1 Chron. 9:35–10:14

9:35 Jeiel (the father of Gibeon) lived in Gibeon. His wife was Maacah. 36His firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, 37Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth. 38Mikloth was the father of Shimeam. They also lived near their relatives in Jerusalem.

39Ner was the father of Kish, and Kish was the father of Saul. Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.

40The son of Jonathan:

Meribbaal, who was the father of Micah.

41The sons of Micah:

Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz.

42Ahaz was the father of Jarah, and Jarah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri was the father of Moza, 43and Moza was the father of Binea. His son was Rephaiah, whose son was Eleasah, whose son was Azel.

44Azel had six sons: Azrikam his firstborn, followed by Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.

10:1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel. The Israelites fled before the Philistines and many of them fell dead on Mount Gilboa. 2The Philistines stayed right on the heels of Saul and his sons. They struck down Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua. 3The battle was thick around Saul; the archers spotted him and wounded him. 4Saul told his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and stab me with it. Otherwise these uncircumcised people will come and torture me.” But his armor-bearer refused to do it because he was very afraid. So Saul took the sword and fell on it. 5When his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died. 6So Saul and his three sons died; his whole household died together. 7When all the Israelites who were in the valley saw that the army had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. The Philistines came and occupied them.

8The next day, when the Philistines came to strip loot from the corpses, they discovered Saul and his sons lying dead on Mount Gilboa. 9They stripped his corpse and then carried off his head and his armor. They sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines proclaiming the news to their idols and their people. 10They placed his armor in the temple of their gods and hung his head in the temple of Dagon. 11When all the residents of Jabesh Gilead heard about everything the Philistines had done to Saul, 12all the warriors went and recovered the bodies of Saul and his sons and brought them to Jabesh. They buried their remains under the oak tree in Jabesh and fasted for seven days.

13So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord and did not obey the Lord’s instructions; he even tried to conjure up underworld spirits. 14He did not seek the Lord’s guidance, so the Lord killed him and transferred the kingdom to David son of Jesse.

Ps. 112

112:1 Praise the Lord!

How blessed is the one who obeys the Lord,

who takes great delight in keeping his commands.

2His descendants will be powerful on the earth;

the godly will be blessed.

3His house contains wealth and riches;

his integrity endures.

4In the darkness a light shines for the godly,

for each one who is merciful, compassionate, and just.

5It goes well for the one who generously lends money

and conducts his business honestly.

6For he will never be shaken;

others will always remember one who is just.

7He does not fear bad news.

He is confident; he trusts in the Lord.

8His resolve is firm; he will not succumb to fear

before he looks in triumph on his enemies.

9He generously gives to the needy;

his integrity endures.

He will be vindicated and honored.

10When the wicked see this, they will worry;

they will grind their teeth in frustration and melt away.

The desire of the wicked will perish.

Mark 11:12–26

11:12 Now the next day, as they went out from Bethany, he was hungry. 13After noticing in the distance a fig tree with leaves, he went to see if he could find any fruit on it. When he came to it he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.

15Then they came to Jerusalem. Jesus entered the temple area and began to drive out those who were selling and buying in the temple courts. He turned over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, 16and he would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17Then he began to teach them and said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have turned it into a den of robbers!” 18The chief priests and the experts in the law heard it, and they considered how they could assassinate him, for they feared him because the whole crowd was amazed by his teaching. 19When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.

20In the morning as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered.” 22Jesus said to them, “Have faith in God. 23I tell you the truth, if someone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24For this reason I tell you, whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your sins.”