Reading for June 8th

Read Daniel 2.36-49
In verse 44 the God of heaven will set up a kingdom: An independent Jewish state under God, understood by later interpreters as an eschatological kingdom of God.
In verses 46-49 the pagan king acknowledges God (see Ex 15.14-16; Isa 45.14-17).
Comments or Questions...

Reading for June 7th

Read Daniel 2.24-35
In verses 31-33 Colossi, giant statues of gods or rulers, were erected throughout the
Hellenistic world to demonstrate Greek power.
The five parts of the statue symbolize the succession of empires that would rule
Judea prior to the kingdom of God: Babylon, Media Persia, Greece,
and the Hellenistic Ptolemaic and Seleucid dynasties.
The decreasing value of the materials symbolizes historical decline.
The mixture of iron and clay in the feet represents the mixed Greek and indigenous
ancestry of the Ptolemaic and Seleucid dynasties, as well as the weakness of their rule.
In verse 34 a stone was cut out, not by human hands: An act of God.
Comments or Questions...

Reading for June 6th

Read Daniel 2.17-23
A vision of the night: compare 1 Sam 3; 2 Sam 7.4.
In verse 18 The God of heaven: A Persian title for the Jewish deity (Ezra 1.2; 5.11; Neh 1.4; 2.4).
In verses 20-23 a song of praise thanking God for the dream (compare Neh 9.5; Hab 3.4).
Comments or Questions...

Reading for June 5th

Read Daniel 2.1-49 Nebuchadnezzar's dream.
This tale demonstrates God's superiority and Daniel's incomparable wisdom.
In verses 1-16 Nebuchadnezzar's impossible demand prepares the reader for
Daniel's role as a supremely competent interpreter in chs. 7-12.
Dream and omen interpretation were widely practiced in Babylonia.
In verse 1 the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign was 603 BCE.
Daniel appears before his training is complete (1.1, 5).
In verse 4 from 2.4b through 7.28 the text is written in Aramaic is an east Semitic language, originating in northern Aram (Syria), that was employed extensively throughout the Near East from the seventh and eighth century BCE until the emergence of Islam in the seventh century CE.
Comments or Questions...

Reading for June 4th

Read Daniel 1.8-21
In verses 8-17 the royal rations of food and wine are not kosher and therefore
are unsuitable for Jews (Lev 11; Deut 14).
Dream interpretation is a mark of wisdom (Gen 40-41).
In verses 18-21 God grants wisdom and understanding to those who adhere
to divine requirements.
The first year of King Cyrus was 539 BCE.
Comments or Questions...

Reading for June 3rd

Read Daniel 1.3-7
The Babylonians trained persons from subject nations to serve in their courts.
Palace master: literally, "chief eunuch".
Chaldeans: Aramaic-speaking Neo-Babylonians, used in Daniel for wise men.
Daniel and his companions were given Babylonian names.
Comments or Questions...

Reading for June 2nd

TALES CONCERNING DANIEL IN EXILE
Chs. 1-6 the tales establish Daniel's credibility as a righteous Jew whose God-given
wisdom enables him to overcome the challenges of exile and to point to God's redemption
of Jews from foreign domination.

Read Daniel 1.1-12 Four young Jews in the Babylonian court.
This tale establishes the theme of adherence to Jewish identity and practice by pointing to the success, wisdom, and good health of four young Jewish men who decline the delicacies
and wine of the Babylonian king in order to observe Jewish dietary laws.
In verses 1-2 the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim was 606 BCE.
Nebuchadnezzar assumed the throne in 605 BCE, after he defeated Egypt and brought
Judah under his rule.
He besieged Jerusalem in 597 BCE during the reign of Jehoiachin (2 Kings 24.1-16)
and again in 587 BCE during the regency of Zedikiah (2 Kings 25.1-7).
Shinar: the location of Babylon (Gen 10.10; 11.2; Zech 5.11).
Comments or Questions...

Reading for June 1st

Read Ephesians 6.21-24 Epistolary closing.
In verse 21 Tychicus, 4.7; 2 Tim 4.12; Titus 3.12; Acts 20.4-6.
In verse 22 Col. 4.8.
Comments or Questions...

Reading for May 31st

Read Ephesians 6.10-20 A call to arms and prayer for strength to proclaim truth.
In verse 14 Ephesians 4.25.
In verse 17 Helmet of salvation, Isa 59.17.
The sword of the Spirit,the word of God, the only offensive weapon.
In verses 18-20 on the importance of prayer throughout Ephesians, see 1.15-23;  3.14-21.
In verse 20 the ambassador is an envoy sent on behalf of another.
Chains suggest dishonor.
Yet the writer accepts the title and only asks for boldness.
Comments or Questions...

Reading for May 30th

Read Ephesians 5.15-6.9 Strengthening believers.
Contrasts (5.15-18) clarify the believers' walk; they are strengthened through
worship with others (5.18-20) and mutual submission (5.21-6.9).
In verse 5.20 on continuous thanks, see 1 Thess 5.18; Col 3.17.
In verses 5.21-6.9 household codes governed social relations within an extended family.
See Col 3.18-4.1.
Ephesians expands on relations between husband and wife.
In verses 22-33 Col 3.18-19.
For the writer, the unity of the husband and wife, unlike the unity of Jews and gentiles,
does not result in equality.
In verses 6.1-4 Col 3.20-21.
In verse 3 Deut 5.16.
In verse 5-9 Col 3.22-4.1.
On slavery, see introduction to Philemon.
Comments or Questions...

Reading for May 29th

Read Ephesians 5.3-14 Believers as children of light.
In verses 3-7 Paul (Gal 5.19-21; 1 Cor 6.9-10) uses the vice list,
here expressing the former live of darkness (5.8).
In verses 8-14 Live (walk) as children of the light (1 Thess 5.5)
to influence the world through the church's character.
In verse 14 the hymn's origin is unkown;  it recalls Isa 60.1.
Comments or Questions...

Reading for May 28th

Read Ephesians 4.17-5.2 Old and new walks.
(See 2.1-10).
The new walk, which avoids the walk of the gentiles (4.17a) with its futility, vices,
opposition to instruction (4.17b-24), has practical implications (4.25-5.1).
In verse 17 affirm and testify, a pleonasm (deliberate repetition) drawn form legal language.
In verse 20 learned...heard...taught, instructions preceding baptism.
In verses 22-24 put away, clothe yourselves with the new self, baptismal terms.
In verses 25-26 speak the truth, Zec 8-16; be angry and sin not, Ps 4.4.
Imitations of God, never used by Paul, though he speaks of imitating Christ (1 Cor 11.1),
himself (1 Thess 1.6; Phil 3.17) or others (Phil 3.17).
Comments or Questions...

Reading for May 27th

ETHICAL EXHORTATIONS
4.1-6.20 This section contains exhortations to unity and full stature in Christ,
admonitions against vice, encouragements to worship, and even household rules,
in order to participate in the love of Christ.
Much of this material is also in Col 3.1-4.6.

Read Ephesians 4.1-16 Maintain unity.
Unity comes from the Spirit (vv. 1-6), and the diversity of gifts of the Spirit
brings the church to maturity (vv. 7-16).
In verse 1 Calling, see 1.18; 2.11.
In verse Patience, literally, the ability to endure the pressure of heat.
In verses 7-10 Ps 68.18 explains the origin (Christ) and goal (Christ's filling) of Christian gifts.
In verses 11-16 the gifts are essential for the church to reach maturity (contrasted with immaturity).
Comments or Questions...

Reading for May 26th

Read Ephesians 3.1-21 Paul's imprisonment and ministry.
In verse 1 the prayer (vv. 1, 114-21) is interrupted by vv. 2-13 (see Col 1.23-27)
clarifying Paul's work on behalf of gentiles.
On Paul as prisoner, see 2 Cor 6.5; 11.23; Philem 1.9; Phil 1.13-14.
In verse 2 commission, a management or stewardship position.
In verse 3 as I wrote above, uncertain, but possibly the mission to the gentiles
(2.11-12) or Christ's revelation (1.9-10).
In verse 10 the church manifests the wisdom of God's plan of reconciliation.
In verses 14-21 the prayer resumes in a single sentence (vv. 14-19)
and closes with a doxology (vv. 20-21).
In verse 14 a play on father ("patera") and family ("patria").
In verses 16-19 the goal is the fullness of God by way of the love of Christ.
In verses 20-21 the doxology recalls the emphasis on power and abundance (1.19-20; 2.7).
Comments or Questions...

Reading for May 25th

Read Ephesians 2.1-22 God's reconciling grace.
God saves humankind from enemy powers and Christ ends the enmity between Jews and gentiles.
In verses 1-10 contrast between past walk (vv. 1-3) and present walk (4-10).
In verse 2 lived, literally "walked," connects the former walk (2.2) and the new way of walking in 2.10 (see 4.1, 17; 5.2, 8, 15).
Ruler of the power of the air, Satan (4.27; 6.11-12).
In verse 3 flesh, fleshly disposition.
In verses 5-6 by grace you have been saved, similar to Paul's language elsewhere,
but he never views resurrection of believers as a present reality.
In verse 10 the good works that the community does are possible because
God has created them in Christ.
The life they lead is the way (literally "walk," v. 1) God has made possible.
In verses 11-12 Jews and gentiles are reconciled to God in the body of Christ.
In verse 12 aliens, those without knowledge (Col 1.21).
In verse 13 the far off ... brought near (also 2.17), possibly drawn from Isa 57.19.
In verse 14 dividing wall, possibly the Temple barrier separating the court of the gentiles from the parts of the Temple open only to Jews.
In verse 18 access, the right approach, as if to a king (3.12).
In verse 19 household of God: for the patriarchal writer, God is father over the social relations in the believers' family (1.3, 17; 2.18; 3.14; 4.6; 5.20; 6.23).
In verse 20 Paul speaks of Christ as a foundation (1 Cor 3.10-15), but not apostles and prophets.
Cornerstone or keystone, a messianic term (Isa 28.16, perhaps Ps 118.21-23).
Comments or Questions...

Reading for May 24th

Read Ephesians 1.15-23 A thanksgiving.
In verse 18 heart, the seat of knowledge and understanding.
Because of the hope to which he has called you, the church must live out its calling,
as described in 4.1-3.
In verses 20-22 at the right hand, the most honored position (Col 3-1); under his feet, a sign of victory; both quoted from  Ps 110.
In verse 22 Christ as head of the church (compare Col 1.18) is not found in the undisputed Pauline letters, which speak of local churches, not the universal church.
Comments or Questions...

Reading for May 23rd

Read Ephesians 1.3-14 Praise to God.
The repetitions of praise (vv. 6, 12, 14) divide the one Greek sentence into three parts
(vv. 3-6, 7-12, 13-14).
In verse 3 heavenly places occurs nowhere else in the New Testament but Ephesians
(1.20; 2.6; 3.10; 6.12).
In verses 5-6 adoption, a favorite concept for Paul (Gal 4.15; Rom 8.15, 23; 9.4);
Paul never uses beloved to characterize Christ though later Christian writers, like Ignatius, do.
In verse 7 for Paul, redemption (a purchase payment) covers all of the believers' lives and is completed only at the second coming ("parousia").
(See 3.24; 8.23; 1 Cor 1.30; see also 1 Cor 15.23).
Ephesians holds a similar view but never mentions parousia.
In verse 8 wisdom and insight emphasize adequate perception; the recipients should avoid deceit
and spread truth (4.14, 25; 5.6; 6.14).
In verse 9 mystery, Colossians reserves this expression for Christ (Col 1.26-27; 2.2; 4.3); here it indicates God's reconciliation of all things, including Jews and gentiles in the body of Christ
(3.3-4, 9).
In verse 10 gather up, "head up": Jesus is head of the body and the church grows toward that head.
In verse 11 Paul links adoption to inheritance (Gal 3.29; 4.7; Rom 8.17).
In verses 12-14 we, you connects vv. 7-12 to 13-14, anticipating the direct address to
gentiles in 2.1 and 3.1.
A seal confirms authenticity; a pledge is a deposit against a full amount to be paid later;
both are used similarly in Paul's undisputed letters (2 Cor 1.22; 5.5; Rom 8.23).
Comments or Questions...

Reading for May 22nd

Read Ephesians 1.1-2 The epistolary opening is typical for Paul's letters:
identification of the letter's sender and recipients, followed by words of greeting.
Comments or Questions...

Reading for May 21st

Read Ezekiel 48.23-35
In verses 23-29 the southern tribes are listed from north to south as Benjamin,
Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun, and Gad.
In verses 30-35 there are three gates allotted to the tribes on each side of the square city.
The northern gates include Reuben, Judah, and Levi; the eastern gates include Joseph,
Benjamin, and Dan; the southern gates include Simeon, Issachar, and Zebulun; and the
western gates include Gad, Asher, and Naphtali.
The name of the city if The LORD is There ("yhwh shammah") to signify the return of God's presence (see Isa 60.14; Jer 30.11).
Comments or Questions...

Reading for May 20th

Read Ezekiel 48:1-35
The tribes are assigned equal portions of land arrayed along the length of the
land from north to south.
In verses 1-7 the northern tribes are listed from north to south as Dan, Asher,
Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Reuben, Judah.
In verses 8-22 the "holy district," or levitical allotment (45.1-9), is defined in detail.
The priests are placed in the north, and the sanctuary is assigned to their portion; the Levites are placed to the south of the priests; and the portion reserved for Israel, which contains the city (Jerusalem), is placed to the south of the Levites.
The portion allotted to the prince is on either side of the "holy district."
Comments or Questions...

Reading for May 19th

The reestablishment of the land and people of Israel
47.13-48.35 The reconstruction of the Temple and the resulting renewal of creation provide the basis for the reestablishment of the land and people of Israel.

Read Ezekiel 47.13-23
The boundaries of the land are an idealized portrayal of the greatest extent of the Davidic kingdom and that of Jeroboam II (2 Sam 8.5-12; 2 Kings 14.25; compare Num 34).
The northern border runs from the Mediterranean east to Hazar-enon, between Hamath (modern Hama) to the north and Damascus to the south (Num 34.7-9); the eastern border runs south through the Jordan Valley to Tamar just south of the Dead Sea (Num 34.10-12); the southern border runs through the Negeb to the Wadi of Egypt (modern Wadi el-Arish in the northeastern Sinai peninsula; see Num 34.3-5); the western border runs along the Mediterranean coast (Num 34.6).
The aliens who reside among you (Hebrew "gerim," or "sojourners," later considered converts in post-biblical Hebrew) live according to the same laws as Israelites (Lev 19.34; Num 15.29).
Comments or Questions...

Reading for May 18th

Read Ezekiel 47.1-12
Once the Temple is reestablished, water streams up from below the threshold of the
temple to the east to water the land of Israel.
This indicates the role of the Temple as the center of creation
(the Garden of Eden, Gen 2.10-14; Ps 46.4).
The course of the water reflects that of the Gihon spring (compare the Edenic river,
Gen 2.10, 13), and emerges east of the city of David where its waters flow south into the
Siloam pool (see 1 Kings 1.32-40; Isa 7.3; 2 Chr 32.4).
The water flows into the Jordan Valley and eventually into the Arabah (the Jordan rift where the Dead Sea is located) to transform the waters of the Dead Sea into fresh water that supports fish and fruit trees (see Gen 2.1-14).
Comments or Questions...

Reading for May 17th

Read Ezekiel 46.19-24
Areas for the preparation of sacrifices for consumption by the priests are
located in the northwestern area of the inner court.
Kitchens for the people are located at the four corners of the outer court.
Comments or Questions...

Reading for May 16th

Read Ezekiel 46.1-18
In verses 11-15 the freewill and daily offerings of the prince are specified (Lev 22.18-23,
vow or freewill offering; Num 28.3-8, daily offering).
In verses 16-18 the prince may pass property on to his sons, but property passed to servants
reverts to the prince at the jubilee year (Lev 25.8-17).
The prince may not pass property of the people to his own sons.
Comments or Questions...

Reading for May 15th

Read Ezekiel 45.18-25
Observance of Passover and Sukkot (Booths).
In verses 18-20 the blood of a sin offering purifies the Temple, altar, and inner court on the
 first day of the first month.
The animal blood atones for an individual who has sinned inadvertently.
Note the smearing of blood on the doorposts at the Exodus (Ex 12.21-28).
In verses 21-25 many regard this as a festival calendar, but it merely specifies the obligation
of the prince to provide offerings for Passover (Ex 23.15; Lev 23.4-8; Deut 16.1-8) and Sukkot
(Ex 23.16; Lev 23.33-36; Deut 16.13-15).
Comments or Questions...

Reading for May 14th

Read Ezekiel 45.13-17
The people pay percentages of wheat (1.5%), barley (1.5%), oil (1%), and sheep (.5%) as a tax
for the grain offerings (Lev 2); the burnt offerings (Lev 1); and the offerings of well-being (Lev 3).
All the people of the land shall join with the prince in Israel in making this offering indicates that they pay their tax to the prince.
The prince in turn is obligated to provide the sin offerings (Lev 4.1-5.13), the grain offerings (Lev 2), the burnt offerings (Lev 1), and the offerings of well-being (Lev 3) on behalf of the people at all festivals, new moons, sabbaths, and appointed festivals.
Comments or Questions...

Reading for May 13th

Read Ezekiel 45.1-12
In verses 1-9 the size and distribution of the holy district in the land for the use of the priests, the Levites, Israel, and the prince.
According to the Hebrew text of v. 1 ("ten thousand cubits wide") , the combined land area is a 25,000 cubit square.
The priestly portion includes the area for the sanctuary.
The Levites' portion equals that of the priests, but the portion for the rest of Israel is half of that.
The portion of the prince is not included in the holy district or city; he may not evict Israel.
In verses 10-12 holiness in the Temple requires just, standardized measures (Lev 19.35-36; Deut 25.13-16; compare Am 8.5; Mic 6.10-11; Prov 11.1; 20.10).
The homer equals 6.524 bushels; the ephah is a dry measure that equals 20.878 quarts; the bath is a liquid measure that equals 6.073 gallons; the shekel is a measure of weight equivalent to 176.29 grains; 50 shekels constitute a mina equivalent to 20.148 ounces.
Comments or Questions...

Reading for May 12th

Read Ezekiel 44.15-31
The Levites of the Zadokite line (1 Kings 2.26-27) shall enter the sanctuary and serve at the altar.
They shall wear only linen (Ex28.39); they shall not wear holy garments outside of the inner court (42.14); they shall trim their hair, but not shave it (Lev 21.5); they shall not drink wine in the inner court (Lev 10.0); they shall marry only virgins or the widows of other priests (Lev 21.7, 13-14); they shall instruct the people concerning holiness and purity (Lev 10.10-11; Deut 33.8-10; Hag 2.10-13); they shall act like judges (Ex 22.9; Deut 17.8-9; 19.17; 21.1-5); they shall observe the festivals
(Lev 23; Num 28-29; Deut 16); they shall avoid contact with the dead and mourning, except for parents and siblings (Lev 21.1-3; Num 19); they shall receive no inheritance other than a share of the first fruits and offerings at the Temple (Num 18; Lev 27.28-29); and they shall not eat meat that was not properly slaughtered (Lev 22.8).
Comments or Questions...

Reading for May 11th

Read Ezekiel 44.1-46.24 Regulations concerning the Temple.
In verses 44.1-3 the east gate remains closed because God enters the Temple through the east gate.
The king eats here.
In verses 4-14 those who have engaged in idolatry or abominations are to be excluded
from the Temple.
Foreigners shall not enter (Lev 22.25; compare Isa 56.3-8).
Deuteronomy 18.6-8 allows Levites to serve at the altar, but they are disenfranchised
here for idolatrous behavior and allowed to perform only secondary service.
The passage may presuppose the judgment leveled against the house of Eli (1 Sam 2)
or inappropriate  Levitical service at the high places mentioned throughout 1-2 Kings.
Comments or Questions...

Reading for May 10th

The Temple complex and its activities
43.13-47.12 Instructions concerning structures associated with the Temple and regulations
concerning Temple rituals and practice.

Read Ezekiel 43.13-27
The altar is a four-level stepped structure, like a Mesopotamian ziggurat (a type of pyramid).
The base literally "bosom of the earth" (signifying the placement of the altar at the center of the earth), is 18 cubits square.
The lower ledge is 16 cubits square.
The upper ledge is 14 cubits square.
The altar hearth (hahar'el" in Hebrew, "mountain of God' or "God appeared"; compared Ariel of Isa 29.1) has four horns (see Ex 27.2; 29.12; 1 Kings 1.50-51; Zech 2.1-4).
The height of the structure is 10 cubits.
Its steps face toward the east gate.
The seven-day consecration of the altar is performed at Sukkot (Booths; 1 Kings 8.65-66;
Ezra 3.1-7; but compare Num 7) and is analogous to the ordination of priests (Ex 29.1-37; Lev 8).
The purification of the altar with blood is analogous to the sprinkling of blood on the priests at their ordination (Ex 29.16), on the altar at Yom Kippur to make atonement for the people (Lev 16.18-19), and on the people to seal the covenant (Ex 24.1-8).
Salt is also offered with grain offerings (Lev 2.13; Num 18.19).
Comments or Questions...

Reading for May 9th

Read Ezekiel 43.1-12
The Divine Presence (chs. 1; 8-11) returns to the Temple complex through the east gate
from which it had earlier departed (10.19).
Ezekiel recalls his inaugural vision and reports that he is transported to the inner court
where he sees the glory of the LORD filling the Temple (Ex 40.34-35; 1 Kings 8.10-13).
God informs him that this will be the place of my throne (see 1 Chr 28.2; Ps 132.7;
Isa 60.13; Lam 2.1).
The corpses of their kings refers to burials of kings near the Temple (1 Kings 2.10; 11.43;
2 Kings 21.18, 26).
God instructs Ezekiel to teach the people the plan for the Temple.
This is the law of the temple: Law (Hebrew "torah") is more properly translated "instruction";
the statement summarizes God's instructions concerning the Temple.
Comments or Questions...