AME Zion Universal Reading July 16th,2023

Sunday School Zoom Link

First Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 30

2Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel, saying: This is the thing the Lord has commanded.3If a man makes a vow to the Lord or makes an oath to prohibit himself, he shall not violate his word; according to whatever came out of his mouth, he shall do.4If a woman makes a vow to the Lord, or imposes a prohibition [upon herself] while in her father's house, in her youth,5if her father heard her vow or her prohibition which she has prohibited upon herself, yet her father remains silent, all her vows shall stand, and any prohibition that she has imposed upon herself shall stand.6But if her father hinders her on the day he hears it, all her vows and her prohibitions that she has imposed upon herself shall not stand. The Lord will forgive her because her father hindered her.7But if she is [betrothed] to a man, with her vows upon her or by an utterance of her lips which she has imposed upon herself,8and her husband hears it but remains silent on the day he hears it, her vows shall stand, and her prohibition which she has imposed upon herself shall stand.9But if her husband hinders her on the day he heard it, he has revoked the vow she had taken upon herself and the utterance which she had imposed upon herself, and the Lord will forgive her.10As for the vow of a widow or a divorced woman, whatever she prohibited upon herself will remain upon her.11But if she vowed in her husband's house, or imposed a prohibition upon herself with an oath.12and her husband heard and remained silent, and did not hinder her, all her vows shall stand, and every prohibition she imposed upon herself shall stand.13If her husband revokes them on the day he hears them, anything issuing from her lips regarding her vows or self imposed prohibitions shall not stand; her husband has revoked them and the Lord shall forgive her.14Any vow or any binding oath of self affliction, her husband can either uphold it or revoke it.15However, if her husband remained silent from day to day, he has upheld all the vows and prohibitions she has assumed; he has upheld them since he remained silent on the day he heard it.16If he revokes them after having heard [them], he shall bear her iniquity.17These are the statutes which the Lord commanded Moses concerning a man and his wife, a father and his daughter, in her youth, while in her father's house.

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 31

1The Lord spoke to Moses saying,2"Take revenge for the children of Israel against the Midianites; afterwards you will be gathered to your people."3So Moses spoke to the people, saying, "Arm from among you men for the army, that they can be against Midian, and carry out the revenge of the Lord against Midian.4A thousand for each tribe, a thousand for each tribe, from all the tribes of Israel you shall send into the army."5From the thousands of Israel one thousand was given over for each tribe, twelve thousand armed for battle.6Moses sent them the thousand from each tribe to the army, them along with Phinehas the son of Eleazar the kohen to the army, with the sacred utensils and the trumpets for sounding in his possession.7They mounted an attack against Midian, as the Lord had commanded Moses, and they killed every male.8And they killed the Midianite kings upon their slain: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian, and Balaam the son of Beor they slew with the sword.9The children of Israel took the Midianite women and their small children captive, and they plundered all their beasts, livestock, and all their possessions.10They set fire to all their residential cities and their castles.11They took all the booty and all the plunder of man and beast.12They brought the captives, the plunder, and the booty to Moses and to Eleazar the kohen and to the entire community of Israel in the camp, in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.

Matthew 13:1–23 (NLT): Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed

Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake. 2 A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore. 3 He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:

“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. 4 As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. 5 Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! 9 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

10 His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”

11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. 12 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. 13 That is why I use these parables,

For they look, but they don’t really see.

They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.

14 This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says,

‘When you hear what I say,

you will not understand.

When you see what I do,

you will not comprehend.

15 For the hearts of these people are hardened,

and their ears cannot hear,

and they have closed their eyes—

so their eyes cannot see,

and their ears cannot hear,

and their hearts cannot understand,

and they cannot turn to me

and let me heal them.’

16 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.

18 “Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: 19 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. 20 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 21 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. 22 The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. 23 The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

Second Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 31

13Moses, Eleazar the kohen, and all princes of the community went out to meet them, outside the camp.14Moses became angry with the officers of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, who had returned from the campaign of war.15Moses said to them, "Did you allow all the females to live?16They were the same ones who were involved with the children of Israel on Balaam's advice to betray the Lord over the incident of Peor, resulting in a plague among the congregation of the Lord.17So now kill every male child, and every woman who can lie intimately with a man you shall kill.18And all the young girls who have no experience of intimate relations with a man, you may keep alive for yourselves.19And you, encamp outside the camp for seven days; whoever killed a person or who touched a corpse shall cleanse himself on the third and seventh day, both you and your captives.20All garments, leather articles, any goat product, and every wooden article shall undergo purification."21Eleazar the kohen said to the soldiers returning from battle, "This is the statute that the Lord commanded Moses.22Only the gold, the silver, the copper, the iron, the tin, and the lead23whatever is used in fire you shall pass through fire and then it will be clean; it must, however, [also] be cleansed with sprinkling water, and whatever is not used in fire you shall pass through water.24You shall wash your garments on the seventh day and become [ritually] clean; afterwards, you may enter the camp."25The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,26"Take a count of the plunder of the captive people and animals, you, together with Eleazar the kohen and the paternal leaders of the community.27And you shall divide the plunder equally between the warriors who went out to battle and the entire congregation.28And you shall levy a tax for the Lord from the soldiers who went out to battle: one soul out of every five hundred, from the people, from the cattle, from the donkeys, and from the sheep.29You shall take from their half and give it to Eleazar the kohen as a gift to the Lord.30From the half belonging to the children of Israel you shall take one part out of fifty of the people, of the cattle, of the donkeys, of the sheep, and of all animals, and you shall give them to the Levites, the guardians of the Mishkan of the Lord."31Moses and Eleazar the kohen did as the Lord had commanded Moses.32The plunder, which was in addition to the spoils that the army had spoiled, consisted of six hundred and seventy five thousand sheep.33Seventy two thousand cattle.34Sixty one thousand donkeys.35As for the people, of the women who had no experience of intimate relations with a man, all souls were thirty two thousand.36The half that was the portion of those who went out to battle: the number of sheep was three hundred and thirty seven thousand, five hundred.37The tax to the Lord from the sheep was six hundred and seventy five.38Thirty six thousand cattle, of which the tax to the Lord was seventy two.39Thirty thousand and five hundred donkeys, of which the tax to the Lord was sixty one.40Sixteen thousand people, of which the tax to the Lord was thirty two people.41Moses gave the tax which was a gift to the Lord, to Eleazar the kohen, as the Lord had commanded Moses.42And from the half allotted to the children of Israel, which Moses had divided from the men who had gone into the army.43The community's half [consisted of] three hundred and thirty seven thousand, five hundred sheep.44Thirty six thousand cattle.45Thirty thousand five hundred donkeys.46And sixteen thousand people.47Moses took one part out of fifty from the half of the children of Israel, the people and the animals, and gave them to the Levites, the guardians of the Lord's sanctuary as G-d commanded Moses.48The officers appointed over the army's thousands, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, approached Moses.49They said to Moses, "Your servants counted the soldiers who were in our charge, and not one man was missing from us.50We therefore wish to bring an offering for the Lord. Any man who found a gold article, be it an anklet, a bracelet, a ring, an earring, or a body ornament, to atone for our souls before the Lord.51Moses and Eleazar the kohen took all the gold articles from them.52The total of the gift of gold which they dedicated to the Lord [amounted to] sixteen thousand, seven hundred and fifty shekels; this was from the commanders of the thousands and the commanders of the hundreds.53The soldiers had seized spoils for themselves.54Moses and Eleazar the kohen took the gold from the commanders of the thousands and hundreds and brought it to the Tent of Meeting, as a remembrance for the children of Israel before the Lord.

Monday

Mark 4:21–32 (NLT): Parable of the Lamp

21 Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine. 22 For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light. 23 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

24 Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. 25 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”

Parable of the Growing Seed

26 Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. 28 The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. 29 And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.”

Parable of the Mustard Seed

30 Jesus said, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it? 31 It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds, 32 but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.”

Third Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 32

1The descendants of Reuben and Gad had an abundance of livestock very numerous and they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, and behold, the place was a place for livestock.2The descendants of Gad and the descendants of Reuben came, and they spoke to Moses and to Eleazar the kohen and to the princes of the community, saying,3"Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, and Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon,4the land that the Lord struck down before the congregation of Israel is a land for livestock, and your servants have livestock."5They said, "If it pleases you, let this land be given to your servants as a heritage; do not take us across the Jordan."6[Thereupon,] Moses said to the descendants of Gad and the descendants of Reuben, "Shall your brethren go to war while you stay here?7Why do you discourage the children of Israel from crossing over to the land which the Lord has given them?8This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh barnea to explore the Land.9They went up to the Valley of Eshkol and saw the land, and they discouraged the children of Israel from crossing into the land which the Lord has given them.10The anger of the Lord flared on that day, and He swore, saying,11'None of the men from the age of twenty years and over who came out of Egypt will see the land that I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, for they did not follow Me wholeheartedly,12except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizite and Joshua the son of Nun, for they followed the Lord wholeheartedly.'13The anger of the Lord flared against Israel, and He made them wander in the desert for forty years until the entire generation who had done evil in the eyes of the Lord had died out.14And behold, you have now risen in place of your fathers as a society of sinful people, to add to the wrathful anger of the Lord against Israel.15If you turn away from following Him, He will leave you in the desert again, and you will destroy this entire people."16They approached him and said, "We will build sheepfolds for our livestock here and cities for our children.17We will then arm ourselves quickly [and go] before the children of Israel until we have brought them to their place. Our children will reside in the fortified cities on account of the inhabitants of the land.18We shall not return to our homes until each of the children of Israel has taken possession of his inheritance.19For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on the east bank of the Jordan."

Tuesday

Mark 4:33–41 (NLT):

33 Jesus used many similar stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they could understand. 34 In fact, in his public ministry he never taught without using parables; but afterward, when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them.

Jesus Calms the Storm

35 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.

38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”

Fourth Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 32

20Moses said to them, "If you do this thing, if you arm yourselves for battle before the Lord,21and your armed force crosses the Jordan before the Lord until He has driven out His enemies before Him,22and the Land will be conquered before the Lord, afterwards you may return, and you shall be freed [of your obligation] from the Lord and from Israel, and this land will become your heritage before the Lord.23But, if you do not do so, behold, you will have sinned against the Lord, and be aware of your sin which will find you.24So build yourselves cities for your children and enclosures for your sheep, and what has proceeded from your mouth you shall do."25The descendants of Gad and the descendants of Reuben spoke to Moses, saying, "Your servants will do as my master commands.26Our children and our wives, our livestock and our cattle will remain there, in the cities of Gilead.27But your servants will cross over all who are armed for combat before the Lord, for the battle, as my master has spoken."28Moses commanded Eleazar the kohen and Joshua the son of Nun and all the paternal heads of the tribes of the children of Israel concerning them.29Moses said to them, "If the descendants of Gad and Reuben cross the Jordan with you armed for battle before the Lord, and the Land is conquered before you, you shall give them the land of Gilead as a heritage.30But if they do not cross over with you armed [for battle], they shall receive a possession among you in the land of Canaan."31The descendants of Gad and the descendants of Reuben answered, saying, "We shall do as the Lord has spoken to your servants.32We shall cross over in an armed force before the Lord to the land of Canaan, and then we shall have the possession of our inheritance on this side of the Jordan."33Moses gave the descendants of Gad and the descendants of Reuben and half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og, king of Bashan the land together with its cities within borders, the cities of the surrounding territory.34The descendants of Gad built Dibon, Ataroth, and Aroer.35And Atroth Shophan, Jazer, and Jogbehah.36And Beth Nimrah and Beth Haran, fortified cities and sheepfolds.37The descendants of Reuben built Heshbon, Elealeh, and Kirjathaim.38And Nebo and Baal Meon, their names having been changed, and Sibmah. And they were called with names of the names of the cities they built.39The children of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead and conquered it, driving out the Amorites who were there.40Moses gave Gilead to Machir the son of Manasseh, and he settled in it.41Jair the son of Manasseh went and conquered their hamlets, and called them the hamlets of Jair.42Nobah went and conquered Kenath and its surrounding villages, and called it Nobah, after his name.

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 33

1These are the journeys of the children of Israel who left the land of Egypt in their legions, under the charge of Moses and Aaron.2Moses recorded their starting points for their journeys according to the word of the Lord, and these were their journeys with their starting points.3They journeyed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the day following the Passover sacrifice, the children of Israel left triumphantly before the eyes of all the Egyptians.4And the Egyptians were busy burying because the Lord had struck down their firstborn and had wrought vengeance against their deities.5The children of Israel journeyed from Rameses and camped in Succoth.6They journeyed from Succoth and camped in Etham, at the edge of the desert.7They journeyed from Etham and camped in Pi hahiroth, which faces Baal zephon; and they camped in front of Migdol.8They journeyed from Penei hahiroth and crossed in the midst of the sea to the desert. They walked for three days in the desert of Etham and camped in Marah.9They journeyed from Marah and arrived in Elim, and in Elim there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they camped there.10They journeyed from Elim and camped by the Red Sea.11They journeyed from the Red Sea and camped in the desert of Sin.12They journeyed from the desert of Sin and camped in Dophkah.13They journeyed from Dophkah and camped in Alush.14They journeyed from Alush and camped in Rephidim, but there there was no water for the people to drink.15They journeyed from Rephidim and camped in the Sinai desert.16They journeyed from the Sinai desert and camped in Kivroth hataavah.17They journeyed from Kivroth hataavah and camped in Hazeroth18They journeyed from Hazeroth and camped in Rithmah.19They journeyed from Rithmah and camped in Rimmon perez.20They journeyed from Rimmon perez and camped in Libnah.21They journeyed from Libnah and camped in Rissah.22They journeyed from Rissah and camped in Kehelathah.23They journeyed from Kehelathah and camped in Mount Shepher.24They journeyed from Mount Shepher and camped in Haradah.25They journeyed from Haradah and camped in Makheloth.26They journeyed from Makheloth and camped in Tahath.27They journeyed from Tahath and camped in Tarah.28They journeyed from Tarah and camped in Mithkah.29They journeyed from Mithkah and camped in Hashmonah.30They journeyed from Hashmonah and camped in Moseroth.31They journeyed from Moseroth and camped in Benei jaakan.32They journeyed from Benei jaakan and camped in Hor hagidgad.33They journeyed from Hor hagidgad and camped in Jotbathah.34They journeyed from Jotbathah and camped in Abronah.35They journeyed from Abronah and camped in Etzion geber.36They journeyed from Ezion geber and camped in the desert of Zin, which is Kadesh.37They journeyed from Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, at the edge of the land of Edom.38Aaron the kohen ascended Mount Hor at the Lord's bidding and died there, on the first day of the fifth month in the fortieth year of the children of Israel's exodus from Egypt.39Aaron was one hundred and twenty three years old when he died at Mount Hor.40The Canaanite king of Arad, who dwelt in the south, in the land of Canaan, heard that the children of Israel had arrived.41They journeyed from Mount Hor and camped in Zalmonah.42They journeyed from Zalmonah and camped in Punon.43They journeyed from Punon and camped in Oboth.44They journeyed from Oboth and camped at the ruins of Abarim, on the Moabite boundary.45They journeyed from the ruins and camped in Dibon gad.46They journeyed from Dibon gad and camped in Almon diblathaimah.47They journeyed from Almon diblathaimah and camped in the mountains of Abarim, in front of Nebo.48They journeyed from the mountains of Abarim and camped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.49They camped along the Jordan from Beth jeshimoth to Abel shittim, in the plains of Moab.

Wednesday

Psalm 95:1–11 (NLT):

1 Come, let us sing to the Lord!

Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.

2 Let us come to him with thanksgiving.

Let us sing psalms of praise to him.

3 For the Lord is a great God,

a great King above all gods.

4 He holds in his hands the depths of the earth

and the mightiest mountains.

5 The sea belongs to him, for he made it.

His hands formed the dry land, too.

6 Come, let us worship and bow down.

Let us kneel before the Lord our maker,

7 for he is our God.

We are the people he watches over,

the flock under his care.

If only you would listen to his voice today!

8 The Lord says, “Don’t harden your hearts as Israel did at Meribah,

as they did at Massah in the wilderness.

9 For there your ancestors tested and tried my patience,

even though they saw everything I did.

10 For forty years I was angry with them, and I said,

‘They are a people whose hearts turn away from me.

They refuse to do what I tell them.’

11 So in my anger I took an oath:

‘They will never enter my place of rest.’ ”

Fifth Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 33

50The Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying:51Speak to the children of Israel and say to them: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan,52you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their temples, destroy their molten idols, and demolish their high places.53You shall clear out the Land and settle in it, for I have given you the Land to occupy it.54You shall give the Land as an inheritance to your families by lot; to the large, you shall give a larger inheritance and to the small you shall give a smaller inheritance; wherever the lot falls shall be his; according to the tribes of your fathers, you shall inherit.55But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the Land from before you, then those whom you leave over will be as spikes in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they will harass you in the land in which you settle.56And it will be that what I had intended to do to them, I will do to you.

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 34

1The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:2Command the children of Israel and say to them, When you arrive in the land of Canaan, this is the land which shall fall to you as an inheritance, the land of Canaan according to its borders.3Your southernmost corner shall be from the desert of Zin along Edom, and the southern border shall be from the edge of the Sea of Salt [the Dead Sea] to the east.4The border then turns south of Maaleh Akrabim [elevation of Akrabim], passing toward Zin, and its ends shall be to the south of Kadesh barnea. Then it shall extend to Hazar addar and continue toward Azmon.5The border then turns from Azmon to the stream of Egypt, and its ends shall be to the sea.6The western border: it shall be for you the Great [Mediterranean] Sea and the border this shall be your western border.7This shall be your northern border: From the Great [Mediterranean] Sea turn yourselves toward Mount Hor.8From Mount Hor turn to the entrance of Hamath, and the ends of the border shall be toward Zedad.9The border shall then extend to Ziphron, and its ends shall be Hazar enan; this shall be your northern border.10You shall then turn yourselves toward the eastern border, from Hazar enan to Shepham.11The border descends from Shepham toward Riblah, to the east of Ain. Then the border descends and hits the eastern shore of Lake Kinnereth.12The border then continues down along the Jordan, and its ends is the Sea of Salt [the Dead Sea]; this shall be your Land according to its borders around.13Moses commanded the children of Israel saying, "This is the Land which you are to apportion for inheritance through lot, that the Lord has commanded to give to the nine and a half tribes.14For the tribe of Reuben's descendants according to their fathers' house, and the tribe of Gad's descendants according to their fathers' house, and half the tribe of Manasseh have already received their inheritance.15The two and a half tribes have received their inheritance on this side of the Jordan, near Jericho in the east, toward the sunrise."

Thursday

1 Corinthians 2:1–8 (NLT): Paul’s Message of Wisdom

When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. 2 For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. 4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

6 Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. 7 No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. 8 But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord.

Sixth Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 34

16The Lord spoke to Moses saying:17These are the names of the men who shall inherit the land on your behalf: Eleazar the kohen and Joshua the son of Nun.18You shall take one chieftain from each tribe to [help you to] acquire the land.19These are the names of the men: for the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.20For the tribe of the descendants of Simeon, Samuel the son of Ammihud.21For the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chislon.22The chieftain for the tribe of the descendants of Dan, Bukki the son of Jogli.23For the descendants of Joseph; the chieftain for the tribe of the descendants of Manasseh, Hanniel the son of Ephod.24The chieftain for the tribe of the descendants of Ephraim, Kemuel the son of Shiphtan.25The chieftain for the tribe of the descendants of Zebulun, Elizaphan the son of Parnach.26The chieftain for the tribe of the descendants of Issachar, Paltiel the son of Azzan.27The chieftain for the tribe of the descendants of Asher, Ahihud the son of Shelomi.28The chieftain of the tribe of the descendants of Naphtali, Pedahel the son of Ammihud.29These are the ones whom the Lord commanded to apportion the inheritance to the children of Israel in the land of Canaan.

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 35

1The Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab, by the Jordan at Jericho saying:2Command the children of Israel that they shall give to the Levites from their hereditary possession cities in which to dwell, and you shall give the Levites open spaces around the cities.3These cities shall be theirs for dwelling, and their open spaces shall be for their cattle, their property, and for all their needs.4The areas of open space for the cities which you shall give to the Levites shall extend from the wall of the city outward, one thousand cubits all around.5You shall measure from outside the city, two thousand cubits on the eastern side, two thousand cubits on the southern side, two thousand cubits on the western side, and two thousand cubits on the northern side, with the city in the middle; this shall be your cities' open spaces.6Among the cities you shall give to the Levites, shall be six cities of refuge, which you shall provide [as places] to which a murderer can flee. In addition to them, you shall provide forty two cities.7All the cities you shall give to the Levites shall number forty eight cities, them with their open spaces.8And as for the cities that you shall give from the possession of the children of Israel, you shall take more from a larger [holding] and you shall take less from a smaller one. Each one, according to the inheritance allotted to him, shall give of his cities to the Levites.

Friday

1 Corinthians 2:9–16 (NLT):

9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,

and no mind has imagined

what God has prepared

for those who love him.”

10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. 14 But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 15 Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. 16 For,

“Who can know the Lord’s thoughts?

Who knows enough to teach him?”

But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

Seventh Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 35

9The Lord spoke to Moses saying:10Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, When you cross the Jordan to the land of Canaan,11you shall designate cities for yourselves; they shall be cities of refuge for you, and a murderer who killed a person unintentionally shall flee there.12These cities shall serve you as a refuge from an avenger, so that the murderer shall not die until he stands in judgment before the congregation.13The cities that you provide shall serve as six cities of refuge for you.14You shall provide the three cities in trans Jordan and the three cities in the land of Canaan; they shall be cities of refuge.15These six cities shall be a refuge for the children of Israel and for the proselyte and resident among them, so that anyone who unintentionally kills a person can flee there.16If he struck him with an iron instrument and he dies, he is a murderer, and the murderer shall be put to death.17If he struck him with a fist sized stone which is deadly, and he dies, he is a murderer, and the murderer shall be put to death.18Or with a fist sized wooden instrument which is deadly, and he dies, he is a murderer, and the murderer shall be put to death.19The blood avenger shall kill the murderer; he may kill him when he meets him.20If, out of hatred, he pushed him, or threw something at him with premeditation, and he died,21or if he maliciously struck him with his hand and he died, the assailant shall be put to death; he is a murderer; the blood avenger may kill the murderer when he meets him.22But if he pushed him accidentally, without malice, or threw an object at him without premeditation,23or, with any stone which is deadly, and without seeing [his victim] he threw it down at him and it killed him, but he was not his enemy and bore him no malice24Then the congregation shall judge between the assailant and the blood avenger, on the basis of these judgments.25The congregation shall protect the murderer from the hand of the blood avenger, and the congregation shall return him to the city of refuge to which he had fled, and he shall remain there until the Kohen Gadol, who anointed him with the sacred oil, dies.26But if the murderer goes beyond the border of the city of refuge to which he had fled,27and the blood avenger finds him outside the limits of his city of refuge, and the blood avenger slays the murderer, he has no blood.28For he shall remain in his city of refuge until the Kohen Gadol dies, and only after the Kohen Gadol has died, may the murderer return to the land which is his possession.29These shall be for you a statute of justice for all your generations, in all your dwelling places.30Whoever [namely the blood avenger] kills a person, based on the testimony of witnesses, he shall slay the murderer. A single witness may not testify against a person so that he should die.31You shall not accept ransom for the life of a murderer, who is guilty of death, for he shall be put to death.32You shall not accept ransom for one who has fled to his city of refuge, to allow him to return to live in the Land, before the kohen has died.33And you shall not corrupt the land in which you live, for the blood corrupts the land, and the blood which is shed in the land cannot be atoned for except through the blood of the one who shed it.34And you shall not defile the land where you reside, in which I dwell, for I am the Lord Who dwells among the children of Israel.

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 36

1The paternal heads of the family of the sons of Gilead the son of Machir the son of Manasseh of the families of the sons of Joseph approached and spoke before Moses and before the chieftains, the paternal heads of the children of Israel.2They said, "The Lord commanded my master to give the Land as an inheritance through lot to the children of Israel, and our master was commanded by the Lord to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother to his daughters.3Now, if they marry a member of another tribe of the children of Israel, their inheritance will be diminished from the inheritance of our father, and it will be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry, and thus, it will be diminished from the lot of our inheritance.4Even if the children of Israel will have a Jubilee, their inheritance will be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry, and their inheritance will be diminished from the inheritance of our father's tribe."5Moses commanded the children of Israel according to the word of the Lord, saying, "The tribe of Joseph's descendants speak justly.6This is the word that the Lord has commanded regarding Zelophehad's daughters. Let them marry whomever they please, but they shall marry only to the family of their father's tribe.7Thus, the inheritance of the children of Israel will not be transferred from tribe to tribe, for each person from the children of Israel will remain attached to the inheritance of his father's tribe.8Every daughter from the tribes of the children of Israel who inherits property, shall marry a member of her father's tribe, so each one of the children of Israel shall inherit the property of his forefathers.9And no inheritance will be transferred from one tribe to another tribe, for each person of the tribes of the children of Israel shall remain attached to his own inheritance."10As the Lord had commanded Moses, so did Zelophehad's daughters do.11Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah married their cousins.12They married into the families of the sons of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained with the tribe of their father's family.13These are the commandments and the ordinances that the Lord commanded the children of Israel through Moses in the plains of Moab, by the Jordan at Jericho.

Saturday

Isaiah 61:1–11 (NLT): Good News for the Oppressed

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,

for the Lord has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted

and to proclaim that captives will be released

and prisoners will be freed.

2 He has sent me to tell those who mourn

that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,

and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.

3 To all who mourn in Israel,

he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,

a joyous blessing instead of mourning,

festive praise instead of despair.

In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks

that the Lord has planted for his own glory.

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins,

repairing cities destroyed long ago.

They will revive them,

though they have been deserted for many generations.

5 Foreigners will be your servants.

They will feed your flocks

and plow your fields

and tend your vineyards.

6 You will be called priests of the Lord,

ministers of our God.

You will feed on the treasures of the nations

and boast in their riches.

7 Instead of shame and dishonor,

you will enjoy a double share of honor.

You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land,

and everlasting joy will be yours.

8 “For I, the Lord, love justice.

I hate robbery and wrongdoing.

I will faithfully reward my people for their suffering

and make an everlasting covenant with them.

9 Their descendants will be recognized

and honored among the nations.

Everyone will realize that they are a people

the Lord has blessed.”

10 I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God!

For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation

and draped me in a robe of righteousness.

I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding

or a bride with her jewels.

11 The Sovereign Lord will show his justice to the nations of the world.

Everyone will praise him!

His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring,

with plants springing up everywhere.

Maftir Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 36

11Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah married their cousins.12They married into the families of the sons of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained with the tribe of their father's family.13These are the commandments and the ordinances that the Lord commanded the children of Israel through Moses in the plains of Moab, by the Jordan at Jericho.

Haftarah

Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah) Chapter 2

4Hearken to the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel.5So says the Lord: What wrong did your forefathers find in Me, that they distanced themselves from Me, and they went after futility and themselves became futile?6And they did not say, "Where is the Lord, Who brought us up from the land of Egypt, Who led us in the desert, in a land of plains and pits, in a land of waste and darkness, in a land where no man had passed and where no man had dwelt.7And I brought you to a forest land to eat of its produce and its goodness, and you came and contaminated My land, and made My heritage an abomination.8The priests did not say, "Where is the Lord?" And those who hold onto the Torah did not know Me and the rulers rebelled against Me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal and followed what does not avail.9Therefore, I will still contend with you, says the Lord, and with your children's children will I contend.10For pass over [to] the isles of the Kittites and see, and send to Kedar and consider diligently, and see whether there was any such thing,11Whether a nation exchanged a god although they are not gods. Yet My nation exchanged their glory for what does not avail.12Oh heavens, be astonished about this, and storm, become very desolate, says the Lord.13For My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me, the spring of living waters, to dig for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that do not hold water.14Is Israel a slave? Is he a home-born slave? Why has he become a prey?15Young lions roar over him: they have raised their voice, and they have made his land a desolation; his cities were burnt without an inhabitant.16Also the children of Noph and Tahpanhes will break your crown.17Is not this caused to you by your forsaking the Lord your God at the time He leads you by the way?18And now, what have you to do in the way of Egypt to drink the water of the Shihor and what have you to do in the way of Assyria to drink the water of the river?19Your evil will chastise you, and your backslidings will reprove you, and you shall know and see that your forsaking the Lord your God is evil and bitter, and fear of Me was not upon you, says the Lord God of Hosts.20For of old I broke your yoke, I tore open your yoke-bands, and you said, "I will not transgress," but on every lofty hill and under every leafy tree, you recline as a harlot.21Yet I planted you a noble vine stock, throughout of right seed; now how have you turned yourself into a degenerate wild vine to Me?22For if you wash with natron and use much soap, your iniquity is stained before Me, says the Lord God.23How do you say, "I have not been defiled; I have not gone after the Baalim"? See your way in the valley, know what you have done, [like] a swift young she-camel, clinging to her ways.24A wild donkey accustomed to the desert, that snuffs up the wind in her desire, her tendency like the sea creatures, who can hinder her? All who seek her will not weary; in her month they will find her.25Withhold your foot from going barefoot and your throat from thirst; but you said, "I despair. No, for I love strangers, and I will follow them."26As the shame of a thief when he is found out, so have the house of Israel been ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets.27They say to the wood, "You are my father," and to the stone, "You bore us," for they turned to Me their nape and not their face, and at the time of their misfortune they say, "Arise and save us. "28Now where are your gods that you have made for yourself; let them get up if they will save you at the time of your misfortune, for as many as your cities were your gods, O Judea.

Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah) Chapter 4 1If you return, O Israel, says the Lord, to Me, you shall return, and if you remove your detestable things from My Presence, you shall not wander.2And you will swear, "As the Lord lives," in truth and in justice and in righteousness, nations will bless themselves with him and boast about him.