So the warden removed the delicacies and the wine ¹  from their diet ²  and gave them a diet of vegetables instead.

I will signal for them and gather them, for I have already redeemed them; then they will become as numerous as they were before.

Again the Lord said to me, “Take up once more the equipment of a foolish shepherd. ¹ 

The ¹  guards were shaken and became like dead men because they were so afraid of him.

Now ¹  there were shepherds ²  nearby ³  living out in the field, keeping guard ⁴  over their flock at night.

They will never follow a stranger, ¹  but will run away from him, because they do not recognize ²  the stranger’s voice.” ³ 

“I am the good shepherd. I ¹  know my own ²  and my own know me –

Then ¹  when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that never fades away.

He made for himself a large storeroom where previously they had been keeping ¹  the grain offering, the incense, and the vessels, along with the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the olive oil as commanded for the Levites, the singers, the gate keepers, and the offering for the priests.

“Awake, sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is my associate,” says the Lord who rules over all. Strike the shepherd that the flock may be scattered; ¹  I will turn my hand against the insignificant ones.

So ¹  he said to the worker who tended the vineyard, ‘For ²  three years ³  now, I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and each time I inspect it ⁴  I find none. Cut ⁵  it down! Why ⁶  should it continue to deplete ⁷  the soil?’

And let the king appoint officers throughout all the provinces of his kingdom to gather all the attractive young women to Susa the citadel, to the harem ¹  under the authority of Hegai, the king’s eunuch who oversees the women, and let him provide whatever cosmetics they desire. ² 

Pharaoh said to Joseph’s ¹  brothers, “What is your occupation?” They said to Pharaoh, “Your servants take care of flocks, just as our ancestors did.” ² 

When some ¹  shepherds came and drove them away, ²  Moses came up and defended them ³  and then watered their flock.

They said, “An Egyptian man rescued us ¹  from the shepherds, ²  and he actually ³  drew water for us and watered the flock!”

who will go out before them, and who will come in before them, ¹  and who will lead them out, and who will bring them in, so that ²  the community of the Lord may not be like sheep that have no shepherd.”

David replied to Saul, “Your servant has been a shepherd for his father’s flock. Whenever a lion or bear would come and carry off a sheep from the flock,

He ordered them, “This is what you must do. One third of the unit that is on duty during the Sabbath will guard the royal palace.

All those selected to be gatekeepers at the entrances numbered 212. Their names were recorded in the genealogical records of their settlements. David and Samuel the prophet ¹  had appointed them to their positions. ² 

The four head gatekeepers, who were Levites, were assigned to guard the storerooms and treasuries in God’s sanctuary. ¹