1 Chronicles 7, 8, Hebrews 11, Amos 5, Luke 1:1~38

1 Chronicles 7, 8,

1 The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub and Shimron-four in all.
 
2 The sons of Tola: Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam and Samuel-heads of their families. During the reign of David, the descendants of Tola listed as fighting men in their genealogy numbered 22,600.
 
3 The son of Uzzi: Izrahiah. The sons of Izrahiah: Michael, Obadiah, Joel and Isshiah. All five of them were chiefs.
 
4 According to their family genealogy, they had 36,000 men ready for battle, for they had many wives and children.
 
5 The relatives who were fighting men belonging to all the clans of Issachar, as listed in their genealogy, were 87,000 in all.
 
6 Three sons of Benjamin: Bela, Beker and Jediael.
 
7 The sons of Bela: Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth and Iri, heads of families-five in all. Their genealogical record listed 22,034 fighting men.
 
8 The sons of Beker: Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth and Alemeth. All these were the sons of Beker.
 
9 Their genealogical record listed the heads of families and 20,200 fighting men.
 
10 The son of Jediael: Bilhan. The sons of Bilhan: Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Kenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish and Ahishahar.
 
11 All these sons of Jediael were heads of families. There were 17,200 fighting men ready to go out to war.
 
12 The Shuppites and Huppites were the descendants of Ir, and the Hushites the descendants of Aher.
 
13 The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer and Shillem-the descendants of Bilhah.
 
14 The descendants of Manasseh: Asriel was his descendant through his Aramean concubine. She gave birth to Makir the father of Gilead.
 
15 Makir took a wife from among the Huppites and Shuppites. His sister's name was Maacah. Another descendant was named Zelophehad, who had only daughters.
 
16 Makir's wife Maacah gave birth to a son and named him Peresh. His brother was named Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rakem.
 
17 The son of Ulam: Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead son of Makir, the son of Manasseh.
 
18 His sister Hammoleketh gave birth to Ishhod, Abiezer and Mahlah.
 
19 The sons of Shemida were: Ahian, Shechem, Likhi and Aniam.
 
20 The descendants of Ephraim: Shuthelah, Bered his son, Tahath his son, Eleadah his son, Tahath his son,
 
21 Zabad his son and Shuthelah his son. Ezer and Elead were killed by the native-born men of Gath, when they went down to seize their livestock.
 
22 Their father Ephraim mourned for them many days, and his relatives came to comfort him.
 
23 Then he lay with his wife again, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. He named him Beriah, because there had been misfortune in his family.
 
24 His daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper Beth Horon as well as Uzzen Sheerah.
 
25 Rephah was his son, Resheph his son, Telah his son, Tahan his son,
 
26 Ladan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son,
 
27 Nun his son and Joshua his son.
 
28 Their lands and settlements included Bethel and its surrounding villages, Naaran to the east, Gezer and its villages to the west, and Shechem and its villages all the way to Ayyah and its villages.
 
29 Along the borders of Manasseh were Beth Shan, Taanach, Megiddo and Dor, together with their villages. The descendants of Joseph son of Israel lived in these towns.
 
30 The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi and Beriah. Their sister was Serah.
 
31 The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malkiel, who was the father of Birzaith.
 
32 Heber was the father of Japhlet, Shomer and Hotham and of their sister Shua.
 
33 The sons of Japhlet: Pasach, Bimhal and Ashvath. These were Japhlet's sons.
 
34 The sons of Shomer: Ahi, Rohgah, Hubbah and Aram.
 
35 The sons of his brother Helem: Zophah, Imna, Shelesh and Amal.
 
36 The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,
 
37 Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran and Beera.
 
38 The sons of Jether: Jephunneh, Pispah and Ara.
 
39 The sons of Ulla: Arah, Hanniel and Rizia.
 
40 All these were descendants of Asher-heads of families, choice men, brave warriors and outstanding leaders. The number of men ready for battle, as listed in their genealogy, was 26,000.

1 Benjamin was the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second son, Aharah the third,
 
2 Nohah the fourth and Rapha the fifth.
 
3 The sons of Bela were: Addar, Gera, Abihud,
 
4 Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah,
 
5 Gera, Shephuphan and Huram.
 
6 These were the descendants of Ehud, who were heads of families of those living in Geba and were deported to Manahath:
 
7 Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera, who deported them and who was the father of Uzza and Ahihud.
 
8 Sons were born to Shaharaim in Moab after he had divorced his wives Hushim and Baara.
 
9 By his wife Hodesh he had Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam,
 
10 Jeuz, Sakia and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of families.
 
11 By Hushim he had Abitub and Elpaal.
 
12 The sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham, Shemed (who built Ono and Lod with its surrounding villages),
 
13 and Beriah and Shema, who were heads of families of those living in Aijalon and who drove out the inhabitants of Gath.
 
14 Ahio, Shashak, Jeremoth,
 
15 Zebadiah, Arad, Eder,
 
16 Michael, Ishpah and Joha were the sons of Beriah.
 
17 Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber,
 
18 Ishmerai, Izliah and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal.
 
19 Jakim, Zicri, Zabdi,
 
20 Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel,
 
21 Adaiah, Beraiah and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei.
 
22 Ishpan, Eber, Eliel,
 
23 Abdon, Zicri, Hanan,
 
24 Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah,
 
25 Iphdeiah and Penuel were the sons of Shashak.
 
26 Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah,
 
27 Jaareshiah, Elijah and Zicri were the sons of Jeroham.
 
28 All these were heads of families, chiefs as listed in their genealogy, and they lived in Jerusalem.
 
29 Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon. His wife's name was Maacah,
 
30 and his firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,
 
31 Gedor, Ahio, Zeker
 
32 and Mikloth, who was the father of Shimeah. They too lived near their relatives in Jerusalem.
 
33 Ner was the father of Kish, Kish the father of Saul, and Saul the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab and Esh-Baal.
 
34 The son of Jonathan: Merib-Baal, who was the father of Micah.
 
35 The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tarea and Ahaz.
 
36 Ahaz was the father of Jehoaddah, Jehoaddah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri, and Zimri was the father of Moza.
 
37 Moza was the father of Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son and Azel his son.
 
38 Azel had six sons, and these were their names: Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.
 
39 The sons of his brother Eshek: Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second son and Eliphelet the third.
 
40 The sons of Ulam were brave warriors who could handle the bow. They had many sons and grandsons-150 in all. All these were the descendants of Benjamin.

Hebrews 11,

1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
 
2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
 
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
 
4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
 
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
 
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
 
7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
 
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.
 
9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
 
10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
 
11 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age-and Sarah herself was barren-was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.
 
12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
 
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.
 
14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.
 
15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.
 
16 Instead, they were longing for a better country-a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
 
17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son,
 
18 even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned."
 
19 Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.
 
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
 
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
 
22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.
 
23 By faith Moses" parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king"s edict.
 
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter.
 
25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.
 
26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.
 
27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.
 
28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
 
29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
 
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
 
31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
 
32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets,
 
33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,
 
34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.
 
35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection.
 
36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison.
 
37 They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated-
 
38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
 
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.
 
40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Amos 5,

1 Hear this word, O house of Israel, this lament I take up concerning you:
 
2 "Fallen is Virgin Israel, never to rise again, deserted in her own land, with no one to lift her up."
 
3 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: "The city that marches out a thousand strong for Israel will have only a hundred left; the town that marches out a hundred strong will have only ten left."
 
4 This is what the LORD says to the house of Israel: "Seek me and live;
 
5 do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba. For Gilgal will surely go into exile, and Bethel will be reduced to nothing."
 
6 Seek the LORD and live, or he will sweep through the house of Joseph like a fire; it will devour, and Bethel will have no one to quench it.
 
7 You who turn justice into bitterness and cast righteousness to the ground
 
8 (he who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns blackness into dawn and darkens day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land-the LORD is his name-
 
9 he flashes destruction on the stronghold and brings the fortified city to ruin),
 
10 you hate the one who reproves in court and despise him who tells the truth.
 
11 You trample on the poor and force him to give you grain. Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted lush vineyards, you will not drink their wine.
 
12 For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. You oppress the righteous and take bribes and you deprive the poor of justice in the courts.
 
13 Therefore the prudent man keeps quiet in such times, for the times are evil.
 
14 Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is.
 
15 Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the LORD God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.
 
16 Therefore this is what the Lord, the LORD God Almighty, says: "There will be wailing in all the streets and cries of anguish in every public square. The farmers will be summoned to weep and the mourners to wail.
 
17 There will be wailing in all the vineyards, for I will pass through your midst," says the LORD.
 
18 Woe to you who long for the day of the LORD! Why do you long for the day of the LORD? That day will be darkness, not light.
 
19 It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him.
 
20 Will not the day of the LORD be darkness, not light-pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?
 
21 "I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies.
 
22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them.
 
23 Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.
 
24 But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!
 
25 "Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the desert, O house of Israel?
 
26 You have lifted up the shrine of your king, the pedestal of your idols, the star of your god-which you made for yourselves.
 
27 Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Damascus," says the LORD, whose name is God Almighty.

Luke 1:1~38

1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,
 
2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
 
3 Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
 
4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
 
5 In 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.
 
6 Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly.
 
7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.
 
8 Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
 
9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
 
10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
 
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
 
12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.
 
13 But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.
 
14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,
 
15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.
 
16 Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God.
 
17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous-to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
 
18 Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."
 
19 The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.
 
20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time."
 
21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple.
 
22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
 
23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home.
 
24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion.
 
25 "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people."
 
26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,
 
27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
 
28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."
 
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
 
30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.
 
31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.
 
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
 
33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
 
34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
 
35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
 
36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.
 
37 For nothing is impossible with God."
 
38 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.