April 16

Judges 9

[1] Now Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s relatives and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother’s family, [2] “Say in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal rule over you, or that one rule over you?’ Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.”

[3] And his mother’s relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.” [4] And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, who followed him. [5] And he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself. [6] And all the leaders of Shechem came together, and all Beth-millo, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar at Shechem.

[7] When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim and cried aloud and said to them, “Listen to me, you leaders of Shechem, that God may listen to you. [8] The trees once went out to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’ [9] But the olive tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my abundance, by which gods and men are honored, and go hold sway over the trees?’ [10] And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us.’ [11] But the fig tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go hold sway over the trees?’ [12] And the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and reign over us.’ [13] But the vine said to them, ‘Shall I leave my wine that cheers God and men and go hold sway over the trees?’ [14] Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us.’ [15] And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade, but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’

[16] “Now therefore, if you acted in good faith and integrity when you made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house and have done to him as his deeds deserved—[17] for my father fought for you and risked his life and delivered you from the hand of Midian, [18] and you have risen up against my father’s house this day and have killed his sons, seventy men on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the leaders of Shechem, because he is your relative—[19] if you then have acted in good faith and integrity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. [20] But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the leaders of Shechem and from Beth-millo and devour Abimelech.” [21] And Jotham ran away and fled and went to Beer and lived there, because of Abimelech his brother.

[22] Abimelech ruled over Israel three years. [23] And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, [24] that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers. [25] And the leaders of Shechem put men in ambush against him on the mountaintops, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way. And it was told to Abimelech.

[26] And Gaal the son of Ebed moved into Shechem with his relatives, and the leaders of Shechem put confidence in him. [27] And they went out into the field and gathered the grapes from their vineyards and trod them and held a festival; and they went into the house of their god and ate and drank and reviled Abimelech. [28] And Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who are we of Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him? [29] Would that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech. I would say to Abimelech, ‘Increase your army, and come out.’”

[30] When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled. [31] And he sent messengers to Abimelech secretly, saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his relatives have come to Shechem, and they are stirring up the city against you. [32] Now therefore, go by night, you and the people who are with you, and set an ambush in the field. [33] Then in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, rise early and rush upon the city. And when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you may do to them as your hand finds to do.”

[34] So Abimelech and all the men who were with him rose up by night and set an ambush against Shechem in four companies. [35] And Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city, and Abimelech and the people who were with him rose from the ambush. [36] And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the mountaintops!” And Zebul said to him, “You mistake the shadow of the mountains for men.” [37] Gaal spoke again and said, “Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming from the direction of the Diviners’ Oak.” [38] Then Zebul said to him, “Where is your mouth now, you who said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Are not these the people whom you despised? Go out now and fight with them.” [39] And Gaal went out at the head of the leaders of Shechem and fought with Abimelech. [40] And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him. And many fell wounded, up to the entrance of the gate. [41] And Abimelech lived at Arumah, and Zebul drove out Gaal and his relatives, so that they could not dwell at Shechem.

[42] On the following day, the people went out into the field, and Abimelech was told. [43] He took his people and divided them into three companies and set an ambush in the fields. And he looked and saw the people coming out of the city. So he rose against them and killed them. [44] Abimelech and the company that was with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city, while the two companies rushed upon all who were in the field and killed them. [45] And Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He captured the city and killed the people who were in it, and he razed the city and sowed it with salt.

[46] When all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the stronghold of the house of El-berith. [47] Abimelech was told that all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem were gathered together. [48] And Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him. And Abimelech took an axe in his hand and cut down a bundle of brushwood and took it up and laid it on his shoulder. And he said to the men who were with him, “What you have seen me do, hurry and do as I have done.” [49] So every one of the people cut down his bundle and following Abimelech put it against the stronghold, and they set the stronghold on fire over them, so that all the people of the Tower of Shechem also died, about 1,000 men and women.

[50] Then Abimelech went to Thebez and encamped against Thebez and captured it. [51] But there was a strong tower within the city, and all the men and women and all the leaders of the city fled to it and shut themselves in, and they went up to the roof of the tower. [52] And Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire. [53] And a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull. [54] Then he called quickly to the young man his armor-bearer and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” And his young man thrust him through, and he died. [55] And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, everyone departed to his home. [56] Thus God returned the evil of Abimelech, which he committed against his father in killing his seventy brothers. [57] And God also made all the evil of the men of Shechem return on their heads, and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.

Psalm 86

A Prayer of David.

    [1] Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me,

        for I am poor and needy. 

    [2] Preserve my life, for I am godly;

        save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God. 

    [3] Be gracious to me, O Lord,

        for to you do I cry all the day. 

    [4] Gladden the soul of your servant,

        for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 

    [5] For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,

        abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. 

    [6] Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer;

        listen to my plea for grace. 

    [7] In the day of my trouble I call upon you,

        for you answer me.

    [8] There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,

        nor are there any works like yours. 

    [9] All the nations you have made shall come

        and worship before you, O Lord,

        and shall glorify your name. 

    [10] For you are great and do wondrous things;

        you alone are God. 

    [11] Teach me your way, O LORD,

        that I may walk in your truth;

        unite my heart to fear your name. 

    [12] I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,

        and I will glorify your name forever. 

    [13] For great is your steadfast love toward me;

        you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

    [14] O God, insolent men have risen up against me;

        a band of ruthless men seeks my life,

        and they do not set you before them. 

    [15] But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,

        slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. 

    [16] Turn to me and be gracious to me;

        give your strength to your servant,

        and save the son of your maidservant. 

    [17] Show me a sign of your favor,

        that those who hate me may see and be put to shame

        because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

1 Corinthians 11:1-16

[1] Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

[2] Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. [3] But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. [4] Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, [5] but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. [6] For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head. [7] For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. [8] For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. [9] Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. [10] That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. [11] Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; [12] for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God. [13] Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? [14] Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, [15] but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. [16] If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.

Mark 6:30-44

[30] The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. [31] And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. [32] And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. [33] Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. [34] When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. [35] And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. [36] Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” [37] But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” [38] And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” [39] Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. [40] So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. [41] And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. [42] And they all ate and were satisfied. [43] And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. [44] And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.