In Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed some Levites, priests, and Israelite family leaders to judge on behalf of the Lord and to settle disputes among the residents of Jerusalem.

Now this is the will of the one who sent me – that I should not lose one person of every one he has given me, but raise them all up at the last day.

Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must obey him in everything he tells you.

My goal is that their hearts, having been knit together in love, may be encouraged, and that they may have all the riches that assurance brings in their understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, namely, Christ,

She said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom Milcah bore to Nahor.

Since Jacob had fallen in love with Rachel, he said, “I’ll serve you seven years in exchange for your younger daughter Rachel.”

So Hamor and his son Shechem went to the gate of their city and spoke to the men of their city,

returned to his brothers, and said, “The boy isn’t there! And I, where can I go?”

These were the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter. She bore these to Jacob, sixteen in all.

These were the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter. She bore these to Jacob, seven in all.

So Joseph moved them from Israel’s knees and bowed down with his face to the ground.

These are the names of the sons of Israel who entered Egypt – each man with his household entered with Jacob:

and my anger will burn and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives will be widows and your children will be fatherless.

These were the ones chosen from the community, leaders of their ancestral tribes. They were the heads of the thousands of Israel.

Be keenly aware that just as a parent disciplines his child, the Lord your God disciplines you.

who justly treats the orphan and widow, and who loves resident foreigners, giving them food and clothing.

He must eat the same share they do, despite any profits he may gain from the sale of his family’s inheritance.

You must not pervert justice due a resident foreigner or an orphan, or take a widow’s garment as security for a loan.

You will bear sons and daughters but not keep them, because they will be taken into captivity.

But his sons did not follow his ways. Instead, they made money dishonestly, accepted bribes, and perverted justice.