10 Days of Christmas Truths to Live All Year

Read the Book: July - September

The Gospel of Mark (Part Seven)

God With Us

Every Word, a Reader's 90-Day Guide to the Bible

Joy: A Countdown to Christmas

Strong Disciples Two

The Other Five Prayer Journey

Creatures of Habit: Prayer

Walking in the Spirit

New International Version

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 <div class="p">1Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled#1:1 Or been surely believed among us, 2just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.</div><div class="s1">The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold</div><div class="p"> 5In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord&#8217;s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.</div><div class="p"> 8Once when Zechariah&#8217;s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.</div><div class="p"> 11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13But the angel said to him: &#8220;Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. </div>
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The Listener’s Bible®: NIV Edition

New International Version™  (Anglicised), Audio Edition

Holy Bible, New International Version™ (Anglicised), South Asian Audio Edition

<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
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 <div class="label">24</div><div class="s1">The Divisions of Priests</div><div class="p"> 1These were the divisions of the descendants of Aaron:</div><div class="p">The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 2But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did, and they had no sons; so Eleazar and Ithamar served as the priests. 3With the help of Zadok a descendant of Eleazar and Ahimelek a descendant of Ithamar, David separated them into divisions for their appointed order of ministering. 4A larger number of leaders were found among Eleazar&#8217;s descendants than among Ithamar&#8217;s, and they were divided accordingly: sixteen heads of families from Eleazar&#8217;s descendants and eight heads of families from Ithamar&#8217;s descendants. 5They divided them impartially by casting lots, for there were officials of the sanctuary and officials of God among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar.</div><div class="p"> 6The scribe Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded their names in the presence of the king and of the officials: Zadok the priest, Ahimelek son of Abiathar and the heads of families of the priests and of the Levites&#8212;one family being taken from Eleazar and then one from Ithamar.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="li1"> 7The first lot fell to Jehoiarib,</div><div class="li1">the second to Jedaiah,</div><div class="li1"> 8the third to Harim,</div><div class="li1">the fourth to Seorim,</div><div class="li1"> 9the fifth to Malkijah,</div><div class="li1">the sixth to Mijamin,</div><div class="li1"> 10the seventh to Hakkoz,</div><div class="li1">the eighth to Abijah,</div><div class="li1"> 11the ninth to Jeshua,</div><div class="li1">the tenth to Shekaniah,</div><div class="li1"> 12the eleventh to Eliashib,</div><div class="li1">the twelfth to Jakim,</div><div class="li1"> 13the thirteenth to Huppah,</div><div class="li1">the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,</div><div class="li1"> 14the fifteenth to Bilgah,</div><div class="li1">the sixteenth to Immer,</div><div class="li1"> 15the seventeenth to Hezir,</div><div class="li1">the eighteenth to Happizzez,</div><div class="li1"> 16the nineteenth to Pethahiah,</div><div class="li1">the twentieth to Jehezkel,</div><div class="li1"> 17the twenty-first to Jakin,</div><div class="li1">the twenty-second to Gamul,</div><div class="li1"> 18the twenty-third to Delaiah</div><div class="li1">and the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="p"> 19This was their appointed order of ministering when they entered the temple of the Lord, according to the regulations prescribed for them by their ancestor Aaron, as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded him.</div><div class="s1">The Rest of the Levites</div><div class="m"> 20As for the rest of the descendants of Levi:</div><div class="li1">from the sons of Amram: Shubael;</div><div class="li2">from the sons of Shubael: Jehdeiah.</div><div class="li2"> 21As for Rehabiah, from his sons:</div><div class="li2">Ishiah was the first.</div><div class="li1"> 22From the Izharites: Shelomoth;</div><div class="li2">from the sons of Shelomoth: Jahath.</div><div class="li1"> 23The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first,#24:23 Two Hebrew manuscripts and some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 23:19); most Hebrew manuscripts The sons of Jeriah: Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third and Jekameam the fourth.</div><div class="li1"> 24The son of Uzziel: Micah;</div><div class="li2">from the sons of Micah: Shamir.</div><div class="li2"> 25The brother of Micah: Ishiah;</div><div class="li2">from the sons of Ishiah: Zechariah.</div><div class="li1"> 26The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi.</div><div class="li2">The son of Jaaziah: Beno.</div><div class="li1"> 27The sons of Merari:</div><div class="li2">from Jaaziah: Beno, Shoham, Zakkur and Ibri.</div><div class="li1"> 28From Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.</div><div class="li1"> 29From Kish: the son of Kish:</div><div class="li2">Jerahmeel.</div><div class="li1"> 30And the sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="p">These were the Levites, according to their families. 31They also cast lots, just as their relatives the descendants of Aaron did, in the presence of King David and of Zadok, Ahimelek, and the heads of families of the priests and of the Levites. The families of the oldest brother were treated the same as those of the youngest.</div>
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 <div class="label">8</div><div class="s1">Solomon&#8217;s Other Activities</div><div class="p"> 1At the end of twenty years, during which Solomon built the temple of the Lord and his own palace, 2Solomon rebuilt the villages that Hiram#8:2 Hebrew Huram, a variant of Hiram; also in verse 18 had given him, and settled Israelites in them. 3Solomon then went to Hamath Zobah and captured it. 4He also built up Tadmor in the desert and all the store cities he had built in Hamath. 5He rebuilt Upper Beth Horon and Lower Beth Horon as fortified cities, with walls and with gates and bars, 6as well as Baalath and all his store cities, and all the cities for his chariots and for his horses#8:6 Or charioteers&#8212;whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon and throughout all the territory he ruled.</div><div class="p"> 7There were still people left from the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites (these people were not Israelites). 8Solomon conscripted the descendants of all these people remaining in the land&#8212;whom the Israelites had not destroyed&#8212;to serve as slave labor, as it is to this day. 9But Solomon did not make slaves of the Israelites for his work; they were his fighting men, commanders of his captains, and commanders of his chariots and charioteers. 10They were also King Solomon&#8217;s chief officials&#8212;two hundred and fifty officials supervising the men.</div><div class="p"> 11Solomon brought Pharaoh&#8217;s daughter up from the City of David to the palace he had built for her, for he said, &#8220;My wife must not live in the palace of David king of Israel, because the places the ark of the Lord has entered are holy.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 12On the altar of the Lord that he had built in front of the portico, Solomon sacrificed burnt offerings to the Lord, 13according to the daily requirement for offerings commanded by Moses for the Sabbaths, the New Moons and the three annual festivals&#8212;the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks and the Festival of Tabernacles. 14In keeping with the ordinance of his father David, he appointed the divisions of the priests for their duties, and the Levites to lead the praise and to assist the priests according to each day&#8217;s requirement. He also appointed the gatekeepers by divisions for the various gates, because this was what David the man of God had ordered. 15They did not deviate from the king&#8217;s commands to the priests or to the Levites in any matter, including that of the treasuries.</div><div class="p"> 16All Solomon&#8217;s work was carried out, from the day the foundation of the temple of the Lord was laid until its completion. So the temple of the Lord was finished.</div><div class="p"> 17Then Solomon went to Ezion Geber and Elath on the coast of Edom. 18And Hiram sent him ships commanded by his own men, sailors who knew the sea. These, with Solomon&#8217;s men, sailed to Ophir and brought back four hundred and fifty talents#8:18 That is, about 17 tons or about 15 metric tons of gold, which they delivered to King Solomon.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
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 <div class="label">29</div><div class="s1">Hezekiah Purifies the Temple</div><div class="p"> 1Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother&#8217;s name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. 2He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done.</div><div class="p"> 3In the first month of the first year of his reign, he opened the doors of the temple of the Lord and repaired them. 4He brought in the priests and the Levites, assembled them in the square on the east side 5and said: &#8220;Listen to me, Levites! Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the temple of the Lord, the God of your ancestors. Remove all defilement from the sanctuary. 6Our parents were unfaithful; they did evil in the eyes of the Lord our God and forsook him. They turned their faces away from the Lord&#8217;s dwelling place and turned their backs on him. 7They also shut the doors of the portico and put out the lamps. They did not burn incense or present any burnt offerings at the sanctuary to the God of Israel. 8Therefore, the anger of the Lord has fallen on Judah and Jerusalem; he has made them an object of dread and horror and scorn, as you can see with your own eyes. 9This is why our fathers have fallen by the sword and why our sons and daughters and our wives are in captivity. 10Now I intend to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger will turn away from us. 11My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before him and serve him, to minister before him and to burn incense.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 12Then these Levites set to work:</div><div class="li1">from the Kohathites,</div><div class="li2">Mahath son of Amasai and Joel son of Azariah;</div><div class="li1">from the Merarites,</div><div class="li2">Kish son of Abdi and Azariah son of Jehallelel;</div><div class="li1">from the Gershonites,</div><div class="li2">Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son of Joah;</div><div class="li1"> 13from the descendants of Elizaphan,</div><div class="li2">Shimri and Jeiel;</div><div class="li1">from the descendants of Asaph,</div><div class="li2">Zechariah and Mattaniah;</div><div class="li1"> 14from the descendants of Heman,</div><div class="li2">Jehiel and Shimei;</div><div class="li1">from the descendants of Jeduthun,</div><div class="li2">Shemaiah and Uzziel.</div><div class="p"> 15When they had assembled their fellow Levites and consecrated themselves, they went in to purify the temple of the Lord, as the king had ordered, following the word of the Lord. 16The priests went into the sanctuary of the Lord to purify it. They brought out to the courtyard of the Lord&#8217;s temple everything unclean that they found in the temple of the Lord. The Levites took it and carried it out to the Kidron Valley. 17They began the consecration on the first day of the first month, and by the eighth day of the month they reached the portico of the Lord. For eight more days they consecrated the temple of the Lord itself, finishing on the sixteenth day of the first month.</div><div class="p"> 18Then they went in to King Hezekiah and reported: &#8220;We have purified the entire temple of the Lord, the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the table for setting out the consecrated bread, with all its articles. 19We have prepared and consecrated all the articles that King Ahaz removed in his unfaithfulness while he was king. They are now in front of the Lord&#8217;s altar.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 20Early the next morning King Hezekiah gathered the city officials together and went up to the temple of the Lord. 21They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven male lambs and seven male goats as a sin offering#29:21 Or purification offering; also in verses 23 and 24 for the kingdom, for the sanctuary and for Judah. The king commanded the priests, the descendants of Aaron, to offer these on the altar of the Lord. 22So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests took the blood and splashed it against the altar; next they slaughtered the rams and splashed their blood against the altar; then they slaughtered the lambs and splashed their blood against the altar. 23The goats for the sin offering were brought before the king and the assembly, and they laid their hands on them. 24The priests then slaughtered the goats and presented their blood on the altar for a sin offering to atone for all Israel, because the king had ordered the burnt offering and the sin offering for all Israel.</div><div class="p"> 25He stationed the Levites in the temple of the Lord with cymbals, harps and lyres in the way prescribed by David and Gad the king&#8217;s seer and Nathan the prophet; this was commanded by the Lord through his prophets. 26So the Levites stood ready with David&#8217;s instruments, and the priests with their trumpets.</div><div class="p"> 27Hezekiah gave the order to sacrifice the burnt offering on the altar. As the offering began, singing to the Lord began also, accompanied by trumpets and the instruments of David king of Israel. 28The whole assembly bowed in worship, while the musicians played and the trumpets sounded. All this continued until the sacrifice of the burnt offering was completed.</div><div class="p"> 29When the offerings were finished, the king and everyone present with him knelt down and worshiped. 30King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to praise the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness and bowed down and worshiped.</div><div class="p"> 31Then Hezekiah said, &#8220;You have now dedicated yourselves to the Lord. Come and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the temple of the Lord.&#8221; So the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all whose hearts were willing brought burnt offerings.</div><div class="p"> 32The number of burnt offerings the assembly brought was seventy bulls, a hundred rams and two hundred male lambs&#8212;all of them for burnt offerings to the Lord. 33The animals consecrated as sacrifices amounted to six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep and goats. 34The priests, however, were too few to skin all the burnt offerings; so their relatives the Levites helped them until the task was finished and until other priests had been consecrated, for the Levites had been more conscientious in consecrating themselves than the priests had been. 35There were burnt offerings in abundance, together with the fat of the fellowship offerings and the drink offerings that accompanied the burnt offerings.</div><div class="p">So the service of the temple of the Lord was reestablished. 36Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced at what God had brought about for his people, because it was done so quickly.</div>
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