Think Ezekiel has been difficult? Hang in there! You are in good company. According to the ESV Study Bible, almost all interpreters agree that Ezekiel 40–48 is one of the most difficult passages in the entire Bible. From the ESV Study Bible comments on Ezekiel 40-48 With regard to the meaning of this passage as … More Need a little help reading through Ezekiel?
Today we read Ezekiel 29-30. In Ezekiel 29:19, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. From the ESV Online Study Bible: This prophecy was given in 571 b.c. (see note on vv. 17–21), and Nebuchadnezzar conquered Egypt in 568 (this is described in detail in Jeremiah 43–44 and also recorded … More “And they will KNOW that I am the LORD…”
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. —Proverbs 25:21-22, in our Bible reading plan today From the ESV Study Bible: Although interpreters differ about the meaning of … More Heap burning coals?
From the ESV Study Bible, to help us with our reading in Proverbs 13:1-12 today: Prov. 13:1–6 Headed by the call to be a wise son (10:1), these proverbs also utilize a play on words (cf. 10:6–32) relating to both speech (hears/listen, 13:1; mouth, vv. 2–3; lips, v. 3; falsehood,v. 5) and eating/desire (eats, v. 2; desire, v. 2; craves and richly supplied, v. 4) in order to assure … More The importance of guarding the mouth
As we read from 2 Chronicles 17-19 today, here is some help from the ESV Study Bible: 2 Chron. 18:28–34 Ahab is enticed into battle, as the spirit had promised (v. 20). His decision to disguise himself, while rather cynically directing Jehoshaphat to wear his royal robes, indicates his dominant role in the alliance and perhaps also represents a … More Checkmate: Ahab, Jehoshaphat and God’s sovereignty
2 Chronicles 5:13 and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord), and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever,” … More Standing in the steadfast love of the Lord
David and the chiefs of the service also set apart for the service the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who prophesied with lyres, with harps, and with cymbals. The list of those who did the work and of their duties was: Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah, … More Prophecy, thanksgiving and praise
1 Chronicles 11:15 Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David at the cave of Adullam, when the army of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. And David said longingly, “Oh that someone … More Costly drink
When you come to a section of the Bible with long lists of people, what do you do? Read faster? It may be helpful to know that in the Hebrew Old Testament (the Bible Jesus read) the books of 1-2 Chronicles came last, preparing the readers for the coming of Jesus. So these accounts are … More What can tribal genealogies tell us?
The ESV Study Bible says this about our passage in Numbers today (Chapters 3-4) This chapter again shows preparations being made for the march into Canaan. It underlines once again the dangerous holiness of God: he cannot be approached casually. It also emphasizes the importance of the ministry of the Levites, who make possible the transport of the tabernacle … More The dangerous holiness of God
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