‘Cursed is the one who has sexual relations with ¹  his father’s former wife, ²  for he dishonors his father.’ ³  Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’

But we can’t allow our daughters to marry them, ¹  for the Israelites took an oath, saying, ‘Whoever gives a woman to a Benjaminite will be destroyed!’ ² 

So Naomi returned, accompanied by her Moabite daughter-in-law Ruth, who came back with her from the region of Moab. ¹  (Now they ²  arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.) ³ 

Now Hannah was speaking from her heart. Although her lips were moving, her voice was inaudible. Eli therefore thought she was drunk.

Now the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite – Recab and Baanah – went at the hottest part of the day to the home of Ish-bosheth, as he was enjoying his midday rest.

So the messenger departed. When he arrived, he informed David of all the news that Joab had sent with him.

The king replied to her, “What do you want?” ¹  She answered, “I am a widow; my husband is dead.

She went and did as Elijah told her; there was always enough food for Elijah and for her and her family. ¹ 

She asked Elijah, “Why, prophet, have you come ¹  to me to confront me with ²  my sin and kill my son?”

She said to her husband, “Look, I’m sure ¹  that the man who regularly passes through here is a very special prophet. ² 

Now, run to meet her and ask her, ‘Are you well? Are your husband and the boy well?’” She told Gehazi, ¹  “Everything’s fine.”

These were the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: The firstborn was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel; the second was Daniel, whose mother was Abigail from Carmel;

The sons of Ezrah: Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. Mered’s wife Bithiah ¹  gave birth to Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah, the father of Eshtemoa.

The sons of Manasseh: Asriel, who was born to Manasseh’s Aramean concubine. ¹  She also gave birth to Makir the father of Gilead.

And from among ¹  the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, and the descendants of Barzillai (who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that ²  name).

Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat in light of these actions of theirs – also Noadiah the prophetess and the other prophets who were trying to scare me!

to bring Queen Vashti into the king’s presence wearing her royal high turban. He wanted to show the people and the officials her beauty, for she was very attractive. ¹ 

And let the king’s decision which he will enact be disseminated ¹  throughout all his kingdom, vast though it is. ²  Then all the women will give honor to their husbands, from the most prominent to the lowly.”

Nowhere in all the land could women be found who were as beautiful as Job’s daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance alongside their brothers.

The Lord looks down from heaven ¹  at the human race, ²  to see if there is anyone who is wise ³  and seeks God. ⁴