# verses

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And God called the dry land, Earth. And He called the gathering together of the waters, Seas. And God saw that [it was] good.


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And God said, Let the earth bring forth tender sprouts ( the] herb seeding seed [and] the fruit tree producing fruit after its kind, whose seed [is] in itself) upon the earth; and it was so.


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And the earth brought forth tender sprouts, [the] herb yielding seed after its kind, and the tree producing fruit after its kind, whose seed [was] in itself. And God saw that [it was] good.


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And God said, Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to divide between the day and the night. And let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years,


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And let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth. And it was so.


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And God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the smaller light to rule the night, and the stars [also.]


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and to rule over the day and over the night; and to divide between the light and the darkness. And God saw that [it was] good.


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And the earth was without form and empty. And darkness [was] on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved on the face of the waters.


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And God said, Let the waters swarm [with] swarmers [having] a living soul; and let birds fly over the earth on the face of the expanse of the heavens.


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And God created great sea-animals, and every living soul that creeps [with] which the waters swarmed after their kind; and every winged fowl after its kind. And God saw that [it was] good.


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And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters of the seas and let the fowl multiply in the earth.


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And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after its kind, cattle, and creepers, and its beasts of the earth after its kind; and it was so.


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And God made the beasts of the earth after its kind, and cattle after their kind, and all creepers upon the earth after their kind. And God saw that it was good.


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And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over all the creepers creeping on the earth.


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And God created man in His image; in the image of God He created him. He created them male and female.


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And God blessed them. And God said to them, Be fruitful, and multiply and fill the earth, and subdue it. And have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the heavens, and all animals that move upon the earth.


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And God said, Behold! I have given you every herb seeding seed which [is] upon the face of all the earth, and every tree in which [is the] fruit of a tree seeding seed; to you it shall be for food.


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And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the heavens, and to every creeper on the earth which [has] in it a living soul every green plant [is] for food; and it was so.


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And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, [it was] very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.


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And God called the light, Day. And He called the darkness, Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.


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And God said, Let there be an expanse in the middle of the waters, and let it divide the waters [from] the waters.


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And God made the expanse, and divided the waters which [were] under the expanse from the waters which [were] above the expanse; and it was so.


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And God said, Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together to one place, and let the dry land appear; and it was so.


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Now these are [the] generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And sons were born to them after the flood.


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And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.


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Out of that land he went forth [to] Assyria. And he built Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,


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and the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite. And afterward the families of the Canaanites were spread abroad.


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And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon (as you come to Gerar) to Gaza, as you go in towards Sodom and Gomorrah and Admah and Zeboim, even to Lasha.


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These [were] the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations.


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And to Shem were born, even him, the father of all the sons of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder.


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And two sons were born to Eber. The name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided. And his brother's name [was] Joktan.


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These [are] the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, and after their nations.


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These [are] the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations. And from these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.


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By these were the coasts of the nations divided in their lands, every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.


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And the sons of Cush: Seba and Havilah and Sabtah and Raamah and Sabtecha. And the sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.


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He was a mighty hunter before the LORD. Therefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.


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These are the generations of Shem. Shem [was] a hundred years old and fathered Arpachshad two years after the flood.


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And after he fathered Arpachshad, Shem lived five hundred years. And he fathered sons and daughters.


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And after he fathered Salah, Arpachshad lived four hundred and three years. And he fathered sons and daughters.


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And after he fathered Eber, Salah lived four hundred and three years. And he fathered sons and daughters.


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And after he fathered Peleg, Eber lived four hundred and thirty years. And he fathered sons and daughters.


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And it happened, as they traveled from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar. And they lived there.


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And after he fathered Serug, Reu lived two hundred and seven years. And he fathered sons and daughters.


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And after he fathered Terah, Nahor lived a hundred and nineteen years. And he fathered sons and daughters.


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Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah fathered Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran fathered Lot.


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And Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. The name of Abram's wife was Sarai. And the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.


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And they said to one another, Come, let us make brick and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar.


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And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot, the son of Haran, his son's son, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram's wife. And he went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan. And they came to Haran and lived there.


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And they said, Come, let us build us a city and a tower, and its top in the heavens. And let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered upon the face of the whole earth.


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And the LORD said, Behold! The people [is] one and they all have one language. And this they begin to do. And now nothing which they have imagined to do will be restrained from them.


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Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they cannot understand one another's speech.


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So the LORD scattered them abroad from that place upon the face of all the earth. And they quit building the city.


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Therefore the name of it is called Babel; because the LORD confused the language of all the earth there. And from there the LORD scattered them abroad on the face of all the earth.


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And the LORD said to Abram, Go out of your country, and from your kindred, and from your father's house into a land that I will show you.


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And there was a famine in the land. And Abram went down into Egypt to stay there, for the famine [was] grievous in the land.


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And it happened, when he had come near to enter into Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that you are a beautiful woman to look upon.


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And it will be when the Egyptians see you, they shall say, This [is] his wife. And they will kill me, but they will save you alive.


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I pray you, say that you [are] my sister, so that it may be well with me for your sake. And my soul shall live because of you.


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And it happened when Abram had come into Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman [was] very beautiful.


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The princes of Pharaoh also saw her and commended her before Pharaoh. And the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.


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And he treated Abram well for her sake. And he had sheep, and oxen, and he-asses, and male servants, and maidservants, and she-asses, and camels.


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And Pharaoh called Abram and said, What [is] this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she [is] your wife?


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Why did you say, She [is] my sister? And so I was about to take her to me as wife. Now therefore behold your wife. Take [her] and go.


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And I will make you a great nation. And I will bless you and make your name great. And you shall be a blessing.


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And Pharaoh commanded men concerning him. And they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.


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And I will bless those that bless you and curse the one who curses you. And in you shall all families of the earth be blessed.


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And Abram departed, even as the LORD had spoken to him. And Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.


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And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gained in Haran. And they went forth to go into the land of Canaan. And they came into the land of Canaan.


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And Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, unto the Oak of Moreh. And the Canaanite [was] then in the land.


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And the LORD appeared to Abram and said, I will give this land to your seed. And he built an altar there to the LORD who appeared to him.


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And he moved from there to a mountain on the east of Bethel. And he pitched his tent [with] Bethel toward the sea and Hai on the east. And he built an altar there to the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.


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And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, (and Lot was with him) into the south.


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And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the circuit of Jordan, that it [was] all well watered (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah,) like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you come to Zoar.


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And Lot chose all the circuit of Jordan for himself. And Lot journeyed east; and they separated themselves from one another.


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Abram lived in the land of Canaan, and Lot lived in the cities of the circuit and pitched [his] tent toward Sodom.


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And after Lot was separated from him, the LORD said to Abram, Lift up your eyes now and look from the place where you are northward and southward, and eastward and westward.


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And I will make your seed as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can count the dust of the earth, then shall your seed also be counted.


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Rise up and walk through the land, in the length of it and in the breadth of it, for I will give it to you.


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And Abram moved [his] tent and came and lived in the oaks of Mamre, which [is] in Hebron. And he built an altar to the LORD there.


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And he went on his journeys from the south, even to Bethel, to the place where his tent had been from the beginning, between Bethel and Hai,


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to the place of the altar which he had made there at the first. And Abram called on the name of the LORD there.


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And the land was not able to bear them, that they might live together. For their substance was great, so that they could not live together.


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And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's cattle and the herdsmen of Lot's cattle. And the Canaanite and the Perizzite lived then in the land.


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And Abram said to Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray you, between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we [are] men, brothers.


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[Is] not the whole land before you? I pray you, separate yourself from me. If [you go] to the left, then I will go to the right. Or if [you go] to the right, then I will go to the left.


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And it happened in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations,


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And the valley of Siddim [was] full of asphalt pits. And the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.


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And there came one who had escaped. And he told Abram the Hebrew, for he lived in the plains of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner. And these had a covenant with Abram.


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And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he led forth his trained servants, born in his own house (three hundred and eighteen) and pursued them to Dan.


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And he divided himself against them by night, he and his servants. And he struck them, and pursued them to Hobah, which [is] on the left of Damascus.


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And he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, and the women also, and the people.


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And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and of the kings with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which [is] the king's valley.


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And Melchizedek the king of Salem brought forth bread and wine. And he [was] the priest of the most high God.


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And he blessed him, and said, Blessed [be] Abram of the most high God, possessor of Heaven and earth.


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they made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.


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And blessed [be] the most high God, who has delivered your enemies into your hand. And he gave him tithes of all.


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And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lifted up my hand to the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of Heaven and earth,


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that I will take from all that is yours, [not] from a thread even to a shoestring, lest you say, I have made Abram rich.


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Nothing for me, only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.


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And in the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him came and struck the giants in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim,


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And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and struck all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.


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And the king of Sodom went out, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboim, and the king of Bela (which [is] Zoar). And they joined battle with them in the valley of Siddim;


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with Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal the king of nations, and Amraphel the king of Shinar, and Arioch the king of Ellasar, four kings with five.


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After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram, I [am] your shield and your exceeding great reward.


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And he took all these to himself, and divided them in the middle, and laid each piece against one another; but he did not divide the birds.


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And it happened as the sun was setting, and a deep sleep fell upon Abram. And, behold, a horror of great darkness fell upon him!


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And He said to Abram, You must surely know that your seed shall be a stranger in a land not theirs, and shall serve them. And they shall afflict them four hundred years.


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And also I will judge that nation whom they shall serve. And afterward they shall come out with great substance.


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But in the fourth generation they shall come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.


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And it happened, the sun went down, and it was dark [and] behold, a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp passed between those pieces.


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In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, I have given this land to your seed, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,


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And Abram said, Lord God, what will You give me, since I [am] going childless, and the steward of my house [is] this Eliezer of Damascus?


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And behold, the word of the LORD [came] to him saying, This one shall not be your heir. But he that shall come forth out of your own bowels shall be your heir.


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And He brought him outside and said, Look now toward the heavens and count the stars, if you are able to count them. And He said to him, So shall your seed be.


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And He said to him, I [am] the LORD that brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give you this land to inherit it.


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And He said to him, Take Me a heifer of three years old, and a she-goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.


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Now Sarai, Abram's wife, did not bear. And she had a female slave, an Egyptian, and her name [was] Hagar.


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And the Angel of the LORD said to her, I will multiply your seed exceedingly, so that it shall not be numbered for multitude.


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And the Angel of the LORD said to her, Behold, you are with child, and shall bear a son. And you shall call his name Ishmael, because the LORD has heard your affliction.


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And he will be a wild man. His hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him. And he shall live in the presence of all his brothers.


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And she called the name of the LORD who had spoken to her, You [are] a God of vision! For she said, Even here have I looked after Him that sees me?


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Therefore the well was called The Well of the Living One Seeing Me. Behold, [it is] between Kadesh and Bered.


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And Sarai said to Abram, Behold now, the LORD has kept me from bearing. I pray you, go in to my slave woman. It may be that I may be built by her. And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.


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And Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar her slave woman, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife (after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan).


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And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.


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And Sarai said to Abram, My wrong [be] upon you. I have given my slave woman into your bosom, and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes. The LORD judge between me and you.


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But Abram said to Sarai, Behold, your slave woman [is] in your hand. Do to her as it pleases you. And Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her face.


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And the Angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.


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And He said, Hagar, Sarai's slave, where did you come from? and where will you go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.


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And when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, I [am] the Almighty God! Walk before Me and be perfect.


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This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your seed after you. Every male child among you shall be circumcised.


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And you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin. And it shall be a token of the covenant between Me and you.


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And a son of eight days shall be circumcised among you, every male child in your generations; he that is born in the house, or bought with silver of any stranger who [is] not of your seed.


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He that is born in your house, and he that is bought with your silver, must be circumcised. And My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.


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And the uncircumcised male child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.


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And God said to Abraham, As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but her name [shall be] Sarah.


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And I will bless her, and give you a son also of her. Yes, I will bless her, and she shall be [a mother] of nations, kings of people shall be from her.


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And Abraham fell upon his face and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall [a child] be born to him that is a hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear?


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And God said, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son indeed. And you shall call his name Isaac. And I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.


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And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.


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But I will establish My covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time in the next year.


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And Abraham took his son Ishmael, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his silver; every male among the men of Abraham's house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskins in the same day, even as God said to him.


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And his son Ishmael [was] thirteen years old [when] he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.


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And all the men of his house, that were born in the house, and bought with silver of the stranger, were circumcised with him.


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Neither shall your name any more be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham. For I have made you a father of many nations.


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And I will make you exceedingly fruitful, greatly so, and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come out of you.


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And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your seed after you in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you and to your seed after you.


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And I will give the land to you in which you are a stranger, and to your seed after you, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. And I will be their God.


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And God said to Abraham, And you shall keep My covenant, you and your seed after you in their generations.


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And the LORD appeared to him in the plains of Mamre, and he sat at the tent door in the heat of the day.


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And He said, I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and lo, Sarah your wife [shall have] a son. And Sarah heard in the tent door which was behind Him.


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Now Abraham and Sarah [were] old, far gone in days, and it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.


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Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After my being old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?


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Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return again, according to the time of life, and Sarah [shall have] a son.


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And the men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom. And Abraham was going with them to bring them on the way.


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And Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the persons of the earth shall be blessed in him?


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For I know him, that he will command his sons and his house after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment, that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which He has spoken of him.


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And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and lo, three men stood by him. And when he saw [them], he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed toward the ground.


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And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous,


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I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which has come to Me. And if not, I will know.


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And the men turned their faces away from there, and went toward Sodom. But Abraham still stood before the LORD.


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Perhaps there are fifty righteous within the city. Will You also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are in it?


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Far be it from You to act in this manner, to kill the righteous with the wicked. And far be it from You, that the righteous should be as the wicked. Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?


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And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.


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And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak to the LORD, who am but dust and ashes.


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Perhaps there will be five lacking from the fifty righteous. Will You destroy all the city for lack of five? And He said, If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy [it].


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And he spoke to Him yet again, and said, Perhaps there shall be forty found there. And He said, I will not do [it] for forty's sake.


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And he said, My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, do not pass away, I pray, from Your servant.


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And he said, Oh let not the LORD be angry, and I will speak. Perhaps there shall be thirty found there. And He said, I will not do [it] if I find thirty there.


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And he said, Lo now, I have taken upon me to speak to the LORD. Perhaps there shall be twenty found there. And He said, I will not destroy [it] for twenty's sake.


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And he said, Oh do not let the LORD be angry, and I will speak only once more. Perhaps ten shall be found there. And He said, I will not destroy [it] for ten's sake.


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And the LORD went His way as soon as He had left off talking with Abraham. And Abraham returned to his place.


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And I will bring a bite of bread, and will comfort your hearts. After that You shall pass on. For this is why You have come to Your servant. And they said, Do so, as you have said.


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And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, [Make ready] quickly three measures of fine meal; knead [it], and make cakes.


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And Abraham ran out to the herd and brought a calf, tender and good. And he gave [it] to a young man. And he hurried to dress it.


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And he took butter and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set [it] before them. And he stood by them under the tree, and they ate.


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And there came two angels to Sodom at evening. And Lot sat in the gate of Sodom. And Lot rose up to meet them when he saw [them]. And he bowed himself with his face toward the ground,


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And they smote the men that [were] at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves to find the door.


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And the men said to Lot, Have you anyone here besides yourself? Bring your sons-in-law, and your sons, and your daughters, and whatever [you have] in the city, bring [them] out of this place.


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For we will destroy this place because great is the cry of them before the face of the LORD. And the LORD has sent us to destroy it.


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And Lot went out and spoke with his sons-in-law, who married his daughters, and said, Get up and get out of this place, for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked to his sons-in-law.


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And when the dawn rose up, then the angels hurried Lot, saying, Rise up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the iniquity of the city.


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And he lingered, the angel laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters (the LORD being merciful to him), and they brought him forth and set him outside the city.


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And it happened when they brought him outside, He said, Escape for your life! Do not look behind you, nor stay in all the plain. Escape to the mountain lest you be consumed.


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behold now, Your servant has found grace in Your sight, and You have magnified Your mercy, which You have shown to me in saving my life. And I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me and I die.


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and said, Behold now, my lords, please turn into your servant's house and stay all night, and wash your feet, and [you shall] rise up early and go your way. And they said, No, but we will stay in the street.


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Behold now, this city [is] near to flee to, and it is a little one. Oh let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.


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And He said to him, See, I have accepted you concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city for which you have spoken.


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Hurry and escape there! For I cannot do anything till you have come there. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.


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Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire, from the LORD out of the heavens.


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And He overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.


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And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the lands of the plain, and saw, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.


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And when God destroyed the cities of the plain, it happened that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot lived.


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But he urgently pressed on them, and they turned in to him and entered into his house. And he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.


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And Lot went up out of Zoar, and lived in the mountain, and his two daughters with him. For he feared to live in Zoar, and he and his two daughters lived in a cave.


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And the first-born said to the younger, Our father [is] old, and [there is] no man in the earth to come in to us in the way of all the earth.


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Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, so that we may preserve seed of our father.


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And they made their father drink wine that night. And the first-born went in, and lay with her father. And he did not notice when she lay down nor when she arose.


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And it happened on the next day, the first-born said to the younger, Behold, I lay last night with my father. Let us make him drink wine this night also, and you go in and lie down with him so that we may preserve seed of our father.


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And they made their father drink wine that night also, and the younger arose and lay with him. And he did not notice when she lay down nor when she arose.


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And the first-born bore a son, and called his name Moab. He is the father of the Moabites to this day.


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And the younger also bore a son, and called his name Ben-ammi; he is the father of the sons of Ammon to this day.


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But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both old and young, all the people from every quarter.


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And they called to Lot, and said to him, Where are the men which came in to you this night? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.


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Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man. I pray you, let me bring them out to you, and you do to them as you see fit. But do nothing to these men, for this is why they came under the shadow of my roof.


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And they said, Stand back! And they said, This one came in to stay, and must he judge always? Now we will deal worse with you than with them. And they pressed hard upon the man, Lot, and came near to breaking the door.


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And a river went out of Eden to water the garden. And from there it was divided and became four heads.


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The name of the first [is] Pishon; that [is it] which surrounds all the land of Havilah, where [there is] gold.


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And the name of the third river [is] Tigris; it [is] that which goes toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river [is] Euphrates.


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but you shall not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. For in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.


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And the LORD God said, [It is] not good that the man should be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.


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And out of the ground the LORD God formed every animal of the field and every fowl of the air, and brought [them] to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called [each] living creature, that [was] its name.


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And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made. And He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made.


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And Adam gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field. But there was not found a suitable helper for Adam.


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And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept. And He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh underneath.


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And the LORD God made the rib (which He had taken from the man) into a woman. And He brought her to the man.


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And Adam said, This [is] now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. [She] shall be called Woman because [she] was taken out of man.


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Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife and they shall be one flesh.


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And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He had rested from all His work which God created to make.


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These [are] the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they [were] created in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,


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and every shrub of the field was not yet on the earth, and every plant of the field had not yet sprung up. For the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and [there was] no man to till the ground.


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And the LORD God formed man [of the] dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.


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And out of the ground the LORD God caused to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food. The tree of life also was in the middle of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.


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And Abraham moved from there toward the south country, and lived between Kadesh and Shur, and stayed in Gerar.


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And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God [is] not in this place, and they will kill me for my wife's sake.


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And yet truly [she is] my sister. She [is] the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother. And she became my wife.


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And it happened when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said to her, This [is] your kindness which you show to me, at every place where we shall come, say of me, He [is] my brother.


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And Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and men-servants and women-servants, and gave [them] to Abraham. And he restored him Sarah his wife.


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And to Sarah he said, Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. Behold, he [is] to you a covering of the eyes, to all that [are] with you, and with all this, you are justified.


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And Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his slave women, and they gave birth.


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For the Lord had closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.


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And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister. And Abimelech the king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.


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But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, you [are] about to die, for the woman whom you have taken; for she is a man's wife.


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Did he not say to me, She [is] my sister? And she, even she herself said, He [is] my brother. In the sincerity of my heart and innocency of my hands I have done this.


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And God said to him in a dream, Yes, I know that you did this in the sincerity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me. Therefore I did not allow you to touch her.


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Now therefore, restore his wife to the man. For he [is] a prophet, and he shall pray for you, and you shall live. And if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you, and all that are yours.


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And Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears. And the men were greatly afraid.


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Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, What have you done to us? In what have I offended you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done.


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And she said to Abraham, Cast out this slave woman and her son. For the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son, with Isaac.


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And God said to Abraham, Let it not be grievous in your sight because of the boy and because of your slave woman. In all that Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice. For in Isaac your Seed shall be called.


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And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle of water, and gave [it] to Hagar, putting [it] on her shoulder. And he gave her the boy, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.


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And she went and sat down across from him, a good way off, about a bowshot. For she said, Let me not see the death of the boy. And she sat across from him, and lifted up her voice, and cried.


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And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar out of the heavens, and said to her, What ails you, Hagar? Do not fear, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is.


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And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went and filled the bottle with water, and gave drink to the boy.


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For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.


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And he lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him out of the land of Egypt.


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And it happened at that time, Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, God is with you in all that you do.


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Now therefore swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son. Do to me according to the kindness that I have sworn to you, and to the land in which you have lived.


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And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.


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And Abimelech said, I do not know who has done this thing, neither did you tell me, neither have I even heard of it, except today.


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And he said, For you shall take [these] seven ewe lambs from my hand, so that they may be a witness to me that I have dug this well.


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So they made a covenant at Beer-sheba. Then Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, rose up. And they returned to the land of the Philistines.


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And Abraham planted a tree in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.


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And she said, Who could have said to Abraham, will Sarah suckle children? For I have borne a son to him in his old age.


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And it happened after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, Abraham! And he said, Behold me.


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And the Angel of Jehovah called to him from the heavens and said, Abraham! Abraham! And he said, Here [am] I.


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And He said, Do not lay your hand on the lad, nor do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only one, from Me.


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And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked. And, behold, a ram behind [him] was entangled in a thicket by its horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.


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And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah Will See; so that it is said [until] this day, In the mount of Jehovah it will be seen.


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and said, I have sworn by Myself, says the LORD; because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only one;


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that in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your seed like the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is upon the seashore. And your Seed shall possess the gate of His enemies.


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Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beer-sheba. And Abraham lived at Beer-sheba.


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And He said, Take now your son, your only one, Isaac, whom you love. And go into the land of Moriah, and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will name to you.


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And it happened after these things that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold Milcah! She also has borne children to your brother Nahor:


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And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two [of] his young men with him, and Isaac his son. And he split the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up and went to the place of which God had told him.


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And Abraham said to his young men, You stay here with the ass. And I and the boy will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.


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And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took the fire in his hand, and a knife. And they both went together.


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And Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, My father. And he said, Here [am] I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood. But where is the lamb for a burnt offering?


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And Abraham said, My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering. So they both went together.


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And they came to the place which God had told him of. And Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. And he bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on the wood.


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And Ephron lived among the sons of Heth. And Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the ears of the sons of Heth, of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying,


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No, my lord, hear me. I give you the field, and the cave that [is] in it I give to you. In the presence of the sons of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead.


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And he spoke to Ephron in the ears of the people of the land, saying, Only if you would hear me. I will give you silver for the field. Take [it] from me, and I will bury my dead there.


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My lord, listen to me. The land [is worth] four hundred shekels of silver; what is that between me and you? And bury your dead.


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And Abraham listened to Ephron. And Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver which he had named in the hearing of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, which passes with the merchant.


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And the field of Ephron was certified, which was Machpelah, which [was] before Mamre; the field and the cave which [was] in it, and all the trees in the field, in all the borders round about,


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to Abraham for a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city.


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And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave at the field of Machpelah before Mamre, which [is] Hebron, in the land of Canaan.


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And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba; the same [is] Hebron in the land of Canaan. And Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.


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And the field, and the cave that [is] in it, were certified to Abraham for a possession of a burying place by the sons of Heth.


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I am a stranger and a visitor with you. Give me a possession of a burying place with you, so that I may bury my dead out of my sight.


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Hear us, my lord. You [are] a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choice of our burying places. None of us shall withhold from you his burying-place from burying your dead.


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And he spoke with them, saying, If it is your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and ask for me of Ephron the son of Zohar,


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that he may give me the cave of Machpelah which he has, which [is] in the end of his field. For as much silver as it is worth he shall give it to me for a possession of a burying-place among you.


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And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed. For all the goods of his master were in his hand. And he arose, and went to Mesopotamia to the city of Nahor.


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And he made his camels kneel down outside the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, the time that women go out to draw.


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And he said, O LORD, God of my master Abraham, I pray You, send me good speed this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham.


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Behold, I stand by the well of water. And the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water.


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And let it be that the young woman to whom I shall say, Let down your pitcher, please, so that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give your camels drink also. [Let] her [be] the one that You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. And by it I shall know that You have shown kindness to my master.


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And before he had finished speaking, it happened, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, [with] her pitcher upon her shoulder.


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And the young woman [was] very beautiful to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her. And she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.


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And she said, Drink, my lord. And she hurried and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave [a] drink to him.


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And when she had finished giving him drink, she said, I will draw [water] for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.


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And Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, I pray you, put your hand under my thigh.


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And she hurried, and emptied her pitcher in the trough, and ran again to the well to draw [water]. And she drew for all his camels.


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And the man was watching her, keeping silent, in order to know whether the LORD had prospered his journey or not.


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And it happened, when the camels had finished drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hand, weighing ten shekels of gold.


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And he said, Whose daughter [are] you? Please tell me. Is there room in your father's house for us to stay?


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And he said, Blessed [be] the LORD, God of my master Abraham, who has not left my master destitute of His mercy and His truth. The LORD led me, I [being] in the way to the house of my master's brothers.


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And I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of Heaven and the God of the earth, that you shall not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell.


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And it happened when he saw the earrings and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, So spoke the man to me, he came to the man. And behold, he stood by the camels at the well.


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And he said, Come in, blessed of the LORD. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.


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And the man came into the house. And he unloaded his camels, and gave straw and fodder to the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men that were with him.


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And [food] was set before him to eat. But he said, I will not eat until I have told my errand. And he said, Speak on.


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And the LORD has blessed my master greatly, and he has become great. And He has given him flocks and herds and silver and gold, and male slaves and slave women, and camels and asses.


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And Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master when she was old. And he has given to him all that he has.


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And my master made me swear, saying, You shall not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live.


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And he said to me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his Angel with you, and prosper your way. And you shall take a wife for my son from my kindred, and from my father's house.


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Then shall you be clear from my oath when you come to my kindred, and if they do not give you [one], you shall be clear from my oath.


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And I came this day to the well, and said, O LORD, God of my master Abraham, if now You prosper my way in which I go,


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behold, I stand by the well of water. And it shall be when the virgin comes forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, please, a little water from your pitcher to drink,


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and she says to me, Both you drink, and I will also draw for your camels, may she be the woman whom the LORD has appointed for my master's son.


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And before I finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her pitcher on her shoulder. And she went down to the well and drew water. And I said to her, Please let me drink.


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And she hurried and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give drink to your camels also. So I drank, and she made the camels drink also.


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And I asked her and said, Whose daughter [are] you? And she said, The [daughter] of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him. And I put the earring upon her nose and the bracelets upon her hands.


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And I bowed my head and worshiped the LORD, and blessed the LORD, God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter to his son.


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And now if you will deal kindly and truthfully with my master, tell me. And if not, tell me so that I may turn to the right hand or to the left.


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And the servant said to him, Perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I necessarily bring your son again to the land from which you came?


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And Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing has come forth from the LORD. We cannot speak to you bad or good.


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Behold! Rebekah is before you; take [her] and go. And let her be the wife of your master's son, even as the LORD has spoken.


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And it happened, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the earth to the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.


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And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing, and gave [them] to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother.


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And they ate and drank, he and the men with him, and stayed all night. And they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away to my master.


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And her brother and her mother said, Let the young woman stay with us perhaps ten days. After that she shall go.


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And he said to them, Do not hinder me, since the LORD has prospered my way. Send me away, that I may go away to my master.


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And they blessed Rebekah, and said to her, Our sister, be the mother of thousands of millions, and let your seed possess the gate of those who hate them.


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And Rebekah rose up, and her young women, and they rode upon the camels and followed the man. And the servant took Rebekah and went his way.


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And Isaac came from the way of the well, The Well of the Living One, my Beholder. For he lived in the south country.


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And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the beginning of the evening. And he lifted up his eyes, and looked. And behold, camels coming!


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For she said to the servant, What man [is] this that walks in the field to meet us? And the servant said, It is my master. Therefore she took a veil and covered herself.


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And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. And he loved her. And Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.


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The LORD, the God of Heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying, To your seed I will give this land: He shall send His Angel before you. And you shall take a wife to my son from there.


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And if the woman will not be willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this oath of mine. Only do not bring my son there again.


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And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning the matter.


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And after the death of Abraham, it happened that God blessed his son Isaac. And Isaac lived by The Well of the Living One, My Beholder.


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And these [are] the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bore to Abraham.


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And these [are] the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations. The first-born of Ishmael was Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,


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These [were] the sons of Ishmael, and these [were] their names, by their towns and by their settlements; [twelve] chiefs according to their nations.


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And these [were] the years of the life of Ishmael, a hundred thirty-seven years. And he expired and died, and was gathered to his people.


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And they lived from Havilah to Shur, which [is] before Egypt, [as] you go toward Assyria. And he died in the presence of all his brothers.


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And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan-aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian.


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And Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she [was] barren. And the LORD heard him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.


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And the sons struggled together within her. And she said, If [it is] so, why [am] I this way? And she went to inquire of the LORD.


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And the LORD said to her, Two nations [are] in your womb, and two kinds of people shall be separated from your bowels. And the one people shall be stronger than the other people, the older shall serve the younger.


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And after that his brother came out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel. And his name was called Jacob. And Isaac [was] sixty years old when she bore them.


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And Esau said to Jacob, I beg you, Let me eat of the red, this red [soup], for I am faint. Therefore his name was called Edom.


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And Esau said, Behold, I [am] at the point of dying, and what [profit shall] this birthright be to me?


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Then Jacob gave Esau bread and soup of lentils. And he ate and drank, and rose up and went his way. And Esau despised [his] birthright.


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And the sons of Midian: Ephah and Epher and Hanoch and Abida and Eldaah. All these [were] the sons of Keturah.


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But to the sons of the concubines which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts. And he sent them away from Isaac his son while he still lived, eastward to the east country.


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And these [are] the days of the years of Abraham's life, which he lived: a hundred seventy-five years.


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And Abraham expired and died in a good old age, old and satisfied. And he was gathered to his people.


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And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which [is] before Mamre,


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And there was a famine in the land, besides the famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines to Gerar.


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And Abimelech said, What [is] this you have done to us? One of the people might have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.


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And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.


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Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year a hundredfold. And the LORD blessed him.


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And he had possession of flocks and possession of herds, and many servants. And the Philistines envied him.


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For all the wells which his father's servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them and filled them with earth.


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And Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham. And he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.


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And the LORD appeared to him and said, Do not go down into Egypt. Live in the land which I shall tell you of.


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And the herdsmen of Gerar strove with Isaac's herdsmen, saying, The water is ours. And he called the name of the well Contention, because they strove with him.


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And they dug another well, and [they] strove for that also. And he called the name of it Opposition.


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And he moved from there, and dug another well, and they did not strive for that. And he called the name of it Broad Places. And he said, For now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.


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And the LORD appeared to him the same night, and said, I [am] the God of Abraham your father. Do not fear, for I [am] with you, and will bless you and multiply your seed for My servant Abraham's sake.


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And he built an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there. And Isaac's servants dug a well there.


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Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, with Ahuzzath, one of his friends, and Phicol the commander of his army.


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And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with you. And we said, Let there be now an oath between us, between us and you, and let us make a covenant with you;


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that you will do us no harm since we have not touched you, and since we have done nothing but good to you, and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the LORD.


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Stay in this land, and I will be with you and bless you. For to you and to your seed I will give all these lands; and I will establish the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.


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And they rose up early in the morning, and swore to one another. And Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.


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And the same day it happened, Isaac's servants came and told him about the well which they had dug. And they said to him, We have found water.


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And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite;


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And I will make your seed to multiply as the stars of the heavens, and will give to your seed all these lands. And in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed,


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And the men of the place asked about his wife. And he said, She is my sister. For he feared to say, My wife; lest the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah, because she was beautiful of form.


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And when he had been there a long time, it happened that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out through the window, and saw; and behold! Isaac [was] caressing Rebekah his wife.


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And Abimelech called Isaac and said, Behold! She surely [is] your wife. And why did you say, She [is] my sister? And Isaac said to him, Because I said, Lest I die on account of her.


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And it happened when Isaac [was] old and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called his oldest son Esau and said to him, My son. And he said to him, Behold, I [am] here.


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And you shall bring it to your father so that he may eat, and that he may bless you before his death.


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And Jacob said to his mother Rebekah, Behold, Esau my brother [is] a hairy man, and I [am] a smooth man.


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My father will perhaps feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver. And I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.


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And his mother said to him, Your curse [be] upon me, my son, only obey my voice and go bring them to me.


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And he went. And he took them and brought to his mother. And his mother made delicious things such as his father loved.


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And Rebekah took the clothes of her older son Esau, the costly ones which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son.


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And she gave the delicious things and the bread which she had prepared into the hand of her son Jacob.


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And Jacob said to his father, I [am] Esau your first-born. I have done as you asked me. Arise, I pray you, sit and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.


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And he said to him, Behold, here am I. And he said, Behold now, I am old, I do not know the day of my death.


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And Isaac said to his son, How [is it] that you have found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the LORD your God brought [it] to me.


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And Isaac said to Jacob, Come near, I pray you, so that I may feel you, my son, whether you are truly my son Esau or not.


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And Jacob went near to Isaac his father. And he felt him and said, The voice [is] Jacob's voice, but the hands the hands of Esau.


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And he did not know him because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands. And he blessed him.


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And he said, Bring [it] to me, and I will eat of my son's game, so that my soul may bless you. And he brought [it] near to him, and he ate. And he brought him wine, and he drank.


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And he came near and kissed him. And he smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son [is] as the smell of a field which the LORD has blessed.


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And may God give you of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of grain and wine.


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Let people serve you, and let nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and let your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed [be] everyone that curses you, and blessed [be] he that blesses you.


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And now please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me.


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And it happened, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was scarcely gone from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.


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And he also had made tasty meat and brought to his father. And he said to his father, Let my father arise and eat of his son's game so that your soul may bless me.


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And his father Isaac said to him, Who [are] you? And he said, I [am] your son, your first-born, Esau.


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And Isaac trembled with a great trembling, and said, Who then [was] the one who has hunted deer and brought to me, and I have eaten of all before you came, and have blessed him? Yea, he shall be blessed!


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And when Esau heard the voice of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said to his father, Bless me, me also, O my father!


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And he said, [It is] because his name [is] called Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing. And he said, Have you not reserved a blessing for me?


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And Isaac answered and said to Esau, Behold! I have made him your lord, and all his brothers I have given him for servants. And with grain and wine I have supported him. And what shall I do now to you, my son?


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And Esau said to his father, Have you but one blessing, my father? Bless me, me also, my father. And Esau lifted up his voice and wept.


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And Isaac his father answered and said to him, Behold! Your dwelling shall be of the fatness of the earth and of the dew of heaven from above.


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And make tasty meat for me, such as I love, and bring to me so that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.


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And by your sword you shall live, and shall serve your brother. And it shall be when you shall have the dominion, you shall break his yoke from off your neck.


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And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him. And Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning [for] my father are at hand. Then I will kill my brother Jacob.


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And these words of her older son Esau were told to Rebekah. And she sent and called her younger son Jacob, and said to him, Behold, your brother Esau is going to ease himself on you, to kill you.


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until your brother's anger turns away from you and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send and bring you from there. Why should I also be bereaved of both of you [in] one day?


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And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob takes a wife of the daughters of Heth, like these of the daughters of the land, what good is [my] life to me?


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And Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt game in order to bring [it].


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And Rebekah spoke to her son Jacob, saying, Behold, I heard your father speak to your brother Esau, saying,


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Bring me game, and make me delicious things so that I may eat and bless you before the LORD before my death.


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Go now to the flock, and bring me from there two good kids of the goats. And I will make them delicious things for your father, such as he loves.


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And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and commanded him. And he said to him, You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.


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And he came on a certain place, and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took of the stones of that place, and placed [them] at his head. And he lay down in that place to sleep.


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And he dreamed. And behold! A ladder was set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to Heaven! And behold! The angels of God [were] ascending and descending on it!


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And behold! The LORD stood above it, and said, I [am] Jehovah, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac! The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your seed.


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And your seed shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south. And in you and in your Seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.


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And, behold, I [am] with you, and will keep you in every [place] where you go, and will bring you again into this land. For I will not leave you until I have done that which I have spoken of to you.


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And Jacob awakened from his sleep. And he said, Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know.


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And he was afraid, and said, How fearful [is] this place! This [is] nothing but the house of God, and this [is] the gate of Heaven!


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And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone which he had put at his head, and set it [as] a memorial pillar, and poured oil on the top of it.


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And he called the name of that place The House of God. But the name of that city [was] Luz at first.


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Arise, go to Padan-aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother's father. And take a wife from there of the daughters of Laban your mother's brother.


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And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to put on,


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And this stone which I have set for a pillar shall be God's house. And of all that You shall give me, I will surely give the tenth to You.


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And may God Almighty bless you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, so that you may be a multitude of peoples.


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And may He give you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your seed with you, so that you may inherit the land in which you are a stranger, which God gave to Abraham.


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And Isaac sent Jacob away. And he went to Padan-aram, to Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau.


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And Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and had sent him away to Padan-aram in order to take a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he gave him a command, saying, You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan;


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then Esau went to Ishmael, and took Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to the wives [which] he [had] for his wife.


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And it happened when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, then Jacob went near and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flocks of Laban his mother's brother.


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And Jacob told Rachel that he [was] her father's brother, and that he [was] Rebekah's son. And she ran and told her father.


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And it happened when Laban heard the news of Jacob his sister's son, he ran to meet him and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.


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And Laban said to Jacob, Because you [are] my brother, should you then serve me for nothing? Tell me, what [shall be] your wages?


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And Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.


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And Laban said, [It is] better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.


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And he looked, and behold, a well [was] in the field! And, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it, for they watered the flocks out of that well. And a great stone [was] upon the well's mouth.


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And Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him a few days, for the love he had for her.


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And it happened in the evening, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to him. And he went in to her.


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And it happened in the morning, behold, it [was] Leah! And he said to Laban, What [is] this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you tricked me?


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Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you shall serve with me still another seven years.


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And all the flocks were gathered there. And they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in its place.


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And he also went in to Rachel. He also loved Rachel more than Leah, and served with him still seven more years.


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And Leah conceived and bore a son. And she called his name Reuben, for she said, Surely the LORD has looked upon my afflictions. Now therefore my husband will love me.


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And she conceived again, and bore a son, and said, Because the LORD has heard that I was hated, He has therefore given me this [son] also. And she called his name Simeon.


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And she conceived again, and bore a son, and said, Now this time my husband will return to me, because I have borne him three sons. Therefore his name was called Levi.


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And she conceived again, and bore a son; and she said, This time I will praise the LORD. Therefore she called his name Judah, and quit bearing.


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And he said to them, [Is] he well? And they said, He [is] well. And, behold, his daughter Rachel comes with the sheep.


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And he said, Lo, the day [is] yet high. [It is] not yet time for gathering the cattle together. Water the sheep, and go feed [them].


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And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks have been gathered together. And they roll the stone from the well's mouth, then we water the sheep.


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Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, [Is it] so that God has said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?


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And he said, I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I [am] naked, and I hid myself.


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And He said, Who told you that you [were] naked? Have you eaten of the tree which I commanded you that you should not eat?


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And the LORD God said to the woman, What [is] this you have done? And the woman said, The serpent deceived me, and I ate.


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And the LORD God said to the serpent, Because you have done this you [are] cursed more than all cattle, and more than every animal of the field. You shall go upon your belly, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life.


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And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He will bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.


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To the woman He said, I will greatly increase your sorrow and your conception. In pain you shall bear sons, and your desire shall be toward your husband, and he shall rule over you.


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And to Adam He said, Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat [of] it! The ground [is] cursed for your sake. In pain shall you eat of it all the days of your life.


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In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For dust you [are], and to dust you shall return.


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And the LORD God said, Behold, the man has become as one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put forth his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever,


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therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he had been taken.


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And He drove out the man. And He placed cherubs at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.


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But of the fruit of the tree which [is] in the middle of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.


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for God knows that in the day you eat of it, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.


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And when the woman saw that the tree [was] good for food, and that it was pleasing to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make wise, she took of its fruit, and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.


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And the eyes of both of them were opened. And they knew that they [were] naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made girdles for themselves.


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And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. And Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God in the middle of the trees of the garden.


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And when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister. And she said to Jacob, Give me sons, or else I will die.


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And Reuben went out in the days of the wheat harvest, and found love-apples in the field, and brought them to his mother Leah. And Rachel said to Leah, please give me some of your son's love-apples.


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And she said to her, [Is it] a small matter that you have taken my husband? And would you also take my son's love-apples? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with you tonight for your son's love-apples.


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And Jacob came out of the field in the evening. And Leah went out to meet him, and said, You must come in to me, for I have surely hired you with my son's love-apples. And he lay with her that night.


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And Leah said, God has given me my hire, because I gave my slave to my husband. And she called his name Issachar.


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And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel. And he said, Am I in God's stead, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?


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And Leah said, God has given me a good present. Now my husband will live with me, because I have borne him six sons. And she called his name Zebulun.


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And when Rachel had borne Joseph, it happened that Jacob said to Laban, Send me away so that I may go into my own place and to my country.


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Give me my wives and my children, [for] whom I have served you, and let me go. For you know my service which I have done you.


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And Laban said to him, I pray you, if I have found favor in your eyes, stay. For I have seen omens, that the LORD has blessed me for your sake.


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And she said, Behold my slave woman Bilhah; go in to her, and she shall bear upon my knees, and yea, let me be built up from her, me also.


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For you had little before I [came], and it has now increased to a multitude. And the LORD has blessed you since my coming. And now when shall I provide for my own house also?


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And he said, What shall I give you? And Jacob said, You shall not give me anything. If you will do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep your flock.


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I will pass through all the flocks today, taking out all the speckled and spotted sheep, and all of the black sheep among the lambs, and the spotted and the speckled among the goats. And these shall be my hire.


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And shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, and it shall come for my hire before your face. Every one that [is] not speckled and spotted among the goats, and black among the sheep, shall be counted stolen with me.


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And that day he took out the he-goats that were striped and spotted, and all the she-goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white in it, and all the black from among the lambs, and gave [them] into the hand of his sons.


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And Jacob took rods of green poplar, and of a fresh tree, and the almond and plane tree. And he peeled white streaks in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.


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And he set the rods which he had peeled by the troughs, by the water troughs, where the flocks came to drink, across from the flocks, and the flocks were in heat when they came to drink.


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And Jacob separated the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the striped, and all the black in the flock of Laban. And he put his own flocks by themselves, and did not put them with the flock of Laban.


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And it happened when the stronger flocks conceived, Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the flocks in the troughs, so that they might conceive among the rods.


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But when the flocks were feeble, he did not put [them] in. And usually it came to be, the weak ones were Laban's and the stronger ones Jacob's.


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And the man increased exceedingly, and [had] many flocks, and maidservants, and male servants, and camels, and asses.


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And Rachel said, God has judged me, and has also heard my voice, and has given me a son. Therefore she called his name Dan.


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And Rachel said, With the wrestlings of God I have wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed. And she called his name Naphtali.


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When Leah saw that she had quit bearing, she took her slave woman Zilpah and gave her to Jacob to wife.


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And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob has taken away all that [was] our father's, and he has gotten all this glory from that which was our father's.


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And at the time the cattle conceived, I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were striped, speckled, and mottled.


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And He said, Lift up your eyes and see all the rams which leap upon the cattle, that they [are] striped, speckled, and mottled. For I have seen all that Laban is doing to you.


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I [am] the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar, where you vowed a vow to Me. Now arise, get out from this land, and return to the land of your kindred.


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And Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, [Is there] yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?


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For all the riches which God has taken from our father, that [is] for us and for our sons. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do.


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And he drove away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his property, which he had gotten in Padan-aram, in order to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.


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And he fled with all that was his. And he rose up and passed over the river, and set his face toward Mount Gilead.


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And he took his brothers with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey. And they overtook him in Mount Gilead.


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And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to him, Take heed that you do not speak either good or bad to Jacob.


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Then Laban overtook Jacob. And Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount. And Laban with his brothers pitched in Mount Gilead.


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And Laban said to Jacob, What have you done, that you have deceived my heart and carried away my daughters as captives [taken] with the sword?


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Why did you flee away secretly, and steal away from me, and did not tell me so that I might have sent you away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret and with harp?


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And why have you not allowed me to kiss my sons and my daughters? You have done foolishly in so doing.


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It is in the power of my hand to do you harm. But the God of your fathers spoke to me last night, saying, Take heed that you do not speak either good or bad to Jacob.


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And the LORD said to Jacob, Return to the land of your fathers, and to your kindred, and I will be with you.


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And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I [was] afraid, for I said, Perhaps you would take your daughters away from me by force.


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With whomever you find your gods, let him not live. Before our brothers, choose what [is] yours with me, and take [it] to you. For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.


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And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the tents of the two slave women, and he did not find. And he went out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent.


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And Rachel had taken the images and put them into the camel's saddle, and sat on them. And Laban searched all the tent, but did not find them.


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But she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before you. For the custom of women [is] upon me. And he searched, but did not find the images.


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And Jacob was angry, and rebuked Laban. And Jacob answered and said to Laban, What [is] my trespass? What [is] my sin, that you have so hotly pursued after me?


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For you have searched all my stuff; what have you found of all your household stuff? Set it here before my brothers and your brothers, that they may judge between us both.


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I [was] with you these twenty years. Your ewes and she-goats have not cast their young, and the rams of your flock I have not eaten.


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That which was mangled I did not bring to you; I bore the loss of it. You required it at my hand, [whether] stolen by day, or stolen by night.


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I was there; in the day the heat consumed me, and the frost by night. And my sleep departed from my eyes.


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And I have been twenty years in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six for your flocks. And you have changed my wages ten times.


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Unless the God of my fathers, the God of Abraham, and the Fear of Isaac had been with me, surely you would have sent me away now empty. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked [you last] night.


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And Laban answered and said to Jacob, The daughters [are] my daughters, and the sons my sons, and the flocks my flocks. All that you see [is] mine. And what can I do this day to these my daughters, or to their sons which they have borne?


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And Jacob said to his brothers, Gather stones. And they took stones and made a heap. And they ate there upon the heap.


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And Laban called it in [Syrian], Heap of the Testimony, and Jacob called it in Hebrew, Heap of Testimony.


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And Laban said, This heap [is] a witness between you and me this day. Therefore the name of it was called Heap of Testimony,


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And he said to them, I see your father's face, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me.


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If you shall not] afflict my daughters, or if you shall take wives besides my daughters, no man is with us. See! God is witness between you and me.


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And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold the pillar which I have set up between you and me.


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This heap [is] a witness, and the pillar [is] a witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and that you shall not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, for harm.


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The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us. And Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.


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And Jacob offered sacrifice on the mountain, and called his brothers to eat bread. And they ate bread and stayed all night in the mountain.


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And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them. And Laban departed and returned to his place.


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and your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times. But God did not allow him to hurt me.


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If he said this, The speckled shall be your wages, then all the flocks bore speckled. And if he said this, The striped shall be your hire, then all the flocks bore striped.


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I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have done to Your servant. For with my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I have become two bands.


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Deliver me, I pray You, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau. For I fear him, lest he come and strike me, from mother to sons.


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And You said, I will surely do you good, and make your seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.


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And he lodged there that night. And he took of that which came to his hand, a present for Esau his brother


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And he delivered into the hands of his servants, every drove by themselves. And he said to his servants, Pass over in front of me and put a space between drove and drove.


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And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meets you, and asks you saying, To whom do you belong? and, Where do you go? And whose are] these before you?


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Then you shall say, Your servant Jacob's. It [is] a present sent to my lord Esau. And, behold, he also [is] behind us.


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And so he commanded the second and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, In this way you shall speak to Esau when you find him.


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And also you shall say, Behold, your servant Jacob [is] behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face. Perhaps he will accept me.


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And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two slave women, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.


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And when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the hollow of his thigh. And the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint as he wrestled with Him.


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And He said, Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for like a prince you have power with God and with men, and have prevailed.


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And Jacob asked and said, I pray You, reveal Your name. And He said, Why do you ask after My name? And He blessed him there.


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And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel; for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.


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Therefore the sons of Israel do not eat of the sinew of the thigh, which is on the hip-socket, until this day, because He touched Jacob's hip-socket, the sinew of the thigh.


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And he commanded them, saying, So shall you speak to my lord Esau: Your servant Jacob says thus, I have lived with Laban and stayed until now.


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And I [have] oxen and asses, flocks, and menservants, and slave women. And I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in your sight.


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And the messengers returned to Jacob saying, We came to your brother Esau, and also he comes to meet you, and four hundred men with him.


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Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed, and he divided the people with him, and the flocks and herds, and the camels, into two bands.


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And he said, If Esau comes to the one company and strikes it, then the other company which is left shall escape.


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And Jacob said, Oh God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, Jehovah, who said to me, Return to your country and to your kindred, and I will deal well with you:


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And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked. And behold, Esau came, and four hundred men with him. And he divided the children to Leah, and to Rachel, and to the two handmaids.


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And Jacob said, No, please, if now I have found grace in your sight, then receive my present at my hand. For therefore have I seen your face, as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me.


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Please take my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he accepted.


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And he said to him, My lord knows that the boys are tender, and the flocks and herds with me [are] suckling. And if the men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die.


text:
Please let my lord pass over before his servant, and I will lead on softly, according as the flocks that go before me, and the boys, are able to endure, until I come to my lord to Seir.


text:
And Esau said, Let me now leave with you [some] of the people with me. And he said, Why this? Let me find grace in the sight of my lord.


text:
And Jacob journeyed to Succoth and built himself a house, and made booths for his cattle. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.


text:
And Jacob came in peace to the city of Shechem, which [is] in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan-aram. And he pitched his tent in front of the city.


text:
And he bought a piece of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the sons of Hamor, Shechem's father, for a hundred pieces of silver.


text:
And he put the slave women and their children first, and Leah and her children afterward, and Rachel and Joseph last.


text:
And he passed over in front of them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.


text:
And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the boys, and said, Who [are] these [with] you? And he said, The boys with] whom God has favored your servant.


text:
And Leah also, and her children, came near and bowed themselves. And afterward Joseph and Rachel came near and bowed.


text:
And you shall live with us. And the land shall be before you. Live and trade in it, and get possessions in it.


text:
And Shechem said to her father and to her brothers, Let me find grace in your eyes, and whatever you shall say to me I will give.


text:
Heap upon me ever so much price and dowry, and I will give according as you shall say to me. But give me the girl for a wife.


text:
And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father, speaking with deceit because he had defiled Dinah their sister.


text:
And they said to them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised. For it [is] a reproach to us.


text:
But in this we will agree with you, if you will be as we [are], that every male of you be circumcised,


text:
then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will live with you, and we will become one people.


text:
But if you will not listen to us, to be circumcised, then we will take our daughter, and we will go.


text:
And the young man did not hesitate to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter. And he [was] more honorable than all the house of his father.


text:
And when Shechem, the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her and lay with her, and defiled her.


text:
And Hamor and Shechem his son came to the gate of their city, and talked with the men of their city, saying,


text:
These men [are] at peace with us. Therefore let them live in the land, and trade in it. For behold, the land [is] large enough for them. Let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters.


text:
Only on this [condition] will the men agree to us, to live with us, to be one people, if every male among us is circumcised as they [are] circumcised.


text:
[Shall] not their cattle and their substance and every animal of theirs be ours? Only let us agree with them, and they will live with us.


text:
And all that went out of the gate of his city listened to Hamor and to Shechem his son. And every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city.


text:
And it happened on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, took each his sword and came upon the city boldly, and killed all the males.


text:
And they killed Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went out.


text:
The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and plundered the city, because they had defiled their sister.


text:
They took their sheep and their oxen, and their asses, and that which [was] in the city and that which [was] in the field.


text:
And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives, they took captive, and plundered even all that [was] in the house.


text:
And his soul clung to Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the girl and spoke to the heart of the girl.


text:
And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, You have troubled me, to make me stink among those who live in the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites. And I, [being] few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and kill me. And I shall be destroyed, my house and I.


text:
And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter. And his sons were with his cattle in the field. And Jacob kept silent until they had come.


text:
And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard. And the men were furious, and they were very angry, because he had done folly in Israel, in lying with the daughter of Jacob. And it ought not to be done so.


text:
And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him for a wife.


text:
And God said to Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and live there. And make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.


text:
And God said to him, Your name [is] Jacob. Your name shall not be called Jacob any more, but Israel shall be your name. And He called his name Israel.


text:
And God said to him, I [am] God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall be from you, and kings shall come out of your loins.


text:
And the land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give to you, and to your seed after you I will give the land.


text:
And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He talked with him, a pillar of stone. And he poured a drink offering on it, and he poured oil on it.


text:
And they moved from Bethel. And there was only a length of land to come to Ephrath. And Rachel travailed, and she had hard labor in her bearing.


text:
And it happened when she was in hard labor in her bearing, the midwife said to her, Do not fear, you shall have this son also.


text:
And it happened as her soul was departing (for she died) that she called his name Benoni. But his father called him Benjamin.


text:
Then Jacob said to his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods among you, and be clean, and change your garments.


text:
And it happened when Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine. And Israel heard it. And the sons of Jacob were twelve:


text:
The sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob's first-born, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun.


text:
And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's slave woman: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob born to him in Padan-aram.


text:
And Jacob came to his father Isaac, to Mamre, to the city of Arba, which [is] Hebron, where Abraham had lived, and Isaac.


text:
And Isaac expired and died, and was gathered to his people, old and satisfied of days. And his sons, Esau and Jacob, buried him.


text:
And let us arise and go up to Bethel, and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.


text:
And they gave all the strange gods which [were] in their hands to Jacob, and the earrings in their ears. And Jacob hid them under the oak which [was] by Shechem.


text:
And they moved. And the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob.


text:
And he built an altar there and called the place El-bethel, because God appeared to him there when he fled from the face of his brother.


text:
But Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died, and she was buried beneath Bethel, under an oak. And the name of it was called Oak of Weeping.


text:
These are the names of Esau's sons: Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau; Reuel the son of Basemath the wife of Esau.


text:
And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz, Esau's son. And she bore to Eliphaz Amalek. These [were] the sons of Adah, Esau's wife.


text:
And these [were] the sons of Reuel: Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah; these [were] the sons of Basemath, Esau's wife.


text:
And these were the sons of Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, Esau's wife. And she bore to Esau Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah.


text:
These [were] the chiefs of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the first-born of Esau: Chief Teman, Chief Omar, Chief Zepho, Chief Kenaz,


text:
Chief Korah, Chief Gatam, Chief Amalek. These were the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these the sons of Adah.


text:
And these [were] the sons of Reuel, Esau's son: Chief Nahath, and Chief Zerah, Chief Shammah, Chief Mizzah. These [were] the chiefs of Reuel in the land of Edom. These were the sons of Basemath, Esau's wife.


text:
And these [were] the sons of Oholibamah, Esau's wife: Chief Jeush, Chief Jaalam, Chief Korah. These were the chiefs of Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah, Esau's wife.


text:
Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan, Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite,


text:
These [were] the sons of Seir the Horite living in the land: Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah,


text:
and Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan. These [were] the chiefs of the Horites, the sons of Seir, in the land of Edom.


text:
And these [were] the sons of Zibeon: both Aiah and Anah (he is Anah that found the hot springs in the desert as he fed the asses of Zibeon, his father).


text:
Chief Dishon, Chief Ezer, Chief Dishan. These [were] the chiefs of the Horites, according to their chiefs in the land of Seir.


text:
And these [were] the kings that reigned in the land of Edom before the reigning of a king over the sons of Israel.


text:
And Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who smote Midian in the field of Moab reigned in his place. And the name of his city [was] Avith.


text:
And Baalhanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his place. And the name of his city was Pau. And his wife's name [was] Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.


text:
And these [were] the names of the chiefs of Esau, according to their families, after their places, by their names: Chief Timnah, Chief Alvah, Chief Jetheth,


text:
Chief Magdiel, Chief Iram. These [were] the chiefs of Edom, according to their dwellings in the land of their possession; he [is] Esau the father of the Edomites.


text:
And Oholibamah bore Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah. These [were] the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan.


text:
And Esau took his wives and his sons and his daughters, and all the souls of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance which he had gotten in the land of Canaan, and went into the country away from the face of his brother Jacob.


text:
For their riches were more than [that] they might dwell together. And the land of their travels could not bear them because of their cattle.


text:
And he told [it] to his father and to his brothers. And his father rebuked him and said to him, What [is] this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I, and your mother, and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the earth before you?


text:
And Israel said to Joseph, Do not your brothers feed the flock in Shechem? Come, and I will send you to them. And he said to him, Here I [am].


text:
And he said to him, please go see whether it is well with your brothers and well with the flocks. And bring me word again. And he sent him out of the valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.


text:
And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying, What are you looking for?


text:
And the man said, They are gone from here, for I heard [them] say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brothers, and found them in Dothan.


text:
And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him.


text:
These [are] the generations of Jacob: Joseph, a son of seventeen years, came tending the flock with his brothers. And he was a youth with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought to his father an evil report of them.


text:
Therefore come now, and let us kill him, and throw him into some pit, and we will say some evil beast has devoured him. And we shall see what will become of his dreams.


text:
And Reuben said to them, Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him (in order to rescue him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again).


text:
And it happened when Joseph had come to his brothers, they stripped Joseph out of his tunic, the tunic reaching to the soles [of his] feet that was on him.


text:
And they sat down to eat bread. And they lifted up their eyes, and looked. And behold, a company of Ishmaelites came from Gilead, with their camels bearing spices and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.


text:
And Judah said to his brothers, What profit [is it] if we should kill our brother and hide his blood?


text:
Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him. For he [is] our brother, and our flesh. And his brothers listened.


text:
And men, Midianites traders, came by. And they drew up Joseph and took him out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty [pieces] of silver. And they brought Joseph into Egypt.


text:
And Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a tunic [reaching to] the soles [of his] feet.


text:
And they sent the tunic [reaching to] the soles of the feet, and they brought it to their father. And they said, We have found this. Do you know whether it [is] your son's coat or not?


text:
And he knew it, and said, [It is] my son's tunic. An evil beast has eaten him. Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces.


text:
And all his sons, and all his daughters, rose up to comfort him. But he refused to be comforted. And he said, For I will go down into the grave to my son mourning. And his father wept for him.


text:
And the Midianites sold him into Egypt to Potiphar, a eunuch of Pharaoh, the chief of the executioners.


text:
And when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him.


text:
For behold! We [were] binding sheaves in the middle of the field, and lo, my sheaf arose and also stood upright. And behold, your sheaves stood around and bowed down to my sheaf.


text:
And his brothers said to him, Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have the rule over us? And they hated him still more for his dreams and for his words.


text:
And he dreamed still another dream, and told it to his brothers. And he said, Behold, I have dreamed another dream. And behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars bowed down to me.


text:
And it happened at that time Judah went down from his brothers and turned in to a certain Adullamite, named Hirah.


text:
Then said Judah to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, Remain a widow at your father's house until Shelah my son is grown. For he said, Lest perhaps he die also, as his brothers [did]. And Tamar went and lived in her father's house.


text:
And the days were many, and Judah's wife, the daughter of Shuah, died. And Judah was comforted, and went up to shearers of his sheep, he and his friend Hiram of Adullam, to Timnah.


text:
And she put off her widow's clothes, and covered herself with a veil, and wrapped herself. And [she] sat in an open place, which [is] by the way to Timnah. For she saw that Shelah was grown and she was not given to him as wife.


text:
And he turned aside to her by the wayside, and said, Come now, let me come in to you. For he did not know that she [was] his daughter-in-law. And she said, What will you give me, so that you may come in to me?


text:
And he said, I will send a kid of the goats from the flock. And she said, Will you give me a pledge until you send [it] ?


text:
And he said, What pledge shall I give you? And she said, Your signet, and your bracelet, and your staff that [is] in your hand. And he gave to her, and came in to her, and she conceived by him.


text:
And she arose, and went away, and laid away her veil from her, and put on the clothes of her widowhood.


text:
And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite man named Shuah. And he took her and went in to her.


text:
And Judah sent the kid of the goats by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive [his] pledge from the woman's hand. But he did not find her.


text:
Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where [is] the harlot who was by the wayside? And they said, There [was] no harlot here.


text:
And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannot find her. And also the men of the place said, There [was] no harlot here.


text:
And Judah said, Let her take [it] to her, lest we be ashamed. Behold, I sent this kid, and you have not found her.


text:
And it happened, about three months afterward, that it was told Judah, saying, Your daughter-in-law Tamar has played the harlot, and also, behold, she [is] with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burned.


text:
When she was brought forth, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, I am with child by the man whose things these [are]. And she said, Please observe. Whose things are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff?


text:
And Judah acknowledged [them], and said, She has been more righteous than I have, because I did not give her to my son Shelah. And he never knew her again.


text:
And when she travailed, it happened that [one] put out a hand. And the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This one came out first.


text:
And it happened as he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out. And she said, How have you broken a break for yourself? And his name was called Pharez.


text:
And afterwards his brother came out, on whose hand was the scarlet thread. And his name was called Zarah.


text:
And she yet again conceived and bore a son. And she called his name Shelah. And she was at Chezib when she bore him.


text:
And Judah said to Onan, Go in to your brother's wife, and marry [her], and raise up seed to your brother.


text:
And Onan knew that the seed would not be his. And it happened when he went in to his brother's wife, that he spilled on the ground, not giving seed to his brother.


text:
And Joseph was brought down to Egypt. And Potiphar, a eunuch of Pharaoh, the chief of the executioners, an Egyptian man, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there.


text:
And it happened as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not listen to her to lie with her, [or] to be with her.


text:
And it happened about this time that he came into the house to do his work. And none of the men of the house [were] inside.


text:
And she caught him by his robe, saying, Lie with me. And he left his robe in her hand and fled, and got out.


text:
she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, See, he has brought in a Hebrew to us to mock us. He came in to me, to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice.


text:
And it happened when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his robe with me, and fled, and got out.


text:
And she spoke to him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant which you have brought to us came in to me to mock me.


text:
And it happened when his master heard the words of his wife which she spoke to him, saying, Your servant did this to me, his wrath was kindled.


text:
And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man. And he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.


text:
And Joseph's master took him and put him in the prison, a place where the king's prisoners [were] bound. And he was there in the prison.


text:
But the LORD was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.


text:
And the keeper of the prison gave all the prisoners in the prison into Joseph's hand. And whatever they did there, he was the doer of it.


text:
The keeper of the prison did not look to anything under his hand, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made [it] to prosper.


text:
And his master saw that the LORD [was] with him, and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand.


text:
And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him. And he made him overseer over his house, and he put into his hand all he had.


text:
And it happened from the time he had made him overseer in his house, and over all he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake. And the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had, in the house and in the field.


text:
And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand. And he did not know anything that he had, except the bread which he ate. And Joseph was beautiful in form and beautiful in appearance.


text:
And after these things it happened that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph. And she said, Lie with me.


text:
But he refused and said to his master's wife, Behold, my master does not know what [is] in the house with me, and he has given all that he has into my hand.


text:
[There is] none greater in this house than I. Neither has he kept back anything from me except you, because you [are] his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?


text:
And Adam knew Eve his wife. And she conceived and bore Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.


text:
And now you [are] cursed more than the ground which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.


text:
When you till the ground, it will not again give its strength to you. And you shall be a vagabond and a fugitive in the earth.


text:
Behold! You have driven me out from the face of the earth today, and I shall be hidden from Your face. And I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth, and it shall be [that] anyone who finds me shall kill me.


text:
And the LORD said to him, Therefore whoever kills Cain shall be avenged seven times. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain so that anyone who found him should not kill him.


text:
And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch.


text:
And Irad was born to Enoch. And Irad fathered Mehujael. And Mehujael fathered Methusael. And Methusael fathered Lamech.


text:
And Lamech took two wives to himself. The name of the first one [was] Adah, and the name of the other [was] Zillah.


text:
And she bore again, his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.


text:
And Zillah also bore Tubalcain, [the] hammerer of every engraving tool of bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.


text:
And Lamech said to his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice, wives of Lamech, listen to my speech. For I have killed a man because of my wound, and a young man because of my hurt.


text:
And Adam knew his wife again. And she bore a son, and called his name Seth. For she said, God has appointed me another seed instead of Abel, because Cain killed him.


text:
And there was also a son born to Seth, and he called his name Enos. Then men began to call upon the name of the LORD.


text:
And in the end of days, it happened, Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground.


text:
And Abel also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat of it. And the LORD had respect to Abel and to his offering,


text:
but He did not have respect to Cain and to his offering. And Cain glowed with anger, and his face fell.


text:
If you do well, shall you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin crouches at the door; and its desire [is] for you, and you shall rule over it.


text:
And Cain talked with his brother Abel. And it happened when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.


text:
And the LORD said unto Cain, Where [is] your brother Abel? And he said, I do not know. [Am] I my brother's keeper?


text:
And after these things it happened that the cupbearer of the king of Egypt, and his baker, had offended their lord the king of Egypt.


text:
And in the vine [were] three branches. And it was as if it budded, and its blossom shot up. And the clusters of it brought forth ripe grapes.


text:
And Pharaoh's cup [was] in my hand. And I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.


text:
Yet within three days Pharaoh shall lift up your head and restore you to your place. And you shall deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, just as you did when you were his cupbearer.


text:
But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me, and make mention of me to Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house.


text:
For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.


text:
When the chief baker saw the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, I also [saw] in my dream, and three baskets of white bread [were] on my head.


text:
And in the top basket [were] all kinds of baked foods for Pharaoh. And the birds ate them out of the basket upon my head.


text:
Yet within three days Pharaoh shall lift up your head from off you, and shall hang you on a tree. And the birds shall eat your flesh from off you.


text:
And Pharaoh was angry against two of his eunuchs, against the chief of the cupbearers and against the chief of the bakers.


text:
And it happened on the third day, Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast to all his servants. And he lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer, and of the chief baker, among his servants.


text:
And he restored the chief cupbearer back into his cupbearer office again. And he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.


text:
And he put them under guard in the house of the chief of the executioners, into the prison, the place where Joseph [was] bound.


text:
And the chief of the executioners charged Joseph with them, and he served them. And they continued for a time under guard.


text:
And they dreamed a dream, both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who [were] bound in the prison.


text:
And he asked Pharaoh's eunuchs who [were] with him under guard in his lord's house, saying, Why are your faces sad today?


text:
And they said to him, We have dreamed a dream, and [there is] no interpreter of it. And Joseph said to them, Do not interpretations [belong] to God? Now tell it to me.


text:
And the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine [was] before me.


text:
And it happened at the end of two years of days, Pharaoh dreamed. And behold, he stood by the river.


text:
Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me under guard in the chief of the executioner's house, me and the chief baker.


text:
And we dreamed a dream one night, he and I. We dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.


text:
And there was there with us a young man, a Hebrew, a slave to the chief of the executioners. And we told him, and he interpreted our dreams to us. He interpreted to each man according to his dream.


text:
And it happened, as he interpreted to us, so it was. He restored me to my office, and he hanged him.


text:
Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph. And they hurried him out of the dungeon. And he shaved and changed his clothing, and came in to Pharaoh.


text:
And Pharaoh said to Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and none can interpret it. And I have heard it about you, saying, you can understand a dream to interpret it.


text:
And behold, there came up out of the river seven cows, beautiful in appearance and fat of flesh. And they fed in the reeds.


text:
And behold, seven other cows came up after them, poor and evil of appearance, and lean of flesh, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness.


text:
And behold! There came up out of the river seven cows beautiful of form, and fat of flesh. And they fed in the reeds!


text:
And when they had eaten them up, it could not be seen that they had eaten them; but they [were] still evil of appearance, as at the beginning. And I awoke.


text:
And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears. And I spoke to the magicians, but there was none that could open [it] to me.


text:
And Joseph said to Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one. God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.


text:
The seven good cows [are] seven years. And the seven good ears [are] seven years. The dream [is] one.


text:
And the seven thin and evil-appearing cows that came up after them [are] seven years. And the seven empty ears blasted [with] the east [wind] shall be seven years of famine.


text:
And behold! Seven other cows came up after them out of the river, evil in appearance, and lean of flesh! And they stood by the other cows on the river bank.


text:
And there shall arise after them seven years of famine. And all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt, and the famine shall consume the land.


text:
And the plenty shall not be known in the land because of the famine following; for it [shall be] very grievous.


text:
And since the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice, it is because the thing [is] established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.


text:
Now therefore let Pharaoh look for a man who is discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.


text:
Let Pharaoh act, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.


text:
And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up grain under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.


text:
That food shall be for a store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt, so that the land does not perish through the famine.


text:
And Pharaoh said to Joseph, Since God has shown you all this, no one [is] as discreet and wise as you.


text:
And the evil-appearing and lean-fleshed cows ate up the seven beautifully formed and fat cows. So Pharaoh awoke.


text:
You shall be over my house, and all my people shall kiss [the hand] at your word. Only in the throne will I be greater than you.


text:
And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand. And he dressed him with fine linen robes, and put a gold chain around his neck.


text:
And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had, and they cried before him, Bow the knee! And he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.


text:
And Pharaoh said to Joseph, I [am] Pharaoh, and without [a word] from you, no man shall lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.


text:
And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnath-paaneah. And he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potipherah, priest of On, for his wife. And Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.


text:
And Joseph [was] thirty years [old] when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from before Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.


text:
And he gathered up all the food of the seven years which [were] in the land of Egypt, and he put food in the cities. He put the food of the field which [was] around every city; he put it in among it.


text:
And Joseph gathered grain like the sand of the sea, very much, until he quit numbering it; for it was without number.


text:
And he slept and dreamed the second time. And behold! Seven ears of grain came up on one stock, fat and good!


text:
And two sons were born to Joseph before the years of famine came, whom Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bore to him.


text:
And Joseph called the name of the first-born Manasseh, saying, For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father's house.


text:
And the name of the second he called Ephraim, saying, For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.


text:
And the seven years of famine began to come, according as Joseph had said. And the famine was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.


text:
And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. And Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do.


text:
And the famine was over all the face of the earth. And Joseph opened all [the storehouses], and sold to the Egyptians. And the famine was severe on the land of Egypt.


text:
And all the earth came into Egypt to buy, to Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the earth.


text:
And the seven thin ears devoured the seven fat and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, [it was] a dream.


text:
And it happened in the morning that his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men of it. And Pharaoh told them his dream, but [there was] none who could interpret them to Pharaoh.


text:
And when Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, Why do you look upon one another?


text:
And they said, Your servants [are] twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. And behold, the youngest [is] this day with our father, and one [is] not.


text:
By this you shall be proved; [as] Pharaoh lives you shall not go forth from here unless your youngest brother comes here.


text:
Send one of you, and let him bring your brother, and you shall be kept in prison so that your words may be proved, whether [any] truth [is] in you. Or else, [as] Pharaoh lives, surely you [are] spies.


text:
If you [are] honest, let one of your brothers be bound in the house of your prison. You go carry grain [for] the famine of your houses.


text:
And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy for us from there, so that we may live and not die.


text:
But bring your youngest brother to me, and let your words be] confirmed, be proved true, and you shall not die. And they did so.


text:
And they said one to another, We [are] truly guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul when he begged us, and we would not hear. Therefore this distress has come upon us.


text:
And Reuben answered them, saying, Did I not speak to you saying, Do not sin against the youth? And you would not hear. Therefore, behold, also his blood is required.


text:
And he turned from them, and wept. And he returned to them again and talked with them, and took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes.


text:
Then Joseph commanded their sacks to be filled [with] grain, and returned their silver, each into his sack, and to give them provision for the way. And so he did to them.


text:
And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass fodder in the inn, he saw his silver. For, behold, it [was] in the mouth of the sack.


text:
And he said to his brothers, My silver has been put back. And, also look in my sack. And their hearts failed, and they each were afraid, saying to one another, What [is] this God has done to us?


text:
And they came to Jacob their father, to the land of Canaan, and told him all that happened to them, saying,


text:
We are twelve brothers, sons of our father. One [is] not, and the youngest [is] this day with our father in the land of Canaan.


text:
And the man, the lord of the country, said to us, By this I shall know that you [are] honest. Leave one, your brother, with me, and take food for the famine of your households, and go.


text:
And bring your youngest brother to me. Then I shall know that you [are] not spies, but that you [are] honest. And I will deliver you your brother, and you shall trade in the land.


text:
And it happened they emptied their sacks, behold, every man's bundle of silver [was] in his sack. And when they and their father saw the bundles of silver, they were afraid.


text:
And Jacob their father said to them, You have bereaved me. Joseph [is] not, and Simeon [is] not, and you will take Benjamin. All these things are against me.


text:
And Reuben spoke to his father, saying, Kill my two sons if I do not bring him to you. Deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to you again.


text:
And he said, My son shall not go down with you. For his brother is dead, and he is left alone. And [if] mischief should happen to him by the way you go, then you shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.


text:
But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob did not send with his brothers. For he said, Lest perhaps mischief happen to him.


text:
And Joseph [was] the potentate over the land. He was] the one selling to all the people of the earth. And Joseph's brothers came and bowed down themselves before him, their faces to the earth.


text:
And Joseph saw his brothers, and he knew them, but remained a stranger to them, and spoke roughly to them. And he said to them, Where do you come from? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.


text:
And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said to them, You [are] spies! You have come to see the nakedness of the land.


text:
And their father Israel said to them, If [it be] so now, do this. Take of the best fruits of the land in your vessels, and bring a present down to the man, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds.


text:
And take double silver in your hand, and the silver that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand. Perhaps it [was] an oversight.


text:
And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, so that he may send away your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved.


text:
And the men took that present, and they took double silver in their hand, and Benjamin. And they rose up and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.


text:
And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring the men into the house, and kill an animal and make ready. For the men shall dine with me at noon.


text:
And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house. And they said, Because of the silver that was returned in our sacks at the first time we are brought in, to throw himself on us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.


text:
And they came near to the man over Joseph's house, and they talked with him at the door of the house,


text:
And it happened, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said to them, Go again, buy us a little food.


text:
And it happened, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, [every] man's silver [was] in the mouth of his sack, our silver in full weight. And we have brought it again in our hands.


text:
And we have brought down other silver in our hands to buy food. We cannot tell who put our silver in our sacks.


text:
And he said, Peace to you, do not fear. Your God, and the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks. I had your silver. And he brought Simeon out to them.


text:
And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave [them] water, and they washed their feet. And he gave fodder to their asses.


text:
And they made ready the presents for the coming of Joseph at noon. For they heard that they should eat bread there.


text:
And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.


text:
And he asked them as to [their] welfare, and said, [Is] your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? [Is] he still alive?


text:
And they answered, Your servant, our father, [is] in good health. He [is] still alive. And they bowed down their heads and fell before him.


text:
And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, [Is] this your younger brother of whom you spoke to me? And he said, God bless you, my son.


text:
And Judah spoke to him, saying, The man solemnly protested to us, saying, You shall not see my face unless your brother [is] with you.


text:
And Joseph made haste, for his bowels yearned toward his brother. And he sought a [place] to weep. And he entered into his room and wept there.


text:
And they set it on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians may not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.


text:
And they sat before him, the first-born according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth. And the men marveled at one another.


text:
And one took portions to them from before him. But Benjamin's portion was five times as much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.


text:
But if you will not send [him], we will not go down. For the man said to us, You shall not see my face unless your brother [is] with you.


text:
And they said, The man asked us strictly of our state and of our kindred, saying, [Is] your father still alive? Have you yet [another] brother? And we told him according to the tenor of these words. Could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?


text:
And Judah said to Israel his father, Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, so that we may live and not die, both we and you, also our little ones.


text:
I will be surety for him. You shall require him of my hand. If I do not bring him to you and set him before you, I shall be a sinner against you all the days.


text:
And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men's sacks [with] food, as much as they can carry, and put each one's silver in his sack's mouth.


text:
And he said, Now also [let] it [be] according to your word. He with whom it is found shall be my servant, and you shall be blameless.


text:
And he searched first at the oldest and with the youngest last. And the cup was found in Benjamin's sack.


text:
And Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house, for he [was] still there. And they fell before him to the earth.


text:
And Joseph said to them, What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that one like me can certainly divine?


text:
And Judah said, What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants. Behold, we [are] my lord's servants, both we and he also with whom the cup is found.


text:
And he said, Be it far from me that I should do so. The man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant. And as for you, you go in peace to your father.


text:
And Judah came near him and said, O my lord, pray let your servant speak a word in my lord's ears, and do not let your anger burn against your servant, for you [are] even as Pharaoh.


text:
And put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his grain silver. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.


text:
And we said to my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one. And his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loves him.


text:
And we said to my lord, The boy cannot leave his father, for [if] he should leave [his father], he would die.


text:
And you said to your servants, Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall see my face no more.


text:
And we said, We cannot go down. If our youngest brother is with us, we will go down, for we may not see the man's face unless our youngest brother [is] with us.


text:
And [if] you take this one also from me, and mischief befall him, you shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.


text:
And now when I come to your servant my father, and the boy [is] not with us, since his life is bound up in his life,


text:
it shall be, when he sees that the boy [is] not [with us], he will die. And your servants shall bring down the gray hairs of your servant our father with sorrow to the grave.


text:
For your servant became surety for the boy to my father, saying, If I do not bring him to you, then I shall bear the blame to my father forever.


text:
And now please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a slave to my lord. And let the boy go up with his brothers.


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For how shall I go up to my father, and the boy [is] not with me lest perhaps I see the evil that will find my father?


text:
They had gone out of the city, not having gone far. And Joseph said to his steward, Rise up, follow after the men and overtake them, and say to them, Why have you rewarded evil for good?


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Is this not [that] in which my lord drinks, and by which indeed he divines? You have done evil in so doing.


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And they said to him, Why does your lord say these words? Far be it that your servants should do according to this thing.


text:
Behold, the silver which we found in our sack's mouth, we brought it in to you out of the land of Canaan. How then should we steal out of your lord's house silver or gold?


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[With] whomever of your servants it may be found, both let him die, and we all will be my lord's bondmen.


text:
Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. And he cried, Cause every man to go out from me! And no man stood before him [while] Joseph made himself known to his brothers.


text:
And you shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your sons and your sons' sons, and your flocks, and your herds, and all that you have.


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And I will nourish you there, for [there are] still five years of famine, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty.


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And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that [it is] my mouth that speaks to you.


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And you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. And you shall hurry and bring down my father here.


text:
And the report was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, Joseph's brothers have come. And it was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and of his servants.


text:
And Pharaoh said to Joseph, Say to your brothers, Do this: load your beasts and go into the land of Canaan,


text:
and take your father and your households and come to me. And I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land.


text:
Now you are commanded; do this. Take wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.


text:
And the sons of Israel did so. And Joseph gave them wagons according to the command of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.


text:
To all of them he gave each man changes of clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred [pieces] of silver, and five changes of clothing.


text:
And to his father he sent this: ten asses loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten she-asses loaded with grain and bread and food for his father by the way.


text:
And he sent his brothers away, and they departed. And he said to them, Do not quarrel along the way.


text:
And they told him, saying, Joseph [is] still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob's heart fainted, for he did not believe them.


text:
And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them. And when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived.


text:
And Israel said, [It is] enough. Joseph my son [is] still alive. I will go and see him before I die.


text:
And Joseph said to his brothers, I [am] Joseph. Is my father still alive? And his brothers could not answer him, for they were troubled at his presence.


text:
And Joseph said to his brothers, Please come near me. And they came near. And he said, I [am] Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.


text:
And now do not be grieved, nor angry with yourselves that you sold me here. For God sent me before you to preserve life.


text:
For these two years the famine [has been] in the land, and [there are] still five years in which there [will be] no plowing nor harvest.


text:
And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.


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And now you did not send me here, but God. And He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler over all the land of Egypt.


text:
Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, So says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me, do not wait.


text:
And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beer-sheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.


text:
And the sons of Simeon: Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a woman of Canaan.


text:
And the sons of Judah: Er and Onan, and Shelah, and Pharez, and Zarah. But Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Pharez: Hezron and Hamul.


text:
These [were] the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Padan-aram, with his daughter Dinah. All the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty-three.


text:
And the sons of Asher: Jimnah, and Ishuah, and Ishvi, and Beriah, and their sister Serah. And the sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel.


text:
These [are] the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter, and these whom she bore to Jacob, sixteen souls.


text:
And God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob! And he said, Here I [am].


text:
And to Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath the daughter of Potipherah the priest of On bore him.


text:
And the sons of Benjamin: Belah and Becher, and Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman, Ehi, and Rosh, Muppim, and Huppim, and Ard.


text:
These [were] the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, and she bore these to Jacob. All the souls [were] seven.


text:
All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, who came out of his loins, besides Jacob's sons' wives, all the souls [were] sixty-six.


text:
And the sons of Joseph, who [were] born to him in Egypt, [were] two souls. All the souls of the house of Jacob, who came into Egypt, [were] seventy.


text:
And Joseph made his chariot ready, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself to him. And he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.


text:
And He said, I [am] God, the God of your fathers. Do not fear to go down into Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation.


text:
And Israel said to Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen your face, because you [are] still alive.


text:
And Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's house, I will go up and show Pharaoh, and say to him, My brothers and my father's house, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me.


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And the men [are] shepherds, for they have been men of cattle. And they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.


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Then you shall say, Your servants have been men of cattle from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers, so that you may live in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd [is] an abomination to the Egyptians.


text:
I will go down with you into Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again. And Joseph shall put his hand on your eyes.


text:
And Jacob rose up from Beer-sheba. And the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.


text:
And they took their cattle, and their goods which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob and all his seed with him.


text:
His sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and all his seed, he brought with him into Egypt.


text:
And these [were] the names of the sons of Israel who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob's first-born.


text:
Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brothers, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, have come out of the land of Canaan.


text:
And Joseph placed his father and his brothers, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh commanded.


text:
And Joseph nourished his father and his brothers, and all his father's household, [with] bread, for the mouth of the little ones.


text:
And no bread [was] in all the land, for the famine [was] very severe, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted because of the famine.


text:
And Joseph gathered up all the silver found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which they bought. And Joseph brought the silver into Pharaoh's house.


text:
And when silver failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, Give us bread, for why should we die in your presence? For the silver has failed.


text:
And they brought their cattle to Joseph. And Joseph gave them bread for the horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses. And he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year.


text:
When that year was ended, they came to him the second year and said, We will not hide [it] from my lord, that our silver has failed, also our herds of cattle, [going] to my lord. Nothing is left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies and our lands.


text:
Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants for Pharaoh. And give [us] seed, that we may live and not die, that the land be not desolate.


text:
And behold, they [are] in the land of Goshen. And he took some of his brothers, five men, and presented them to Pharaoh.


text:
And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them and the land became Pharaoh's.


text:
And as for the people, he caused them to go into the cities, from [one] end of the borders of Egypt even to the [other] end of it.


text:
Only he did not buy the land of the priests, for the priests had a portion from Pharaoh, and ate their portion which Pharaoh gave them. Therefore they did not sell their land.


text:
And Joseph said to the people, Behold, I have bought you this day, and your land, for Pharaoh. Lo, [here is] seed for you, and you shall sow the land.


text:
And it shall be, as you gather you shall give the fifth [part] to Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for those of your household, and for food for your little ones.


text:
And they said, You have saved our lives. Let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants.


text:
And Joseph made it a law of the land of Egypt to this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth [part], excepting only the land of the priests, which did not become Pharaoh's.


text:
And Israel lived in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen. And they had possession in it, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.


text:
And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. And the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were a hundred forty-seven years.


text:
And the days of Israel to die drew near. And he called his son Joseph, and said to him, If now I have found grace in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh and deal kindly and truly with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt.


text:
And Pharaoh said to his brothers, What [is] your occupation? And they said to Pharaoh, Your servants [are] shepherds, both we and our fathers.


text:
But I will lie with my fathers. You shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burying-place. And he said, I will do according to your words.


text:
And they said to Pharaoh, For we have come to live in the land. For your servants have no pasture left for their flocks. For the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. And now please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.


text:
The land of Egypt is before you. Make your father and brothers to live in the best of the land; in the land of Goshen let them live. And if you know men of ability among them, then make them overseers of livestock, over what is mine.


text:
And Jacob said to Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage [are] a hundred and thirty years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and I have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.


text:
And it happened after these things, that [one] told Joseph, Behold, your father [is] sick. And he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.


text:
And the eyes of Israel were dim for age; he could not see. And he brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them.


text:
And Israel said to Joseph, I had not thought I would see your face, and, lo, God has showed me also your seed.


text:
And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left, and Manasseh in his left toward Israel's right hand. And he brought [them] near to him.


text:
And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid [it] on Ephraim's head, who [was] the younger, and his left on Manasseh's head, crossing his hands. For Manasseh [was] the first-born.


text:
And he blessed Joseph and said, May God, [before] whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who fed me all my life to this day,


text:
the Angel who redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads. And let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and let them grow like the fishes into a multitude in the midst of the earth.


text:
And Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, and it was evil in his eyes. And he held up his father's hand to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head.


text:
And Joseph said to his father, Not so, my father. For this [is] the first-born. Put your right hand on his head.


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And his father refused and said, I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great, but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he is, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.


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And [one] spoke to Jacob, and said, Behold, your son Joseph comes to you. And Israel strengthened himself, and sat on the bed.


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And he blessed them that day, saying, In you shall Israel bless, saying, God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh. And he put Ephraim before Manasseh.


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And Israel said to Joseph, Behold, I die. But God shall be with you, and bring you again into the land of your fathers.


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And I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.


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And He said to me, Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you. And I will make of you a multitude of people, and will give this land to your seed after you [for] an everlasting possession.


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And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who are born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you into Egypt, [are] mine; like Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.


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And your issue, which you father after them, shall be yours, and shall be called after the name of their brothers in their inheritance.


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And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died beside me in the land of Canaan in the way, when [there was] still but a little way to come to Ephrath. And I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; it [is] Bethlehem.


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And Joseph said to his father, They [are] my sons, whom God has given me in this [place]. And he said, please bring them to me, and I will bless them.


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And Jacob called to his sons and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in the days to come.


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The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a Lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come. And the obedience of the peoples to him.


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Binding his foal to the vine, and his ass's colt to the choice vine, he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes.


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Zebulun shall live at the sea shore. And he [shall be] a haven for ships, and his border beside Sidon.


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And he saw that rest [was] good and that the land was pleasant. And he bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a tribute-slave.


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Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that bites the horse's heels, so that its rider shall fall backward.


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But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob (from the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel);


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by the God of your father, who shall help you. And may the Almighty bless you with blessings of Heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb.


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The blessings of your father are above the blessings of my ancestors, to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills. They shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him, the ruler, the leader of his brothers.


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Benjamin is a wolf that tears in pieces. In the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.


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All these [were] the twelve tribes of Israel. And this [is] what their father spoke to them, and blessed them; everyone according to his blessing he blessed them.


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And he charged them and said to them, I am to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,


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Reuben, you [are] my first-born, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity and the excellency of power.


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in the cave that [is] in the field of Machpelah, which [is] before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, the field which Abraham bought from Ephron the Hittite for a burying-place.


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They buried Abraham and his wife Sarah there, and they buried Isaac and his wife Rebekah. And I buried Leah there;


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And Jacob finished commanding his sons, and he gathered his feet into the bed. And he expired, and was gathered to his people.


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Unstable as water, you shall not excel, because you went up to your father's bed; then you defiled it. He went up to my couch.


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Oh my soul, do not come into their secret. Let not my honor be united with their assembly. For in their anger they killed a man, and in their self-will they hamstrung a bull.


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Let their anger be cursed, for [it was] fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel. I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.


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Judah, may your brothers praise you. May your hand [be] in the neck of your enemies. May your father's sons bow before you.


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Judah [is] a lion's whelp. My son, you have gone up from the prey. He stooped, he crouched like a lion; and like a lioness, who shall rouse him?


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This [is] the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, he made him in the likeness of God.


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And after he fathered Cainan, Enos lived eight hundred and fifteen years. And he fathered sons and daughters.


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And after he fathered Mahalaleel, Cainan lived eight hundred and forty years. And he fathered sons and daughters.


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And after he fathered Jared, Mahalaleel lived eight hundred and thirty years. And he fathered sons and daughters.


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He created them male and female, and blessed them. And He called their name man in the day when they were created.


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And Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he fathered Methuselah. And he fathered sons and daughters.


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And after he fathered Lamech, Methuselah lived seven hundred and eighty-two years. And he fathered sons and daughters.


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And he called his name Noah, saying, This one shall comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD has cursed.


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And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years and fathered [a son] in his own likeness, after his own image. And he called his name Seth.


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And after he fathered Noah, Lamech lived five hundred and ninety-five years. And he fathered sons and daughters.


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And the days of Adam after he had fathered Seth were eight hundred years. And he fathered sons and daughters.


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And after he fathered Enos, Seth lived eight hundred and seven years. And he fathered sons and daughters.


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And they came to the threshing floor of Atad, beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation. And he made a mourning for his father seven days.


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And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning at the grain floor of thorns, and they said, This [is] a grievous mourning to the Egyptians. Therefore they called its name, Meadow of Egypt, which [is] beyond Jordan.


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For his sons carried him to the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a burying place from Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre.


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And Joseph returned to Egypt, he and his brothers, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.


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And when Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will perhaps hate us, and will certainly repay us all the evil which we did to him.


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So shall you say to Joseph, please lift up the rebellion of your brothers, and their sin. For they did evil to you. And please now lift up the rebellion of the servants of the God of your father. And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.


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And his brothers also went and fell down before his face. And they said, Behold, we [are] your servants.


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And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. And the physicians embalmed Israel.


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But as for you, you thought evil against me, [but] God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as [it is] this day, to save a great many people alive.


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And now do not fear. I will nourish you and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spoke to their hearts.


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And Joseph saw Ephraim's sons of the third [generation]. Also the sons of Machir the son of Manasseh were born on Joseph's knees.


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And Joseph said to his brothers, I die. And God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land into the land which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.


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And Joseph took an oath of the sons of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.


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So Joseph died, [being] a hundred and ten years old. And they embalmed him, and put him in a coffin in Egypt.


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And forty days were fulfilled for him, for so are fulfilled the days of those who are embalmed. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.


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And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spoke to the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found grace in your eyes, I pray you speak in the ears of Pharaoh saying,


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My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die. You shall bury me in my grave which I have dug for me in the land of Canaan. Now therefore, I pray you, let me go up and bury my father, and I will come again.


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And Joseph went up to bury his father. And all the servants of Pharaoh went up with him, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,


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and all the house of Joseph, and his brothers, and his father's house. They left only their little ones and their flocks and their herds in the land of Goshen.


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And it happened, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and when daughters were born to them,


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And God looked upon the earth. And, behold, it was corrupted! For all flesh had corrupted its way upon the earth.


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And God said to Noah, The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them. And, behold, I will destroy them [with] the earth.


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Make an ark of cyprus timbers. You shall make rooms in the ark. And you shall pitch it inside and outside with pitch.


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And this [is] the way you shall make it. The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it shall be fifty cubits and its height thirty cubits.


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You shall make a window in the ark, and you shall finish it above to a cubit. And you shall set the door of the ark in the side of it. You shall make it with lower, second and third stories.


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And behold! I, even I, am bringing a flood of waters upon the earth in order to destroy all flesh (in which [is] the breath of life) from under the heavens. Everything which [is] in the earth shall die.


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But I will establish My covenant with you. And you shall come into the ark, you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you.


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And you shall bring into the ark two of every [kind], of every living thing of all flesh, to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female.


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the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they [were] good. And they took wives for themselves from all whom they chose.


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Two of every kind shall come to you to keep [them] alive; of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after its kind.


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And take for yourself all food that is eaten, and you shall gather for yourself. And it shall be for food, for you and for them.


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And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, in his erring; he is flesh. Yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years.


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There were giants in the earth in those days. And also after that, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore to them, they were mighty men who [existed] of old, men of renown.


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And the LORD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually.


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And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created, from the face of the earth, both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air. For I repent that I have made them.


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These [are] the generations of Noah. Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.


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And the LORD said to Noah, You and all your house come into the ark, for I have seen you righteous before Me in this generation.


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In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, in the seventeenth day of the month, in this day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of the heavens were opened up.


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In this same day, Noah and Shem and Ham and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, entered into the ark.


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They went in, and every animal after its kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth after its kind, and every fowl after its kind, every bird of every sort.


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And they that entered, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him. And the LORD shut him in.


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And the flood was upon the earth forty days. And the waters increased and bore up the ark, and it was lifted up above the earth.


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And the waters prevailed and were increased greatly upon the earth. And the ark floated upon the face of the waters.


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And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth. And all the high hills that [were] under the whole heaven were covered.


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You shall take with you every clean animal by sevens, the male and female. And take two of the animals that [are] not clean, the male and female.


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And all flesh that moved upon the face of the earth died, of birds, of cattle, of animal, and of every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth; and every man,


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And every living thing which was on the face of the earth was destroyed, from man to cattle, and to the creeping things, and the fowls of the heavens. And they were destroyed from the earth, and only Noah was left, and those that were with him in the ark.


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Also take of the fowls of the air by sevens, the male and the female, to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.


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For in seven more days I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights. And I will destroy from off the face of the earth every living thing that I have made.


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And Noah went in. And his sons and his wife and his sons' wives went in with him into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.


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Of the clean animals, and of the animals that were not clean, and of the fowls, and of everything that creeps on the earth,


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And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle which [were] with him in the ark. And God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subsided.


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And the dove came in to him in the evening. And, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf plucked off. So Noah knew that the waters had gone down from off the earth.


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And he waited yet another seven days, and sent forth the dove. And she did not return again to him any more.


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And it happened in the six hundred and first year, at the beginning, on the first of the month, that the waters were dried up from off the earth. And Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked. And, behold, the face of the earth was dried!


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Bring out with you every living thing that is with you, of all flesh, of fowl, of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth, so that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful and multiply upon the earth.


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Every animal, every fowl, and every creeping thing, all which creeps upon the earth after their families, went forth out of the ark.


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Also the fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and rain from heaven was restrained.


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And Noah built an altar to the LORD. And he took of every clean animal, and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.


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And the LORD smelled a sweet odor. And the LORD said in His heart, I will never again curse the ground for man's sake, because the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth. And I will not again smite every living thing as I have done.


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While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.


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And the waters returned from off the earth continually. And after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters had gone down.


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And in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark rested upon the mountains of Ararat.


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And the waters decreased continually until the tenth [month]. And the tops of the mountains were seen in the tenth [month] on the first [day] of the month.


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And he sent forth a raven, and it went out, going out and returning until the waters were dried up from off the earth.


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He also sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters had gone down from off the face of the earth.


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But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot. And she returned to him into the ark, for the waters [were] on the face of the whole earth. Then he put out his hand and took her, and pulled her in to him into the ark.


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And God blessed Noah and his sons. And He said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.


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and with every living creature that [is] with you, of the birds, of the cattle, and of every animal of the earth with you; from all that go out from the ark, to every animal of the earth.


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And I will establish My covenant with you. Neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood. Neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.


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And God said, This [is] the token of the covenant which I make between Me and you and every living creature with you, for everlasting generations:


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And I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.


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And the rainbow shall be in the cloud. And I will look upon it that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.


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And God said to Noah, This [is] the token of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that [is] upon the earth.


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And the sons of Noah that went out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And Ham is the father of Canaan.


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And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon the animals of the earth, and upon every bird of the air, upon all that moves on the earth, and upon all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered.


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And Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it upon both their shoulders. And they went backwards and covered the nakedness of their father. And their faces were backwards, and they did not see their father's nakedness.


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God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem. And Canaan shall be their servant.


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Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herb.


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and surely the blood of your lives will I require. At the hand of every animal will I require it, and at the hand of man. At the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.


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And it happened after the death of Saul, David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David stayed two days in Ziklag,


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And I stood over him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown on his head, and [the] bracelet on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.


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And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening, for Saul, and for his son Jonathan, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.


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And David said to the young man who told him, From where [are] you? And he answered, I [am] the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.


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And David called one of the young men and said, Go near; fall on him. And he struck him so that he died.


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And David said to him, Your blood [be] upon your head, for your mouth has testified against you, saying, I have slain the LORD's anointed.


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And he said to teach the sons of Judah [The Song of] the Bow. Behold, it is written in the Book of Jasher:


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on the third day, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes torn and earth upon his head. And it happened when he came to David, he fell to the earth and bowed to him.


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Tell [it] not in Gath, do not let it be known in the streets of Askelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.


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Mountains of Gilboa, [let] not dew or rain [be] on you, nor fields of offerings. For there the shield of the mighty has been evilly cast away, the shield of Saul not [being] anointed with oil.


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From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, and the sword of Saul did not return empty.


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Saul and Jonathan [were] lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles; they were stronger than lions.


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Daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and with delights; who put ornaments of gold on your clothes.


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I [am] distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. Very pleasant you have been to me. Your love to me was wonderful, more than the love of women.


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And David said to him, Where do you come from? And he said to him, I have escaped out of the camp of Israel.


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And David said to him, How did the matter go? Please tell me. And he answered, The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead. And Saul and his son Jonathan are dead also.


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And David said to the young man who told him, How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan [are] dead?


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And the young man who told him said, As I happened to be upon Mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear. And, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.


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He said to me again, Please stand over me and kill me, for anguish has come upon me, because all my life [is] still in me.


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And it happened after this, the king of the sons of Ammon died, and his son Hanun reigned in his stead.


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And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, so that he might set in order against the sons of Ammon.


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And he said, If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me. But if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you.


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Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the LORD do that which seems good to Him.


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And Joab and the people with him drew near to the battle against the Syrians. And they fled before him.


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And when the sons of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, then they fled also before Abishai, and entered into the city. And Joab returned from the sons of Ammon and came to Jerusalem.


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And Hadarezer sent and brought out the Syrians who [were] beyond the river. And they came to Helam. And Shobach the commander of the army of Hadarezer went before them.


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And David was told. And he gathered all Israel and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in order to meet David and fought with him.


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And the Syrians fled before Israel. And David killed [the men of] seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and struck Shobach the captain of their army, who died there.


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And all the kings, the servants of Hadarezer, saw that they were beaten before Israel, and [they] made peace with Israel and served them. And the Syrians feared to help the sons of Ammon any more.


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And David said, I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me. And David sent to comfort him for his father, by the hand of his servants. And David's servants came to the land of the sons of Ammon.


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And the leaders of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, Do you think that David honors your father, that he has sent comforters to you? Has not David sent his servants to you to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?


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And Hanun took David's servants and shaved off half their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, to their buttocks, and sent them away.


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And they told David, and he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Stay at Jericho until your beards are grown, and return.


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And the sons of Ammon saw that they had begun to stink before David. And the sons of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and from King Maacah a thousand men, and from Ishtob twelve thousand men.


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And the sons of Ammon came out and put the battle in order at the entering in of the gate. And the Syrians of Zobah, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, [were] by themselves in the field.


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And Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind. And he chose from all the choice ones of Israel, and put [them] in order against the Syrians.


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And it happened at the turn of the year, at the time kings go forth, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they destroyed the sons of Ammon and circled Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.


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And they told David, saying, Uriah did not go to his house. And David said to Uriah, Did you not come from a journey? Why have you not gone down to your house?


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And Uriah said to David, The ark and Israel and Judah abide in tents. And my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are camped in the open fields. Shall I then go to my house to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? [As] you live, and [as] your soul lives, I will not do this thing.


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And David said to Uriah, Stay here today also, and tomorrow I will let you go. And Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next day.


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And when David had called him, he ate and drank before him. And he made him drunk. And at evening he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.


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And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and draw back from him so that he may be stricken and die.


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And it happened when Joab observed the city, he sent Uriah to a place where he knew brave men [were].


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And the men of the city went out and fought with Joab. And [some] of the people of the servants of David fell. And Uriah the Hittite also died.


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And [he] commanded the messenger saying, When you have made an end of telling the matters of the war to the king,


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And it happened one evening, David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king's house. And from the roof [he saw] a woman bathing. And the woman [was] very beautiful to look upon.


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and if it be so that the king's wrath arise, and he say to you, Why did you approach so near to the city when you fought? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall?


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Who struck Abimelech the son of Jerub-besheth? Did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go near the wall? And you shall say, Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.


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And the messenger said to David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out to us to the field, and we were upon them even to the entering of the gate.


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And the shooters shot from off the wall upon your servants, and [some] of the king's servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.


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Then David said to the messenger, So you shall say to Joab, Do not let this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Make your battle stronger against the city and overthrow it. And you encourage him.


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And when her mourning was past, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done was evil in the eyes of the LORD.


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And David sent and asked about the woman. And [one] said, [Is] not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?


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And David sent messengers and took her. And she came in to him, and he lay with her. And she had purified herself from her uncleanness. And she returned to her house.


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And when Uriah had come to him, David asked how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war went.


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And David said to Uriah, Go down to your house and wash your feet. And Uriah left the king's house. And a gift from the king went out after him.


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But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house.


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And the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him and said to him, There were two men in one city, one rich and one poor.


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And therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.


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So says the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house, and I will take your wives before your eyes and give [them] to your neighbor. And he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.


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And David said to Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said to David, The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.


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Only, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, this child born to you shall surely die.


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And Nathan left to go to his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it was very sick.


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And David prayed to God for the child. And David fasted, and went in and lay all night upon the earth.


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And the elders of his house rose up toward him, to raise him up from the earth. But he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.


text:
And it happened on the seventh day, the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead. For they said, Behold, while the child was still alive we spoke to him, and he would not listen to our voice. How then will he trouble himself if we tell him that the child is dead?


text:
But David saw that his servants whispered. And David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, Is the boy dead? And they said, He is dead.


text:
And David arose from the earth and washed, and anointed [himself], and changed his clothing, and came into the house of the LORD and worshiped. And he came to his house, and commanded, and they brought bread before him and he ate.


text:
Then his servants said to him, What [is] this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the living boy, but when the child was dead you arose and ate bread!


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And he said, While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, Who can tell [if] God will be gracious to me so that the child may live?


text:
But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.


text:
And David comforted his wife Bathsheba. And he went in to her and lay with her. And she bore a son. And he called his name Solomon. And the LORD loved him.


text:
And Joab sent messengers to David and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.


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And therefore gather the rest of the people together, and camp against the city and take it, lest I take the city and it be called after my name.


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but the poor one had nothing except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished up. And it grew up together with him and with his sons. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was to him like a daughter.


text:
And he took the king's crown from off his head, the weight of which [was] a talent of gold, and a precious stone in it. And it was [set] on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.


text:
And he brought forth the people that [were] in it, and put them to the saw, and to sharp tools of iron, and to axes of iron. And he made them go over into the brick-kiln. And so he did to all the cities of the sons of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.


text:
And there came a traveler to the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd to dress for the traveler that had come to him. But he took the poor man's lamb and dressed it for the man who had come to him.


text:
And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man. And he said to Nathan, [As] the Lord lives, the man who has done this shall surely die.


text:
And Nathan said to David, You [are] the man! So says the LORD God of Israel, I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.


text:
And I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if that [was] too little, I would have given to you such and such [things] besides.


text:
Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? You have stricken Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife [to be] your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon.


text:
And it happened after this Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister whose name [was] Tamar. And Amnon the son of David loved her.


text:
And Amnon said to Tamar, Bring the food into the room so that I may eat out of your hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought [them] into the room to Amnon her brother.


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And when she had brought [them] to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, Come lie with me, my sister.


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And she answered him, No, my brother, do not humble me. For no such thing ought to be done in Israel. Do not do this folly.


text:
And I, where shall I cause my shame to go? And as for you, you shall be as one of the fools in Israel. But now please speak to the king. For he will not withhold me from you.


text:
Then Amnon hated her with a great hatred. And the hatred with which he hated her [was] greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, Get up and go.


text:
And she said to him, [There is] no cause. This evil in sending me away [is] greater than the other that you did to me. But he would not listen to her.


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And he called his servant who waited on him and said, And put this [woman] out from me, and bolt the door after her.


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And [she had] a robe of many colors upon her, for the king's virgin daughters were clothed with such robes. And his servant brought her out and bolted the door after her.


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And Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the robe of many colors that [was] on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on, crying.


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And Amnon was so troubled that he fell sick for his sister Tamar, for she [was] a virgin. And Amnon thought it hard for him to do anything to her.


text:
And Absalom her brother said to her, Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. He [is] your brother. Do not set your heart on this thing. And Tamar remained desolate in the house of her brother Absalom.


text:
And Absalom did not speak to his brother Amnon, neither good nor bad, for Absalom hated Amnon because he had forced his sister Tamar.


text:
And it happened after two full years Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, beside Ephraim. And Absalom invited all the king's sons.


text:
And Absalom came to the king and said, Behold now, your servant has shearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.


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And the king said to Absalom, No, my son, let us not all go now, lest we be too heavy upon you. And he pressed him. He would not go, however, but blessed him.


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Then Absalom said, If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us? And the king said to him, Why should he go with you?


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And Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, And watch when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, Strike Amnon, you shall kill him. Do not fear. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous, and be brave.


text:
And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. And all the king's sons arose. And they each got on his mule and fled.


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And Amnon had a friend, whose name [was] Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shimeah. And Jonadab [was] a very crafty man.


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And it happened while they were in the way, news came to David, saying, Absalom has killed all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left.


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And the king arose and tore his garments, and lay on the earth. And all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.


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And Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shimeah answered and said, Let not my lord think that they have killed all the young men, the king's sons. For only Amnon is dead. For by the mouth of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he humbled his sister Tamar.


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And now do not let my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead, for only Amnon is dead.


text:
But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked. And, behold, many people came by the way of the hillside behind him.


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And it happened as soon as he had made an end of speaking, behold, the king's sons came. And they lifted up their voice and wept. And the king also and all his servants wept with a great weeping.


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But Absalom fled and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And [David] mourned for his son every day.


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And he said to him, Why [are] you, the king's son, lean from day to day? Will you not tell me? And Amnon said to him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.


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And Jonadab said to him, Lay down on your bed and make yourself sick. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, Please let my sister Tamar come and give me food, and prepare the food in my sight so that I may see and eat [it] at her hand.


text:
And Amnon lay down and made himself sick. And when the king had come to see him, Amnon said to the king, Please let my sister Tamar come and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, so that I may eat at her hand.


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And David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to your brother Amnon's house, and prepare food for him.


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And Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house. And he had lain down. And she took flour and kneaded [it], and made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.


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And she took a pan and poured [them] out before him. But he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Make every man go out from me. And every man went out from him.


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And the king said, Whoever speaks to you, you also bring him to me, and he shall not touch you any more.


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Then she said, Please let the king remember the LORD your God, that you would not allow the avengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they should destroy my son. And he said, [As] the Lord lives, there shall not one hair of your son fall to the earth.


text:
Then the woman said, Please let your handmaid speak [one] more word to my lord the king. And he said, Say on!


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And the woman said, Why then have you thought such a thing against the people of God? For the king speaks this thing as one who is at fault, in that the king does not bring his banished one home again.


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For we must all die, and we [are] as water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. And God does not take a life, but has devised plans so that the outcast is not cast out from Him.


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And now I have come to speak of this thing to my lord the king, because the people have made me afraid. And your handmaid said, I will now speak to the king. It may be that the king will do what his handmaid has asked.


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For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man [who would] destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.


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And your handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comforting. For as an angel of God, so [is] my lord the king, to see what is good and bad. And the LORD your God will be with you.


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And the king answered and said to the woman, Please do not hide from me the thing that I shall ask you. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak.


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And the king said, [Is] the hand of Joab with you in all this? And the woman answered and said, [As] your soul lives, my lord the king, none shall turn to the right hand or to the left from anything which my lord the king has spoken. For your servant Joab commanded me. And he put all these words in the mouth of your handmaid.


text:
And Joab sent to Tekoah and brought a wise woman from there. And he said to her, Please pretend yourself to be a mourner, and put on mourning clothes now, and do not anoint yourself with oil. But be like a woman who has mourned for the dead a long time.


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Your servant Joab has done this thing to change the face of the matter. And my lord [is] wise according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all that is in the land.


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And the king said to Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing. Go therefore and bring the young man Absalom again.


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And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the king. And Joab said, Today your servant knows that I have found grace in your sight, my lord, O, king, in that the king has done what your servant has asked.


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And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. And Absalom returned to his own house, and did not see the king's face.


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But in all Israel there was not a man handsome like Absalom. From the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.


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And when he sheared his head (for it was at every year's end that he sheared it, because it was heavy on him. And he sheared it), and he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels, according to the king's weight.


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And there were born three sons to Absalom, and one daughter, whose name [was] Tamar. She was a woman with a beautiful face.


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And Absalom sent to Joab, to send him to the king. But he would not come to him. And when he sent again a second time, he would not come.


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And he said to his servants, See, Joab's field is near mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire! And Absalom's servants set the field on fire.


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And Joab arose and came to Absalom's house, and said to him, Why have your servants set my field on fire?


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And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent to you, saying, Come here so that I may send you to the king, to say, Why [have] I come from Geshur? It [was] good for me to be there still. And now let me see the king's face, and if there is iniquity in me, let him kill me.


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And Joab came to the king and told him. And when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king. And the king kissed Absalom.


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And the king said to her. What ails you? And she answered, I [am] indeed a widow, and my husband died.


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And your handmaid had two sons, and the two of them fought together in the field. And [there was] no deliverer between them, but the one struck the other and killed him.


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And behold, the whole family has risen against your handmaid. And they said, Deliver him who struck his brother so that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he killed. And we will destroy the heir also. And so they shall put out my coal which is left, and shall leave to my husband [neither] name nor remainder upon the face of the earth.


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And the woman of Tekoah said to the king. My lord, O king, may the iniquity [be] on me and on my father's house. And may the king and his throne [be] without guilt.


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And it happened after this, Absalom prepared himself chariots and horses and fifty men to run before him.


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But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as you hear the sound of the ram's horn, then you shall say, Absalom reigns in Hebron!


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And with Absalom went two hundred called men out of Jerusalem. And they went in their honesty, and did not know anything.


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And Absalom sent for Ahithophel of Giloh, David's counselor, from his city Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong, for the people with Absalom grew more and more.


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And David said to all his servants with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee! For [otherwise] we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring evil upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.


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And the king's servants said to the king, Behold, your servants [will do] whatever my lord the king shall choose.


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And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, concubines, to keep the house.


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And all his servants passed on beside him. And all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.


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Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, Why do you also go with us? Return to your place, and stay with the king. For you [are] a stranger, and also an exile.


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And Absalom rose up early and stood beside the way of the gate. And it was [so], if any man had a suit to come before the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him and said, What city are] you from? And he said, Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.


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Since you came [only] yesterday, should I make you go up and down with us today? Since I go where I may, you may return and take back your brothers. May mercy and truth be with you.


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And Ittai answered the king and said, [As] the Lord lives, and [as] my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will your servant be.


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And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones with him.


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And all the country wept [with] a loud voice, and all the people passed over. The king himself also passed over the torrent Kidron, and all the people passed over toward the way of the wilderness.


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And lo, Zadok came also, and all the Levites [were] with him, carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God. And Abiathar went up until all the people had finished passing out of the city.


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And the king said to Zadok, Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I shall find favor in the eyes of the LORD, He will bring me again and show it to me, and its dwelling place also.


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But if He says this, I have no delight in you; behold me, and let Him do to me as [seems] good to Him.


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The king also said to Zadok the priest, [Are] you a seer? Return to the city in peace, and your two sons with you. Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.


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And Absalom said to him, See! Your matters [are] good and right. But no listener from the king [will hear] you.


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And David went up by the ascent of [mount] Olivet. And he wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot. And of all the people with him, each man covered his head. And they went up, weeping as they went.


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And [one] told David, saying, Ahithophel [is] among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray You, turn the advice of Ahithophel to foolishness.


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And it happened [when] David had come to the top, where he worshiped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn and earth upon his head.


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But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, I [will be] your servant, O king; I have been your father's servant until now, and now I also [will be] your servant, then you may break down the advice of Ahithophel for me.


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And [do you] not [have] there with you Zadok and Abiathar the priests? And it shall be, whatever you shall hear out of the king's house, you shall tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.


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Behold, [they have] their two sons there with them, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son. And you shall send to me everything that you hear by them.


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And Absalom said, Oh that I might be made judge in the land, so that every man who has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!


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And it was [so], when any man came near to bow down to him, he put forth his hand and took him and kissed him.


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And in this way Absalom did to all Israel that came to the king for judgment. And Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.


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And it happened at the end of forty years, Absalom said to the king, Please let me go and pay my vow which I have vowed to the LORD in Hebron.


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For your servant vowed a vow while I lived at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD will indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.


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And David had passed on a little from the top. And, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met [him] with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred [loaves] of bread, and a hundred bunches of raisins, and a hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.


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And the king said, What have I to do with you, sons of Zeruiah? Let him curse, because the LORD has said to him, Curse David. Who then shall say, Why have you done so?


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And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, Behold, my son, who came forth from my bowels, seeks my life; and surely now [this] Benjamite? Let him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has spoken to him.


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It may be that the LORD will look on my affliction, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing this day.


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And David and his men went by the highway. And Shimei went along on the hillside over across from him, and cursed [as] he went, and threw stones at him, and threw dust.


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And it happened, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, had come to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, Let the king live, let the king live!


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And Absalom said to Hushai, [Is] this your kindness to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?


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And Hushai said to Absalom, No, but whom the LORD and this people, and all the men of Israel choose, his will I be, and I will stay with him.


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And again, whom should I serve? [Should I] not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father's presence, so I will be in your presence.


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And the king said to Ziba, What are these to you? And Ziba said, The asses [are] for the king's household to ride upon. And the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat. And the wine is so that the ones who are faint in the wilderness may drink.


text:
And Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in to your father's concubines, that he left to keep the house. And all Israel shall hear that you are abhorred by your father. And the hands of all who [are] with you will be strong.


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And they spread Absalom a tent on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.


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And the advice of Ahithophel, which he advised in those days, [was] as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God. So [was] all the advice of Ahithophel, both with David and with Absalom.


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And the king said, And where [is] your master's son? And Ziba said to the king, Behold, he remains at Jerusalem. For he said, Today the house of Israel shall restore to me the kingdom of my father.


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And the king said to Ziba, Behold, All that [belonged] to Mephibosheth [is] yours. And Ziba said, I humbly beg you that I may find grace in your sight, my lord, O king.


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And King David came to Bahurim. And, behold, a man of the house of Saul came out from there, whose name [was] Shimei, the son of Gera. He came out, and he came cursing.


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And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of king David. And all the people and all the mighty men [were] on his right hand, and on his left.


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The LORD has returned on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. And the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. And behold, you [are] [taken] in your mischief, because you [are] a man of blood!


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And Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please let me go over and take off his head.


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And Ahithophel said to Absalom, Please let me choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David tonight.


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And also he, the son of valor, whose heart [is] like the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt. For all Israel knows that your father [is] a mighty man, and they who [are] with him [are] mighty men.


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Therefore I advise that all Israel be generally gathered to you, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, like the sand that [is] by the sea for multitude. And you yourself shall go into battle.


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And we shall come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him like the dew falls upon the ground. And of all the men that [are] with him, not even one shall be left.


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And if he has gotten into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river until there is not one small stone found there.


text:
And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite [is] better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil on Absalom.


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And Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, This and this Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and this and this I have advised.


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And now send quickly and tell David, saying, Do not stay in the plains of the wilderness tonight, but speedily pass over, lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people with him.


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And Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by En-rogel, for there they might not be seen to come into the city. And a slave-girl went and told them, and they went and told king David.


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But a lad saw them and told Absalom. But both of them went away quickly, and came to a man's house in Bahurim, who had a well in his court, into which they went down.


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And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground grain on it, and the thing was not known.


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And I will come upon him while he [is] weary and weak-handed, and I will make him tremble. And all the people with him will flee. And I will strike the king by himself.


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And when Absalom's servants came to the woman, to the house, they said, Where [are] Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said to them, They have gone over the brook of water. And when they had searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.


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And it happened after they had departed, they came up out of the well, and went and told King David. And [they] said to David, Arise and pass quickly over the waters, for this is what Ahithophel has advised against you.


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Then David and all the people with him arose. And they passed over Jordan. By the morning light there was not one of them that had not gone over Jordan.


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And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, even he saddled the ass and arose, and went home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order. And he hanged himself and died, and was buried in the tomb of his father.


text:
And Absalom made Amasa captain of the army instead of Joab. This Amasa [was] the son of a man named Ithra, an Israelite, who went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab's mother.


text:
And it happened when David came to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah, of the sons of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,


text:
brought beds and basins and earthen vessels, and wheat and barley and flour and roasted [grain], and beans and lentils and other roasted food,


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and honey and butter and sheep and cheese from cows, for David and for the people with him to eat. For they said, The people [are] hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.


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And I will bring back all the people to you, when all return, except the man whom you [are] seeking. All the people shall be in peace.


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And Absalom said, Please call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what is in his mouth.


text:
And Hushai came in to Absalom. And Absalom spoke to him saying, Ahithophel has spoken in this way. Shall we do his word? If not, you speak.


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For, Hushai said, you know your father and his men, that they [are] mighty men, and they [are] bitter of soul, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. And your father [is] a man of war, and will not stay the night with the people.


text:
Behold, he is hidden now in some pit, or in one of the places. And it shall be, at the falling among them at the first, whoever hears will say, There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.


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And David numbered the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.


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And Joab said to the man who told him, And, behold, you saw [him], and why did you not strike him there to the ground? And I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a girdle.


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And the man said to Joab, Though I should receive a thousand silverlings in my hand, yet I would not put forth my hand against the king's son. For in our ears the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware you who go] against the young man, against Absalom.


text:
Or I would have dealt falsely with my own life, for there is no matter hidden from the king, and you yourself would have set yourself against [me].


text:
And Joab said, I cannot stay here with you this way! And he took three darts in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he [was] still alive in the midst of the oak.


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And Joab blew the ram's horn, and the people returned from pursuing Israel. For Joab held back the people.


text:
And they took Absalom and threw him into a great pit in the forest. And they laid a very great heap of stones upon him. And all Israel fled, each one to his tent.


text:
And Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which [is] in the King's Valley. For he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance. And he called the pillar after his own name. And it is called until this day, Absalom's monument.


text:
Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, And let me run and bear the news to the king, how the LORD has avenged him of his enemies.


text:
And David sent forth a third of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, I will also surely go forth with you myself.


text:
And Joab said to him, You shall not bear news today, but you shall bear good news some other day. But today you shall bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead.


text:
And Joab said to Cushi, Go tell the king what you have seen. And Cushi bowed himself to Joab, and ran.


text:
And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said yet again to Joab, Yet whatever, please let me also run after the Cushite. And Joab said, Why will you run, my son, since you have no good news ready?


text:
But he said, Yet whatever, let me run! And he said to him, Run. And Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and ran past the Cushite.


text:
And David sat between the two gates. And the watchman went up to the roof over the gate to the wall, and lifted up his eyes and looked. And behold, a man ran alone.


text:
And the watchman cried and told the king. And the king said, If he [is] alone, there is news in his mouth. And he came apace and drew near.


text:
And the watchman saw another man running. And the watchman called to the porter and said, Behold, [another] man running alone. And the king said, He also brings news.


text:
And the watchman said, I see the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He [is] a good man, and comes with good news.


text:
And Ahimaaz called and said to the king, Peace! And he fell down upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed [be] the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king.


text:
And the king said, Peace to the young man, to Absalom? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and your servant, I saw a great uproar, but I did not know what [it was].


text:
But the people answered, You shall not go forth. For if we run away, they will not set [their] heart on us, even if half of us die. For now you [are] worth ten thousand of us. And now it is] better that you remain to help us from the city.


text:
And, behold, Cushi came. And Cushi said, Good news, my lord the king, for the LORD has avenged you this day of all those who rose up against you.


text:
And the king said to Cushi, Peace to the young man, to Absalom? And Cushi answered, May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against you to do [you] hurt, be as the young man.


text:
And the king was much moved, and went up to the room over the gate and wept. And as he went, he said this, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would God I had died for you, O Absalom, my son, my son!


text:
And the king said to them, I will do what is good in your eyes. And the king stood by the side of the gate, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.


text:
And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, For my sake be gentle with the young man, with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the commanders charge concerning Absalom.


text:
And the people of Israel were killed there before the servants of David. And there was a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand.


text:
For the battle was scattered there over the face of all the country. And the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.


text:
And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode on a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak. And his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heavens and the earth. And the mule under him went away.


text:
And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, [is] dead in battle. And now why do you not speak a word about bringing the king back?


text:
And King David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house? For the word of all Israel has come to the king, to his house.


text:
And you say to Amasa, [Are] you not of my bone and of my flesh? May God do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of the army before me all the days instead of Joab.


text:
And he bowed [the heart of] all the men of Judah, even as one man, so that they sent to the king, saying, Return, you and all your servants.


text:
And the king returned and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.


text:
And Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.


text:
And a thousand men of Benjamin were with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him. And they went over Jordan before the king.


text:
And they had crossed over the ford to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king as he had come over Jordan.


text:
And [he] said to the king, Let not my lord charge iniquity to me. Do not remember the perverse way your servant acted in the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, for the king to take it to his heart.


text:
And the victory that day was [turned] into mourning to all the people. For the people heard it said that day how the king was grieved for his son.


text:
For your servant knows that I have sinned. And, behold, I come today, the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.


text:
But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD's anointed?


text:
And David said, What do I have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be my foes today? Shall there be [any] man put to death today in Israel? For do I not know that I [am] king over Israel today?


text:
And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. And he had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his moustache, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until he came in peace.


text:
And it happened when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?


text:
And he answered, My lord, O, king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, I will saddle me an ass so that I may ride on it and go to the king, because your servant [is] lame.


text:
And he spoke slander against your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king [is] as an angel of God. And do [what is] good in your eyes.


text:
For all my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king. And you set your servant among those eating at your own table. What right then have I to cry to the king any more?


text:
And the king said to him, Why do you speak any more of your matters? I have said, You and Ziba divide the land.


text:
And the people went up secretly into the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.


text:
And Mephibosheth said to the king, Yes, let him take all, because my lord the king has come in peace to his own house.


text:
And Barzillai of Gilead came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king to conduct him over Jordan.


text:
And Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. And he had provided food for the king while he abode at Mahanaim, for he [was] a very great man.


text:
And Barzillai said to the king, How long do I have to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?


text:
I [am] eighty years old today, [and] can I discern between good and evil? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I any more hear the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be still a burden to my lord the king?


text:
Your servant will go a little [way] over Jordan with the king. And why should the king repay me with such a reward?


text:
Please let your servant return so that I may die in my own city by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold your servant Chimham, let him go over with my lord the king. And do to him what shall seem good to you.


text:
And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good to you. And whatever you shall ask of me, that I will do for you.


text:
And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king had come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him. And he returned to his place.


text:
But the king covered his face, and the king cried [with] a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!


text:
And the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him. And all the people of Judah were bringing the king, and also half the people of Israel.


text:
And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, Why have our brothers the men of Judah stolen you away, and have brought the king and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan?


text:
And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king [is] near to us. Why then are you angry for this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king's [cost]? Or has he given us any gift?


text:
And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we also have more [right] in David than you. Why then did you despise us, so that our advice should not be sought first in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were more fierce than the words of the men of Israel.


text:
And Joab came into the house to the king and said, You have today shamed the faces of all your servants. For they have saved your life and the lives of your sons and your daughters today, the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines.


text:
By loving your enemies and hating those who love you, you have declared today that there are neither commanders nor servants to you. For I know that today if Absalom had lived and all of us had died today, then it would have pleased you very much!


text:
And now get up and go out. Speak to the heart of your servants. For I swear by the LORD [if] you do not go out, not a man shall stay with you tonight. And that will be worse to you than all the evil which has come to you from your youth until now.


text:
Then the king arose and sat in the gate. And they told it to the people, saying, Behold, the king sits in the gate! And all the people came before the king. (For Israel had fled, every one to his tent.)


text:
And it happened, all the people quarreled throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines. And now he has fled out of the land from Absalom.


text:
And it happened after this, David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said to him, Go up! And David said, Where shall I go? And He said, To Hebron.


text:
Ishbosheth, Saul's son, [was] forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.


text:
And it happened, the number of days that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.


text:
And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.


text:
And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out and met by the pool of Gibeon and sat down, the one on the one [side] of the pool, and the other on the other [side] of the pool.


text:
And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.


text:
And they arose and went over by number, twelve for Benjamin, and for Ishbosheth the son of Saul; and twelve of the servants of David.


text:
And each one lay hold on the head, of his companion and [thrust] his sword in his companion's side, so that they fell together. And [one] called that place The Field of Rocks, which is in Gibeon.


text:
And there was a very grievous battle that day. And Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.


text:
And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab and Abishai and Asahel. And Asahel [was] swift with his feet, like one of the gazelles in the field.


text:
And Asahel ran after Abner, and in going he did not turn to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.


text:
And David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal's wife.


text:
And Abner said to him, Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and lay hold on one of the young men, and take for yourself. But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.


text:
And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then should I hold up my face to Joab your brother?


text:
However he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him with the blunt end of the spear in the belly, and the spear came out behind him. And he fell down there, and died in the same place. And it happened that everyone who came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood still.


text:
And Joab and Abishai ran after Abner. And the sun went down when they had come to the hill of Ammah, which [lies] before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.


text:
And the sons of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of a hill.


text:
Then Abner called to Joab and said, Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the end? How long shall it be then before you command the people to return from chasing their brothers?


text:
And Joab said, [As] God lives, unless you had spoken, surely then in the morning the people would have gone up each one from following his brother.


text:
And Joab blew a ram's horn, and all the people stood still and did not pursue after Israel any more, nor did they fight any more.


text:
And Abner and his men went all that night through the plain and passed over Jordan, and went all the forenoon and came to Mahanaim.


text:
And David brought up his men with him, each man with his household. And they lived in the cities of Hebron.


text:
And Joab returned from following Abner. And when [he] had gathered all the people together, nineteen men and Asahel were missing from David's servants.


text:
But the servants of David had stricken three hundred and sixty men of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, who died.


text:
And they took up Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father, which [was in] Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at the break of day.


text:
And the men of Judah came, and they anointed David king over the house of Judah there. And they told David, saying, The men of Jabesh-gilead buried Saul.


text:
And David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead. And he said to them, Blessed [are] you of the LORD, that you have shown this kindness to your lord, to Saul, and have buried him.


text:
And now may the LORD do kindness and truth to you. And I also do good to you, because you have done this thing.


text:
And now let your hands be strengthened, and be brave. For your master Saul [is] dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.


text:
But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul's army, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim.


text:
And [he] made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.


text:
And there happened to be there a man of Belial named Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite. And he blew a ram's horn and said, We have no part in David, neither do we have any inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to his tents, O, Israel!


text:
And Amasa was not on guard against the sword that [was] in Joab's hand. And he struck him with it in the belly, and poured out his bowels to the ground. And [he] did not strike him again. And he died. And Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.


text:
And one of Joab's men stood by him and said, He who favors Joab, and he who [is] for David, [go] after Joab!


text:
And Amasa wallowed in blood in the middle of the highway. And the man saw that all the people stood still. And he moved Amasa out of the highway into the field, and threw a garment over him when he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.


text:
When he was moved out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.


text:
And he went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, and to Beth-maachah, and to all the Berites. And they were gathered, and went after him too.


text:
And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maachah. And they threw up a siege-mound against the city. And it stood against the wall. And all the people with Joab were undermining the wall to make it fall.


text:
Then a wise woman cried out of the city, Hear, hear! Please say to Joab, Come near here so that I may speak with you.


text:
And when he had come near her, the woman said, [Are] you Joab? And he answered, I [am]. And she said to him, Hear the words of your handmaid. And he answered, I hear.


text:
And she spoke, saying, They spoke often in days gone by, saying, Surely they will ask of Abel, and so they ended [the matter].


text:
I [am] peaceable [and] faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?


text:
And every man of Israel went up from after David, following Sheba the son of Bichri. But the men of Judah clung to their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.


text:
The matter [is] not so. But a man of Mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Only deliver him, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said to Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall.


text:
Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw [it] out to Joab. And he blew the ram's horn, and they scattered from the city, each man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.


text:
And Joab [was] over all the army of Israel. And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [was] over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites.


text:
And David came to his house at Jerusalem. And the king took the ten women, [his] concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them but did not go in to them. And they were shut up till the day of their death, living in widowhood.


text:
And the king said to Amasa, gather to me the men of Judah [within] three days, and you be present here.


text:
And David said to Abishai, And Sheba the son of Bichri shall do us more harm than Absalom. You take your lord's servants and pursue him, lest he get himself into fortified cities and escape us.


text:
And Joab's men went out after him, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men. And they went out of Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.


text:
They [were] at the great stone which [is] in Gibeon, and Amasa had gone before them. And Joab was girded [with] his war-coat as his clothing. And upon it was a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins, in its sheath. And as he went forth, it fell out.


text:
And Joab said to Amasa, [Are] you well, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.


text:
And there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year. And David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, For Saul, and for [his] bloody house, because he killed the Gibeonites.


text:
And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven. And she did not allow either the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.


text:
And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh-gilead, who had stolen them from the plaza of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa.


text:
And he brought the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son up from there. And they gathered the bones of those who were hanged.


text:
And [they] buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the land of Benjamin in Zelah, in the tomb of his father Kish. And they did all that the king commanded. And afterward God heeded prayer for the land.


text:
And again the Philistines warred with Israel. And David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines. And David became faint.


text:
And Ishbi-benob, who [was] of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear [was] three hundred shekels of bronze in weight. And he being girded with a new [sword] thought to kill David.


text:
But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, You shall not go out to battle with us any more, so that you do not put out the light of Israel.


text:
And it happened after this there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob. Then Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Saph, who [was] of the sons of the giant.


text:
And there was again a battle with the Philistines in Gob, where Elhanan of Bethlehem, the son of Jaare-oregim, killed one of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear [was] like a weaver's beam.


text:
And the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. And the Gibeonites [were] not of the sons of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites. And the sons of Israel had sworn to them. And Saul sought to kill them in his zeal to the sons of Israel and Judah.


text:
And there was yet again a battle in Gath. And there was a man of stature who had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number. And he also was born to the giant.


text:
These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.


text:
And David said to the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? And with what shall I atone for this, so that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD?


text:
And the Gibeonites said to him, We will have no silver nor gold from Saul, nor from his house. Also, we will have no man in Israel put to death. And he said, What you shall say, I will do for you.


text:
And they answered the king, The man who destroyed us, and who devised against us, that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the borders of Israel,


text:
let seven men of his sons be delivered to us, and we will hang them up to the Lord in Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of the LORD. And the king said, I will give [them].


text:
But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD's oath that [was] between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.


text:
But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth, and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite.


text:
And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites. And they hanged them in the hill before the LORD. And they fell, seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first [days], in the beginning of barley harvest.


text:
And David spoke to the LORD the words of this song in the day the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul.


text:
And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were uncovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of His nostrils.


text:
The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands He has rewarded me.


text:
With the faithful You will show Yourself faithful; with the upright man You will show Yourself upright.


text:
The God who is my Rock, in Him will I trust. [He is] my Shield, and the Horn of my salvation, my High Tower, and my Refuge, my Savior. You save me from violence.


text:
[As for] God, His way [is] perfect. The word of the LORD [is] tried. He is a shield to all those who seek refuge in Him.


text:
And I have crushed them and wounded them so that they could not rise. [Yea], they have fallen under my feet.


text:
For You have girded me [with] strength to battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.


text:
Then I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I stamped them like the mire of the streets [and] spread them out.


text:
You have also delivered me from the strivings of my people, You have kept me the head of the nations. A people I knew not shall serve me.


text:
and who brings me forth from my enemies. You also lift me up on high above those rising up against me. You deliver me from the violent man.


text:
Therefore, I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises to Your name.


text:
[He is] the Tower of salvation for His king, and He shows mercy to His anointed, to David and to his seed, forevermore.


text:
In my distress I called upon the LORD and cried to my God. And he heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry [entered] into His ears.


text:
And the earth shook and trembled. The foundations of the heavens moved and shook because He was angry.


text:
And these [are] the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said:


text:
[he] arose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary, and until his hand clung to the sword. And the LORD worked a great victory that day. And the people returned after him only to spoil.


text:
And next [was] Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. And the people fled from the Philistines.


text:
But he stood in the middle of the ground and delivered it, and killed the Philistines. And the LORD worked a great victory.


text:
And three of the thirty chief men went down and came to David in the harvest time into the cave of Adullam. And the troop of the Philistines pitched in the Valley of the Giants.


text:
And David longed and said, Oh that someone would give me a drink from the water of the well of Bethlehem by the gate!


text:
And the three mighty men broke through the army of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem by the gate, and took [it], and brought [it] to David. But he would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD.


text:
And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this. [Is it not] the blood of the men who went [in danger of] their lives? And he would not drink it. These three mighty men did these [things].


text:
And Abishai the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, [was] chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred [and] killed [them], and had the name among three.


text:
Surely he was honored more than the three. And he was their commander. However he did not attain to the [first] three.


text:
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada from Kabzeel, a son of a mighty man, great [in] deeds. He killed two lion-like men of Moab. He went down also and killed a lion in the middle of a pit in time of snow.


text:
And he killed an Egyptian, a man of form. And the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but he went down to him with a staff and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear.


text:
He was more honorable than the thirty, but he did not attain to the [first] three. And David set him over his guard.


text:
Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite; Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah, of the sons of Benjamin;


text:
The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me: he who rules over men justly, ruling [in] the fear of God,


text:
Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite; Eliam the son of Ahithophel, the Gilonite;


text:
is as the light of the morning, as the sun rises, a morning without clouds. The tender grass [springs] out of the earth through shining after rain.


text:
Although my house [is] not so with God, yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure. For all my salvation, and all my desire, will He not make it grow?


text:
But the wicked, all of them, [shall be] like a thorn thrust away, because they cannot be taken by the hand.


text:
But the man who shall touch them must be armed with iron and the staff of a spear. And they shall be utterly burned in [their] place.


text:
These [are] the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth the Tachmonite, chief of the three; he [was called] Adino the Eznite, because of the eight hundred [he] killed at one time.


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And after him [was] Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there to battle; and the men of Israel had gone up;


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And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, Go count Israel and Judah.


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And David's heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the LORD, I have sinned greatly in what I have done. And now, I beseech You, O LORD, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.


text:
And David rose up in the morning. And the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,


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Go and say to David, So says the LORD, I offer you three [things]. Choose one of them, so that I may do [it] to you.


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And Gad came to David, and told him, and said to him, Shall seven years of famine come upon you and on your land? Or will you flee three months before your enemies while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days' plague in your land? And advise, and see what answer I shall return to Him who sent me.


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And David said to Gad, I [am] in great distress. Let us fall now into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies [are] great. And do not let me fall into the hand of man.


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And the LORD sent a plague upon Israel from the morning even till the time appointed. And there died from the people, from Dan to Beer-sheba, seventy thousand men.


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And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD turned from the evil, and said to the angel who destroyed the people, Enough! And stay your hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing-place of Araunah the Jebusite.


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And David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel who struck the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? I pray You, let Your hand be against me and against my father's house.


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And Gad came that day to David, and said to him, Go up! Rear an altar to the LORD in the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite.


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For the king said to Joab the commander of the army, who [was] with him, Go around through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beer-sheba, and count the people so that I may know the number of the people.


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And Araunah looked and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him. And Araunah went out and bowed before the king, his face to the ground.


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And Araunah said, Why has my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshing-floor from you, to build an altar to the LORD, so that the plague may be stayed from the people.


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And Araunah said to David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what [seems] good to him. Behold, oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments, and instruments of the oxen for wood.


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All these Araunah, like a king, gave to the king. And Araunah said to the king, May the LORD your God accept you.


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And the king said to Araunah, No, but I will surely buy from you at a price. And I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God [of that which costs me] nothing. And David bought the threshing-floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.


text:
And David built there an altar to the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. And the LORD was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.


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And Joab said to the king, And may the LORD your God add to the people however many they be, a hundred times as many, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king delight in this thing?


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But the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the commanders of the army. And Joab and the commanders of the army went out from the presence of the king to number the people of Israel.


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And they passed over Jordan and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that [is] in the middle of the Valley of Gad, and to Jazer.


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And they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtim-hodshi. And they came to Dan-jaan, and around to Sidon.


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And they came to the stronghold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites and [of] the Canaanites; and went out to the south of Judah, to Beer-sheba.


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And they went to and fro through all the land, and came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.


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And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to the king. And there were in Israel eight hundred thousand strong men who drew the sword. And the men of Judah [were] five hundred thousand men.


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And there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David [became] stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.


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to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba.


text:
And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose [is] the land? He said, Cut your covenant with me, and, behold, my hand [shall be] with you, to bring about all Israel to you.


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And he said, Good! I will cut a covenant with you, but one thing I ask of you, saying, You shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see my face.


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And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul's son, saying, Deliver my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to me for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.


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And her husband went along with her, weeping behind her, to Bahurim. And Abner said to him, Go, return! And he returned.


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The word of Abner was with the elders of Israel, saying, You sought for David in times past [to be] king over you.


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And then do [it], for the LORD has spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save My people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.


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And Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin. And Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and all that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.


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And sons were born to David in Hebron. And his first-born [was] Amnon, [the son of] Ahinoam of Jezreel.


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And Abner came to David at Hebron, and twenty men came with him. And David made a feast for Abner and the men who [were] with him.


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And Abner said to David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and so that you may reign over all that your heart desires. And David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.


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And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from [pursuing] a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them. But Abner [was] not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.


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And Joab and all the army with him came, and they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he has gone in peace.


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And Joab came to the king and said, What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why [is] this, [that] you have sent him away, and he has already gone?


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You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you do.


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And Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner, who brought him again from the well of Sirah. But David did not know.


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And Abner returned to Hebron. And Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him privately. And [he] struck him there in the belly, and he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.


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And afterward David heard, and said, My kingdom and I [are] guiltless before the LORD forever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner.


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Let it whirl about the head of Joab, and on all his father's house. And let there not fail from the house of Joab one who has an issue, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls on the sword, or who lacks bread.


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And his second was Chileab, of Abigail of Carmel, the former wife of Nabal. And the third [was] Absalom, the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur.


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And Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.


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And David said to Joab and to all the people with him, Tear your clothes and gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David followed the bier.


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And they buried Abner in Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner. And all the people wept.


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Your hands [were] not bound, nor your feet put into fetters; as a man falls before wicked men, so you fell. And all the people wept again over him.


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And all the people came to cause David to eat food while it was still day; David swore, saying, So let God do to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else until the sun is down.


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And all the people took notice, and it pleased them, as whatever the king did pleased all the people.


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For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to kill Abner the son of Ner.


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And the king said to his servants, Do you not know that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?


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And I [am] weak this day, though anointed king. And these men, the sons of Zeruiah, [are] too hard for me. The LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.


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And the fourth [was] Adonijah, the son of Haggith. And the fifth [was] Shephatiah, the son of Abital.


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And it happened, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.


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And Saul had a concubine whose name [was] Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And [Ishbosheth] said to Abner, Why have you gone in to my father's concubine?


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And Abner was very angry over the words of Ishbosheth, and said, [Am] I a dog's head, who shows kindness against Judah this day to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David? [Am] I a dog's head that you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman today?


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And Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron. And his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.


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when one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, [thinking] to have brought good news, I took hold of him and killed him in Ziklag. I gave that to him as a reward.


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Indeed when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed, shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?


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And David commanded his young men, and they killed them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged [them] up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner in Hebron.


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And Saul's son had two men [that were] captains of bands. The name of the one [was] Baanah, and the name of the other was Rechab, the sons of Rimmon of Beeroth, of the sons of Benjamin. For Beeroth also was counted to Benjamin;


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And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son who [was] lame in [his] feet. He was five years old when the news of Saul and Jonathan came out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled. And as she made haste to flee he fell and became lame. And his name [was] Mephibosheth.


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And the sons of Rimmon of Beeroth, Rechab and Baanah, came at the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth. And he was lying [on his] bed [at] noon.


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And they came to the midst of the house, bringing wheat. And they struck him in the belly. And Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.


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And they came into the house, and he lay in his bed in his bedroom. And they struck him and killed him, and beheaded him and took his head and got away through the plain all night.


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And [they] brought the head of Ishbosheth to David at Hebron. and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, your enemy who sought your life. And the LORD has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul and of his seed.


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And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon of Beeroth, and said to them, [As] the Lord lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity,


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And all the tribes of Israel came to David, to Hebron, and spoke, saying, Behold, we [are] your bone and your flesh.


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And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons to David. And they built David a house.


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And David saw that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that He had made his kingdom sure for His people Israel's sake.


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And David took more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron. And there were still more sons and daughters born to David.


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And the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel. And all the Philistines came up to seek David. And David heard, and went down to the stronghold.


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And David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand? And the LORD said to David, Go up! For I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand.


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Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were he who led Israel out and brought them in. And the LORD said to you, You shall feed My people Israel, and you shall be a leader over Israel.


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And David came to Baal-perazim, and David struck them there, and said, The LORD has broken forth [on] my enemies before me, like the breaking forth of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place The Breaking of Baal.


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And David inquired of the LORD, and He said, You shall not go up, [but] go around behind them and come upon them over across from the weeping trees.


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And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the weeping trees, then you shall strike. For then the LORD shall go out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.


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And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him. And [he] struck the Philistines from Geba until you come to Gezer.


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And all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron. And king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel.


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In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.


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And the king and his men went to Jerusalem to the Jebusites, the people of the land. And one spoke to David saying, You shall not come in here, except the blind and the lame will turn you away; also saying, David cannot come in here.


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And David said on that day, Anyone who strikes the Jebusite, let him go by the water-shaft and [take] the lame and the blind, the hated of David's soul. On account of this they say, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.


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And David lived in the fort, and called it [the] city of David. And David built all around, from Millo and inward.


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And David was not willing to bring the ark of the LORD to him into the city of David. But David carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite the Levite.


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And the ark of the LORD stayed in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months. And the LORD blessed Obed-edom and all his household.


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And they told King David, saying, The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that [belongs] to him, because of the ark of God. And David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with gladness.


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And it happened that when those who bore the ark of the LORD had gone six steps, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.


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And David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the ram's horn.


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And it happened [as] the ark of the LORD came to the city of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD. And she despised him in her heart.


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And they brought in the ark of the LORD and set it in its place in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.


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And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Jehovah of hosts.


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And he gave out among all the people, among all the multitude of Israel, to the women as well as men, to each one a cake of bread and one raisin-cake. And all the people departed, each one to his house.


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And David arose and went with all the people with him from beyond Baale of Judah, to bring up the ark of God from there, which [is] called [by] the Name, the Name of the LORD of hosts who dwells [above] the cherubs.


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And David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, How glorious was the king of Israel today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!


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And David said to Michal, [It was] before Jehovah, who chose me before your father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of Jehovah, over Israel. And I danced before Jehovah.


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And I will be still lower than this, and will be base in my own sight. And of the handmaids of whom you have spoken, with them I shall be had in honor.


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And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab in Gibeah. And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.


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And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab at Gibeah, going with the ark of God. And Ahio went before the ark.


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And David and all the house of Israel [were] dancing before the LORD on all [instruments] of fir wood, with lyres and with harps, and with tambourines, and with sistra, and with cymbals.


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And when they came to Nachon's threshing-floor, Uzzah reached out to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen upset it.


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And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah. And God struck him there for the error. And he died there by the ark of God.


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And David was displeased because the LORD had broken forth upon Uzzah. And he called the name of the place The Break of Uzzah to this day.


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And it happened when the king dwelt in his house, and when the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies,


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And I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them so that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more. Neither shall the sons of wickedness afflict them any more, as before.


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And even from the time that I commanded judges [to be] over My people of Israel, so will I cause you to rest from all your enemies. Also the LORD tells you that He will make you a house.


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And when your days [are] fulfilled, and you shall sleep with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who shall come out of your bowels. And I will make his kingdom sure.


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I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the sons of men.


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And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before you. Your throne [shall be] established forever.


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Then King David went in and sat before the LORD. And he said, Who [am] I, O Lord Jehovah? And what [is] my house, that You have brought me here?


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And this was yet a small thing in Your sight, O Lord God. But You have spoken also of Your servant's house for a great while to come. And [is] this the manner of men, O Lord God?


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the king said to Nathan the prophet, See now, I live in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within curtains.


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For Your word's sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things to make Your servant know.


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Therefore You are great, O Jehovah God. For there is none like You, neither is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.


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And what one nation in the earth [is] like Your people, like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to Himself, and to make Him a name, and to do for You great things and terrible, for Your land, before Your people, whom You redeemed to You from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?


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For You have confirmed to Yourself Your people Israel [to be] a people to You forever. And You, LORD, have become their God.


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And now, O LORD God, the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant, and concerning his house: establish [it] forever, and do as You have said.


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And let Your name be magnified forever, saying, The Jehovah of hosts [is] the God over Israel. And let the house of Your servant David be established before You.


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For You, O Jehovah of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed to Your servant, saying, I will build you a house. Therefore Your servant has found in his heart to pray this prayer to You.


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And now, O Lord Jehovah, You [are] that God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant.


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Therefore, now, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, to be forever before You. For You, O Lord GOD, have spoken. And with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.


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For I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up the sons out of Egypt until this day, but have walked in a tent, even in a tabernacle.


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In all [places] in which I have walked with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the tribes of Israel, [those] I commanded to feed My people Israel, saying, Why do you not build Me a house of cedars?


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And now so shall you say to My servant David, So says the LORD of hosts: I took you from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel.


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And I was with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies out of your sight, and have made you a great name like the name of the great ones in the earth.


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And it happened afterward, David struck the Philistines and humbled them. And David took The Bridle of the Metropolis out of the hand of the Philistines.


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Then Toi sent Joram his son to King David, to greet him and bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and had struck him. For Hadadezer had wars against Toi. And in his hand were silver articles, and golden articles, and bronze articles.


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King David also dedicated them to the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all nations which he subdued:


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of Syria, and of Moab, and of the sons of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.


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And David made a name [for himself] when he returned from striking the Syrians in the Valley of Salt, eighteen thousand [men].


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And he put garrisons in Edom. He put garrisons throughout all Edom, and all the men of Edom became David's servants. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went.


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And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, [were] the priests. And Seraiah [was] the scribe.


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And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [was over] both the Cherethites and the Pelethites. And David's sons were priests.


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And he struck Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground. Even with two lines he measured to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And the Moabites became David's servants, bringing gifts.


text:
David also struck Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river [Euphrates].


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And David took from him seventeen hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen. And David hamstrung all the chariot [horses] but kept enough of them for a hundred chariots.


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And when the Syrians of Damascus came to rescue Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand men of the Syrians.


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And David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus. And the Syrians became servants to David, bringing gifts. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went.


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And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.


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And David said, Is there still any that is left from the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?


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And you shall till the land for him, you and your sons and your servants. And you shall bring in [the fruits] so that your master's son may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master's son, shall eat bread always at my table. And Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.


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And Ziba said to the king, According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so shall your servant do. And Mephibosheth [was] eating at my table like one of the king's sons.


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And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name [was] Micah. And all that lived in the house of Ziba [were] servants to Mephibosheth.


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And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem. For he always sat at the king's table. And he [was] lame in both his feet.


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And [there was] of the house of Saul a servant whose name [was] Ziba. And they called him to David, and the king said to him, [Are] you Ziba? And he said, Your servant.


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And the king said, [is] there not still any of the house of Saul, so that I may show the kindness of God to him? And Ziba said to the king, Jonathan still has a son, [who is] lame in his feet.


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And the king said to him, Where [is] he? And Ziba said to the king, Behold, he [is] in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.


text:
And Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, and fell on his face and bowed to him. And David said, Mephibosheth! And he answered, Behold your servant!


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And David said to him, Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake, and will restore you all the land of Saul your father. And you shall eat bread at my table forever.


text:
And he bowed himself and said, What [is] your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?


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Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, I have given to your master's son all that [belonged] to Saul and to all his house.


text:
And Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith reigns, and David our lord does not know?


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And now come, please let me give you counsel, and save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.


text:
Go up and go in to King David, and say to him, My lord, O king, did you not swear to your handmaid, saying, Surely your son Solomon shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? Why then does Adonijah reign?


text:
Behold, while you are still talking with the king, I also will come in after you and confirm your words.


text:
And Bathsheba went in to the king into the room. And the king [was] very old, and Abishag the Shunammite served the king.


text:
And she said to him, My lord, you swore by the LORD your God to your handmaid, [saying], Surely your son Solomon shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.


text:
And he has slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and has called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army. But he has not called your servant Solomon.


text:
And his servants said to him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin. And let her stand before the king, and let her nurse him, and let her lie in your bosom, so that my lord the king may get heat.


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And you, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel [are] upon you, that you should tell them who shall sit upon the throne of my lord the king after him.


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And it will be, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, my son Solomon and I shall be offenders.


text:
And they told the king, saying, Behold, Nathan the prophet. And he came in before the king, and bowed before the king with his face to the ground.


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And Nathan said, My lord, O king, have you said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?


text:
For he has gone down this day, and has killed a great many of oxen and fat cattle and sheep, and has called all the king's sons and the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, Let King Adonijah live.


text:
But he has not called me, your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon.


text:
Is this thing done by my lord the king, and have you not shown your servant who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?


text:
And David answered and said, Call Bathsheba. And she came into the king's presence, and stood before the king.


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And they sought out a beautiful girl throughout all the borders of Israel, and found Abishag, a Shunammite. And they brought her to the king.


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surely as I swore to you by the LORD God of Israel, saying, Surely Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place, even so I will do today.


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And Bathsheba bowed [her] face [to] the earth, even kneeling to the king, and said, Let my lord King David live forever.


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And King David said, Call Zadok the priest to me, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.


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The king also said to them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon.


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And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel there. And blow with the ram's horn, and say, Let King Solomon live.


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And you shall come up after him, and let him come and sit upon my throne. For he shall reign in my place. And I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.


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And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen. May the LORD God of my lord the king say so.


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As the LORD has been with my lord the king, even so may He be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.


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And Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, went down and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.


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And Zadok the priest took a horn of oil out of the Tabernacle and anointed Solomon. And they blew the ram's horn, and all the people said, Let King Solomon live!


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And the girl [was] very beautiful. And she nursed the king and served him. But the king did not know her.


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And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced [with] great joy, so that the earth was torn with their sound.


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And Adonijah heard, and all the invited guests with him. And they stopped eating. And Joab heard the sound of the ram's horn, and said, What is this noise roaring from the city?


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And he was still speaking, and behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came. And Adonijah said to him, Come in, for you [are] a mighty man and you bring good news.


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And the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king's mule.


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And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon. And they have come up from there rejoicing, so that the city is roaring. This [is] the noise that you heard.


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And also the king's servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, May God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and make his throne greater than your throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed.


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And also the king said, Blessed [is] the LORD God of Israel, who has given one to sit on my throne today, my eyes even seeing [it].


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And Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king. And he prepared himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.


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And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose and went and caught hold on the horns of the altar.


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And it was told to Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon. For, lo, he has caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear to me today that he will not kill his servant with the sword.


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And Solomon said, If he becomes a son of virtue, not a hair of his head shall fall to the earth. But if wickedness shall be found in him, then he shall die.


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And King Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon. And Solomon said to him, Go to your house.


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And his father had not displeased him at any time, saying, Why have you done so? And he also [was] very good of form, and [his mother] bore him after Absalom.


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And he talked with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest. And they helped Adonijah, following [him].


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But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and David's mighty men, were not with Adonijah.


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And Adonijah killed sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the Stone of Serpents, which [is] by En-rogel, and called all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants.


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And the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's fame concerning the name of the LORD, and she came to test him with hard questions.


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And she gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, a very great store of spices, and precious stones. No spice like that came any more for abundance, that the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.


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And also the navy of Hiram which brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great abundance of almug trees and precious stones.


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And the king made of the almug trees a support for the house of the LORD, and for the king's house, also lyres and harps for singers. No such almug wood has come or been seen to this day.


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And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, besides what Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.


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apart from the merchant men, and and from the traffic of the traders, and from all the kings of Arabia, and from the governors of the lands.


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And King Solomon made two hundred targets [of] beaten gold; six hundred [shekels] of gold went into one target.


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And [he made] three hundred shields of beaten gold; three minas of gold went into one shield. And the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.


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The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne [was] round in the back part. And [there were] stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays;


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And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bore spices, and very much gold, and precious stones. And she came to Solomon, and she told him all that was in her heart.


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and two lions were standing on the six steps, on this and on that [side]. There was not the like made in any kingdom.


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And all King Solomon's drinking vessels [were of] gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon [were of] pure gold. None were of silver; it was counted nothing in the days of Solomon.


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For the king had at sea a navy of Tarshish with the navy of Hiram. Once in three years the navy of Tarshish came bringing gold and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.


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And every man brought his presents, vessels of silver and vessels of gold, and clothing and armor, and spices, horses and mules, so much year by year.


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And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen. And he had fourteen hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he stationed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem.


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And the king made silver like stones in Jerusalem, and he made cedars like the sycamore trees in the valley for abundance.


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And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and out of Kue. The king's merchants received them from Kue at a price.


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And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred [shekels] of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. And so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, they brought [them] out by their means.


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And Solomon answered all her questions for her. There was not a thing hidden from the king, which he did not tell her.


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and the food of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their clothing, and his cupbearers, and his burnt offering that he offered up to the house of the LORD, there was no more spirit in her.


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And she said to the king, It was a true report which I heard in my own land of your acts and of your wisdom.


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And I did not believe the words until I came and my eyes had seen. And behold! The half was not told me. Your wisdom and blessings are more than the fame which I heard.


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Happy [are] your men, happy are these who are your servants, who stand always before you, and who hear your wisdom.


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Blessed is Jehovah your God, who delighted in you, to set you on the throne of Israel. Because the LORD loved Israel forever; therefore, He made you king to do judgment and justice.


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And King Solomon loved many foreign women, even the daughter of Pharaoh, Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, Hittites;


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and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; and he did not keep that which the LORD commanded.


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And the LORD said to Solomon, Since this is done by you, and since you have not kept My covenant and My statutes which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant.


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But I will not do it in your days, for David your father's sake, [but] I will tear it out of the hand of your son.


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Only, I will not tear away all the kingdom, [but] I will give one tribe to your son for David My servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen.


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And it happened the LORD stirred up a foe to Solomon, Hadad the Edomite. He [was] of the king's seed in Edom.


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For it happened when David was in Edom, and Joab the commander of the army had gone up to bury the slain, after he had stricken every male in Edom--


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it happened that Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with him, to go to Egypt, Hadad [being] still a little child.


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And they arose out of Midian and came to Paran. And [they] took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave him a house and appointed food for him, and gave him land.


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And Hadad found great favor in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him the sister of his own wife for a wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen.


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of the nations which the LORD had said to the sons of Israel, You shall not go in to them, and they shall not go in to you; surely they will turn away your heart after their gods. Solomon clung to these in love.


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And the sister of Tahpenes bore him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's house. And Genubath was in Pharaoh's household among the sons of Pharaoh.


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And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the commander of the army was dead, even Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart so that I may go to my own land.


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And Pharaoh said to him, But what have you lacked with me that, behold, you seek to go to your land? And he answered, Nothing; however, you shall certainly send me away.


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And God stirred up [another] foe, to him, Rezon the son of Eliadah, who fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah.


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And he gathered men to him, and became head over a band when David killed them. And they went to Damascus and lived in it, and reigned in Damascus.


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And he was a foe to Israel all the days of Solomon, besides the mischief which Hadad [did]. And he hated Israel and reigned over Syria.


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And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name [was] Zeruah, a widow, he too lifted up [his] hand against the king.


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And this [was] the cause that he lifted up [his] hand against the king. Solomon built Millo [and] repaired the breaks of the city of David his father.


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And the man Jeroboam [was] a mighty man of war. And Solomon, seeing that the young man was doing work, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph.


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And it happened at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh found him in the way. And he had clothed himself with a new garment. And the two of them [were] alone in the field.


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And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines. And his wives turned away his heart.


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And he said to Jeroboam, Take ten pieces for yourself. For so says the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and will give ten tribes to you,


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but he shall have one tribe for My servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel,


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because they have forsaken Me, and have worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the goddess of the sons of Ammon, and have not walked in My ways, to do [what is right] in My eyes, and to keep My statutes and My judgments, as David his father did.


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But I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, but I will make him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of David My servant, whom I chose, because he kept My commandments and My statutes.


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And to his son I will give one tribe, so that David My servant may have a light always before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen for Me, to put My name there.


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And I will take you, and you shall reign according to all that your soul desires, and shall be king over Israel.


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And if you will listen to all that I command you, and will walk in My ways, and do [what is] right in My sight, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as David My servant did, it shall happen that I will be with you and build you a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you.


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For it happened when Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods. And his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as [was] the heart of David his father.


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And Solomon sought to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose and fled to Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.


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And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, [are] they not written in the Book of the Acts of Solomon?


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And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father. And Rehoboam reigned in his place.


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For Solomon went after Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom, the abomination of the Ammonites;


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and Solomon did evil in the sight of Jehovah, and did not [go] fully after the LORD like his father David.


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Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill which [is] before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the sons of Ammon.


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And the LORD [was] angry with Solomon because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice


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And the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, So shall you speak to this people who spoke to you, saying, Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make [it] lighter for us, so you shall say to them: My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.


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And now my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, and I will add to your yoke. My father has whipped you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.


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And they came, Jeroboam and all the people, to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.


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and spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke. My father whipped you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.


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And the king did not listen to the people, for the cause was from the LORD, that He might perform His saying which the LORD spoke by Ahijah of Shiloh to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.


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And all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, and the people answered the king, saying, What part do we have in David? Yea, [there is] no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel! Now see to your house, O David! And Israel went to its tents.


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And King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who [was] over the tribute. And all Israel stoned him with stones so that he died. And King Rehoboam made haste to go up to get into a chariot to flee to Jerusalem.


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And it happened when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, heard, he being still in Egypt; for he had fled from the presence of King Solomon, and Jeroboam lived in Egypt;


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And it happened when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had come again, they sent and called him to the company, and made him king over all Israel. There was none who followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.


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And when Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, and he gathered all the house of Judah with the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.


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Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, saying,


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So says the LORD, You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers the sons of Israel. Each man return to his house. For this thing is from Me. And they listened to the word of the LORD and turned to go back, according to the word of the LORD.


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And Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim and lived in it, and went out from there and built Penuel.


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If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.


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And 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. Behold your gods, O, Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!


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they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying,


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And he made a house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, who were not the sons of Levi.


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And Jeroboam ordered a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast that [is] in Judah. And he offered on the altar. So he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had made. And he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.


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And he offered on the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in the month which he had devised out of his own heart. And he ordered a feast for the sons of Israel. And he offered on the altar, and burned incense.


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Your father made our yoke hard. And now lighten the hard service of your father, and the heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.


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And king Rehoboam talked with the old men who had stood before Solomon his father while he still lived, and said, How do you advise to return a word to this people?


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And they spoke to him, saying, If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.


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But he left the counsel of the old men which they had advised him, and talked with the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.


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And he said to them, What advice do you give that we may answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, Lighten the yoke which your father put on us?


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And behold, a man of God came out of Judah, by the word of the LORD, to Bethel. And Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.


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And a certain old prophet was living in Bethel, and his son came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel. The words which he had spoken to the king they also told to their father.


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And their father said to them, Where [is] this [man]? What way did he go? For his sons had seen what way the man of God, who came from Judah, had gone.


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and went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak. And he said to him, [Are] you the man of God who came from Judah? And he said, I [am].


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And he said, I may not return with you nor go in with you, nor will I eat bread or drink water with you in this place.


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For a word was to me by the word of the LORD, You shall eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that you came.


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And he said to him, I [am] a prophet also as you are. And an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with you into your house, so that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied to him.


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And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD and said, O, altar, altar, so says the LORD. Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name, and on you he shall offer the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and men's bones shall be burned on you.


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And it happened as they sat at the table, the word of the LORD came to the prophet who brought him back.


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And he cried to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, So says the LORD, Because you have not obeyed the mouth of the LORD and have not kept the command which the LORD your God commanded you,


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but came back and have eaten bread and have drunk water in the place which He said to you, You shall not eat bread nor drink water, your body shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.


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And after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, it happened that he saddled the ass for him, for the prophet whom he had brought back.


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And he left, and a lion met him by the way and killed him. And his dead body was thrown in the highway, and the ass stood by it, and the lion also stood by the body.


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And behold, men passed by and saw the body thrown in the way, and the lion standing by the body. And they came and told [it] in the city where the old prophet lived.


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And when the prophet who brought him back from the way heard, he said, It [is] the man of God who did not obey the word of the LORD. And the LORD has delivered him to the lion, which has torn him and killed him, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke to him.


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And he went and found his body thrown in the way, and the ass and the lion standing by the body. The lion had not eaten the body nor torn the ass.


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And the prophet took up the dead body of the man of God, and laid it on the ass and brought it back. And the prophet came to the city to mourn and to bury him.


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And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This [is] the sign which the LORD has spoken. Behold, the altar shall be torn apart, and the ashes that [are] on it shall be poured out.


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And it happened after he had buried him, he spoke to his sons, saying, When I am dead, then bury me in the tomb in which the man of God [is] buried. Lay my bones beside his bones,


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for the saying which he cried by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass.


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After this thing Jeroboam did not turn from his evil way, but turned and made priests of the high places from the lowest of the people. He who desired, he consecrated him, and he became [one] of the priests of the high places.


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And this thing is the sin of the house of Jeroboam, even to blot [it] from off the face of the earth.


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And it happened when King Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God who had cried against the altar in Bethel, he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him! And his hand, which he put forth against him withered up so that he could not pull it in again to himself.


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The altar also was torn apart, and the ashes poured out from the altar according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD.


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And the king answered and said to the man of God, Seek now the face of the LORD your God, and pray for me, and my hand may be given back to me again. And the man of God prayed to the LORD, and the king's hand was given back to him again, and became as at the beginning.


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And the king said to the man of God, Come home with me and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.


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And the man of God said to the king, If you will give me half your house, I will not go in with you, nor will I eat bread nor drink water in this place.


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For so was it commanded me by the word of the LORD, saying, Eat no bread nor drink water, nor return again by the same way that you came.


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therefore, behold, I will bring evil on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam everyone who urinates against the wall, bound and free in Israel, and will sweep away the rest of the house of Jeroboam, as a man sweeps away the dung, until it is all gone.


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Those of Jeroboam who die in the city, the dogs shall eat. And those who die in the field, the fowls of the air shall eat. For the LORD has spoken.


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And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him. For he only of Jeroboam shall come down to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the LORD God of Israel, in the house of Jeroboam.


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And the LORD shall raise up a king over Israel for Himself, a king who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam that day. And what? Even now!


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For the LORD shall strike Israel as the reed waves in the water, and He shall root up Israel out of this good land which He gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the River, because they have made their Asherahs, provoking the LORD to anger.


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And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who sinned, and that he made Israel to sin.


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And Jeroboam's wife arose, and left, and came to Tirzah. When she came to the doorsill the boy died.


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And they buried him, and all Israel mourned for him, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by the hand of His servant Ahijah the prophet.


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And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred and how he reigned, behold, [they] are written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Israel.


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And Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise, please, and disguise yourself so that you will not be known to be the wife of Jeroboam. And go to Shiloh. Behold, there [is] Ahijah the prophet, who told me about [being] king over this people.


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And the days which Jeroboam reigned [were] twenty-two years. And he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his place.


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And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam [was] forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD chose out of all the tribes of Israel to put His name there. And his mother's name [was] Naamah, an Ammonitess.


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And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked Him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done.


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For they also built high places for themselves, and images, and Asherahs, on every high hill and under every green tree.


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And also the sodomite was in the land. They did according to all the hateful things of the nations which the LORD cast out before the sons of Israel.


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And it happened in the fifth year of king Rehoboam Shishak king of Egypt, he came up against Jerusalem.


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And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house. He took all away. And he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.


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And King Rehoboam made bronze shields in their place, and committed [them] to the hands of the chief of the guard, who kept the door of the king's house.


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And it happened when the king went into the house of the LORD, the guard carried them and brought them back into the guard chamber.


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And the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Judah?


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And take ten loaves, and cakes, and a jar of honey with you, and go to him. And he will tell you what shall become of the boy.


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And Rehoboam slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And his mother's name [was] Naamah, an Ammonitess. And his son Abijam reigned in his place.


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And Jeroboam's wife did so, and arose and went to Shiloh. And she came to the house of Ahijah. And Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were set because of his age.


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And the LORD said to Ahijah, Behold, the wife of Jeroboam comes to ask a thing of you for her son, for he [is] sick. This and this you shall say to her, for when she comes in, she shall act as a stranger.


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And it happened when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet as she came in at the door, he said, Come in, wife of Jeroboam! Why are you acting as a stranger? For I [am] sent to you [with] a hard thing.


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Go tell Jeroboam, So says the LORD God of Israel, I lifted you up from among the people, and made you ruler over My people Israel,


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and tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you. And you have not been as My servant David who kept My commandments, and who followed Me with all his heart, to do only [what was] right in My eyes.


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But you have done evil above all who were before you, for you have gone and made yourself other gods, and molded images, to provoke Me to anger, and have cast Me behind your back;


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And he reigned in Jerusalem forty-one years. And his grandmother's name [was] Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.


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And [he] took away the sodomites out of the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.


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And also he even removed his mother Maachah from [being] queen because she had made an idol in a grove. And Asa destroyed her idol and burned it by the torrent Kidron.


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And he brought in the things which his father had dedicated, and the things which he himself had dedicated, into the house of the LORD, silver and gold and vessels.


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And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and built Ramah, so that he might not allow any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.


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And Asa took all the silver and the gold left in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants. And king Asa sent them to Ben-hadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who lived at Damascus, saying,


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[There is] a treaty between you and me, between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent to you a present of silver and gold. Come and break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he may depart from me.


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He reigned three years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name [was] Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.


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And Ben-hadad listened to king Asa, and sent the commanders of the armies which he had against the cities of Israel, and struck Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-beth-maachah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.


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And king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah. None [was] free from it. And they took away the stones of Ramah, and its timber with which Baasha had built. And king Asa built Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah with them.


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The rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Judah? But in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet.


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And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father. And his son Jehoshaphat reigned in his place.


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And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over Israel two years.


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And [he] did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin.


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And Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him. And Baasha struck him at Gibbethon, which [was] to the Philistines. For Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon.


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And it happened when he reigned, he struck all the house of Jeroboam. He did not leave Jeroboam any who breathed, until he had destroyed him, according to the saying of the LORD which He spoke by His servant Ahijah the man of Shiloh,


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And he walked in all the sins of his father which he had done before him. And his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father.


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because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation with which he provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger.


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And the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Israel?


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In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah began to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, twenty-four years.


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And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin.


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But for David's sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem,


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because David did [what was] right in the eyes of the LORD, and did not turn aside from all that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.


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And the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.


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And Abijam slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David. And his son Asa reigned in his place.


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And Zimri went in and struck him, and killed him, in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his place.


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And it happened when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, he killed all the house of Baasha. He did not leave him one who urinated against a wall, nor of his kinsmen, nor of his friends.


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And Zimri destroyed all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet,


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for all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned and that they made Israel to sin, in provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities.


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And the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Israel?


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In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned seven days in Tirzah. And the people [were] camped against Gibbethon which [was] to the Philistines.


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And the people [that were] camped heard it said that Zimri had plotted and had also slain the king. And all Israel made Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that day in the camp.


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And it happened when Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the palace of the king's house and burned the king's house over him with fire, and died,


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for his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did to make Israel sin.


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Since I exalted you out of the dust, and made you ruler over My people Israel, and since you have walked in the way of Jeroboam, and have made My people Israel to sin, to provoke Me to anger with their sins,


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And the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason which he did, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Israel?


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And the people of Israel were divided into two parts. Half the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king. And half followed Omri.


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But the people who followed Omri were stronger than the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath. And Tibni died and Omri reigned.


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In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri began to reign over Israel. He reigned twelve years, six years in Tirzah.


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And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill, Samaria.


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For he walked in all the ways of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin, to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities.


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And the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his might that he showed, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Israel?


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And in the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel. And Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years.


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behold, I will utterly sweep away Baasha and his house. And I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.


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And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he also took Jezebel, the daughter of Eth-baal king of the Sidonians, for a wife. And he went and served Baal, and worshiped him.


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And Ahab made an Asherah. And Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.


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In his days Hiel the man of Bethel built Jericho. He laid the foundation of it in Abiram his first-born, and set up the gates of it in his youngest [son] Segub, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.


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Those of Baasha who die in the city shall the dogs eat. And those of his who die in the fields, the birds of the air shall eat.


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And the rest of the acts of Baasha and what he did, and his might, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Israel?


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And also by the hand of the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of the LORD against Baasha, and against his house, even for all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD, in provoking Him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and because he killed him.


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In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha began to reign over Israel in Tirzah, and he reigned two years.


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And his servant Zimri, commander of half his chariots, plotted against him; and he [was] in Tirzah drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza the steward of [his] house in Tirzah.


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And Elijah the Tishbite, of the sojourners of Gilead, said to Ahab, [As] the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except according to my word.


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And he arose and went to Zarephath, and came in to the entrance of the city, and, behold, the widow was gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, Please, bring me a little water in a vessel so that I may drink.


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And as she was going to bring [it], he called to her and said, Please, bring me a piece of bread in your hand.


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And she said, [As] the LORD your God lives, I do not have a cake, but only a handful of meal in a pitcher and a little oil in a jar. And behold, I [am] gathering two sticks, so that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, so that we may eat it and die.


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And Elijah said to her, Do not fear, go. Do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it, and bring [it] to me. And then make for you and for your son.


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For so says the LORD God of Israel, The pitcher of meal shall not be emptied, nor shall the jar of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sends rain on the earth.


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And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah. And she and he and her house ate [many] days;


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the pitcher of meal was not consumed, and the jar of oil did not fail, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by Elijah.


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And it happened after these things the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick. And his sickness was so severe that there was no breath left in him.


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And she said to Elijah, What do I have to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to call my sin to remembrance and to kill my son?


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And he said to her, Give me your son. And he took him out of her bosom and carried him up into a loft, where he stayed, and laid him on his own bed.


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And he cried to the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, have You also brought evil on the widow with whom I am staying, by slaying her son?


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And he stretched himself on the child three times, and cried to the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, please let this child's soul come to him again.


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And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah, and the soul of the child came into him again, and he lived.


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And Elijah took the child and brought him down out of the room into the house and delivered him to his mother. And Elijah said, See! Your son lives!


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And the woman said to Elijah, Now I know this, that you [are] a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth [is] truth.


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So he went and did according to the word of the LORD. For he went and lived by the torrent Cherith, before Jordan.


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And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the torrent.


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Arise, go to Zarephath which [belongs] to Sidon, and live there. Behold, I have commanded a widow to keep you there.


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And it happened [after] many days the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year saying, Go, show yourself to Ahab. And I will send rain on the earth.


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[As] the LORD your God lives, there is no nation nor kingdom where my lord has not sent to seek you. And when they said, He is not there, he took an oath of the kingdom and nation that they did not find you.


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And it will be as soon as I have gone from you, the Spirit of the LORD shall carry you where I know not. And when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find you, he will kill me. But I, your servant, have feared the LORD from my youth.


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Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the LORD, how I hid a hundred men of the LORD's prophets by fifty in a cave and fed them with bread and water?


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And Elijah said, [As] the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely be seen by him today.


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And he answered, I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father's house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and you have followed the Baals.


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And now send [and] gather to me all Israel to mount Carmel, and four hundred and fifty of the prophets of Baal, and four hundred of the prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table.


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And Elijah came to all the people and said, How long are you limping over two opinions? If Jehovah [is] God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, [then] follow him. And the people did not answer him a word.


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And Elijah said to the people, I, I alone, remain a prophet of Jehovah. But Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.


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And let them give us two bulls, and let them choose one bull for themselves, and cut it in pieces and lay [it] on wood. But place no fire. And I will dress the other bull and lay it on wood, and place no fire.


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And you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of Jehovah. And it shall be, the god that answers by fire, He is God. And all the people answered and said, The word [is] good.


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And Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, Choose one bull for yourselves, and prepare first, for you [are] many. And call on the name of your god, but place no fire.


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And they took the bull which was given them, and they dressed, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any who answered. And they leaped on the altar which was made.


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And it happened at noon Elijah mocked them and said, Cry with a great voice, for he [is] a god. Either he is meditating, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey; perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened!


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And they cried with a loud voice and cut themselves with knives and spears until the blood gushed out on them, as is their way.


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And it happened when midday was past, and when they prophesied until the [time] of the offering of the evening sacrifice, there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor anyone who paid attention.


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And Elijah said to all the people, Come near to me. And all the people came near him. And he repaired the broken down altar of the LORD.


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And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be your name.


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And with stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a trench around the altar big enough to contain two measures of seed.


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And he arranged the wood, and cut the bull in pieces, and placed [it] on the wood, and said, Fill four water jars with water and pour on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood.


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And he said, Do [it] the second time. And they did [it] the second time. And he said, Do [it] the third time. And they did [it] the third time.


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And it happened at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that You [are] God in Israel, and that I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word.


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Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You [are] Jehovah God, and that You have turned their heart back again.


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And the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the burnt sacrifice and the wood, and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that [was] in the trench.


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And when all the people saw, they fell on their faces. And they said, Jehovah, He [is] the God! Jehovah, He [is] the God!


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for it happened when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)


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And Elijah said to them, Take the prophets of Baal. Do not let one of them escape. And they took them. And Elijah brought them down to the torrent Kishon and killed them there.


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So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel. And he threw himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees.


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And he said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up and looked and said, Nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.


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And it happened at the seventh [time,] he said, Behold, there arises a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up and say to Ahab, Bind up and go down, so that the rain does not stop you.


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And it happened in the meantime the heaven was black [with] clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rose and went to Jezreel.


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And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah. And he girded up his loins and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.


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And Ahab said to Obadiah, Go into the land, to all fountains of water, and to all the torrents. Perhaps we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, so that we do not lose all the animals.


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And they divided the land between them to pass throughout it. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.


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And as Obadiah was in the way, and behold! Elijah met him. And he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, [Are] you my lord Elijah?


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And he said, What have I sinned that you would deliver your servant into the hand of Ahab to kill me?


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And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and all that he killed, all the prophets with the sword.


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And he said, I have been very zealous for Jehovah the God of Hosts. For the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and have slain Your prophets with the sword. And I, I alone, am left. And they seek to take my life away.


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And He said, Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains, and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD. [ But] the LORD [was] not in the wind. And after the wind was an earthquake, [but] the LORD was not in the earthquake.


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And after the earthquake was a fire, [but] the LORD [was] not in the fire. And after the fire [was] a still, small voice.


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And it happened when Elijah heard, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out, and stood at the cave entrance. And behold, a voice [came] to him and said, What [are] you [doing] here, Elijah?


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And he said, I have been very zealous for Jehovah, God of Hosts, because the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, have thrown down Your altars, and have slain Your prophets with the sword. And I, I alone, am left. And they seek to take my life away.


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And the LORD said to him, Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you come, anoint Hazael [to be] king over Syria.


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And you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi [to be] king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint [to be] prophet in your place.


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And it will be, whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill. And whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill.


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Yet I have left seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth which has not kissed him.


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And he left there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, and he [was] plowing; twelve pairs [of oxen were] before him, and he [was] with the twelfth. And Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him.


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And Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah saying, So let the gods do [to me], and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.


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And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, please, let me kiss my father and my mother, and I will follow you. And he said to him, Go back again, for what have I done to you?


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And he turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and killed them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave it to the people, and they ate. And he arose and went after Elijah, and ministered to him.


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And he saw, he rose and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba of Judah, and left his servant there.


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And he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he begged for his life, that he might die. And he said, It is enough. O LORD, take away my life. For I [am] no better than my fathers.


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And as he lay and slept under a broom tree, behold, then an angel touched him and said to him, Arise, eat.


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And he looked, and, behold, a cake [was] baked on the coals, and a jug of water at his head. And he ate and drank, and lay down again.


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And the angel of the LORD came to him the second time and touched him, and said, Arise, eat, because the journey [is] too great for you.


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And he arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.


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And he came there to a cave and stayed there. And behold, the word of the LORD [came] to him, and He said to him, What [are] you [doing] here, Elijah?


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And the days that David reigned over Israel [were] forty years. He reigned seven years in Hebron, and he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem.


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And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Do you come peacefully? And he said, Peace.


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And he said, You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me that I should reign. However, the kingdom is turned around, and has become my brother's. For it was his from the LORD.


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And he said, Please speak to Solomon the king, for he will not turn away your face, that he give me Abishag the Shunammite for my wife.


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And Bathsheba came in to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself to her, and sat on his throne, and caused a throne to be set for the king's mother. And she sat on his right hand.


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And she said, I desire one small favor of you. Do not turn away my face. And the king said to her, Ask on, my mother, for I will not turn away your face.


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And King Solomon answered and said to his mother, And why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask the kingdom also for him. For he [is] my older brother! Even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah!


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And King Solomon swore by the LORD, saying, May God do so to me, and more He shall do, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his life.


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And now, [as] the LORD lives, who has established me and set me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house, as He spoke, Adonijah shall be put to death today.


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And King Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And he fell on him so that he died.


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And the king said to Abiathar the priest, Go to Anathoth, to your fields, for you [are] worthy of death. But I will not put you to death at this time, because you carried the ark of the Lord God before David my father, and because you have been afflicted in all [that in which] my father was afflicted.


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And Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest to the LORD, so that he might fulfil the word of the LORD which He spoke concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.


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And the report came to Joab. For Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he did not turn after Absalom. And Joab fled to the tabernacle of the LORD, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.


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And it was told King Solomon that Joab had fled to the tabernacle of the LORD, and, behold, [he is] by the altar. And Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go fall on him.


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And keep the charge of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, and His commandments, and His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn yourself,


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And Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the LORD, and said to him, So says the king, come forth! And he said, No, but I will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab, and so he answered me.


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And the king said to him, Do as he has said, and fall on him, and bury him, so that you may take away the innocent blood which Joab shed, from me and from the house of my father.


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And the LORD shall return his blood on his own head, who fell on two men more righteous and better than he, and killed them with the sword, and my father David not knowing [of it], Abner the son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah.


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Yea, He shall turn back their blood on the head of Joab, and on the head of his seed forever. But on David, and on his seed, and on his house, and on his throne, there shall be peace forever from the LORD.


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And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and fell on him and killed him. And he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.


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And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada over the army in his place. And the king put Zadok the priest in the place of Abiathar.


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And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, Build a house at Jerusalem and live there, and do not go forth from there anywhere.


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For it shall be, on the day you go out and pass over the torrent Kidron, you shall know for certain that you shall surely die. Your blood shall be on your own head.


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And Shimei said to the king, Your saying [is] good. As my lord the king has said, so will your servant do. And Shimei lived in Jerusalem many days.


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And it happened at the end of three years, two of the servants of Shimei ran away to Achish son of Maachah, king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, your servants [are] in Gath.


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that the LORD may continue His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul saying, there shall not be a man of yours cut off from the throne of Israel.


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And Shimei arose and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants. And Shimei went and brought his servants from Gath.


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And the king sent and called for Shimei and said to him, Did I not make you swear by the LORD, and warn you, saying, In the day you go out, and you have gone anywhere, you certainly shall know that you shall surely die? And you said to me, The word I have heard [is] good.


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And the king said to Shimei, You know all the wickedness that your heart knows, what you did to David my father. And the LORD shall return your wickedness on your own head.


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And King Solomon [shall be] blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD forever.


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And the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he went out and fell on him so that he died. And the kingdom was made sure in the hand of Solomon.


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And also you know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, what he did to the two commanders of the armies of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner, and to Amasa the son of Jether, that he murdered them, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle on his loins, and in his shoes on his feet.


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And you shall do according to your wisdom and shall not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.


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But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at your table. For so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom your brother.


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And, behold, with you [is] Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, who cursed me [with] a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim. But he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I swore to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put you to death with the sword.


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And now, do not hold him guiltless. For you [are] a wise man, and you know what you ought to do to him. But bring his gray head down to the grave with blood.


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And Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together. And thirty-two kings [were] with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and laid siege to Samaria, and warred against it.


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And Ben-hadad sent to him and said, May the gods do so to me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall be enough for handfuls for all the people who follow me.


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And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell [him], Do not let him who girds on boast himself like the one who loosens [his armor].


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And it happened he heard this word, and he [was] drinking, he and the kings in the booths, he said to his servants, Set [in order], and they set in order against the city. And they placed the engines against the city.


text:
And behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel, saying, So says Jehovah, Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand today, and you shall know that I [am] the LORD.


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And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, So says Jehovah, By the young men of the rulers of the provinces. And he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, You.


text:
And he numbered the young men of the rulers of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty-two. And after them he numbered all the people, all the sons of Israel, seven thousand.


text:
And they went out at noon. But Ben-hadad [was] drinking himself drunk in the booths, he and the kings, the thirty-two kings who helped him.


text:
And the young men of the rulers of the provinces went out first. And Ben-hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men coming out of Samaria.


text:
And he said, If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive.


text:
So these young men of the rulers of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them.


text:
And [he] sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel, and to the city, and said to him, Ben-hadad says this:


text:
And they each one killed his man. And the Syrians fled. And Israel pursued them. And Ben-hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with the horsemen.


text:
And the king of Israel went out and struck the horses and chariots, and killed the Syrians with a great slaughter.


text:
And the prophet came to the king of Israel and said to him, Go, strengthen yourself, and watch and see what you do. For at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against you.


text:
And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, Their gods [are] gods of the hills. On account of this they were stronger than we were. But let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.


text:
And do this thing, take the kings away, each man out of his place, and put commanders in their places,


text:
and number an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse and chariot for chariot. And we will fight against them in the plain. Are we not stronger than they? And he listened to their voice and did so.


text:
And it happened at the return of the year Ben-hadad numbered the Syrians that went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.


text:
And the sons of Israel were numbered, and were fed, and went to meet them. And the sons of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of goats. And the Syrians filled the country.


text:
And a man of God came near and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, So says Jehovah, Because the Syrians have said, Jehovah [is] God of the hills, but He is not God of the valleys, therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I [am] Jehovah.


text:
And they pitched over against one another seven days. And it happened in the seventh day, and the battle came up. And the sons of Israel struck Syria, a hundred thousand footmen in one day.


text:
But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city. And [there] a wall fell on twenty-seven thousand of those remaining. And Ben-hadad fled and came into the city, into an inner room.


text:
And his servants said to him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel [are] merciful kings. Please let us put sackcloth on our loins and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will save your life.


text:
And they bound sackcloth on their loins and ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel and said, Your servant Ben-hadad says, Please let me live. And he said, [Is] he still alive? He [is] my brother.


text:
And the men carefully observed, and quickly caught [it] from him, and said, And they said, Your brother Ben-hadad. And he said, Go and bring him. And Ben-hadad came out to him, and he caused him to come up into the chariot.


text:
And [Ben-hadad] said to him, The cities which my father took from your father, I will restore. And you shall make streets for you in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. And [Ahab said, I will send you away with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him and sent him away.


text:
And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his neighbor, By the word of the LORD, please strike me! And the man refused to strike him.


text:
And he said to him, Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as you have departed from me, a lion shall kill you. And as soon as he had departed from him, a lion found him and killed him.


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And he found another man and said, Please strike me. And the man struck him, so that he wounded [him] in striking him.


text:
And the prophet went and waited for the king by the wayside, and disguised himself with ashes on his face.


text:
And as the king passed by, it happened he cried to the king. And he said, Your servant went out into the middle of the battle, and, behold, a man turned aside and brought a man to me and said, Keep this man. If he is missing by any means, then your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.


text:
And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O King, according to your saying I [am] yours and all that I have.


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And it happened as your servant was busy here and there, he was gone! And the king of Israel said to him, So [shall] your judgment be; you yourself have decided [it].


text:
And he hurried and took the ashes away from his face. And the king of Israel saw that he [was] one of the prophets.


text:
And he said to him, So says the LORD, Because you have let go out of [your] hand a man whom I devoted [to destruction], therefore your life shall be for his life, and your people for his people.


text:
And the messengers came again and said, Ben-hadad speaks in this way, saying, Although I have sent to you saying, You shall deliver me your silver and your gold and your wives and your sons,


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yet I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search your house and the houses of your servants. And it shall be, whatever is pleasant in your eyes, they will put [it] in their hand and take it away.


text:
And the king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said, Please mark and see how this one seeks mischief. For he sent to me for my wives and for my sons, and for my silver and for my gold. And I did not keep them back from him.


text:
And he said to the messengers of Ben-hadad, Tell my lord the king, All that you sent for to your servant at the first I will do, but this thing I may not do. And the messengers left and brought him word again.


text:
And it happened after these things, Naboth of Jezreel had a vineyard in Jezreel, near the place of Ahab king of Samaria.


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And set two men, sons of Belial, before him to bear witness against him, saying, You blasphemed God and the king. And carry him out and stone him so that he may die.


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And the men of his city, the elders and the nobles who lived in his city did as Jezebel had sent to them, as it [was] written in the letters which she had sent to them.


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And there came in two men, sons of Belial, and sat before him. And the men of Belial witnessed against him, against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth blasphemed God and the king. And they carried him out of the city and stoned him with stones so that he died.


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And it happened when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth of Jezreel, which he refused to give you for silver. For Naboth is not alive, but dead.


text:
And it happened when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth of Jezreel, to take possession of it.


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Arise, go down to meet Ahab the king of Israel in Samaria. Behold, [he is] in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to possess it.


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And you shall speak to him, saying, So says the LORD, Have you killed and also taken possession? And you shall speak to him saying, So says the LORD, In the place where the dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours.


text:
And Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, Give me your vineyard so that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it [is] near my house. And I will give you a better vineyard than it. Or, if [it seems] good to you, I will give you the worth of it in silver.


text:
And Ahab said to Elijah, Have you found me, O my enemy? And he answered, I have found [you] because you have sold yourself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.


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Behold, I will bring evil on you and will take away those after you, and will cut off from Ahab him who urinates against the wall, both bond and free in Israel.


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And I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation with which you have provoked [Me] to anger, and made Israel to sin.


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He who dies of Ahab in the city, the dogs shall eat. And he who dies in the field, the birds of the air shall eat.


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But there was none like Ahab, who sold himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.


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And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites did, whom the LORD cast out before the sons of Israel.


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And it happened when Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth and walked softly.


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Do you see how Ahab humbles himself before Me? Because he humbles himself before Me, I will not bring the evil in his days. [But] in his son's days I will bring the evil on his house.


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And Naboth said to Ahab, Far be it from me, by Jehovah, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you.


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And Ahab came to his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him. For he had said, I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers. And he lay on his bed and turned away his face, and would not eat food.


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And his wife Jezebel came to him and said to him, Why is your spirit so sad that you are not eating food?


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And he said to her, Because I spoke to Naboth of Jezreel and said to him, Give me your vineyard for silver. Or else, if it pleases you, I will give you [another] vineyard for it. And he answered, I will not give you my vineyard.


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And his wife Jezebel said to him, Do you now rule over Israel? Rise up, eat food, and let your heart be good. I will give you the vineyard of Naboth of Jezreel.


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And she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed [them] with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and to the nobles in his city, dwelling with Naboth.


text:
And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah each sat on his throne, having put on their robes, in a floor in the entrance of the gate of Samaria. And all the prophets prophesied before them.


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And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made horns of iron for himself. And he said, So says Jehovah, With these you shall push the Syrians until you have crushed them.


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And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth in Gilead and prosper, for the LORD shall deliver [it] into the king's hands.


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And the messenger that had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets [are] good to the king with one mouth. Please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak good.


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So he came to the king. And the king said to him, Micaiah, Shall we go against Ramoth in Gilead to battle, or shall we hold off? And he answered him, Go and prosper. For the LORD shall deliver [it] into the hand of the king.


text:
And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure you that you tell me nothing but [what is] true, in the name of Jehovah?


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And he said, I saw all Israel scattered on the hills, like sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, These have no master. Let each man return to his house in peace.


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And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell you that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?


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And he said, Hear therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right hand and on His left.


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And it happened in the third year, Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to see the king of Israel.


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And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab that he may go up and fall at Ramoth in Gilead? And one said this way, and another said that way.


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And the LORD said to him, With what? And he said, I will go forth and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And He said, You shall entice [him] and succeed also. Go forth and do so.


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And now, behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets, and the LORD has spoken evil concerning you.


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But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go from me to speak to you?


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And Micaiah said, Behold, you shall see in that day when you shall go into an inner room to hide yourself.


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And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son,


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and say, so says the king, Put this one in the prison and feed him with bread of affliction and the water of affliction, until I come in peace.


text:
And Micaiah said, If you return at all in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me. And he said, Listen, O people, all of them!


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And the king of Israel said to his servants, Do you not know that Ramoth in Gilead [is] ours, and we are quiet and do not take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?


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And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, I [will] disguise myself and enter into the battle. But you put on your robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself and went into the battle.


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But the king of Syria commanded his thirty-two commanders of the chariots, saying, Do not fight with small nor great, but with the king of Israel.


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And it happened when the commanders of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, Surely it [is] the king of Israel. And they turned aside to fight against him. And Jehoshaphat cried out.


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And it happened when the commanders of the chariots saw that it [was] not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.


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And a man drew a bow in his simplicity and struck the king of Israel between the joints and the breastplate. And he said to the driver of his chariot, Turn your hand and carry me out of the army, for I am wounded.


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And the battle increased that day. And the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at evening. And the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot.


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And there went a cry throughout the army when the sun went, saying, Each to his city, and each to his land.


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And [one] washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood, and they washed his armor, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke.


text:
And the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he built, and all the cities that he built, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Israel?


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And he said to Jehoshaphat, Will you go with me to battle to Ramoth in Gilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I [am] as you; my people as your people, my horses as your horses.


text:
And Jehoshaphat, the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.


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Jehoshaphat [was] thirty-five years old when he began to reign. And he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name [was] Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.


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And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father. He did not turn aside from it, doing right in the eyes of the LORD. But the high places were not taken away, for the people offered and burned incense yet in the high places.


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And the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might which he showed, and how he warred, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Judah?


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And the rest of the sodomites which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land.


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Jehoshaphat [had] ten ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold. But they did not go, for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber.


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And Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with your servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not.


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And Jehoshaphat lay with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father. And his son Jehoram reigned in his place.


text:
Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah. And he reigned two years over Israel.


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And [he] did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.


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For he served Baal and worshiped him, and provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger, according to all that his father had done.


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And the king of Israel gathered the prophets, about four hundred men, and said to them, Shall I go against Ramoth in Gilead to battle, or shall I hold back? And they said, Go up! For the LORD shall deliver [it] into the hand of the king.


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And Jehoshaphat said, [Is there] not here a prophet of Jehovah besides, that we might inquire of Him?


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And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, [There is] still one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of Jehovah. But I hate him, for he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.


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And the king of Israel called an officer and said, Hurry and bring Micaiah the son of Imlah to hurry.


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And Solomon made an alliance by marriage with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter and brought her into the city of David until he finished building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall around Jerusalem.


text:
And God said to him, Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life, and have not asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to judge justly,


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behold, I have done according to your words. Lo, I have given you a wise and an understanding heart, so that there was none like you before you, and after you none shall arise like you.


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And I also have given you that which you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there shall not be any among the kings like you all your days.


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And if you will walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.


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And Solomon awoke, and, behold, [it was] a dream. And he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.


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And the one woman said, O my lord, this woman and I live in one house. And I was bore a child with her in the house.


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And it happened the third day after I gave birth, this woman bore a child also. And we [were] together; there was no stranger with us in the house, except the two of us in the house.


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Only the people sacrificed in high places because there was no house built to the name of the LORD until those days.


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And she arose at midnight and took my son from beside me, while your servant was sleeping, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.


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When I arose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, [it was] dead. And when I had looked at it in the morning, behold, it was not my son whom I bore.


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And the other woman said, No, but the living [is] my son, and the dead [is] your son. And this one said, No, but the dead is your son, and the living is my son. So they spoke before the king.


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And the king said, The one says, This [is] my son who lives, and your son [is] the dead. And the other says, No, but your son [is] the dead, and my son [is] the living.


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And the woman whose son [was] the living child said to the king, for her womb yearned over her son. And she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no way kill it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor yours; divide [it]!


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And the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no way kill it. She [is] the mother of it.


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And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged. And they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God [was] in him to do judgment.


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And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father. Only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.


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And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there. For that [was] the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.


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In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night. And God said, Ask what I shall give you!


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And Solomon said, You have shown to Your servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before You in truth and in righteousness and in uprightness of heart with You. And You have kept this great kindness for him, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as [it is] today.


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And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of David my father. And I [am] a little child; I do not know to go out or come in!


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And Your servant [is] in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a numerous people who cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.


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And give to Your servant an understanding heart, to judge Your people, to discern between good and bad. For who is able to judge this, Your great people?


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Baana the son of Ahilud to whom [was] Taanach and Megiddo, and all Beth-shean, which is by Zartanah below Jezreel, from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah to [the place that is] beyond Jokneam;


text:
the son of Geber in Ramoth-gilead; to him [were] the towns of Jair, Manasseh's son, which [are] in Gilead; to him [was] the region of Argob, which [is] in Bashan, sixty great cities with walls and bronze bars;


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Geber the son of Uri [was] in the land of Gilead, the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan; and [he was the] only officer in the land;


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Judah and Israel [were] many, as the sand by the sea in multitude; eating and drinking and making merry.


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And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt. They brought presents and served Solomon all the days of his life.


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ten fat oxen and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and a hundred sheep, besides harts and roebucks, and fallow deer, and fattened fowl.


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For he had the rule over all on this side of the River, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the River. And he had peace on all sides all around him.


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And Judah and Israel lived safely, [every] man under his vine and under his fig-tree, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, all the days of Solomon.


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And those officers provided food [for] King Solomon and for all who came to king Solomon's table, every man in his month. They did not lack anything.


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They also brought barley and straw for the horses and mules, to the place where [the officers were], every man according to his charge.


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And God gave Solomon exceeding great wisdom and understanding, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that [is] on the seashore.


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Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha [were the] scribes. Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud the recorder,


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And Solomon's wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the sons of the east, and all the wisdom of Egypt.


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For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame was in all nations all around.


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And he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree in Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall. He spoke also of beasts and of birds, and of creeping things, and of fish.


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And there came from all the people, to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.


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And Azariah the son of Nathan [was] over the officers, and Zabud the son of Nathan [was] the minister and the king's friend.


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And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household. Each man had his month in a year to provide food.


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And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, for he had heard that they had anointed him king instead of his father. For Hiram was always a lover of David.


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And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat [for] food for his household, and twenty measures of pure oil. So Solomon gave to Hiram year by year.


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And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as He promised him. And there was peace between Hiram and Solomon. And the two of them made a treaty together.


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And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month, by courses. They were a month in Lebanon, [and] two months at home. And Adoniram was over the labor force.


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And Solomon had seventy thousand who bore burdens, and eighty thousand woodcutters in the mountains,


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besides the chief of Solomon's overseers who [were] over the work, thirty-three hundred, who ruled over the people who labored in the work.


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And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, cut stones, to lay the foundation of the house.


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And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the Giblites cut out and prepared the timber and the stones to build the house.


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You know how David my father could not build a house to the name of the LORD his God because of the wars which were around him on every side, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet.


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And behold, I purpose to build a house to the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spoke to David my father, saying, Your son whom I will set on your throne in your place; he shall build a house to My name.


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And now command that they cut me cedar trees out of Lebanon, and my servants shall be with your servants. And I will give you hire for your servants according to all that you shall say. For you know that not a man among us can cut timber like the Sidonians.


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And it happened when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, Blessed [be] the LORD this day, who has given David a wise son over this great people.


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And Hiram sent to Solomon saying, I have heard that for which you sent to me. I will do all your desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir.


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My servants shall bring [them] down from Lebanon to the sea. And I will bring them by sea in floats to the place that you shall name. And I will cause them to be left there, and you shall receive them]. And you shall fulfill my desire in giving food for my household.


text:
And it happened in the four hundred and eightieth year after the sons of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which [is the second month, he began to build the house of the LORD.


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And he built the side-stories on all the house, five cubits high. And they rested on the house [with] timbers of cedar.


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[As to] this house which you are building, if you will walk in My statutes and do My judgments and keep all My commandments, to walk in them, then I will perform My work with you which I spoke to David your father.


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And he built the walls of the house inside with boards of cedar, from the floor of the house and the walls of the ceiling. He covered [them] on the inside with wood, and covered the floor of the house with planks of fir.


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And he built twenty cubits on the sides of the house, both the floor and the walls with boards of cedar. He even built [them] for it inside, for the sanctuary, for the Holy of Holies.


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And the cedar of the house inside [was] carved with gourds and open flowers. All [was] cedar; there was no stone seen.


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And he prepared the Holy of Holies in the house inside, to set there the ark of the covenant of the LORD.


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And the house which King Solomon built for the LORD, its length [was] sixty [cubits] and its breadth twenty cubits, and its height thirty cubits.


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And the Holy of Holies in the front part [was] twenty cubits in length and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in height. And he overlaid it with pure gold, and covered the altar of cedar.


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And Solomon overlaid the house inside with pure gold. And he drew chains of gold across before the Holy of Holies. And [he] overlaid it with gold.


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And he overlaid the whole house with gold, until he had finished all the house. Also all of the altar that [belonged] to the Holy of Holies, he overlaid with gold:


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And one wing of the cherub [was] five cubits, and the other wing of the cherub was five cubits; ten cubits from the ends of its wings even to the ends of its wings.


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And he set the cherubs inside the inner house. And they stretched forth the wings of the cherubs so that the wing of the one touched the [one] wall and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall. And their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.


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And he carved all the walls of the house all around with carved figures of cherubs and palm trees and open flowers, inside and out.


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And the porch before the temple of the house [was] twenty cubits in length, according to the breadth of the house. Ten cubits [was] its breadth on the front of the house.


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As to the entrance of the holy place he made doors [of] olive wood. The lintel [and] side posts were a fifth part,


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and the two doors [were of] olive wood. And he carved on them carvings of cherubs and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold and spread gold on the cherubs and on the palm trees.


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And the two doors [were of] fir tree. The two leaves of the one door [were] folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.


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And he carved [on them] cherubs and palm trees and open bowers. And he covered them with gold fitted on the carved work.


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And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which [is] the eighth month, the house was finished as to all its parts, and as to all its plans. So he was seven years in building it.


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And against the wall of the house he built floors all around, [against] the walls of the house all around, of the temple and of the sanctuary. And he made rooms all around.


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The lowest story [was] five cubits broad, and the middle [was] six cubits broad, and the third [was] seven cubits broad. For around the outside of the house he made narrowed ledges for the house all around, so as not to lay hold of the walls of the house.


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And when it was being built, the house was built of stone made ready beforehand. And there was not heard in the house a hammer or an axe, [or] any iron tool, while it was being built.


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The door for the middle story [was] in the right side of the house. And they went up with winding stairs into the middle story, and out of the middle into the third.


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And the foundation [was] of costly stones, huge stones, stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits.


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And the great court all around [was] with three rows of hewn stone, and a row of cedar beams, both for the inner court of the house of the LORD, and for the porch of the house.


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He [was] the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father [was] a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze. And he was filled with wisdom and understanding, and cunning to work all works in bronze. And he came to King Solomon and did all his work.


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For he cast two pillars of bronze, eighteen cubits [was] the height of the one pillar. And a line of twelve cubits went around the second pillar.


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And he made two capitals [of] melted bronze to set on the tops of the pillars. The height of the one capital [was] five cubits, and the height of the other capital five cubits.


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He made gratings, grating work [with] twisted threads of chain-work, for the capitals on the top of the pillars; seven for the one capital, and seven for the other capital.


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And he made the pillars. And two rows were all around on the one grating, to cover the capitals on the top with the pomegranates. And so he did for the other capital.


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And he built the house of the forest of Lebanon. Its length [was] a hundred cubits, and its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits, on four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams on the pillars.


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And the capitals on the two pillars [had pomegranates] on the upper part, over against the belly which [was] by the grating; and the pomegranates [were] two hundred in rows all around on the other capital.


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And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple. And he set up the right pillar and called its name, Jachin. And he set up the left pillar, and called its name, Boaz.


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And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from brim to brim, all around it. And its height [was] five cubits, and a line of thirty cubits went around it.


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And under its brim [were] gourds, going around it, ten by the cubit, going all around the sea. The gourds [were] cast in two rows when it was cast.


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It stood on twelve oxen, three facing the north, and three facing the west, and three facing the south, and three facing the east. The sea [was set] on top of them, and all their hinder parts [were] inward.


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And it [was] a handbreadth thick, and its brim was fashioned like the brim of a cup, [with] a bud of a lily. It contained two thousand baths.


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And he made ten bases of bronze, four cubits the length of the one base, and four cubits its breadth, and three cubits its height.


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And the work of the bases [was] this [way]: they had borders, and the borders were between the stays.


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And on the borders that [were] between the ledges [were] lions, oxen, and cherubs. And a pedestal was on the stays above. And beneath the lions and oxen [were] wreaths of hanging-work.


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And [it was] covered with cedar above on the beams [that lay] on forty-five pillars, fifteen in a row.


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And the one base had four bronze wheels and axles of bronze. And its four feet [were] supports to them; under the basin were casted supports [with] wreaths at each side.


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And its mouth within and above the capital [was] a cubit. And its mouth [was] round [like] the work of a pedestal, a cubit and half of the cubit. And also on its mouth were carvings; and their borders were square, not round.


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And under the borders [were] four wheels. And the axletrees of the wheels [were] in the base. And the height of a wheel [was] a cubit and a half.


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And the work of the wheels [was] like the work of a chariot wheel, their axletrees, and their rims, and their hub, and their spokes, [were] all cast.


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And [there were] four supports to the four corners of one base, and the supports were of the very base itself.


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And in the top of the base [was] a round compass of a half a cubit high. And on the top of the base its sides and its borders [were] from it.


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And he engraved cherubs, lions, and palm trees on the plates of its sides, and on its borders, as the place of each, with wreaths all around.


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And he made ten basins of bronze. One basin contained forty baths. The one basin was four cubits, one basin on the one base, to the ten bases.


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And he put five bases on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house. And he set the sea on the right side of the house, eastward, across from the south.


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And Hiram made the basins and the shovels and the bowls. So Hiram finished doing all the work that he did for] King Solomon [for] the house of the LORD.


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Two pillars, and the bowls of the capitals on the top of the two pillars, and the two gratings to cover the two bowls of the capitals on the top of the pillars,


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and the four hundred pomegranates for the two gratings; two rows of pomegranates for each grating, to cover the two bowls of the capitals which [were] on the face of the pillars,


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and the pots, and the shovels, and the basins. All these vessels which Hiram made for King Solomon for the house of the LORD [were of] burnished bronze.


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The king cast them in the plain of Jordan, in the thick soil of the ground between Succoth and Zarethan.


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And Solomon left all the vessels [unweighed] because [they were] exceeding many; the weight of the bronze was not searched out.


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And Solomon made all the vessels in the house of the LORD: the altar of gold, and the table of gold on which [was] the Bread of the Presence;


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and the lampstands of pure gold, five on the right and five on the left, in front of the Holy of Holies, with the flowers and the lamps and the tongs [of] gold,


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And all the doors and posts [were] square, with the windows. And the front of a window [was] against a window [in] three rows.


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and the bowls, and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the fire-pans [of] pure gold, and the hinges of gold for the doors of the inner house, the Holy of Holies, and for the doors of the house, the temple.


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So all the work that King Solomon made for the house of the LORD was finished. And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated: the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, he had put into the treasuries of the house of the LORD.


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And he made a porch of pillars. Its length [was] fifty cubits, and its breadth thirty cubits. And the porch [was] before them, and the pillars and the roof [were] over them.


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And he made a porch of the throne where he judged, the porch of judgment. And [it was] covered with cedar from floor to floor.


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As to his house where he lived, the other court [was] within the porch, as this work was. Solomon also made a house for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he had taken, like this porch.


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All these [were] of costly stones, according to the measures of hewn stones, sawed with saws, inside and out, even from the foundation to the coping, and so on the outside toward the great court.


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And Solomon gathered the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the sons of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, so that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which [is] Zion.


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And it happened when the priests had come out of the Holy of Holies, the cloud filled the house of the LORD.


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And the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.


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And the king turned his face around and blessed all the congregation of Israel. And all the congregation of Israel stood.


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And he said, Blessed [be] the LORD God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to David my father, and has fulfilled [it] by His hand, saying,


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From the day that I brought forth My people Israel out of Egypt, I did not choose any city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house, so that My name might be in it. But I chose David to be over My people Israel.


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And the LORD said to my father David, Because it was in your heart to build a house to My name, you did well that it was in your heart.


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Only, you shall not build the house, but your son who shall come out of your loins, he shall build the house to My name.


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And all the men of Israel were gathered to king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which [is] the seventh month.


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And the LORD has performed His word which He spoke, and I have risen up instead of my father David. And I sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised. And I have built a house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.


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And [I have] set there a place for the ark, in which [is] the covenant of the LORD which He made with our fathers when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.


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And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward the heavens.


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And he said, LORD God of Israel, [there is] no God like You, in Heaven above or on earth beneath, who keeps covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their heart,


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who have kept with Your servant David my father what You promised him. You also spoke with Your mouth, and have fulfilled with Your hand, as [it is] today.


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And now, LORD God of Israel, keep with Your servant David, my father, what You promised him, saying, There shall not be cut off from you a man in My sight to sit on the throne of Israel-- if your sons take heed to their way so that they walk before Me as you have walked before Me.


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And now, O God of Israel, I pray You, let Your word be proved to be true, the word which You spoke to Your servant David my father.


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But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heavens and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this house which I have built?


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Yet, O, LORD my God, You have turned toward the prayer of Your servant and to his request, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You today;


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for Your eyes to be open toward this house night and day, toward the place of which You have said, My name shall be there; to listen to the prayer which Your servant shall pray toward this place.


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And You shall listen to the cry of Your servant, and of Your people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place, and hear in Heaven Your dwelling-place, and when You hear, forgive!


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If any man sins against his neighbor, and if an oath is laid on him to cause him to swear, and if the oath comes before Your altar in this house,


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then hear in Heaven, and do, and judge Your servants, to declare the wicked [to be] wicked, to bring his way on his head, and to declare the righteous to be righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.


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When Your people Israel are crushed before the enemy because they have sinned against You, and shall turn again to You and confess Your name, and pray, and cry to You in this house,


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then hear in Heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them again into the land which You gave to their fathers.


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When the heavens are restrained, and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, if they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin when You afflict them,


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then hear in Heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants, and of Your people Israel, for You shall teach them the good way in which they should walk, and give rain on Your land which You have given to Your people for an inheritance.


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If there is famine in the land, if there is plague, blasting, mildew, locusts; if there are stripping locusts; if their enemy encircles them in the land of their cities, whatever plague, whatever sickness,


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any prayer, any supplication from any man of all Your people Israel, who shall each know the plague of his own heart, and shall spread forth his hands toward this house,


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then hear in Heaven Your dwelling-place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to all his ways, whose heart You know. For You, You only, know the hearts of all the sons of Adam.


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And they brought up the ark of the LORD, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels which [were] in the tabernacle; even those the priests and the Levites brought up.


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Do this so that they may fear You all the days that they live in the land which You have given to our fathers.


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And concerning a stranger who [is] not of Your people Israel, but who comes out of a far country for Your name's sake;


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for they shall hear of Your great name and of Your strong hand and of Your stretched-out arm; and if he shall come and pray toward this house,


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hear in Heaven Your dwelling-place, and do according to all that the stranger calls to You for, so that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name, to fear You, as Your people Israel [do], and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by Your name.


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If Your people go out to battle against their enemy, wherever You shall send them, and shall pray to the LORD toward the city which You have chosen, and the house that I have built for Your name,


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If they sin against You (for [there is] no man who does not sin), and if You are angry with them, and have delivered them up before the enemy, and they have been led away captive to the land of the enemy, far or near,


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yet if they shall think within themselves in the land where they are carried captives, and repent, and pray to You in the land of their captors saying, We have sinned and have done perversely, we have done wickedly,


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and [so] return to You with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies who led them away captive, and if they pray to You toward their land which You gave to their fathers, to the city which You have chosen, and the house which I have built for Your name,


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And King Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel who had assembled to him, [were] with him before the ark sacrificing sheep and oxen which could not be counted nor numbered for multitude.


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and forgive Your people who have sinned against You, even all their sins which they have done against You, and give them pity before their captors, so that they may have pity on them.


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For they [are] Your people, and Your inheritance, which You brought out of Egypt, from the middle of the furnace of iron,


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for Your eyes shall be open to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your people Israel, to listen to them in all that they call for to You.


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For You have separated them from among all the people of the earth [to be] Your inheritance, as You spoke by the hand of Moses Your servant, when You brought our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord GOD.


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And it happened as Solomon finished praying all this prayer and petition to the LORD, he rose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.


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Blessed [be] the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise which He promised by the hand of Moses His servant.


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to incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments which He commanded our fathers.


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And let these my words, with which I have prayed before the LORD, be near the LORD our God day and night, so that He may maintain the cause of His servant, and the cause of His people Israel of each day in its day,


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And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD into its place, into the holy place of the house, into the Holy of Holies, under the wings of the cherubs.


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And let your heart be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes, and to keep His commandments, as at this day.


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And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to the LORD, twenty-two thousand oxen, and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the sons of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD.


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On that day the king sanctified the middle of the court before the house of the LORD. For there he had offered the burnt offering, and the food offering, and the fat of the peace offerings; because the bronze altar before Jehovah [was too small to contain the burnt offering, and the food offering, and the fat of the peace offerings.


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And at that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great congregation-- from the entering in of Hamath to the river of Egypt-- before the LORD our God, seven days and seven days, fourteen days.


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On the eighth day he sent the people away. And they blessed the king and went to their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the good that the LORD had done for David His servant, and for Israel His people.


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For the cherubs spread forth [their] two wings over the place of the ark. And the cherubs covered the ark and the staves of it above.


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And they drew out the staves, so that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy [place], in front of the Holy of Holies. And they were not seen outside. And there they are until today.


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There [was] nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made [a covenant] with the sons of Israel when they came out of the land of Egypt.


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And it happened as Solomon finished the building of the house of the LORD, and the king's house, and all Solomon's desire which he was pleased to do,


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And it happened at the end of twenty years, Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the LORD and the king's house.


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Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and fir trees, and with gold, according to all his desires. Then King Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.


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And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him. And they did not please him.


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And he said, What cities [are] these which you have given me, my brother? And he called them the land of Cabul to this day.


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And this [is] the reason of the labor force which King Solomon raised to build the house of the LORD and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.


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For Pharaoh, king of Egypt, had gone up and had taken Gezer and had burned it with fire, and had slain the Canaanites who lived in the city. And he had given it [for] a present to his daughter, Solomon's wife.


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And he built all the store-cities which Solomon had, and cities for his chariots, and cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.


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And all the people [who were] left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, who [were] not of the sons of Israel,


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their sons who were left after them in the land, whom the sons of Israel also were not able to destroy completely, on those Solomon laid a tribute of bond-service to this day.


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But Solomon did not make any slave out of the sons of Israel. But they [were] men of war, and his servants, and his rulers, and his commanders, and rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen.


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These [were] the chief of the officers who [were] over Solomon's work, five hundred and fifty who ruled over the people who labored in the work.


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But Pharaoh's daughter came up from the city of David to her house which had been built for her. And he built Millo.


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And three times in a year Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar which he had built to the LORD, and he burned incense on the altar which [was] before the LORD. And he finished the house.


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And King Solomon made a navy of ships in Ezion-geber, which [is] beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom.


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And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen who had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.


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And they came to Ophir, and brought gold from there, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought [it] to king Solomon.


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And the LORD said to him, I have heard your prayer and your cry which you have made before Me. I have made this house which you have built holy, to put My name there forever. And My eyes and My heart shall be there perpetually.


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And if you will walk before Me as David your father walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you; [and] if you will keep My statutes and My judgments,


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then I will establish the throne of your kingdom on Israel forever, as I promised to David your father, saying, There shall not be cut off to you a man on the throne of Israel.


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If you shall at all turn from following Me, you or your sons, and will not keep My commandments [and] My statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them,


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then I will cut off Israel from the face of the land which I have given them. And this house which I have made holy for My name I will cast out of My sight. And Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people.


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As to this house [which] is exalted, everyone who passes by it shall be amazed and shall hiss. And they shall say, Why has the LORD done this to this land and to this house?


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And they shall answer, Because they left the LORD their God who brought out their fathers from the land of Egypt, and have taken hold on other gods and have worshiped them and served them. On account of this the LORD has brought on them all this evil.


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And Elijah answered and said to the commander of fifty, If I [am] a man of God, then let fire come down from the heavens and burn up you and your fifty. And there came down fire from the heavens and burned up him and his fifty.


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And he turned and he sent to him another commander of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said to him, Man of God! So says the king, Come down quickly.


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And Elijah answered and said to him, If I [am] a man of God, let fire come down from the heavens and burn up you and your fifty. And the fire of God came down from the heavens and burned up him and his fifty.


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And he turned and sent again a third commander of fifty and his fifty. And the third commander of fifty came up and fell on his knees before Elijah, and begged him, and said to him, Man of God, Please let my life and the life of these fifty, your servants, be precious in your sight.


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Behold, fire has come down from the heavens and burned up the two commanders of the former fifties with their fifties. And now let my life be precious in your sight.


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And the Angel of the LORD said to Elijah, Go down with him. Do not be afraid of him. And he arose and went down with him to the king.


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And [he] said to him, So says the LORD, Because you have sent messengers to ask of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron, [Is it] not because no God [is] in Israel to seek His word? Therefore you shall not come down off that bed on which you have gone up, but shall surely die.


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And he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his place, in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, because he had no son.


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And the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, [are] they not written in the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Israel?


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And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper room in Samaria, and was sick. And [he] sent messengers and said to them, Go, ask of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease.


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But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise! Go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and say to them, [Is it] not because no God is in Israel [that] you go to ask of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron?


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And therefore so says the LORD, You shall not come from that bed on which you have gone up, but shall surely die. And Elijah left.


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And they said to him, A man came up to meet us and said to us, Go, turn again to the king who sent you, and say to him, So says the LORD, [Is it] not because no God [is] in Israel [that you go to ask of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? Therefore, you shall not come down from that bed on which you have gone up, but shall surely die.


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And they answered him, [He was] a hairy man and was bound with a girdle of leather around his loins. And he said, He [is] Elijah the Tishbite.


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And he sent to him a commander of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him. And, behold, he sat on the top of a hill. And he spoke to him, Man of God! The king has said, Come down.


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And Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters and sent to Samaria to the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to the supporters of Ahab, saying,


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Now know that there shall fall to the earth nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spoke concerning the house of Ahab. For the LORD has done that which He spoke by His servant Elijah.


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And Jehu killed all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his familiar friends, and his priests, until he left him none remaining.


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And he arose and departed, and came to Samaria. He [was] at the shepherds' shearing-house in the way,


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And Jehu met with the brothers of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, Who [are] you? And they answered, The brothers of Ahaziah. And we are going down to greet the king's sons and the queen's sons.


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And he said, Take them alive! And they took them alive and killed them at the pit of the shearing-house, forty-two men. And he left not a man of them.


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And he left there and found Jehonadab the son of Rechab [coming] to meet him. And [he] greeted him and said to him, [Is] your heart right, as my heart [is] with your heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it is, give your hand. And he gave his hand. And he took him up to him into the chariot.


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And he came to Samaria, and killed all that remained to Ahab in Samaria, until he had destroyed him, according to the saying of Jehovah which he spoke to Elijah.


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And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said to them, Ahab served Baal a little, [but] Jehu shall serve him much.


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And now call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants and all his priests. Let no one be lacking. For I have a great sacrifice to Baal. Whoever shall be lacking, he shall not live. But Jehu was acting with cunning, to the end that he might destroy the worshipers of Baal.


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And now as soon as this letter comes to you, since your master's sons [are] with you, and chariots and horses are] with you, also a fortified city and armor,


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And Jehu sent through all Israel. And all the worshipers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left who did not come. And they came into the house of Baal. And the house of Baal was full from one end to another.


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And he said to him who [was] over the robe-room, Bring out robes for all the worshipers of Baal. And he brought [them] out for them.


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And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal. And he said to the servants of Baal, Search and look, that there [may] not [be] here with you any of the servants of the LORD, but only the servants of Baal.


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And they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. And Jehu had appointed eighty men outside, and said, [If] any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escapes, his life shall be for the life of him.


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And it happened when he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guard and to the commanders, Go in. Kill them! Do not let any come out! And they struck them with the edge of the sword. And the guard and the commanders threw [them] out. And they went to the city, to the house of Baal.


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And [they] broke down the image of Baal, and broke down the house of Baal and made it a sewer-house until this day.


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Only, Jehu did not depart [from] the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, going after them, the golden calves in Bethel and in Dan.


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even look for the best and fittest of your master's sons, and set [him] on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house.


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And the LORD said to him, Jehu, because you have done well in doing the right in My eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab according to all that [was] in My heart, your sons of the fourth generation] shall sit on the throne of Israel.


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But Jehu did not care to walk in the law of Jehovah God of Israel with all his heart, for he did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, who made Israel to sin.


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In those days the LORD began to cut Israel short. And Hazael struck them in all the border of Israel,


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from Jordan toward the rising of the sun, all the land of Gilead, the men of Gad and of Reuben and of Manasseh, from Aroer, by the river Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan.


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And the rest of the acts of Jehu and all that he did, and all his might, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matter of the Days of the Kings of Israel?


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And Jehu slept with his fathers. And they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his place.


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And they were exceedingly afraid and said, Behold, two kings did not stand before him; how then shall we stand?


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And he who [was] over the house, and he over the city, the elders also, and the guardians, sent to Jehu saying, We [are] your servants and will do all that you shall say to us; we will not make any king. Do what is good in your eyes.


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And he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, If you [are] mine, and will listen to my voice, take the heads of the men, your master's sons, and come to me to Jezreel by this time tomorrow. And the king's sons, seventy persons, [were] with the great men of the city who brought them up.


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And it happened when the letter came to them, they took the king's sons and killed them, seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets and sent to him in Jezreel.


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And a messenger came and told him, saying, They have brought the heads of the king's sons. And he said, Lay them in two heaps at the entering in of the gate until the morning.


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And it happened in the morning, he went out and stood, and said to all the people, You [are] righteous. Behold, I plotted against my master and killed him. But who killed all these?


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And Athaliah was the mother of Ahaziah. And when she saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed of the kingdom.


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And the priest gave king David's spears and shields, which [were] in the temple of the LORD, to the rulers of the hundreds.


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And the guard stood, each man with his weapons in his hand, around the king, from the right corner of the temple to the left corner of the temple, by the altar and the temple.


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And he brought forth the king's son, and put the crown and the testimony on him. And they made him king and anointed him, and clapped their hands and said, Let the king live!


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And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard [and] of the people, she came [to] the people into the temple of the LORD.


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And she looked, and behold, the king stood by a pillar as usually [was] done, and the rulers and the trumpeters [were] by the king. And all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets. And Athaliah tore her clothes, and cried, Treason! Treason!


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And Jehoiada the priest commanded the rulers of the hundreds, those set over the army, and said to them, Take her out between the ranks, and let the one who follows her kill [her] with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the LORD.


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And they laid hands on her, and she went by the way which the horses came into the king's house. And she was killed there.


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And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they should be the people of Jehovah; also between the king and the people.


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And all the people of the land went into the house of Baal and broke it down. They broke his altars and his images completely in pieces. And they killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of the LORD.


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And he took the rulers over hundreds, and the commanders, and the guard, and all the people of the land. And they brought the king down from the house of the LORD and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king's house. And he sat on the throne of the kings.


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But Jehosheba the daughter of king Jehoram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him from among the king's sons [which were] killed. And they hid him from Athaliah in the bedroom, him and his nurse, so that he was not killed.


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And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. And they killed Athaliah with the sword [beside] the king's house.


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And in the seventh year Jehoiada sent and brought the rulers over hundreds, with the commanders and the guards, and brought them to him into the house of the LORD. And he made a covenant with them and took an oath from them in the house of the LORD, and revealed to them the king's son.


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And he commanded them, saying, This [is] the thing that you shall do. A third part of you who enter in on the sabbath [shall be] keepers of the watch of the king's house.


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And a third part [shall be] at the gate of Sur. And a third part at the gate behind the guard. And you shall keep the watch of the house, alternately.


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And two parts of you, all who go forth [on] the sabbath, even they shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD around the king.


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And you shall surround the king, every man with his weapons in his hand. And he who comes inside the ranks, let him be killed. And they shall be with the king as he goes out and as he comes in.


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And the rulers of the hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each man took his men, going in on the sabbath, with those going out on the sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.


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And in the seventh year of Jehu, Joash began to reign. And he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. And his mother's name [was] Zibiah of Beer-sheba.


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And it happened when they saw that much silver [was] in the chest, the king's scribe and the high priest came up. And they bound and counted the silver that was found [in] the house of the LORD.


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And they gave the silver which was counted into the hands of those who did the work, those overseeing the house of the LORD. And they laid it out to the carpenters and builders who worked on the house of the LORD,


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and to masons and cutters of stone, and to buy timber and cut stone to repair the breaks of the house of the LORD, and for all that went forth for the house, to repair [it].


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Only, there were no bowls of silver, snuffers, basins, trumpets, or any vessels of gold or vessels of silver, made for the house of the LORD from the silver which [was] brought into the house of the LORD.


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And they did not make an accounting with the men into whose hands they gave the silver to be given to the workmen. For they dealt faithfully.


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Then Hazael king of Syria went up and fought against Gath, and took it. And Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem.


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And Joash king of Judah took all the holy things which Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own holy things, and all the gold found in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and in the king's house, and sent [it] to Hazael king of Syria. And he went away from Jerusalem.


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And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Judah?


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And Joash did the right in the sight of the LORD all his days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him.


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And his servants arose and made a plot. And they killed Joash in the house of Millo, which goes down [to] Silla.


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For Jozachar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, struck him, and he died. And they buried him with his fathers in the city of David. And Amaziah his son reigned in his place.


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But the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places.


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And Joash said to the priests, All the silver from things dedicated to God, which is brought into the house of the LORD, the silver from each man the silver of his valuation, all the silver that comes into any man's heart to bring to the house of the LORD,


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let the priests take [it] to themselves, each man from those he knows. And let them repair the breaks in the house, in all [places] where any break shall be found.


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And it happened in the twenty-third year of King Joash, the priests had not repaired the breaks of the house.


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Then king Joash called for Jehoiada the priest, and the priests, and said to them, Why are you not repairing the breaks of the house? And now take no silver from those you know, but deliver it for the breaks of the house.


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But Jehoiada the priest took a chest and bored a hole in its lid. And he set it beside the altar, on the right side as one comes into the house of the LORD. And the priests who kept the door put in it all the silver brought into the house of the LORD.


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In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, seventeen years.


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In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz began to reign over Israel in Samaria, sixteen years.


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And he did the evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, [but] he walked in them.


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And the rest of the acts of Jehoash, and all that he did, and his might which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Israel?


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And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and Jeroboam sat on his throne. And Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.


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And Elisha had fallen sick with his illness in which he died. And Jehoash the king of Israel came down to him and wept over his face. And he said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horsemen of it!


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And he said to the king of Israel, Put your hand on the bow. And he placed his hand. And Elisha put his hands on the king's hands.


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And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened. And Elisha said, Shoot! And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the LORD's deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria. For you shall strike the Syrians in Aphek until it is finished.


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And he said, Take the arrows. And he took [them]. And he said to the king of Israel, Strike on the ground. And he struck three times and stopped.


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And the man of God was angry with him, and said, You should have stricken five or six times, then you would have stricken Syria until it was finished. But now you shall strike Syria three times.


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And he did the evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. And he did not depart from them.


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And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at first of the year.


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And it happened as they were burying a man, behold, they spied a band. And they threw the man into the grave of Elisha. And the man went down and touched the bones of Elisha, and revived and stood up on his feet.


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And the LORD was gracious to them, and had pity on them, and had respect to them, because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And He would not destroy them, nor cast them from His presence as yet.


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And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz returned and took out of the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael the cities which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Jehoash struck him three times and recovered the cities of Israel.


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And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and He delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael, all [their] days.


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And Jehoahaz sought the LORD, and the LORD listened to him. For He saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them.


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And the LORD gave Israel a deliverer, so that they went out from under the Syrians. And the sons of Israel lived in their tents, as before.


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But they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel to sin, [but] walked in them. And also the Asherah in Samaria stood.


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For He had not left a people remaining to Jehoahaz, but only fifty horsemen and ten chariots and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria had destroyed them and had made them like the dust at threshing-time.


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And the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did, and his might, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Israel?


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And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers. And they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoash his son reigned in his place.


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In the second year of Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah reigned.


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You have indeed stricken Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Rejoice and stay at home, for why should you meddle to [your] harm, so that you should fall, you and Judah with you?


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But Amaziah would not hear. And Jehoash king of Israel went up. And he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth-shemesh, of Judah.


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And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash the son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and he came to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate, four hundred cubits.


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And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels which were found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.


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And the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Israel?


text:
And Jehoash slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. And Jeroboam his son reigned in his place.


