Your claim to have a strategy and military strength is just empty talk. ¹  In whom are you trusting, that you would dare to rebel against me?

Then all those living in Egypt will know that I am the Lord because they were a reed staff ¹  for the house of Israel;

Next I asked the messenger, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the menorah?”

Then the leaders of Judah will say to themselves, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem are a means of strength to us through their God, the Lord who rules over all.’

When he was in Galilee, they had followed him and given him support. ¹  Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem ²  were there too.

But some people ¹  joined him ²  and believed. Among them ³  were Dionysius, who was a member of the Areopagus, ⁴  a woman ⁵  named Damaris, and others with them.

But we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not just please ourselves. ¹ 

Do we not have the right to the company of a believing wife, like the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?

I do not mean that we rule over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because by faith you stand firm. ¹ 

For how ¹  were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this injustice!

For this very reason, ¹  make every effort ²  to add to your faith excellence, ³  to excellence, knowledge;

Ahithophel replied to Absalom, “Have sex with ¹  your father’s concubines whom he left to care for the palace. All Israel will hear that you have made yourself repulsive to your father. Then your followers will be motivated to support you.” ² 

But the soldiers replied, ¹  “You should not do this! ²  For if we should have to make a rapid retreat, they won’t be too concerned about us. ³  Even if half of us should die, they won’t be too concerned about us. But you ⁴  are like ten thousand of us! So it is better if you remain in the city for support.”

The bottom floor of the extension was seven and a half feet ¹  wide, the middle floor nine feet ²  wide, and the third floor ten and a half ³  feet wide. He made ledges ⁴  on the temple’s outer walls so the beams would not have to be inserted into the walls. ⁵ 

Now look, you must be trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed staff. If a man leans for support on it, it punctures his hand and wounds him. That is what Pharaoh king of Egypt does to all who trust in him.

King Ahab of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to attack Ramoth Gilead?” Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “I will support you; my army is at your disposal and will support you in battle.” ¹ 

Anyone who survives in any of those places where he is a resident foreigner must be helped by his neighbors ¹  with silver, gold, equipment, and animals, along with voluntary offerings for the temple of God which is in Jerusalem.’”

Look, you must be trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed staff. If someone leans on it for support, it punctures his hand and wounds him. That is what Pharaoh king of Egypt does to all who trust in him!

¹ “You are to make a lampstand ²  of pure gold. The lampstand is to be made of hammered metal; its base and its shaft, its cups, ³  its buds, and its blossoms are to be from the same piece. ⁴ 

You are to put the table outside the curtain and the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle, opposite the table, and you are to place the table on the north side.