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MARCH 17
built Heshbon and Elealeh and Kirjathaim,
38 Nebo and Baal Meon (their names being
changed) and Shibmah; and they gave other
names to the cities which they built. 14:56 Because Jesus was innocent,the Jewish
39 And the children of Machir the son of leaders could not convict Him except by rely-
Manasseh went to Gilead and took it, and dis- ing on perjured testimony and perverted jus-
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possessed the Amorites who were in it. So tice. The Jews were intent on doing whatever
Moses gave Gilead to Machir the son of was necessary, even if they had to violate
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Manasseh, and he dwelt in it. Also Jair the every biblical and rabbinical rule. many bore
son of Manasseh went and took its small false witness against Him. There was no lack
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towns, and called them Havoth Jair. Then of people to come forward at the Sanhedrin’s
Nobah went and took Kenath and its villages, invitation to consciously present false, lying
and he called it Nobah, after his own name. testimony. did not agree. The testimonies
were grossly inconsistent. The law, however,
Psalm 35:1–8 required exact agreement between two wit-
nesses (Deut. 17:6; 19:15).
A Psalm of David.
P lead my cause, O LORD, with those death, but found none. For many bore false
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who strive with me;
Fight against those who fight against witness against Him, but their testimonies did
me. not agree.
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2 Take hold of shield and buckler, Then some rose up and bore false witness
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And stand up for my help. against Him, saying, “We heard Him say, ‘I
3 Also draw out the spear, will destroy this temple made with hands, and
And stop those who pursue me. within three days I will build another made
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Say to my soul, without hands.’ ” But not even then did their
“I am your salvation.” testimony agree.
60 And the high priest stood up in the midst
4 Let those be put to shame and brought and asked Jesus, saying, “Do You answer noth-
to dishonor ing? What is it these men testify against You?”
Who seek after my life; 61 But He kept silent and answered nothing.
Let those be turned back and brought Again the high priest asked Him, saying to
to confusion Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the
Who plot my hurt. Blessed?”
5 Let them be like chaff before the wind, 62 Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son
And let the angel of the LORD chase of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power,
them. and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
6 Let their way be dark and slippery, 63 Then the high priest tore his clothes and
And let the angel of the LORD pursue said, “What further need do we have of wit-
them. nesses? You have heard the blasphemy! What
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7 For without cause they have hidden do you think?”
their net for me in a pit, And they all condemned Him to be deserv-
Which they have dug without cause for ing of death.
my life. 65 Then some began to spit on Him, and to
8 Let destruction come upon him
unexpectedly,
And let his net that he has hidden
catch himself; 14:65 spit on Him…beat Him. For the Jews,
Into that very destruction let him fall. to “spit” in another’s face was the grossest,
Proverbs 12:1 most hateful form of personal insult (see Num.
12:14; Deut. 25:9).Their brutal cruelty reached
12 Whoever loves instruction loves a climax and revealed the great depravity of
knowledge,
their hearts when they “beat Him,” or hit Him
But he who hates correction with clenched fists.“Prophesy!” They jeering-
is stupid. ly and disrespectfully ordered Jesus to use the
prophetic powers He claimed to have—even
Mark 14:55–72
in the frivolous manner of telling them who
55 Now the chief priests and all the council struck Him (Matt. 26:68).
sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to

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