Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife, by Guido Reni, circa 1630This week’s reading January 15-211
Genesis 31:17-43:34
Matthew 10:24-14:12
Psalm 13:1-18:36
Proverbs 3:16-4:10
Next Week’s Reading January 22-28
Genesis 44:1-Exodus 7:25
Matthew 14:13-19:12
Psalm 18:37-23:6
Proverbs 4:11-5:23
Discussion Questions: Old Testament
What is so special about the “coat of many colors?” How did the relationship
between Joseph and his brothers progress? New Testament
Does Jesus refuse to acknowledge his “true” family in Matthew 12:46-50?
FOOTNOTE:
If you are participating in the Saturday morning class, “The One Year Bible Challenge,” you should read the daily materials as set out in “The One Year Bible.” The verses listed on this page will include a couple of extra days. ↩
This is the “One Year Bible Challenge:” to read the entire Bible in one year. Assuming a normal reading level, this can be done by spending about 10-15 minutes per day, each and every day. It is NOT TOO LATE to join the Challenge! Start with today’s reading and keep reading with us through the end of this year. You’ll have to read a bit more at the beginning of next year to finish. See ReadTheWholeBible.COM for more information. If you would like details so you can join us, or if you have any other questions, please call Tom Truex. Or send an email by using the CONTACT form on K-Line.ORG.
OLD TESTAMENT READINGS: Judges 11:1 – Ruth 4:22
Themes and stories: Jephthah was the son of Gilead and a prostitute. His half brothers, by Gilead’s wife, drove Jephthah away. Jephthah became the leader of a group of bandits. When the Ammonites attacked Israel, the elders asked Jephthah to lead their defense. Jephthah agreed, on the condition that he remain their leader after the battle, assuming the Israelites were victorious.
Jephthah tried to negotiate peace with the Ammonites. It was a waste of time. There was a history of bad blood between the Israelites and the Ammonites, going back to when the Israelites first conquered the promised land. Jephthah made a vow to God:
[30] …”If thou wilt give the Ammonites into my hand, [31] then whoever comes forth from the doors of my house to meet me, when I return victorious from the Ammonites, shall be the LORD’s, and I will offer him up for a burnt offering.” Judges 11:30-31 (RSV)
When Jephthah returned from the battle, victorious, his daughter was the first to rush out the door to meet him. She was Jephthah’s only child. He sent her on a two month vacation in the mountains. When the daughter returned, Jephthah sacrificed her according the vow he made to God. Later, Jephthah defeated other armies. He ruled Israel for 6 years, and then he died.
Ibzan, Elon and Abdon followed Jephthah as Judges.
Samson’s parents were unable to have children. But an angel appeared to them and told them that Samson would be born. He was to be a Nazorite. When Samson was grown, he saw a Philistine woman who he wanted to marry. As Samson and his parents were traveling, they saw a lion. Samson killed the lion with his bare hands. Later, he was passing by and took note that a swarm of honey bees had built their hive in the lion carcass. Samson scooped out some of the sweet honey.
Later, at Samson’s wedding feast, he told some of the young Philistines a riddle: “Out of the eater came something to eat. Out of the strong came something sweet.” Judges 14:14 (RSV). They made a wager as to whether the Philistines would be able to answer the riddle—30 sets of garments. The young Philistines convinced Samson’s new wife to reveal the meaning of the riddle. So they answered the riddle: “What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?” Samson was surprised that the Philistines had answered it. He told them, “If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have found out my riddle.” Judges 14:14 (RSV). Samson killed 30 Philistines and stripped their clothing in order to pay the bet. His wife’s father gave the new bride to another man.
Later, when Samson went back to get his wife, he found out that her father had given her to another man. Samson was enraged. He tied 300 foxes together by their tails in pairs, with torches between them. The foxes ran about, burning the Philistine’s fields. The Philistines tried to capture Samson. He killed 1,000 of them with a donkey’s jawbone.
Samson and Delila, by Pompeo Batoni (1708–1787)Samson fell in love with Delilah. She found out that the secret of Samson’s great strength was his hair. Delilah had Samson’s head shaved as he slept. The Philistines captured Samson and gouged out his eyes. He was tied between two massive columns. As he performed for them. He pushed out the columns, collapsing the building. Samson, and many of the Philistines were killed. He killed more Philistines at his death, than he had killed during his lifetime.
Next is the peculiar1 tale of “the runaway concubine.2” The wife of a Levite man (actually his “concubine,” which was a secondary wife, with inferior rights) ran away from the Levite to her father’s house. The Levite traveled to collect his concubine from her father. He found the concubine and tried to leave for four days. Each time, the woman’s father persuaded the Levite to stay by offering him food and drink. They finally left on the 5th day, but did not depart until almost evening.
The Levite and his concubine arrived at the city of Gilbeah after dark. No one came out to offer them a place to stay, except an old man. He took the travelers in for the night. “They were enjoying themselves when all of a sudden some sexual perverts from the town surrounded the house and started beating on the door. They said to the old man, Bring out that man that came home with you! We want to have sex with him!” Judges 19:22 (Good News Translation). The old man offered his virgin daughter and the Levite’s concubine to the perverts instead…
[25] But they wouldn’t listen to him. So the Levite took hold of his concubine and pushed her out the door. The men of the town abused her all night, taking turns raping her until morning. Finally, at dawn they let her go. [26] At daybreak the woman returned to the house where her husband was staying. She collapsed at the door of the house and lay there until it was light. [27] When her husband opened the door to leave3, there lay his concubine with her hands on the threshold. [28] He said, “Get up! Let’s go!” But there was no answer. So he put her body on his donkey and took her home. [29] When he got home, he took a knife and cut his concubine’s body into twelve pieces. Then he sent one piece to each tribe throughout all the territory of Israel. [30] Everyone who saw it said, “Such a horrible crime has not been committed in all the time since Israel left Egypt.4 Think about it! What are we going to do? Who’s going to speak up?” Judges 19:25-30 (NLT).
The men who committed the crime against the concubine were from the tribe of Benjamin. The rest of the Israelites demanded that the tribe of Benjamin hand over the perpetrators, so they could be executed. The tribe of Benjamin refused. The Israelites mustered 400,000 warriors to get revenge (or “justice,” depending on your point of view). All but 600 men of the tribe of Benjamin were slaughtered in the battles which followed.
The rest of Israel had pity on the 600 men of Benjamin, because all of their women were killed. However, they had previously vowed that none of their women could marry the Benjamites. They found 400 women from a group which had not taken the vow; and 200 women captured from the locals as they came out to the vineyards to dance at an annual festival.
Naomi entreating Ruth and Orpah to return to the land of Moab, By William Blake (1757-1827)Ruth. In the days of the Judges, a man from Bethlehem moved his family to Moab, because of a famine. He had a wife, Naomi, and two sons, who were each married to a Moabite wife. The father and sons died, leaving three widows. Naomi told her daughters-in-law to return to their families to seek protection and support. One of them, Orpah, did so. The other daughter-in-law, Ruth, refused to leave Naomi alone. Ruth and Naomi returned to Bethlehem, where Ruth eventually married one of Naomi’s relatives. It’s a long story. A popular topic for women’s Bible studies.
Discussion points: Samson killed himself, together with a lot of Philistines. Should we construe this story to mean that Suicide is sometimes justified?
Who were the “good” and the “bad” people in the story of “the runaway concubine???” Judges, chapters 19-20.
John 1:1-14 – [1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was in the beginning with God; [3] all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. [4] In him was life, and the life was the light of men. [5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. [6] There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. [7] He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. [8] He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. [9] The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. [10] He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. [11] He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. [12] But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; [13] who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. [14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.
John, the Baptist, was interrogated by the religious leaders. They wanted to know who he was, and what he was doing. John told them he was neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor a prophet. John told them he was baptizing with water. But he foreshadowed the coming of Jesus, telling them that one far greater than him was already among them. Later, John baptized Jesus. The spirit descended from heaven like a dove. Jesus’ first disciples began to follow him.
Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding at Cana. He went to Jerusalem for the passover. He turned over the tables in the temple of the people who where, practicing dishonest commerce among the people who came to offer sacrifices.
A religious leader named Nicodemus came to speak to Jesus at night. No doubt he came at night because he was afraid he would be embarrassed if other religious leaders knew he had visited Jesus. Jesus told him, “[5]…Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. [6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. [7] Do not marvel that I said to you, `You must be born anew…” John 3:5-7 (RSV). Jesus also told Nicodemus, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (KJV)
Jesus spoke to a Samaritan woman at a well. This was unusual because Jews and Samaritans did not get along together well. Also men did not ordinarily speak to women to whom they were not acquainted. Jesus told the woman about living water, and the eternal water that he offered. The woman was astounded that Jesus knew her past. This women had been with 5 different men, perhaps through marriage and/or serial relationships. The Samaritan woman believed. She told everyone in the city about Jesus. A large crowd gathered to hear Jesus. Many Samaritans believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony.
Jesus healed the son of a government official. The boy was dying, but Jesus healed him without even seeing the boy. The leader rushed home, and later learned that Jesus had healed the sick boy, precisely when Jesus said he would live.
Discussion points: Why did Nicodemus come to see Jesus at night? Are we ever guilty of behaving the same way for the same reasons?
DISCUSSION POINTS AND VERSES — Christian Men’s Breakfast only2
The discussion notes ( PDF / TEXT ) for breakfast on Saturday, May 7, 2011 are now online — ”UNFORGIVEN”. This week’s readings has a story with elements of both the visit of the Angels in Sodom (Genesis 19); and Clint Eastwood’s movie, Unforgiven, 1992 Discussion verses: Judges 16:25-30; Judges, chapters 19-20; and John 3:1-2
WOMEN’S STUDY GROUP
A women’s study group meets in Davie, FL on the 2nd Friday morning of the month. Contact Janet Truex, or use the Contact tab at CONTACT form on ReadTheWholeBible.COM.
FOOTNOTES
The notes, summaries and points on this page are intended as bookmarks of important matters which are covered in this week’s readings. They are not intended as complete summaries of readings. Please forgive me if some of my summaries are not 100% on point. Read the manual–i.e. Bible–so that you will get a more clear understanding of the material. Thank you. –Tom Truex↩
This is the “One Year Bible Challenge:” to read the entire Bible in one year. Assuming a normal reading level, this can be done by spending about 10-15 minutes per day, each and every day. It is NOT TOO LATE to join the Challenge! Start with today’s reading and keep reading with us through the end of this year. You’ll have to read a bit more at the beginning of next year to finish. See ReadTheWholeBible.COM for more information. If you would like details so you can join us, or if you have any other questions, please call Tom Truex. Or send an email by using the CONTACT form on K-Line.ORG.
OLD TESTAMENT READINGS: Numbers 16:41-28:15
Themes and stories:[Last week, in Numbers 16, a group of rebels lead by Korah, tried to get more power. They argued that Moses was no better than them—so why should he be in charge? God punished the Israelites who had rebelled against Moses by swallowing them up in a giant “sinkhole.”]
More of the Israelites rebelled against Moses. As punishment for their latest rebellion against Moses, God killed 14,700 more rebels in a plague.
God told Moses how to stop these pointless rebellions against Moses’ (and God’s) authority. Each one of the twelve ancestral houses of the Israelites was to write its name on a staff, and put the staff in the Tabernacle. The next day, all of the staff’s remained dead wood, except for Aaron’s staff, which represented the Levites. His staff was as a living branch. Overnight, it had sprouted buds, blossoms, and bore ripe almonds (Numbers 17:1-11). This was a sign to the other groups, confirming that the Levites were to remain in charge of the Tabernacle.
God further directed that the Levites, and no one else, should perform the duties of the priests. The Levites were to receive a portion of the offerings in the Tabernacle for their upkeep.
God directed that a red heifer, without defect, be sacrificed. God gave directions for purification after touching a dead human’s body.
We don’t know much about the next 37 years as the Israelites wandered in the wilderness. Numbers 20 picks up about 40 years after the Exodus. The Israelites came to another place where they had no water. The Israelites complained to Moses again. Proving that history does repeat itself. Moses and Aaron went into the Tabernacle to pray. God told Moses to take his staff, assemble all of the Israelites and command water to come out of a rock. Moses did as God directed, except instead of simply commanding water to come out of the rock, Moses whacked the rock twice with his staff. Water came out of the rock. God was not pleased with Moses’ theatrical interpretation of his directions. God wants us to follow his instructions, not simply follow his rules as we see fit. Got viewed Moses deviation from His instructions as failure to trust Him. Because of his actions in this matter, God decreed that Moses would not be the person to lead the Israelites into the promised land. The punishment seems harsh. Not following God’s instructions is a serious matter.
Moses asked Kadesh, the King of Edom, if the Israelites could pass on the road through their country. Kadesh said no.
Aaron died at Mount Hor. Aaron’s priestly garments were taken and given to his son, Eleazar, who became the new high priest.
Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld (1794 - 1872), The Bronze Serpent, 1860The Israelites continued to complain, as they continued to wander. God sent poisonous snakes to harass the people as punishment for their grumbling. Many Israelites died from the snake bites. Moses prayed for relief, on behalf of the people. God instructed Moses to put a bronze serpent on a pole. Whoever looked at the serpent on the pole would live.
The Israelites continued to move/wander. They asked King Sihon of the Amorites, if they could pass through his lands. The King said no, and went out to defeat the Israelites in battle. Instead, the Israelites won the battle, killed the king and took his land. King Og of Bashan challenged the Israelites in battle too. The Israelites killed King Og and his sons. They took his land too.
By now, people who lived in the path of the Israelites were afraid. Moab said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will now lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.”
Balak, King of Moab, sent for Balaam, to curse the Israelites. Balaam lived at some distance, but had a reputation which had traveled far. The nature and source of Balaam’s power has been debated. Apparently, Balaam had connections to occult practices. But he did have an understanding and belief in the God of the Israelites. God told Balaam not to go with Moab’s messengers. Balak sent more messengers. This time God allowed Balaam to go. God’s angel stood in the road to block Balaam’s path. Balaam couldn’t see the angel, but Balaam’s donkey could see the angel. The Donkey refused to proceed where the angel blocked their path. Balaam was angry, and beat the donkey. The donkey spoke to Balaam, asking why he was being beaten. Finally, God permitted Balaam to see the angel too. Balaam apologized to the angel for going with the men who wanted him to curse the Israelites. The angel told Balaam to go with the messengers, but to speak only according to the angel’s directions.
Balak was happy to see Balaam, when he finally arrived. Balaam explained that he would only say what God told him to say. The next day, Balak took Balaam out to curse the Israelites. Instead, Balaam listened to God and blessed the Israelites. Balak took Balaam to another location, and again asked Balaam to curse the Israelites. Instead, Balaam blessed the Israelites again.
The same thing happened a third time. Balak was angry with Balaam for blessing the Israelites a third time. Balaam was supposed to curse the Israelites, not bless them. Balaam blessed the Israelites a fourth time. Balak sent him home.
Meanwhile, the Israelite men were having sex with the local women of Moab. These women lead the men to worship their false god, Baal. Aaron’s grandson, Phinehas, took a spear and ran it through both an Israelite man and his Moabite woman. 24,000 died in a plague.
God told Moses to take another census of men, age 20 and older. There were 601,730 men, not including women and children. This is almost the same number as originally left Egypt in Exodus. God directed that in the future, land would be apportioned according to the size of the family group.
God gave Moses certain rules about inheritance. The issue was brought to him by the daughters of a deceased man who had no sons. The order of inheritance was: first to the son; but if no son, to the daughter; but if no sons or daughters, then to his brothers; but if none of these, then to his uncles; but if none of these, then to his nearest kin.
Moses followed God’s instructions and appointed Joshua to be his successor.
Themes and stories:[At the end of week 10, Jesus was placed in the tomb]
Easter. On Sunday morning, three women, “Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint [Jesus].” Mark 16:1 (ESV). They were concerned about who would roll away the stone from the entrance of the tomb so they could go about their task. But the large stone had already been rolled back. A young man in a white robe was sitting there, and told them not to worry. The young man said Jesus had been raised from the dead. The women fled in “terror and amazement.”
Jesus appeared again to Mary Magdalene and to others. Jesus appeared to the 11 disciples and rebuked them for their lack of faith, because they had not believed the reports that he had arisen. Jesus told them to go and proclaim the gospel to the whole world. After he spoke to the disciples, he was taken up into heaven and sat at the right hand of God. The disciples did go out and proclaim the good news everywhere, just as Jesus had instructed them.
Luke. The book of Luke begins again, before the birth of Jesus. A priest named Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth had no children, but were getting older. As Zechariah was in the Temple performing his duties, the angel, Gabriel, appeared to him. The angel told him that his wife, Elizabeth would have a son. This son would be a great leader for God. Because Zechariah did not at first believe the angel, he was struck mute.
Later, the angel Gabriel appeared to the Mary. Gabriel told Mary she would conceive and bear a son named Jesus, though she was still a virgin.
Mary visited her cousin, Elizabeth (Zechariah’s wife). When Elizabeth saw Mary, the child leaped in her womb.
[41] And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit [42] and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! [43] And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? [44] For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. [45] And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
When Elizabeth’s son was born, he was named John. Zechariah could speak again after the infant, John, was named. Later, Zechariah prophesied that John would be a great prophet.
The Roman Emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census would be conducted, and that all the Jews had to return to their ancestral home town to be counted. Jesus and Mary were obliged to go to Bethlehem, even though she was about to have her baby. The town was so crowded when they arrived, that there was no room for them in an inn. Jesus was born in a type of stable, and was placed in a manger for a bed. An angel appeared to shepherds in the field, and told them the Messiah had been born. They went to Bethlehem to see Jesus. After eight days, Jesus was taken to the Temple to be circumcised, according to Jewish custom.
A righteous man named Simeon was in the Temple. The Holy Spirit had told Simeon that the Messiah would appear to him before he died. Simeon recognized Jesus as the Messiah.
When Jesus was 12 years old, he traveled with his parents and a large group of people to Jerusalem for the festival Passover. Jesus was separated from his parents. At this age, Jesus might have been expected to travel with either the women and children, or with the men. They were with such a large group, that each parent thought he was with the other. Mary and Joseph traveled a day, before they realized Jesus was not with them. They returned to Jerusalem and found him in the temple. Everyone was amazed at Jesus’ level of understanding of the the topics taught and discussed in the Temple.
John the Baptist. When John grew into a man, he came out of the wilderness and began proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin. Crowds came to be baptized. Some of the people thought John might be the messiah. He told them someone much greater than him would follow.
John rebuked the Jewish leader, Herod, because Herod’s wife was actually the wife of his brother. Herod had John arrested.
WOMEN’S STUDY GROUP
A women’s study group meets in Davie, FL on the 2nd Friday morning of the month. Contact Janet Truex, or use the Contact tab at CONTACT form on ReadTheWholeBible.COM.
FOOTNOTES
The notes, summaries and points on this page are intended as bookmarks of important matters which are covered in this week’s readings. They are not intended as complete summaries of readings. Please forgive me if some of my summaries are not 100% on point. Read the manual–i.e. Bible–so that you will get a more clear understanding of the material. Thank you. –Tom Truex↩
