Archive | March 2024

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 90

Mar30

    Day 90 —  Now that we’ve passed Day 66, we have established a “habit.” So, CELEBRATE our habit of daily Bible reading! We are in the third month so far! Praise God!  We are studying the eighth book in our Bible reading!

   Day 90 – Judges 3 – 5 (Nations to test Israel, Four judges)

In Chapter 3, God uses pagan nations to “test” Israel. He wants the generations who had NOT fought to know war and be able to fight. He left five towns of Philistia and six areas of Canaanites. But the people did what was evil, intermarried with them, and began to serve their gods.

So, God “sold” them into the hands of the king of Mesopotamia. After eight years, Israel cried out in the oppression, and God sent the first “judge” to deliver them. Othniel of Judah, Caleb’s younger brother, led the people to war and prevailed against this king. God gave them 40 years of rest.

After Othniel died, the people again did evil in God’s sight, so he sent Eglon, the king of Moab, to defeat Israel. After eighteen years, Israel again cried out to God, and He sent the left-handed Benjaminite, Ehud, to deliver them. Verses16-26 tells a fun but gory account of how he did that! Then Moab was subdued for 80 years, and Israel rested.

Shamgar prevailed against the Philistines and saved Israel for a while.

In Chapter 4, Ehud dies, and again, Israel is ruled, this time by Jabin, a Canaanite king. At this time, Deborah, a prophetess, judged Israel.  She called Barak to come rescue Israel, but the cowardly (?) man refused to go unless she came along.  She does, but the war is determined won, when another woman, Jael, kills the enemy’s commanding officer, Sisera. With this win, Israel found the courage to fight with Canaanite King Jabin until he died.

The entirety of Chapter 5 is Deborah and Barak’s song of victory.  It accounts for the war and the victory, and praises God. It even honors Jael, the woman who “saved the day.”   And Israel rested for 40 years.

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 89

Mar29

    Day 89 —  Now that we’ve passed Day 66, we have established a “habit.” So, CELEBRATE our habit of daily Bible reading! We are in the third month so far! Praise God!  TODAY, we begin the eighth book in our Bible reading!

   Day 89 – Judges 1 – 2 (Mopping up, but failing. idol worship and judgment, pleas and rescue)

Chapter 1 begins where Joshua left off, although it is written by a different author. The large tribe of Judah wants to obey God and drive out all the Canaanites in their land. They enlist the tribe of Simeon—living in the middle of Judah territory—and go to war. God gives them victory, even in Jerusalem (but they soon lose that city again). Then, the Judahites help Simeon fight the Canaanites still in their section of land.

All the other tribes fight the pagans in their areas, but every time (except for Issachar), they put the enemy to “forced labor” but are unable to drive them out ultimately.

Because of this, in Chapter 2, God tells them He will not continue to drive out their enemies. Instead, the people they allowed to remain will become “thorns in your sides,” and they will go further beyond toleration to actually serve them.” These useless gods will become “snares” to them.

There is a brief review of the end of Joshua’s life. and the sad proclamation that a new generation rose up “who did not know the LORD or the work He had done for Israel.”  This shows that fathers in the families disobeyed God at the very core of their lives, for they were instructed to teach their children the law of their God, speaking about it when they rose up, went out, ate, and slept. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

But Israel went farther, beyond toleration, to actually serving those idols. They abandoned the LORD their God and went after other gods. And the LORD was angry and let them be plundered by surrounding enemies to the point that they could no longer stand.

Then, out of mercy, God raised up “military leaders” (judges) who temporarily saved them out of the hands of the plunderers.  Safe again, Israel went right back to their old sinful ways. God let their enemies afflict them until they cried out to him again.

The book of Judges records SEVEN such cycles of sin.

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 88

Mar28

    Day 88 —  Now that we’ve passed Day 66, we have established a “habit.” So, CELEBRATE our habit of daily Bible reading! We are in the third month so far! Praise God!  TODAY, we finish the 7th book in our Bible reading!

   Day 88 – Joshua 22 – 24 (Eastern tribes, an alter, Joshua’s charge & challenge, Joshua’s death)

In Chapter 22, with the land settled and divided, it’s time for the armies of the Eastern two-and-a-half tribes to return to their lands and settle down.  Joshua charges them with the basis of the Covenant, to “love the LORD their God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to cling to Him, and to serve Him with all their heart and soul.”

These tribes received Joshua’s challenge and blessing and headed East, stopping at the border to erect a massive altar.  WHAT??  Rightly, the other ten tribes, plus the High Priest, come and confront them. They fear that God will judge them ALL if these eastern tribes are already worshiping at a place other than where God signifies.  But the eastern tribe allay their fears, saying the alter is NOT a place to worship, but only a memorial to reinforce that the eastern tribes are a part of the whole of Israel.  All outcry is calmed with this explanation.

In Chapter 23, Joshua—well advanced in years at 110—tells how faithful God has been to ALL his promises, even though Israel repeatedly fails Him. He says, “You know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you.”

  • Therefore, be very strong to keep and do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses.
  • Don’t turn aside from it to the right or left.
  • Don’t mix with the nations remaining among you or even mention the names of their gods.
  • Don’t swear to their gods, serve them, or bow down to them.
  • Cling to the LORD your God just as you have done to this day.
  • Be careful to love the LORD your God.

In Chapter 24, Joshua reviews Israel’s history from Abraham’s first call to this day in detail, and concludes with these thoughts.

  • Now therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and faithfulness
  • Choose this day whom you will serve.
  • As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

And the people answered, “we also will serve the LORD, for He is our God. Joshua contradicts them, saying they are NOT able to serve the Lord, but they double-vow that they will.

Then Joshua, the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being 110 yeas old.  They buried him in his own inheritance.  And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua and of the elders who outlived Joshua and had known all the work that the LORD had done. Finally Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the High Priest dies too, and his son, the righteous Phinehas becomes High Priest.

Then the chapter and the book close with a rightful conclusion to Genesis 50.  The bones that Joseph made his brothers promise they would carry out of Egypt and bury in the promised land are finally buried at Shechem, in the piece of land that Jacob bought from the sons of Hamor. (Near the very place Joseph’s brothers kidnapped him and sold him to slavery in Egypt.)

God is faithful always and honors those who serve him.

END of Joshua. And a new, spiraling down period of Israel’s history – JUDGES.

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 87

Mar27

    Day 87 —  Now that we’ve passed Day 66, we have established a “habit.” So, CELEBRATE our habit of daily Bible reading! We are in the third month so far! Praise God!

   Day 87 – Joshua 19 – 21 (Land allotments, Refuge cities, Levite cities)

Chapter 19 continues assigning land allotments to the tribes of Israel. Small-sized Simeon is placed within Judah’s allotment. Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan are settled, with Dan’s area changing from the seaside to the northern mountains when they lost to them.

Joshua finished distributing the portions of land and then chose his own place. He asked for a city in Ephraim, rebuilt it, and settled there—almost dead-center in the Promised Land.

Next, actual cities were designated by name for “Refuge Cities.” Three cities on the west side and three on the east side of the Jordan River, equally spaced out in the land. (Chapter 20)

In Chapter 21, forty-eight named cities with their surrounding pasturelands throughout the land were designated for the Levite tribe.  And so the LORD gave Israel all the land he swore to give to their fathers. Then He gave them rest on every side.”

“Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.”

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 86

Mar26

    Day 86 —  Now that we’ve passed Day 66, we have established a “habit.” So, CELEBRATE our habit of daily Bible reading! We are in the third month so far! Praise God!

   Day 86 – Joshua 16 – 18 (Ephraim & Manasseh, Complaints, Benjamin)

In Chapters 16 & 17, Joshua and the men continue to divide up the land of Canaan for each tribe, small or super large. Joseph’s tribe is split into Ephraim and Manasseh. Half of the Manasseh tribe had already inherited land on the EAST side of the Jordan, but on the WEST, the other half was lumped together with Ephraim. They did not like that.  Joshua let these tribes figure it out between themselves. And so the WEST half-tribe seems to have gotten a very large area, running from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.

Sadly, all the Canaanite people were NOT driven out for both Ephraim and the two halves of Manasseh. (These Canaanites were very strong and had iron chariots.)  They remained a source of pagan influence, even though the tribes forced them to do forced labor.

In Chapter 18, Joshua and Israel set up the Tabernacle at Shiloh before the remaining land was allotted.  Joshua was annoyed with the remaining tribes. “How long will you put off going in to take possession of the Land, which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?”  He told them to take three men from each tribe and spy out the remaining land. Joshua would then allot those places to the remaining seven tribes.

So the men went “up and down in the land” and wrote descriptions.  Then they returned, and Joshua used the “lot” to determine who should go where. Benjamin was between Judah (in the South) and Ephraim/Manasseh in the North, bordering on the North side of Jerusalem. (Judah had the South side.)

**

(We will see tomorrow that Simeon—a very small tribe—was also allotted their portion within Judah, whose allotment was too large for them, at that time.)

Much later in Israel’s history, we will see these tribes facing off against each other in a kind of Civil War when Solomon’s son tore the kingdom in two. (The 9 in the North were called Ephraim or Israel, and the 3 in the South were called Judah.)

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 84 & 85

Mar25

    Day 84 & 85 —  Now that we’ve passed Day 66, we have established a “habit.” So, CELEBRATE our habit of daily Bible reading! We are in the third month so far! Praise God!  (Note: SUNDAY & MONDAY readings are always combined.)

   Day 84 – Joshua 9 – 11 (Gibeonite trick, Help!!, Miracle sun & Hail, N/S Conquest)

Israel feels smug after soundly defeating AI the second time, and perhaps Joshua let his guard down.  In Chapter 9, when the Gibeonite delegation (disguised as worn travelers) comes asking for leniency (as an enemy nation OUTSIDE the Promised Land would do), Joshua falls for their trick and cuts a deal with them.  How were they able to trick him? Verse 14 says that they “did not take counsel from the LORD.”

After learning about the trick, their hands were tied to respond, for they had sworn an oath to them by the LORD.  (Joshua is definitely on a learning curve!)

So, in Chapter 10, when five kings, angry with the Gibeonites, got together to attack them, the Gibeonites called to Joshua for help. Of course, Joshua had to respond and go to war against the kings. He would have anyway, but not at the call of an enemy. Joshua acted quickly and surprised the kings at night, chasing after them. Then the LORD threw down great hailstones, so they died (more from the hailstones than by the sword).  Then, he executed all five Amorite kings.

After this defeat, Joshua led Israel in a vast, circular campaign south, capturing all the kings and their land at once “because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel.  Then he and all Israel returned to the camp at Gilgal.

In Chapter 11, all the kings in the north gathered a massive horde of men, with horses and chariots, against Joshua and Israel.  “Do not be afraid of them,” the LORD told Joshua, “for tomorrow at this time, I will give over all of them, slain, to Israel.” And that’s what happened; not a man was left of the horde or horse. Joshua even burned the chariots and only the city of Hazor.

So Joshua took all that land, the hill country and all the Negev, and all the land of Goshen and the lowland, the Arabah, and the hill country of Israel and its lowlands as far as the Valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon.  Not a city made peace with Israel except Gibeon.   Joshua even killed all the Anakim (giants) except those in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod.

Joshua took the whole land according to all that the LORD had spoken to Moses. Joshua gave it as an inheritance to Israel, according to their tribal allotments. And the land had rest from war.

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    Day 85 – Joshua 12 – 15 (kings defeated, Land yet to be conquered, East of Jordan tribes, West tribes, Caleb, Judah, Jerusalem)

Chapter 12 lists all the kings defeated by Moses (2) and Joshua (31) in the Promised Land and that Israel took possession of their land.

Chapter 13 describes the areas that still needed to be conquered: the lands of the Philistines, including Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, Ekron, and other Canaanite lands. But the LORD told Joshua that HE would drive them out before the people of Israel, but Joshua was to settle the tribes into their land first. Joshua first settled the 2.5 tribes on the East of the Jordan River.

In Chapter 14, Eleazar, the priest, Joshua, and the heads of the tribes get together. By lot, the LORD gives them the areas they inherit. Caleb (one of the two original spies of Canaan, along with Joshua) is of the tribe of Judah. He asks specifically for Kiriath-arba, later called Hebron, for his inheritance. This was the last place where giants lived, and although Caleb is in his eighties, he knows he can conquer them with God’s help.

Chapter 15 describes in detail the area that Judah would inherit. The chapter lists many cities that this tribe inherited, including Jerusalem. A note is made about Jerusalem, that the Jebusites were one people that Israel could not drive out. King David eventually captured the city and claimed it as his capital.

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 83

Mar23

    Day 83—  Now that we’ve passed Day 66, we have established a “habit.” So CELEBRATE our habit of daily Bible reading! We are in the THIRD month so far! Praise God!

   Day 83 – Joshua 5 – 8  (Circumcision & Passover, Jericho, Achan, Ai, Sin)

Joshua 5 tells of the beginnings of the conquest of Canaan. But first first things, first. There were a few steps of preparation.  Not sharpening of swords, but of HEARTS.

God first puts fear into the hearts of the kings of Canaan because of Israel. Then He commands all of Israel to renew their Covenant with Him by circumcising all the males. (It seems that during the wilderness wanderings, that had not been done. Why?  Maybe the “old guard” who knew they would not be entering the Promised Land rebelled and didn’t circumcise their baby boys.  Who knows?)

Next, Israel celebrated the Passover, the first in the new Land.  And they ate of the produce of the land… so the Manna stopped. Lots of changes, lots of preparation.  Even Joshua’s heart had to be prepared, so God met him in much the same way as Moses before he began his work in Egypt. God, claiming to be the “Commander of the army of the LORD,” accepted Joshua’s worship, and reminded him to take off his sandals for he was on “holy ground.”

Thus prepared, Chapter 6 tells of the unusual conquest of Jericho.  Around the city, the Ark, the priests, and the army would walk once, silent except for the blowing of ram’s horns for six days, then seven times around on the seventh day. Then at their SHOUT as the LORD commanded, the walls all fell down. The army went in and completely destroyed the city and all in it – EXCEPT for Rahab and her household, whom the two spies took to safety outside their camp. ALL was destroyed accept for the silver, gold, bronze and iron vessels. Those would go into Israel’s treasury.

And Joshua curses the rebuilding of Jericho forever. (see later in 1 Kings 16:34, when the curse happened.)

Chapter 7 tells of the victorious Israel going on to the next city, Ai. (NOT Artificial Intelligence! haha). A small town, easily won, and yet Israel is soundly defeated and runs with their tails between their legs!  What’s up???  What has happened to the mighty Israeli army led by their mighty Commander?

Sin.  That’s what happened. When Joshua falls before the LORD, virtually blaming HIM for not helping them, God tells him to stand up, for there is SIN IN THE CAMP.  By process of elimination, the finger of God points to Achan of the tribe of Judah.  He coveted some of the wealth he saw in Jericho, stole it (from God’s destruction), hid it in his tent (with his family’s knowledge) and told no one.  But God saw and knew.

Achan and his family (after his confession of sin) were stoned to death, and all he had and stole were burned with fire.  And so Israel was cleansed… and learned an important lesson.

In Chapter 8, in their second attempt, the now cleansed Israel soundly defeated Ai, killed the inhabitants and took much loot (if only Achan would have waited!). Had they learned their lesson. One hopes.

And afterwards, Joshua built an alter to the LORD of uncut stones and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD. And all the people stood on opposite sides of the Ark carried by the Levitical Priests, half on Mt. Ebal and half on Mt Gerizim while Joshua read the blessings and curses of obedience to the Law of the LORD. In fact, he read ALL the law to them, men, women, and little ones.

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 82

Mar22

    Day 82—  Now that we’ve passed Day 66, we have established a “habit.” So CELEBRATE our habit of daily Bible reading! We are in the THIRD month so far! Praise God!

   Day 82 – Joshua 1 – 4  (Commissioning & command of Joshua, Spies & Rahab, Crossing the Jordan, Memorial stones)

Today we begin the 7th book so far, and move from the Torah (& Job) to the Historical books. In the First Chapter, God commissions Joshua to take over the leadership of Israel. He encourages him by telling Joshua that;

  • 1) his campaign to conquer will be successful,
  • 2) that He, Himself will be with Joshua and will not forsake him.
  • 3)  that this success and prosperity will come as he meditates day and night in the Law of the LORD, and obeys everything he reads.

God commands him to “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua’s first order is for the people to prepare to cross the Jordan River and enter the Promised Land in three days.  He reminds the Eastern-settling 2.5 tribes, of their promise to fight and conquer the land WITH their brothers.

In Chapter 2, Joshua sends two spies out to “view the land, especially Jericho.”  They obey (and as God led them) entered the house of Rahab. She was a prostitute, but also possibly a “hotel” owner. Her house was on the wall that surrounded the city and was accessible.  She hides the two Israeli spies when the king’s men come looking for them, and sends those soldiers on a “wild goose chase,” while sending the spies on a different route.

Why? Why would this female, pagan prostitute help enemy spies? Verses 8-12 explains that she KNOWS that the LORD has given the land to Israel. Everyone is in terror because of them. They’ve all heard about Israel’s miraculous crossing of the Red Sea and their successes with Kings Sihon and Og and their hearts are melting.  Then her proclamation of faith: “The LORD your God, He is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.”  

She then requests, that for her helping them to escape, that they will save her and her family when they attack.  The spies agree, with one caveat. She and all of hers must stay within the house, and she must hang a red rope from her window down the outside of the wall.  When Israel sees that red cord, they will pass over her house, and save her and hers alive.

The spies report back to Joshua that the LORD has indeed given all the land into their hands. And the hearts of all the inhabitants “melt away because of us.”

In Chapter 3, Israel crosses the Jordan River into Canaan, much like they crossed the Red Sea out of Egypt. Except, it is the action of the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant, who step into the water, that God  uses it to stop it flowing and open a way through. So, as the “soles of the feet” of the priests carrying the Ark stepped into the water, it bunched up in a heap. The priests/Ark stood in the middle of the dry river bed until ALL OF ISRAEL passed over into the land.

Chapter 4 describes how Joshua, at God’s command, had a representative from each tribe take twelve stones from the river bed, and carry them to Gilgal where they were to camp and laid them down. Joshua set them up as a memorial, something these people would tell their children about in years to come.

When the priests & the Ark followed the people out of the river bed, all the water came rushing back again.  And it was the first day of the preparation for Passover.  (Fitting, huh?)

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 81

Mar21

    Day 81—  Now that we’ve passed Day 66, we have established a “habit.” So CELEBRATE our habit of daily Bible reading! We are in the THIRD month so far! Praise God!

   Day 81 – Deuteronomy 32 – 34, Psalm 91  Song of Moses, Moses’s final blessing on each tribe, Moses death, Israel’s refuge)

God commanded Moses to write a song that would be taught to all Israel, so whenever they sang it, they would REMEMBER. It would be a witness for God.

In 43 verses and 10 stanzas of Chapter 32, Moses wrote the song of Israel’s glorious past, their hopeful present on the cusp of entering the Promised Land, and the disastrous future when they turn from God to worship other gods, who are not gods at all. And a glimpse of His everlasting love for them and restoration when the turn again.

“Rejoice with Him, O heavens;
bow down to Him, all gods,
for He avenges the blood of His children
and takes vengeance on His adversaries.
He repays those who hate him, 
and cleanses His people’s land.”

Deuteronomy 32:43

In Chapter 33, in the mode of Jacob when he blessed his sons, Moses now gives a “blessing” to the tribes of Israel, beginning with Reuben, and covering, Judah, Levi, Benjamin, Joseph (Ephraim & Manasseh), Zebulun, Issachar, Gad, Dan, Naphtali, and Asher.

Only Simeon is missing. Why? Because later, Simeon is assimilated into the tribe of Judah. (See Joshua 19:9 – “The inheritance of the people of Simeon formed part of the territory of the people of Judah. Because the portion of the people of Judah was too large for them, the people of Simeon obtained an inheritance in the midst of their inheritance.”)

(It might be interesting to compare Moses’ blessing on the tribes with Jacob’s blessings on his sons in Genesis 49.)

Chapter 34, tells of the death of Moses, written perhaps by Joshua.  Moses ascends Mt. Nebo and the LORD shows him the Promised Land. And there “the servant of the LORD died, and He (God) buried him in the valley in the land of Moab, but no one knows to place of his burial to this day.

Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed and his vigor unabated. And Israel mourned for him for thirty days.” 

And then… Joshua, the son of Nun (full of the spirit of wisdom) took over. And the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses.

“And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, none like him for all the signs and wonders that the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt…. and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.”

 

(Alas, Moses DID get to enter the promised land, in the day when Jesus (“the prophet like himself”) was “transfigured.” Both he and Elijah stood with Jesus and encouraged the Savior about His upcoming death.  Luke 9 28-31.)

Psalm 91 is a glorious hymn, beginning with the familiar “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”

It goes on to encourage its readers (Israel) that HE is their protection against all the ever-present dangers and terrors that surround them.

“A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come year you.”

 

(A wonderful Psalm for any believer to read, why not go there now, and hold to the promises of God to those who love Him.)

 

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 80

Mar20

    Day 80 —  Now that we’ve passed Day 66, we have established a “habit.” So CELEBRATE our habit of daily Bible reading! We are in the THIRD month so far! Praise God!

   Day 80 – Deuteronomy 30 – 31 (Repentance & hope, Choose life, Joshua commissioned, Command to read, a song written)

Moses’s life is winding down. He’s “mopping up” his leadership and readying himself and Joshua to pass the baton. Moses has been with these millions of people for over 40 years. He’s all the leader that some of them have ever know. What will it be like without him?

At 120 years old, Moses is ready to brush his hands of this people and “go home.”

In chapter 30, he tells the people he knows they will fail in all the commands and love toward God. He knows they will experience the really hard discipline of God, but  if/when they repent, return to the LORD, and obey his voice with all their heart and soul…. the gracious, long-suffering, and merciful LORD their God will have compassion on them and restore them.  And at that time, He will “circumcise their HEARTS so they will love him with heart and soul and LIVE.

Moses challenges them, saying, “But the word is very near to you. It is in your mouth and in your heart so you CAN do it!”  Moses sets before them life and death, blessing and curse. “Choose life, that you and your offspring may LIVE, loving the LORD your God, obeying His voice, and holding fast to him…..for He IS your life.”

In Chapter 31, Moses calls aside Joshua and encourages him, “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of THEM, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave or forsake you.” He then sets Joshua before the people and says the same thing.  This is your leader now. God will go before you and be with you and not forsake you.  Before all the people Moses officially commissions Joshua with the job, and the LORD, in a pillar of cloud, affirms it.

Moses finishes writing the words of the law in a book “to the very end.”  He commands that the Levites put it by the side of the ark of the covenant, and read the whole thing to the people every SEVEN YEARS, in the “year of release” when they all gather in the fall for the Festival of Booths/Harvest.

Then Moses (at God’s word) writes a song to teach to Israel, as a witness for God.  He wrote it in one day and taught it to the people of Israel.

(The song will be in tomorrow’s reading.)