Week Eight: Wednesday - Psalms 21-23
Week Eight - Day Four
Psalms
Psalm 21
For the choir director: A psalm of David.
(Verses 1-13)
How the king rejoices in your strength, O Lord!
He shouts with joy because you give him victory.
For you have given him his heart’s desire;
you have withheld nothing he requested.
He shouts with joy because you give him victory.
For you have given him his heart’s desire;
you have withheld nothing he requested.
Interlude
You welcomed him back with success and prosperity.
You placed a crown of finest gold on his head.
He asked you to preserve his life,
and you granted his request.
The days of his life stretch on forever.
Your victory brings him great honor,
and you have clothed him with splendor and majesty.
You have endowed him with eternal blessings
and given him the joy of your presence.
and you have clothed him with splendor and majesty.
You have endowed him with eternal blessings
and given him the joy of your presence.
For the king trusts in the Lord.
The unfailing love of the Most High will keep him from stumbling.
You will capture all your enemies.
Your strong right hand will seize all who hate you.
You will throw them in a flaming furnace
when you appear.
The unfailing love of the Most High will keep him from stumbling.
You will capture all your enemies.
Your strong right hand will seize all who hate you.
You will throw them in a flaming furnace
when you appear.
The Lord will consume them in his anger;
fire will devour them.
You will wipe their children from the face of the earth;
they will never have descendants.
Although they plot against you,
their evil schemes will never succeed.
For they will turn and run
when they see your arrows aimed at them.
Rise up, O Lord, in all your power.
With music and singing we celebrate your mighty acts.
Psalm 22
For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be sung to the tune “Doe of the Dawn.”
(Verses 1-31)
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Why are you so far away when I groan for help?
Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.
Every night you hear my voice, but I find no relief.
Why are you so far away when I groan for help?
Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.
Every night you hear my voice, but I find no relief.
Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
Our ancestors trusted in you,
and you rescued them.
They cried out to you and were saved.
They trusted in you and were never disgraced.
But I am a worm and not a man.
I am scorned and despised by all!
Everyone who sees me mocks me.
They sneer and shake their heads, saying,
“Is this the one who relies on the Lord?
Then let the Lord save him!
If the Lord loves him so much,
let the Lord rescue him!”
Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb
and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast.
I was thrust into your arms at my birth.
You have been my God from the moment I was born.
Do not stay so far from me,
for trouble is near,
and no one else can help me.
Then let the Lord save him!
If the Lord loves him so much,
let the Lord rescue him!”
Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb
and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast.
I was thrust into your arms at my birth.
You have been my God from the moment I was born.
Do not stay so far from me,
for trouble is near,
and no one else can help me.
My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls;
fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in!
Like lions they open their jaws against me,
roaring and tearing into their prey.
fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in!
Like lions they open their jaws against me,
roaring and tearing into their prey.
My life is poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart is like wax,
melting within me.
My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay.
My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead.
My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead.
My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs;
an evil gang closes in on me.
They have pierced my hands and feet.
I can count all my bones.
My enemies stare at me and gloat.
They divide my garments among themselves
and throw dice for my clothing.
O Lord, do not stay far away!
You are my strength; come quickly to my aid!
Save me from the sword;
spare my precious life from these dogs.
Snatch me from the lion’s jaws
and from the horns of these wild oxen.
I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters.
I will praise you among your assembled people.
My enemies stare at me and gloat.
They divide my garments among themselves
and throw dice for my clothing.
O Lord, do not stay far away!
You are my strength; come quickly to my aid!
Save me from the sword;
spare my precious life from these dogs.
Snatch me from the lion’s jaws
and from the horns of these wild oxen.
I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters.
I will praise you among your assembled people.
Praise the Lord, all you who fear him!
Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob!
Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel!
Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob!
Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel!
For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy.
He has not turned his back on them,
but has listened to their cries for help.
I will praise you in the great assembly.
I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you.
He has not turned his back on them,
but has listened to their cries for help.
I will praise you in the great assembly.
I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you.
The poor will eat and be satisfied.
All who seek the Lord will praise him.
Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy.
All who seek the Lord will praise him.
Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy.
The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him.
All the families of the nations will bow down before him.
For royal power belongs to the Lord.
He rules all the nations.
Let the rich of the earth feast and worship.
Bow before him, all who are mortal,
all whose lives will end as dust.
All the families of the nations will bow down before him.
For royal power belongs to the Lord.
He rules all the nations.
Let the rich of the earth feast and worship.
Bow before him, all who are mortal,
all whose lives will end as dust.
Our children will also serve him.
Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord.
His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born.
They will hear about everything he has done.
Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord.
His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born.
They will hear about everything he has done.
Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
(Verses 1-6)
The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
protect and comfort me.
You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever.
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever.
Closing Thoughts: In Psalm 22, David is questioning God and asking if He will not go so far away from him in his trials. However, Psalm 23 is probably the most famous Psalm written. It is David again claiming his assurance that God will always be with him even in the darkest valley. Have you ever felt lonely and lost until you realized that God will always be there for you whether it is obvious or not? I know that I have to remind myself every time I am going through a trial that God is always doing good work - even when I can't see Him or feel Him.
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BIRTHDAY BASH Review: ThinkGeek
I don't know about you, but I am a bit of a geek at heart. I love quirky things and it seems that since Raileigh was born, I now seek to acquire them for her as well. Perhaps it is because I am proud of my inner geek and that I really like being unique and a little different.
When it comes to gifts, I especially like to find something a little different give. After all, I really want the recipient to know I spent some time thinking about what I gave them. Plus, I like to hope that my gift will stand out and have no chance of being the same as another person's gift.
If you are in that boat as well, then I highly encourage you to head over to ThinkGeek. This has got to be the most amazing and most unique collection of things to feed the inner geek. Really- there are fantastic gifts galore! Everything is sorted into categories, so it's quite easy to browse through things that interest you. Being that Raileigh's birthday is at the end of this week, I spent my time browsing through Geek Kids. You can break it down further by age or browse all age groups, which is what I did.
I could not believe all of the exciting products that I found. Many of them, I would really enjoy playing with myself. However, I also saw a lot of things that I knew Raileigh would love. Check out a few of my favorites.
You see the blocks up there? The ones with the sign language alphabet? I especially like those. I have tried to teach Raileigh some basic signs, but she just can't get her fingers bent properly yet. However, I think these fun and interactive wooden blocks are a great way to introduce her to the sign language alphabet.
So, when ThinkGeek sent us a set of the sign language blocks for Raileigh to test out, I was pretty excited. After all, these blocks can be used for so much more than just building towers. In addition to the sign language alphabet, these blocks also contain the braille alphabet and a set of letters just like a traditional wooden block set. That is three very useful and informative things in one set of blocks.
Upon opening our blocks, I immediately noticed the bright and vivid colors. Each side of the block that contains braille is almost completely a solid color (red-orange, blue, green, or yellow). The sign language side is done in blue and the traditional alphabet letters are done in red. It's a gorgeous color palate. It is also quite evident that the blocks are very well made. I have to say the look more precise and more cleanly cut than any block set we have had in the past. The quality really is quite impressive.
After I got done with my analysis of the blocks, it was time for Raileigh to play with them! She built block towers and almost immediately knock them over. Then, the process would repeat. It's amazing how something so simple can keep you entertained for so long! We also took the time to spell Raileigh's first and last name in braille and sign language. She helped me to find each letter and add it to the name.
We have had such a great time with our set of sign language blocks. My only gripe is that they didn't come with a bag or box or something else to store them in. The other block sets we have came with a storage bag, which I like. However, I just pulled out an old shoebox to store them in, so it really wasn't a major deal.
I can't wait to return to ThinkGeek and add some more of their unique and fabulous items to our home. In addition to Geek Kids, they have multiple sections that would appeal to adults. My husband has a n iPhone, so I had to browse through the cell phone goodies for gift ideas for him. I am thinking this little beanbag iPhone stand would be a great place to charge his phone each night!
What are you waiting for? Go check out the wonderful selection of all things geek at ThinkGeek. Even you don't consider yourself a geek (and, who are you kidding? I am sure we all pretty much are!), still go check it out. I am sure you will find an amazing gadget you just can't live without.
Don't forget to bookmark ThinkGeek and follow them on twitter so you don't miss out on any special sales or new products.
No monetary compensation was received for this post. A set of blocks was sent to me for review form ThinkGeek. All opinions expressed above are my own.
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Week Eight: Tuesday - Judges 12-16
Week Eight - Day Three
History
Judges 12
Ephraim Fights with Jephthah (Verses 1-7)
Then the people of Ephraim mobilized an army and crossed over the Jordan River to Zaphon. They sent this message to Jephthah:
“Why didn’t you call for us to help you fight against the Ammonites? We are going to burn down your house with you in it!”
Jephthah replied,
“I summoned you at the beginning of the dispute, but you refused to come! You failed to help us in our struggle against Ammon. So when I realized you weren’t coming, I risked my life and went to battle without you, and the Lord gave me victory over the Ammonites. So why have you now come to fight me?”
The people of Ephraim responded,
“You men of Gilead are nothing more than fugitives from Ephraim and Manasseh.”
So Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and attacked the men of Ephraim and defeated them.
Jephthah captured the shallow crossings of the Jordan River, and whenever a fugitive from Ephraim tried to go back across, the men of Gilead would challenge him.
Jephthah captured the shallow crossings of the Jordan River, and whenever a fugitive from Ephraim tried to go back across, the men of Gilead would challenge him.
“Are you a member of the tribe of Ephraim?” they would ask. If the man said, “No, I’m not,” they would tell him to say “Shibboleth.” If he was from Ephraim, he would say “Sibboleth,” because people from Ephraim cannot pronounce the word correctly. Then they would take him and kill him at the shallow crossings of the Jordan. In all, 42,000 Ephraimites were killed at that time.
Jephthah judged Israel for six years. When he died, he was buried in one of the towns of Gilead.
Ibzan Becomes Israel’s Judge (Verses 8-10)
After Jephthah died, Ibzan from Bethlehem judged Israel. He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He sent his daughters to marry men outside his clan, and he brought in thirty young women from outside his clan to marry his sons. Ibzan judged Israel for seven years. When he died, he was buried at Bethlehem.
Jephthah judged Israel for six years. When he died, he was buried in one of the towns of Gilead.
Ibzan Becomes Israel’s Judge (Verses 8-10)
After Jephthah died, Ibzan from Bethlehem judged Israel. He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He sent his daughters to marry men outside his clan, and he brought in thirty young women from outside his clan to marry his sons. Ibzan judged Israel for seven years. When he died, he was buried at Bethlehem.
Elon Becomes Israel’s Judge (Verses 11-12)
After Ibzan died, Elon from the tribe of Zebulun judged Israel for ten years. When he died, he was buried at Aijalon in Zebulun.
Abdon Becomes Israel’s Judge (Verses 13-15)
After Elon died, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, judged Israel. He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. He judged Israel for eight years. When he died, he was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.
Judges 13
The Birth of Samson (Verses 1-25)
Again the Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight, so the Lord handed them over to the Philistines, who oppressed them for forty years.
In those days a man named Manoah from the tribe of Dan lived in the town of Zorah. His wife was unable to become pregnant, and they had no children. The angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah’s wife and said,
“Even though you have been unable to have children, you will soon become pregnant and give birth to a son. So be careful; you must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink nor eat any forbidden food. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. He will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines.”
The woman ran and told her husband, “A man of God appeared to me! He looked like one of God’s angels, terrifying to see. I didn’t ask where he was from, and he didn’t tell me his name. But he told me, ‘You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink nor eat any forbidden food. For your son will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from the moment of his birth until the day of his death.’”
The woman ran and told her husband, “A man of God appeared to me! He looked like one of God’s angels, terrifying to see. I didn’t ask where he was from, and he didn’t tell me his name. But he told me, ‘You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink nor eat any forbidden food. For your son will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from the moment of his birth until the day of his death.’”
Then Manoah prayed to the Lord, saying,
“Lord, please let the man of God come back to us again and give us more instructions about this son who is to be born.”
God answered Manoah’s prayer, and the angel of God appeared once again to his wife as she was sitting in the field. But her husband, Manoah, was not with her. So she quickly ran and told her husband,
“The man who appeared to me the other day is here again!”
Manoah ran back with his wife and asked,
“Are you the man who spoke to my wife the other day?”
“Yes,” he replied, “I am.”
So Manoah asked him, “When your words come true, what kind of rules should govern the boy’s life and work?”
“Yes,” he replied, “I am.”
So Manoah asked him, “When your words come true, what kind of rules should govern the boy’s life and work?”
The angel of the Lord replied,
“Be sure your wife follows the instructions I gave her. She must not eat grapes or raisins, drink wine or any other alcoholic drink, or eat any forbidden food.”
Then Manoah said to the angel of the Lord,
“Please stay here until we can prepare a young goat for you to eat.”
“I will stay,” the angel of the Lord replied, “but I will not eat anything. However, you may prepare a burnt offering as a sacrifice to the Lord.” (Manoah didn’t realize it was the angel of the Lord.)
“I will stay,” the angel of the Lord replied, “but I will not eat anything. However, you may prepare a burnt offering as a sacrifice to the Lord.” (Manoah didn’t realize it was the angel of the Lord.)
Then Manoah asked the angel of the Lord,
“What is your name? For when all this comes true, we want to honor you.”
“Why do you ask my name?” the angel of the Lord replied. “It is too wonderful for you to understand.”
“Why do you ask my name?” the angel of the Lord replied. “It is too wonderful for you to understand.”
Then Manoah took a young goat and a grain offering and offered it on a rock as a sacrifice to the Lord. And as Manoah and his wife watched, the Lord did an amazing thing. As the flames from the altar shot up toward the sky, the angel of the Lord ascended in the fire. When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell with their faces to the ground.
The angel did not appear again to Manoah and his wife. Manoah finally realized it was the angel of the Lord, and he said to his wife,
“We will certainly die, for we have seen God!”
But his wife said, “If the Lord were going to kill us, he wouldn’t have accepted our burnt offering and grain offering. He wouldn’t have appeared to us and told us this wonderful thing and done these miracles.”
When her son was born, she named him Samson. And the Lord blessed him as he grew up. And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him while he lived in Mahaneh-dan, which is located between the towns of Zorah and Eshtaol.
Judges 14
Samson’s Riddle (Verses 1-20)
One day when Samson was in Timnah, one of the Philistine women caught his eye. When he returned home, he told his father and mother,
“A young Philistine woman in Timnah caught my eye. I want to marry her. Get her for me.”
His father and mother objected.
“Isn’t there even one woman in our tribe or among all the Israelites you could marry?” they asked. “Why must you go to the pagan Philistines to find a wife?”
But Samson told his father, “Get her for me! She looks good to me.”
But Samson told his father, “Get her for me! She looks good to me.”
His father and mother didn’t realize the Lord was at work in this, creating an opportunity to work against the Philistines, who ruled over Israel at that time.
As Samson and his parents were going down to Timnah, a young lion suddenly attacked Samson near the vineyards of Timnah. At that moment the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him, and he ripped the lion’s jaws apart with his bare hands. He did it as easily as if it were a young goat. But he didn’t tell his father or mother about it. When Samson arrived in Timnah, he talked with the woman and was very pleased with her.
Later, when he returned to Timnah for the wedding, he turned off the path to look at the carcass of the lion. And he found that a swarm of bees had made some honey in the carcass. He scooped some of the honey into his hands and ate it along the way. He also gave some to his father and mother, and they ate it. But he didn’t tell them he had taken the honey from the carcass of the lion.
As his father was making final arrangements for the marriage, Samson threw a party at Timnah, as was the custom for elite young men. When the bride’s parents saw him, they selected thirty young men from the town to be his companions.
Samson said to them,
Later, when he returned to Timnah for the wedding, he turned off the path to look at the carcass of the lion. And he found that a swarm of bees had made some honey in the carcass. He scooped some of the honey into his hands and ate it along the way. He also gave some to his father and mother, and they ate it. But he didn’t tell them he had taken the honey from the carcass of the lion.
As his father was making final arrangements for the marriage, Samson threw a party at Timnah, as was the custom for elite young men. When the bride’s parents saw him, they selected thirty young men from the town to be his companions.
Samson said to them,
“Let me tell you a riddle. If you solve my riddle during these seven days of the celebration, I will give you thirty fine linen robes and thirty sets of festive clothing. But if you can’t solve it, then you must give me thirty fine linen robes and thirty sets of festive clothing.”
“All right,” they agreed, “let’s hear your riddle.”
“All right,” they agreed, “let’s hear your riddle.”
So he said:
“Out of the one who eats came something to eat;
out of the strong came something sweet.”
Three days later they were still trying to figure it out. On the fourth day they said to Samson’s wife,
“Entice your husband to explain the riddle for us, or we will burn down your father’s house with you in it. Did you invite us to this party just to make us poor?”
So Samson’s wife came to him in tears and said, “You don’t love me; you hate me! You have given my people a riddle, but you haven’t told me the answer.”
“I haven’t even given the answer to my father or mother,” he replied. “Why should I tell you?”
So Samson’s wife came to him in tears and said, “You don’t love me; you hate me! You have given my people a riddle, but you haven’t told me the answer.”
“I haven’t even given the answer to my father or mother,” he replied. “Why should I tell you?”
So she cried whenever she was with him and kept it up for the rest of the celebration. At last, on the seventh day he told her the answer because she was tormenting him with her nagging. Then she explained the riddle to the young men.
So before sunset of the seventh day, the men of the town came to Samson with their answer:
So before sunset of the seventh day, the men of the town came to Samson with their answer:
“What is sweeter than honey?
What is stronger than a lion?”
Samson replied, “If you hadn’t plowed with my heifer, you wouldn’t have solved my riddle!”
Then the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. He went down to the town of Ashkelon, killed thirty men, took their belongings, and gave their clothing to the men who had solved his riddle. But Samson was furious about what had happened, and he went back home to live with his father and mother. So his wife was given in marriage to the man who had been Samson’s best man at the wedding.
Judges 15
Samson’s Vengeance on the Philistines (Verses 1-20)
Later on, during the wheat harvest, Samson took a young goat as a present to his wife. He said,
“I’m going into my wife’s room to sleep with her,”
but her father wouldn’t let him in.
“I truly thought you must hate her,” her father explained, “so I gave her in marriage to your best man. But look, her younger sister is even more beautiful than she is. Marry her instead.”
Samson said, “This time I cannot be blamed for everything I am going to do to you Philistines.”
Samson said, “This time I cannot be blamed for everything I am going to do to you Philistines.”
Then he went out and caught 300 foxes. He tied their tails together in pairs, and he fastened a torch to each pair of tails. Then he lit the torches and let the foxes run through the grain fields of the Philistines. He burned all their grain to the ground, including the sheaves and the uncut grain. He also destroyed their vineyards and olive groves.
“Who did this?” the Philistines demanded.
“Samson,” was the reply, “because his father-in-law from Timnah gave Samson’s wife to be married to his best man.”
So the Philistines went and got the woman and her father and burned them to death.
“Because you did this,” Samson vowed, “I won’t rest until I take my revenge on you!”
So he attacked the Philistines with great fury and killed many of them. Then he went to live in a cave in the rock of Etam.
The Philistines retaliated by setting up camp in Judah and spreading out near the town of Lehi. The men of Judah asked the Philistines,
“Why are you attacking us?”
The Philistines replied, “We’ve come to capture Samson. We’ve come to pay him back for what he did to us.”
The Philistines replied, “We’ve come to capture Samson. We’ve come to pay him back for what he did to us.”
So 3,000 men of Judah went down to get Samson at the cave in the rock of Etam. They said to Samson,
“Don’t you realize the Philistines rule over us? What are you doing to us?”
But Samson replied, “I only did to them what they did to me.”
But the men of Judah told him, “We have come to tie you up and hand you over to the Philistines.”
“All right,” Samson said. “But promise that you won’t kill me yourselves.”
“We will only tie you up and hand you over to the Philistines,” they replied. “We won’t kill you.” So they tied him up with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock.
But Samson replied, “I only did to them what they did to me.”
But the men of Judah told him, “We have come to tie you up and hand you over to the Philistines.”
“All right,” Samson said. “But promise that you won’t kill me yourselves.”
“We will only tie you up and hand you over to the Philistines,” they replied. “We won’t kill you.” So they tied him up with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock.
As Samson arrived at Lehi, the Philistines came shouting in triumph. But the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon Samson, and he snapped the ropes on his arms as if they were burnt strands of flax, and they fell from his wrists. Then he found the jawbone of a recently killed donkey. He picked it up and killed 1,000 Philistines with it. Then Samson said,
“With the jawbone of a donkey,
I’ve piled them in heaps!
With the jawbone of a donkey,
I’ve killed a thousand men!”
When he finished his boasting, he threw away the jawbone; and the place was named Jawbone Hill.
Samson was now very thirsty, and he cried out to the Lord,
“You have accomplished this great victory by the strength of your servant. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of these pagans?”
So God caused water to gush out of a hollow in the ground at Lehi, and Samson was revived as he drank. Then he named that place “The Spring of the One Who Cried Out," and it is still in Lehi to this day.
Samson judged Israel for twenty years during the period when the Philistines dominated the land.
Samson judged Israel for twenty years during the period when the Philistines dominated the land.
Judges 16
Samson Carries Away Gaza’s Gates (Verses 1-3)
One day Samson went to the Philistine town of Gaza and spent the night with a prostitute. Word soon spread that Samson was there, so the men of Gaza gathered together and waited all night at the town gates. They kept quiet during the night, saying to themselves,
“When the light of morning comes, we will kill him.”
But Samson stayed in bed only until midnight. Then he got up, took hold of the doors of the town gate, including the two posts, and lifted them up, bar and all. He put them on his shoulders and carried them all the way to the top of the hill across from Hebron.
Samson and Delilah (Verses 4-22)
Samson and Delilah (Verses 4-22)
Some time later Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who lived in the valley of Sorek. The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said,
“Entice Samson to tell you what makes him so strong and how he can be overpowered and tied up securely. Then each of us will give you 1,100 pieces of silver.”
So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me what makes you so strong and what it would take to tie you up securely.”
Samson replied, “If I were tied up with seven new bowstrings that have not yet been dried, I would become as weak as anyone else.”
So the Philistine rulers brought Delilah seven new bowstrings, and she tied Samson up with them. She had hidden some men in one of the inner rooms of her house, and she cried out,
“Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!”
But Samson snapped the bowstrings as a piece of string snaps when it is burned by a fire. So the secret of his strength was not discovered.
Afterward Delilah said to him,
Afterward Delilah said to him,
“You’ve been making fun of me and telling me lies! Now please tell me how you can be tied up securely.”
Samson replied, “If I were tied up with brand-new ropes that had never been used, I would become as weak as anyone else.”
Samson replied, “If I were tied up with brand-new ropes that had never been used, I would become as weak as anyone else.”
So Delilah took new ropes and tied him up with them. The men were hiding in the inner room as before, and again Delilah cried out,
“Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!” But again Samson snapped the ropes from his arms as if they were thread.
Then Delilah said, “You’ve been making fun of me and telling me lies! Now tell me how you can be tied up securely.”
Samson replied, “If you were to weave the seven braids of my hair into the fabric on your loom and tighten it with the loom shuttle, I would become as weak as anyone else.”
Then Delilah said, “You’ve been making fun of me and telling me lies! Now tell me how you can be tied up securely.”
Samson replied, “If you were to weave the seven braids of my hair into the fabric on your loom and tighten it with the loom shuttle, I would become as weak as anyone else.”
So while he slept, Delilah wove the seven braids of his hair into the fabric. Then she tightened it with the loom shuttle. Again she cried out,
“Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!”
But Samson woke up, pulled back the loom shuttle, and yanked his hair away from the loom and the fabric.
Then Delilah pouted,
Then Delilah pouted,
“How can you tell me, ‘I love you,’ when you don’t share your secrets with me? You’ve made fun of me three times now, and you still haven’t told me what makes you so strong!” She tormented him with her nagging day after day until he was sick to death of it.
Finally, Samson shared his secret with her. “My hair has never been cut,” he confessed, “for I was dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as anyone else.”
Finally, Samson shared his secret with her. “My hair has never been cut,” he confessed, “for I was dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as anyone else.”
Delilah realized he had finally told her the truth, so she sent for the Philistine rulers.
“Come back one more time,” she said, “for he has finally told me his secret.”
So the Philistine rulers returned with the money in their hands. Delilah lulled Samson to sleep with his head in her lap, and then she called in a man to shave off the seven locks of his hair. In this way she began to bring him down, and his strength left him.
Then she cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!”
When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him.
So the Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. They took him to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze chains and forced to grind grain in the prison.
But before long, his hair began to grow back.
Samson’s Final Victory (Verses 23-31)
The Philistine rulers held a great festival, offering sacrifices and praising their god, Dagon. They said,
“Our god has given us victory over our enemy Samson!”
When the people saw him, they praised their god, saying,
“Our god has delivered our enemy to us! The one who killed so many of us is now in our power!”
Half drunk by now, the people demanded,
“Bring out Samson so he can amuse us!”
So he was brought from the prison to amuse them, and they had him stand between the pillars supporting the roof.
Samson said to the young servant who was leading him by the hand,
Samson said to the young servant who was leading him by the hand,
“Place my hands against the pillars that hold up the temple. I want to rest against them.”
Now the temple was completely filled with people. All the Philistine rulers were there, and there were about 3,000 men and women on the roof who were watching as Samson amused them.
Then Samson prayed to the Lord,
Then Samson prayed to the Lord,
“Sovereign Lord, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time. With one blow let me pay back the Philistines for the loss of my two eyes.”
Then Samson put his hands on the two center pillars that held up the temple. Pushing against them with both hands, 30 he prayed,
“Let me die with the Philistines.”
And the temple crashed down on the Philistine rulers and all the people. So he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime.
Later his brothers and other relatives went down to get his body. They took him back home and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol, where his father, Manoah, was buried. Samson had judged Israel for twenty years.
Closing Thoughts:
I have always known the story of Samson and Delilah. However, I have never looked at it from the point of view of: "How does this apply to my life?" There are three points that I want to make below. As you read through these, think about how it would apply to your life.
Later his brothers and other relatives went down to get his body. They took him back home and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol, where his father, Manoah, was buried. Samson had judged Israel for twenty years.
Closing Thoughts:
I have always known the story of Samson and Delilah. However, I have never looked at it from the point of view of: "How does this apply to my life?" There are three points that I want to make below. As you read through these, think about how it would apply to your life.
- When two people are unequally yoked, the love could be turned into deception very easily. Samson loved Delilah however, she was a Philistine and he was not. She turned her back on him the first moment she could. However, Samson was completely blind to her deceptiveness.
- When your eyes are taken off the Lord for one decision, it can result in extreme consequences. God always punishes the ones He loves. He had been on Samson's side even before he was born. However, Samson took his eyes off the Lord and suffered extreme consequences.
- In the end, the consequences ended up for the good because Samson got to show the Philistines that he was not captured because their "god" was doing them good. He was captured first because he took his eyes off the Lord. However, in the end God gave him the opportunity to kill all of the evil Philistines.
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BIRTHDAY BASH Review & Giveaway: Barefoot Books
In our house, we love to read. One of my favorite things to do is snuggle up in a chair with Raileigh and read books for hours. Raileigh has also gotten to where she enjoys spending time in her room "reading" books to herself.
I guess you could say we are somewhat of book-aholics. Raileigh has hundreds of books. Some have been passed down from her grandparents and others we have purchased for her. Regardless, I am always on the lookout for new and exciting books to share with her.
Recently, I came across an exciting new source for books- Barefoot Books. This exciting company has a nice selection of books for all ages. However, I was particularly interested in the books geared at kids ages 1- 2. There are so many books geared specifically at the things Raileigh is currently learning about- shapes, numbers, letters, colors, and more.
Barefoot Books was incredibly generous and sent me 5 of their titles to try out with Raileigh.
How Big is a Pig?
Written and Illustrated By: Clare Beaton
Format: Board Book
Ages: 1- 4 years
Synopsis
Follow an inquisitive pig as he asks all kinds of barnyard animals a barrage of questions. The rhyming, question-and-answer text presents opposites and animals in a colorful farmyard setting.
Our Thoughts
I had not worked a lot with Raileigh on opposites before reading this books. So, I was really excited to try it out with her. It exposed her to some wonderful basic opposite pairs- slow and quick, in and out, high and clean, clean and dirty, and more. I would explain each opposite pair to Raileigh as we read, and the more and more we read the book, the more she understands. It is fantastic because I can see her carrying her new knowledge over into our everyday lives, and that lets me know she really is learning from this book. I also have to make a note about just how wonderful the illustrations in this book are. The appear to be hand-stitched felt scenes and are absolutely beautiful! The images all seem to almost pop off of the page!
Counting Cockatoos
Written by: Stella Blackstone
Illustrated by: Stephanie Bauer
Format: Board Book
Ages: 1- 4 years
Synopsis
Count to twelve with help from tumbling tigers, winking owls and more, while you search for the two cockatoos hidden on every page. This clever counting adventure makes the perfect gift when paired with Alligator Alphabet.
Our Thoughts
Raileigh absolutely loves to count and does so spontaneously throughout the day. So, I was thrilled to expose her to this new counting book. The pictures are absolutely beautiful! The colors are incredibly vibrant. This book actually takes you all the way to twelve instead of stopping at ten like most counting books do. I was quite excited for this because Raileigh likes to skip eleven. Each number introduced a new animal. Raileigh new most of the animals in the book. However, this was a great opportunity to learn a few new ones and remember ones she has already been taught. We have really enjoyed this book, and it has quickly became one of our favorite counting books.
Talk With Me!
Written by: Stella Blackstone
Illustrated by: Caroline Mockford
Format: Board Book
Ages: 1- 4 years
Synopsis
Meet children from across the world as they learn the sounds that all sorts of animals make. The question-and-answer structure pairs with the lift-the-flap format for easy learning.
Our Thoughts
I think this is Raileigh's favorite titles that we reviewed. I had a feeling it might be. This book has lift the flaps in it, and Raileigh absolutely loves to lift the flaps. Plus, it is all about the sounds that different animals make, and Raileigh is quite good at animal sounds. I was actually really pleased to see that this book introduced a few animal sounds she didn't know yet, including panda, parrot, and wolf. Wolf has really stuck with her. She will throw her head back and howl, just like a wolf! The illustrations are beautiful, bold, and very well done, making it easy for the child to identify each new animal introduced in the book.
Cleo's Alphabet Book
Written by Stella Blackstone
Illustrated by: Caroline Mockford
Format: Hardcover
Age: 1- 4 years
Synopsis
Help Cleo guess which word goes with each letter of the alphabet. The rhyming text of this guessing game encourages learning, while the two-page spread of all the items at the end allows more alphabet practice. Hardcover edition includes a Cleo alphabet wall poster.
Our Thoughts
I have just recently started to work on letter identification with Raileigh. So, this was the absolute perfect book for us to receive. Each page introduces a new letter and something that starts with this letter. I really like the set up of this book as it is unlike any other alphabet books we have. For example, the "C" page has a picture of the cow and reads, "C moos when she says hello". So, it doesn't come right out and tell you what starts with "C". The child must use the picture clues and the text to figure it out. I love this because it makes Raileigh really use her brain. Plus, it's a lot of fun to have such an interactive book to share together.
Ship Shapes
Written by: Stella Blackstone
Illustrated by: Siobhan Bell
Format: Hardcover
Ages: 1- 4 years
Synopsis
Spot the shapes on top of rolling waves and on sandy shores. This sea-based early learning selection features rhyme and repetition, as well as a full page summarizing the shapes for reinforced learning.
Our Thoughts
I love this story! Raileigh really likes to identify shapes (her favorite is an octagon), so I knew this would be a fun book for us to enjoy together. It teaches children to find shapes in every day life. This book features many different scenes with water and boats. Children are encouraged to find shapes in the pictures- the triangle sails on the boat, the square windows on a building, and more. This book introduced Raileigh to a new shape- the semicircle. It was nice to be able to reinforce her knowledge in such a fun and practical way!
In addition to the books I have reviewed, there are a lot more great titles at Barefoot Books. now that I have just such how fun, beautiful, and educational their titles are, I have no doubt I will be returning to order more.
Head on over to Barefoot Books and check out the fantastic selection for yourself. See something that catches your eye? Barefoot Books has generously agreed to give one book of the winner's choice to a lucky Wee Share reader!
Here's how to enter:
Mandatory Entry (Must be done before any extra entries will qualify)
Head on over to Barefoot Books. Let me know which book you would choose if you are the winner.
Extra Entries (Please leave a separate comment for each entry)
- "Like" Barefoot Books on Facebook
- Follow Barefoot Books on twitter
- 1 entry each- Comment on any of the reviews (reviews only- not reviews & giveaways) posted under the Something TWO Celebrate Birthday Bash- found on right sidebar of blog
- 3 extra entries- Posted Birthday Bash button early and commented on the announcement post
- 1 extra entry- Have the Birthday Bash button on your blog
Giveaway is open to US Only. Giveaway will close September 21, 2010 at 11:59 pm EST.
No monetary compensation was received for this post. A selection of books from Barefoot Books were provided to me for review. An additional book is being provided as a giveaway for my readers. All opinions expressed above are my own.
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BIRTHDAY BASH Review & Giveaway: CVS Photo
When we moved a few months ago, I ultimately inherited the challenge of decorating our new space. I had brought all of the photos we had displayed at our old house, but some just didn't fit like they had before. Rooms are different dimensions, windows are placed differently, and the amount of wall space is different. Slowly, I have been gathering new pictures to fill our walls with. For me, one of the challenges I always face is finding a frame. I really hate to shop for frames. Generally, they are ridiculously overpriced and many of them don't fit my style anyhow.
So, when I heard about two new products from CVS Photo, I was a bit ecstatic. CVS Photo has recently introduced their Wall Art and Easel Art. Both products make it possible to display treasured photos without the use of a frame. That's what I'm talking about! Here's a little more information about each product:
Wall Art
Available Sizes: 11 x 14
Orientation: Horizontal or Vertical
Display a fabulous photo with great dimension on this wall mounted wood panel with a glossy scratch-resistant finish. You just need a nail to dress up any space beautifully.
Easel Art
Available Sizes: 5 x 7 and 8 x 10
Orientation: Horizontal or Vertical
This wood photo panel with easel is great for displaying your favorite shot. Your photo is transferred to the glossy finish, wood panel and protected with a UV-resistant, scratch-free coating.
I was given the opportunity to try out one of these great new products from CVS Photo. Darren really wants one of the Easel Art pieces for his desk at work, but I ultimately decided to go with the Wall Art for our house. if you saw just how much blank wall space we have in our house, you would completely understand!
I headed on over to the CVS Photo website and signed in. I found the Wall Art option and clicked so that I could begin my creation. I already had several photos of pictures because I had ordered some prints a few months ago. However, I had an exact picture in mind that I wanted to use. It was one that I had recently taken of Raileigh. So, I used the Java Edition Fast Uploader to add more photos to my CVS Photo online account.
Then, it was easy to drag the photo to the online wall art canvas. I could adjust the orientation of the photo or add special effects such as black and white or sepia. I could also adjustment the placement of the photo so that the picture would be printed onto the wall art just as I wanted it. It was an incredibly easy process that created a beautiful piece of art!
Now that I have seen just how easy it is to create beautiful frameless keepsakes for my home, I may have to go back and create Darren one of the easel art pieces. Besides, a 5 x 7 easel art is just $11.99, and that would be perfect for his desk. I also think that both the wall art and easel art would be fantastic gift ideas for Christmas. I always worry that I will purchase a frame that doesn't match the recipients decor, and this way I would not have to worry about that anymore.
Would you like to see firsthand just how amazing the new photo products from CVS are? Lucky for you, CVS Photo is sending one We Share reader a gift code that is valid for one Easel Art or one Wall Art!
Here's how to enter:
Mandatory Entry (Must be done before any extra entries will qualify)
Head on over to the CVS Photo website. What product would you most like to give and/ or receive?
Extra Entries (Please leave a separate comment for each entry)
- Sign up for the CVS Photo email list
- 1 entry each- Comment on any of the reviews (reviews only- not reviews & giveaways) posted under the Something TWO Celebrate Birthday Bash- found on right sidebar of blog
- 3 extra entries- Posted Birthday Bash button early and commented on the announcement post
- 1 extra entry- Have the Birthday Bash button on your blog
Giveaway is open to US Only. Giveaway will close September 20, 2010 at 11:59 pm EST.
No monetary compensation was received for this post. A code for a free photo product was provided to me for review. An additional code is being provided as a giveaway for my readers. All opinions expressed above are my own.
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BIRTHDAY BASH Review & Giveaway: HearthSong's Great Big Outdoor Playball
Raileigh loves balls. In fact, "ball" was one of her very first words. Over the past few years, we have shared many types of balls with her- soccer balls, basketballs, baseballs, golf balls, rubber balls, spikey balls, and more. However, none have been as large or as unique as the Great Big Outdoor Playball (GBOP) from HearthSong.
Fall is my favorite time of year and the perfect time to play outside. The air is cooler, but not downright cold. The leaves are beginning to turn and it's just beautiful. I wanted to get Raileigh some new outdoor toys so that she would have some things to play with outside. When I came across the GBOP, I knew instantly that it was something Raileigh would thoroughly enjoy.
The GBOP measures 52 inches in diameter. That is one large ball! The appearance of the ball reminds me of a giant molecule, with large hexegons forming to make the round shape. There is one hexagon purposefully missing on each end of the ball, making it possible to actually get inside of the GBOP!
I was thrilled when HearthSong agreed to send Raileigh a Great Big Outdoor Playball for the Birthday Bash. I could not wait to see her reaction when she saw this incredibly giant ball! It's significantly taller than she is, and I knew the sheer size of it would be appealing to her.
The moment it arrived, we removed it from the packaging and got ready to inflate it. Each hexagon has it's own inflation valve. We used an electronic pump, conveniently available from HearthSong, to get out GBOP ready for play! I began inflating the ball in our living room. However, I quickly realized that was not going to work. A ball of this size would never fit through our front door. So, Darren took the ball just outside the back door and finsihed inflating it.
It actually did not take as long as I expected to get the GBOP inflated and ready to go. Raileigh was already trying to crawl inside before it was completely inflated, so she was excited when it was finsihed. We took it around to the front yard because there are less sticks and potential poking hazards there. To prolong the life of the ball, it's important to always check the play area for anything that could potentially poke a hole in the ball. It is also best to stay away from driveways, alleys, and streets, as the rough surface could damage the ball.
Raileigh immediately crawled inside and began rolling around the yard in the GBOP. Darren helped her to get the ball rolling. She giggled and squealed as she saw the world through the blues and greens of the ball. She stopped for a moment to rest, and I walked over to check on her. Every bit of her hair was standing on end from the static electricity!
Not only is the ball great for getting inside of, it's also great to just play with. Roll it, race with it, play dodgeball with it... the possibilities are really endless! After Raileigh crawled out from inside the ball, she and Darren rolled it around the yard for a bit. I think he is definitely enjoying our new ball just as much as Raileigh is!
I cannot say enough great things about our Great Big Outdoor Playball. This is the largest ball we have ever had, and I can already tell it is going to provide hours of entertainment for my family. The GBOP seems quite durable and the PVC it is made from is very heavy duty. However, if a puncture does happen to occur, HearthSong has included a few repair patches and instructions on how to use them.
The playball's are also available in two other sizes- the 36" GBOP Jr. and the 65" Incred-A-Ball.
Does the GBOP look like something your family would enjoy as well? I am incredibly thrilled to tell you that HearthSong has agreed to send one lucky Wee Share reader a Great Big Outdoor Playball of their very own!
Here's how to enter:
Mandatory Entry (Must be done before any extra entries will qualify)
Take a few minutes to visit HearthSong. Let me know another product they sell that you would love to own!
Extra Entries (Please leave a separate comment for each entry)
- Sign up for HearthSong's email list
- "Like" HearthSong on Facebook
- 1 entry each- Comment on any of the reviews (reviews only- not reviews & giveaways) posted under the Something TWO Celebrate Birthday Bash- found on right sidebar of blog
- 3 extra entries- Posted Birthday Bash button early and commented on the announcement post
- 1 extra entry- Have the Birthday Bash button on your blog
Giveaway is open to US Only. Giveaway will close September 20, 2010 at 11:59 pm EST.
No monetary compensation was received for this post. A Great Big Outdoor Playball was provided to me for review. An additional GBOP is being provided as a giveaway for my readers. All opinions expressed above are my own.
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Week Eight: Monday - Genesis 28-31
Week Eight - Day Two
The Law
Genesis 28
(Verses 1-9)
So Isaac called for Jacob, blessed him, and said,
So Isaac called for Jacob, blessed him, and said,
“You must not marry any of these Canaanite women. Instead, go at once to Paddan-aram, to the house of your grandfather Bethuel, and marry one of your uncle Laban’s daughters. May God Almighty bless you and give you many children. And may your descendants multiply and become many nations! May God pass on to you and your descendants the blessings he promised to Abraham. May you own this land where you are now living as a foreigner, for God gave this land to Abraham.”
So Isaac sent Jacob away, and he went to Paddan-aram to stay with his uncle Laban, his mother’s brother, the son of Bethuel the Aramean.
Esau knew that his father, Isaac, had blessed Jacob and sent him to Paddan-aram to find a wife, and that he had warned Jacob,
Esau knew that his father, Isaac, had blessed Jacob and sent him to Paddan-aram to find a wife, and that he had warned Jacob,
“You must not marry a Canaanite woman.”
He also knew that Jacob had obeyed his parents and gone to Paddan-aram. It was now very clear to Esau that his father did not like the local Canaanite women. So Esau visited his uncle Ishmael’s family and married one of Ishmael’s daughters, in addition to the wives he already had. His new wife’s name was Mahalath. She was the sister of Nebaioth and the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son.
Jacob’s Dream at Bethel (Verses 10-22)
Meanwhile, Jacob left Beersheba and traveled toward Haran. At sundown he arrived at a good place to set up camp and stopped there for the night. Jacob found a stone to rest his head against and lay down to sleep. As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from the earth up to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down the stairway.
Jacob’s Dream at Bethel (Verses 10-22)
Meanwhile, Jacob left Beersheba and traveled toward Haran. At sundown he arrived at a good place to set up camp and stopped there for the night. Jacob found a stone to rest his head against and lay down to sleep. As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from the earth up to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down the stairway.
At the top of the stairway stood the Lord, and he said,
“I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants. Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.”
Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said,
“Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!”
But he was also afraid and said,
“What an awesome place this is! It is none other than the house of God, the very gateway to heaven!”
The next morning Jacob got up very early. He took the stone he had rested his head against, and he set it upright as a memorial pillar. Then he poured olive oil over it. He named that place Bethel (which means “house of God”), although the name of the nearby village was Luz.
Then Jacob made this vow:
“If God will indeed be with me and protect me on this journey, and if he will provide me with food and clothing, and if I return safely to my father’s home, then the Lord will certainly be my God. 22 And this memorial pillar I have set up will become a place for worshiping God, and I will present to God a tenth of everything he gives me.”
Genesis 29
Genesis 29
Jacob Arrives at Paddan-Aram (Verses 1-14)
Then Jacob hurried on, finally arriving in the land of the east. He saw a well in the distance. Three flocks of sheep and goats lay in an open field beside it, waiting to be watered. But a heavy stone covered the mouth of the well.
It was the custom there to wait for all the flocks to arrive before removing the stone and watering the animals. Afterward the stone would be placed back over the mouth of the well. Jacob went over to the shepherds and asked,
“Where are you from, my friends?”
“We are from Haran,” they answered.
“Do you know a man there named Laban, the grandson of Nahor?” he asked.
“Yes, we do,” they replied.
“Is he doing well?” Jacob asked.
“Yes, he’s well,” they answered. “Look, here comes his daughter Rachel with the flock now.”
Jacob said, “Look, it’s still broad daylight—too early to round up the animals. Why don’t you water the sheep and goats so they can get back out to pasture?”
“We can’t water the animals until all the flocks have arrived,” they replied. “Then the shepherds move the stone from the mouth of the well, and we water all the sheep and goats.”
“We are from Haran,” they answered.
“Do you know a man there named Laban, the grandson of Nahor?” he asked.
“Yes, we do,” they replied.
“Is he doing well?” Jacob asked.
“Yes, he’s well,” they answered. “Look, here comes his daughter Rachel with the flock now.”
Jacob said, “Look, it’s still broad daylight—too early to round up the animals. Why don’t you water the sheep and goats so they can get back out to pasture?”
“We can’t water the animals until all the flocks have arrived,” they replied. “Then the shepherds move the stone from the mouth of the well, and we water all the sheep and goats.”
Jacob was still talking with them when Rachel arrived with her father’s flock, for she was a shepherd. And because Rachel was his cousin—the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother—and because the sheep and goats belonged to his uncle Laban, Jacob went over to the well and moved the stone from its mouth and watered his uncle’s flock. Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and he wept aloud. He explained to Rachel that he was her cousin on her father’s side—the son of her aunt Rebekah. So Rachel quickly ran and told her father, Laban.
As soon as Laban heard that his nephew Jacob had arrived, he ran out to meet him. He embraced and kissed him and brought him home. When Jacob had told him his story, Laban exclaimed,
As soon as Laban heard that his nephew Jacob had arrived, he ran out to meet him. He embraced and kissed him and brought him home. When Jacob had told him his story, Laban exclaimed,
“You really are my own flesh and blood!”
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel (Verses 14-30)
After Jacob had stayed with Laban for about a month, Laban said to him,
“You shouldn’t work for me without pay just because we are relatives. Tell me how much your wages should be.”
Now Laban had two daughters. The older daughter was named Leah, and the younger one was Rachel. There was no sparkle in Leah’s eyes, but Rachel had a beautiful figure and a lovely face. Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he told her father,
“I’ll work for you for seven years if you’ll give me Rachel, your younger daughter, as my wife.”
“Agreed!” Laban replied. “I’d rather give her to you than to anyone else. Stay and work with me.”
“Agreed!” Laban replied. “I’d rather give her to you than to anyone else. Stay and work with me.”
So Jacob worked seven years to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days.
Finally, the time came for him to marry her.
Finally, the time came for him to marry her.
“I have fulfilled my agreement,” Jacob said to Laban. “Now give me my wife so I can marry her.”
So Laban invited everyone in the neighborhood and prepared a wedding feast. But that night, when it was dark, Laban took Leah to Jacob, and he slept with her. (Laban had given Leah a servant, Zilpah, to be her maid.)
But when Jacob woke up in the morning—it was Leah!
So Laban invited everyone in the neighborhood and prepared a wedding feast. But that night, when it was dark, Laban took Leah to Jacob, and he slept with her. (Laban had given Leah a servant, Zilpah, to be her maid.)
But when Jacob woke up in the morning—it was Leah!
“What have you done to me?” Jacob raged at Laban. “I worked seven years for Rachel! Why have you tricked me?”
“It’s not our custom here to marry off a younger daughter ahead of the firstborn,” Laban replied. “But wait until the bridal week is over, then we’ll give you Rachel, too—provided you promise to work another seven years for me.”
So Jacob agreed to work seven more years. A week after Jacob had married Leah, Laban gave him Rachel, too. (Laban gave Rachel a servant, Bilhah, to be her maid.) So Jacob slept with Rachel, too, and he loved her much more than Leah. He then stayed and worked for Laban the additional seven years.
Jacob’s Many Children (Verses 31-35)
When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, he enabled her to have children, but Rachel could not conceive. So Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said,
“The Lord has noticed my misery, and now my husband will love me.”
She soon became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She named him Simeon, for she said,
“The Lord heard that I was unloved and has given me another son.”
Then she became pregnant a third time and gave birth to another son. She named him Levi, for she said,
“Surely this time my husband will feel affection for me, since I have given him three sons!”
Once again Leah became pregnant and gave birth to another son. She named him Judah, for she said,
“Now I will praise the Lord!”
And then she stopped having children.
Genesis 30
(Verses 1-24)
When Rachel saw that she wasn’t having any children for Jacob, she became jealous of her sister. She pleaded with Jacob,
When Rachel saw that she wasn’t having any children for Jacob, she became jealous of her sister. She pleaded with Jacob,
“Give me children, or I’ll die!”
Then Jacob became furious with Rachel.
“Am I God?” he asked. “He’s the one who has kept you from having children!”
Then Rachel told him,
“Take my maid, Bilhah, and sleep with her. She will bear children for me, and through her I can have a family, too.”
So Rachel gave her servant, Bilhah, to Jacob as a wife, and he slept with her. Bilhah became pregnant and presented him with a son. Rachel named him Dan, for she said,
“God has vindicated me! He has heard my request and given me a son.”
Then Bilhah became pregnant again and gave Jacob a second son. Rachel named him Naphtali, for she said,
“I have struggled hard with my sister, and I’m winning!”
Meanwhile, Leah realized that she wasn’t getting pregnant anymore, so she took her servant, Zilpah, and gave her to Jacob as a wife. Soon Zilpah presented him with a son. Leah named him Gad, for she said,
“How fortunate I am!”
Then Zilpah gave Jacob a second son. And Leah named him Asher, for she said,
“What joy is mine! Now the other women will celebrate with me.”
One day during the wheat harvest, Reuben found some mandrakes growing in a field and brought them to his mother, Leah. Rachel begged Leah,
“Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”
But Leah angrily replied,
“Wasn’t it enough that you stole my husband? Now will you steal my son’s mandrakes, too?”
Rachel answered, “I will let Jacob sleep with you tonight if you give me some of the mandrakes.”
Rachel answered, “I will let Jacob sleep with you tonight if you give me some of the mandrakes.”
So that evening, as Jacob was coming home from the fields, Leah went out to meet him.
“You must come and sleep with me tonight!” she said. “I have paid for you with some mandrakes that my son found.”
So that night he slept with Leah. And God answered Leah’s prayers. She became pregnant again and gave birth to a fifth son for Jacob. She named him Issachar, for she said,
“God has rewarded me for giving my servant to my husband as a wife.”
Then Leah became pregnant again and gave birth to a sixth son for Jacob. She named him Zebulun, for she said,
“God has given me a good reward. Now my husband will treat me with respect, for I have given him six sons.”
Later she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah.
Then God remembered Rachel’s plight and answered her prayers by enabling her to have children. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son.
Then God remembered Rachel’s plight and answered her prayers by enabling her to have children. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son.
“God has removed my disgrace,” she said. And she named him Joseph, for she said, “May the Lord add yet another son to my family.”
Jacob’s Wealth Increases (Verses 25-43)
Soon after Rachel had given birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban,
“Please release me so I can go home to my own country. Let me take my wives and children, for I have earned them by serving you, and let me be on my way. You certainly know how hard I have worked for you.”
“Please listen to me,” Laban replied. “I have become wealthy, for the Lord has blessed me because of you. Tell me how much I owe you. Whatever it is, I’ll pay it.”
Jacob replied, “You know how hard I’ve worked for you, and how your flocks and herds have grown under my care. You had little indeed before I came, but your wealth has increased enormously. The Lord has blessed you through everything I’ve done. But now, what about me? When can I start providing for my own family?”
“What wages do you want?” Laban asked again.
Jacob replied, “Don’t give me anything. Just do this one thing, and I’ll continue to tend and watch over your flocks. Let me inspect your flocks today and remove all the sheep and goats that are speckled or spotted, along with all the black sheep. Give these to me as my wages. In the future, when you check on the animals you have given me as my wages, you’ll see that I have been honest. If you find in my flock any goats without speckles or spots, or any sheep that are not black, you will know that I have stolen them from you.”
“All right,” Laban replied. “It will be as you say.”
But that very day Laban went out and removed the male goats that were streaked and spotted, all the female goats that were speckled and spotted or had white patches, and all the black sheep. He placed them in the care of his own sons, who took them a three-days’ journey from where Jacob was. Meanwhile, Jacob stayed and cared for the rest of Laban’s flock.
Then Jacob took some fresh branches from poplar, almond, and plane trees and peeled off strips of bark, making white streaks on them. Then he placed these peeled branches in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink, for that was where they mated. 39 And when they mated in front of the white-streaked branches, they gave birth to young that were streaked, speckled, and spotted. Jacob separated those lambs from Laban’s flock. And at mating time he turned the flock to face Laban’s animals that were streaked or black. This is how he built his own flock instead of increasing Laban’s.
Whenever the stronger females were ready to mate, Jacob would place the peeled branches in the watering troughs in front of them. Then they would mate in front of the branches. But he didn’t do this with the weaker ones, so the weaker lambs belonged to Laban, and the stronger ones were Jacob’s. As a result, Jacob became very wealthy, with large flocks of sheep and goats, male and female servants, and many camels and donkeys.
Then Jacob took some fresh branches from poplar, almond, and plane trees and peeled off strips of bark, making white streaks on them. Then he placed these peeled branches in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink, for that was where they mated. 39 And when they mated in front of the white-streaked branches, they gave birth to young that were streaked, speckled, and spotted. Jacob separated those lambs from Laban’s flock. And at mating time he turned the flock to face Laban’s animals that were streaked or black. This is how he built his own flock instead of increasing Laban’s.
Whenever the stronger females were ready to mate, Jacob would place the peeled branches in the watering troughs in front of them. Then they would mate in front of the branches. But he didn’t do this with the weaker ones, so the weaker lambs belonged to Laban, and the stronger ones were Jacob’s. As a result, Jacob became very wealthy, with large flocks of sheep and goats, male and female servants, and many camels and donkeys.
Genesis 31
Jacob Flees from Laban (Verses 1-21)
But Jacob soon learned that Laban’s sons were grumbling about him.
“Jacob has robbed our father of everything!” they said. “He has gained all his wealth at our father’s expense.”
And Jacob began to notice a change in Laban’s attitude toward him.
Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your father and grandfather and to your relatives there, and I will be with you.”
So Jacob called Rachel and Leah out to the field where he was watching his flock. He said to them,
“I have noticed that your father’s attitude toward me has changed. But the God of my father has been with me. You know how hard I have worked for your father, but he has cheated me, changing my wages ten times. But God has not allowed him to do me any harm. For if he said, ‘The speckled animals will be your wages,’ the whole flock began to produce speckled young. And when he changed his mind and said, ‘The striped animals will be your wages,’ then the whole flock produced striped young. In this way, God has taken your father’s animals and given them to me.
“One time during the mating season, I had a dream and saw that the male goats mating with the females were streaked, speckled, and spotted. Then in my dream, the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’ And I replied, ‘Yes, here I am.’
“The angel said, ‘Look up, and you will see that only the streaked, speckled, and spotted males are mating with the females of your flock. For I have seen how Laban has treated you. I am the God who appeared to you at Bethel, the place where you anointed the pillar of stone and made your vow to me. Now get ready and leave this country and return to the land of your birth.’”
Rachel and Leah responded, “That’s fine with us! We won’t inherit any of our father’s wealth anyway. He has reduced our rights to those of foreign women. And after he sold us, he wasted the money you paid him for us. All the wealth God has given you from our father legally belongs to us and our children. So go ahead and do whatever God has told you.”
“One time during the mating season, I had a dream and saw that the male goats mating with the females were streaked, speckled, and spotted. Then in my dream, the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’ And I replied, ‘Yes, here I am.’
“The angel said, ‘Look up, and you will see that only the streaked, speckled, and spotted males are mating with the females of your flock. For I have seen how Laban has treated you. I am the God who appeared to you at Bethel, the place where you anointed the pillar of stone and made your vow to me. Now get ready and leave this country and return to the land of your birth.’”
Rachel and Leah responded, “That’s fine with us! We won’t inherit any of our father’s wealth anyway. He has reduced our rights to those of foreign women. And after he sold us, he wasted the money you paid him for us. All the wealth God has given you from our father legally belongs to us and our children. So go ahead and do whatever God has told you.”
So Jacob put his wives and children on camels, and he drove all his livestock in front of him. He packed all the belongings he had acquired in Paddan-aram and set out for the land of Canaan, where his father, Isaac, lived. At the time they left, Laban was some distance away, shearing his sheep. Rachel stole her father’s household idols and took them with her. Jacob outwitted Laban the Aramean, for they set out secretly and never told Laban they were leaving. So Jacob took all his possessions with him and crossed the Euphrates River, heading for the hill country of Gilead.
Laban Pursues Jacob (Verses 22-42)
Three days later, Laban was told that Jacob had fled. So he gathered a group of his relatives and set out in hot pursuit. He caught up with Jacob seven days later in the hill country of Gilead. But the previous night God had appeared to Laban the Aramean in a dream and told him,
“I’m warning you—leave Jacob alone!”
Laban caught up with Jacob as he was camped in the hill country of Gilead, and he set up his camp not far from Jacob’s.
“What do you mean by stealing away like this?” Laban demanded. “How dare you drag my daughters away like prisoners of war? Why did you slip away secretly? Why did you steal away? And why didn’t you say you wanted to leave? I would have given you a farewell feast, with singing and music, accompanied by tambourines and harps. Why didn’t you let me kiss my daughters and grandchildren and tell them good-bye? You have acted very foolishly! I could destroy you, but the God of your father appeared to me last night and warned me, ‘Leave Jacob alone!’ I can understand your feeling that you must go, and your intense longing for your father’s home. But why have you stolen my gods?”
“I rushed away because I was afraid,” Jacob answered. “I thought you would take your daughters from me by force. But as for your gods, see if you can find them, and let the person who has taken them die! And if you find anything else that belongs to you, identify it before all these relatives of ours, and I will give it back!”
“I rushed away because I was afraid,” Jacob answered. “I thought you would take your daughters from me by force. But as for your gods, see if you can find them, and let the person who has taken them die! And if you find anything else that belongs to you, identify it before all these relatives of ours, and I will give it back!”
But Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the household idols.
Laban went first into Jacob’s tent to search there, then into Leah’s, and then the tents of the two servant wives—but he found nothing. Finally, he went into Rachel’s tent. But Rachel had taken the household idols and hidden them in her camel saddle, and now she was sitting on them. When Laban had thoroughly searched her tent without finding them, she said to her father,
“Please, sir, forgive me if I don’t get up for you. I’m having my monthly period."
So Laban continued his search, but he could not find the household idols.
Then Jacob became very angry, and he challenged Laban.
Then Jacob became very angry, and he challenged Laban.
“What’s my crime?” he demanded. “What have I done wrong to make you chase after me as though I were a criminal? You have rummaged through everything I own. Now show me what you found that belongs to you! Set it out here in front of us, before our relatives, for all to see. Let them judge between us!
“For twenty years I have been with you, caring for your flocks. In all that time your sheep and goats never miscarried. In all those years I never used a single ram of yours for food. If any were attacked and killed by wild animals, I never showed you the carcass and asked you to reduce the count of your flock. No, I took the loss myself! You made me pay for every stolen animal, whether it was taken in broad daylight or in the dark of night.
“I worked for you through the scorching heat of the day and through cold and sleepless nights. Yes, for twenty years I slaved in your house! I worked for fourteen years earning your two daughters, and then six more years for your flock. And you changed my wages ten times! In fact, if the God of my father had not been on my side—the God of Abraham and the fearsome God of Isaac—you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen your abuse and my hard work. That is why he appeared to you last night and rebuked you!”
“For twenty years I have been with you, caring for your flocks. In all that time your sheep and goats never miscarried. In all those years I never used a single ram of yours for food. If any were attacked and killed by wild animals, I never showed you the carcass and asked you to reduce the count of your flock. No, I took the loss myself! You made me pay for every stolen animal, whether it was taken in broad daylight or in the dark of night.
“I worked for you through the scorching heat of the day and through cold and sleepless nights. Yes, for twenty years I slaved in your house! I worked for fourteen years earning your two daughters, and then six more years for your flock. And you changed my wages ten times! In fact, if the God of my father had not been on my side—the God of Abraham and the fearsome God of Isaac—you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen your abuse and my hard work. That is why he appeared to you last night and rebuked you!”
Jacob’s Treaty with Laban (Verses 43-55)
Then Laban replied to Jacob,
“These women are my daughters, these children are my grandchildren, and these flocks are my flocks—in fact, everything you see is mine. But what can I do now about my daughters and their children? So come, let’s make a covenant, you and I, and it will be a witness to our commitment.”
So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a monument. Then he told his family members,
“Gather some stones.”
So they gathered stones and piled them in a heap. Then Jacob and Laban sat down beside the pile of stones to eat a covenant meal. To commemorate the event, Laban called the place Jegar-sahadutha (which means “witness pile” in Aramaic), and Jacob called it Galeed (which means “witness pile” in Hebrew).
Then Laban declared,
Then Laban declared,
“This pile of stones will stand as a witness to remind us of the covenant we have made today.” This explains why it was called Galeed—“Witness Pile.” But it was also called Mizpah (which means “watchtower”), for Laban said, “May the Lord keep watch between us to make sure that we keep this covenant when we are out of each other’s sight. If you mistreat my daughters or if you marry other wives, God will see it even if no one else does. He is a witness to this covenant between us.
“See this pile of stones,” Laban continued, “and see this monument I have set between us. They stand between us as witnesses of our vows. I will never pass this pile of stones to harm you, and you must never pass these stones or this monument to harm me. I call on the God of our ancestors—the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of my grandfather Nahor—to serve as a judge between us.”
“See this pile of stones,” Laban continued, “and see this monument I have set between us. They stand between us as witnesses of our vows. I will never pass this pile of stones to harm you, and you must never pass these stones or this monument to harm me. I call on the God of our ancestors—the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of my grandfather Nahor—to serve as a judge between us.”
So Jacob took an oath before the fearsome God of his father, Isaac, to respect the boundary line. Then Jacob offered a sacrifice to God there on the mountain and invited everyone to a covenant feast. After they had eaten, they spent the night on the mountain.
Laban got up early the next morning, and he kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then he left and returned home.
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