The Daily Audio Bible

The Family of Hezron

¹⁸ Hezron’s son Caleb had sons by his wives Azubah and Jerioth. Azubah’s sons were Jesher, Shobab and Ardon. ¹⁹ When Azubah died, Caleb married Ephrath. She gave birth to his son Hur. ²⁰ Hur was the father of Uri. And Uri was the father of Bezalel.

²¹ Later, when Hezron was sixty years old, he married the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead. She gave birth to his son Segub. ²² Segub was the father of Jair, who had twenty-three cities in the land of Gilead. ²³ But Geshur and Aram took the towns of Jair from them, with Kenath and its towns. They took sixty cities in all. All these were the sons of Machir, the father of Gilead. ²⁴ After Hezron died in Caleb-ephrathah, his wife Abijah gave birth to his son Ashhur. Ashhur was the father of Tekoa.

The Family of Jerahmeel

²⁵ The sons of Hezron’s first-born Jerahmeel were Ram the first-born, then Bunah, Oren, Ozem and Ahijah. ²⁶ Jerahmeel had another wife, whose name was Atarah. She was the mother of Onam. ²⁷ The sons of Jerahmeel’s first-born son Ram were Maaz, Jamin and Eker. ²⁸ The sons of Onam were Shammai and Jada. And the sons of Shammai were Nadab and Abishur. ²⁹ The name of Abishur’s wife was Abihail. She gave birth to his sons Ahban and Molid. ³⁰ The sons of Nadab were Seled and Appaim. Seled died without sons. ³¹ Appaim’s son was Ishi. Ishi’s son was Sheshan. And Sheshan’s son was Ahlai. ³² The sons of Shammai’s brother Jada were Jether and Jonathan. Jether died without sons. ³³ The sons of Jonathan were Peleth and Zaza. These were the sons of Jerahmeel. ³⁴ Now Sheshan had no sons, only daughters. And Sheshan had an Egyptian servant whose name was Jarha. ³⁵ Sheshan gave his daughter to his servant Jarha in marriage. And she gave birth to his son Attai. ³⁶ Attai was the father of Nathan. Nathan was the father of Zabad. ³⁷ Zabad was the father of Ephlal. Ephlal was the father of Obed. ³⁸ Obed was the father of Jehu. Jehu was the father of Azariah. ³⁹ Azariah was the father of Helez. Helez was the father of Eleasah. ⁴⁰ Eleasah was the father of Sismai. Sismai was the father of Shallum. ⁴¹ Shallum was the father of Jekamiah. And Jekamiah was the father of Elishama.

The Family of Caleb

⁴² These are the sons of Jerahmeel’s brother Caleb. Mesha was his first-born and the father of Ziph. His son was Mareshah, the father of Hebron. ⁴³ The sons of Hebron were Korah, Tappuah, Rekem and Shema. ⁴⁴ Shema was the father of Raham, the father of Jorkeam. Rekem was the father of Shammai. ⁴⁵ Shammai’s son was Maon. Maon was the father of Bethzur. ⁴⁶ Ephah was the woman who acted as Caleb’s wife. She gave birth to Haran, Moza and Gazez. Haran was the father of Gazez. ⁴⁷ The sons of Jahdai were Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, and Shaaph. ⁴⁸ Maacah, who acted as Caleb’s wife, gave birth to Sheber and Tirhanah. ⁴⁹ She also gave birth to Shaaph the father of Madmannah, and Sheva the father of Machbena and Gibea. Caleb’s daughter was Achsah. ⁵⁰ These were the children of Caleb.

The sons of Ephrathah’s first-born son Hur were Shobal the father of Kiriath-jearim, ⁵¹ Salma the father of Bethlehem, and Hareph the father of Beth-gader. ⁵² Shobal the father of Kiriath-jearim had other sons. These were Haroeh, half of the Manahathites, ⁵³ and the families of Kiriath-jearim. These families were the Ithrites, the Puthites, the Shumathites, and the Mishraites. From these came the Zorathites and the Eshtaolites. ⁵⁴ The sons of Salma were Bethlehem and the Netophathites, Atroth-beth-joab, half of the Manahathites, and the Zorites. ⁵⁵ The families of the writers who lived at Jabez were the Tirathites, the Shimeathites and the Sucathites. These are the Kenites who came from Hammath, the father of the house of Rechab.

The Family of David

3 These were the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron. The first-born was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam of Jezreel. The second was Daniel, the son of Abigail of Carmel. ² The third was Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of King Talmai of Geshur. The fourth was Adonijah the son of Haggith. ³ The fifth was Shephatiah the son of Abital. And the sixth was Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. ⁴ Six sons were born to David in Hebron. He ruled there for seven years and six months. And he ruled in Jerusalem for thirty-three years. ⁵ These are the sons who were born to him in Jerusalem: Bathsheba the daughter of Ammiel gave birth to David’s four sons, Shimea, Shobab, Nathan and Solomon. ⁶ And there were Ibhar, Elishama, Eliphelet, ⁷ Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, ⁸ Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine sons. ⁹ All these were the sons of David, added to the sons of the women who acted as David’s wives. Tamar was their sister.

The Family of Solomon

¹⁰ Solomon’s son was Rehoboam. Abijah was his son. Asa was his son. Jehoshaphat was his son. ¹¹ Joram was his son. Ahaziah was his son. Joash was his son. ¹² Amaziah was his son. Azariah was his son. Jotham was his son. ¹³ Ahaz was his son. Hezekiah was his son. Manasseh was his son. ¹⁴ Amon was his son. And Josiah was his son. ¹⁵ The sons of Josiah were Johanan the first-born, Jehoiakim the second, Zedekiah the third, and Shallum the fourth. ¹⁶ The sons of Jehoiakim were Jeconiah and Zedekiah.

The Family of Jeconiah

¹⁷ Jeconiah was taken away to prison by the Babylonians. His sons were Shealtiel, ¹⁸ Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah. ¹⁹ Pedaiah’s sons were Zerubbabel and Shimei. And the sons of Zerubbabel were Meshullam and Hananiah. Shelomith was their sister. ²⁰ Five other sons of Zerubbabel were Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-hesed. ²¹ The sons of Hananiah were Pelatiah and Jeshaiah, whose son was Rephaiah. His son was Arnan. His son was Obadiah. And his son was Shecaniah. ²² Shecaniah’s son was Shemaiah, whose sons were Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat, six sons. ²³ The three sons of Neariah were Elioenai, Hizkiah and Azrikam. ²⁴ And the seven sons of Elioenai were Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani.

The Family of Judah

4 The sons of Judah were Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur and Shobal. ² Shobal’s son Reaiah was the father of Jahath. And Jahath was the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These were the families of the Zorathites. ³ The sons of Etam were Jezreel, Ishma and Idbash. The name of their sister was Hazzelelponi. ⁴ Penuel was the father of Gedor. Ezer was the father of Hushah. These were the sons of Hur, the first-born of Ephrathah, the father of Bethlehem.

Paul Stands in Front of Felix

24 Five days later Ananias came to the city of Caesarea. He was the head religious leader. Some other religious leaders and a man whose name was Tertullus came also. This man worked in courts and knew all about the laws. He told Felix what the Jews had against Paul. ² They brought in Paul. Then Tertullus started to tell what the Jews had against him, saying,

“Most respected Felix, because of you, we are living in peace. Wrong-doings have been made right in this nation. ³ In every way and in every place, we thank you for all of this. ⁴ We do not want to keep you here too long. I ask you to listen to our few words. You are known to be kind in this way. ⁵ We have found this man to be a trouble-maker among all the Jews in the world. He is a leader of a religious group called the Nazarenes. ⁶ He even tried to make the house of God unclean by taking people into it who were not Jews. But we took hold of him. (*We could have said he was guilty by our Law. ⁷ But Lysias, the captain, came and took him out of our hands. ⁸ He told those who wanted to kill him to tell you what they had against him.) When you ask him about these things, you will be able to learn everything we have against him.” ⁹ The Jews agreed to what he said against Paul.

Paul Speaks for Himself the First Time

¹⁰ Then Felix, the leader of the people, told Paul to speak. Paul said, “I know that you have been a leader of this nation for many years. I am happy to be able to speak for myself. ¹¹ Not more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. You can find out about this yourself. ¹² I did not argue with anyone in the house of God or in the Jewish places of worship or in the city. I was not making trouble. ¹³ They cannot prove any of these things they say against me.

¹⁴ “I will say this, I worship the God of our fathers in the new Way. They say it is a false way. But I believe everything that has been written in the Law and by the early preachers. ¹⁵ I trust God for the same things they are looking for. I am looking for the dead to rise, both those right with God and the sinful. ¹⁶ I always try to live so my own heart tells me I am not guilty before God or man.

¹⁷ “After a few years I came to bring gifts of money to the people of my country (Jerusalem). ¹⁸ Some Jews from the countries of Asia found me in the house of God after I had gone through the worship of washing. There were no people around me and there was no noise or fighting. ¹⁹ They should be here if they have anything against me. ²⁰ Or let these men tell what wrong they found in me as I stood in front of their court, ²¹ unless it was the words I cried out as I stood in front of them. I said, ‘I have been brought in front of this court because of the hope of being raised from the dead.’”

Felix Waits for Lysias to Come

²² Felix knew about the Christian religion. He stopped the court, saying, “When Lysias the captain comes down, I will decide about this.” ²³ He told the soldier to watch Paul, but to let him come and go as much as he wanted to. Paul’s friends were to be able to come and care for him.

Paul Speaks for Himself the Second Time

²⁴ Some days later Felix came again. His Jewish wife Drusilla was with him. He sent for Paul and heard him talk about faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁵ Paul spoke about being right with God. He spoke about being the boss over our own desires. He spoke about standing before One Who will tell us if we are guilty. When Felix heard this, he became afraid and said, “Go now. I will send for you when it is a better time.” ²⁶ He was hoping that Paul would give him money so he could go free. For that reason he kept sending for Paul and talking to him.

²⁷ After two years Porcius Festus became leader of the people instead of Felix. Felix wanted to please the Jews so he kept Paul in prison.

Evening Prayer of Trust

4 Answer me when I call, O my God Who is right and good! You have made a way for me when I needed help. Be kind to me, and hear my prayer.

² O sons of men, how long will you turn my honor into shame? How long will you love what is of no use, and run after lies? ³ Know that the Lord has set apart him who is God-like for Himself. The Lord hears when I call to Him.

⁴ Shake with anger and do not sin. When you are on your bed, look into your hearts and be quiet. ⁵ Give the gifts that are right and good, and trust in the Lord.

⁶ Many are asking, “Who will show us any good?” Let the light of Your face shine on us, O Lord. ⁷ You have filled my heart with more happiness than they have when there is much grain and wine. ⁸ I will lie down and sleep in peace. O Lord, You alone keep me safe.

¹⁶ A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him in front of great men.

¹⁷ He who tells his story first makes people think he is right, until the other comes to test him.

¹⁸ Throwing an object to decide puts an end to arguing. It keeps powerful men from fighting.