a thread opens
And those that were numbered of them were twenty-three thousand, all males from a month old and upward: for they were not numbered among the children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given them among the children of Israel.
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.
Command the children of Israel, that they give to the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and you shall give also to the Levites pasturelands for the cities around them.
from Numbers 26:62 · a strong link
And by the border of Judah, from the east side to the west side, shall be the offering which you shall offer of five and twenty thousand reeds in breadth, and in length as one of the other parts, from the east side to the west side: and the sanctuary shall be in the midst of it.
from Numbers 35:2
Cry out and shout, you inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of you.
from Ezekiel 48:8
Do not fear, you worm Jacob, and you men of Israel; I will help you, says the LORD, and your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
from Isaiah 12:6
But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
from Isaiah 41:14
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.
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
And said, O LORD God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? and rule not you over all the kingdoms of the pagans? and in your hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand you?
from Deuteronomy 4:39
This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he will, and sets up over it the basest of men.
from II Chronicles 20:6
O you king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honor:
from Daniel 4:17
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.
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a fragrant offering.
from I John 3:16 · a strong link
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might be rich.
from Ephesians 5:2
But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
from II Corinthians 8:9 · 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.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
from I John 2:27
But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
from I Corinthians 2:13
He answered them, Because it is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
from I Corinthians 2:14 · a strong link
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, without reproach; and it shall be given him.
from Matthew 13:11
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us:
from James 1:5 · a strong link
Call to me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not.
from I John 5:14 · 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.
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
from I Corinthians 12:28
Follow after love, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that you may prophesy.
from Romans 12:6
But earnestly desire the best gifts: and yet show I to you a more excellent way.
from I Corinthians 14:1
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
from I Corinthians 12:31
That you may say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.
from Matthew 5:6
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.
I the LORD search the heart, I try the inmost thoughts, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
from I Chronicles 29:17 · a strong link
Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
from Jeremiah 17:10
Also to you, O Lord, belongs mercy: for you render to every man according to his work.
from Romans 2:6 · a strong link
Now he that plants and he that waters are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.
from Psalms 62:12
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:
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 it shall be said in that day, Look, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
from Hebrews 9:28
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Numbers 26:62 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