2 Samuel 24

David Enrolls the Fighting Men 1 Again the anger of theLordburned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.” 2 So the king said to Joab and the army commanderswith him, “Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enroll the fighting […]

1 Samuel 17

David and Goliath 1 Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Sokoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Sokoh and Azekah. 2 Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. 3 The Philistines occupied […]

Ruth 1

Naomi Loses Her Husband and Sons 1 In the days when the judges ruled,there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. 2 The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was […]

Ruth 2

Ruth Meets Boaz in the Grain Field 1 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a man of standing from the clan of Elimelek, whose name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes […]

Ruth 3

Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor 1 One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a homefor you, where you will be well provided for. 2 Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. […]

Ruth 4

Boaz Marries Ruth 1 Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat down there just as the guardian-redeemerhe had mentioned came along. Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down. 2 Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, “Sit here,” […]

Judges 1

Israel Fights the Remaining Canaanites 1 After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked theLord, “Who of us is to go up first to fight against the Canaanites?” 2 TheLordanswered, “Judah shall go up; I have given the land into their hands.” 3 The men of Judah then said to the Simeonites their fellow Israelites, […]

Judges 3

1 These are the nations theLordleft to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan 2 (he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience): 3 the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and […]