Mark 8:1-21; 2 Samuel 19; Daniel 12

Mark 8:1-21

1 In those days there was again a large crowd, and they had nothing to eat. He summoned the disciples and said to them,

2 "I have compassion on the crowd, because they've already stayed with Me three days and have nothing to eat.

3 If I send them home famished, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a long distance."

4 His disciples answered Him, "Where can anyone get enough bread here in this desolate place to fill these people?"

5 "How many loaves do you have?" He asked them. "Seven," they said.

6 Then He commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground. Taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks, broke the [loaves], and kept on giving [them] to His disciples to set before [the people]. So they served the [loaves] to the crowd.

7 They also had a few small fish, and when He had blessed them, He said these were to be served as well.

8 They ate and were filled. Then they collected seven large baskets of leftover pieces.

9 About 4,000 [men] were there. He dismissed them

10 and immediately got into the boat with His disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.

11 The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, demanding of Him a sign from heaven to test Him.

12 But sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, "Why does this generation demand a sign? I assure you: No sign will be given to this generation!"

13 Then He left them, got on board [the boat] again, and went to the other side.

14 They had forgotten to take bread and had only one loaf with them in the boat.

15 Then He commanded them: "Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod."

16 They were discussing among themselves that they did not have any bread.

17 Aware of this, He said to them, "Why are you discussing that you do not have any bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Is your heart hardened?

18 Do you have eyes, and not see, and do you have ears, and not hear? And do you not remember?

19 When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000, how many baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect?" "Twelve," they told Him.

20 "When I broke the seven loaves for the 4,000, how many large baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect?" "Seven," they said.

21 And He said to them, "Don't you understand yet?"

2 Samuel 19

1 It was reported to Joab, "The king is weeping. He's mourning over Absalom."

2 That day's victory was turned into mourning for all the troops because on that day the troops heard, "The king is grieving over his son."

3 So they returned to the city quietly that day like people come in when they are humiliated after fleeing in battle.

4 But the king hid his face and cried out at the top of his voice, "My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!"

5 Then Joab went into the house to the king and said, "Today you have shamed all your soldiers-those who rescued your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, your wives, and your concubines.

6 You love your enemies and hate those who love you! Today you have made it clear that the commanders and soldiers mean nothing to you. In fact, today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, it would be fine with you!

7 "Now get up! Go out and encourage your soldiers, for I swear by the Lord that if you don't go out, not a man will remain with you tonight. This will be worse for you than all the trouble that has come to you from your youth until now!"

8 So the king got up and sat in the gate, and all the people were told: "Look, the king is sitting in the gate." Then they all came into the king's presence. Meanwhile, each Israelite had fled to his tent.

9 All the people among all the tribes of Israel were arguing: "The king delivered us from the grasp of our enemies, and he rescued us from the grasp of the Philistines, but now he has fled from the land because of Absalom.

10 But Absalom, the man we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about restoring the king?"

11 King David sent word to the priests, Zadok and Abiathar: "Say to the elders of Judah, 'Why should you be the last to restore the king to his palace? The talk of all Israel has reached the king at his house.

12 You are my brothers, my flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to restore the king?'

13 And tell Amasa, 'Aren't you my flesh and blood? May God punish me and do so severely if you don't become commander of the army from now on instead of Joab!' "

14 So he won over all the men of Judah, and they sent word to the king: "Come back, you and all your servants."

15 Then the king returned. When he arrived at the Jordan, Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and escort him across the Jordan.

16 Shimei son of Gera, a Benjaminite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David.

17 There were 1,000 men from Benjamin with him. Ziba, an attendant from the house of Saul, with his 15 sons and 20 servants also rushed down to the Jordan ahead of the king.

18 They forded the Jordan to bring the king's household across and do whatever the king desired. When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell down before the king

19 and said to him, "My lord, don't hold me guilty, and don't remember your servant's wrongdoing on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king not take it to heart.

20 For your servant knows that I have sinned. But look! Today I am the first one of the entire house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king."

21 Abishai son of Zeruiah asked, "Shouldn't Shimei be put to death for this, because he ridiculed the Lord's anointed?"

22 David answered, "Sons of Zeruiah, do we agree on anything? Have you become my adversary today? Should any man be killed in Israel today? Am I not aware that today I'm king over Israel?"

23 So the king said to Shimei, "You will not die." Then the king gave him his oath.

24 Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson, also went down to meet the king. He had not taken care of his feet, trimmed his moustache, or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned safely.

25 When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, "Mephibosheth, why didn't you come with me?"

26 "My lord the king," he replied, "my servant [Ziba] betrayed me. Actually your servant said: 'I'll saddle the donkey for myself so that I may ride it and go with the king'-for your servant is lame.

27 Ziba slandered your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like the Angel of God, so do whatever you think best.

28 For my grandfather's entire family deserves death from my lord the king, but you set your servant among those who eat at your table. So what further right do I have to keep on making appeals to the king?"

29 The king said to him, "Why keep on speaking about [these] matters of yours? I hereby declare: you and Ziba are to divide the land."

30 Mephibosheth said to the king, "Instead, since my lord the king has come to his palace safely, let Ziba take it all!"

31 Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim and accompanied the king to the Jordan River to see him off at the Jordan.

32 Barzillai was a very old man-80 years old-and since he was a very wealthy man, he had provided for the needs of the king while he stayed in Mahanaim.

33 The king said to Barzillai, "Cross over with me, and I'll provide for you at my side in Jerusalem."

34 Barzillai replied to the king, "How many years of my life are left that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king?

35 I'm now 80 years old. Can I discern what is pleasant and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of male and female singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?

36 Since your servant is only going with the king a little way across the Jordan, why should the king repay me with such a reward?

37 Please let your servant return so that I may die in my own city near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham: let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him what seems good to you."

38 The king replied, "Chimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you, and whatever you desire from me I will do for you."

39 So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and Barzillai returned to his home.

40 The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him. All the troops of Judah and half of Israel's escorted the king.

41 Suddenly, all the men of Israel came to the king. They asked him, "Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and transport the king and his household across the Jordan, along with all of David's men?"

42 All the men of Judah responded to the men of Israel, "Because the king is our relative. Why does this make you angry? Have we ever eaten anything of the king's or been honored at all?"

43 The men of Israel answered the men of Judah: "We have 10 shares in the king, so we have a greater [claim] to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Weren't we the first to speak of restoring our king?" But the words of the men of Judah were harsher than those of the men of Israel.

Daniel 12

1 At that time Michael the great prince who stands watch over your people will rise up. There will be a time of distress such as never has occurred since nations came into being until that time. But at that time all your people who are found written in the book will escape.

2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to eternal life, and some to shame and eternal contempt.

3 Those who are wise will shine like the bright expanse [of the heavens], and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

4 "But you, Daniel, keep these words secret and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will roam about, and knowledge will increase."

5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and two others were standing there, one on this bank of the river and one on the other.

6 One said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, "How long until the end of these extraordinary things?"

7 Then I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river. He raised both his hands toward heaven and swore by Him who lives eternally that it would be for a time, times, and half [a time]. When the power of the holy people is shattered, all these things will be completed.

8 I heard but did not understand. So I asked, "My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?"

9 He said, "Go on your way, Daniel, for the words are secret and sealed until the time of the end.

10 Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; none of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand.

11 From the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.

12 Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches 1,335 days.

13 But as for you, go on your way to the end; you will rest, then rise to your destiny at the end of the days."