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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:
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.
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
They say, If a man divorce his wife, and she go from him, and become another man’s, shall he return to her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but you have played the prostitute with many lovers; yet return again to me, says the LORD.
from Deuteronomy 24:4 · a strong link
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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.
Know therefore this day, and consider it in your heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
from I Corinthians 8:4
To you it was shown, so that you might know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.
from Deuteronomy 4:39 · a strong link
I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded you, though you have not known me:
from Deuteronomy 4:35 · a strong link
It is God that girds me with strength, and makes my way perfect.
from Isaiah 45:5
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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.
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;
from I John 3:16
Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained equally precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ:
from Titus 2:13
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
from II Peter 1:1
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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 is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
from I John 2:27
So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward.
from Hebrews 8:10
Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, who caused them to be led into captivity among the pagans: but I have gathered them to their own land, and have left none of them any more there.
from Ezekiel 39:22
Remember, I beg you, the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, If you transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:
from Ezekiel 39:28
And the LORD shall scatter you among all people, from the one end of the earth even to the other; and there you shall serve other gods, which neither you nor your fathers have known, even wood and stone.
from Nehemiah 1:8 · a strong link
The LORD shall bring you, and your king which you shall set over you, to a nation which neither you nor your fathers have known; and there shall you serve other gods, wood and stone.
from Deuteronomy 28:64
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.
Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
from I Corinthians 12:28
That you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior:
from Ephesians 3:5 · a strong link
As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
from II Peter 3:2
Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
from Luke 1:70
Because the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
from Acts 3:21
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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 we have great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.
from I Chronicles 29:17
Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
from Philemon 1:7
Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
from II Corinthians 7:4
But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully treated, as you know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition.
from II Corinthians 3:12
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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:
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 Corinthians 5:7
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and to them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin to salvation.
from John 1:29
And you shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal: yes, you shall flee, like as you fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with you.
from Hebrews 9:28
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Numbers 19:2 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