April 15 - Morning
"Now Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said,
“I will be king.”
So he got chariots and horses ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him...Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they gave him their support...Adonijah then sacrificed sheep, cattle and fattened calves at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the royal officials of Judah,...
Then Nathan asked Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, 'Have you not heard that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has become king, and our lord David knows nothing about it?' Now then, let me advise you how you can save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. Go in to King David and say to him, "My lord the king, did you not swear to me your servant: 'Surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne'? Why then has Adonijah become king?" While you are still there talking to the king, I will come in and add my word to what you have said.'
So Bathsheba went to see the aged king in his room, where Abishag the Shunammite was attending him. Bathsheba bowed down, prostrating herself before the king.
“What is it you want?” the king asked.
She said to him, 'My lord, you yourself swore to me your servant by the Lord your God: "Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne." But now Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know about it. He has sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the king’s sons, Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant.' "
- First Kings 1:5, 7, 9, 11-19
“I will be king.”
So he got chariots and horses ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him...Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they gave him their support...Adonijah then sacrificed sheep, cattle and fattened calves at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the royal officials of Judah,...
Then Nathan asked Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, 'Have you not heard that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has become king, and our lord David knows nothing about it?' Now then, let me advise you how you can save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. Go in to King David and say to him, "My lord the king, did you not swear to me your servant: 'Surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne'? Why then has Adonijah become king?" While you are still there talking to the king, I will come in and add my word to what you have said.'
So Bathsheba went to see the aged king in his room, where Abishag the Shunammite was attending him. Bathsheba bowed down, prostrating herself before the king.
“What is it you want?” the king asked.
She said to him, 'My lord, you yourself swore to me your servant by the Lord your God: "Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne." But now Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know about it. He has sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the king’s sons, Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant.' "
- First Kings 1:5, 7, 9, 11-19
Adonijah, Joab and Abiathar vs David, Bathsheba and Nathan for the Throne
As David approaches the end of his reign on his death bed, Adonijah, who, since Absalom’s death, was the next in line for the throne, begins preparations to receive the throne of his father David. This is proper and appropriate since this was in keeping with the culture and customs of the Near Eastern people.
Adonijah first secures the support of the military when he confers with General Joab. Next mentioned is the High Priest Abiathar who also is willing to recognize and support Adonijah as the next king. The chariot, the royal runners (a personal body guard which most likely included some counselors and noble men of rank and power) and the anointing feast where prepared. The sacrifices and anointing was to take place at En Rogel (Image). En Rogel was the second of two water sources in the Kidron Valley. The first and main source was the Gihon Springs. The springs of En Rogel were south of the Gihon Springs in the junction of the valley where the Hinnom Valley meets the Kidron Valley. This is the likely location of the King’s Gardens mentioned by Solomon and where Abraham met with Melchizedek in Genesis 17 in the Valley of Shaveh, or the King’s Valley.
The son of the king, the general with the military and the high priest have all come together for what would seem like a smooth transition. But, this is not what the Lord had prophesied thru Nathan to David concerning who would be the next king when he had said years before:
“You will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon, and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign. He is the one who will build a house for my Name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.” – 1 Chronicles 22:8-10
So, when Nathan heard of Adonijah’s preparations he sought an audience with Bathsheba, and asked her to go into the dying king to ask what his intentions where and to tell him that Adonijah’ has his anointing and inauguration party planned.
It is interesting the see David, Bathsheba and the prophet Nathan interacting together to bring about God’s plan in their old age when it was a much younger Nathan who confronted the young King David for inappropriately taking another man’s young, beautiful wife, Bathsheba. Now the three of them were coming together to put David and Bathsheba’s son, Solomon on the throne of Israel because he was the Lord’s choice.
‘Elyon (Hb) – High (Eng) – ‘elyon is the Hebrew word that means “high,” “top,” “upper,” “highest.” ‘Elyon refers to the uppermost position over the other positions. ‘Elyon is used in reference to the royal house (2 Chron. 7:21), to the Messiah (Ps. 89:27) and to God when it is used in his name,
El ‘Elyon, or “God Most High.” (Gen. 14:18)
Do I trust God's promise? Am I willing to live and act on God's truth?
I will trust God and act on his promises.
I will trust God and act on his promises.
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
For my work
Church
Evangelism
Nation
Revival
World
China
One of the remaining apses from the front of the Nea Church now located in Jerusalem's Old City wall on the south side.
Someone to Quote
“If we deny our inherent fallen nature, some form of socialism becomes the most attractive economic system for creating a heaven on earth.”
- David A. Noebel, Understanding the Times
Something to Ponder
It appears that before the fall of man in Genesis 3 that man was created to live forever, all animals lived together peacefully as vegetarians and food grew abundantly in the wild.
Here’s a Fact
In Acts 16:8-11 Paul was staying in the city of Troas. The ruins of this city have been excavated, but much of the remains of the walls, the theater, the temple and the gymnasium from Paul’s day had already been carried off and reused by builders of other generations. Troas was an important city that had been built to replace the fallen city of ancient Troy, which was just to the southwest.
Proverb
"The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright."
- Proverbs 15:7
- Proverbs 15:7
Coach’s Corner
Organization frees your soul, makes your thoughts clear and looks appealing to the natural eye.
Joshua 2
New International Version (NIV)
Rahab and the Spies
2 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.
2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” 3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.”
4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) 7 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.
8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.
12 “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.”
14 “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.”
15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. 16 She said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.”
17 Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us 18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. 19 If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. 20 But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”
21 “Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.”
So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
22 When they left, they went into the hills and stayed there three days, until the pursuers had searched all along the road and returned without finding them. 23 Then the two men started back. They went down out of the hills, forded the river and came to Joshua son of Nun and told him everything that had happened to them. 24 They said to Joshua, “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.”
New International Version (NIV)
Rahab and the Spies
2 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.
2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” 3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.”
4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) 7 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.
8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.
12 “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.”
14 “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.”
15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. 16 She said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.”
17 Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us 18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. 19 If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. 20 But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”
21 “Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.”
So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
22 When they left, they went into the hills and stayed there three days, until the pursuers had searched all along the road and returned without finding them. 23 Then the two men started back. They went down out of the hills, forded the river and came to Joshua son of Nun and told him everything that had happened to them. 24 They said to Joshua, “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.”
2 Samuel 8
New International Version (NIV)
David’s Victories
8 In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Metheg Ammah from the control of the Philistines.
2 David also defeated the Moabites. He made them lie down on the ground and measured them off with a length of cord. Every two lengths of them were put to death, and the third length was allowed to live. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.
3 Moreover, David defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to restore his monument at the Euphrates River. 4 David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses.
5 When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them. 6 He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought tribute. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.
7 David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 From Tebah and Berothai, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, King David took a great quantity of bronze.
9 When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, 10 he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold and of bronze.
11 King David dedicated these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the silver and gold from all the nations he had subdued: 12 Edom and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek. He also dedicated the plunder taken from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13 And David became famous after he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
14 He put garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.
David’s Officials
15 David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people. 16 Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; 17 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was secretary; 18 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priests.
New International Version (NIV)
David’s Victories
8 In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Metheg Ammah from the control of the Philistines.
2 David also defeated the Moabites. He made them lie down on the ground and measured them off with a length of cord. Every two lengths of them were put to death, and the third length was allowed to live. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.
3 Moreover, David defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to restore his monument at the Euphrates River. 4 David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses.
5 When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them. 6 He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought tribute. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.
7 David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 From Tebah and Berothai, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, King David took a great quantity of bronze.
9 When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, 10 he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold and of bronze.
11 King David dedicated these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the silver and gold from all the nations he had subdued: 12 Edom and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek. He also dedicated the plunder taken from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13 And David became famous after he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
14 He put garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.
David’s Officials
15 David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people. 16 Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; 17 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was secretary; 18 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priests.
Psalm 7
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 7
A shiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjamite.
1
Lord my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me,
2
or they will tear me apart like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
3
Lord my God, if I have done this and there is guilt on my hands—
4
if I have repaid my ally with evil or without cause have robbed my foe—
5
then let my enemy pursue and overtake me; let him trample my life to the ground and make me sleep in the dust.
6
Arise, Lord, in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies. Awake, my God; decree justice.
7
Let the assembled peoples gather around you, while you sit enthroned over them on high.
8
Let the Lord judge the peoples. Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High.
9
Bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure— you, the righteous God who probes minds and hearts.
10
My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart.
11
God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day.
12
If he does not relent, he will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow.
13
He has prepared his deadly weapons; he makes ready his flaming arrows.
14
Whoever is pregnant with evil conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment.
15
Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit they have made.
16
The trouble they cause recoils on them; their violence comes down on their own heads.
17
I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.
____
Psalm 27
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 27
Of David.
1
The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?
2
When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.
3
Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.
4
One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.
5
For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.
6
Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.
7
Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me.
8
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek.
9
Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior.
10
Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.
11
Teach me your way, Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.
12
Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations.
13
I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
14
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 7
A shiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjamite.
1
Lord my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me,
2
or they will tear me apart like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
3
Lord my God, if I have done this and there is guilt on my hands—
4
if I have repaid my ally with evil or without cause have robbed my foe—
5
then let my enemy pursue and overtake me; let him trample my life to the ground and make me sleep in the dust.
6
Arise, Lord, in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies. Awake, my God; decree justice.
7
Let the assembled peoples gather around you, while you sit enthroned over them on high.
8
Let the Lord judge the peoples. Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High.
9
Bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure— you, the righteous God who probes minds and hearts.
10
My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart.
11
God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day.
12
If he does not relent, he will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow.
13
He has prepared his deadly weapons; he makes ready his flaming arrows.
14
Whoever is pregnant with evil conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment.
15
Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit they have made.
16
The trouble they cause recoils on them; their violence comes down on their own heads.
17
I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.
____
Psalm 27
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 27
Of David.
1
The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?
2
When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.
3
Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.
4
One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.
5
For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.
6
Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.
7
Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me.
8
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek.
9
Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior.
10
Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.
11
Teach me your way, Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.
12
Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations.
13
I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
14
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
Job 40-41
New International Version (NIV)
40 The Lord said to Job:
2
“Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!”
3 Then Job answered the Lord:
4
“I am unworthy—how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth.
5
I spoke once, but I have no answer— twice, but I will say no more.”
6 Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm:
7
“Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.
8
“Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?
9
Do you have an arm like God’s, and can your voice thunder like his?
10
Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor, and clothe yourself in honor and majesty.
11
Unleash the fury of your wrath, look at all who are proud and bring them low,
12
look at all who are proud and humble them, crush the wicked where they stand.
13
Bury them all in the dust together; shroud their faces in the grave.
14
Then I myself will admit to you that your own right hand can save you.
15
“Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you and which feeds on grass like an ox.
16
What strength it has in its loins, what power in the muscles of its belly!
17
Its tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of its thighs are close-knit.
18
Its bones are tubes of bronze, its limbs like rods of iron.
19
It ranks first among the works of God, yet its Maker can approach it with his sword.
20
The hills bring it their produce, and all the wild animals play nearby.
21
Under the lotus plants it lies, hidden among the reeds in the marsh.
22
The lotuses conceal it in their shadow; the poplars by the stream surround it.
23
A raging river does not alarm it; it is secure, though the Jordan should surge against its mouth.
24
Can anyone capture it by the eyes, or trap it and pierce its nose?
41
[a]“Can you pull in Leviathan with a fishhook or tie down its tongue with a rope?
2
Can you put a cord through its nose or pierce its jaw with a hook?
3
Will it keep begging you for mercy? Will it speak to you with gentle words?
4
Will it make an agreement with you for you to take it as your slave for life?
5
Can you make a pet of it like a bird or put it on a leash for the young women in your house?
6
Will traders barter for it? Will they divide it up among the merchants?
7
Can you fill its hide with harpoons or its head with fishing spears?
8
If you lay a hand on it, you will remember the struggle and never do it again!
9
Any hope of subduing it is false; the mere sight of it is overpowering.
10
No one is fierce enough to rouse it. Who then is able to stand against me?
11
Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me.
12
“I will not fail to speak of Leviathan’s limbs, its strength and its graceful form.
13
Who can strip off its outer coat? Who can penetrate its double coat of armor[b]?
14
Who dares open the doors of its mouth, ringed about with fearsome teeth?
15
Its back has[c] rows of shields tightly sealed together;
16
each is so close to the next that no air can pass between.
17
They are joined fast to one another; they cling together and cannot be parted.
18
Its snorting throws out flashes of light; its eyes are like the rays of dawn.
19
Flames stream from its mouth; sparks of fire shoot out.
20
Smoke pours from its nostrils as from a boiling pot over burning reeds.
21
Its breath sets coals ablaze, and flames dart from its mouth.
22
Strength resides in its neck; dismay goes before it.
23
The folds of its flesh are tightly joined; they are firm and immovable.
24
Its chest is hard as rock, hard as a lower millstone.
25
When it rises up, the mighty are terrified; they retreat before its thrashing.
26
The sword that reaches it has no effect, nor does the spear or the dart or the javelin.
27
Iron it treats like straw and bronze like rotten wood.
28
Arrows do not make it flee; slingstones are like chaff to it.
29
A club seems to it but a piece of straw; it laughs at the rattling of the lance.
30
Its undersides are jagged potsherds, leaving a trail in the mud like a threshing sledge.
31
It makes the depths churn like a boiling caldron and stirs up the sea like a pot of ointment.
32
It leaves a glistening wake behind it; one would think the deep had white hair.
33
Nothing on earth is its equal— a creature without fear.
34
It looks down on all that are haughty; it is king over all that are proud.”
Footnotes:
New International Version (NIV)
40 The Lord said to Job:
2
“Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!”
3 Then Job answered the Lord:
4
“I am unworthy—how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth.
5
I spoke once, but I have no answer— twice, but I will say no more.”
6 Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm:
7
“Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.
8
“Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?
9
Do you have an arm like God’s, and can your voice thunder like his?
10
Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor, and clothe yourself in honor and majesty.
11
Unleash the fury of your wrath, look at all who are proud and bring them low,
12
look at all who are proud and humble them, crush the wicked where they stand.
13
Bury them all in the dust together; shroud their faces in the grave.
14
Then I myself will admit to you that your own right hand can save you.
15
“Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you and which feeds on grass like an ox.
16
What strength it has in its loins, what power in the muscles of its belly!
17
Its tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of its thighs are close-knit.
18
Its bones are tubes of bronze, its limbs like rods of iron.
19
It ranks first among the works of God, yet its Maker can approach it with his sword.
20
The hills bring it their produce, and all the wild animals play nearby.
21
Under the lotus plants it lies, hidden among the reeds in the marsh.
22
The lotuses conceal it in their shadow; the poplars by the stream surround it.
23
A raging river does not alarm it; it is secure, though the Jordan should surge against its mouth.
24
Can anyone capture it by the eyes, or trap it and pierce its nose?
41
[a]“Can you pull in Leviathan with a fishhook or tie down its tongue with a rope?
2
Can you put a cord through its nose or pierce its jaw with a hook?
3
Will it keep begging you for mercy? Will it speak to you with gentle words?
4
Will it make an agreement with you for you to take it as your slave for life?
5
Can you make a pet of it like a bird or put it on a leash for the young women in your house?
6
Will traders barter for it? Will they divide it up among the merchants?
7
Can you fill its hide with harpoons or its head with fishing spears?
8
If you lay a hand on it, you will remember the struggle and never do it again!
9
Any hope of subduing it is false; the mere sight of it is overpowering.
10
No one is fierce enough to rouse it. Who then is able to stand against me?
11
Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me.
12
“I will not fail to speak of Leviathan’s limbs, its strength and its graceful form.
13
Who can strip off its outer coat? Who can penetrate its double coat of armor[b]?
14
Who dares open the doors of its mouth, ringed about with fearsome teeth?
15
Its back has[c] rows of shields tightly sealed together;
16
each is so close to the next that no air can pass between.
17
They are joined fast to one another; they cling together and cannot be parted.
18
Its snorting throws out flashes of light; its eyes are like the rays of dawn.
19
Flames stream from its mouth; sparks of fire shoot out.
20
Smoke pours from its nostrils as from a boiling pot over burning reeds.
21
Its breath sets coals ablaze, and flames dart from its mouth.
22
Strength resides in its neck; dismay goes before it.
23
The folds of its flesh are tightly joined; they are firm and immovable.
24
Its chest is hard as rock, hard as a lower millstone.
25
When it rises up, the mighty are terrified; they retreat before its thrashing.
26
The sword that reaches it has no effect, nor does the spear or the dart or the javelin.
27
Iron it treats like straw and bronze like rotten wood.
28
Arrows do not make it flee; slingstones are like chaff to it.
29
A club seems to it but a piece of straw; it laughs at the rattling of the lance.
30
Its undersides are jagged potsherds, leaving a trail in the mud like a threshing sledge.
31
It makes the depths churn like a boiling caldron and stirs up the sea like a pot of ointment.
32
It leaves a glistening wake behind it; one would think the deep had white hair.
33
Nothing on earth is its equal— a creature without fear.
34
It looks down on all that are haughty; it is king over all that are proud.”
Footnotes:
- Job 41:1 In Hebrew texts 41:1-8 is numbered 40:25-32, and 41:9-34 is numbered 41:1-26.
- Job 41:13 Septuagint; Hebrew double bridle
- Job 41:15 Or Its pride is its