Monday in Epiphany

1Verse 1. Then the Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan, across from Jericho. 2Verse 2. Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, 3Verse 3. and Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous. Indeed, Moab dreaded the Israelites. 4Verse 4. So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will devour everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” Since Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time, 5Verse 5. he sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates in the land of his people. “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt,” said Balak. “They cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. 6Verse 6. So please come now and put a curse on this people, because they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land; for I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed.” 7Verse 7. The elders of Moab and Midian departed with the fees for divination in hand. They came to Balaam and relayed to him the words of Balak. 8Verse 8. “Spend the night here,” Balaam replied, “and I will give you the answer that the LORD speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. 9Verse 9. Then God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?” 10Verse 10. And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: 11Verse 11. ‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them away.’” 12Verse 12. But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.” 13Verse 13. So Balaam got up the next morning and said to Balak’s princes, “Go back to your homeland, because the LORD has refused to let me go with you.” 14Verse 14. And the princes of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.” 15Verse 15. Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first messengers. 16Verse 16. They came to Balaam and said, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me, 17Verse 17. for I will honor you richly and do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on this people for me!’” 18Verse 18. But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything small or great to go beyond the command of the LORD my God. 19Verse 19. So now, please stay here overnight as the others did, that I may find out what else the LORD has to tell me.” 20Verse 20. That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.” 21Verse 21. So in the morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.

17Verse 17. When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us joyfully. 18Verse 18. The next day Paul went in with us to see James, and all the elders were present. 19Verse 19. Paul greeted them and recounted one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20Verse 20. When they heard this, they glorified God. Then they said to Paul, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. 21Verse 21. But they are under the impression that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or observe our customs. 22Verse 22. What then should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23Verse 23. Therefore do what we advise you. There are four men with us who have taken a vow. 24Verse 24. Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that there is no truth to these rumors about you, but that you also live in obedience to the law. 25Verse 25. As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.” 26Verse 26. So the next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he entered the temple to give notice of the date when their purification would be complete and the offering would be made for each of them.