Occurring Scripture for the Hour of Matins
Week of the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday SaturdayLesson i
A reading from from the second book of Kings
2 Kings 1:1-4Now it came to pass, after Saul was dead, that David returned from the slaughter of the Amalecites, and stayed two days in Siceleg. And on the third day, there appeared a man who came out of Saul's camp, with his garments rent, and dust strewed on his head: and when he came to David, he fell upon his face, and adored. And David said to him: "Where have you come from?" And he said to him: "I have fled out of the camp of Israel." And David said unto him: "What has come to pass? tell me." He said: "The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people have fallen and are dead: moreover Saul and Jonathan his son are slain."
Lesson ii
2 Kings 1:5-10And David said to the young man that told him: "How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son, are dead?" And the young man that told him, said: "I came by chance upon mount Gelboe, and Saul leaned upon his spear: and the chariots and horsemen drew nigh unto him, and looking behind him, and seeing me, he called me. And I answered, 'Here am I'. And he said to me: 'Who are you?' And I said to him: 'I am an Amalecite.' And he said to me: 'Stand over me, and kill me: for anguish is come upon me, and as yet my whole life is in me.' So standing over him, I killed him: for I knew that he could not live after the fall: and I took the diadem that was on his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm and have brought them hither to thee, my lord."
Lesson iii
2 Kings 1:11-15Then David took hold of his garments and rent them, and so did all the men that were with him. And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until evening for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. And David said to the young man that told him: "Where are you from?" He answered: "I am the son of a stranger of Amalee." David said to him: "Why did you not fear to put out your hand to kill the Lord's anointed?" And David calling one of his servants, said: "Go near and that man down." And he struck him so that he died.
Lesson iv
From the Book of Moral (Reflections upon Job), written by Pope St Gregory the Great
Book iv chapters 3, 4Thus was it that David, who rewarded no evil to them that did evil to him (cf. Psalm 7:5), when Saul and Jonathan had fallen in battle, cursed the mountains of Gilboa, saying "Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain upon you, nor fields of offerings; for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. Why was it that Jeremiah, when he saw that his preaching was thrown away upon his hearers, cursed and said "Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father, saying, A man-child is born unto thee" (Jeremias 20:15)?
Lesson v
What had the mountains of Gilboa to do with the death of Saul, that they should be condemned to have dew fall on them no more, neither rain, but should wither away, barren of the green glory of the springtime? But this word Gilboa signified bubbling fountain, and the death of Saul the Anointed of God is a type of the death of our Anointed Mediator. Thus we find in the mountains of Gilboa a fit image of the proud hearts of the Jews, which had their source in earthly desires, and took part in the death of the Anointed Savior. And since among them their Anointed Monarch met His death, the dew of grace is upon them no more.
Lesson vi
And well is it said of them "Let there be upon you no fields of offerings." The proud minds of the Hebrews bear yet no offering. Since the coming of their Redeemer, the most part of them remain still without belief in Him, and refuse to follow the promise of their ancient faith. Holy Church has borne for her first-born, holy unto the Lord, a multitude of the Gentiles, and will, but in the end of the world, embrace such Jews as she then shall find, and present them as the last gatherings of her harvest.
Lesson vii
The continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
Matthew 5:20-24At that time, Jesus said unto His disciples: "unless your justice abound more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. You have heard that it was said to them of old: 'Thou shalt not kill.' And whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment. But I say to you, that whosoever is angry with his brother, shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca', shall be in danger of the council. And whoever says, 'You Fool,' shall be in danger of hell fire. If therefore you offer your gift at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has any thing against thee; Leave your offering before the altar, and go first to be reconciled to your brother: and then returning you shall offer your gift."
A homily of Saint Augustine, Bishop. Book I on the Lord's Sermon on the Mount, ch. 9.
"Thou shalt not kill," is the righteousness of the Pharisees; "You shall not be angry with your brother without cause," is the righteousness of those who will enter the kingdom of heaven. The least therefore is: "Thou shalt not kill, and whoever shall break this commandment, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven" (cf. Matthew 5:19). But whoever shall do it, and not kill, he is not therefore great, and sure of the kingdom of heaven; even though, he has risen a step; but he will have gotten farther, if he will not be angry with his brother without a cause—if he doesn't go to anger without cause, he will be the farther off from manslaughter. Therefore, He Who teaches us that we are not to be angry without a cause, destroys not the law, "Thou shalt not kill," but rather fulfills and increases it, making us not only to be free of the sin of outward killing, but also clean of anger within.
Lesson viii
On sins of this kind there are diverse steps. First, there is the swelling feeling of anger. When this feeling appears in a man's heart, he keeps it. Then the inward disturbance brings forth words of indignation, not themselves meaning anything, but showing the troubled emotions of he who is provoked. And this is something more than anger kept covered under silence. Next, this audible outburst of indignation may contain direct and open reviling of he who has aroused it. And it cannot be doubted that this is something more than an empty cry of anger.
Lesson ix
Understand the three degrees of guilt open respectively to the judgment, to the council, and to hellfire. In the judgment, there is still place for defense. In the council, although this also is in a sense a judgment, we may yet suppose this distinction from the judgment proper, that the council pronounces sentence, not as the result of a trial where the accused is present, but as the result of a consultation among the judges, to what punishment he is to be sentenced of whom it is already established that he is guilty. When we get to hell-fire, there remains no longer any doubt about condemnation, as in the judgment, and no longer any doubt about sentence, as in the council. In hellfire the condemnation and the pain of him that is condemned are both certain.
Let us pray:
Collect:
O God, who hast prepared for those who love Thee such good things as eye has not seen; pour into our hearts such love towards Thee, that we, loving Thee above all things, may obtain Thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Lesson i
From the Second Book of Kings
2 Kings 2:1-4And after these things David consulted the Lord, saying: "Shall I go up into one of the cities of Juda?" And the Lord said to him: "Go up." And David said: "Whither shall I go up?" And He answered him: "Into Hebron." So David went up, and his two wives, Achinoam the Jezrahelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel: And the men also that were with him, David brought up every man with his household: and they abode in the towns of Hebron. And the men of Juda came, and anointed David there, to be king over the house of Juda.
Lesson ii
2 Kings 2:5-7And it was told David, that the men of Jabes Galaad had buried Saul. David therefore sent messengers to the men of Jabes Galaad, and said to them: "Blessed be you to the Lord, who have shown this mercy to your master Saul, and have buried him. And now the Lord surely will render you mercy and truth, and I also will, requite you for this good turn, because you have done this thing. Let your hands be strengthened, and be you men of valor: for although your master Saul be dead, yet the house of Juda has anointed me to be their king."
Lesson iii
2 Kings 2:8-11But Abner the son of Ner, general of Saul's army, took Isboseth the son of Saul, and led him about through the camp. And made him king over Galaad, and, over Gessuri, and over Jezrahel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. Isboseth the son of Saul was forty years old when he began to reign over, Israel, and he reigned two years: and only the house of Juda followed David. And the number of the days that David lived, reigning in Hebron over the house of Juda, was seven years and six months.
Lesson i
A Reading from the Second Book of Kings
2 Kings 3:6-10Now while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner the son of Ner ruled the house of Saul. And Saul had a concubine named Respha, the daughter of Aia. And Isboseth said to Abner: "Why did you go in to my father's concubine?" And he was exceedingly angry for the words of Isboseth, and said: "Am I a dog's head against Juda this day, who have shown mercy to the house of Saul your father, and to his brethren and friends, and have not delivered you into the hands of David, and have sought this day to charge me with a matter concerning a woman?" May God do so to Abner, and more also, unless as the Lord has sworn to David, so I do to him, that the kingdom be transferred from the house of Saul, and the throne of David be set up over Israel, and over Juda from Dan to Bersabee.
Lesson ii
2 Kings 3:12-16Abner therefore sent messengers to David for himself, saying: "Whose is the land?" and that they should say: "Make a league with me, and my hand shall be with you: and I will bring all Israel to you." And he said: "Very well: I will make a league with you: but one thing I require of thee," saying: "You shall not see my face before you bring Michol the daughter of Saul: and so you shall come, and see me. And David sent messengers to Isboseth the son of Saul, saying: "Restore my wife Michol, whom I espoused for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines. And Isboseth sent, and took her from her husband Phaltiel, the son of Lais. And her husband followed her, weeping as far as Bahurim: and Abner said to him: "Go and return." And he returned.
Lesson iii
2 Kings 3:17-21Abner also spoke to the ancients of Israel, saying: "Both yesterday and the day before you sought for David that he might reign over you. Then do it now: because the Lord has spoken to David, saying: "By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hands of the Philistines, and of all their enemies." And Abner spoke also to Benjamin. And he went to tell David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and to the whole tribe of Benjamin. And he came to David in Hebron with twenty men: and David made a feast for Abner, and his men that came with him. And Abner said to David: "I will rise, that I may gather all Israel unto you my lord the king, and may enter into a league with you, and that you may reign over all your soul desires. Now when David had sent Abner on his way, and he went in peace....
Lesson i
A Reading from the Second Book of Kings
2 Kings 4:5-8And the sons of Remmon the Berothite, Rechab and Baana coming, went into the house of Isboseth in the heat of the day: and he was sleeping upon his bed at noon. And the doorkeeper of the house, who was cleansing wheat, had fallen asleep. And they entered into the house secretly taking ears of corn, and Rechab and Baana his brother stabbed him in the groin, and fled away. For when they came into the house, he was sleeping upon his bed in a parlor, and they struck him and killed him: and taking away his head they went off by the way of the wilderness, walking all night. And they brought the head of Isboseth to David to Hebron: and they said to the king: "Behold the head of Isboseth the son of Saul your enemy who sought your life: and the Lord has revenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed."
Lesson ii
2 Kings 4:9-12But David answered Rechab, and Baana his brother, the sons of Remmon the Berothite, and said to them: "As the Lord lives, Who has delivered my soul out of all distress, the man that told me, and said: 'Saul is dead,' who thought he brought good tidings, I apprehended, and slew him in Siceleg, who should have been rewarded for his news. How much more now when wicked men have slain an innocent man in his own house, upon his bed, shall I not require his blood at your hand, and take you away from the earth?" And David commanded his servants and they slew them: and cutting off their hands and feet, hanged them up over the pool in Hebron: but the head of Isboseth they took and buried in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.
Lesson iii
2 Kings 5:1-7Then all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron, saying: "Behold we are thy bone and thy flesh. Moreover yesterday also and the day before, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who did lead out and bring in Israel: and the Lord said to you: 'You shall feed my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.'" The ancients also of Israel came to the king to Hebron, and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord: and they anointed David to be king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Juda seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty three years over all Israel and Juda. And the king and all the men that were with him went to Jerusalem to the Jebusites the inhabitants of the land: and they said to David: "You shall not enter here unless you take away the blind and the lame that say: 'David shall not come in hither.'" But David took the castle of Sion, the same is the city of David.
Lesson i
A Reading from the Second Book of Kings
2 Kings 6:1-3And David again gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. And David arose and went, with all the people that were with him of the men of Juda to fetch the ark of God, upon which the name of the Lord of hosts is invoked, who sitteth over it upon the cherubim. And they laid the ark of God upon a new cart: and took it out of the house of Abinadab, who was in Gabaa: and Oza, and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.
Lesson ii
2 Kings 6:4-7And when they had taken it out of the house of Abinadab, who was in Gabaa, Ahio having care of the ark of God went before the ark. But David and all Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of wood, on harps and lutes and timbrels and cornets and cymbals. And when they came to the floor of Nachon, Oza put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it: because the oxen kicked and made it lean aside. And the indignation of the Lord was enkindled against Oza, and he struck him for his rashness: and he died there before the ark of God.
Lesson iii
2 Kings 6:8-12And David was grieved because the Lord had struck Oza, and the name of that place was called: "The striking of Oza," to this day. And David was afraid of the Lord that day, saying: "How shall the ark of the Lord come to me?" And he would not have the ark of the Lord brought in to himself into the city of David: but he caused it to be carried into the house of Obededom the Gethite. And the ark of the Lord abode in the house of Obededom the Gethite three months: and the Lord blessed Obededom, and all his household. And it was told king David, that the Lord had blessed Obededom, and all that he had, because of the ark of God. So David went, and brought away the ark of God out of the house of Obededom into the city of David with joy. And there were with David seven choirs, and calves for victims.
Lesson i
A Reading from the Second book of Kings
2 Kings 7:4-6But it came to pass that night, that the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying: "Go, and say to my servant David: 'Thus says the Lord: Shall you build me a house to dwell in? Whereas I have not dwelt in a house from the day that I brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt even to this day: but have walked in a tabernacle, and in a tent.'"
Lesson ii
2 Kings 7:7-11"In all the places that I have gone through with all the children of Israel, did ever I speak a word to any one of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying: 'Why have you not built me a house of cedar?' And now thus shall you speak to My servant David: 'Thus says the Lord of hosts: as I took you out of the pastures from following the sheep to be ruler over my people Israel: And I have been with you wherever you have walked, and have slain all your enemies before your face: and I have made you a great man, like the great ones that are on the earth. And I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and I will plant them, and they shall dwell there, and shall be disturbed no more: neither shall the children of iniquity afflict them any more as they did before. From the day that I appointed judges over My people Israel: and I will give you rest from all thy enemies. And the Lord foretells to you, that the Lord will make you a house.'"
Lesson iii
2 Kings 7:12-17"And when your days are fulfilled, and you shall sleep with your fathers, I will raise up your seed after you, which shall proceed out of your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house to My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to Me a son: and if he commit any iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men. But my mercy I will not take away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before My face. And your house shall be faithful, and your kingdom for ever before you face, and your throne shall be firm forever." According to all these words and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak to David.
Lesson i
A reading from the second book of Kings
2 Kings 11:1-4And it came to pass at the return of the year, at the time when kings go forth to war, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel, and they spoiled the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabba: but David remained in Jerusalem. In the mean time it happened that David arose from his bed after noon, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and he saw from the roof of his house a woman washing herself, over against him: and the woman was very beautiful. And the king sent, and inquired who the woman was. And it was told him, that she was Bethsabee the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Urias the Hethite. And David sent messengers, and took her.
Lesson ii
2 Kings 11:5-11And she returned to her house having conceived. And she sent and told David, and said: "I have conceived." And David sent to Joab, saying: "Send me Urias the Hethite." And Joab sent Urias to David. And Urias came to David. And David asked how Joab did, and the people, and how the war was carried on. And David said to Urias: "Go into thy house, and wash thy feet." And Urias went out from the king's house, and there went out after him a mess of meat from the king. But Urias slept before the gate of the king's house, with the other servants of his lord, and went not down to his own house. And it was told David by some that said: "Urias went not to his house." And David said to Urias: "Did you not come from your journey? why did you not go down to your house?" And Urias said to David: "The ark of God and Israel and Juda dwell in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord abide upon the face of the earth: and shall I go into my house, to eat and to drink, and to sleep with my wife? By thy welfare and by the welfare of thy soul I will not do this thing."
On feasts of the Saints or in the Saturday Office of the Blessed Virgin the second and third lessons are concatenated; the third then being of the feast.
Lesson iii
2 Kings 11:12-17Then David said to Urias: "Stay here today, and tomorrow I will send you away." Urias stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next. And David called him to eat and to drink before him, and he made him drunk: and he went out in the evening, and slept on his couch with the servants of his lord, and went not down into his house. And when the morning had come, David wrote a letter to Joab: and sent it by the hand of Urias, Writing in the letter: "Set Urias in the front of the battle, where the fight is strongest: and leave him, that he may be wounded and die." Wherefore as Joab was besieging the city, he put Urias in the place where he knew the bravest men were. And the men coming out of the city, fought against Joab, and there fell some of the people of the servants of David, and Urias the Hethite was killed also.
