Chapter 18<\/h4>

1<\/small><\/span> It happened, when he had made an end of speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.<\/p>

2<\/small><\/span> Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house.<\/p>

3<\/small><\/span> Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.<\/p>

4<\/small><\/span> Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him, and gave it to David, and his clothing, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his sash.<\/p>

5<\/small><\/span> David went out wherever Saul sent him, [and] behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and it was good in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.<\/p>

6<\/small><\/span> It happened as they came, when David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with instruments of music.<\/p>

7<\/small><\/span> The women sang one to another as they played, and said, Saul has slain his thousands, David his ten thousands.<\/p>

8<\/small><\/span> Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?<\/p>

9<\/small><\/span> Saul eyed David from that day and forward.<\/p><\/div>\n

Translation: World English Bible<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

#9: Prodigal Son And His Brother (Luke 15:11-32)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chapter 15<\/h4>

11<\/small><\/span> He said, \"A certain man had two sons.<\/p>

12<\/small><\/span> The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of your property.' He divided his living to them.<\/p>

13<\/small><\/span> Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and took his journey into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living.<\/p>

14<\/small><\/span> When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need.<\/p>

15<\/small><\/span> He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.<\/p>

16<\/small><\/span> He wanted to fill his belly with the husks that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any.<\/p>

17<\/small><\/span> But when he came to himself he said, 'How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough to spare, and I'm dying with hunger!<\/p>

18<\/small><\/span> I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, \"Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight.<\/p>

19<\/small><\/span> I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.\"'<\/p>

20<\/small><\/span> He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.<\/p>

21<\/small><\/span> The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no more worthy to be called your son.'<\/p>

22<\/small><\/span> But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.<\/p>

23<\/small><\/span> Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat, and celebrate;<\/p>

24<\/small><\/span> for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.' They began to be merry.<\/p>

25<\/small><\/span> Now his elder son was in the field. As he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.<\/p>

26<\/small><\/span> He called one of the servants to him, and asked what was going on.<\/p>

27<\/small><\/span> He said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him safe and sound.'<\/p>

28<\/small><\/span> But he was angry, and would not go in. Therefore his father came out, and begged him.<\/p>

29<\/small><\/span> But he answered his father, 'Behold, these many years I served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, and you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.<\/p>

30<\/small><\/span> But when this, your son, came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.'<\/p>

31<\/small><\/span> He said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.<\/p>

32<\/small><\/span> But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.'\"<\/p><\/div>\n

Translation: World English Bible<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

#8: Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1-16)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chapter 4<\/h4>

1<\/small><\/span> The man knew Eve his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, \"I have gotten a man with Yahweh's help.\"<\/p>

2<\/small><\/span> Again she gave birth, to Cain's brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.<\/p>

3<\/small><\/span> As time passed, it happened that Cain brought an offering to Yahweh from the fruit of the ground.<\/p>

4<\/small><\/span> Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of the fat of it. Yahweh respected Abel and his offering,<\/p>

5<\/small><\/span> but he didn't respect Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry, and the expression on his face fell.<\/p>

6<\/small><\/span> Yahweh said to Cain, \"Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen?<\/p>

7<\/small><\/span> If you do well, will it not be lifted up? If you don't do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it.\"<\/p>

8<\/small><\/span> Cain said to Abel, his brother, \"Let's go into the field.\" It happened, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him.<\/p>

9<\/small><\/span> Yahweh said to Cain, \"Where is Abel, your brother?\" He said, \"I don't know. Am I my brother's keeper?\"<\/p>

10<\/small><\/span> Yahweh said, \"What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries to me from the ground.<\/p>

11<\/small><\/span> Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.<\/p>

12<\/small><\/span> From now on, when you till the ground, it won't yield its strength to you. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth.\"<\/p>

13<\/small><\/span> Cain said to Yahweh, \"My punishment is greater than I can bear.<\/p>

14<\/small><\/span> Behold, you have driven me out this day from the surface of the ground. I will be hidden from your face, and I will be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth. It will happen that whoever finds me will kill me.\"<\/p>

15<\/small><\/span> Yahweh said to him, \"Therefore whoever slays Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.\" Yahweh appointed a sign for Cain, lest any finding him should strike him.<\/p>

16<\/small><\/span> Cain went out from Yahweh's presence, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.<\/p><\/div>\n

Translation: World English Bible<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

#7: Laban And Jacob (Genesis 31:1-21)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chapter 31<\/h4>

1<\/small><\/span> He heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, \"Jacob has taken away all that was our father's. From that which was our father's, has he gotten all this wealth.\"<\/p>

2<\/small><\/span> Jacob saw the expression on Laban's face, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.<\/p>

3<\/small><\/span> Yahweh said to Jacob, \"Return to the land of your fathers, and to your relatives, and I will be with you.\"<\/p>

4<\/small><\/span> Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field to his flock,<\/p>

5<\/small><\/span> and said to them, \"I see the expression on your father's face, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me.<\/p>

6<\/small><\/span> You know that I have served your father with all of my strength.<\/p>

7<\/small><\/span> Your father has deceived me, and changed my wages ten times, but God didn't allow him to hurt me.<\/p>

8<\/small><\/span> If he said this, 'The speckled will be your wages,' then all the flock bore speckled. If he said this, 'The streaked will be your wages,' then all the flock bore streaked.<\/p>

9<\/small><\/span> Thus God has taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.<\/p>

10<\/small><\/span> It happened at the time that the flock conceive, that I lifted up my eyes, and saw in a dream, and behold, the male goats which leaped on the flock were streaked, speckled, and grizzled.<\/p>

11<\/small><\/span> The angel of God said to me in the dream, 'Jacob,' and I said, 'Here I am.'<\/p>

12<\/small><\/span> He said, 'Now lift up your eyes, and behold, all the male goats which leap on the flock are streaked, speckled, and grizzled, for I have seen all that Laban does to you.<\/p>

13<\/small><\/span> I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you vowed a vow to me. Now arise, get out from this land, and return to the land of your birth.\"<\/p>

14<\/small><\/span> Rachel and Leah answered him, \"Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?<\/p>

15<\/small><\/span> Aren't we accounted by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and has also quite devoured our money.<\/p>

16<\/small><\/span> For all the riches which God has taken away from our father, that is ours and our children's. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do.\"<\/p>

17<\/small><\/span> Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives on the camels,<\/p>

18<\/small><\/span> and he carried away all his cattle, and all his substance which he had gathered, the cattle of his getting, which he had gathered in Paddan-aram, to go to Isaac his father to the land of Canaan.<\/p>

19<\/small><\/span> Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep: and Rachel stole the teraphim that were her father's.<\/p>

20<\/small><\/span> Jacob deceived Laban the Syrian, in that he didn't tell him that he was running away.<\/p>

21<\/small><\/span> So he fled with all that he had. He rose up, passed over the River, and set his face toward the mountain of Gilead.<\/p><\/div>\n

Translation: World English Bible<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

#6: David And Goliath (2 Samuel 17:1-51)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chapter 17<\/h4>

1<\/small><\/span> Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:<\/p>

2<\/small><\/span> and I will come on him while he is weary and weak-handed, and will make him afraid; and all the people who are with him shall flee; and I will strike the king only;<\/p>

3<\/small><\/span> and I will bring back all the people to you: the man whom you seek is as if all returned: [so] all the people shall be in peace.<\/p>

4<\/small><\/span> The saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.<\/p>

5<\/small><\/span> Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he says.<\/p>

6<\/small><\/span> When Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, Ahithophel has spoken after this manner: shall we do [after] his saying? if not, speak up.<\/p>

7<\/small><\/span> Hushai said to Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel has given this time is not good.<\/p>

8<\/small><\/span> Hushai said moreover, You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are fierce in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field; and your father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.<\/p>

9<\/small><\/span> Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some [other] place: and it will happen, when some of them are fallen at the first, that whoever hears it will say, There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.<\/p>

10<\/small><\/span> Even he who is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, will utterly melt; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men.<\/p>

11<\/small><\/span> But I counsel that all Israel be gathered together to you, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that you go to battle in your own person.<\/p>

12<\/small><\/span> So shall we come on him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light on him as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him we will not leave so much as one.<\/p>

13<\/small><\/span> Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there not be one small stone found there.<\/p>

14<\/small><\/span> Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For Yahweh had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that Yahweh might bring evil on Absalom.<\/p>

15<\/small><\/span> Then said Hushai to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counseled.<\/p>

16<\/small><\/span> Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Don't lodge this night at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people who are with him.<\/p>

17<\/small><\/span> Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying by En-rogel; and a maid-servant used to go and tell them; and they went and told king David: for they might not be seen to come into the city.<\/p>

18<\/small><\/span> But a boy saw them, and told Absalom: and they went both of them away quickly, and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down there.<\/p>

19<\/small><\/span> The woman took and spread the covering over the well's mouth, and strewed bruised grain thereon; and nothing was known.<\/p>

20<\/small><\/span> Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house; and they said, Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan? The woman said to them, They have gone over the brook of water. When they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.<\/p>

21<\/small><\/span> It happened, after they had departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David; and they said to David, Arise you, and pass quickly over the water; for thus has Ahithophel counseled against you.<\/p>

22<\/small><\/span> Then David arose, and all the people who were with him, and they passed over the Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them who had not gone over the Jordan.<\/p>

23<\/small><\/span> When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey, and arose, and got him home, to his city, and set his house in order, and hanged himself; and he died, and was buried in the tomb of his father.<\/p>

24<\/small><\/span> Then David came to Mahanaim. Absalom passed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.<\/p>

25<\/small><\/span> Absalom set Amasa over the host instead of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man, whose name was Ithra the Israelite, who went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab's mother.<\/p>

26<\/small><\/span> Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.<\/p>

27<\/small><\/span> It happened, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,<\/p>

28<\/small><\/span> brought beds, and basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and meal, and parched [grain], and beans, and lentils, and parched [pulse],<\/p>

29<\/small><\/span> and honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David, and for the people who were with him, to eat: for they said, The people are hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.<\/p><\/div>\n

Translation: World English Bible<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Top 10 Rivalries\u00a0Honorable Mentions:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Not surprisingly, some of the most painful rivalries in the Bible come between Old Testament wives who shared husbands \u2013 especially when those wives were competing for the love of their husband and the ability to have children. In fact, we think they are so noteworthy they deserve a special place on our list of the Top Ten Rivalries In The Bible.<\/p>\n

Sarah And Hagar (Genesis 16:1-16)\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chapter 16<\/h4>

1<\/small><\/span> Now Sarai, Abram's wife, bore him no children. She had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.<\/p>

2<\/small><\/span> Sarai said to Abram,\" See now, Yahweh has restrained me from bearing. Please go in to my handmaid. It may be that I will obtain children by her.\" Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.<\/p>

3<\/small><\/span> Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her handmaid, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife.<\/p>

4<\/small><\/span> He went in to Hagar, and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.<\/p>

5<\/small><\/span> Sarai said to Abram, \"This wrong is your fault. I gave my handmaid into your bosom, and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes. Yahweh judge between me and you.\"<\/p>

6<\/small><\/span> But Abram said to Sarai, \"Behold, your maid is in your hand. Do to her whatever is good in your eyes.\" Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her face.<\/p>

7<\/small><\/span> The angel of Yahweh found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.<\/p>

8<\/small><\/span> He said, \"Hagar, Sarai's handmaid, where did you come from? Where are you going?\" She said, \"I am fleeing from the face of my mistress Sarai.\"<\/p>

9<\/small><\/span> The angel of Yahweh said to her, \"Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands.\"<\/p>

10<\/small><\/span> The angel of Yahweh said to her, \"I will greatly multiply your seed, that they will not be numbered for multitude.\"<\/p>

11<\/small><\/span> The angel of Yahweh said to her, \"Behold, you are with child, and will bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because Yahweh has heard your affliction.<\/p>

12<\/small><\/span> He will be like a wild donkey among men. His hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him. He will live opposite all of his brothers.\"<\/p>

13<\/small><\/span> She called the name of Yahweh who spoke to her, \"You are a God who sees,\" for she said, \"Have I even stayed alive after seeing him?\"<\/p>

14<\/small><\/span> Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi. Behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.<\/p>

15<\/small><\/span> Hagar bore a son for Abram. Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.<\/p>

16<\/small><\/span> Abram was eighty-six years old, when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.<\/p><\/div>\n

Translation: World English Bible<\/em><\/p>\n

Hannah And Peninnah (1 Samuel 1:1-20)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chapter 1<\/h4>

1<\/small><\/span> Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of the hill-country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite:<\/p>

2<\/small><\/span> and he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.<\/p>

3<\/small><\/span> This man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice to Yahweh of Hosts in Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests to Yahweh, were there.<\/p>

4<\/small><\/span> When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:<\/p>

5<\/small><\/span> but to Hannah he gave a double portion; for he loved Hannah, but Yahweh had shut up her womb.<\/p>

6<\/small><\/span> Her rival provoked her sore, to make her fret, because Yahweh had shut up her womb.<\/p>

7<\/small><\/span> [as] he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of Yahweh, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.<\/p>

8<\/small><\/span> Elkanah her husband said to her, Hannah, why weep you? and why don't you eat? and why is your heart grieved? am I not better to you than ten sons?<\/p>

9<\/small><\/span> So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat by the door-post of the temple of Yahweh.<\/p>

10<\/small><\/span> She was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to Yahweh, and wept sore.<\/p>

11<\/small><\/span> She vowed a vow, and said, Yahweh of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your handmaid, and remember me, and not forget your handmaid, but will give to your handmaid a man-child, then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come on his head.<\/p>

12<\/small><\/span> It happened, as she continued praying before Yahweh, that Eli marked her mouth.<\/p>

13<\/small><\/span> Now Hannah, she spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.<\/p>

14<\/small><\/span> Eli said to her, How long will you be drunken? put away your wine from you.<\/p>

15<\/small><\/span> Hannah answered, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I poured out my soul before Yahweh.<\/p>

16<\/small><\/span> Don't count your handmaid for a wicked woman; for out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation have I spoken hitherto.<\/p>

17<\/small><\/span> Then Eli answered, Go in peace; and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of him.<\/p>

18<\/small><\/span> She said, Let your handmaid find favor in your sight. So the woman went her way, and ate; and her facial expression wasn't sad any more.<\/p>

19<\/small><\/span> They rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before Yahweh, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and Yahweh remembered her.<\/p>

20<\/small><\/span> It happened, when the time was come about, that Hannah conceived, and bore a son; and she named him Samuel, [saying], Because I have asked him of Yahweh.<\/p><\/div>\n

Translation: World English Bible<\/em><\/p>\n

Rachel And Leah (Genesis 29:31-30:24)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chapter 29<\/h4>

31<\/small><\/span> Yahweh saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.<\/p>

32<\/small><\/span> Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Reuben. For she said, \"Because Yahweh has looked at my affliction. For now my husband will love me.\"<\/p>

33<\/small><\/span> She conceived again, and bare a son, and said, \"Because Yahweh has heard that I am hated, he has therefore given me this son also.\" She named him Simeon.<\/p>

34<\/small><\/span> She conceived again, and bare a son. Said, \"Now this time will my husband be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons.\" Therefore was his name called Levi.<\/p>

35<\/small><\/span> She conceived again, and bare a son. She said, \"This time will I praise Yahweh.\" Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.<\/p><\/div>\n

Translation: World English Bible<\/em><\/p>\n

Chapter 30<\/h4>

1<\/small><\/span> When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister. She said to Jacob, \"Give me children, or else I will die.\"<\/p>

2<\/small><\/span> Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, \"Am I in God's place, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?\"<\/p>

3<\/small><\/span> She said, \"Behold, my maid Bilhah. Go in to her, that she may bear on my knees, and I also may obtain children by her.\"<\/p>

4<\/small><\/span> She gave him Bilhah her handmaid as wife, and Jacob went in to her.<\/p>

5<\/small><\/span> Bilhah conceived, and bore Jacob a son.<\/p>

6<\/small><\/span> Rachel said, \"God has judged me, and has also heard my voice, and has given me a son.\" Therefore called she his name Dan.<\/p>

7<\/small><\/span> Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid, conceived again, and bore Jacob a second son.<\/p>

8<\/small><\/span> Rachel said, \"With mighty wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and have prevailed.\" She named him Naphtali.<\/p>

9<\/small><\/span> When Leah saw that she had finished bearing, she took Zilpah, her handmaid, and gave her to Jacob as a wife.<\/p>

10<\/small><\/span> Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, bore Jacob a son.<\/p>

11<\/small><\/span> Leah said, \"How fortunate!\" She named him Gad.<\/p>

12<\/small><\/span> Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, bore Jacob a second son.<\/p>

13<\/small><\/span> Leah said, \"Happy am I, for the daughters will call me happy.\" She named him Asher.<\/p>

14<\/small><\/span> Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother, Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, \"Please give me some of your son's mandrakes.\"<\/p>

15<\/small><\/span> She said to her, \"Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son's mandrakes, also?\" Rachel said, \"Therefore he will lie with you tonight for your son's mandrakes.\"<\/p>

16<\/small><\/span> Jacob came from the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, \"You must come in to me; for I have surely hired you with my son's mandrakes.\" He lay with her that night.<\/p>

17<\/small><\/span> God listened to Leah, and she conceived, and bore Jacob a fifth son.<\/p>

18<\/small><\/span> Leah said, \"God has given me my hire, because I gave my handmaid to my husband.\" She named him Issachar.<\/p>

19<\/small><\/span> Leah conceived again, and bore a sixth son to Jacob.<\/p>

20<\/small><\/span> Leah said, \"God has endowed me with a good dowry. Now my husband will live with me, because I have borne him six sons.\" She named him Zebulun.<\/p>

21<\/small><\/span> Afterwards, she bore a daughter, and named her Dinah.<\/p>

22<\/small><\/span> God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her, and opened her womb.<\/p>

23<\/small><\/span> She conceived, bore a son, and said, \"God has taken away my reproach.<\/p>

24<\/small><\/span> She named him Joseph, saying, \"May Yahweh add another son to me.\"<\/p><\/div>\n

Translation: World English Bible<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

#5: Jacob And Esau (Genesis 27:1-35)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chapter 27<\/h4>

1<\/small><\/span> It happened, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his elder son, and said to him, \"My son?\" He said to him, \"Here I am.\"<\/p>

2<\/small><\/span> He said, \"See now, I am old. I don't know the day of my death.<\/p>

3<\/small><\/span> Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field, and take me venison.<\/p>

4<\/small><\/span> Make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat, and that my soul may bless you before I die.<\/p>

5<\/small><\/span> Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.<\/p>

6<\/small><\/span> Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, \"Behold, I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying,<\/p>

7<\/small><\/span> 'Bring me venison, and make me savory food, that I may eat, and bless you before Yahweh before my death.'<\/p>

8<\/small><\/span> Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command you.<\/p>

9<\/small><\/span> Go now to the flock, and get me from there two good kids of the goats. I will make them savory food for your father, such as he loves.<\/p>

10<\/small><\/span> You shall bring it to your father, that he may eat, so that he may bless you before his death.\"<\/p>

11<\/small><\/span> Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, \"Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man.<\/p>

12<\/small><\/span> What if my father touches me? I will seem to him as a deceiver, and I would bring a curse on myself, and not a blessing.\"<\/p>

13<\/small><\/span> His mother said to him, \"Let your curse be on me, my son. Only obey my voice, and go get them for me.\"<\/p>

14<\/small><\/span> He went, and got them, and brought them to his mother. His mother made savory food, such as his father loved.<\/p>

15<\/small><\/span> Rebekah took the good clothes of Esau, her elder son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob, her younger son.<\/p>

16<\/small><\/span> She put the skins of the kids of the goats on his hands, and on the smooth of his neck.<\/p>

17<\/small><\/span> She gave the savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.<\/p>

18<\/small><\/span> He came to his father, and said, \"My father?\" He said, \"Here I am. Who are you, my son?\"<\/p>

19<\/small><\/span> Jacob said to his father, \"I am Esau your firstborn. I have done what you asked me to do. Please arise, sit and eat of my venison, that your soul may bless me.\"<\/p>

20<\/small><\/span> Isaac said to his son, \"How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?\" He said, \"Because Yahweh your God gave me success.\"<\/p>

21<\/small><\/span> Isaac said to Jacob, \"Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.\"<\/p>

22<\/small><\/span> Jacob went near to Isaac his father. He felt him, and said, \"The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.\"<\/p>

23<\/small><\/span> He didn't recognize him, because his hands were hairy, like his brother, Esau's hands. So he blessed him.<\/p>

24<\/small><\/span> He said, \"Are you really my son Esau?\" He said, \"I am.\"<\/p>

25<\/small><\/span> He said, \"Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless you.\" He brought it near to him, and he ate. He brought him wine, and he drank.<\/p>

26<\/small><\/span> His father Isaac said to him, \"Come near now, and kiss me, my son.\"<\/p>

27<\/small><\/span> He came near, and kissed him. He smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him, and said, \"Behold, the smell of my son Is as the smell of a field which Yahweh has blessed.<\/p>

28<\/small><\/span> God give you of the dew of the sky, of the fatness of the earth, and plenty of grain and new wine.<\/p>

29<\/small><\/span> Let peoples serve you, Nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, Let your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, Blessed be everyone who blesses you.\"<\/p>

30<\/small><\/span> It happened, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob had just gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.<\/p>

31<\/small><\/span> He also made savory food, and brought it to his father. He said to his father, \"Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that your soul may bless me.\"<\/p>

32<\/small><\/span> Isaac his father said to him, \"Who are you?\" He said, \"I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.\"<\/p>

33<\/small><\/span> Isaac trembled violently, and said, \"Who, then, is he who has taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before you came, and have blessed him? Yes, he will be blessed.\"<\/p>

34<\/small><\/span> When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceeding great and bitter cry, and said to his father, \"Bless me, even me also, my father.\"<\/p>

35<\/small><\/span> He said, \"Your brother came with deceit, and has taken away your blessing.\"<\/p><\/div>\n

Translation:\u00a0World English Bible<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

#4: Moses And Pharaoh (Exodus 10:21-29)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chapter 10<\/h4>

21<\/small><\/span> Yahweh said to Moses, \"Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.\"<\/p>

22<\/small><\/span> Moses stretched forth his hand toward the sky, and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days.<\/p>

23<\/small><\/span> They didn't see one another, neither did anyone rise from his place for three days; but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.<\/p>

24<\/small><\/span> Pharaoh called to Moses, and said, \"Go, serve Yahweh. Only let your flocks and your herds stay behind. Let your little ones also go with you.\"<\/p>

25<\/small><\/span> Moses said, \"You must also give into our hand sacrifices and burnt-offerings, that we may sacrifice to Yahweh our God.<\/p>

26<\/small><\/span> Our cattle also shall go with us. There shall not a hoof be left behind, for of it we must take to serve Yahweh our God; and we don't know with what we must serve Yahweh, until we come there.\"<\/p>

27<\/small><\/span> But Yahweh hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he wouldn't let them go.<\/p>

28<\/small><\/span> Pharaoh said to him, \"Get away from me! Be careful to see my face no more; for in the day you see my face you shall die!\"<\/p>

29<\/small><\/span> Moses said, \"You have spoken well. I will see your face again no more.\"<\/p><\/div>\n

Translation: World English Bible<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

#3: Mordechai And Haman (Esther 6:1-14)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chapter 6<\/h4>

1<\/small><\/span> On that night the king couldn't sleep; and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles, and they were read before the king.<\/p>

2<\/small><\/span> It was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, of those who kept the threshold, who had sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus.<\/p>

3<\/small><\/span> The king said, What honor and dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this? Then the king's servants who ministered to him said, \"Nothing has been done for him.\"<\/p>

4<\/small><\/span> The king said, \"Who is in the court?\" Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak to the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.<\/p>

5<\/small><\/span> The king's servants said to him, Behold, Haman stands in the court. The king said, Let him come in.<\/p>

6<\/small><\/span> So Haman came in. The king said to him, What shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor? Now Haman said in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to myself?<\/p>

7<\/small><\/span> Haman said to the king, For the man whom the king delights to honor,<\/p>

8<\/small><\/span> let royal clothing be brought which the king uses to wear, and the horse that the king rides on, and on the head of which a crown royal is set:<\/p>

9<\/small><\/span> and let the clothing and the horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man therewith whom the king delights to honor, and cause him to ride on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.<\/p>

10<\/small><\/span> Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the clothing and the horse, as you have said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that you have spoken.<\/p>

11<\/small><\/span> Then took Haman the clothing and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and caused him to ride through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.<\/p>

12<\/small><\/span> Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and having his head covered.<\/p>

13<\/small><\/span> Haman recounted to Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife to him, If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, be of the seed of the Jews, you shall not prevail against him, but shall surely fall before him.<\/p>

14<\/small><\/span> While they were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hurried to bring Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared.<\/p><\/div>\n

Translation: World English Bible<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

#2: Joseph And His Brothers Genesis (37:1-36)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chapter 37<\/h4>

1<\/small><\/span> Jacob lived in the land of his father's travels, in the land of Canaan.<\/p>

2<\/small><\/span> This is the history of the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. Joseph brought an evil report of them to their father.<\/p>

3<\/small><\/span> Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age, and he made him a coat of many colors.<\/p>

4<\/small><\/span> His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, and they hated him, and couldn't speak peaceably to him.<\/p>

5<\/small><\/span> Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him all the more.<\/p>

6<\/small><\/span> He said to them, \"Please hear this dream which I have dreamed:<\/p>

7<\/small><\/span> for, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and behold, your sheaves came around, and bowed down to my sheaf.\"<\/p>

8<\/small><\/span> His brothers said to him, \"Will you indeed reign over us? Or will you indeed have dominion over us?\" They hated him all the more for his dreams and for his words.<\/p>

9<\/small><\/span> He dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his brothers, and said, \"Behold, I have dreamed yet another dream: and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars bowed down to me.\"<\/p>

10<\/small><\/span> He told it to his father and to his brothers. His father rebuked him, and said to him, \"What is this dream that you have dreamed? Will I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves down to you to the earth?\"<\/p>

11<\/small><\/span> His brothers envied him; but his father kept this saying in mind.<\/p>

12<\/small><\/span> His brothers went to feed their father's flock in Shechem.<\/p>

13<\/small><\/span> Israel said to Joseph, \"Aren't your brothers feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, and I will send you to them.\" He said to him, \"Here I am.\"<\/p>

14<\/small><\/span> He said to him, \"Go now, see whether it is well with your brothers, and well with the flock; and bring me word again.\" So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.<\/p>

15<\/small><\/span> A certain man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, \"What are you looking for?\"<\/p>

16<\/small><\/span> He said, \"I am looking for my brothers. Tell me, please, where they are feeding the flock.\"<\/p>

17<\/small><\/span> The man said, \"They have left here, for I heard them say, 'Let us go to Dothan.'\" Joseph went after his brothers, and found them in Dothan.<\/p>

18<\/small><\/span> They saw him afar off, and before he came near to them, they conspired against him to kill him.<\/p>

19<\/small><\/span> They said one to another, \"Behold, this dreamer comes.<\/p>

20<\/small><\/span> Come now therefore, and let's kill him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, 'An evil animal has devoured him.' We will see what will become of his dreams.\"<\/p>

21<\/small><\/span> Reuben heard it, and delivered him out of their hand, and said, \"Let's not take his life.\"<\/p>

22<\/small><\/span> Reuben said to them, \"Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him\" - that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father.<\/p>

23<\/small><\/span> It happened, when Joseph came to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his coat, the coat of many colors that was on him;<\/p>

24<\/small><\/span> and they took him, and threw him into the pit. The pit was empty. There was no water in it.<\/p>

25<\/small><\/span> They sat down to eat bread, and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing spices and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.<\/p>

26<\/small><\/span> Judah said to his brothers, \"What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood?<\/p>

27<\/small><\/span> Come, and let's sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not let our hand be on him; for he is our brother, our flesh.\" His brothers listened to him.<\/p>

28<\/small><\/span> Midianites who were merchants passed by, and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. They brought Joseph into Egypt.<\/p>

29<\/small><\/span> Reuben returned to the pit; and saw that Joseph wasn't in the pit; and he tore his clothes.<\/p>

30<\/small><\/span> He returned to his brothers, and said, \"The child is no more; and I, where will I go?\"<\/p>

31<\/small><\/span> They took Joseph's coat, and killed a male goat, and dipped the coat in the blood.<\/p>

32<\/small><\/span> They took the coat of many colors, and they brought it to their father, and said, \"We have found this. Examine it, now, whether it is your son's coat or not.\"<\/p>

33<\/small><\/span> He recognized it, and said, \"It is my son's coat. An evil animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces.\"<\/p>

34<\/small><\/span> Jacob tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his loins, and mourned for his son many days.<\/p>

35<\/small><\/span> All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted. He said, \"For I will go down to Sheol to my son mourning.\" His father wept for him.<\/p>

36<\/small><\/span> The Midianites sold him into Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, the captain of the guard.<\/p><\/div>\n

Translation: World English Bible<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

#1: Jesus And The Religious Leaders (Matthew 23:1-39)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chapter 23<\/h4>

1<\/small><\/span> Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples,<\/p>

2<\/small><\/span> saying, \"The scribes and the Pharisees sat on Moses' seat.<\/p>

3<\/small><\/span> All things therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do, but don't do their works; for they say, and don't do.<\/p>

4<\/small><\/span> For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them.<\/p>

5<\/small><\/span> But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad, enlarge the fringes of their garments,<\/p>

6<\/small><\/span> and love the chief place at feasts, the chief seats in the synagogues,<\/p>

7<\/small><\/span> the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called 'Rabbi, Rabbi' by men.<\/p>

8<\/small><\/span> But don't you be called 'Rabbi,' for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers.<\/p>

9<\/small><\/span> Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven.<\/p>

10<\/small><\/span> Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Christ.<\/p>

11<\/small><\/span> But he who is greatest among you will be your servant.<\/p>

12<\/small><\/span> Whoever will exalt himself will be humbled, and whoever will humble himself will be exalted.<\/p>

13<\/small><\/span> \"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.<\/p>

14<\/small><\/span> \"But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men; for you don't enter in yourselves, neither do you allow those who are entering in to enter.<\/p>

15<\/small><\/span> Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much of a son of Gehenna as yourselves.<\/p>

16<\/small><\/span> Woe to you, you blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor.'<\/p>

17<\/small><\/span> You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold?<\/p>

18<\/small><\/span> 'Whoever will swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever will swear by the gift that is on it, he is a debtor.'<\/p>

19<\/small><\/span> You blind fools! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift?<\/p>

20<\/small><\/span> He therefore who swears by the altar, swears by it, and by everything on it.<\/p>

21<\/small><\/span> He who swears by the temple, swears by it, and by him who is living in it.<\/p>

22<\/small><\/span> He who swears by the heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him who sits on it.<\/p>

23<\/small><\/span> Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law - justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone.<\/p>

24<\/small><\/span> You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!<\/p>

25<\/small><\/span> Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and unrighteousness.<\/p>

26<\/small><\/span> You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the platter, that the outside of it may become clean also.<\/p>

27<\/small><\/span> Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.<\/p>

28<\/small><\/span> Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.<\/p>

29<\/small><\/span> Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and decorate the tombs of the righteous,<\/p>

30<\/small><\/span> and say, 'If we had been in the days of our fathers, we should not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.'<\/p>

31<\/small><\/span> Therefore you testify to yourselves that you are sons of those who killed the prophets.<\/p>

32<\/small><\/span> Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers.<\/p>

33<\/small><\/span> You serpents, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of Gehenna?<\/p>

34<\/small><\/span> Therefore, behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them will you kill and crucify; and some of them will you scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city;<\/p>

35<\/small><\/span> that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of Abel the righteous to the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar.<\/p>

36<\/small><\/span> Most assuredly I tell you, all these things will come on this generation.<\/p>

37<\/small><\/span> \"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not!<\/p>

38<\/small><\/span> Behold, your house is left to you desolate.<\/p>

39<\/small><\/span> For I tell you, you will not see me from now on, until you will say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'\"<\/p><\/div>\n

Translation: World English Bible<\/em><\/p>\n

Downloads<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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The Hatfields and McCoys may be synonymous with rivalries, but the Bible includes its own share of storied rivals who faced off against one another in fierce situations. From sibling rivalries to military battles, to competing spouses, these Biblical rivalries can compete with the best of them. So stop hitting your brother and check out …<\/p>\n

Top 10 Rivalries In The Bible<\/span> Read More »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1184,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[117,81,103,119,121,87,60,91,120,79,118,122,101],"yoast_head":"\n