedom and Warning Against the Law
Paul urges believers to stand firm in the freedom Christ has given them and strongly warns against returning to the yoke of the law or allowing themselves to be circumcised, as this means falling from grace. He emphasizes that in Christ what counts is faith working through love, not ritual acts. Finally, he sharply rebukes those who confuse the church and lead people away from the truth.
PaulusThe Conspiracy Against Paul and His Rescue
More than forty men took an oath to kill Paul, but his sister's son exposed the plot. The commander Claudius Lysias sent Paul safely to Caesarea under heavy military escort with a letter to the governor Felix.
PaulusThe Fruit of the Spirit and the Deeds of the Flesh
Paul urges the Galatians to walk in the Spirit and not follow the desires of the flesh. He lists the deeds of the flesh, such as sexual immorality, idolatry, strife, and jealousy, and contrasts them with the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh.
PaulusThe Logic of Resurrection: Adam and Christ
Paul argues that if Christ has not been raised, faith is futile. But Christ has been raised as the firstfruits. Just as death came through Adam, life comes through Christ, who will reign until all enemies, last of all death, are destroyed, so that God may be all in all.
PaulusThe Man of Lawlessness and the Lord's Return
Paul describes the sequence of events before the day of the Lord: first comes the apostasy, and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed. He exalts himself above everything called God and sets himself in God's temple. His coming is by Satan's power with signs and false wonders, but the Lord Jesus will destroy him by the brightness of his return. The chapter ends with comfort and an encouragement to the chosen to stand firm in the truth.
PaulusThe Riot in Ephesus
In Ephesus, the silversmith Demetrius incites the craftsmen against Paul because his preaching threatens the cult of Artemis, and the whole city falls into chaos until the town clerk calms the crowd.
PaulusThe Teaching on Those Who Have Fallen Asleep and the Lord's Return
Paul instructs the Thessalonians about those who have fallen asleep, so that they will not grieve like others who have no hope. At the Lord's return, Jesus himself will descend from heaven with a commanding shout, the voice of an archangel, and God's trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with him. With these words encourage one another.
PaulusThe Thessalonians Persecuted by Their Own Countrymen
Paul commends the Thessalonians for receiving God's word as it truly is, and tells them that they became imitators of God's churches in Judea. They suffered the same from their own countrymen as the churches in Judea suffered from the Jews – those who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, persecuted the apostles, and hindered the gospel to the Gentiles. Paul concludes by saying that wrath has finally come upon them.
PaulusThe Transformation of the Body and Victory Over Death
Paul describes how the dead are raised with a spiritual and imperishable body, like a seed that sprouts, and proclaims the final victory over death through Christ.
Die ProphetenA Lament over the Princes of Israel
A metaphorical lament in which Israel's rulers are portrayed as a lioness with two cubs who are captured and taken away to Egypt and distant lands, and as a vine that is uprooted, dried by the east wind, and consumed by fire. The image symbolizes the fall of the kingdom and the exile.
Die ProphetenA Message to Cush and a Gift for Zion
A prophetic oracle concerning the land beyond the rivers of Cush, where messengers travel in papyrus boats to a tall and feared people. The Lord waits quietly like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest, before cutting off the vines and leaving them to birds of prey and wild animals. Finally, gifts from this people are brought to the Lord of hosts on Mount Zion.
Die ProphetenA New Scroll and Judgment Against Jehoiakim
After King Jehoiakim burned the first scroll, the Lord commanded Jeremiah to take a new scroll and write down the same words again. God pronounced a harsh judgment against Jehoiakim: none of his descendants would sit on David's throne, and his body would be thrown out to lie in heat and frost. Jeremiah dictated anew for the scribe Baruch, and many similar words were added. [ref:Jer 36:27-32|Jeremiah 36:27-32]
Die ProphetenA Song of Mockery and Judgment Against Extortioners in Judah
The Lord proclaims woe to those who plan evil on their beds and seize fields, houses, and inheritances from their neighbors [ref:Mi 2:1-2]. Therefore the Lord plans disaster against this family, and on the day of judgment a bitter taunt will be sung: "We are completely destroyed!" The inheritance will be taken away, and no one shall cast lots for land in the assembly of the Lord [ref:Mi 2:3-5]. The leaders of the people will prevent true prophets from speaking, but the Lord accuses the people of rising up as enemies, stripping cloaks from peaceful passersby, and driving women out of their homes [ref:Mi 2:6-10]. A false prophet who promises wine and strong drink would be more fitting for this people [ref:Mi 2:11].
Die ProphetenAmos' Three Visions: Locusts, Fire, and a Plumb Line
The Lord shows Amos three visions: a swarm of locusts, a consuming fire, and a plumb line beside a wall. Amos' intercession for Jacob stops the first two judgments, but upon seeing the plumb line, the Lord declares that He will no longer spare Israel, and that the house of Jeroboam shall be struck by the sword.
Die ProphetenAmos's Words of Judgment Against the Nations and Israel
Amos, a shepherd from Tekoa, receives the Lord's message during the reigns of kings Uzziah and Jeroboam. In a series of judgments, he declares the Lord's punishment against Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab, Judah, and finally Israel for their sins, including violence, breaking covenants, and social injustice.
Die ProphetenComfort for Jerusalem concerning the cup of drunkenness
Jerusalem, having drunk the cup of the Lord's wrath to the last drop, is comforted with the promise that the cup will be taken from her and given to her oppressors. God promises to remove sorrow and grant freedom to those who lay helpless, and to restore the people as His own [ref:Jes 51:17-23|Isaiah 51:17-23].
Die ProphetenCursed and Blessed: The Heart's Deceit Before the Lord
Jeremiah conveys the Lord's judgment over Judah's sin, which is engraved on the tablet of the heart. He proclaims a curse upon those who trust in humans and a blessing upon those who set their hope in the Lord. The heart is deceitful and incurable, but the Lord searches it and repays each according to their deeds. The prophet himself prays for healing, deliverance, and protection from his persecutors on the day of disaster.
Die ProphetenDaniel's vision of the four beasts and the Ancient of Days
In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream where the four winds of heaven broke loose against the sea and four great beasts rose up: a lion with eagle wings, a bear with three ribs in its mouth, a leopard with four wings and four heads, and a terrifying fourth beast with iron teeth and ten horns. A little horn with human eyes and a large mouth grew up among the horns. Then thrones were set in place, the Ancient of Days took his seat, judgment was given, and books were opened, and the fourth beast was killed. Coming with the clouds of heaven, one like a son of man approached and received eternal dominion over all peoples and nations.
Die ProphetenDays of Sorrow and Famine After the Lord's Word
The Lord warns that the festivals will turn to sorrow and the songs into lamentation. The people shall dress in sackcloth and mourn as for an only son. Days of famine are coming to the land—not a famine of bread or water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. People will wander from sea to sea seeking the word of the Lord, but they will not find it.
Die ProphetenDescription of the altar and the purification ritual
God gives detailed measurements for the new altar and instructs on a seven-day ceremony to cleanse and consecrate it using sin offerings and burnt offerings, led by priests from Zadok's lineage.
Die ProphetenDistribution of the Land and Holy Offerings
God gives detailed instructions through Ezekiel on how the land is to be distributed: a holy district is set apart for the priests and Levites, a portion for the city, and land on both sides for the prince. The people are to use correct weights and measures, and the prince shall receive gifts of wheat, barley, oil, and livestock. The chapter concludes with regulations for cleansing the sanctuary, celebrating Passover, and the festival in the seventh month, including offering gifts that the prince must present to make atonement for the house of Israel.
Die ProphetenElijah at the Brook Cherith
The prophet Elijah from Tishbe declares to King Ahab that there will be no rain or dew except by his word. Then the Lord commands him to hide at the Brook Cherith east of the Jordan, where ravens bring him bread and meat morning and evening until the brook dries up due to the drought.
Die ProphetenElijah Calls Elisha
Elijah finds Elisha plowing with twelve yoke of oxen and throws his cloak over him as a sign of calling. Elisha says goodbye to his parents, slaughters the oxen, holds a farewell meal, and then follows Elijah as his servant.
Die ProphetenElijah Calls Fire Down on the King's Soldiers
King Ahaziah sends soldiers to fetch the prophet Elijah, but Elijah calls fire down from heaven on the first two groups. The third officer begs for mercy and is spared.
Die ProphetenElijah Flees from Jezebel
After the victory on Carmel, Queen Jezebel threatens Elijah's life. He flees to the desert, wishes to die, but is strengthened by an angel who gives him food and drink for the journey to Horeb.
Die ProphetenElijah Prays for Rain on Carmel
After defeating the prophets of Baal, Elijah earnestly prays for rain on top of Mount Carmel. The servant is sent seven times to look toward the sea, and on the seventh time a small cloud rises, followed by heavy rain that ends the long drought.
Die ProphetenElijah Raises the Widow's Son
While Elijah stays with the widow in Zarephath, her son dies. Elijah prays earnestly to God and stretches himself over the boy three times, and the Lord restores his life.
Die ProphetenElisha and Hazael in Damascus
Elisha arrives in Damascus while the Aramean king Ben-Hadad is ill. The king sends Hazael with rich gifts to ask if he will recover. Elisha answers that the king will die, and tearfully predicts that Hazael himself will become king over Aram and bring terrible disaster upon Israel. The next day, Hazael suffocates the king with a wet blanket and takes the throne.
Die ProphetenElisha and the Arameans at Dothan
The king of Aram is at war with Israel, but the prophet Elisha warns the king of Israel about the plans of the Arameans. The king of Aram sends a military force to Dothan to capture Elisha. Elisha's servant is frightened by the sight of the army, but Elisha prays for the Lord to open the servant's eyes, so that he sees the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire. Elisha asks the Lord to strike the Arameans with blindness and leads them to Samaria. There he asks the king of Israel to spare them, give them food and drink, and send them home. After this, the raiding bands of the Arameans did not come into Israel again.
Die ProphetenElisha and the Floating Axe Head
One of the prophets' disciples loses a borrowed axe head in the Jordan River while they are cutting down trees to build a new dwelling. Elisha throws a piece of wood into the water, and the iron floats up so the man can retrieve it.
Die ProphetenElisha and the Jar of Oil
A widow whose husband was a disciple of the prophets faced losing her two sons to slavery because of debt. Elisha told her to borrow empty jars from her neighbors, and the small jar of oil she had miraculously filled all the jars. She sold the oil, paid off the debt, and could live on what remained.
Die ProphetenElisha and the Poisonous Pot
During a famine in Gilgal, the prophets' disciples cook a dish with wild gourds that turns out to be poisonous. Elisha throws flour into the pot, and the food becomes safe to eat.
Die ProphetenElisha Feeds a Hundred Men
A man from Baal-Shalishah brought Elisha twenty loaves of barley bread and fresh grain as firstfruits. The servant doubted that it could feed a hundred men, but Elisha gave orders to set it before them, and as the Lord had said, they ate and had some left over.
Die ProphetenElisha Heals the Water at Jericho
The men of Jericho told Elisha that the city was well situated, but that the water was bad and the land barren. Elisha asked for a new bowl with salt, went out to the spring, and threw the salt into the water while declaring that the Lord had made the water fresh. The water was healed and remained fresh.
Die ProphetenElisha receives a double portion of Elijah's spirit
Elisha follows Elijah all the way to his ascension and asks for a double portion of his spirit. Elijah is taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire, and Elisha picks up his cloak and parts the Jordan River.
Die ProphetenEzekiel Called as Watchman for the House of Israel
God establishes Ezekiel's role as a spiritual watchman for the house of Israel: If he does not warn the wicked, the wicked will die in their sin, but God will require their blood from the prophet's hand. If he warns and the wicked do not turn away, the prophet has saved his own life. The same principle applies to the righteous who turn away from their righteousness.
Die ProphetenEzekiel eats bread by weight and drinks water by measure
Ezekiel is commanded to make bread from wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet and spelt, and to eat twenty shekels a day while drinking one-sixth of a hin of water. The bread is to be baked over human excrement as a sign that the Israelites will eat unclean food in exile, but after Ezekiel's objection the Lord allows him to use cow dung instead. This warns that Jerusalem will lack bread and water and waste away under its guilt.
Die ProphetenEzekiel eats the scroll and receives his prophetic mission
God gives the prophet Ezekiel a scroll which he eats, and it tastes as sweet as honey in his mouth. Then the Lord sends him to the house of Israel to speak His words, warning that the people are rebellious and will not listen. God promises to make Ezekiel's forehead hard like a diamond, harder than flint, so that he need not fear them, and sends him to the exiles among his own people to proclaim the Lord's words whether they hear or refuse.
Die ProphetenEzekiel Eats with Trembling as a Sign
The word of the Lord comes to Ezekiel, and he is commanded to eat his bread with trembling and drink his water in dread and anxiety. This is a prophetic sign of the terror and dismay that will strike the people of Jerusalem when the land is laid waste because of violence and the cities become ruins. In this way, the people will know that I am the Lord [ref:Ezekiel 12:17-20|Ezekiel 12:17-20].
Die ProphetenEzekiel is bound and made mute as a sign of judgment
After the Spirit has lifted Ezekiel up, he is told to shut himself in his house. People are to lay ropes on him and bind him, and God will cause his tongue to stick to the roof of his mouth so that he becomes mute and cannot rebuke the people. But when God speaks to him, his mouth shall be opened so that he can say: 'Thus says the Lord God.' Whoever wishes to hear may hear; whoever refuses to hear, let them refuse—for they are a rebellious house.
Die ProphetenEzekiel's Silent Grief
God tells the prophet Ezekiel that his wife, the delight of his eyes, will die suddenly, and he is forbidden to mourn publicly – no lamentation, no tears, no bread of mourning. When his wife dies in the evening, Ezekiel obeys the next morning. When the people ask what this means, he explains that it is a sign: God will desecrate the sanctuary and let their sons and daughters fall by the sword, and the people too will mourn in silence, wasting away in their sins. Ezekiel must remain silent until a fugitive arrives with news of Jerusalem’s fall – then his mouth will be opened as a sign to the people [ref:Ezekiel 24:15-27|Ezekiel 24:15-27].
Die ProphetenEzekiel's Symbolic Act with the Hair and Judgment on Jerusalem
God commands the prophet Ezekiel to shave his head and beard with a sharp sword, dividing the hair into three parts as a symbolic act representing Jerusalem's coming judgment: one third will be burned in the city, one third struck down by the sword around it, and one third scattered to the wind. This warns that the inhabitants will die from plague and famine, fall by the sword, or be dispersed among the nations as punishment for defiling God's sanctuary and rejecting His laws [ref:Ezek 5:1-17|Ezekiel 5:1-17].
Die ProphetenEzekiel's Symbolic Act: The Siege of Jerusalem
God commands the prophet Ezekiel to perform a dramatic symbolic act: He is to carve the city of Jerusalem onto a brick and build siege works against it, set up an iron griddle as an iron wall, and then lie on his left side for 390 days to bear the guilt of the House of Israel, and 40 days on his right side for the guilt of the House of Judah. In this way, he becomes a visible sign of the coming siege and judgment upon Jerusalem.
Die ProphetenEzekiel's Symbolic Act: The Sign of Exile
The Lord commands the prophet Ezekiel to perform a dramatic symbolic act: he is to pack his belongings like an exile, break through the wall, and carry it out into the darkness with his face covered. This action serves as a sign for the house of Israel, especially targeting the prince in Jerusalem, who will be caught in the Lord's net, taken to Babylon without seeing the land, and die there. The people and their helpers will be scattered among the nations, but a small remnant will be spared to recount their abominations, so that they may know that He is the Lord [ref:Ezekiel 12:1-16|Ezekiel 12:1-16].
Die ProphetenEzekiel's Vision by the River Chebar
The priest Ezekiel receives an overwhelming vision by the River Chebar, where he sees four living creatures with four faces and wings, along with mysterious wheels full of eyes, and finally the Lord's glory on a throne above a dome. This marks the beginning of his prophetic calling and describes God's presence in exile.
Die ProphetenEzekiel's Vision of Idolatry in the Temple
In a vision, the prophet Ezekiel is brought to Jerusalem and sees the hidden idolatries taking place in the Lord's temple: the idol that provokes jealousy, seventy elders offering incense to creeping things and detestable animals, women weeping over Tammuz, and men worshiping the sun. Finally, the Lord announces His judgment upon the people.
Die ProphetenGathering of Jacob's Remnant
Despite judgment, the Lord promises to gather the remnant of Israel as a flock into a fold, where He Himself will go before them as king and break open the way for them [ref:Mika 2:12-13|Mika 2:12-13].
Die ProphetenGathering of the Children of Israel
The Lord will thresh the grain from the Euphrates River to the Brook of Egypt and gather the Children of Israel one by one. When a great horn is blown, those who were lost in the land of Assyria and exiled to Egypt will come and worship the Lord on the holy mountain in Jerusalem. [ref:Jes 27:12-13|Isaiah 27:12-13]
Die ProphetenGathering of the Exiles from Israel
The Lord promises to gather the remnant of His people from the four corners of the earth, so that Ephraim and Judah become one, and a main road is opened for those returning home from exile.
Die ProphetenGehazi's Greed and Punishment
After Naaman was healed, Elisha refused any payment. But his servant Gehazi ran after Naaman and lied to get gifts, and was himself struck with leprosy as punishment.
Die ProphetenGod's love for Israel and the promise of restoration
God reminds how he loved Israel as a son and called him out of Egypt, teaching Ephraim to walk. But the people turned to Baal gods and idols, and judgment comes through Assyria. Yet God's heart turns in compassion: he will not destroy Ephraim, for he is God and not man. Finally, the people shall return trembling like birds from Egypt and doves from the land of Assyria, and the Lord will let them dwell in their homes.
Die ProphetenGog and Magog: The Battle for the Mountains of Israel
A prophecy concerning the mighty prince Gog from the far north, who gathers a vast army from Persia, Cush, Put, Gomer, and Beth-Togarmah to attack restored Israel. The Lord intervenes with earthquakes, plague, torrential rain, fire, and sulfur, causing Gog to fall on the mountains of Israel. For seven months, Israel buries the army in the Valley of Hamon-Gog, and for seven years they burn their weapons as fuel. Finally, God reveals His holiness by gathering Israel back and pouring out His Spirit upon the people.
Die ProphetenHabakkuk Complains About Injustice and Receives God's Answer
The prophet Habakkuk complains to the Lord about the widespread violence and injustice in Judah, asking why God tolerates the law being paralyzed and the wicked surrounding the righteous. God answers by revealing that He is raising up the Chaldeans—the bitter and impetuous nation—as an instrument to punish His people. This leads to a new complaint from the prophet: how can a holy God, whose eyes are too pure to look on evil, use an even more wicked nation that makes its own strength its god?
Die ProphetenHabakkuk's Psalm: God Comes from Teman
A powerful prophetic vision in which God appears as a warrior coming from Teman and the mountains of Paran to save His people. Nature trembles, the eternal mountains crumble, and nations quake as God advances with lightning, arrows, and flashing spears. The prophet Habakkuk reacts with trembling and fear, yet concludes with unwavering trust: even if the fig tree does not blossom, crops fail, and livestock disappear, he will rejoice in the Lord, his saving God, who makes his feet like those of a deer.
Die ProphetenHaggai's Call to Rebuild the Temple
The prophet Haggai urges Zerubbabel and the people to prioritize rebuilding the Lord's temple over their own houses. God promises to be with them and fill the new temple with glory.
Die ProphetenHallelujah and the Marriage of the Lamb
A great multitude in heaven praises God with shouts of hallelujah for his righteous judgment against the great prostitute. The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fall down and worship God who sits on the throne, and a voice from the throne calls all servants to praise. The crowd rejoices that the marriage of the Lamb has come, and the bride has made herself ready, clothed in shining, pure fine linen – the righteous acts of the saints. Blessed are those invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. When John falls down to worship the angel, he is stopped with these words: Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Die ProphetenHananiah Breaks the Yoke and Dies
The false prophet Hananiah promises that the yoke of Babylon will be broken within two years and breaks Jeremiah's wooden yoke. The Lord responds by placing an iron yoke on the nations, and Hananiah dies in the same year for his lying prophecy.
Die ProphetenHide yourselves until God's wrath is over
The prophet urges the people to go into their rooms, close the door behind them, and hide for a little while until the Lord's wrath is over. For the Lord goes out from His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their sin, and the earth will reveal the blood shed upon it and no longer cover its slain.
Die ProphetenHosea and Gomer
God commands the prophet Hosea to marry Gomer and have children with symbolic names, as a picture of God's faithful love toward unfaithful Israel.
Die ProphetenIdolaters and the Prophet's Responsibility
Some of the elders of Israel came to Ezekiel to consult the Lord, but God revealed that they had taken idols into their hearts. He called the people to repentance and warned that both the one who asks with an impure heart and the prophet who allows himself to be deceived will bear equal guilt, so that the house of Israel may once again be His people.
Die ProphetenIsaiah's Call
In the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne in the temple, surrounded by seraphim crying out, "Holy, holy, holy." A seraph purified his lips with a burning coal from the altar, and Isaiah answered the Lord's call: "Here I am; send me!"
Die ProphetenIsaiah's Prophecy about the Prince of Peace
The prophet Isaiah proclaims that the people walking in darkness will see a great light. A child will be born, a son will be given, and the government will rest on his shoulder. He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His kingdom will be established with justice and righteousness on David's throne from now on forever.
Die ProphetenIsaiah's prophecy to King Ahaz
When Rezin of Aram and Pekah of Israel march against Jerusalem, King Ahaz and the people tremble with fear. The Lord sends Isaiah with his son Shear-Jashub to reassure the king: the two hostile kings—"smoldering firebrands"—will not succeed, but if Ahaz does not believe, he will not stand firm. Later, Isaiah announces that the Lord will bring the king of Assyria against Judah—a devastating judgment where the land becomes a thicket and grazing ground.
Die ProphetenIsaiah's Sign: Naked and Barefoot
The Lord commanded the prophet Isaiah to go naked and barefoot for three years as a living sign that Assyria would lead away Egyptians and Cushites as captives, bringing shame upon their land. This happened in the year the commander-in-chief captured Ashdod, serving as a warning that those who placed their hope in Egypt and Cush would be disappointed.
Die ProphetenIsaiah's Song of the Lord's Vineyard
Isaiah sings about a vineyard that the Lord planted and tended with care, but which produced only wild grapes. The vineyard is a picture of Israel, and God warns of judgment over the people's injustice.
Die ProphetenIsrael's History of Rebellion and Grace
God explains Israel's repeated rebellion against him—from Egypt, through the wilderness, and into the promised land—but emphasizes that he spared the people for the sake of his name. The prophecy ends with a promise of a future gathering from the nations and cleansing, where the people will serve God on his holy mountain [ref:Esek 20:1-44|Ezekiel 20:1-44].
Die ProphetenJacob flees to Aram and serves for a woman
Hosea reminds how Jacob fled to the plains of Aram, where he served for a woman and tended sheep for her. The prophet sets this historical memory of the patriarch in contrast to Israel's contemporary idolatry at Gilgal and wickedness in Gilead.
Die ProphetenJacob's Struggle with God in the Prophecy of Hosea
The prophet Hosea reminds Israel of Jacob's life: how he grasped his brother's heel while still in the womb and later wrestled with God and an angel, weeping and pleading for a blessing. In Bethel, God met him, and the Lord, the God of hosts, is His name. Hosea uses Jacob's experience as an appeal to Ephraim to turn back to the Lord and hold fast to love and justice.
Die ProphetenJeremiah and the Broken Jar
The Lord sends Jeremiah to the Valley of Ben-Hinnom with a clay jar from the potter. Before the elders of the people and the priests, the prophet declares judgment on Jerusalem because they have worshiped Baal and sacrificed children. He breaks the jar as a sign that the city and its people will be broken beyond repair, and that their houses will become unclean like Topheth [ref:Jer 19:1-15|Jeremiah 19:1-15].
Die ProphetenJeremiah Buys a Field in Anathoth
While Jerusalem is under siege, the prophet Jeremiah buys a field from his cousin Hanamel in Anathoth as a sign that the land will one day be restored. The contract is sealed and placed in an earthenware jar as a symbol of God's promise that houses, fields, and vineyards will once again be bought in the land [ref:Jer 32:6-15|Jeremiah 32:6-15].
Die ProphetenJeremiah Dictates the Scroll to Baruch
God commands Jeremiah to dictate all his words to the scribe Baruch on a scroll. Baruch then reads out the prophecies to the people in the house of the Lord on a fast day, and the officials hear the message and are struck with fear.
Die ProphetenJeremiah Imprisoned by the Leaders
When the Chaldean army withdrew from Jerusalem, Jeremiah went out to travel to the land of Benjamin to receive his share among the people. At the Benjamin Gate he was seized by the guard commander Irijah, who accused him of defecting to the Chaldeans. Jeremiah denied the accusation, but Irijah brought him before the leaders, who beat him and threw him into prison in the house of the scribe Jonathan, where he remained for many days. [ref:Jer 37:11-16|Jeremiah 37:11-16]
Die ProphetenJeremiah is thrown into the cistern
Jeremiah is thrown into a muddy cistern because he proclaims judgment against Jerusalem, but is rescued by the court official Ebed-Melek.
Die ProphetenJeremiah Stands Trial
At the beginning of King Jehoiakim's reign, the Lord commanded Jeremiah to stand in the courtyard of the temple and proclaim that if the people did not repent, the house of the Lord would become like Shiloh, and Jerusalem a curse. The priests, prophets, and people seized him and demanded his death. When Judah's leaders came from the king's house, Jeremiah defended himself by saying the Lord had sent him, and warned against shedding innocent blood. The leaders and the people acquitted him, and the elders of the land recalled how the prophet Micah of Moreshet prophesied similarly in the days of King Hezekiah without being put to death. In contrast, it is told about Uriah the prophet, son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-Jearim, who was brought back from Egypt and killed by King Jehoiakim. Finally, Ahikam, son of Shaphan, protected Jeremiah from being handed over to the people.
Die ProphetenJeremiah's Call
God calls Jeremiah to be a prophet from his mother's womb and promises to be with him. Despite Jeremiah objecting that he is too young, God puts His words in his mouth and shows him visions of an almond branch and a boiling pot from the north, warning of coming judgment on Judah.
Die ProphetenJeremiah's Lament and Prayer
Jeremiah expresses his deep pain at being an object of mockery and persecution, and confirms that the word of the Lord is like a burning fire in his heart that he cannot hold back. He trusts in the Lord as a mighty warrior, but also curses the day he was born.
Die ProphetenJeremiah's Lament and the People's Prayer for Mercy
Jeremiah is commanded to let his eyes run with tears night and day over the virgin daughter of his people, who is crushed by an incurable blow. On the field lie those killed by the sword, and in the city people are sick from hunger, while both prophet and priest wander through a foreign land. The people ask whether the Lord has rejected Judah and grown disgusted with Zion, and they acknowledge their own sin and that of their fathers. They pray to God not to reject them or break his covenant, for the sake of his name, and confess that only the Lord—not the empty idols of the nations—can give rain and salvation.
Die ProphetenJeremiah's message about the yoke of Babylon to the surrounding kings
God commands Jeremiah to make a yoke and send it to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon with the message that they must serve Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, to avoid punishment. The prophet also warns against false prophets who promise quick deliverance, emphasizing that submission is the only path to survival.
Die ProphetenJeremiah's Personal Lament and God's Promise
The prophet Jeremiah expresses his deep pain and loneliness to God, asking why his wound is not healed. God responds with a call to repentance and a promise to make the prophet an unyielding bronze wall that cannot be overcome, and to deliver him from the hand of the wicked [ref:Jer 15:10-21|Jeremiah 15:10-21].
Die ProphetenJeremiah's Prayer and God's Promise of Restoration
After Jeremiah bought a field from his relative, he prayed to the Lord and praised His power. He recalled the exodus from Egypt and the people's disobedience, asking how buying the land could make sense when the city was in the hands of the Chaldeans. The Lord answered that He would give the city into Nebuchadnezzar's hand because of the people's idolatry, but promised to gather them back, give them one heart, and establish an everlasting covenant with them, so that fields would again be bought in the land.
Die ProphetenJeremiah's Prayer for Vengeance Against His Enemies
The people plot against Jeremiah and seek to harm him with their words. Jeremiah asks the Lord to hear him, reminding God how he has spoken well on their behalf and turned away God's anger. He prays that famine, sword, and plague may strike their families as retribution, and that God will not forgive their guilt but act against them on the day of wrath.
Die ProphetenJeremiah's prophecy about the 70-year captivity
In the fourth year of Jehoiakim's reign, Jeremiah receives a prophecy that Judah and its people will serve the king of Babylon for 70 years. Jeremiah reminds them that for 23 years the people have rejected the Lord's warnings through the prophets. Therefore, the Lord sends Nebuchadnezzar, His servant, to lay waste the land and silence all joy. When the seventy years are completed, the Lord will punish the king of Babylon and the land of the Chaldeans for their sin.
Die ProphetenJeremiah's Symbolic Act: Prohibition of Marriage and Mourning
The Lord gives the prophet Jeremiah a command not to marry, not to enter a house of mourning, and not to take part in festive meals. This is to be a living sign of the coming judgment on Judah: death, disease, and exile without burial or lamentation. When the people ask why disaster has struck them, Jeremiah is to answer that their fathers abandoned the Lord and followed other gods, and that they themselves have acted even worse. Therefore, they will be cast out into a foreign land. The passage also contains a promise of future restoration, when the Lord will bring the people back from the land in the north.
Die ProphetenJeremiah's Temple Sermon
Jeremiah stands at the gate of the house of the Lord and warns the people not to trust in deceptive words that the temple is safe while they continue with theft, murder, adultery, false oaths, and idolatry. He reminds them how the Lord destroyed the sanctuary at Shiloh and warns that the same will happen to the temple in Jerusalem. The people have built high places for sacrifice in Topheth in the Valley of Ben-Hinnom to burn their sons and daughters. The Lord declares that the land will become a desolate waste without shouts of joy or gladness.
Die ProphetenJeremiah's Word to Baruch
In the fourth year of King Jehoiakim, the prophet Jeremiah spoke a word from the Lord to the scribe Baruch son of Neriah, while he was writing Jeremiah's words in a scroll. Baruch complained: "Woe is me! The Lord adds sorrow to my pain, and I find no rest." The Lord answered that He would tear down what He had built and uproot what He had planted throughout the land. Baruch should not seek great things for himself, for disaster will come upon all flesh – but God promises to preserve his life as spoil wherever he goes. [ref:Jer 45:1-5|Jeremiah 45:1-5]
Die ProphetenJerusalem's Origin and the Covenant
A powerful allegory in which Jerusalem is described as an abandoned infant of Canaanite origin. The Lord passes by, saves the child, lets it grow up, makes a covenant with her, clothes her in splendor, and makes her a beautiful queen whose fame reaches among the nations.
Die ProphetenJerusalem's Whoredom and the Coming Judgment
God accuses Jerusalem of being worse than her sisters Samaria and Sodom through whoredom and idolatry. He announces a severe judgment where the city will be punished by its own lovers, but finally promises to establish an everlasting covenant.
Die ProphetenJoel's Prophecy about the Outpouring of the Spirit
The prophet Joel proclaims that God will pour out his Spirit on all people, so that sons and daughters will prophesy, old men will have dreams, and young men will see visions. Signs in the sky and on earth will precede the great day of the Lord, and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Die ProphetenJonah Flees from God
Jonah tries to flee from God's call to go to Nineveh by taking a ship to Tarshish, but the Lord sends a violent storm over the sea. The sailors cast lots and discover that Jonah is the cause, and at his own suggestion they throw him into the sea, which immediately becomes calm.
Die ProphetenJonah in Nineveh
Jonah proclaims judgment over Nineveh. The city repents and God shows grace, but Jonah becomes angry.
Die ProphetenJonah in the belly of the fish
Jonah is swallowed by a great fish and spends three days and three nights in the belly of the fish. There he prays to God, who commands the fish to vomit him onto dry land.
Die ProphetenJonah's Anger and God's Grace
After Nineveh repents, Jonah becomes angry with God for His mercy. God uses a plant to teach Jonah about His grace toward all people.
Die ProphetenJoshua and Satan at the Court
The prophet Zechariah sees a heavenly trial where the high priest Joshua stands before the angel of the Lord in filthy clothes while Satan accuses him. The Lord rebukes Satan, removes Joshua's sin, and clothes him in festive garments with a clean turban. The angel of the Lord promises that if Joshua walks in the ways of the Lord, he will govern God's house. The Lord also announces that He will send His servant Branch to remove the land's sin in one day.
Die ProphetenJudgment against Elam
At the beginning of Zedekiah's reign, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah concerning Elam. God promises to break Elam's bow, scatter its people to the four winds, send the sword after them, and set His throne in Elam by bringing an end to the king and the nobles. Yet He also promises to restore Elam's fortunes in the last days.
Die ProphetenJudgment against Kedar and Hazor
The Lord announces judgment against the kingdoms of Kedar and Hazor. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, will march up against these peaceful nomadic peoples and take their tents, flocks, camels, and equipment as plunder. The people will be scattered to every wind, and Hazor will forever become a wilderness, a dwelling place for jackals.
Die ProphetenJudgment against the Philistines
The Lord God announces judgment against the Philistines because they took bloody vengeance with contempt in eternal enmity. He stretches out his hand against them, destroys the people from Crete and wipes out the remnant by the seacoast, so that they may know that he is the Lord.
Die ProphetenJudgment and Grace over Israel and Judah
Through a powerful marriage metaphor, the Lord describes how Israel (the Northern Kingdom) was divorced from Him due to idolatry, while Judah (the Southern Kingdom) still chose to commit adultery. The chapter contains an invitation to repentance, promises of new shepherds, and a future where the ark of the covenant will no longer be needed because Jerusalem itself will be called the Lord's throne.
Die ProphetenJudgment and Salvation for the Shepherds of Israel
The Lord condemns Israel's leaders as bad shepherds who only think of themselves, and promises to seek out and gather the scattered sheep. He promises to set a new shepherd, his servant David, over the people and make an everlasting covenant of peace with them.
Die ProphetenJudgment on Ammon
The Lord proclaims judgment against the people of Ammon because they have seized the land of Gad. Rabbah will become a heap of ruins, Milkom will go into captivity along with his priests and leaders, and the people will be driven away. Yet in the end, the Lord promises to restore the fate of Ammon. [ref:Jer 49:1-6|Jeremiah 49:1-6]
Die ProphetenJudgment on Damascus
The Lord proclaims judgment against Damascus. Hamath and Arpad are seized with fear at the bad news; Damascus is paralyzed and struck with anguish like a woman in labor. The city's young men and warriors will fall, and the Lord will set fire to its walls that will consume Ben-Hadad's palaces. [ref:Jer 49:23-27|Jeremiah 49:23-27]
Die ProphetenJudgment on Edom
Edom is judged because they acted vengefully against the house of Judah. The land shall become a wasteland from Teman, and the inhabitants of Dedan shall fall by the sword. The Lord's vengeance will be carried out through Israel.
Die ProphetenJudgment on Egypt
The prophecy of God's judgment on Egypt. Pharaoh Neco's army is defeated by Nebuchadnezzar at the river Euphrates near Carchemish. Jeremiah describes Egypt's shame, the flight of the warriors, and the destruction of Memphis, and how the Lord punishes Amon from No, Pharaoh, the gods of Egypt, and its kings. It concludes with the promise that the land will one day be inhabited again as in days of old.
Die ProphetenJudgment on Exploitative Leaders and Prophets
Micah condemns Israel's leaders, priests, and prophets for exploiting the people, judging for bribes, and prophesying for money. He announces that Zion will be plowed like a field and Jerusalem reduced to a ruinous heap because of their sin.
Die ProphetenJudgment on Moab
Because Moab and Seir said, 'The house of Judah is like all other nations,' the Lord proclaims judgment on Moab. He will open up Moab's flank from its border towns—Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kirjathaim, the pride of the land—and give the land, along with the Ammonites, to the people of the East as a possession. The Lord will execute judgment on Moab, and they will know that He is the Lord.
Die ProphetenJudgment on Sidon
The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel to prophesy against Sidon. The Lord will display his glory and holiness through judgment on the city by sending plague, blood in its streets, and sword. After the judgment, the house of Israel will no longer be troubled by hostile neighbors but will be gathered from the nations, return to the land God gave to Jacob, live securely, build houses, and plant vineyards.
Die ProphetenJudgment on the Ammonites
The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel concerning the Ammonites. Because they shouted with glee, "Aha!" over the disaster that struck Israel when the sanctuary was desecrated, the land of Israel laid waste, and Judah went into exile, they will be handed over as a possession to the people of the East. Rabbah shall become a pasture for camels, and the Ammonites shall be wiped out among the nations, so that they may know that I am the Lord.
Die ProphetenJudgment on the Mountains of Israel
The Lord sends Ezekiel with a prophecy against the mountains of Israel and their high places. He promises to destroy the idols, break down the sun pillars, and leave the corpses of the people of Israel before their idols as a sign of His judgment. Sword, famine, and plague will strike the people because of their religious corruption, but some will be spared and scattered among the nations so that they remember the Lord and know that He is God.
Die ProphetenJudgment on the Philistines
The Lord's word comes to the prophet Jeremiah concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh strikes Gaza. The Lord warns of an invasion from the north described as a flooding flood, with noise from horses and chariots that paralyzes the fathers. The judgment strikes the cities Gaza and Ashkelon and destroys the last remnant from the island of Caphtor, also as helpers for Tyre and Sidon. The prophecy ends with a cry to the Lord's sword to return to its sheath, but the sword cannot rest because the Lord himself has commanded it against Ashkelon and the seacoast. [ref:Jer 47:1-7|Jeremiah 47:1-7]
Die ProphetenJudgment on the Rebels and Blessing for the Lord's Servants
The Lord accuses a rebellious people who sacrifice to other gods and offend Him, warning of judgment upon them. At the same time, He promises to preserve a remnant of Jacob and Judah, His servants who seek Him. He will create new heavens and a new earth, making Jerusalem a city filled with joy and peace where the wolf and the lamb graze together.
Die ProphetenKing Jehoiakim Burns the Scroll
King Jehoiakim sits in his winter house during the ninth month while Jehudi reads aloud the scroll from the prophet Jeremiah. For every third or fourth column, the king cuts off a piece of the scroll with a scribe's knife and throws it into the fire, until the entire scroll is burned up. Neither the king nor his servants are seized with fear. Elnatan, Delaiah, and Gemariah beg him not to burn the scroll, but he will not listen. The king then orders Jerahmeel, Seraiah, and Shelemiah to seize Baruch and Jeremiah, but the Lord hides them.
Die ProphetenKing Zedekiah and Jeremiah
King Zedekiah secretly sends for the prophet Jeremiah to ask about the city's fate. Jeremiah delivers the Lord's message: if he surrenders to the officials of Babylon's king, he and his household will live, and the city will be spared. But if he refuses, Jerusalem will be burned down, his wives and children taken away by the Chaldeans, and he himself captured by Babylon's king [ref:Jer 38:14-23|Jeremiah 38:14-23].
Die ProphetenKing Zedekiah secretly asks Jeremiah
King Zedekiah sends for Jeremiah to learn God's word in secret, and Jeremiah warns that the king will be handed over to the Babylonians before he pleads not to be sent back to the old prison. [ref:Jer 37:17-21|Jeremiah 37:17-21]
Die ProphetenLament over Judah's Captivity
Jeremiah urges the people to give glory to the Lord before darkness falls, and warns that his soul will weep in secret over pride when the Lord's flock is led into captivity. The king and queen mother must sit low when the crown falls, the cities of the Negev are shut up, and all Judah is taken into exile. The people will be scattered like chaff in the desert wind, and their shame will be revealed because of sin, faithlessness, and idolatry.
Die ProphetenLament over Pharaoh and Egypt
In the twelfth year Ezekiel is commanded to chant a lament over Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Pharaoh is compared to a young lion among the nations and to a sea monster in the waters that stirs up the seas with its feet. The Lord will cast His net over him, draw him up, and throw him onto dry land, where birds and wild animals will feed on him. His flesh will be scattered across the mountains, and his blood will water the earth. The heavens will grow dark, the stars will lose their light, and the kings of the nations will tremble when the king of Babylon comes with a sword against Egypt. The land will be laid waste, and the daughters of the nations will sing a lament over the fall of Egypt.
Die ProphetenLament over the King of Tyre
The Lord's word comes to Ezekiel with a lament over the king of Tyre. He is described as the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and beauty, and was in Eden, God's garden, covered with precious stones. As an anointed cherub he walked on God's holy mountain among the stones of fire. But through his great trade he became filled with violence and sinned, and his heart grew proud because of his beauty. Therefore he was defiled, driven away from God's mountain and cast to the earth. Fire went out from within him and consumed him, and he became ash in the sight of all, a terror to the nations.
Die ProphetenLament over Tyre
A comprehensive lament and prophecy concerning the mighty trading city of Tyre, describing the city's former glory, trade connections with nations from all over the known world, and its sudden destruction in the depths of the sea when the east wind shattered the ship.
Die ProphetenMaher-Shalal-Hash-Baz and the Prophecy of the Fall of Damascus and Samaria
The Lord commands Isaiah to write 'Swift plunder, speedy spoil' on a tablet with reliable witnesses. The prophetess bears a son named Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, for before the boy can say 'father' and 'mother', the wealth of Damascus and the spoil from Samaria will be carried away to the king of Assyria.
Die ProphetenMalachi's Message about the Lord's Messenger, Tithes, and Judgment
The prophet Malachi delivers God's message to the people after their return from exile. The Lord promises to send his messenger to prepare the way, and the angel of the covenant will come to the temple to refine the sons of Levi like gold and silver, so that their offerings may once again be pleasing to him. God announces judgment against sorcerers, adulterers, those who swear falsely, and those who oppress the weak, calling the people to turn back. He rebukes them for robbing him by withholding tithes and offerings, and promises to open the windows of heaven with abundant blessing for those who bring the full tithe into the storehouse. Finally, a book of remembrance is written for those who fear the Lord, and it is promised that the distinction between the righteous and the wicked will become clear on the day when the Lord acts.
Die ProphetenMicah's Lament over the Cities of Judah
The prophet Micah laments and mourns over the cities of Judah that are struck by God's judgment. He mentions Gath, Beth-leaphrah, Shaphir, Saanannim, Beth-ezel, Maroth, Lachish, Moresheth-gath, Achzib, Mareshah, and Adullam, and calls for mourning, flight, and shaving the head because of the children who are taken into captivity.
Die ProphetenMicah's Promise of Rebuilding and the Subjugation of the Nations
A prophetic vision from Micah about the day when God's people will be rebuilt, walls raised and borders expanded. People will come from Assyria and Egypt, from sea to sea and from mountain to mountain, while the land lies desolate because of its inhabitants' deeds. The Lord will guard his people with his staff like a flock on Carmel, Bashan and Gilead, and let them see wonderful things as when they came out of Egypt. Nations will see it and be put to shame, lay their hand over their mouth, lick the dust like a serpent and come trembling from their strongholds to fear the Lord.
Die ProphetenMicah's prophecy about the ruler from Bethlehem
The prophet Micah proclaims that from the small town of Bethlehem Ephrata will come a ruler over Israel, one whose origins are from ancient times, from days of eternity, and who will shepherd his people in the Lord's strength like a shepherd.
Die ProphetenMichael Stands Up and the Dead Are Awakened
Michael, the great prince who protects God's people, will stand up. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to eternal life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. The wise will shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever [ref:Dan 12:1-3|Daniel 12:1-3].
Die ProphetenMoab's Judgment and the Messianic Hope
A prophetic vision of Moab's downfall due to pride, where the land is destroyed and its people flee, yet with a glimmer of hope for a righteous king who will sit on a throne in grace within David's tent.
Die ProphetenNations Seek the Lord in Jerusalem
The prophet Zechariah proclaims that a time will come when peoples from many cities will encourage one another to go to Jerusalem to pray and seek the Lord, the God of hosts. Many powerful nations will come, and ten men from every language of the nations will grasp the garment of a Jewish man, saying, 'Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.'
Die ProphetenNoah, Daniel and Job: The Limits of Righteousness
God uses the example of the three righteous men Noah, Daniel and Job to show that even their righteousness cannot save a land from judgment, but only themselves. Finally, he promises that a remnant will remain from Jerusalem.
Die ProphetenObadiah's Prophecy on the Fall of Edom
The prophet Obadiah proclaims God's judgment against Edom for their pride and betrayal of their brother nation Israel when Jerusalem was attacked. The prophecy concludes with a promise of restoration for Israel.
Die ProphetenObadiah's Prophecy on the Fall of Edom
The prophet Obadiah proclaims God's judgment against Edom for their pride and betrayal of their brother nation Israel when Jerusalem was attacked. The prophecy concludes with a promise of restoration for Israel.
Die ProphetenOholah and Oholibah: The Fall of Samaria and Jerusalem
A powerful allegory in which two sisters, Oholah (Samaria) and Oholibah (Jerusalem), are described as adulterous women who turn to other nations to find satisfaction, leading to a severe judgment from God. The story depicts their sinful alliances with the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Egyptians, and ends with a detailed account of their destruction and exile [ref:Ezek 23:1-49|Ezekiel 23:1-49].
Die ProphetenOutpouring of the Spirit of Grace and Mourning over the Pierced One
The Lord will pour out a spirit of grace and supplication on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. They will look on him whom they have pierced, and mourn for him as one mourns for an only child. The mourning in Jerusalem will be great, like the lamentation over Hadad-Rimmon in the valley of Megiddo. Each family in the land will mourn separately: the house of David, the house of Nathan, the house of Levi, and the family of Shimei; men and women each by themselves.
Die ProphetenPashhur Persecutes Jeremiah
The priest Pashhur strikes the prophet Jeremiah and puts him in the stocks at the Benjamin Gate. The next day, Jeremiah prophesies that Pashhur will be given the name Magor-Missabib (Terror on Every Side), and that he and his friends will be taken into captivity to Babylon and die there. [ref:Jer 20:1-6|Jeremiah 20:1-6]
Die ProphetenPharaoh as the Fallen Cedar
The prophecy where Pharaoh is compared to a magnificent cedar that is cut down because of its pride and brought down to Sheol along with the trees of Eden.
Die ProphetenPharaoh meets the fallen nations in Sheol
Pharaoh is brought down to the depths of the earth where he meets the mighty nations Assyria, Elam, Meshech, Tubal, Edom and Sidon, all lying there as uncircumcised, slain by the sword. The fallen heroes speak to him from the depths of Sheol, and Pharaoh takes comfort in seeing that he is not alone in his shame and downfall.
Die ProphetenPharaoh's Arms Are Broken
God declares that He will break Pharaoh's arms so that he can no longer wield the sword, while strengthening the king of Babel's arms to carry out judgment against Egypt. The Egyptians will be scattered among the nations, marking the end of Egypt's independent power and affirming the Lord's sovereignty over the nations.
Die ProphetenPrayer for God's Mercy
A prayer to God as Father and Redeemer, where the people recall God's mighty deeds of old and ask Him to look down from His holy dwelling and show mercy to His people, whose sanctuary has been trampled by enemies. The prophet cries out that God must tear open the heavens and come down.
Die ProphetenPriests Who Despise God's Name
God accuses the priests of despising His name by offering unclean food and unworthy sacrificial animals—blind, lame, and sick ones—at the altar. He challenges them to give such gifts to the governor and asks if he would accept them. [ref:Mal 1:6-9|Malachi 1:6-9]
Die ProphetenProphecy about Egypt and future unity
A comprehensive prophecy in which the Lord comes to Egypt and the idols tremble. God stirs Egyptians against Egyptians, dries up the Nile, and confuses Pharaoh's advisors. The prophecy ends with the Egyptians coming to know the Lord, an altar being built in Egypt, and Egypt, Assyria, and Israel being blessed together as God's people.
Die ProphetenProphecy about the destruction of Moab
A prophecy about Moab's swift destruction: the cities of Ar and Kir-Moab fall in one night; the people wail and flee in tears over Nebo, Medeba, Heshbon, and Horonaim, while Dimon's waters are filled with blood as a lion waits for the survivors.
Die ProphetenProphecy about the Fall of Babylon
A watchman receives a harsh vision about Babylon's downfall. He sees a chariot with horses and proclaims that the city has fallen and its idols are shattered, while expressing pain over what he sees.
Die ProphetenProphecy against Tyre and Sidon
A prophecy concerning the fall of Tyre and Sidon: The ships of Tarshish lament because the port city is destroyed, and the merchants of Sidon must remain silent. The Lord of hosts has planned judgment to humble all pride and the noblest on earth. Tyre shall be forgotten for seventy years, like the lifespan of a king, and then return to her trade. Finally, her earnings will be dedicated to the Lord and given to those who dwell before the face of the Lord.
Die ProphetenProphecy concerning Dumah and Arabia
Prophecy concerning Dumah: Someone calls to the watchman from Seir, asking how far the night has gone. The watchman answers that morning is coming, but also night. Then follows the prophecy concerning Arabia: Caravans from Dedan must spend the night in the forest, and the people of Tema are urged to meet the fugitives with water and bread, for they flee from sword and bow. The Lord says that within one year all the glory of Kedar will end, and the archers, the mighty men of Kedar, will be few.
Die ProphetenRachel's Weeping and Ephraim's Return
A lament over the loss of children, with a voice heard in Ramah, followed by the Lord's comfort and promise that they will return from the land of their enemies. The prophet describes Ephraim's repentance after discipline, and the Lord's deep love and compassion for his precious son.
Die ProphetenSalvation for the Prisoners and the Lord's Protection
By the blood of the covenant, the Lord sends the prisoners free from the dry well and promises double restitution. He stretches out Judah like His bow against the sons of Javan, reveals Himself over His people with lightning and trumpet, and saves them as His flock because of His great goodness and beauty.
Die ProphetenSusanna Acquitted by Daniel
In the deuterocanonical addition to the Book of Daniel, the young Daniel acquits the innocent Susanna, who has been falsely accused of adultery by two corrupt elders.
Die ProphetenThe 'Woe to Them' Words in Isaiah 5
The prophet Isaiah pronounces a series of 'woe to them' statements against greedy landowners, drunkards, those who call evil good and good evil, the self-proclaimed wise, and those who take bribes. Because the people have rejected the Lord's law, exile, the gaping mouth of Sheol, and the outstretched hand of the Lord's wrath are foretold [ref:Jes 5:8-25|Isaiah 5:8-25].
Die ProphetenThe Assyrian as God's Rod and Judgment on Pride
God uses the king of Assyria as a rod to punish His ungodly people, but the Assyrian does not understand that he is merely an instrument and boasts in his own strength and wisdom. When the Lord has finished His work on Zion, His wrath turns against the proud heart of the Assyrian, and the Lord of Hosts sends fire and wasting away to consume his glory so that only a few trees remain in his forest.
Die ProphetenThe Assyrian's March Against Jerusalem and God's Deliverance
The Lord comforts His people in Zion and promises that the yoke of the Assyrian will be lifted from their shoulders, just as He once struck down Midian at the rock of Oreb and brought the people out of Egypt. The prophet describes the enemy's march through the cities of Judah—Aiath, Migron, Michmash, Geba, Ramah, Gibeah of Saul, Gallim, Laishah, Anathoth, Madmenah, and Gebim—all the way to Nob, where he raises his hand against the mountain of the daughter of Zion. But the Lord Himself will cut down the proud branches with an axe, and Lebanon will fall before the Mighty One.
Die ProphetenThe Basket of Summer Fruit
The Lord shows Amos a vision of a basket of summer fruit and declares that the end has come for his people Israel. The temple songs will become laments, and many corpses will lie scattered about.
Die ProphetenThe Beast from the Sea
John sees a beast rising out of the sea with ten horns and seven heads, with blasphemous names on its heads. It looks like a leopard, with feet like a bear's and a mouth like a lion's. The dragon gives it his power, throne, and great authority. One of its heads seems to have a fatal wound that is healed, and the whole earth follows in amazement after the beast and worships it. It speaks blasphemous words against God for forty-two months, makes war on the holy ones, and gains authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation. All whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of life worship it.
Die ProphetenThe Boundaries of the Promised Land
The Lord gives detailed instructions about the boundaries of the land on all four sides and commands that it be distributed as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel, including the foreigners living among them.
Die ProphetenThe Call of Ezekiel
The Lord calls the prophet Ezekiel to go to the children of Israel, a rebellious people, and deliver God's word whether they listen or refuse. The Spirit lifts him up, and he sees a hand reaching out with a scroll written with lamentations, sighs, and woes, which he is commanded to eat.
Die ProphetenThe Call to Flee from the North and Zion's Future Glory
The Lord calls his people to flee from the land of the north and from Babylon’s daughter, for he has scattered them to the four winds of heaven. He promises to raise his hand against the nations that plunder them – whoever touches them touches the apple of his eye – and they will become plunder for their own slaves. Daughter Zion should rejoice, for the Lord is coming and will dwell in her midst. Many nations will join themselves to the Lord and become his people; Judah will be his inheritance, and Jerusalem will again be chosen. All flesh is called to be silent before the Lord, who has risen from his holy dwelling.
Die ProphetenThe Call to Justice and the People's Rejection
The Lord demands true justice and care for the weak—widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor—but the people refused to listen, turned a stubborn shoulder, and made their hearts hard as diamond. Because they ignored the law and the words of the former prophets, the Lord's great wrath came: they were scattered among the nations, and the glorious land was laid waste [ref:Sach 7:8-14|Sach 7:8-14].
Die ProphetenThe Cauldron and the City of Blood
God gives Ezekiel a powerful parable about a rusted cauldron representing Jerusalem, a city full of blood and injustice that will be boiled and purified in the fire of judgment. This message marks the beginning of the final siege and God's inevitable punishment [ref:Ezekiel 24:1-14|Ezekiel 24:1-14].
Die ProphetenThe Closed Gate and the Service of the Priests
Ezekiel sees that the east gate of the sanctuary is shut because the Lord has entered through it; only the prince may sit there and eat bread before the Lord. The glory of the Lord fills the temple, and God gives regulations for the lower service of the unfaithful Levites and the priestly service of the faithful sons of Zadok—their linen garments, marriage, purity, teaching, and inheritance, where the Lord himself is their possession [ref:Ezekiel 44:1-31|Ezekiel 44:1-31].
Die ProphetenThe Conflict Between Amos and the Priest Amaziah
Amaziah, the priest at Bethel, accuses Amos before King Jeroboam and orders him to flee to Judah and stop prophesying at the king's sanctuary. Amos replies that he is not a professional prophet but a shepherd whom the Lord has called, and he proclaims severe judgment against Amaziah's family and over Israel, which will be taken into exile.
Die ProphetenThe Covenant and the Breach with Judah
The Lord commands Jeremiah to proclaim the words of the covenant to Judah and Jerusalem, reminding them of the curse for those who break it. The people have returned to the sins of their ancestors and burned incense to Baal, and the Lord reveals a conspiracy among the men of Judah. He calls Judah a green olive tree that is now to be set on fire. Finally, a plot against Jeremiah's life by the men of Anathoth, his own hometown, is uncovered, and the Lord announces judgment upon them.
Die ProphetenThe Crowns of the High Priest Joshua
The word of the Lord came to Zechariah: He is to receive silver and gold from the exiles – Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah – and make crowns to be placed on the head of the high priest Joshua, son of Jehozadak. This is a sign pointing to a coming "Branch" who will build the Lord's temple, reign on his throne, and serve as priest, with the counsel of peace between these two offices [ref:Zech 6:9-15|Zechariah 6:9-15].
Die ProphetenThe Cup of the Wine of Wrath
The Lord commands Jeremiah to take the cup of the wine of wrath from his hand and give it to all the nations to drink. The prophet lists the nations that will be struck, from Jerusalem and Judah to Egypt, the cities of the Philistines, Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, Sidon, the kings of Arabia, Elam, Media, and the kings of the north, and finally the king of Sheshach. All shall drink, stagger, and fall by the sword, and none may refuse to take the cup.
Die ProphetenThe Day of the Lord, Repentance and Restoration
A powerful prophecy about the terrifying Day of the Lord that brings destruction, yet leads to deep repentance and God's merciful restoration of the land and people. [ref:Joel 2:1-11|Joel 2:1-11] describes the mighty army and the day of judgment, [ref:Joel 2:12-17|Joel 2:12-17] calls for heartfelt repentance with fasting and prayer, and [ref:Joel 2:18-27|Joel 2:18-27] promises full restoration of the years consumed by locusts.
Die ProphetenThe Drought and the Prophets' Lies
A severe drought strikes Judah; the wells are dry and the people mourn. Jeremiah prays for the Lord to intervene for His name's sake, but God answers that He will not hear their prayers because of the people's sin. When Jeremiah points to the false prophets' promise of peace, the Lord declares that both the prophets who have deceived the people and the people themselves will perish by sword, famine, and pestilence.
Die ProphetenThe End of the Proverb About Distant Times
The Lord's word comes to Ezekiel concerning two proverbs in Israel: that the days pass without visions being fulfilled, and that prophecies concern distant times. God declares that He is putting an end to these proverbs—the days are near, every vision will be fulfilled, false visions will cease, and His word will no longer be delayed but completed in the days of the rebellious generation.
Die ProphetenThe Expulsion and Deliverance of Daughter Zion
The Lord promises to gather the lame and the exiles into a mighty nation and to be king on Mount Zion. Daughter Zion must leave the city all the way to Babel, but there she will be saved and rescued from the hand of her enemies.
Die ProphetenThe Fall of Nineveh and the Downfall of the Lion
A powerful prophetic account of how the Lord restores the glory of Jacob and Israel while destroying Nineveh. Chariots rage through the streets like flaming torches, the gates of the rivers open, and the palace melts away. The city is plundered for silver and gold, and the lion's den—symbol of Assyrian power—is left empty. Finally, the Lord, God of Hosts, speaks: He comes against Nineveh; the sword will devour the lion cubs, and the voice of messengers will never be heard again.
Die ProphetenThe Farmer's Wisdom and God's Instruction
A parable from Isaiah about the farmer's wise work: he plows and harrows, sows black cumin and cumin, plants wheat in rows, barley in its place, and spelt along the edge. He threshes each crop with the right method—black cumin with a staff, cumin with a rod, and bread grain without crushing it. This knowledge he receives from God who teaches him. Also this comes from the Lord of hosts; wonderful is his counsel and great is his wisdom.
Die ProphetenThe Feast on the Mountain and Victory Over Death
A prophetic vision of a future feast for all peoples on the Lord's mountain, where God removes the veil over the nations, swallows up death forever, and wipes away every tear.
Die ProphetenThe Five Punishments and the Call to Meet God
Through the prophet Amos, the Lord reminds Israel of five punishments He has sent: famine, drought, blight and locusts, plague and sword, as well as upheaval like that of Sodom and Gomorrah. After each punishment, the refrain is repeated: "Yet you did not turn to me." Therefore, the solemn call now sounds: "Prepare yourself to meet your God, Israel!"
Die ProphetenThe Flying Scroll
Zechariah receives a vision of a flying scroll, twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide. The scroll is the curse that goes out over the whole land, striking thieves and those who swear falsely by God's name. The Lord of Hosts sends it into their houses to consume both timber and stones. [ref:Zechariah 5:1-4|Zechariah 5:1-4]
Die ProphetenThe Four Angels and the Seal of God
Four angels stand at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds so that no wind blows over the earth, the sea, or any tree. Another angel comes up from the east with the seal of the living God and calls out to the four angels not to harm the earth, the sea, or the trees until the servants of God are sealed on their foreheads. The number of those sealed is 144,000 – twelve thousand from each of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Die ProphetenThe Four Horns and the Four Blacksmiths
The prophet Zechariah receives a vision of four horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. Then the Lord shows him four blacksmiths who come to terrify and strike down the horns of the nations that rose up against the land of Judah.
Die ProphetenThe Four Lepers and the Aramean Camp
During the famine in Samaria, four lepers at the city gate decide to go over to the Aramean camp. The Lord has made the enemy hear the sound of a great army, so the Arameans have fled and left everything behind. The lepers eat and gather plunder, but realize they must report it to the king. The people plunder the camp, and a fine measure of flour is sold for one shekel, just as Elisha had predicted. The officer who doubted the prophecy was trampled to death at the gate.
Die ProphetenThe Glory of the Lord Comes to the Temple
Ezekiel sees the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east and filling the new temple. The Lord speaks from the house and declares that this is the place for his throne, where he will dwell among the people of Israel forever, provided they stay away from idolatry and the desecration of his name.
Die ProphetenThe Glory of the Lord Leaves Jerusalem
The cherubim lift their wings, and the glory of the Lord rises from the city and stops on the mountain east of Jerusalem. The Spirit takes Ezekiel in a vision back to the exiles in Chaldea, and he tells them everything the Lord has shown him.
Die ProphetenThe Glory of the Lord Leaves the Temple
Ezekiel sees the glory of the Lord above the cherubim. A man clothed in linen is commanded to take burning coals from between the cherubim and scatter them over the city as judgment. The glory of the Lord rises from the cherub, leaves the threshold of the house, and stands above the cherubim, which then lift themselves up and stop at the entrance of the east gate [ref:Ezekiel 10:1-19|Ezekiel 10:1-19].
Die ProphetenThe Holiness of Jerusalem
In the conclusion of Zechariah's prophecy, a day is described when everything in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the Lord. On the bells of the horses it shall say, "Holy to the Lord," and the pots in the house of the Lord shall be like the sacrificial bowls before the altar. Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy, so that all who offer sacrifices may come and take from them and cook in them. On that day there will no longer be any Canaanites in the house of the Lord of hosts.
Die ProphetenThe Holy River from the Temple
A man led Ezekiel out from the temple threshold and measured along a river flowing eastward, which grew deeper at each step—from ankles to knees to hips until it became a river too deep to cross except by swimming. The river flowed down into the Arabah valley and healed the sea, so that it teemed with fish from En-Gedi to En-Eglaim. On both banks grew fruit trees that bore fresh fruit every month for food, while their leaves were for healing [ref:Ezekiel 47:1-12|Ezekiel 47:1-12].
Die ProphetenThe Immanuel Prophecy
When King Ahaz refuses to ask the Lord for a sign, Isaiah prophesies that a young woman will conceive and give birth to a son who will be called Immanuel.
Die ProphetenThe Indictment of the Blind and Deaf People
The Lord asks his people a sharp question: Who is blind like my servant, and deaf like the messenger I send? The people have seen much but do not take it to heart; their ears are open, yet they do not hear. Although the Lord made the law great and glorious for the sake of his righteousness, the people are plundered and robbed, trapped in snares and hidden in prisons. The prophet explains that it was the Lord himself who handed Jacob over to be plundered and Israel to robbers, because they sinned against him and would not walk in his ways. Therefore he poured out his burning wrath on them, but they did not understand it or take it to heart [ref:Jes 42:18-25|Isaiah 42:18-25].
Die ProphetenThe Interpretation of the Vision Concerning the Fourth Beast and the Ten Kings
Daniel is troubled by the vision of the four beasts and asks one who stands there for an explanation. He is told that the four beasts are four kings, but that the holy people of the Most High will eventually receive the kingdom forever. Daniel especially wants to understand the fourth beast with iron teeth and bronze claws, and the little horn that rose up among the ten horns and spoke great words. The angel explains that the ten horns are ten kings, and that another king shall rise who will overthrow three of them, speak against the Most High, and oppress the holy people for a time, times, and half a time. But judgment will be set, his power will be taken away, and the kingdom will be given to the holy people of the Most High as an eternal kingdom. Daniel is frightened by what he has seen, but keeps the matter in his heart.
Die ProphetenThe Jews Flee to Egypt
After the prophet Jeremiah has warned against fleeing to Egypt, Azariah, Johanan and the proud men accuse him of speaking lies and charge Baruch with inciting them against them. They do not obey the Lord's voice, but take with them the whole remnant of Judah – including Jeremiah and Baruch – and go to Tahpanhes in Egypt. There the Lord gives Jeremiah a sign: he is to bury large stones at the entrance to Pharaoh's house, for Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, will come and set his throne over them, strike Egypt, burn the temples of the gods and break the pillars in Heliopolis [ref:Jer 43:1-13|Jeremiah 43:1-13].
Die ProphetenThe Judgment Against Nineveh
A powerful prophetic judgment against the city of bloodshed, Nineveh. The prophet Nahum describes the city's violence, deceit, and sorcery, proclaiming the Lord's sentence of judgment. Nineveh is compared to No-Amon (Thebes), which fell earlier despite its strength, while the city's fortifications, merchants, and officers are depicted as powerless locusts. Finally, the downfall of Assyria's king is proclaimed—the wound is fatal.
Die ProphetenThe Judgment Against the Nations
The Lord announces judgment against Hadrak, Damascus, Hamath, Tyre, and Sidon, as well as the Philistine cities of Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and Ashdod, before promising to camp like a guard post near his own house.
Die ProphetenThe Judgment against Tyre
The Lord gives a detailed prophecy about the destruction of the trading city Tyre by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. The city will become a bare rock and a place to spread fishing nets, and the princes of the sea will join in a lament over the city's downfall.
Die ProphetenThe Judgment and Restoration of David's Fallen Hut
Amos sees the Lord standing by the altar and proclaims an inevitable judgment over sinful Israel—no one can hide, neither in the realm of the dead, nor in heaven, on Carmel, or in the depths of the sea. Yet the house of Jacob will not be completely destroyed. On that day the Lord will raise up David's fallen hut, repair its breaches, and rebuild it as in days of old. He will turn the fortunes of his people, cause the mountains to drip sweet wine, and plant them in their own land so they will never again be uprooted.
Die ProphetenThe Judgment of the Nations and the Feast of Tabernacles
The Lord sends a terrible plague upon the nations that have attacked Jerusalem: their flesh, eyes, and tongues rot while they stand on their feet, and great confusion from the Lord causes them to turn against one another. Even the animals in the camps are struck by this same plague. Judah fights at Jerusalem and gathers the wealth – gold, silver, and clothing – from the nations. Those who remain must go up year after year to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. Those who refuse, including Egypt, will be struck with drought and plague as punishment.
Die ProphetenThe Judgment of the Nations in the Valley of Jehoshaphat
The Lord announces that he will restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem and gather all nations to the Valley of Jehoshaphat to judge them. Tyre, Sidon, Philistia, Egypt, and Edom are accused of violence against Israel, for scattering the people, dividing the land, and selling the children of Judah. The Lord calls for holy war: plowshares are beaten into swords, sickles are raised, and winepresses are trodden, for evil is great. On the day of judgment the sun and moon grow dark while the Lord roars from Zion. He is a refuge for his people, and the land will flow with wine and milk, while a spring flows out from the house of the Lord.
Die ProphetenThe Judgment on Ariel and the Salvation of Zion
A prophetic vision over Jerusalem, called Ariel. The Lord warns of siege and distress upon the city, but promises that the enemy army will suddenly vanish like a dream. The people are struck by deep spiritual slumber: the eyes of the prophets are closed, and revelation becomes like a sealed scroll no one can read. They honor God with their lips while their hearts are far away, and their wisdom comes to ruin. Finally, restoration is promised: Lebanon becomes fertile land, the deaf hear the words of the scroll, the blind see, the humble rejoice in Israel's Holy One, the violent one is destroyed, and Jacob's house will no longer be ashamed.
Die ProphetenThe Judgment on Babylon
Isaiah receives a vision concerning the Lord's judgment on Babylon. The Lord musters an army from distant lands, stirs up the Medes against the city, and announces the day of the Lord with burning wrath. Babylon, the pride of kingdoms, will be destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah and never inhabited again.
Die ProphetenThe Judgment on Babylon and Seraiah's Mission
God proclaims the final downfall of Babylon and uses the kings of Media as his instrument. The chapter concludes with a concrete action where the prophet Jeremiah gives Seraiah, son of Neriah, a scroll containing the prophecy to be read aloud in Babylon, then tied to a stone and cast into the Euphrates as a sign of the city's eternal fall [ref:Jer 51:1-64|Jeremiah 51:1-64].
Die ProphetenThe Judgment on Babylon and the Return of the Peoples
A comprehensive prophecy about the Lord's judgment on Babylon, where the city is destroyed by a people from the north, while the peoples of Israel and Judah are commanded to flee and return to their land in freedom and reconciliation.
Die ProphetenThe Judgment on Babylon, the Great Prostitute
One of the seven angels with the bowls shows John the judgment on the great prostitute who sits upon many waters. John is carried away in the Spirit into a wilderness and sees a woman clothed in purple and scarlet, seated on a scarlet beast with seven heads and ten horns. On her forehead stands the name "Babylon the Great", and she is drunk with the blood of the saints. The angel explains the mystery: the seven heads are seven hills and seven kings, and the ten horns are ten kings who give their power to the beast. They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer as Lord of lords and King of kings. Finally, the ten kings turn against the prostitute and destroy her, until God's word is fulfilled.
Die ProphetenThe Judgment on Damascus and Ephraim
Isaiah's message concerning Damascus: the city will become a fallen ruin, and the cities of Aroer will be abandoned. The kingdom shall cease from Damascus, and the fortress shall vanish from Ephraim. Jacob's glory will fade, leaving only a small remnant—like gleaning after the harvest or a few olives left on the tree after shaking.
Die ProphetenThe Judgment on Edom
The prophet Jeremiah proclaims the Lord's judgment on Edom: The wisdom of Teman is gone, and Esau's descendants will be struck by disaster. Bozrah will become a desolate wasteland and a curse, and Edom will become like Sodom and Gomorrah because of pride and false security in their rock fortresses.
Die ProphetenThe Judgment on Edom and the Seir Mountains
The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel with a prophecy against Mount Seir and Edom. Because of their eternal hostility toward Israel, for handing over the Israelites to the sword in times of disaster, and for their boastful claims to take possession of the land of Israel and Judah, the Lord announces judgment. The land shall become an everlasting desolation; its cities will lie in ruins, the mountains filled with the slain, and no one shall dwell there anymore. Just as Edom rejoiced over Israel's destruction, so it too shall be laid waste, that they may know that I am the Lord.
Die ProphetenThe Judgment on Israel's Pride
The Lord sends a word of judgment against Jacob and Israel because the people, in pride and arrogance, believe they can rebuild what has fallen with even better materials. God raises up enemies against them from east and west, cutting off both head and tail—leaders and false prophets who lead the people astray—and lets evil burn like fire throughout the land. Finally, brothers turn against one another: Manasseh against Ephraim and Ephraim against Manasseh, and together they turn against Judah, while the Lord's anger has not yet turned away and his hand is still stretched out.
Die ProphetenThe Judgment on Moab
The prophecy that the Lord's hand will rest on the mountain while Moab is trampled down like straw in a manure pit. Moab's pride is humbled, and their high fortress walls are torn down into the dust [ref:Jes 25:10-12|Isaiah 25:10-12].
Die ProphetenThe Judgment on Pharaoh and Egypt
The Lord sends a powerful judgment against Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, who is described as a great sea monster in the Nile. The prophecy warns that Egypt will become a desert for forty years, after which the Egyptians will be gathered again and become a humble kingdom in Pathros. Finally, the Lord gives Egypt as wages to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon for his service against Tyre [ref:Ezekiel 29:1-21|Ezekiel 29:1-21].
Die ProphetenThe Judgment on Rebellious Judah and the Downfall of Assyria
A continuous prophetic narrative that begins with a sharp judgment against Judah's rebellion and their futile alliance with Egypt, then shifts focus to a promise of God's salvation for those who wait on Him, and concludes with a detailed description of the Lord's wrath against the king of Assyria and his destruction at Topheth.
Die ProphetenThe Judgment on Samaria and Jerusalem
The prophet Micah of Moreshet receives the word of the Lord during the reigns of kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. The Lord descends from his holy temple as a witness against the peoples; the mountains melt and the valleys split open before him. Judgment comes because of Jacob's rebellion and Judah's high places, striking both Samaria and Jerusalem. Samaria will become a heap of ruins, its idols will be smashed, and the wages of prostitution will be burned [ref: Micah 1:1-7|Micah 1:1-7].
Die ProphetenThe Judgment on Shebna and the Exaltation of Eliakim
The Lord sends judgment against the steward Shebna, who had carved out a magnificent tomb for himself in the rock. He will be thrown out like a ball to a distant land and removed from his position. In his place, God calls His servant Eliakim, son of Hilkiah, giving him Shebna's robe, sash, and authority, and placing the key to the house of David on his shoulder. He will be secured like a peg in a firm place, but the prophecy ends with the peg eventually giving way and falling along with all the burden hanging from it.
Die ProphetenThe Judgment on the Children of Ammon
Ezekiel prophesies against the people of Ammon because they mocked the Lord. A polished sword is drawn to slaughter and devour; it will be laid on the necks of the wicked who are sentenced to death while false prophets see empty visions and speak lies. The sword is returned to its sheath, for the Lord will judge Ammon in the place where they were created, in the land from which they came. He will pour out his fury, blow upon them with the fire of his wrath, and hand them over to ruthless men who devise destruction. They will become fuel for the fire; blood will flow throughout their land, and they will no longer be remembered.
Die ProphetenThe Judgment on the City of Blood Jerusalem
The Lord judges Jerusalem as a city of blood full of abominable deeds, where princes, priests, and prophets have failed in their calling. The city is compared to dross that will be melted in a furnace of God's wrath because no one stood in the gap for the land.
Die ProphetenThe Judgment on the Cows of Bashan
God pronounces a severe judgment on the wealthy women of Samaria who oppress the weak, warning that they will be led away with hooks like fish. [ref:Amos 4:1-3|Amos 4:1-3]
Die ProphetenThe Judgment on the Daughter of Babylon
The Lord proclaims Babylon's downfall and condemns her pride, lack of mercy toward God's people, and reliance on sorcery and astrology. The prophecy describes how the queen of kingdoms will be brought down to the dust, lose her children, and become a widow in a single day, while her magical arts and advisors prove powerless against God's judgment.
Die ProphetenThe Judgment on the False Prophets
Jeremiah exposes the godlessness among the prophets in Jerusalem, comparing them to Sodom and Gomorrah. The Lord warns of His wrath against those who prophesy false dreams and visions from their own hearts, and cautions against misusing the expression "the burden of the Lord".
Die ProphetenThe Judgment on the Female Prophets Who Enslave Souls
The Lord commands Ezekiel to prophesy against the daughters of the people who prophesy from their own hearts. They sew bands for wrists and make veils to enslave souls, lying to the people for their own gain. The Lord promises to tear apart the bands and veils, set the enslaved souls free, and save His people from their hand. [ref:Esek 13:17-23|Ezekiel 13:17-23]
Die ProphetenThe Judgment on the Judean Refugees in Egypt
Jeremiah warns the Judean refugees in Egypt that their idolatrous worship of the Queen of Heaven will lead to destruction by sword and famine. The people refuse to listen and insist on continuing their offerings, but the prophet declares that only a small remnant will return to Judah, citing Pharaoh Hophra's downfall as proof that God's word will stand.
Die ProphetenThe Judgment on the Prince of Tyre
The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel concerning the prince of Tyre, who in his pride said: "I am a god; I sit on the throne of God in the heart of the seas." He is wiser than Daniel and has gathered gold and silver through his wisdom and trade, but his heart became proud. Therefore the Lord will bring the most ruthless nations against him. They will draw their swords against his splendor, cast him down into the grave, and kill him in the heart of the seas. He shall die the death of the uncircumcised, for the Lord has spoken. [ref:Esek 28:1-10|Ezekiel 28:1-10]
Die ProphetenThe Judgment on the Proud Crown of Ephraim
A powerful prophecy of God's judgment on the drunken leaders in Ephraim and the mockers in Jerusalem who have made a covenant with death, followed by the promise of a sure foundation stone on Zion for those who believe.
Die ProphetenThe Judgment on the Twenty-Five Men in Jerusalem
Ezekiel is taken in a vision to the east gate of the house of the Lord, where twenty-five men, including Jaazaniah and Pelatiah, are plotting injustice and saying that the city is the pot and they are the meat. The Lord commands Ezekiel to prophesy against them: they will be led out of the city, judged at the border of Israel, and fall by the sword. While Ezekiel is prophesying, Pelatiah dies, and the prophet throws himself down and cries out to the Lord for the rest of Israel.
Die ProphetenThe Judgment on the Ungodly Shepherds
The Lord condemns the evil shepherds who have scattered the people and promises to gather the remnant of the sheep from all nations. He will set new shepherds over them and raise up a righteous Branch for David, a king who shall be called 'The Lord Our Righteousness'.
Die ProphetenThe Judgment on the Valley of Vision
Isaiah proclaims a message about the Valley of Vision: A day of confusion and trampling from the Lord strikes Jerusalem. The leaders flee and are captured without a fight, while Elam and Kir advance with chariots and shields. The people strengthen the walls and gather water, but do not look to the One who planned it. When the Lord calls for weeping and mourning, they respond with a feast: "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!" Therefore the Lord declares that this wickedness will not be forgiven until they die. [ref:Jes 22:1-14|Isaiah 22:1-14]
Die ProphetenThe King of Babylon at the Crossroads
The prophet Ezekiel is commissioned to draw two paths that the sword of the king of Babylon may take, with a signpost where the roads split—one toward Rabbah in the land of Ammon and one toward Judah and Jerusalem. The king of Babylon stands at the crossroads seeking an omen by shaking arrows, consulting household gods, and examining the liver. The lot falls on Jerusalem, where he will set up siege ramps and lay siege to the city. The people see it as a false omen, but the Lord reminds them of their guilt, and judgment also strikes the ungodly prince of Israel, who must remove his turban and crown.
Die ProphetenThe Land Becomes Like the Garden of Eden
The Lord promises through Ezekiel that when He cleanses the people from sin, the ruined cities will be rebuilt and the desolate land cultivated so that it becomes like the Garden of Eden. The surrounding nations will know that the Lord has restored what was destroyed. He also promises to make the people as numerous as the flocks in Jerusalem during the festivals [ref:Ezekiel 36:33-38|Ezekiel 36:33-38].
Die ProphetenThe Linen Belt at the Euphrates
God commands Jeremiah to buy a linen belt, hide it by the Euphrates, and retrieve it later to show how Judah's pride will be ruined and made useless. [ref:Jer 13:1-11|Jeremiah 13:1-11]
Die ProphetenThe Locust Plague and the Cry to the Lord
A mighty army of locusts ravages the land, destroying crops, vineyards, and livestock. The prophet Joel calls the people, especially the elders and priests, to put on sackcloth, mourn, and hold a holy fast while crying out to the Lord for help in light of the coming Day of the Lord. [ref:Joel 1:1-20|Joel 1:1-20]
Die ProphetenThe Lord as a Sanctuary, a Stone of Stumbling and a Trap
The Lord spoke to Isaiah with a mighty hand and warned him not to follow the people's path. They were not to call everything a conspiracy as the people did, nor fear what they feared. The Lord of hosts was to be held holy; he was to be their fear. He would be a sanctuary, but also a stone of stumbling and a rock that causes falling for both houses of Israel, a snare and a trap for the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Many would stumble, fall, be broken, and be caught.
Die ProphetenThe Lord's Accusation Against Israel
The Lord initiates a lawsuit against His people, reminding them of their history of salvation from Egypt and Balaam's blessing. He demands justice, mercy, and humble walking rather than ritual sacrifices. The prophet exposes the people's injustice, false scales, lies, and violence, and announces judgment upon them because they follow the ways of Omri and Ahab.
Die ProphetenThe Lord's arm awakens and remembers the redemption
The prophet calls on the Lord's arm to awake as in days of old, remembering how He cut Rahab in pieces, pierced the dragon, and dried up the sea so that the redeemed could cross over. This leads to the promise that those whom the Lord has ransomed will return to Zion with joy and everlasting gladness, while sorrow and sighing flee away [ref:Jes 51:9-11|Isaiah 51:9-11].
Die ProphetenThe Lord's army from the ends of the earth
The prophet Isaiah describes how the Lord raises a banner and whistles for a foreign nation from the ends of the earth. An invincible army comes swiftly: none grow weary, their arrows are sharp, and the hooves of their horses are like flint. They roar like lions and seize the prey, and over the land comes darkness and distress [ref:Jes 5:26-30|Isaiah 5:26-30].
Die ProphetenThe Lord's Challenge to the Idols and the Ruler from the East
The Lord calls the nations to judgment and asks who has stirred up the conqueror from the east who subdues kings before him. He assures Israel, his servant and Jacob’s descendants, that they need not fear, for the Lord holds their right hand and is their Redeemer. He promises water in the wilderness and lush trees in the desert for the poor and needy. Finally, the Lord challenges the idols to predict the future to prove their divinity, but they are mere emptiness and wind, while he himself has raised up one from the north and from the rising sun, giving Zion and Jerusalem a messenger of joy.
Die ProphetenThe Lord's Compassion and the People's Rebellion
A praise of the Lord's grace and great goodness toward the house of Israel. He called them his people and became their Savior. In all their distress, he was also distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them; in love he redeemed them and carried them from ancient times. But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit, so he became their enemy and fought against them himself.
Die ProphetenThe Lord's Day and the Valley of the Mount of Olives
A prophetic description of the great day when the Lord fights against the nations that have attacked Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives is split in two from east to west, living water flows out from Jerusalem, and the Lord becomes king over all the earth.
Die ProphetenThe Lord's Hand and the Redeemer to Zion
The prophet Isaiah explains that the Lord's hand is not too short to save, but that the people's sins have separated them from God. He describes widespread injustice, violence, and lies, and the people's complaint that justice is far away. When the Lord sees that no one intervenes, his own arm brings him salvation: He puts on righteousness as a breastplate, the helmet of salvation, the garments of vengeance, and zeal. A Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from their sins, and the Lord establishes an eternal covenant concerning his Spirit and his words.
Die ProphetenThe Lord's Judgment and Gathering of the Nations
The Lord will come with fire and with his sword to execute judgment on all flesh. He will gather all nations and tongues so that they may see his glory. He will send messengers to distant lands to proclaim his name, and brothers from all nations will be brought as an offering to Jerusalem. Some of them the Lord will take as priests and Levites.
Die ProphetenThe Lord's Judgment and Salvation for Jerusalem
The Lord declares that he will make Jerusalem a cup that causes drunkenness and a heavy stone for all the nations gathering against the city. He strikes the enemy's horses with confusion and blindness, while watching over Judah. The leaders of Judah become like a firepot among wood, consuming the surrounding peoples. The Lord saves the tents of Judah first and protects the inhabitants of Jerusalem so that the weakest becomes like David, and the house of David like God. Finally, he seeks to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
Die ProphetenThe Lord's Judgment on Israel through the Prophet Amos
The Lord speaks against Israel and reminds them that He has chosen them from among all the families of the earth, and therefore will punish them for their sins. Through a series of images – the lion that roars, the bird in the snare, the horn that sounds the alarm – the prophet Amos shows that no disaster happens without the Lord’s will, and that the Lord does nothing without revealing it to his servants the prophets. Amos announces that an enemy will surround the land, tear down Samaria’s strength, and plunder the palaces. The altars in Bethel will be destroyed, and both winter houses and summer houses, ivory houses and splendid dwellings will perish as punishment for the people’s violence and injustice.
Die ProphetenThe Lord's Judgment on Jerusalem and King Zedekiah
King Zedekiah sends Pashhur and the priest Zephaniah to the prophet Jeremiah to ask the Lord for help against Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians who are besieging Jerusalem. But Jeremiah delivers a harsh answer: The Lord himself will fight against the city with outstretched hand and fury, and people and animals shall die from plague, sword, and famine. Zedekiah and the people shall be given into Nebuchadnezzar's hand. Nevertheless, the Lord sets before them the way of life and the way of death: Whoever remains in the city shall die, but whoever surrenders to the Chaldeans shall save their life as plunder.
Die ProphetenThe Lord's Judgment on Jerusalem Because of Manasseh
The Lord declares through Jeremiah that even Moses or Samuel could not turn His heart away from the people. Some are destined for death, sword, famine, or captivity, and four kinds of punishment will strike them: sword, dogs, birds, and wild animals. Because of King Manasseh's deeds in Jerusalem, the city becomes a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth; widows become more numerous than the sand of the sea, and she who bore seven children withers away [ref:Jer 15:1-9|Jeremiah 15:1-9].
Die ProphetenThe Lord's Judgment on the Ends of the Earth
The prophecy culminates with an image of the Lord roaring from his holy dwelling and sending a storm of judgment over the whole earth. Shepherds and leaders are scattered and killed, and those struck down by the Lord shall lie unburied from one end of the earth to the other.
Die ProphetenThe Lord's Judgment on the Shepherds and Salvation for Judah and Joseph
The Lord condemns the false shepherds and promises to gather and strengthen His people, the house of Judah and the house of Joseph, bring them back from Egypt and Assyria, and make them strong warriors under His leadership.
Die ProphetenThe Lord's Love for Jacob and Hatred for Esau
The Lord assures Israel of His love by reminding them that He loved Jacob but hated Esau. When the people ask how He has loved them, the Lord points to Edom's desolation: its mountains are laid waste and its heritage has become a dwelling place for jackals. Even if Edom tries to rebuild, the Lord will tear it down, and Israel will see the Lord's greatness beyond their own borders.
Die ProphetenThe Lord's Promise of Healing and Restoration
God urges Israel to turn back and promises to heal their apostasy, love them freely, and make them blossom like a lily. Hosea ends the book with an image of God's grace, where the Lord is like dew and a green cypress, along with an appeal for wisdom regarding the Lord's right ways.
Die ProphetenThe Lord's Promise of Restoration and the Righteous Branch
While Jeremiah is imprisoned in the guard court, the word of the Lord comes to him with promises that Jerusalem will be healed, the people's sins forgiven, and the land rebuilt. Central is the promise of a righteous Branch from David's line who will do what is right and just, and the city will be called 'The Lord Our Righteousness.' The Lord confirms with His covenant concerning day and night that the covenant with David and the Levitical priests will never be broken.
Die ProphetenThe Lord's Promise of Zion's Restoration
The prophet declares that he will not remain silent until Zion's righteousness shines forth, and describes God's love for the people through the imagery of a bride. Watchmen on the walls call out to the Lord until the city is restored, and the Lord swears that the people shall enjoy the fruit of their labor. Finally, it is announced that the Savior comes with reward and recompense before him, and the people receive new honorable names.
Die ProphetenThe Lord's Promise to Restore Jerusalem
The Lord promises to return to Zion and make Jerusalem the City of Truth, where elders sit safely in the squares and children play freely. He will rescue His people from east and west, bring a season of peace with abundant harvests, and turn Judah and Israel from a curse into a blessing among the nations. The people are called to speak truth, judge fairly, and turn away from evil. [ref:Zechariah 8:1-17|Zechariah 8:1-17]
Die ProphetenThe Lord's Promise to Restore the Mountains of Israel
The Lord speaks to the mountains of Israel and promises that they will become fertile and inhabited again, while the surrounding nations will bear their shame for having plundered the land. The prophecy promises that the ruins will be rebuilt and that the land will be cultivated and sown once more [ref:Ezekiel 36:1-15|Ezekiel 36:1-15].
Die ProphetenThe Lord's Servant and the New Covenant
God presents his chosen servant, upon whom he has placed his Spirit. The servant will bring justice to the nations without shouting or breaking a bruised reed. The Lord calls him in righteousness and gives him as a covenant for the people and a light for the nations, to open blind eyes and lead prisoners out of darkness. The Lord declares that he will not give his glory to another and proclaims new things before they spring forth [ref:Jes 42:1-9|Isaiah 42:1-9].
Die ProphetenThe Lord's Servant Becomes a Light for the Nations
The Lord's servant describes how the Lord called him from his mother's womb and made his mouth like a sharp sword. Although he has labored in vain, his reward is with God. The Lord expands the servant's mission from restoring the tribes of Jacob to becoming a light for the nations, so that salvation reaches to the ends of the earth. The deeply despised servant will be honored by kings and rulers, because of the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen him [ref:Jes 49:1-7|Isaiah 49:1-7].
Die ProphetenThe Lord's Vision and the Five Woes
The prophet Habakkuk receives a vision from the Lord and is told to write it clearly on tablets. The vision declares that the proud shall fall, but the righteous shall live by their faith. Then follow five 'woe' cries against greed and plunder, unjust gain, bloody city-building, humiliation of one's neighbor, and idol worship. Amidst judgment comes the promise that the earth will be filled with knowledge of the Lord's glory, and the vision ends with the call: 'Be silent before him, all the earth!' [ref:Hab 2:2-20|Habakkuk 2:2-20].
Die ProphetenThe Lord's Warning to the Priests and the Covenant with Levi
The Lord issues a stern warning to the priests because they do not honor His name, and threatens to send a curse upon them. He reminds them of the covenant with Levi, who feared the Lord, upheld the law of truth on his lips, and turned many away from sin. The priests, however, have strayed from the path, caused many to stumble, and broken the covenant; therefore, they have been despised by the people.
Die ProphetenThe Lord's Warrior and Judgment on Idols
The Lord breaks his long silence and goes out as a warrior against his enemies. He lays mountains waste and turns rivers into dry land, but at the same time leads the blind on unknown paths and makes darkness into light before them. Those who trust in carved images must retreat in shame.
Die ProphetenThe Man in Linen and the Mark on the Forehead in Jerusalem
A vision in which six men with weapons of destruction are ordered to strike down in Jerusalem, while a man dressed in linen places a mark on the foreheads of those who sigh over the city's sin. Judgment is carried out without mercy, but the marked are spared. Ezekiel pleads for mercy for the remnant of the people, but the Lord answers that their guilt is too great and allows their own deeds to fall upon their own heads.
Die ProphetenThe Man Who Came Back to Life by Elisha's Bones
After Elisha died, a man thrown into the prophet's tomb came back to life when he touched Elisha's bones – a final miracle connected with God's man. [ref:2 Kings 13:21|2 Kings 13:21]
Die ProphetenThe Man with the Measuring Line and the Promise of Jerusalem
In a vision, Zechariah sees a man with a measuring line who is to measure Jerusalem. An angel gives the message that the city will be open and populous, and the Lord himself promises to be a wall of fire around it and his glory in its midst.
Die ProphetenThe Message Concerning Philistia
In the year that King Ahaz died, a message came through Isaiah warning Philistia not to rejoice because the rod that struck them was broken. From the root of the serpent would come a viper and a flying seraph-serpent, and smoke from the north would sweep over the land. The firstborn of the poor would find safe pasture, while the root of Philistia would die of famine. The Lord has established Zion, and there his afflicted people will find refuge. [ref:Jes 14:28-32|Isaiah 14:28-32]
Die ProphetenThe Messianic Branch and the Kingdom of Peace
A prophecy about a branch that will spring up from Jesse's stump. He will bear the Spirit of the Lord—wisdom, counsel, knowledge, and reverence for God—and judge with righteousness. In his kingdom, the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard with the young goat, and the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord.
Die ProphetenThe New Covenant
The Lord promises through Jeremiah to make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. Unlike the covenant made at the Exodus, which the people broke, the Lord will put his law within them and write it on their hearts. He will be their God, and they will be his people. No longer will each teach their neighbor or say to one another, 'Know the Lord,' for all will know him, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. [ref:Jer 31:31-34|Jeremiah 31:31-34]
Die ProphetenThe New Heavens and the New Earth
The Lord promises that the new heavens and the new earth he creates will endure before his face, and so shall the offspring and name of his people. Every new moon and every Sabbath all flesh shall come to worship before the Lord. They will go out and look on the dead bodies of those who rebelled against God—their worm shall not die and their fire shall not be quenched—and they shall be an abomination to all flesh.
Die ProphetenThe Obedience and Suffering of the Lord's Servant
A prophetic speech about the Lord's servant who willingly accepts mockery, blows, and spit without resisting, fully trusting that God is his helper and justifier. The servant describes how the Lord wakes him morning after morning and gives him a tongue of a disciple to encourage the weary. He sets his face like flint and knows he will not be put to shame. Finally, those who walk in darkness are urged to trust in the name of the Lord and lean on their God.
Die ProphetenThe Obedience of the Rechabites and Jeremiah's Warning
God uses the unwavering obedience of the Rechabites to their ancestor Jonadab as a mirror to condemn the people of Judah for their disobedience to the Lord's commands. While the Rechabites hold fast to their traditions even during Nebuchadnezzar's invasion, Jeremiah is told that the people of Judah will be punished for ignoring the prophets' warnings, whereas Jonadab's descendants shall stand before the Lord.
Die ProphetenThe Old Prophet in Bethel
An old prophet in Bethel deceives the man of God from Judah into returning and eating with him by lying that an angel had given him a new message from the Lord. The man of God thus disobeys the Lord's command, and during the meal the word of the Lord comes to the old prophet with judgment: the man of God shall not be buried in his ancestors' tomb. On his way home he is killed by a lion, which neither touches the body nor the donkey.
Die ProphetenThe Parable of the Two Eagles and the Vine
Ezekiel tells a mysterious parable about a great eagle that takes the top of a cedar from Lebanon and plants it in a trading land, where it becomes a vine. The vine turns toward another great eagle to be watered, but the prophet explains that this means the king of Babylon took Judah's king and made a covenant with him, while the king broke the covenant by seeking help from Egypt. The Lord proclaims judgment over the breach of covenant, but concludes with the promise that he himself will take a twig from the top of the cedar and plant it on Israel's high mountain, so that it may become a mighty cedar where all birds can dwell.
Die ProphetenThe Parable of the Vine and Jerusalem's Judgment
The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel with a parable about the vine: wood from a grapevine is useless for making anything, and once it has been burned by fire, it is even more worthless. Thus says the Lord God, He has given the inhabitants of Jerusalem to the fire. Even if they escape from the fire, the fire will still consume them. The Lord turns His face against them and makes the land a desolate waste because they have been unfaithful [ref:Esek 15:1-8|Ezekiel 15:1-8].
Die ProphetenThe people ask for guidance and receive the Lord's answer
The remaining people in Judah, led by Johanan, ask the prophet Jeremiah to inquire of God whether they should go to Egypt or stay in the land, promising to obey the answer. After ten days, the word of the Lord comes: If they remain in the land, God will build them up and protect them from the king of Babylon, but if they go to Egypt, sword, famine, and plague will strike them there.
Die ProphetenThe people hear, but do not act
The Lord says to Ezekiel that the people speak about him at the walls and in the doorways, encouraging one another to come and hear the word from the Lord. They sit before him as his people and listen to his words, but do not act on them—with their mouths they show love, but their hearts follow their own gain. To them Ezekiel is like a beautiful love song. But when the word comes true, they will recognize that a prophet has been among them [ref:Esek 33:30-33|Ezekiel 33:30-33].
Die ProphetenThe People Turn to the Creator and Reject Idols
On that day people will turn to their Creator and look to the Holy One of Israel, no longer to the altars, Asherah poles, and incense altars made by their own hands. The fortified cities will be abandoned like a wasteland. Because the people have forgotten their God of salvation and their rock of refuge, they plant beautiful vines and foreign shoots, but on the day of sickness the harvest will become a heap of pain that cannot be healed. [ref:Jes 17:7-11|Isaiah 17:7-11]
Die ProphetenThe Potter and the Clay
The Lord sends Jeremiah down to the house of the potter, where he sees the potter shaping a broken clay vessel on the wheel. God uses this as an illustration of how He deals with the house of Israel: If a nation turns from its evil, He relents of the disaster He planned; but if it does what is evil, He relents of the good He had promised. [ref:Jer 18:1-10|Jeremiah 18:1-10]
Die ProphetenThe Promise of a New Heart and the Gathering of Israel
The Lord's word comes to Ezekiel concerning the exiled Israelites, whom the people of Jerusalem had written off. God promises that although He has scattered them among the nations, He Himself has been a sanctuary for them. He will gather them back to the land of Israel, and they will remove their idols. He promises to give them one heart and a new spirit, to take away the heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh, so that they may follow His laws and be His people. But those who cling to idols will receive what their deeds deserve.
Die ProphetenThe Promise of Restoration and Zion's Future
Despite Zion's complaint that the Lord has forgotten her, God assures him that he will never forget his people—he has engraved Zion on the palms of his hands. He promises that children will return from exile, that kings and queens will be foster fathers and nurses for Zion's children, and that even the captives of the mighty will be freed [ref:Jes 49:8-26|Isaiah 49:8-26].
Die ProphetenThe Promise of Salvation for Jacob
A direct message from the Lord to his servant Jacob (Israel), telling him not to fear even though the people have been driven into exile. God promises to save them from afar, give them rest and security, and discipline them with measure without making an end of them. [ref:Jer 46:27-28|Jeremiah 46:27-28]
Die ProphetenThe Promise to the Ethiopian Ebed-Melech
While Jeremiah is imprisoned in the guard court, the Lord's word comes to him with a message for the Ethiopian Ebed-Melech: The city will be struck by disaster, but Ebed-Melech himself will be saved and receive his life as spoils of war because he has put his trust in the Lord.
Die ProphetenThe Prophecy of Fishers and Hunters
The Lord announces that he will send many fishers and hunters to track down the people from the mountains, hills, and clefts, to repay their sin and idolatry double because they have desecrated the land. The passage ends with a prayer in which Jeremiah acknowledges the Lord as his strength, and a prophecy that the nations from the ends of the earth will realize that the gods of their fathers are lies, and that they will know the Lord's hand and power and understand that his name is the Lord.
Die ProphetenThe Prophecy of Return and Restoration
The Lord commands Jeremiah to write down the prophecy that He will turn the fate of Israel and Judah and bring them back to their land. After a time of distress for Jacob, the Lord will break the yoke and chains, and the people will serve the Lord and a king from David's line. Even though the wound is deep because of sin, God promises to heal Zion, rebuild the city, and renew the covenant: "You shall be my people, and I will be your God."
Die ProphetenThe Prophecy of Shaking and Zerubbabel's Signet Ring
In a final prophecy to Haggai, the Lord promises to shake heaven and earth, overthrow the thrones of kingdoms, and break the power of foreign nations. Chariots will be overturned, horses and riders will fall by each other's swords. On that day, the Lord will take Zerubbabel, his servant, and make him like a signet ring, for he is God's chosen one. [ref:Haggai 2:20-23|Haggai 2:20-23]
Die ProphetenThe Prophecy of the Kings of the South and North
A detailed prophecy about future kings and wars between the king of the South and the king of the North, from the fall of the Persian Empire and the rise of the Greek king to the ongoing conflicts, alliances, and falls of his successors.
Die ProphetenThe Prophet's Lament and Hope in Micah 7
The prophet Micah laments deeply over the moral decay of society: the faithful are gone, violence and bribery prevail, and even family bonds are broken. In the midst of darkness, the prophet turns his gaze to the Lord and waits for his saving God, confident that though he has fallen, he will rise again. The narrative culminates in a praise of God's unique nature: He who forgives sin, does not hold onto His wrath forever, but casts sins into the depths of the sea and shows faithfulness to Jacob and grace to Abraham.
Die ProphetenThe Question about Fasting and the Lord's Answer
In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah. Bethel sent Sharezer and Regem-Melech with their men to entreat the Lord and ask the priests and prophets whether they should still mourn and fast in the fifth month as they had done for many years. The Lord answered through Zechariah and asked if they truly fasted and mourned for Him, or for themselves during those seventy years. He reminded them that these same words were proclaimed by the earlier prophets while Jerusalem was still inhabited and at peace.
Die ProphetenThe Rebellion and Persecution of the Contemptible Man
A contemptible man arises and seizes the kingdom by cunning. He overwhelms overflowing armies and the prince of the covenant, and turns his heart against the holy covenant. His forces desecrate the sanctuary, abolish the daily sacrifice, and set up the abomination that causes desolation. Those who sin against the covenant are seduced into apostasy, but those who know their God stand firm. The wise among the people fall by sword and flame to be refined until the end time. The king exalts himself above every god and speaks unheard things against the God of gods. In the end time he marches south, takes the beautiful land and Egypt, but rumors from east and north terrify him. He pitches his tents between the sea and the holy mountain, yet meets his end with no help.
Die ProphetenThe Rebuilding of Jerusalem
A prophetic promise that Jerusalem will be rebuilt for the Lord, from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. The measuring line will extend further to the Hill of Gareb and turn toward Goa. The entire valley with corpses and ashes, and the fields of the Kidron Valley and the Horse Gate, shall be holy to the Lord. Never again will the city be torn down.
Die ProphetenThe Remnant of Jacob: Victory Over Assyria and the Cleansing of the People
Micah prophesies that when Assyria attacks, seven shepherds and eight rulers will arise to devastate the land of Assyria and Nimrod. The remnant of Jacob shall be like dew from the Lord among the nations, and like a lion among flocks of sheep against their enemies. The Lord promises to destroy horses, chariots, fortresses, sorcery, soothsayers, carved images, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles from His people, and to take vengeance on the pagan nations that do not obey.
Die ProphetenThe Righteous and the Wicked: Responsibility for One's Own Sin
The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel, rejecting the proverb that fathers eat sour grapes while their children's teeth are set on edge. God illustrates with examples of a righteous man, his violent son, and that violent son's righteous son, showing that each person bears responsibility for their own sin. The one who sins shall die, but the wicked who turns from their ways shall live. God declares that He takes no pleasure in anyone's death and urges Israel to create for themselves a new heart and a new spirit: 'Turn and live!'
Die ProphetenThe Roar of Nations and Sudden Terror
A prophetic image of the clamor of nations roaring like the sea and mighty waters. But when the Lord threatens them, they flee like chaff before the wind and dust whirls before a storm. Terror comes in the evening, and by morning they are gone—this is the fate of those who plunder and rob God's people. [ref:Jes 17:12-14|Isaiah 17:12-14]
Die ProphetenThe Sealing of the Book and the Time Indications for the End Times
By the riverbank Daniel sees two figures, and one of them asks the man clothed in linen how long it will be before the wonderful things come to an end. The man lifts both hands toward heaven and swears by him who lives forever that it will last "a time, times, and half a time", until the power of the holy people is completely broken. Daniel does not understand and asks further, but receives the answer that the words are sealed until the end time. Many shall be purified and made clean, while the wicked continue in their wickedness. From the daily sacrifice is removed and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1290 days, and blessed is he who reaches to 1335 days. Daniel receives the promise to rest and stand up for his lot at the end of the days.
Die ProphetenThe Secrecy of the Conversation with Zedekiah
King Zedekiah asked Jeremiah to keep the conversation secret from the nobles and told him what to answer if they asked. When the nobles came, Jeremiah answered as the king had commanded – that he begged not to be sent back to Jonathan's house to die there. So they left him in peace [ref:Jer 38:24-27|Jeremiah 38:24-27].
Die ProphetenThe Seven Angels and the Seven Last Plagues
John sees a sign in heaven where seven angels receive the seven last plagues to complete God's wrath. Those who have overcome the beast stand by a sea of glass mixed with fire and sing the song of Moses and the Lamb. Then the temple in heaven is opened, and the angels come out dressed in shining linen. One of the four living creatures gives them golden bowls filled with God's wrath, and the temple fills with smoke so that no one can enter until the plagues are completed.
Die ProphetenThe Seven Trumpets
After the Lamb opens the seventh seal, there is silence in heaven, and seven angels each receive a trumpet. The first four trumpets strike the earth, sea, rivers, and heavenly bodies with hail, fire, blood, and darkness. The fifth releases locusts from the abyss who torment people, and the sixth frees four angels at the Euphrates who kill a third of humanity. In the interlude, John eats a small scroll that is sweet in his mouth but bitter in his stomach, and the two witnesses prophesy, are killed, and rise again. When the seventh angel sounds, it is declared that dominion over the world belongs to God and his Anointed One. [ref:Rev 8-11|Revelation 8-11]
Die ProphetenThe Shepherd is Struck and the Sheep Scattered
The Lord of hosts commands the sword to wake against his shepherd, the man who stands close to him. When the shepherd is struck, the sheep are scattered, and the Lord turns his hand against the little ones. Two-thirds of the people in the land shall be cut off, but one-third shall remain. This third part the Lord will bring through the fire; he will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name, and I will answer them: 'This is my people.' And they will say: 'The Lord is my God.'
Die ProphetenThe Shepherd with the Two Staves and the Thirty Pieces of Silver
A prophetic action in which the Lord commands Zechariah to tend the sheep marked for slaughter. The prophet takes two staves named "Favor" and "Union," removes three shepherds in one month, and breaks the first staff to annul the covenant with the peoples. He receives thirty pieces of silver as wages and throws them into the house of the Lord to the potter. Then the second staff is broken to sever the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. The story ends with a woe pronounced over the worthless shepherd who abandons the flock.
Die ProphetenThe Siege of Samaria and the Famine
Ben-Hadad, king of Aram, besieges Samaria and causes such a severe famine that two women make an agreement to eat their sons. When one woman complains to the king of Israel that the other has hidden her son after her own was eaten, the king tears his clothes and swears to take the life of the prophet Elisha.
Die ProphetenThe Song of Judah's Strong City and God's Judgment
A song sung in Judah about the city with salvation as its walls and ramparts. It celebrates how God brings the exalted city low into the dust, while preserving the righteous in perfect peace. The song expresses a longing for the Lord's judgments upon the earth so that the world's inhabitants may learn righteousness, and confesses that only the name of the Lord is their master.
Die ProphetenThe Source for Cleansing and the Removal of Idols
On that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to cleanse them from sin and impurity. The Lord will remove the names of idols from the land and get rid of the prophets and the unclean spirit. If anyone still prophesies, their own parents will pierce them through for speaking lies in the name of the Lord. The prophets will be ashamed of their visions; they will no longer wear a hairy cloak to deceive, but will deny that they are prophets and call themselves farmers who bear wounds from the houses of their friends.
Die ProphetenThe Suffering Servant
Isaiah's prophecy about the Lord's suffering servant, who is despised, pierced for our transgressions, bears the sin of many as a guilt offering, and justifies the many.
Die ProphetenThe Sun of Righteousness and the Coming of Elijah
The prophecy concerns the burning day of judgment, where the arrogant and unrighteous will be like chaff, while the Sun of Righteousness rises with healing in its wings for those who fear the name of the Lord. The righteous shall tread down the unrighteous, who will become as ashes. The message concludes with an exhortation to remember the Law of Moses given at Horeb, and a promise that the prophet Elijah will be sent before the great and dreadful day of the Lord to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers.
Die ProphetenThe Sword Against the Negev and Jerusalem
The Lord sends a prophecy about a destructive fire in the Negev forest and a sword that will exterminate both the righteous and the wicked in Israel, causing the prophet to sigh with broken loins. The sword is sharpened and polished to strike all the princes of Israel and the people, and it will not return until it has completed its destruction.
Die ProphetenThe Taunt Song Against the King of Babylon
A powerful taunt song directed at the king of Babylon, describing his fall from heaven to Sheol, his arrogance, and the final judgment upon him and his lineage.
Die ProphetenThe teaching about uncleanness and the nations' unclean offerings
Haggai asks the priests how holiness and uncleanness spread, concluding that the people and their offerings are unclean because they have not followed God's command regarding the rebuilding of the temple.
Die ProphetenThe Union of Judah and Ephraim
God commands the prophet to take two wooden sticks representing Judah and Joseph (Ephraim) and join them into one in his hand as a symbol that the two kingdoms will become one people again under one king and an everlasting covenant of peace [ref:Esek 37:15-28|Ezekiel 37:15-28].
Die ProphetenThe Vision by the Tigris River
Daniel receives an overwhelming vision by the Tigris River in the third year of King Cyrus. A heavenly being dressed in linen with a belt of gold appears and speaks about a spiritual conflict between the princes over Persia and Greece, where Michael is the protector of Daniel's people.
Die ProphetenThe Vision of the Epha Basket with Wickedness
Zechariah receives a vision of an ephah basket. The angel lifts the lead cover and reveals a woman representing wickedness, then throws her back into the basket. Next, two women with stork wings appear and carry the basket to the land of Shinar, where a house is to be built for it.
Die ProphetenThe Vision of the Four Chariots
Zechariah lifts his eyes and sees four chariots coming out from between two mountains of bronze: the first with red horses, the second with black, the third with white, and the fourth with spotted, strong horses. The angel explains that these are the four winds of heaven going out from the Lord of all the earth. The black ones go to the land in the north, with the white following after them; the spotted ones go toward the south, and the strong ones walk back and forth on the earth. Finally, the Lord says that those who went to the north have brought his Spirit to rest in the land in the north [ref:Zech 6:1-8|Zechariah 6:1-8].
Die ProphetenThe Vision of the New Temple
In the 25th year after the exile, the prophet Ezekiel receives a vision in which he is brought to the land of Israel and up on a high mountain. A man who looks like bronze, with a measuring rod in his hand, leads him through a future temple complex and measures everything precisely: the gates facing east, north, and south with guardrooms and vestibules, the outer and inner courts, the rooms where sacrifices are slaughtered, the priests' chambers, the temple hall itself with the Most Holy Place, side chambers with carved cherubim and palm trees, and the altar. Finally, the wall around the entire area is measured, which will separate the holy from the common.
Die ProphetenThe Vision of the Ram and the Goat
Daniel receives a prophetic vision by the Ulai River where a ram with two horns (representing Media and Persia) is defeated by a male goat with one large horn (representing Greece). The large horn breaks, four horns grow in its place, and from one of them arises a small horn that exalts itself against God and desecrates the sanctuary. The angel Gabriel explains that the vision concerns future kingdoms and a proud king who will destroy the holy people, before the sanctuary is finally restored.
Die ProphetenThe Watchman and the Sword
The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel: When the Lord brings a sword against a land, the people appoint a watchman who is to blow the trumpet and warn them. If anyone hears the sound of the trumpet but does not take warning, they must bear their own guilt when the sword takes them. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, then the Lord will require the blood of the slain from the watchman's hand. Thus the Lord has appointed Ezekiel as a watchman for the house of Israel: When he hears a word from God's mouth, he is to warn the wicked concerning their way. If he remains silent, the Lord will require his blood; if he warns them, he has saved himself [ref:Esek 33:1-9|Ezekiel 33:1-9].
Die ProphetenThe Widow of Zarephath
During the great drought, God sends the prophet Elijah to a poor widow in Zarephath. She shares her last flour and oil with him, and as the Lord promised, neither the jar of flour nor the jug of oil runs out.
Die ProphetenThe Wine Jars and Drunkenness
God commands Jeremiah to use the image of wine jars being filled with wine: The Lord will fill the kings on David's throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with drunkenness, and smash them against one another without mercy. [ref:Jer 13:12-14|Jeremiah 13:12-14]
Die ProphetenThe Winepress and the Day of Vengeance
A dramatic vision in which the Lord comes from Edom and Bozrah wearing blood-red garments. He has trodden the winepress alone in his anger and fury, for the day of vengeance was in his heart, and the year of redemption had come. No one helped him, but his own arm brought him victory, and he declares himself mighty to save.
Die ProphetenThe Woman from Shunem Returns
Elisha warns the woman from Shunem, whose son he had raised from the dead, about a seven-year famine, and she moves with her household to the land of the Philistines. When the seven years are over, she returns and goes to the king to get back her house and field. At that very moment, Gehazi, Elisha's servant, tells the king how the prophet raised the dead boy to life, and the woman herself comes in to present her case. The king orders that she be restored all her property and the produce of the field from the seven years she was away.
Die ProphetenTurn and Live
The people of Israel complain that sin burdens them and ask how they can live. God answers that He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways. He explains the principle of individual responsibility: A righteous person who turns to evil will die, while a wicked person who repents, returns what was pledged, makes restitution for what was stolen, and does what is right shall live. In this way, God refutes the claim that His way is not just.
Die ProphetenTwo baskets of figs
God shows Jeremiah a vision of two baskets of figs symbolizing the fate of those exiled to Babylon and those remaining in Jerusalem. The good figs represent the exiles from Judah whom God will restore and bring back to the land, while the bad figs symbolize King Zedekiah, his leaders, and the rest of the people who will be struck by sword, famine, and plague. [ref:Jer 24:1-10|Jeremiah 24:1-10]
Die ProphetenWaiting, Spiritism, and the Judgment of Darkness
The prophet seals the testimony among the disciples and places his hope in the Lord who hides His face from the house of Jacob. He warns against seeking counsel from spiritists and mediums instead of God, and urges the people back to the law and the testimony. He describes a future of hunger, distress, and thick darkness for those who curse their king and their God, but concludes with the promise that the darkness will not last forever: in the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, Galilee of the Gentiles, glory shall come instead of shame [ref:Jes 8:16-23|Isaiah 8:16-23].
Die ProphetenWarning Against Offering Injured Animals
Through the prophet Malachi, the Lord of hosts rebukes the priests and the people for bringing lame and sick animals as sacrifices. He would rather have the temple doors shut than have fire lit on the altar in vain. The name of the Lord is great among the nations from where the sun rises to where it sets, where pure offerings and incense are presented. But in Israel the table of the Lord is profaned. Cursed is the deceiver who has a healthy male animal in his flock but makes a vow and sacrifices a defective one—for the Lord is a great King whose name inspires fear among the nations.
Die ProphetenWarning Against Sabbath Breaking
The Lord sends Jeremiah to the gates of Jerusalem to warn the kings and people of Judah against carrying burdens on the Sabbath day. The prophet reminds them that their ancestors would not listen, and promises that obedience will ensure the city remains inhabited forever with kings on David's throne, while disobedience will lead to a fire consuming the palaces of Jerusalem.
Die ProphetenWarning of an Invasion from the North
The Lord sends a strong warning to Judah and Jerusalem about an impending invasion from the north that will bring total destruction, while the people are urged to turn back and circumcise their hearts. The prophet describes the signs of terror, panic among the leaders, and the inevitable judgment that strikes the land because of their idolatry and evil deeds.
Die ProphetenWarning of Famine and Promise of Blessing
God reminds the people through the prophet Haggai of the earlier plagues of poor harvests, mildew, blight, and hail that struck them because they did not turn to him. But from the day the foundation of the Lord's temple was laid—the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month—he promises to bless them.
Die ProphetenWarning to King Zedekiah and the priests about listening to false prophets
Jeremiah speaks directly to King Zedekiah and warns him against listening to prophets who promise that the temple vessels will soon return from Babylon. He points out that these prophets speak lies, and states that the vessels must remain in Babylon until God himself decides to bring them back, while the people must serve Babylon in order to live.
Die ProphetenWarning to the House of David about Justice
Jeremiah delivers a warning to the royal house of Judah to judge with justice every morning and rescue the oppressed from the hand of their oppressor. If not, the Lord's wrath will break out like an unquenchable fire. The Lord turns against those who reign over the valley and trust in their fortress, and will punish them according to the fruit of their deeds.
Die ProphetenZechariah sees the lampstand and the olive trees
The prophet Zechariah sees a vision of a golden lampstand and two olive trees, symbolizing that God's temple will be completed not by might, but by God's Spirit.
Die ProphetenZechariah's First Vision: The Horses and the Myrtle Trees
In a night vision, the prophet Zechariah sees a man on a red horse standing among myrtle trees in a ravine, surrounded by red, reddish-brown, and white horses that have gone throughout the earth and report that all the earth is at rest. The angel of the Lord asks how long the Lord will withhold his mercy from Jerusalem after seventy years of wrath. The Lord answers with comforting words and promises to return to Jerusalem with mercy, rebuild the temple, and choose Zion once again. [ref:Zechariah 1:8-17|Zechariah 1:8-17]
Die ProphetenZechariah's prophecy about the king on a donkey
The prophet Zechariah proclaims that the king of Jerusalem will come riding on a donkey, humble and righteous, bringing peace to the nations—a prophecy fulfilled at Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.
Die ProphetenZedekiah's Covenant of Freedom and Its Breach
King Zedekiah made a covenant with the people of Jerusalem to free Hebrew slaves, but afterward they turned back and forced them into slavery again. Through Jeremiah, the Lord proclaimed judgment for breaking the covenant, comparing them to those who walked between the pieces of the cut calf, and warned of sword, plague, famine, and the fall of the city.
Die ProphetenZephaniah's Judgment and Hope
The prophet Zephaniah proclaims the day of the Lord with judgment against Judah and the nations, but concludes with a promise that God will rejoice over his purified remnant with joy.
Die ProphetenZion's Birth and God's Comfort
A powerful prophecy about how Zion gives birth to her people in an instant, and how the Lord comforts his people as a mother comforts her child, while peace flows to Jerusalem like a river. [ref: Isa 66:7-14|Isaiah 66:7-14]
Die ProphetenZion's Future Peace and Restoration
A prophetic vision of the last days where nations stream to the mountain of the Lord to learn God's ways. The law shall go out from Zion, swords will be beaten into plowshares, and each man will sit safely under his vine and his fig tree.
Die ProphetenZion's Victory Over the Nations
Many nations gather against Zion to profane her, but they do not know the thoughts and plans of the Lord. He has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor. The daughter of Zion is called to rise up and thresh, with horns of iron and hooves of bronze to crush the peoples, and their unjust gain shall be devoted to the Lord of all the earth.
Die SchöpfungAdam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
God forms man from dust, places him in the Garden of Eden to work and keep it, forbids him to eat from the tree of knowledge, and creates woman from his rib as a helper suitable for him.
Die SchöpfungCain and Abel
Cain becomes jealous of his brother Abel and kills him. God punishes Cain with exile.
Die SchöpfungCain's Lineage and Lamech's Song of Vengeance
Cain has a son named Enoch and builds a city named after him. The genealogy continues to Lamech, who takes two wives, Ada and Zillah. Their sons become the ancestors of nomads, musicians, and smiths: Jabal, Jubal, and Tubal-Cain. The story culminates in Lamech's song of vengeance, where he boasts of avenging himself seventy-seven times.
Die SchöpfungSets lineage from Adam to Noah
The genealogy from Adam through Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah and Lamech to Noah and his sons. Enoch walked with God, and God took him away.
Die SchöpfungThe Creation of the World
God creates heaven and earth, light and darkness, sea and land, plants, animals, and humans in six days, and rests on the seventh.
Die SchöpfungThe Fall of Man
The serpent tempts Eve to eat from the tree of knowledge. Adam also eats, and God curses the serpent, the woman, and the ground before driving them out of the Garden of Eden.
Die SchöpfungThe Origin of Nations After the Great Flood
After the Great Flood, Noah's three sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth—spread out over the earth, and their descendants became the origin of nations, including Nimrod, who founded Babel and Nineveh.
Die frühe KircheAnanias and Sapphira
Ananias and Sapphira lie about the proceeds from a property sale and fall dead.
Die frühe KircheApollos in Ephesus
The learned Jew Apollos from Alexandria comes to Ephesus and speaks with burning zeal about Jesus, even though he only knows John's baptism. Priscilla and Aquila take him in and explain the way of God more thoroughly to him. Then he travels to Achaia, where he becomes a great help to the believers and publicly refutes the Jews from the Scriptures by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
Die frühe KircheBalaam and the Wages of Wrongdoing
Peter mentions Balaam, son of Beor, who left the right way and loved the wages of wrongdoing. He was rebuked for his sin when a mute donkey spoke with a human voice and stopped the prophet's madness. Peter uses this as a warning against false teachers who follow the same path.
Die frühe KircheChrist as High Priest and the New Covenant
A comparison between the earthly sanctuary, with the high priest's annual entry into the Most Holy Place, and Christ's once-for-all entry into the heavenly sanctuary with his own blood. In this way, a new covenant is established that cleanses the conscience from dead works and grants eternal redemption.
Die frühe KircheChrist's Humiliation and Exaltation
Paul describes Christ's journey from the form of God to human humiliation and death on the cross, followed by his exaltation to the highest name. This is a central theological text—often called the Christ-hymn—about Christ's self-sacrifice and victory [ref:Phil 2:5-11|Philippians 2:5-11].
Die frühe KircheElijah and the Prayer for Rain
James brings up the prophet Elijah as an example of the power of prayer. Although Elijah was a human being like us, he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. When he prayed again, heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its harvest.
Die frühe KircheEpaphroditus' Illness and Recovery
Paul tells about Epaphroditus, his fellow worker and fellow soldier, who became seriously ill and nearly died while serving Paul on behalf of the church in Philippi. God showed him mercy and healed him, and Paul sends him back to the Philippians so that they may rejoice and welcome him with honor [ref:Phil 2:25-30|Philippians 2:25-30].
Die frühe KircheHerod dies
King Herod delivers a speech from the judgment seat in royal robes, and the people of Tyre and Sidon hail him as a god. Because he does not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord strikes him down, and he is eaten by worms and dies.
Die frühe KircheJob's Endurance as an Example
James points to the prophets who spoke in the Lord's name as examples of suffering and patience, highlighting Job's endurance. He reminds us how the Lord brought a good end for Job, because the Lord is rich in mercy and full of compassion.
Die frühe KircheJohn on Patmos and the vision of the risen one
John is in exile on the island of Patmos for the sake of God's word. On the Lord's day he comes into the Spirit and hears a voice like a trumpet, telling him to write to the seven churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. He sees a figure resembling the Son of Man standing among seven golden lampstands, with seven stars in his right hand and a double-edged sword coming out of his mouth. John falls down as though dead, but Christ says: "Do not be afraid! I am the First and the Last, the Living One. I was dead, but see, I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades." He explains that the stars are the angels of the churches and the lampstands are the churches.
Die frühe KircheLydia Comes to Faith in Philippi
Paul meets Lydia, a purple merchant from Thyatira, at a place of prayer outside Philippi. The Lord opens her heart to the gospel, and she and all her household are baptized.
Die frühe KircheNoah's Days and the Ark as a Type of Baptism
Peter shows how the disobedient in Noah's days perished while God's patience waited, and how eight souls were saved through water in the ark. This is a type of baptism, which now saves through the resurrection of Jesus Christ—not as an outward cleansing, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience.
Die frühe KircheNoah's Flood and the Destruction of Sodom
Peter highlights God's judgment on the old world through the flood and over Sodom and Gomorrah, while emphasizing God's ability to rescue the righteous like Noah and Lot. These stories serve as a warning against ungodliness and as proof that the Lord knows how to deliver the godly from trials, while keeping the unrighteous reserved for the day of judgment.
Die frühe KirchePentecost
The Holy Spirit falls upon the disciples on Pentecost with tongues of fire, and they begin to speak in other languages. Peter delivers his first sermon, and about 3000 people repent and are baptized.
Die frühe KirchePeter and John Before the Council
Peter and John are arrested and brought before the high priest and the Council after healing a lame man. They boldly preach about Jesus' resurrection and are threatened into silence, but refuse to obey men rather than God.
Die frühe KirchePeter defends the conversion of the Gentiles
Peter goes up to Jerusalem and is confronted by the circumcised for having entered and eaten with uncircumcised men. He explains in order the vision in Joppa with the sheet lowered from heaven containing all kinds of animals, and the voice that said what God has cleansed should not be called unclean. He tells about the three men from Caesarea, about the angel the man had seen, and how the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles while he was speaking, just as it did on the apostles at the beginning. When they heard this, they were silent, praised God, and acknowledged that God had also given the Gentiles repentance unto life.
Die frühe KirchePeter Freed from Prison
An angel frees Peter from prison while the church prays for him.
Die frühe KirchePeter Heals Aeneas in Lydda
Peter travels around and comes to the saints in Lydda, where he meets Aeneas, a man who has been bedridden for eight years. Peter tells him that Jesus Christ heals him and commands him to get up and make his bed. Immediately Aeneas gets up. All those living in Lydda and on the plain of Sharon see him, and they turn to the Lord.
Die frühe KirchePeter Heals the Lame Man at the Temple Gate
Peter and John meet a lame man at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. Peter says: "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ – get up and walk!" – and the man is healed.
Die frühe KirchePeter Raises Tabitha (Dorcas)
In Joppa, the good disciple Tabitha dies, known for her good deeds. The disciples bring Peter from Lydda, and he prays and calls her back to life. The event becomes known throughout Joppa and leads many to believe in the Lord.
Die frühe KirchePeter reminds of the truth before his death
Peter prepares believers for his imminent departure and wants to ensure they always remember the truth. He confirms that the message about Jesus' power and coming is not cleverly invented myths, but based on eyewitness accounts from the holy mountain where the Father's voice was heard over the Son. Peter also emphasizes that the prophetic word in Scripture does not come from human interpretation, but was spoken by people carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Die frühe KirchePeter's Speech at Solomon's Colonnade
After healing the lame man, Peter speaks boldly to the people at Solomon's Colonnade about Jesus being the prophet Moses foretold and calls the people to repentance.
Die frühe KirchePeter's Speech at Solomon's Colonnade
After healing the lame man, Peter speaks boldly to the people in Solomon's Colonnade about Jesus being the prophet Moses foretold and calls the people to repentance.
Die frühe KirchePeter's Vision and Cornelius
An angel appears to the devout centurion Cornelius in Caesarea and instructs him to send for Peter in Joppa. At the same time, Peter receives a vision of a sheet containing unclean animals being lowered from heaven, with a voice saying that what God has cleansed, no one should call unclean. Peter goes to Cornelius, preaches the gospel, and the Holy Spirit falls upon the Gentiles who are then baptized.
Die frühe KirchePhilip and the Ethiopian Official
An angel sends Philip to the road leading to Gaza, where he meets an Ethiopian official reading Isaiah. Philip explains the scripture and preaches the good news about Jesus, and the official is baptized by the roadside before the Spirit takes Philip away.
Die frühe KirchePhilip Preaches in Samaria
Philip travels to a city in Samaria and proclaims Christ. Many are healed, unclean spirits are driven out, and the people come to faith and are baptized. Even the sorcerer Simon, who had amazed the people with magic, comes to faith and is baptized. Peter and John are sent from Jerusalem and pray for the believers, who receive the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands. Simon tries to buy this gift with money but is sharply rebuked by Peter and told to repent.
Die frühe KirchePrayer for the Sick and Confession of Sins
James gives instruction that the sick should call for the elders of the church, who are to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; if they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Believers are encouraged to confess their sins to one another and pray for each other, for the prayer of a righteous person has great power.
Die frühe KircheSatan Bound for a Thousand Years
An angel comes down from heaven with the key to the abyss and a great chain. He seizes the dragon – that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan – and binds him for a thousand years. Satan is thrown into the abyss, which is sealed over him so that he cannot deceive the nations until the thousand years are ended; after this he must be released for a short time. John also sees thrones and the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of God’s word, and who had not worshiped the beast. They come to life and reign with Christ for a thousand years. This is the first resurrection.
Die frühe KircheSatan is Released and Gog and Magog
When the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle. They are as numerous as the sand of the sea. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Die frühe KircheSaul Persecutes the Church
After Stephen's martyrdom, a great persecution breaks out against the church in Jerusalem. Saul ravages the church by dragging men and women from their homes and throwing them into prison. The believers are scattered throughout Judea and Samaria, while the apostles remain in Jerusalem, and those who were scattered preach the Word wherever they go.
Die frühe KircheStephen's Martyrdom
Stephen delivers a powerful speech about the history of Israel and becomes the first Christian martyr.
Die frühe KircheThe 144,000 on Mount Zion
John sees the Lamb standing on Mount Zion with 144,000 who have the name of the Lamb and the Father written on their foreheads. He hears a voice from heaven like the sound of many waters and thunder, and the 144,000 sing a new song before the throne that no one else can learn. They are described as virgins who follow the Lamb wherever he goes, bought from the earth as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, with no lie in their mouths and without blemish.
Die frühe KircheThe Apostles Imprisoned and Freed by an Angel
The high priest and the Sadducees imprison the apostles out of jealousy, but during the night an angel of the Lord opens the prison doors and frees them. They return to the temple to teach, are brought before the Council again, and Peter declares that one must obey God rather than men. Following Gamaliel's advice to leave them alone, the apostles are flogged and released, and they continue joyfully preaching about Jesus Christ.
Die frühe KircheThe Apostles' Prayer and Gathering
After Jesus' ascension, the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives and gathered in the room on the upper floor. There, the eleven remained united in prayer with some women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. [ref:Acts 1:12-14|Acts 1:12-14]
Die frühe KircheThe Apostolic Council in Jerusalem
The apostles and the elders meet in Jerusalem to clarify whether Gentile Christians must be circumcised and keep the Mosaic Law. Peter and James speak, and they decide that salvation comes through Jesus' grace, but they ask Gentile Christians to abstain from food offered to idols, blood, meat from strangled animals, and sexual immorality. The letter is sent with Judas and Silas to Antioch.
Die frühe KircheThe Ascension of Jesus
Jesus ascends to heaven while the disciples watch, and a cloud takes him away. Two men in white clothes promise that he will return in the same way.
Die frühe KircheThe Beast from the Earth and the Mark of the Beast 666
John sees another beast rising up from the earth. It has two horns like a lamb, but speaks like a dragon. It exercises the authority of the first beast and causes the earth to worship the one who was healed of its deadly wound. It performs great signs, even making fire fall from heaven, and deceives people into making an image of the first beast. It is given power to give breath to the image so that it can speak, and all who refuse to worship it are killed. The beast forces everyone – small and great, rich and poor, free and slave – to receive a mark on their right hand or forehead, and no one can buy or sell without the mark. The number of the beast's name is 666.
Die frühe KircheThe Choice of Matthias
After Jesus' ascension, the remaining apostles cast lots to replace Judas Iscariot. The choice falls on Matthias, who is counted among the twelve apostles.
Die frühe KircheThe Church in Antioch and the Teaching of Saul
After the persecution, the gospel spreads to the Gentiles in Antioch, where a large number turn to God. The church in Jerusalem sends Barnabas, who brings Saul from Tarsus. They teach together for a whole year, and it is here that the disciples are first called Christians.
Die frühe KircheThe Day of Judgment and the New Heavens
Peter warns about scoffers who doubt God's promise of Jesus' return, explaining that the Lord is patient because He wants everyone to come to repentance. He describes how the heavens and earth will be dissolved by fire on the Lord's day, and urges believers to live holy lives in godliness while waiting for the new heavens and the new earth where righteousness dwells.
Die frühe KircheThe Early Church's Prayer and Fellowship
After their release, the believers gathered and prayed to God, quoting Psalm 2 about the nations rising up against the Lord's Anointed. When they had prayed, the place where they were meeting shook, and all were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke God's word with boldness. The believers were one in heart and soul, held everything in common, and distributed to each as anyone had need. Joseph, whom the apostles called Barnabas (son of encouragement), sold a field and laid the money at the apostles' feet.
Die frühe KircheThe Elder's Greeting to Gaius and Warning Against Diotrephes
The Elder (traditionally understood as John) sends a warm greeting to the beloved Gaius, commends his faithfulness and hospitality toward traveling brothers who have gone out for the sake of the Name, and encourages him to continue supporting them. He warns against Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, refuses to welcome them, speaks evil about them, and expels from the church those who wish to receive the brothers. The letter gives a good testimony about Demetrius and concludes with personal greetings.
Die frühe KircheThe Fall and Judgment of Babylon
A mighty angel comes down from heaven and announces that Babylon the Great has fallen and become a dwelling place for demons. A voice from heaven calls God's people out of the city before the plagues strike her. The kings of the earth, the merchants, and the seafarers weep and mourn as they see the smoke of her burning, for in one hour all her wealth has been laid waste. Finally, a mighty angel lifts a stone as large as a millstone and throws it into the sea as a sign that Babylon will never be found again.
Die frühe KircheThe Fifth and Sixth Seals: The Souls of the Martyrs and the Shaking of Heaven
When the Lamb opens the fifth seal, John sees the souls of those who had been killed for the word of God, under the altar. They cry out to God to judge and avenge their blood. Each of them is given a white robe and told to rest a little while longer, until their fellow servants and brothers who are to be killed as they were have reached the full number. When the Lamb opens the sixth seal, there is a great earthquake: the sun becomes black like a sackcloth, the moon like blood, and the stars of heaven fall to earth like unripe figs. The sky rolls up like a scroll, and every mountain and island is moved from its place. Kings, nobles, commanders, rich, powerful, slaves and free people hide in caves and call out to the mountains to fall on them and hide them from the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb – for the great day of their wrath has come.
Die frühe KircheThe First Church
The first Christians remained faithful to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, shared everything they had, broke bread together, and prayed together, and the Lord added new believers to their fellowship daily.
Die frühe KircheThe Four Horsemen of Revelation
When the Lamb opens the first four of the seven seals, the living creatures call forth four horsemen: one on a white horse with a bow and crown who goes out to conquer, one on a fiery red horse who takes peace from the earth, one on a black horse with scales who brings famine, and one on a pale green horse – Death – who, along with Hades, is given power over a fourth of the earth.
Die frühe KircheThe Great Crowd That No One Could Count
John sees an innumerable crowd from every nation standing before the throne in white robes with palm branches, and one of the elders explains that they have come out of the great tribulation and washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb.
Die frühe KircheThe Harvest and the Winepress of Wrath
John sees one like the Son of Man sitting on a white cloud, wearing a golden crown and holding a sharp sickle. An angel from the temple calls out that the harvest time has come, and he reaps the earth. Then another angel comes out of the temple with a sharp sickle, and an angel from the altar commands him to gather the grapes from the vineyards of the earth. The grapes are thrown into the great winepress of God's wrath outside the city, and blood flows up to the horses' bridles for a distance of one thousand six hundred stadia.
Die frühe KircheThe Heavenly Throne Room
The apostle John sees in a vision God's throne in heaven, surrounded by twenty-four elders and four living creatures. The entire heavenly assembly worships God who created all things.
Die frühe KircheThe Invitation: Come, and Jesus' Final Words
Jesus confirms that he is coming soon with his reward to repay each person according to their deeds, and declares himself to be the Alpha and Omega, the Root of David, and the bright morning star. Blessed are those who wash their robes and gain access to the tree of life, while the unclean remain outside. The Spirit and the bride invite all who are thirsty to come and take the water of life freely.
Die frühe KircheThe Judgment Before the Great White Throne
John sees the final judgment where all the dead stand before God's great white throne. The books are opened, including the book of life, and each person is judged according to their deeds. Death, the grave, and those not found written in the book of life are thrown into the lake of fire.
Die frühe KircheThe Lamb is worthy to open the scroll
John sees a scroll sealed with seven seals that no one is worthy to open. He weeps, but an elder shows him the Lion from the tribe of Judah—a slain Lamb—who takes the scroll and receives worship from living creatures, elders, angels, and all creation.
Die frühe KircheThe Letter to the Church in Ephesus
Jesus' greeting and warning to the church in Ephesus, where he commends their perseverance but criticizes them for abandoning their first love, with a promise of the tree of life to the one who overcomes.
Die frühe KircheThe Letter to the Church in Laodicea
Jesus' harsh judgment on the lukewarm church in Laodicea, which thinks it is rich but is spiritually wretched, poor, blind, and naked. He advises them to buy gold refined by fire, white clothes, and eye salve, and invites them to a meal: "See, I stand at the door and knock." The one who overcomes will be allowed to sit with him on his throne.
Die frühe KircheThe Letter to the Church in Pergamum
Jesus' words to the church in Pergamum, where he commends their faithfulness in the city where Satan's throne stands and Antipas was killed, but criticizes them for tolerating the teaching of Balaam and the Nicolaitans. He calls them to repentance and promises the one who overcomes hidden manna and a white stone with a new name.
Die frühe KircheThe Letter to the Church in Philadelphia
The glorified Christ sends a letter to the church in Philadelphia and praises their faithfulness. He promises to keep them through the hour of trial and urges them to hold fast so that no one takes their crown.
Die frühe KircheThe Letter to the Church in Sardis
Jesus' warning to the church in Sardis that they have a reputation for being alive but are dead, with an exhortation to wake up and a promise of white garments for those who overcome.
Die frühe KircheThe Letter to the Church in Smyrna
Jesus' encouragement to the suffering church in Smyrna, called rich despite poverty, with a warning about trials and a promise of the crown of life for the faithful.
Die frühe KircheThe Letter to the Church in Thyatira
Jesus praises the church in Thyatira for their love, faith, and perseverance, but accuses them of tolerating the false prophetess Jezebel, who leads believers into sexual immorality and idol worship. He warns that she and her children will be struck with sickness and death, yet promises authority over the nations and the morning star to those who remain faithful until the end.
Die frühe KircheThe New Covenant Predicted
The author of Hebrews quotes the prophet Jeremiah to show that God promised a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In this covenant, God will put his laws in their minds and write them on their hearts; all will know the Lord, and he will no longer remember their sins – unlike the old covenant which the people broke.
Die frühe KircheThe New Heaven and the New Earth
In a vision, John sees a new heaven and a new earth where God lives among people, wipes away every tear, and makes all things new, with no death, sorrow, or pain.
Die frühe KircheThe new Jerusalem comes down from heaven
One of the seven angels takes John up to a great and high mountain and shows him the bride, the Lamb’s wife: the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. The city shines with God’s glory, has a great wall with twelve gates bearing the names of the tribes of Israel and twelve foundations bearing the names of the apostles. The angel measures the city as twelve thousand stadia in length, width, and height; the wall is made of jasper and the city of pure gold. The foundations are adorned with twelve precious stones, and the gates are twelve pearls. There is no temple there, for God and the Lamb are its temple, and the city has no need of sun or moon. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life may enter it.
Die frühe KircheThe Prophet Agabus Predicts a Famine
In those days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, Agabus, stood up and predicted by the Spirit that a severe famine would spread over the entire world. This happened during the reign of Claudius. The disciples in Antioch decided that each one should send relief to the brothers living in Judea according to their ability. They did so, sending their gift to the elders through Barnabas and Saul.
Die frühe KircheThe River of Life and the Tree of Life in the New Jerusalem
John sees a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb in the middle of the city. On both sides of the river stands the tree of life, which bears twelve kinds of fruit each month, and its leaves bring healing to the nations. There is no curse anymore, and God's servants will serve him, see his face, and have his name on their foreheads. Night is gone, for the Lord God himself shines upon them, and they will reign forever and ever.
Die frühe KircheThe Selection of the Seven
When a dispute arose over the daily distribution to the widows among the Greek-speaking believers, the congregation chose seven men filled with the Spirit and wisdom, including Stephen and Philip, who were set apart for this service through prayer and the laying on of hands [ref:Apg 6:1-6|Acts 6:1-6].
Die frühe KircheThe Seven Bowls of God's Wrath
Seven angels pour out the bowls of God's wrath over the earth, sea, rivers, sun, the throne of the beast, and the Euphrates. Unclean spirits gather the kings to Armageddon, and the seventh bowl triggers an earthquake, hail, and the fall of Babylon.
Die frühe KircheThe Thessalonians Turn to the Living God
Paul describes how the church in Thessalonica received the gospel with power and joy amid suffering, turned from idols to serve the living and true God, and waited for Jesus' return from heaven. Their faith became an example for believers in Macedonia and Achaia, and the Lord's word rang out everywhere from them.
Die frühe KircheThe Three Angels' Messages
Three angels fly through heaven with solemn messages: the first proclaims an eternal gospel and calls nations to fear God and worship the Creator, the second announces that Babylon the great has fallen, and the third warns against worshipping the beast or receiving its mark, which leads to torment by fire and sulfur before the Lamb and the angels. The vision concludes with a call for the endurance of the saints and a blessing on those who die in the Lord.
Die frühe KircheThe Warning from the Rebellion in the Wilderness
The author of Hebrews highlights Israel's rebellion in the wilderness under Moses, where the people tested God for forty years and were denied entry into his rest because of unbelief. This historical example serves as a warning to believers against hardening their hearts through the deceitfulness of sin and falling away from the living God.
Die frühe KircheThe White Horse and the Final Victory
John sees heaven opened and a white horse with a rider called Faithful and True. His eyes are like a flame of fire, he wears many diadems, and he is clothed in a robe dipped in blood. His name is the Word of God, and on his robe it says King of kings and Lord of lords. The armies of heaven follow him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword that strikes down the nations. An angel calls the birds to the great supper of God. The beast and the false prophet are seized and thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur, while their armies are killed by the sword from the rider's mouth.
Die frühe KircheThe Woman, the Dragon and the War in Heaven
A dramatic heavenly scene where a woman clothed with the sun gives birth to a son who is caught up to God, while a great fiery red dragon tries to devour him. This triggers a war in heaven where Michael and his angels defeat the dragon, who is Satan. The dragon is cast down to earth and pursues the woman, but she is given eagle wings and flees to the wilderness. Finally, the dragon turns its rage against the rest of her offspring.
Die frühe KircheWarning against adding to or taking away from the prophecy
At the conclusion of the book of Revelation, a solemn warning is given to everyone who hears the prophetic words in the book: Whoever adds anything to it, God will add to them the plagues written in this book. Whoever takes away from the words of this prophetic book, God will take away their share from the tree of life and from the holy city.
Die frühe KircheWarning against error and an exhortation to grow in grace
Peter concludes the letter by urging readers to be without blemish and blameless, counting the Lord's patience as salvation. He refers to Paul's letters which contain things that are hard to understand, which the unlearned distort to their own destruction. Readers are warned not to be carried away by the error of the lawless and are encouraged to grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Die frühe KircheWitnesses of Faith
The author of the Letter to the Hebrews defines faith and gives a powerful listing of heroes of faith throughout salvation history—from Abel, Enoch, and Noah, through Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses, to Rahab, the judges, David, and the prophets—as examples to follow.
visdomslitteraturBildad's Second Speech: The Fate of the Wicked
Bildad from Shuhah delivers his second speech, rebuking Job and describing the downfall of the wicked: the light in his tent is extinguished, traps and snares catch him, terrors pursue him, and his memory vanishes from the earth without descendants.
visdomslitteraturEcclesiastes – Everything is Vanity Under the Sun
Ecclesiastes, David's son and king in Jerusalem, reflects that everything under the sun is vanity and a chasing after wind. He describes that all things have their time appointed by God, and concludes with the exhortation to remember your Creator in your youth, fear God and keep his commandments, for God will judge every deed.
visdomslitteraturElihu Speaks Up
When Job's three friends stop answering him because he is righteous in his own eyes, Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite from Ram's clan becomes burning angry. He is angry at Job for justifying himself rather than God, and at the three friends because they found no answer yet still condemned Job as guilty. Elihu had waited to speak because the others were older, but now declares that it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives understanding—not age. He explains that he is full of words and must speak to get air, and promises not to show partiality or flatter anyone.
visdomslitteraturEliphaz's First Speech and Nightly Vision
Eliphaz from Teman speaks up and reminds Job how he once guided and strengthened others, but now collapses under his own trial. He claims that the innocent do not perish, while those who sow evil reap disaster, illustrated by the fate of the lion. Then he recounts a frightening nighttime vision in which a spirit glided past his face and a voice asked whether a human can be righteous before God—for even angels He finds faulty, how much more those who dwell in houses of clay.
visdomslitteraturJob Curses the Day of His Birth
After his great sufferings, Job opens his mouth and curses the day he was born. He wishes that the day would turn to darkness and that night should be blotted out. Job expresses a deep longing for death and rest alongside kings, princes, and prisoners in the grave, where all are equally free. He asks why God gives light and life to those who suffer bitterly and long for death, and concludes by saying he has no peace or rest, only turmoil.
visdomslitteraturJob's Complaint About Loneliness and Betrayal
Job complains about his deep loneliness and pain. His brothers, relatives, and close friends have abandoned him; the servants do not answer him, his wife detests his breath, and even young children despise him. He begs his friends for compassion because God's hand has struck him.
visdomslitteraturJob's Faith in the Living Redeemer
Despite his misery, Job confesses his strong faith that his Redeemer lives and that he himself will one day see God from within his own flesh, even after his skin has been destroyed. [ref:Job 19:23-27|Job 19:23-27]
visdomslitteraturJob's Restoration
God speaks to Job out of the storm and reveals His almighty power through creation, Behemoth and Leviathan. Job humbles himself and repents in dust and ashes. God rebukes Job's friends, and after Job prays for them, God restores everything Job had lost, doublefold.
visdomslitteraturJob's Suffering
Job loses his possessions, his children, and his health after Satan receives permission from God to test him, yet he does not sin but holds fast to his faith.
visdomslitteraturSong of Songs – The Bride and Groom's First Songs
In the first chapters of the Song of Songs, the bride and groom take turns singing about their love. The bride longs for her beloved, describes herself as dark but beautiful, and is compared to a lily among thorns. The groom calls her to arise and come when spring breaks forth.
visdomslitteraturThe Location of Wisdom
A poetic reflection on humanity's ability to extract treasures from the earth, yet its inability to find wisdom, which is known only to God and given to humans through fear of the Lord [ref:Job 28:1-28|Job 28:1-28].
visdomslitteraturThe Lord is my shepherd – Psalm 23
The most well-known of David's psalms describes God as the good shepherd who leads, protects, and provides for his people through life's valleys and into abundance.
visdomslitteraturThe Song of Love in the Song of Songs
At the end of the Song of Songs, the bride asks to be set as a seal on her beloved's heart. Love is described as strong as death, with flames like the Lord's fire that no waters can quench.
visdomslitteraturWisdom Calls Out in the Square
The first chapter of Proverbs begins with the purpose of the book and states that fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Then there is a warning against following sinners, before wisdom is personified as a woman who cries out loudly in the streets and at the city gates, calling the inexperienced to repentance.
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