a thread opens
And it shall be, that the city which is next to the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take a heifer, which has not been worked with, and which has not drawn in the yoke;
The Vigil
Today’s scroll, one verse at a time — each linked to the last by the cross-references rather than by any model of you. The same vigil for everyone, and a different one tomorrow.
This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD has commanded, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring you a red heifer without spot, in which is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke:
from Deuteronomy 21:3
But whatever has a blemish, that shall you not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you.
from Numbers 19:2
And if there is any blemish in it, as if it is lame, or blind, or have any ill blemish, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.
from Leviticus 22:20 · a strong link
You shall not sacrifice to the LORD your God any young bull, or sheep, in which is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination to the LORD your God.
from Deuteronomy 15:21
Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and you shall not cause the land to sin, which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance.
from Deuteronomy 17:1
a thread opens
As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
from I Corinthians 8:4
You believe that there is one God; you do well: the demons also believe, and tremble.
from Mark 12:29
Saying, Leave us alone; what have we to do with you, you Jesus of Nazareth? have you come to destroy us? I know you who you are; the Holy One of God.
from James 2:19 · a strong link
And demons also came out of many, crying out, and saying, You are Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.
from Luke 4:34
a thread opens
By this we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
A new commandment I give to you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
from I John 3:16 · a strong link
That they all may be one; as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, so that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that you have sent me.
from John 13:34
But if I do, though you believe not me, believe the works: that you may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
from John 17:21 · a strong link
a thread opens
But the anointing which you have received of him remains in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall remain in him.
For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, because, when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which is at work also in you that believe.
from I John 2:27
Which has come to you, as it is in all the world; and brings forth fruit, as it does also in you, since the day you heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
from I Thessalonians 2:13
You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, so that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
from Colossians 1:6 · a strong link
And all things, whatever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.
from John 15:16
Confess your sins to one another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
from Matthew 21:22 · a strong link
Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church to God for him.
from James 5:16 · a strong link
a thread opens
And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, varieties of tongues.
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
from I Corinthians 12:28 · a strong link
Now for a long season Israel has been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.
from Ephesians 4:11
Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said to them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: look, your gods, O Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
from II Chronicles 15:3
However from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, namely, the golden calves in Bethel, and that were in Dan.
from I Kings 12:28 · a strong link
After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places.
from II Kings 10:29
a thread opens
I know also, my God, that you try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy your people, who are present here, to offer willingly to you.
For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart.
from I Chronicles 29:17
But have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
from Hebrews 4:12
For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
from II Corinthians 4:2
For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
from I Thessalonians 2:3 · a strong link
a thread opens
Clean out therefore the old leaven, so that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:
And I saw, and, look, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
from I Corinthians 5:7
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
The next day John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
from I Peter 1:19 · a strong link
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Deuteronomy 21:3 along this chain. Today’s own vigil is laid separately.
Each verse follows the one before it along the chain a study Bible draws — a century old, public, and compiled by people arguing about Scripture rather than about how long you stay. Every card says which verse it came from and opens the chapter it belongs to. Today’s vigil is the same for every reader and is worked out from the date alone, so there is no account, no counter, and nothing stored in your browser or ours.
The text is the Lantern Modern Standard. The links are openbible.info’s cross-reference set (CC BY), the same apparatus behind the reader’s Echoes drawer. Read a whole book · Today’s table