The Daily Audio Bible
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18 Gideon said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor?” And they said, “They were like you. Each one looked like the son of a king.” 19 Gideon said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the Lord lives, if you had let them live, I would not kill you.” 20 Then he said to Jether his first-born son, “Stand up and kill them.” But the boy did not pick up his sword. He was afraid because he was still a boy. 21 Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Stand up yourself and kill us. For as the man is, so is his strength.” So Gideon stood up and killed Zebah and Zalmunna. And he took the religious objects that were on their camels’ necks.
22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you and your son, and your grandson also. For you have set us free from the power of Midian.” 23 But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you. And my son will not rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.” 24 Gideon said to them, “I only ask that each of you give me the gold objects you have taken to be worn on the ear.” (They had objects to be worn on the ear because they were Ishmaelites.) 25 And they said, “For sure we will give them.” So they spread out a coat, and every one of them threw into it an object he had taken. 26 The gold objects Gideon had asked for were as heavy as 1,700 pieces of gold money. He took the objects and purple clothing worn by the kings of Midian also. And he took the religious objects that were around the camels’ necks. 27 Gideon made it into a holy vest and put it in his city, Ophrah. All Israel worshiped it there. So it became a trap to Gideon and those of his house. 28 Midian was put under the power of the people of Israel. They did not lift up their heads any more. And the land had peace for forty years, during the life of Gideon.
The Death of Gideon
29 Joash’s son Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) went and lived in his own house. 30 Gideon had seventy sons born to him, for he had many wives. 31 The woman in Shechem who acted as his wife gave birth to Gideon’s son also. He was given the name Abimelech. 32 Gideon the son of Joash died when he was very old. He was buried in the grave of his father Joash, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
33 As soon as Gideon was dead, the people of Israel started again to worship the false gods of Baal. They made Baal-berith their god. 34 The people of Israel did not remember the Lord their God, Who had saved them from the power of all those around who hated them. 35 They did not show kindness to the family of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon). They did not remember all the good he had done to Israel.
Abimelech
9 Jerubbaal’s son Abimelech went to his mother’s family at Shechem. He said to them and to all those of the family of his mother’s father, 2 “Speak to all the leaders of Shechem. Say to them, ‘Which is better for you? Should all seventy of Jerubbaal’s sons rule over you? Or should one man rule over you? Remember that I am your own bone and flesh.’” 3 So his mother’s family spoke all these words for him in the ears of the leaders of Shechem. And they decided to follow Abimelech. For they said, “He is our brother.” 4 They gave him seventy pieces of silver from the family of Baal-berith. Abimelech used the money to hire wild men of no worth who followed him. 5 Then he went to his father’s house at Ophrah. And he killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal. He killed all seventy men upon one stone. But Jerubbaal’s youngest son Jotham was left alive, because he hid himself. 6 Then all the men of Shechem and of Beth-millo gathered together. They went and made Abimelech king, by the tree that had been set up in Shechem.
7 When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim. He called out to them in a loud voice, “Listen to me, O men of Shechem. So God may listen to you. 8 One time the trees went out to choose a king to rule them. They said to the olive tree, ‘Rule over us!’ 9 But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I leave my riches of oil by which God and men are honored, and go to wave over the trees?’ 10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and rule over us!’ 11 But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I leave my good sweet fruit, and go to wave over the trees?’ 12 So the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and rule over us!’ 13 But the vine said to them, ‘Should I leave my new wine which makes God and men happy, and go to wave over the trees?’ 14 Then all the trees said to the thorn bush, ‘You come and rule over us!’ 15 And the thorn bush said to the trees, ‘If in truth you are choosing me as king over you, come and be safe in my shadow. But if not, may fire come out of the thorn bush and burn up the tall trees of Lebanon.’
16 “Now it may be that you have acted in truth and honor in making Abimelech king. It may be that you have acted well toward Jerubbaal and his house, by paying him for what he did. 17 For my father fought for you. He put his life in danger to set you free from the power of Midian. 18 But you have gone against my father’s house today. You have killed seventy of his sons on one stone. Abimelech is the son of my father’s woman servant. And you have made him king over the people of Shechem, because he is your brother. 19 If you have acted in truth and honor toward Jerubbaal and his house today, then be happy with Abimelech. And let him be happy with you. 20 But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and burn up the people of Shechem and Beth-millo. Then let it burn up Abimelech.” 21 Jotham ran away from them and went to Beer. He stayed there, because he was afraid of his brother Abimelech.
The Death of Jesus (A)
44 It was dark over all the earth from noon until three o’clock. 45 The sun did not shine. In the house of God the curtain was torn in two pieces.
46 Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I give My spirit.” When He said this, He died.
47 When the soldier saw what had happened, he thanked God. He said, “For sure, He was a good man.” 48 All the many people who came together to see the things that were done, went away beating themselves on their chests. 49 All His friends and the women who had come with Him from Galilee stood a long way off watching these things.
The Grave of Jesus (B)
50 There was a man named Joseph who belonged to the court. He was a good man and one who did right. 51 This man did not agree with what the court did. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews. He was looking for the holy nation of God to come. 52 Joseph went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
53 Then he took it down and put it in linen cloth. It was laid in a grave which had been cut out in the side of a rock. This grave had never been used.
54 It was time to get ready for the Day of Rest which was about to begin. 55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed behind. They saw the grave and how His body was laid. 56 They went back and got some spices and perfumes ready. But they rested on the Day of Rest as the Law said to do.
Jesus Is Raised from the Dead (C)
24 Early in the morning on the first day of the week, the women went to the grave taking the spices they had made ready. 2 They found the stone had been pushed away from the grave. 3 They went in but they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 While they wondered about what had happened, they saw two men standing by them in shining clothes. 5 They were very much afraid and got down with their faces to the ground. The men said to them, “Why do you look for the living One among those who are dead? 6 He is not here. He is risen. Do you not remember what He said to you when He was yet in Galilee? 7 He said, ‘The Son of Man must be given over into the hands of sinful men. He must be nailed to a cross. He will rise again three days later.’” 8 They remembered what He had said.
9 When they came back from the grave, they told all these things to the eleven followers and to all the others. 10 They were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James. Other women who were with them told these things to the followers also. 11 Their words sounded like foolish talk. The followers did not believe them. 12 But Peter got up and ran to the grave. He got down to look in and saw only the linen clothes. Then he went away, surprised about what had happened.
The Lord Is Good to His People
99 The Lord rules! Let the people shake in fear! He sits on His throne above the angels. Let the earth shake! 2 The Lord is great in Zion. And He is honored above all people. 3 Let them praise Your great name. It is to be honored with fear. He is holy!
4 The strength of the King loves what is right. You have set up what is fair. You do what is right and fair in Jacob. 5 Honor the Lord our God. Worship at His feet. For He is holy!
6 Moses and Aaron were among His religious leaders. And Samuel was among those who called on His name. They called upon the Lord, and He answered them. 7 He spoke to them from the cloud. They kept His Word and the Law that He gave them. 8 O Lord our God, You answered them. You were a forgiving God to them. But You punished them for their wrong-doing. 9 Honor the Lord our God. And worship at His holy mountain. For the Lord our God is holy!
9 Fools laugh at sin, but the favor of God is among the faithful.
10 The heart knows when it is bitter, and a stranger cannot share its joy.
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