# verses

text:
So now, do not let my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD. For the king of Israel has come out to seek <f>[20†]</f>a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”


text:
<pb/>Then Saul said, <f>[21†]</f>“I have sinned. Return, my son David. For I will harm you no more, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Indeed I have played the fool and erred exceedingly.”


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<pb/>And David answered and said, “Here is the king’s spear. Let one of the young men come over and get it.


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<f>[22†]</f>May the LORD <f>[23†]</f>repay every man <i>for</i> his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD delivered you into <i>my</i> hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed.


text:
And indeed, as your life was valued much this day in my eyes, so let my life be valued much in the eyes of the LORD, and let Him deliver me out of all tribulation.”


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<pb/>Then Saul said to David, “<i>May</i> you <i>be</i> blessed, my son David! You shall both do great things and also still <f>[24†]</f>prevail.” <pb/>So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.


text:
<pb/>And David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish someday by the hand of Saul. <i>There</i> <i>is</i> nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape to the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me, to seek me anymore in any part of Israel. So I shall escape out of his hand.”


text:
Then David arose <f>[1†]</f>and went over with the six hundred men who <i>were</i> with him <f>[2†]</f>to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath.


text:
So David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, each man with his household, <i>and</i> David <f>[3†]</f>with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s widow.


text:
<pb/>Then David said to Achish, “If I have now found favor in your eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?”


text:
So Achish gave him Ziklag that day. Therefore <f>[4†]</f>Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day.


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Now the time that David <f>[5†]</f>dwelt in the country of the Philistines was one full year and four months.


text:
<pb/>And David and his men went up and raided <f>[6†]</f>the Geshurites, <f>[7†]</f>the Girzites, and the <f>[8†]</f>Amalekites. For those <i>nations</i> were the inhabitants of the land from of old, <f>[9†]</f>as you go to Shur, even as far as the land of Egypt.


text:
Whenever David attacked the land, he left neither man nor woman alive, but took away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the apparel, and returned and came to Achish.


text:
Then Achish would say, “Where have you made a raid today?” And David would say, “Against the southern <i>area</i> of Judah, or against the southern <i>area</i> of <f>[10†]</f>the Jerahmeelites, or against the southern <i>area</i> of <f>[11†]</f>the Kenites.”


text:
David would save neither man nor woman alive, to bring <i>news</i> to Gath, saying, “Lest they should inform on us, saying, ‘Thus David did.’ ” And thus <i>was</i> his behavior all the time he dwelt in the country of the Philistines.


text:
So Achish believed David, saying, “He has made his people Israel utterly abhor him; therefore he will be my servant forever.”


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<pb/>Now <f>[1†]</f>it happened in those days that the Philistines gathered their armies together for war, to fight with Israel. And Achish said to David, “You assuredly know that you will go out with me to battle, you and your men.”


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<pb/>So David said to Achish, “Surely you know what your servant can do.” <pb/>And Achish said to David, “Therefore I will make you one of my chief guardians forever.”


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<pb/>Now <f>[2†]</f>Samuel had died, and all Israel had lamented for him and buried him in <f>[3†]</f>Ramah, in his own city. And Saul had put <f>[4†]</f>the mediums and the spiritists out of the land.


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<pb/>Then the Philistines gathered together, and came and encamped at <f>[5†]</f>Shunem. So Saul gathered all Israel together, and they encamped at <f>[6†]</f>Gilboa.


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When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was <f>[7†]</f>afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.


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And when Saul inquired of the LORD, <f>[8†]</f>the LORD did not answer him, either by <f>[9†]</f>dreams or <f>[10†]</f>by Urim or by the prophets.


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<pb/>Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, <f>[11†]</f>that I may go to her and inquire of her.” <pb/>And his servants said to him, “In fact, <i>there</i> <i>is</i> a woman who is a medium at En Dor.”


text:
<pb/>So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes, and he went, and two men with him; and they came to the woman by night. And <f>[12†]</f>he said, “Please conduct a séance for me, and bring up for me the one I shall name to you.”


text:
<pb/>Then the woman said to him, “Look, you know what Saul has done, how he has <f>[13†]</f>cut off the mediums and the spiritists from the land. Why then do you lay a snare for my life, to cause me to die?”


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<pb/>And Saul swore to her by the LORD, saying, “<i>As</i> the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.”


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<pb/>Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” <pb/>And he said, “Bring up Samuel for me.”


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<pb/>When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you <i>are</i> Saul!”


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<pb/>And the king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What did you see?” <pb/>And the woman said to Saul, “I saw <f>[14†]</f>a spirit ascending out of the earth.”


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<pb/>So he said to her, “What <i>is</i> his form?” <pb/>And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he <i>is</i> covered with <f>[15†]</f>a mantle.” And Saul perceived that it <i>was</i> Samuel, and he stooped with <i>his</i> face to the ground and bowed down.


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<pb/>Now Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you <f>[16†]</f>disturbed me by bringing me up?” <pb/>And Saul answered, “I am deeply distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and <f>[17†]</f>God has departed from me and <f>[18†]</f>does not answer me anymore, neither by prophets nor by dreams. Therefore I have called you, that you may reveal to me what I should do.”


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<pb/>Then Samuel said: “So why do you ask me, seeing the LORD has departed from you and has become your enemy?


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And the LORD has done for Himself <f>[19†]</f>as He spoke by me. For the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David.


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<f>[20†]</f>Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD nor execute His fierce wrath upon <f>[21†]</f>Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day.


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Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines. And tomorrow you and your sons <i>will</i> <i>be</i> with <f>[22†]</f>me. The LORD will also deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”


text:
<pb/>Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, and was dreadfully afraid because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten no food all day or all night.


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<pb/>And the woman came to Saul and saw that he was severely troubled, and said to him, “Look, your maidservant has obeyed your voice, and I have <f>[23†]</f>put my life in my hands and heeded the words which you spoke to me.


text:
Now therefore, please, heed also the voice of your maidservant, and let me set a piece of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on <i>your</i> way.”


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<pb/>But he refused and said, “I will not eat.” <pb/>So his servants, together with the woman, urged him; and he heeded their voice. Then he arose from the ground and sat on the bed.


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Now the woman had a fatted calf in the house, and she hastened to kill it. And she took flour and kneaded <i>it,</i> and baked unleavened bread from it.


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So she brought <i>it</i> before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.


text:
<pb/>Then <f>[1†]</f>the Philistines gathered together all their armies <f>[2†]</f>at Aphek, and the Israelites encamped by a fountain which <i>is</i> in Jezreel.


text:
And the <f>[3†]</f>lords of the Philistines passed in review by hundreds and by thousands, but <f>[4†]</f>David and his men passed in review at the rear with Achish.


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Then the princes of the Philistines said, “What <i>are</i> these Hebrews <i>doing</i> <i>here?</i>” <pb/>And Achish said to the princes of the Philistines, “<i>Is</i> this not David, the servant of Saul king of Israel, who has been with me <f>[5†]</f>these days, or these years? And to this day I have <f>[6†]</f>found no fault in him since he defected <i>to</i> <i>me.</i>”


text:
<pb/>But the princes of the Philistines were angry with him; so the princes of the Philistines said to him, <f>[7†]</f>“Make this fellow return, that he may go back to the place which you have appointed for him, and do not let him go down with us to <f>[8†]</f>battle, lest <f>[9†]</f>in the battle he become our adversary. For with what could he reconcile himself to his master, if not with the heads of these <f>[10†]</f>men?


text:
<i>Is</i> this not David, <f>[11†]</f>of whom they sang to one another in dances, saying: <pb/><t> <f>[12†]</f>‘Saul has slain his thousands, </t><t>And David his ten thousands’?”</t>


text:
<pb/>Then Achish called David and said to him, “Surely, <i>as</i> the LORD lives, you have been upright, and <f>[13†]</f>your going out and your coming in with me in the army <i>is</i> good in my sight. For to this day <f>[14†]</f>I have not found evil in you since the day of your coming to me. Nevertheless the lords do not favor you.


text:
<pb/>So David said to Achish, “But what have I done? And to this day what have you found in your servant as long as I have been with you, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”


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<pb/>Then Achish answered and said to David, “I know that you <i>are</i> as good in my sight <f>[15†]</f>as an angel of God; nevertheless <f>[16†]</f>the princes of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’


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Now therefore, rise early in the morning with your master’s servants <f>[17†]</f>who have come with you. And as soon as you are up early in the morning and have light, depart.”


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<pb/>So David and his men rose early to depart in the morning, to return to the land of the Philistines. <f>[18†]</f>And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.


text:
<pb/>Now it happened, when David and his men came to <f>[1†]</f>Ziklag, on the third day, that the <f>[2†]</f>Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire,


text:
and had taken captive the <f>[3†]</f>women and those who <i>were</i> there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried <i>them</i> away and went their way.


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So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive.


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Then David and the people who <i>were</i> with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep.


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And David’s two <f>[4†]</f>wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive.


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Now David was greatly distressed, for <f>[5†]</f>the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. <f>[6†]</f>But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.


text:
<pb/> <f>[7†]</f>Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And <f>[8†]</f>Abiathar brought the ephod to David.


text:
<f>[9†]</f>So David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” <pb/>And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake <i>them</i> and without fail recover <i>all.</i>”


text:
<pb/>So David went, he and the six hundred men who <i>were</i> with him, and came to the Brook Besor, where those stayed who were left behind.


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But David pursued, he and four hundred men; <f>[10†]</f>for two hundred stayed <i>behind,</i> who were so weary that they could not cross the Brook Besor.


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<pb/>Then they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David; and they gave him bread and he ate, and they let him drink water.


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And they gave him a piece of <f>[11†]</f>a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. So <f>[12†]</f>when he had eaten, his strength came back to him; for he had eaten no bread nor drunk water for three days and three nights.


text:
Then David said to him, “To whom do you <i>belong,</i> and where <i>are</i> you from?” <pb/>And he said, “I <i>am</i> a young man from Egypt, servant of an Amalekite; and my master left me behind, because three days ago I fell sick.


text:
We made an invasion of the southern <i>area</i> of <f>[13†]</f>the Cherethites, in the <i>territory</i> which <i>belongs</i> to Judah, and of the southern <i>area</i> <f>[14†]</f>of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.”


text:
<pb/>And David said to him, “Can you take me down to this troop?” <pb/>So he said, “Swear to me by God that you will neither kill me nor deliver me into the hands of my <f>[15†]</f>master, and I will take you down to this troop.”


text:
<pb/>And when he had brought him down, there they were, spread out over all the land, <f>[16†]</f>eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil which they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah.


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Then David attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled.


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And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; <f>[17†]</f>David recovered all.


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Then David took all the flocks and herds they had driven before those <i>other</i> livestock, and said, “This <i>is</i> David’s spoil.”


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<pb/>Now David came to the <f>[18†]</f>two hundred men who had been so weary that they could not follow David, whom they also had made to stay at the Brook Besor. So they went out to meet David and to meet the people who <i>were</i> with him. And when David came near the people, he greeted them.


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Then all the wicked and <f>[19†]</f>worthless men of those who went with David answered and said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them <i>any</i> of the spoil that we have recovered, except for every man’s wife and children, that they may lead <i>them</i> away and depart.”


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<pb/>But David said, “My brethren, you shall not do so with what the LORD has given us, who has preserved us and delivered into our hand the troop that came against us.


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For who will heed you in this matter? But <f>[20†]</f>as his part <i>is</i> who goes down to the battle, so <i>shall</i> his part <i>be</i> who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike.”


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<pb/>Now when David came to Ziklag, he sent <i>some</i> of the spoil to the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, “Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD”—


text:
to <i>those</i> who <i>were</i> in Bethel, <i>those</i> who <i>were</i> in <f>[21†]</f>Ramoth of the South, <i>those</i> who <i>were</i> in <f>[22†]</f>Jattir,


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<i>those</i> who <i>were</i> in <f>[23†]</f>Aroer, <i>those</i> who <i>were</i> in <f>[24†]</f>Siphmoth, <i>those</i> who <i>were</i> in <f>[25†]</f>Eshtemoa,


text:
<i>those</i> who <i>were</i> in Rachal, <i>those</i> who <i>were</i> in the cities of <f>[26†]</f>the Jerahmeelites, <i>those</i> who <i>were</i> in the cities of the <f>[27†]</f>Kenites,


text:
<i>those</i> who <i>were</i> in <f>[28†]</f>Hormah, <i>those</i> who <i>were</i> in Chorashan, <i>those</i> who <i>were</i> in Athach,


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<i>those</i> who <i>were</i> in <f>[29†]</f>Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were accustomed to <f>[30†]</f>rove.


text:
<pb/>Now <f>[1†]</f>the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell slain on Mount <f>[2†]</f>Gilboa.


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Then the Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons. And the Philistines killed <f>[3†]</f>Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons.


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<f>[4†]</f>The battle became fierce against Saul. The archers hit him, and he was severely wounded by the archers.


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<pb/> <f>[5†]</f>Then Saul said to his armorbearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest <f>[6†]</f>these uncircumcised men come and thrust me through and abuse me.” <pb/>But his armorbearer would not, <f>[7†]</f>for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and <f>[8†]</f>fell on it.


text:
<pb/>And when the men of Israel who <i>were</i> on the other side of the valley, and <i>those</i> who <i>were</i> on the other side of the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.


text:
So it happened the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.


text:
And they cut off his head and stripped off his armor, and sent <i>word</i> throughout the land of the Philistines, to <f>[9†]</f>proclaim <i>it</i> <i>in</i> the temple of their idols and among the people.


text:
<f>[10†]</f>Then they put his armor in the temple of the <f>[11†]</f>Ashtoreths, and <f>[12†]</f>they fastened his body to the wall of <f>[13†]</f>Beth Shan.


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<pb/> <f>[14†]</f>Now when the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul,


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<f>[15†]</f>all the valiant men arose and traveled all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth Shan; and they came to Jabesh and <f>[16†]</f>burned them there.


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Then they took their bones and <f>[17†]</f>buried <i>them</i> under the tamarisk tree at <f>[18†]</f>Jabesh, and fasted seven days.


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<pb/>Now it came to pass after the <f>[1†]</f>death of Saul, when David had returned from <f>[2†]</f>the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag,


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on the third day, behold, it happened that <f>[3†]</f>a man came from Saul’s camp <f>[4†]</f>with his clothes torn and dust on his head. So it was, when he came to David, that he <f>[5†]</f>fell to the ground and prostrated himself.


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<pb/>And David said to him, “Where have you come from?” <pb/>So he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”


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<pb/>Then David said to him, <f>[6†]</f>“How did the matter go? Please tell me.” <pb/>And he answered, “The people have fled from the battle, many of the people are fallen and dead, and Saul and <f>[7†]</f>Jonathan his son are dead also.”


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<pb/>So David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”


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<pb/>Then the young man who told him said, “As I happened by chance <i>to</i> <i>be</i> on <f>[8†]</f>Mount Gilboa, there was <f>[9†]</f>Saul, leaning on his spear; and indeed 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, but my life still <i>remains</i> in me.’


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So I stood over him and <f>[10†]</f>killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that <i>was</i> on his head and the bracelet that <i>was</i> on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.”


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<pb/>Therefore David took hold of his own clothes and <f>[11†]</f>tore them, and <i>so</i> <i>did</i> all the men who <i>were</i> with him.


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And they <f>[12†]</f>mourned and wept and <f>[13†]</f>fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the <f>[14†]</f>people of the LORD and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.


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<pb/>Then David said to the young man who told him, “Where <i>are</i> you from?” <pb/>And he answered, “I <i>am</i> the son of an alien, an Amalekite.”


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<pb/>So David said to him, “How <f>[15†]</f>was it you were not <f>[16†]</f>afraid to <f>[17†]</f>put forth your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”


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Then <f>[18†]</f>David called one of the young men and said, “Go near, <i>and</i> execute him!” And he struck him so that he died.


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So David said to him, <f>[19†]</f>“Your blood <i>is</i> on your own head, for <f>[20†]</f>your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the LORD’s anointed.’ ”


text:
<f>[21†]</f>and he told <i>them</i> to teach the children of Judah <i>the</i> <i>Song</i> <i>of</i> the Bow; indeed <i>it</i> <i>is</i> written <f>[22†]</f>in the Book of Jasher:


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<pb/><t>“The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places! </t><t> <f>[23†]</f>How the mighty have fallen!</t>


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<t> <f>[24†]</f>Tell <i>it</i> not in Gath, </t><t>Proclaim <i>it</i> not in the streets of <f>[25†]</f>Ashkelon— </t><t>Lest <f>[26†]</f>the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, </t><t>Lest the daughters of <f>[27†]</f>the uncircumcised triumph.</t>


text:
<t>“O <f>[28†]</f>mountains of Gilboa, </t><t> <f>[29†]</f><i>Let</i> <i>there</i> <i>be</i> no dew nor rain upon you, </t><t>Nor fields of offerings. </t><t>For the shield of the mighty is cast away there! </t><t>The shield of Saul, not <f>[30†]</f>anointed with oil.</t>


text:
<t>From the blood of the slain, </t><t>From the fat of the mighty, </t><t> <f>[31†]</f>The bow of Jonathan did not turn back, </t><t>And the sword of Saul did not return empty.</t>


text:
<t>“Saul and Jonathan <i>were</i> beloved and pleasant in their lives, </t><t>And in their <f>[32†]</f>death they were not divided; </t><t>They were swifter than eagles, </t><t>They were <f>[33†]</f>stronger than lions.</t>


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<t>“O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, </t><t>Who clothed you in scarlet, with luxury; </t><t>Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.</t>


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<t>“How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! </t><t>Jonathan <i>was</i> slain in your high places.</t>


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<t>I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; </t><t>You have been very pleasant to me; </t><t> <f>[34†]</f>Your love to me was wonderful, </t><t>Surpassing the love of women.</t>


text:
<pb/>It happened after this that David <f>[1†]</f>inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah?” <pb/>And the LORD said to him, “Go up.” <pb/>David said, “Where shall I go up?” <pb/>And He said, “To <f>[2†]</f>Hebron.”


text:
<pb/>So David went up there, and his <f>[3†]</f>two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite.


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And David brought up <f>[4†]</f>the men who <i>were</i> with him, every man with his household. So they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.


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<pb/> <f>[5†]</f>Then the men of Judah came, and there they <f>[6†]</f>anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, <f>[7†]</f>“The men of Jabesh Gilead <i>were</i> <i>the</i> <i>ones</i> who buried Saul.”


text:
So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, <f>[8†]</f>“You <i>are</i> blessed of the LORD, for you have shown this kindness to your lord, to Saul, and have buried him.


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And now may <f>[9†]</f>the LORD show kindness and truth to you. I also will repay you this kindness, because you have done this thing.


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Now therefore, let your hands be strengthened, and be valiant; for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”


text:
<pb/>But <f>[10†]</f>Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to <f>[11†]</f>Mahanaim;


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and he made him king over <f>[12†]</f>Gilead, over the <f>[13†]</f>Ashurites, over <f>[14†]</f>Jezreel, over Ephraim, over Benjamin, and over all Israel.


text:
Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, <i>was</i> forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. Only the house of Judah followed David.


text:
And <f>[15†]</f>the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.


text:
<pb/>Now Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to <f>[16†]</f>Gibeon.


text:
And <f>[17†]</f>Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out and met them by <f>[18†]</f>the pool of Gibeon. So they sat down, one on one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool.


text:
Then Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men now arise and compete before us.” <pb/>And Joab said, “Let them arise.”


text:
<pb/>So they arose and went over by number, twelve from Benjamin, <i>followers</i> of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David.


text:
And each one grasped his opponent by the head and <i>thrust</i> his sword in his opponent’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called the Field of Sharp Swords, which <i>is</i> in Gibeon.


text:
So there was a very fierce battle that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.


text:
<pb/>Now the <f>[19†]</f>three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab and Abishai and Asahel. And Asahel <i>was</i> <f>[20†]</f><i>as</i> fleet of foot <f>[21†]</f>as a wild gazelle.


text:
So Asahel pursued Abner, and in going he did not turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner.


text:
<pb/>Then Abner looked behind him and said, “<i>Are</i> you Asahel?” <pb/>He answered, “I <i>am.</i>”


text:
<pb/>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 his armor for yourself.” But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.


text:
So Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I face your brother Joab?”


text:
However, he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him <f>[22†]</f>in the stomach with the blunt end of the spear, so that the spear came out of his back; and he fell down there and died on the spot. So it was <i>that</i> as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood <f>[23†]</f>still.


text:
<pb/>Joab and Abishai also pursued Abner. And the sun was going down when they came to the hill of Ammah, which <i>is</i> before Giah by the road to the Wilderness of Gibeon.


text:
Now the children of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became a unit, and took their stand on 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 latter end? How long will it be then until you tell the people to return from pursuing their brethren?”


text:
<pb/>And Joab said, “<i>As</i> God lives, unless <f>[24†]</f>you had spoken, surely then by morning all the people would have given up pursuing their brethren.”


text:
So Joab blew a trumpet; and all the people stood still and did not pursue Israel anymore, nor did they fight anymore.


text:
Then Abner and his men went on all that night through the plain, crossed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron; and they came to Mahanaim.


text:
<pb/>So Joab returned from pursuing Abner. And when he had gathered all the people together, there were missing of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel.


text:
But the servants of David had struck down, of Benjamin and Abner’s men, three hundred and sixty men who died.


text:
Then they took up Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb, which <i>was</i> <i>in</i> <f>[25†]</f>Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at daybreak.


text:
<pb/>Now there was a long <f>[1†]</f>war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.


text:
<pb/>Sons were born <f>[2†]</f>to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon <f>[3†]</f>by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;


text:
his second, Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; the third, <f>[4†]</f>Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king <f>[5†]</f>of Geshur;


text:
<pb/>Now it was so, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner was strengthening <i>his</i> <i>hold</i> on the house of Saul.


text:
<pb/>And Saul had a concubine, whose name <i>was</i> <f>[7†]</f>Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So <i>Ishbosheth</i> said to Abner, “Why have you <f>[8†]</f>gone in to my father’s concubine?”


text:
<pb/>Then Abner became very angry at the words of Ishbosheth, and said, “<i>Am</i> I <f>[9†]</f>a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show loyalty to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman?


text:
<f>[10†]</f>May God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David <f>[11†]</f>as the LORD has sworn to him—


text:
to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, <f>[12†]</f>from Dan to Beersheba.”


text:
<pb/>Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to David, saying, “Whose <i>is</i> the land?” saying <i>also,</i> “Make your covenant with me, and indeed my hand <i>shall</i> <i>be</i> with you to bring all Israel to you.”


text:
<pb/>And <i>David</i> said, “Good, I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you: <f>[13†]</f>you shall not see my face unless you first bring <f>[14†]</f>Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.”


text:
So David sent messengers to <f>[15†]</f>Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give <i>me</i> my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself <f>[16†]</f>for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”


text:
Then her husband went along with her to <f>[17†]</f>Bahurim, weeping behind her. So Abner said to him, “Go, return!” And he returned.


text:
<pb/>Now Abner had communicated with the elders of Israel, saying, “In time past you were seeking for David <i>to</i> <i>be</i> king over you.


text:
Now then, do <i>it!</i> <f>[18†]</f>For the LORD has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David, I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and the hand of all their enemies.’ ”


text:
And Abner also spoke in the hearing of <f>[19†]</f>Benjamin. Then Abner also went to speak in the hearing of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and the whole house of Benjamin.


text:
<pb/>So Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David made a feast for Abner and the men who <i>were</i> with him.


text:
Then Abner said to David, “I will arise and go, and <f>[20†]</f>gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may <f>[21†]</f>reign over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.


text:
<pb/>At that moment the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much spoil with them. But Abner <i>was</i> not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.


text:
When Joab and all the troops that <i>were</i> with him had come, they told Joab, saying, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he sent him away, and he has gone in peace.”


text:
Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you; why <i>is</i> it <i>that</i> you sent him away, and he has already gone?


text:
Surely you realize that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you, to know <f>[22†]</f>your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”


text:
<pb/>And when Joab had gone from David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know <i>it.</i>


text:
Now when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab <f>[23†]</f>took him aside in the gate to speak with him privately, and there stabbed him <f>[24†]</f>in the stomach, so that he died for the blood of <f>[25†]</f>Asahel his brother.


text:
<pb/>Afterward, when David heard <i>it,</i> he said, “My kingdom and I <i>are</i> guiltless before the LORD forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner.


text:
<f>[26†]</f>Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and let there never fail to be in the house of Joab one <f>[27†]</f>who has a discharge or is a leper, who leans on a staff or falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.”


text:
So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother <f>[28†]</f>Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.


text:
<pb/>Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, <f>[29†]</f>“Tear your clothes, <f>[30†]</f>gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn for Abner.” And King David followed the coffin.


text:
So they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.


text:
And the king sang <i>a</i> <i>lament</i> over Abner and said: <pb/><t>“Should Abner die as a <f>[31†]</f>fool dies?</t>


text:
<t>Your hands were not bound </t><t>Nor your feet put into fetters; </t><t>As a man falls before wicked men, <i>so</i> you fell.” </t> <pb/>Then all the people wept over him again.


text:
<pb/>And when all the people came <f>[32†]</f>to persuade David to eat food while it was still day, David took an oath, saying, <f>[33†]</f>“God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else <f>[34†]</f>till the sun goes down!”


text:
Now all the people took note <i>of</i> <i>it,</i> and it pleased them, since whatever the king did pleased all the people.


text:
For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king’s intent to kill Abner the son of Ner.


text:
Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?


text:
And I <i>am</i> weak today, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, <f>[35†]</f><i>are</i> too harsh for me. <f>[36†]</f>The LORD shall repay the evildoer according to his wickedness.”


text:
<pb/>When Saul’s son heard that Abner had died in Hebron, <f>[1†]</f>he lost heart, and all Israel was <f>[2†]</f>troubled.


text:
Now Saul’s son <i>had</i> two men <i>who</i> <i>were</i> captains of troops. The name of one <i>was</i> Baanah and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin. (For <f>[3†]</f>Beeroth also was <i>part</i> of Benjamin,


text:
<pb/> <f>[5†]</f>Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son <i>who</i> <i>was</i> lame in <i>his</i> feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came <f>[6†]</f>from Jezreel; and his nurse took him up and fled. And it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he fell and became lame. His name <i>was</i> <f>[7†]</f>Mephibosheth.


text:
<pb/>Then the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, set out and came at about the heat of the day to the <f>[8†]</f>house of Ishbosheth, who was lying on his bed at noon.


text:
And they came there, all the way into the house, <i>as</i> <i>though</i> to get wheat, and they stabbed him <f>[9†]</f>in the stomach. Then Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.


text:
For when they came into the house, he was lying on his bed in his bedroom; then they struck him and killed him, beheaded him and took his head, and were all night escaping through the plain.


text:
And they brought the head of Ishbosheth to David at Hebron, and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul your enemy, <f>[10†]</f>who sought your life; and the LORD has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul and his descendants.”


text:
<pb/>But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, “<i>As</i> the LORD lives, <f>[11†]</f>who has redeemed my life from all adversity,


text:
when <f>[12†]</f>someone told me, saying, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ thinking to have brought good news, I arrested him and had him executed in Ziklag—the one who <i>thought</i> I would give him a reward for <i>his</i> news.


text:
How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous person in his own house on his bed? Therefore, shall I not now <f>[13†]</f>require his blood at your hand and remove you from the earth?”


text:
So David <f>[14†]</f>commanded his young men, and they executed them, cut off their hands and feet, and hanged <i>them</i> by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth and buried <i>it</i> in the <f>[15†]</f>tomb of Abner in Hebron.


text:
<pb/>Then all the tribes of Israel <f>[1†]</f>came to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, “Indeed <f>[2†]</f>we <i>are</i> your bone and your flesh.


text:
Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, <f>[3†]</f>you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the LORD said to you, <f>[4†]</f>‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.’ ”


text:
<f>[5†]</f>Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, <f>[6†]</f>and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron <f>[7†]</f>before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel.


text:
David <i>was</i> <f>[8†]</f>thirty years old when he began to reign, <i>and</i> <f>[9†]</f>he reigned forty years.


text:
In Hebron he reigned over Judah <f>[10†]</f>seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.


text:
<pb/> <f>[11†]</f>And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against <f>[12†]</f>the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, “You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you,” thinking, “David cannot come in here.”


text:
<pb/>Now David said on that day, “Whoever climbs up by way of the water shaft and defeats the Jebusites (the lame and the blind, <i>who</i> <i>are</i> hated by David’s soul), <f>[14†]</f><i>he</i> <i>shall</i> <i>be</i> <i>chief</i> <i>and</i> <i>captain.</i>” Therefore they say, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”


text:
<pb/>Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it <f>[15†]</f>the City of David. And David built all around from the Millo and inward.


text:
So David went on and became great, and <f>[16†]</f>the LORD God of hosts <i>was</i> with <f>[17†]</f>him.


text:
<pb/>Then <f>[18†]</f>Hiram <f>[19†]</f>king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters and masons. And they built David a house.


text:
So David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that He had <f>[20†]</f>exalted His kingdom <f>[21†]</f>for the sake of His people Israel.


text:
<pb/>And <f>[22†]</f>David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron. Also more sons and daughters were born to David.


text:
Now <f>[23†]</f>these <i>are</i> the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, <f>[24†]</f>Solomon,


text:
<pb/> <f>[25†]</f>Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard <i>of</i> <i>it</i> <f>[26†]</f>and went down to the stronghold.


text:
So David <f>[28†]</f>inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” <pb/>And the LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.”


text:
<pb/>So David went to <f>[29†]</f>Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.


text:
<pb/> <f>[31†]</f>Then the Philistines went up once again and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim.


text:
Therefore <f>[32†]</f>David inquired of the LORD, and He said, “You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees.


text:
And it shall be, when you <f>[33†]</f>hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then <f>[34†]</f>the LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”


text:
And David did so, as the LORD commanded him; and he drove back the Philistines from <f>[35†]</f>Geba as far as <f>[36†]</f>Gezer.


text:
And <f>[1†]</f>David arose and went with all the people who <i>were</i> with him from Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the Name, the LORD of Hosts, <f>[2†]</f>who dwells <i>between</i> the cherubim.


text:
So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which <i>was</i> on <f>[3†]</f>the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.


text:
And they brought it out of <f>[4†]</f>the house of Abinadab, which <i>was</i> on the hill, accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark.


text:
Then David and all the house of Israel <f>[5†]</f>played <i>music</i> before the LORD on all kinds of <i>instruments</i> <i>of</i> fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals.


text:
<pb/>And when they came to <f>[6†]</f>Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out <i>his</i> <f>[7†]</f>hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled.


text:
Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for <i>his</i> error; and he died there by the ark of God.


text:
And David became angry because of the LORD’s outbreak against Uzzah; and he called the name of the place Perez Uzzah to this day.


text:
<pb/> <f>[8†]</f>David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, “How can the ark of the LORD come to me?”


text:
So David would not move the ark of the LORD with him into the <f>[9†]</f>City of David; but David took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the <f>[10†]</f>Gittite.


text:
<f>[11†]</f>The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months. And the LORD <f>[12†]</f>blessed Obed-Edom and all his household.


text:
<pb/>Now it was told King David, saying, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that <i>belongs</i> to him, because of the ark of God.” <f>[13†]</f>So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness.


text:
And so it was, when <f>[14†]</f>those bearing the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, that he sacrificed <f>[15†]</f>oxen and fatted sheep.


text:
Then David <f>[16†]</f>danced before the LORD with all <i>his</i> might; and David <i>was</i> wearing <f>[17†]</f>a linen ephod.


text:
<f>[18†]</f>So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.


text:
<pb/>Now as the ark of the LORD came into the City of David, <f>[19†]</f>Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.


text:
So <f>[20†]</f>they brought the ark of the LORD, and set it in <f>[21†]</f>its place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then David <f>[22†]</f>offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.


text:
And when David had finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, <f>[23†]</f>he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.


text:
<f>[24†]</f>Then he distributed among all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, both the women and the men, to everyone a loaf of bread, a piece <i>of</i> <i>meat,</i> and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed, everyone to his house.


text:
<pb/> <f>[25†]</f>Then 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, <f>[26†]</f>uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the <f>[27†]</f>base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”


text:
<pb/>So David said to Michal, “<i>It</i> <i>was</i> before the LORD, <f>[28†]</f>who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the <f>[29†]</f>people of the LORD, over Israel. Therefore I will play <i>music</i> before the LORD.


text:
And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor.”


text:
<pb/>Now it came to pass <f>[1†]</f>when the king was dwelling in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around,


text:
that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in <f>[2†]</f>a house of cedar, <f>[3†]</f>but the ark of God dwells inside tent <f>[4†]</f>curtains.”


text:
<pb/>Then Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that <i>is</i> in your <f>[5†]</f>heart, for the LORD <i>is</i> with you.”


text:
“Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: <f>[6†]</f>“Would you build a house for Me to dwell in?


text:
For I have not dwelt in a house <f>[7†]</f>since the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in <f>[8†]</f>a tent and in a tabernacle.


text:
Wherever I have <f>[9†]</f>moved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded <f>[10†]</f>to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’ ” ’


text:
Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: <f>[11†]</f>“I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel.


text:
And <f>[12†]</f>I have been with you wherever you have gone, <f>[13†]</f>and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who <i>are</i> on the earth.


text:
Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will <f>[14†]</f>plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; <f>[15†]</f>nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously,


text:
<f>[16†]</f>since the time that I commanded judges <i>to</i> <i>be</i> over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the LORD tells you <f>[17†]</f>that He will make you a house.


text:
<pb/> <f>[18†]</f>“When your days are fulfilled and you <f>[19†]</f>rest with your fathers, <f>[20†]</f>I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.


text:
<f>[21†]</f>He shall build a house for My name, and I will <f>[22†]</f>establish the throne of his kingdom forever.


text:
<f>[23†]</f>I will be his Father, and he shall be <f>[24†]</f>My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men.


text:
But My mercy shall not depart from him, <f>[25†]</f>as I took <i>it</i> from Saul, whom I removed from before you.


text:
And <f>[26†]</f>your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” ’ ”


text:
<pb/>Then King David went in and sat before the LORD; and he said: <f>[27†]</f>“Who <i>am</i> I, O Lord GOD? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?


text:
And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O Lord GOD; and You have also spoken of Your servant’s house for a great while to come. <f>[28†]</f><i>Is</i> this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?


text:
For Your word’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things, to make Your servant know <i>them.</i>


text:
Therefore <f>[30†]</f>You are great, O Lord GOD. For <f>[31†]</f><i>there</i> <i>is</i> none like You, nor <i>is</i> <i>there</i> <i>any</i> God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our <f>[32†]</f>ears.


text:
And who <i>is</i> like Your people, like Israel, <f>[33†]</f>the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for Himself a name—and to do for Yourself great and awesome deeds for Your land—before <f>[34†]</f>Your people whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, the nations, and their gods?


text:
For <f>[35†]</f>You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; <f>[36†]</f>and You, LORD, have become their God.


text:
<pb/>“Now, O LORD God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish <i>it</i> forever and do as You have said.


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So let Your name be magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of hosts <i>is</i> the God over Israel.’ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You.


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For You, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed <i>this</i> to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You.


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<pb/>“And now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and <f>[37†]</f>Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant.


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Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken <i>it,</i> and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed <f>[38†]</f>forever.”


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<pb/>After this it came to pass that David attacked the Philistines and subdued them. And David took Metheg Ammah from the hand of the Philistines.


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<pb/>Then <f>[1†]</f>he defeated Moab. Forcing them down to the ground, he measured them off with a line. With two lines he measured off those to be put to death, and with one full line those to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David’s <f>[2†]</f>servants, <i>and</i> <f>[3†]</f>brought tribute.


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<pb/>David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of <f>[4†]</f>Zobah, as he went to recover <f>[5†]</f>his territory at the River Euphrates.


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David took from him one thousand <i>chariots,</i> seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Also David <f>[6†]</f>hamstrung all the chariot <i>horses</i>, except that he spared <i>enough</i> of them for one hundred chariots.


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<pb/> <f>[7†]</f>When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of the Syrians.


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Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, <i>and</i> brought tribute. So <f>[8†]</f>the LORD preserved David wherever he went.


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And David took <f>[9†]</f>the shields of gold that had belonged to the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.


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Also from Betah and from <f>[10†]</f>Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a large amount of bronze.


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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 defeated him (for Hadadezer had been at war with Toi); and <i>Joram</i> brought with him articles of silver, articles of gold, and articles of bronze.


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King David also <f>[12†]</f>dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he had subdued—


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from Syria, from Moab, from the people of Ammon, from the <f>[13†]</f>Philistines, from Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah.


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<pb/>And David made <i>himself</i> a <f>[14†]</f>name when he returned from killing <f>[15†]</f>eighteen thousand Syrians in <f>[16†]</f>the Valley of Salt.


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He also put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and <f>[17†]</f>all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went.


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<pb/>So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered judgment and justice to all his people.


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<f>[18†]</f>Joab the son of Zeruiah <i>was</i> over the army; <f>[19†]</f>Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud <i>was</i> recorder;


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<f>[20†]</f>Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar <i>were</i> the priests; Seraiah <i>was</i> the scribe;


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<f>[21†]</f>Benaiah the son of Jehoiada <i>was</i> <i>over</i> both the <f>[22†]</f>Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief ministers.


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<pb/>Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may <f>[1†]</f>show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”


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<pb/>And <i>there</i> <i>was</i> a servant of the house of Saul whose name <i>was</i> <f>[2†]</f>Ziba. So when they had called him to David, the king said to him, “<i>Are</i> you Ziba?” <pb/>He said, “At your service!”


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<pb/>Then the king said, “<i>Is</i> there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show <f>[3†]</f>the kindness of God?” <pb/>And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan <i>who</i> <i>is</i> <f>[4†]</f>lame in <i>his</i> feet.”


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<pb/>So the king said to him, “Where <i>is</i> he?” <pb/>And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he <i>is</i> in the house of <f>[5†]</f>Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.”


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<pb/>Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.


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<pb/>Now when <f>[6†]</f>Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, “Mephibosheth?” <pb/>And he answered, “Here is your servant!”


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<pb/>So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.”


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<pb/>Then he bowed himself, and said, “What <i>is</i> your servant, that you should look upon such <f>[7†]</f>a dead dog as I?”


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<pb/>And the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, <f>[8†]</f>“I have given to your master’s son all that belonged to Saul and to all his house.


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You therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in <i>the</i> <i>harvest,</i> that your master’s son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s son <f>[9†]</f>shall eat bread at my table always.” Now Ziba had <f>[10†]</f>fifteen sons and twenty servants.


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<pb/>Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do.” <pb/>“As for Mephibosheth,” <i>said</i> <i>the</i> <i>king,</i> “he shall eat at my table like one of the king’s sons.”


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Mephibosheth had a young son <f>[11†]</f>whose name <i>was</i> Micha. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba <i>were</i> servants of Mephibosheth.


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So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, <f>[12†]</f>for he ate continually at the king’s table. And he <f>[13†]</f>was lame in both his feet.


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<pb/>It happened after this that the <f>[1†]</f>king of the people of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place.


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Then David said, “I will show <f>[2†]</f>kindness to Hanun the son of <f>[3†]</f>Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me.” <pb/>So David sent by the hand of his servants to comfort him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the people of Ammon.


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And the princes of the people of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think that David really honors your father because he has sent comforters to you? Has David not <i>rather</i> sent his servants to you to search the city, to spy it out, and to overthrow it?”


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<pb/>Therefore Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of their beards, cut off their garments in the middle, <f>[4†]</f>at their buttocks, and sent them away.


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When they told David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown, and <i>then</i> return.”


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<pb/>When the people of Ammon saw that they <f>[5†]</f>had made themselves repulsive to David, the people of Ammon sent and hired <f>[6†]</f>the Syrians of <f>[7†]</f>Beth Rehob and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand foot soldiers; and from the king of <f>[8†]</f>Maacah one thousand men, and from <f>[9†]</f>Ish-Tob twelve thousand men.


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Now when David heard <i>of</i> <i>it,</i> he sent Joab and all the army of <f>[10†]</f>the mighty men.


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Then the people of Ammon came out and put themselves in battle array at the entrance of the gate. And <f>[11†]</f>the Syrians of Zoba, Beth Rehob, Ish-Tob, and Maacah <i>were</i> by themselves in the field.


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<pb/>When Joab saw that the battle line was against him before and behind, he chose some of Israel’s best and put <i>them</i> in battle array against the Syrians.


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And the rest of the people he put under the command of <f>[12†]</f>Abishai his brother, that he might set <i>them</i> in battle array against the people of Ammon.


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Then he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the people of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you.


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<f>[13†]</f>Be of good courage, and let us <f>[14†]</f>be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may <f>[15†]</f>the LORD do <i>what</i> <i>is</i> good in His sight.”


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<pb/>So Joab and the people who <i>were</i> with him drew near for the battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him.


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When the people of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fleeing, they also fled before Abishai, and entered the city. So Joab returned from the people of Ammon and went to <f>[16†]</f>Jerusalem.


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Then Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who <i>were</i> beyond the River, and they came to Helam. And Shobach the commander of Hadadezer’s army <i>went</i> before them.


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When it was told David, he gathered all Israel, crossed over the Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in battle array against David and fought with him.


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Then the Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed seven hundred charioteers and forty thousand <f>[17†]</f>horsemen of the Syrians, and struck Shobach the commander of their army, who died there.


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And when all the kings <i>who</i> <i>were</i> servants to Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and <f>[18†]</f>served them. So the Syrians were afraid to help the people of Ammon anymore.


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<pb/>It happened in the spring of the year, at the <f>[1†]</f>time when kings go out <i>to</i> <i>battle,</i> that <f>[2†]</f>David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged <f>[3†]</f>Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.


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<pb/>Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed <f>[4†]</f>and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he <f>[5†]</f>saw a woman bathing, and the woman <i>was</i> very beautiful to behold.


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So David sent and inquired about the woman. And <i>someone</i> said, “<i>Is</i> this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife <f>[6†]</f>of Uriah the <f>[7†]</f>Hittite?”


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Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and <f>[8†]</f>he lay with her, for she was <f>[9†]</f>cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house.


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<pb/>Then David sent to Joab, <i>saying,</i> “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David.


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When Uriah had come to him, David asked how Joab was doing, and how the people were doing, and how the war prospered.


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And David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and <f>[10†]</f>wash your feet.” So Uriah departed from the king’s house, and a gift <i>of</i> <i>food</i> from the king followed him.


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But Uriah slept at the <f>[11†]</f>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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So when they told David, saying, “Uriah did not go down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “Did you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?”


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<pb/>And Uriah said to David, <f>[12†]</f>“The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and <f>[13†]</f>my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields. Shall I then go to my house to eat and drink, and to lie with my wife? <i>As</i> you live, and <i>as</i> your soul lives, I will not do this thing.”


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<pb/>Then David said to Uriah, “Wait here today also, and tomorrow I will let you depart.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next.


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Now when David called him, he ate and drank before him; and he made him <f>[14†]</f>drunk. And at evening he went out to lie on his bed <f>[15†]</f>with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.


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<pb/>In the morning it happened that David <f>[16†]</f>wrote a letter to Joab and sent <i>it</i> by the hand of Uriah.


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And he wrote in the letter, saying, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may <f>[17†]</f>be struck down and die.”


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So it was, while Joab besieged the city, that he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew there <i>were</i> valiant men.


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Then the men of the city came out and fought with Joab. And <i>some</i> of the people of the servants of David fell; and Uriah the Hittite died also.


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and charged the messenger, saying, “When you have finished telling the matters of the war to the king,


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if it happens that the king’s wrath rises, and he says 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 <f>[18†]</f>Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Was it not a woman who cast a piece of a millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go near the wall?’—then 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 in the field; then we drove them back as far as the entrance of the gate.


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The archers shot from the wall at your servants; and <i>some</i> of the king’s servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.”


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<pb/>Then David said to the messenger, “Thus you shall say to Joab: ‘Do not let this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Strengthen your attack against the city, and overthrow it.’ So encourage him.”


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And when her mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she <f>[19†]</f>became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done <f>[20†]</f>displeased the LORD.


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<pb/>Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. And <f>[1†]</f>he came to him, and <f>[2†]</f>said to him: “There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor.


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But the poor <i>man</i> had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him.


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And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”


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<pb/>So David’s anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, “<i>As</i> the LORD lives, the man who has done this shall surely die!


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And he shall restore <f>[3†]</f>fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.”


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<pb/>Then Nathan said to David, “You <i>are</i> the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘I <f>[4†]</f>anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.


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I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if <i>that</i> <i>had</i> <i>been</i> too little, I also would have given you much more!


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<f>[5†]</f>Why have you <f>[6†]</f>despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? <f>[7†]</f>You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife <i>to</i> <i>be</i> your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon.


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Now therefore, <f>[8†]</f>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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Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will <f>[9†]</f>take your wives before your eyes and give <i>them</i> to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.


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For you did <i>it</i> secretly, <f>[10†]</f>but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.’ ”


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<pb/> <f>[11†]</f>So David said to Nathan, <f>[12†]</f>“I have sinned against the LORD.” <pb/>And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has <f>[13†]</f>put away your sin; you shall not die.


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However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD <f>[14†]</f>to blaspheme, the child also <i>who</i> <i>is</i> born to you shall surely die.”


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Then Nathan departed to his house. <pb/>And the <f>[15†]</f>LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it became ill.


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David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and <f>[16†]</f>lay all night on the ground.


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So the elders of his house arose <i>and</i> <i>went</i> to him, to raise him up from the ground. But he would not, nor did he eat food with them.


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Then on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. For they said, “Indeed, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not heed our voice. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He may do some harm!”


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<pb/>When David saw that his servants were whispering, David perceived that the child was dead. Therefore David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” <pb/>And they said, “He is dead.”


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<pb/>So David arose from the ground, washed and <f>[17†]</f>anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the LORD and <f>[18†]</f>worshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate.


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Then his servants said to him, “What <i>is</i> this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child <i>while</i> <i>he</i> <i>was</i> alive, but when the child died, you arose and ate food.”


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<pb/>And he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; <f>[19†]</f>for I said, ‘Who can tell <i>whether</i> the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’


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But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go <f>[20†]</f>to him, but <f>[21†]</f>he shall not return to me.”


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<pb/>Then David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her and lay with her. So <f>[22†]</f>she bore a son, and <f>[23†]</f>he called his name Solomon. Now the LORD loved him,


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and He sent <i>word</i> by the hand of Nathan the prophet: So he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.


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<pb/>Now <f>[24†]</f>Joab fought against <f>[25†]</f>Rabbah of the people of Ammon, and took the royal city.


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And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, “I have fought against Rabbah, and I have taken the city’s water <i>supply.</i>


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Now therefore, gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city and take it, lest I take the city and it be called after my name.”


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<f>[26†]</f>Then he took their king’s crown from his head. Its weight <i>was</i> a talent of gold, with precious stones. And it was <i>set</i> on David’s head. Also he brought out the spoil of the city in great abundance.


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And he brought out the people who <i>were</i> in it, and put <i>them</i> <i>to</i> <i>work</i> with saws and iron picks and iron axes, and made them cross over to the brick works. So he did to all the cities of the people of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.


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<pb/>After this <f>[1†]</f>Absalom the son of David had a lovely sister, whose name <i>was</i> <f>[2†]</f>Tamar; and <f>[3†]</f>Amnon the son of David loved her.


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Amnon was so distressed over his sister Tamar that he became sick; for she <i>was</i> a virgin. And it was improper for Amnon to do anything to her.


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But Amnon had a friend whose name <i>was</i> Jonadab <f>[4†]</f>the son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Now Jonadab <i>was</i> a very crafty man.


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And he said to him, “Why <i>are</i> you, the king’s son, becoming thinner day after day? Will you not tell me?” <pb/>Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”


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<pb/>So Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. 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, that I may see <i>it</i> and eat it from her hand.’ ”


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Then Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill; and when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let Tamar my sister come and <f>[5†]</f>make a couple of cakes for me in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.”


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<pb/>And David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Now go to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare food for him.”


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So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was lying down. Then she took flour and kneaded <i>it,</i> made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.


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And she took the pan and placed <i>them</i> out before him, but he refused to eat. Then Amnon said, <f>[6†]</f>“Have everyone go out from me.” And they all went out from him.


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Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the bedroom, that I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought <i>them</i> to Amnon her brother in the bedroom.


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Now when she had brought <i>them</i> to him to eat, <f>[7†]</f>he took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.”


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<pb/>But she answered him, “No, my brother, do not force me, for <f>[8†]</f>no such thing should be done in Israel. Do not do this <f>[9†]</f>disgraceful thing!


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And I, where could I take my shame? And as for you, you would be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; <f>[10†]</f>for he will not withhold me from you.”


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However, he would not heed her voice; and being stronger than she, he <f>[11†]</f>forced her and lay with her.


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<pb/>Then Amnon hated her exceedingly, so that the hatred with which he hated her <i>was</i> greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Arise, be gone!”


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<pb/>So she said to him, “No, indeed! This evil of sending me away <i>is</i> worse than the other that you did to me.” <pb/>But he would not listen to her.


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Then he called his servant who attended him, and said, “Here! Put this <i>woman</i> out, away from me, and bolt the door behind her.”


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Now she had on <f>[12†]</f>a robe of many colors, for the king’s virgin daughters wore such apparel. And his servant put her out and bolted the door behind her.


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<pb/>Then Tamar put <f>[13†]</f>ashes on her head, and tore her robe of many colors that <i>was</i> on her, and <f>[14†]</f>laid her hand on her head and went away crying bitterly.


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And Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. He <i>is</i> your brother; do not take this thing to heart.” So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.


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And Absalom spoke to his brother Amnon <f>[15†]</f>neither good nor bad. For Absalom <f>[16†]</f>hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.


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<pb/>And it came to pass, after two full years, that Absalom <f>[17†]</f>had sheepshearers in Baal Hazor, which <i>is</i> near Ephraim; so Absalom invited all the king’s sons.


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Then Absalom came to the king and said, “Kindly note, your servant has sheepshearers; please, let the king and his servants go with your servant.”


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<pb/>But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let us not all go now, lest we be a burden to you.” Then he urged him, but he would not go; and he blessed him.


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<pb/>Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” <pb/>And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?”


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<pb/>Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, “Watch now, when Amnon’s <f>[18†]</f>heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon!’ then kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant.”


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So the servants of Absalom <f>[19†]</f>did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and each one got on <f>[20†]</f>his mule and fled.


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<pb/>And it came to pass, while they were on the way, that news came to David, saying, “Absalom has killed all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left!”


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So the king arose and <f>[21†]</f>tore his garments and <f>[22†]</f>lay on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.


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Then <f>[23†]</f>Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, answered and said, “Let not my lord suppose they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons, for only Amnon is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.


text:
Now therefore, <f>[24†]</f>let not 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:
<pb/> <f>[25†]</f>Then Absalom fled. And the young man who was keeping watch lifted his eyes and looked, and there, many people were coming from the road on the hillside behind him.


text:
So it was, as soon as he had finished speaking, that the king’s sons indeed came, and they lifted up their voice and wept. Also the king and all his servants wept very bitterly.


text:
<pb/>But Absalom fled and went to <f>[26†]</f>Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And <i>David</i> mourned for his son every day.


text:
And King David longed to go to Absalom. For he had been <f>[28†]</f>comforted concerning Amnon, because he was dead.


text:
<pb/>So Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart <i>was</i> concerned <f>[1†]</f>about Absalom.


text:
And Joab sent to <f>[2†]</f>Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman, and said to her, “Please pretend to be a mourner, <f>[3†]</f>and put on mourning apparel; do not anoint yourself with oil, but act like a woman who has been mourning a long time for the dead.


text:
<pb/>And when the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she <f>[5†]</f>fell on her face to the ground and prostrated herself, and said, <f>[6†]</f>“Help, O king!”


text:
<pb/>Then the king said to her, “What troubles you?” <pb/>And she answered, <f>[7†]</f>“Indeed I <i>am</i> a widow, my husband is dead.


text:
Now your maidservant had two sons; and the two fought with each other in the field, and <i>there</i> <i>was</i> no one to part them, but the one struck the other and killed him.


text:
And now the whole family has risen up against your maidservant, and they said, ‘Deliver him who struck his brother, that we may execute him <f>[8†]</f>for the life of his brother whom he killed; and we will destroy the heir also.’ So they would extinguish my ember that is left, and leave to my husband <i>neither</i> name nor remnant on the earth.”


text:
<pb/>And the woman of Tekoa said to the king, “My lord, O king, <i>let</i> <f>[9†]</f>the iniquity <i>be</i> on me and on my father’s house, <f>[10†]</f>and the king and his throne <i>be</i> guiltless.”


text:
<pb/>So the king said, “Whoever says <i>anything</i> to you, bring him to me, and he shall not touch you anymore.”


text:
<pb/>Then she said, “Please let the king remember the LORD your God, and do not permit <f>[11†]</f>the avenger of blood to destroy anymore, lest they destroy my son.” <pb/>And he said, <f>[12†]</f>“<i>As</i> the LORD lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.”


text:
<pb/>Therefore the woman said, “Please, let your maidservant speak <i>another</i> word to my lord the king.” <pb/>And he said, “Say on.”


text:
<pb/>So the woman said: “Why then have you schemed such a thing against <f>[13†]</f>the people of God? For the king speaks this thing as one who is guilty, <i>in</i> <i>that</i> the king does not bring <f>[14†]</f>his banished one home again.


text:
For we <f>[15†]</f>will surely die and <i>become</i> like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not <f>[16†]</f>take away a life; but He <f>[17†]</f>devises means, so that His banished ones are not expelled from Him.


text:
Now therefore, I have come to speak of this thing to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid. And your maidservant said, ‘I will now speak to the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his maidservant.


text:
For the king will hear and deliver his maidservant from the hand of the man <i>who</i> <i>would</i> destroy me and my son together from the <f>[18†]</f>inheritance of God.’


text:
Your maidservant said, ‘The word of my lord the king will now be comforting; for <f>[19†]</f>as the angel of God, so <i>is</i> my lord the king in <f>[20†]</f>discerning good and evil. And may the LORD your God be with you.’ ”


text:
<pb/>Then the king answered and said to the woman, “Please do not hide from me anything that I ask you.” <pb/>And the woman said, “Please, let my lord the king speak.”


text:
<pb/>So the king said, “<i>Is</i> the hand of Joab with you in all this?” And the woman answered and said, “<i>As</i> you live, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right hand or to the left from anything that my lord the king has spoken. For your servant Joab commanded me, and <f>[21†]</f>he put all these words in the mouth of your maidservant.


text:
To bring about this change of affairs your servant Joab has done this thing; but my lord <i>is</i> wise, <f>[22†]</f>according to the wisdom of the angel of God, to know everything that <i>is</i> in the earth.”


text:
<pb/>And the king said to Joab, “All right, I have granted this thing. Go therefore, bring back the young man Absalom.”


text:
<pb/>Then 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 favor in your sight, my lord, O king, in that the king has fulfilled the request of his servant.”


text:
And the king said, “Let him return to his own house, but <f>[24†]</f>do not let him see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house, but did not see the king’s face.


text:
<pb/>Now in all Israel there was no one who was praised as much as Absalom for his good looks. <f>[25†]</f>From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.


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And when he cut the hair of his head—at the end of every year he cut <i>it</i> because it was heavy on him—when he cut it, he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels according to the king’s standard.


text:
<f>[26†]</f>To Absalom were born three sons, and one daughter whose name <i>was</i> Tamar. She was a woman of beautiful appearance.


text:
Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but he would not come to him. And when he sent again the second time, he would not come.


text:
So 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.


text:
<pb/>Then Joab arose and came to Absalom’s house, and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?”


text:
<pb/>And Absalom answered Joab, “Look, I sent to you, saying, ‘Come here, so that I may send you to the king, to say, “Why have I come from Geshur? <i>It</i> <i>would</i> <i>be</i> better for me <i>to</i> <i>be</i> there still.” ’ Now therefore, let me see the king’s face; but <f>[28†]</f>if there is iniquity in me, let him execute me.”


text:
<pb/>So Joab went 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. Then the king <f>[29†]</f>kissed Absalom.


text:
<pb/>After this <f>[1†]</f>it happened that Absalom <f>[2†]</f>provided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.


text:
Now Absalom would rise early and stand beside the way to the gate. <i>So</i> it was, whenever anyone who had a <f>[3†]</f>lawsuit came to the king for a decision, that Absalom would call to him and say, “What city <i>are</i> you from?” And he would say, “Your servant <i>is</i> from such and such a tribe of Israel.”


text:
Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your case <i>is</i> good and right; but <i>there</i> <i>is</i> no deputy of the king to hear you.”


text:
Moreover Absalom would say, <f>[4†]</f>“Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice.”


text:
And <i>so</i> it was, whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him and <f>[5†]</f>kiss him.


text:
In this manner Absalom acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment. <f>[6†]</f>So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.


text:
<pb/>Now it came to pass <f>[7†]</f>after forty years that Absalom said to the king, “Please, let me go to <f>[8†]</f>Hebron and pay the vow which I made to the LORD.


text:
<f>[9†]</f>For your servant <f>[10†]</f>took a vow <f>[11†]</f>while I dwelt at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If the LORD indeed brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.’ ”


text:
<pb/>Then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalom <f>[12†]</f>reigns in Hebron!’ ”


text:
And with Absalom went two hundred men <f>[13†]</f>invited from Jerusalem, and they <f>[14†]</f>went along innocently and did not know anything.


text:
Then Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, <f>[15†]</f>David’s counselor, from his city—from <f>[16†]</f>Giloh—while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy grew strong, for the people with Absalom <f>[17†]</f>continually increased in number.


text:
<pb/>Now a messenger came to David, saying, <f>[18†]</f>“The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”


text:
<pb/>So David said to all his servants who <i>were</i> with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us <f>[19†]</f>flee, or we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”


text:
<pb/>And the king’s servants said to the king, “We <i>are</i> your servants, <i>ready</i> <i>to</i> <i>do</i> whatever my lord the king commands.”


text:
Then <f>[20†]</f>the king went out with all his household after him. But the king left <f>[21†]</f>ten women, concubines, to keep the house.


text:
Then all his servants passed before him; <f>[22†]</f>and all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, <f>[23†]</f>six hundred men who had followed him from Gath, passed before the king.


text:
<pb/>Then the king said to <f>[24†]</f>Ittai the Gittite, “Why are you also going with us? Return and remain with the king. For you <i>are</i> a foreigner and also an exile from your own place.


text:
In fact, you came <i>only</i> yesterday. Should I make you wander up and down with us today, since I go <f>[25†]</f>I know not where? Return, and take your brethren back. Mercy and truth <i>be</i> with you.”


text:
<pb/>But Ittai answered the king and said, <f>[26†]</f>“<i>As</i> the LORD lives, and <i>as</i> my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be.”


text:
<pb/>So David said to Ittai, “Go, and cross over.” Then Ittai the Gittite and all his men and all the little ones who <i>were</i> with him crossed over.


text:
And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people crossed over. The king himself also crossed over the Brook Kidron, and all the people crossed over toward the way of the <f>[27†]</f>wilderness.


text:
<pb/>There was <f>[28†]</f>Zadok also, and all the Levites with him, bearing the <f>[29†]</f>ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and <f>[30†]</f>Abiathar went up until all the people had finished crossing over from the city.


text:
Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, He <f>[31†]</f>will bring me back and show me <i>both</i> it and <f>[32†]</f>His dwelling place.


text:
But if He says thus: ‘I have no <f>[33†]</f>delight in you,’ here I am, <f>[34†]</f>let Him do to me as seems good to Him.”


text:
The king also said to Zadok the priest, “<i>Are</i> you <i>not</i> a <f>[35†]</f>seer? Return to the city in peace, and <f>[36†]</f>your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.


text:
See, <f>[37†]</f>I will wait in the plains of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”


text:
<pb/>So David went up by the Ascent of the <i>Mount</i> <i>of</i> Olives, and wept as he went up; and he <f>[38†]</f>had his head covered and went <f>[39†]</f>barefoot. And all the people who <i>were</i> with him <f>[40†]</f>covered their heads and went up, <f>[41†]</f>weeping as they went up.


text:
Then <i>someone</i> told David, saying, <f>[42†]</f>“Ahithophel <i>is</i> among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O LORD, I pray, <f>[43†]</f>turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”


text:
<pb/>Now it happened when David had come to the top <i>of</i> <i>the</i> <i>mountain,</i> where he worshiped God—there was Hushai the <f>[44†]</f>Archite coming to meet him <f>[45†]</f>with his robe torn and dust on his head.


text:
But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, <f>[47†]</f>‘I will be your servant, O king; <i>as</i> I <i>was</i> your father’s servant previously, so I <i>will</i> now also <i>be</i> your servant,’ then you may defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me.


text:
And <i>do</i> you not <i>have</i> Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? Therefore it will be <i>that</i> whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall tell to <f>[48†]</f>Zadok and Abiathar the priests.


text:
Indeed <i>they</i> <i>have</i> there <f>[49†]</f>with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s <i>son,</i> and Jonathan, Abiathar’s <i>son;</i> and by them you shall send me everything you hear.”


text:
<pb/>So Hushai, <f>[50†]</f>David’s friend, went into the city. <f>[51†]</f>And Absalom came into Jerusalem.


text:
<pb/>When <f>[1†]</f> David was a little past the top <i>of</i> <i>the</i> <i>mountain,</i> there was <f>[2†]</f>Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth, who met him with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them two hundred <i>loaves</i> of bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, one hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.


text:
And the king said to Ziba, “What do you mean to do with these?” <pb/>So Ziba said, “The donkeys <i>are</i> for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for <f>[3†]</f>those who are faint in the wilderness to drink.”


text:
<pb/>Then the king said, “And where <i>is</i> your <f>[4†]</f>master’s son?” <pb/> <f>[5†]</f>And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.’ ”


text:
<pb/>So the king said to Ziba, “Here, all that <i>belongs</i> to Mephibosheth <i>is</i> yours.” <pb/>And Ziba said, “I humbly bow before you, <i>that</i> I may find favor in your sight, my lord, O king!”


text:
<pb/>Now when King David came to <f>[6†]</f>Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name <i>was</i> <f>[7†]</f>Shimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came.


text:
And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David. And all the people and all the mighty men <i>were</i> on his right hand and on his left.


text:
Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: “Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, <f>[8†]</f>you rogue!


text:
The LORD has <f>[9†]</f>brought upon you all <f>[10†]</f>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. So now you <i>are</i> <i>caught</i> in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!”


text:
<pb/>Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this <f>[11†]</f>dead dog <f>[12†]</f>curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!”


text:
<pb/>But the king said, <f>[13†]</f>“What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because <f>[14†]</f>the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ <f>[15†]</f>Who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ ”


text:
<pb/>And David said to Abishai and all his servants, “See how <f>[16†]</f>my son who <f>[17†]</f>came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now <i>may</i> <i>this</i> Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the LORD has ordered him.


text:
It may be that the LORD will look on my affliction, and that the LORD will <f>[18†]</f>repay me with <f>[19†]</f>good for his cursing this day.”


text:
And as David and his men went along the road, Shimei went along the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, threw stones at him and kicked up dust.


text:
Now the king and all the people who <i>were</i> with him became weary; so they refreshed themselves there.


text:
<pb/>Meanwhile <f>[20†]</f>Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem; and Ahithophel <i>was</i> with him.


text:
And so it was, when Hushai the Archite, <f>[21†]</f>David’s friend, came to Absalom, that <f>[22†]</f>Hushai said to Absalom, “<i>Long</i> live the king! <i>Long</i> live the king!”


text:
<pb/>So Absalom said to Hushai, “<i>Is</i> this your loyalty to your friend? <f>[23†]</f>Why did you not go with your friend?”


text:
<pb/>And Hushai said to Absalom, “No, but whom the LORD and this people and all the men of Israel choose, his I will be, and with him I will remain.


text:
Furthermore, <f>[24†]</f>whom should I serve? <i>Should</i> <i>I</i> not <i>serve</i> in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so will I be in your presence.”


text:
<pb/>And Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s <f>[26†]</f>concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you <f>[27†]</f>are abhorred by your father. Then <f>[28†]</f>the hands of all who are with you will be strong.”


text:
So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines <f>[29†]</f>in the sight of all Israel.


text:
<pb/>Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, <i>was</i> as if one had inquired at the oracle of God. So <i>was</i> all the advice of Ahithophel <f>[30†]</f>both with David and with Absalom.


text:
<pb/>Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Now let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight.


text:
I will come upon him while he <i>is</i> <f>[1†]</f>weary and weak, and make him afraid. And all the people who <i>are</i> with him will flee, and I will <f>[2†]</f>strike only the king.


text:
Then I will bring back all the people to you. When all return except the man whom you seek, all the people will be at peace.”


text:
<pb/>Then Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he <f>[4†]</f>says too.”


text:
And when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, “Ahithophel has spoken in this manner. Shall we do as he says? If not, speak up.”


text:
<pb/>So Hushai said to Absalom: “The advice that Ahithophel has given <i>is</i> not good at this time.


text:
For,” said Hushai, “you know your father and his men, that they <i>are</i> mighty men, and they <i>are</i> enraged in their minds, like <f>[5†]</f>a bear robbed of her cubs in the field; and your father <i>is</i> a man of war, and will not camp with the people.


text:
Surely by now he is hidden in some pit, or in some <i>other</i> place. And it will be, when some of them are overthrown at the first, that whoever hears <i>it</i> will say, ‘There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’


text:
And even he <i>who</i> <i>is</i> valiant, whose heart <i>is</i> like the heart of a lion, will <f>[6†]</f>melt completely. For all Israel knows that your father <i>is</i> a mighty man, and <i>those</i> who <i>are</i> with him <i>are</i> valiant men.


text:
Therefore I advise that all Israel be fully gathered to you, <f>[7†]</f>from Dan to Beersheba, <f>[8†]</f>like the sand that <i>is</i> by the sea for multitude, and that you go to battle in person.


text:
So we will come upon him in some place where he may be found, and we will fall on him as the dew falls on the ground. And of him and all the men who <i>are</i> with him there shall not be left so much as one.


text:
Moreover, if he has withdrawn into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city; and we will <f>[9†]</f>pull it into the river, until there is not one small stone found there.”


text:
<pb/>So Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite <i>is</i> better than the advice of Ahithophel.” For <f>[10†]</f>the LORD had purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring disaster on Absalom.


text:
<pb/> <f>[11†]</f>Then Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, “Thus and so Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and so I have advised.


text:
Now therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, ‘Do not spend this night <f>[12†]</f>in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily cross over, lest the king and all the people who <i>are</i> with him be swallowed up.’ ”


text:
<f>[13†]</f>Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz <f>[14†]</f>stayed at <f>[15†]</f>En Rogel, for they dared not be seen coming into the city; so a female servant would come and tell them, and they would go and tell King David.


text:
Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom. But both of them went away quickly and came to a man’s house <f>[16†]</f>in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down into it.


text:
<f>[17†]</f>Then the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground grain on it; and the thing was not known.


text:
And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they said, “Where <i>are</i> Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” <pb/>So <f>[18†]</f>the woman said to them, “They have gone over the water brook.” <pb/>And when they had searched and could not find <i>them,</i> they returned to Jerusalem.


text:
Now it came to pass, after they had departed, that they came up out of the well and went and told King David, and said to David, <f>[19†]</f>“Arise and cross over the water quickly. For thus has Ahithophel advised against you.”


text:
So David and all the people who <i>were</i> with him arose and crossed over the Jordan. By morning light not one of them was left who had not gone over the Jordan.


text:
<pb/>Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled a donkey, and arose and went home to <f>[20†]</f>his house, to his city. Then he put his <f>[21†]</f>household in order, and <f>[22†]</f>hanged himself, and died; and he was buried in his father’s tomb.


text:
<pb/>Then David went to <f>[23†]</f>Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.


text:
And Absalom made <f>[24†]</f>Amasa captain of the army instead of Joab. This Amasa <i>was</i> the son of a man whose name <i>was</i> Jithra, an Israelite, who had gone in to <f>[25†]</f>Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother.


text:
<pb/>Now it happened, when David had come to Mahanaim, that <f>[26†]</f>Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the people of Ammon, <f>[27†]</f>Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and <f>[28†]</f>Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim,


text:
brought beds and basins, earthen vessels and wheat, barley and flour, parched <i>grain</i> and beans, lentils and parched <i>seeds,</i>


text:
honey and curds, sheep and cheese of the herd, for David and the people who <i>were</i> with him to eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty <f>[29†]</f>in the wilderness.”


text:
<pb/>And David numbered the people who <i>were</i> with him, and <f>[1†]</f>set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.


text:
Then David sent out one third of the people under the hand of Joab, <f>[2†]</f>one third under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the hand of <f>[3†]</f>Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I also will surely go out with you myself.”


text:
<pb/> <f>[4†]</f>But the people answered, “You shall not go out! For if we flee away, they will not care about us; nor if half of us die, will they care about us. But <i>you</i> <i>are</i> worth ten thousand of us now. For you are now more help to us in the city.”


text:
<pb/>Then the king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.


text:
Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, “<i>Deal</i> gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” <f>[5†]</f>And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains orders concerning Absalom.


text:
<pb/>So the people went out into the field of battle against Israel. And the battle was in the <f>[6†]</f>woods of Ephraim.


text:
The people of Israel were overthrown there before the servants of David, and a great slaughter of twenty thousand took place there that day.


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For the battle there was scattered over the face of the whole countryside, and the woods devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.


text:
<pb/>Then Absalom met the servants of David. Absalom rode on a mule. The mule went under the thick boughs of a great terebinth tree, and <f>[7†]</f>his head caught in the terebinth; so he was left hanging between heaven and earth. And the mule which <i>was</i> under him went on.


text:
Now a certain man saw <i>it</i> and told Joab, and said, “I just saw Absalom hanging in a terebinth tree!”


text:
<pb/>So Joab said to the man who told him, “You just saw <i>him!</i> And why did you not strike him there to the ground? I would have given you ten <i>shekels</i> of silver and a belt.”


text:
<pb/>But the man said to Joab, “Though I were to receive a thousand <i>shekels</i> of silver in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son. <f>[8†]</f>For in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Beware lest anyone <i>touch</i> the young man Absalom!’


text:
Otherwise I would have dealt falsely against my own life. For there is nothing hidden from the king, and you yourself would have set yourself against <i>me.</i>”


text:
<pb/>Then Joab said, “I cannot linger with you.” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom’s heart, while he was <i>still</i> alive in the midst of the terebinth tree.


text:
<pb/>So Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel. For Joab held back the people.


text:
And they took Absalom and cast him into a large pit in the woods, and <f>[9†]</f>laid a very large heap of stones over him. Then all Israel <f>[10†]</f>fled, everyone to his tent.


text:
<pb/>Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up a pillar for himself, which <i>is</i> in <f>[11†]</f>the King’s Valley. For he said, <f>[12†]</f>“I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” He called the pillar after his own name. And to this day it is called Absalom’s Monument.


text:
<pb/>Then <f>[13†]</f>Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me run now and take the news to the king, how the LORD has avenged him of his enemies.”


text:
<pb/>And Joab said to him, “You shall not take the news this day, for you shall take the news another day. But today you shall take no news, because the king’s son is dead.”


text:
Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” So the Cushite bowed himself to Joab and ran.


text:
<pb/>And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, “But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.” <pb/>So Joab said, “Why will you run, my son, since you have no news ready?”


text:
<pb/>“But whatever happens,” <i>he</i> <i>said,</i> “let me run.” <pb/>So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.


text:
<pb/>Now David was sitting between the <f>[14†]</f>two gates. And the watchman went up to the roof over the gate, to the wall, lifted his eyes and looked, and there was a man, running alone.


text:
Then the watchman cried out and told the king. And the king said, “If he <i>is</i> alone, <i>there</i> <i>is</i> news in his mouth.” And he came rapidly and drew near.


text:
<pb/>Then the watchman saw <i>another</i> man running, and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “There is <i>another</i> man, running alone!” <pb/>And the king said, “He also brings news.”


text:
<pb/>So the watchman said, “I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” <pb/>And the king said, “He <i>is</i> a good man, and comes with <f>[15†]</f>good news.”


text:
<pb/>So Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, “All is well!” Then he bowed down with his face to the earth before the king, and said, <f>[16†]</f>“Blessed <i>be</i> the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king!”


text:
<pb/>The king said, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” <pb/>Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant and <i>me</i> your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what <i>it</i> <i>was</i> <i>about.</i>”


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<pb/>Just then the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, “There is good news, my lord the king! For the LORD has avenged you this day of all those who rose against you.”


text:
<pb/>And the king said to the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” <pb/>So the Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against you to do harm, be like <i>that</i> young man!”


text:
<pb/>Then the king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went, he said thus: <f>[17†]</f>“O my son Absalom—my son, my son Absalom—if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, <f>[18†]</f>my son!”


text:
So the victory that day was <i>turned</i> into <f>[2†]</f>mourning for all the people. For the people heard it said that day, “The king is grieved for his son.”


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And the people stole back <f>[3†]</f>into the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.


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But the king <f>[4†]</f>covered his face, and the king cried out with a loud voice, <f>[5†]</f>“O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”


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<pb/>Then <f>[6†]</f>Joab came into the house to the king, and said, “Today you have disgraced all your servants who today have saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives and the lives of your concubines,


text:
in that you love your enemies and hate your friends. For you have declared today that you regard neither princes nor servants; for today I perceive that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died today, then it would have pleased you well.


text:
Now therefore, arise, go out and speak comfort to your servants. For I swear by the LORD, if you do not go out, not one will stay with you this night. And that will be worse for you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now.”


text:
Then the king arose and sat in the <f>[7†]</f>gate. And they told all the people, saying, “There is the king, sitting in the gate.” So all the people came before the king. <pb/>For everyone of Israel had <f>[8†]</f>fled to his tent.


text:
<pb/>Now all the people were in a dispute throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king saved us from the hand of our <f>[9†]</f>enemies, he delivered us from the hand of the <f>[10†]</f>Philistines, and now he has <f>[11†]</f>fled from the land because of Absalom.


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But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now therefore, why do you say nothing about bringing back the king?”


text:
<pb/>So King David sent to <f>[12†]</f>Zadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the words of all Israel have come to the king, to his <i>very</i> house?


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You <i>are</i> my brethren, you <i>are</i> <f>[13†]</f>my bone and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?’


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<f>[14†]</f>And say to Amasa, ‘<i>Are</i> you not my bone and my flesh? <f>[15†]</f>God do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of the army before me continually in place of Joab.’ ”


text:
So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah, <f>[16†]</f>just as <i>the</i> <i>heart</i> <i>of</i> one man, so that they sent <i>this</i> <i>word</i> to the king: “Return, you and all your servants!”


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<pb/>Then the king returned and came to the Jordan. And Judah came to <f>[17†]</f>Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to escort the king <f>[18†]</f>across the Jordan.


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And <f>[19†]</f>Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, who <i>was</i> from Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David.


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<i>There</i> <i>were</i> a thousand men of <f>[20†]</f>Benjamin with him, and <f>[21†]</f>Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over the Jordan before the king.


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Then a ferryboat went across to carry over the king’s household, and to do what he thought good. <pb/>Now Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king when he had crossed the Jordan.


text:
Then he said to the king, <f>[22†]</f>“Do not let my lord impute iniquity to me, or remember what <f>[23†]</f>wrong your servant did on the day that my lord the king left Jerusalem, that the king should <f>[24†]</f>take <i>it</i> to heart.


text:
For I, your servant, know that I have sinned. Therefore here I am, the first to come today of all <f>[25†]</f>the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.”


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<pb/>But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, “Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, <f>[26†]</f>because he <f>[27†]</f>cursed the LORD’s anointed?”


text:
<pb/>And David said, <f>[28†]</f>“What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be adversaries to me today? <f>[29†]</f>Shall any man be put to death today in Israel? For do I not know that today I <i>am</i> king over Israel?”


text:
<pb/>Now <f>[31†]</f>Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. And he had not cared for his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he returned in peace.


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So it was, when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, <f>[32†]</f>“Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”


text:
<pb/>And he answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go to the king,’ because your servant <i>is</i> lame.


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And <f>[33†]</f>he has slandered your servant to my lord the king, <f>[34†]</f>but my lord the king <i>is</i> like the angel of God. Therefore do <i>what</i> <i>is</i> good in your eyes.


text:
For all my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king. <f>[35†]</f>Yet you set your servant among those who eat at your own table. Therefore what right have I still to cry out anymore to the king?”


text:
<pb/>So the king said to him, “Why do you speak anymore of your matters? I have said, ‘You and Ziba divide the land.’ ”


text:
<pb/>Then Mephibosheth said to the king, “Rather, let him take it all, inasmuch as my lord the king has come back in peace to his own house.”


text:
<pb/>And <f>[36†]</f>Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went across the Jordan with the king, to escort him across the Jordan.


text:
Now Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. And <f>[37†]</f>he had provided the king with supplies while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he <i>was</i> a very rich man.


text:
And the king said to Barzillai, “Come across with me, and I will provide for you while you are with me in Jerusalem.”


text:
<pb/>But Barzillai said to the king, “How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?


text:
I <i>am</i> today <f>[38†]</f>eighty years old. Can I discern between the good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any longer the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be a further burden to my lord the king?


text:
Your servant will go a little way across the Jordan with the king. And why should the king repay me <i>with</i> such a reward?


text:
Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, near the grave of my father and mother. But here is your servant <f>[39†]</f>Chimham; let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what seems good to you.”


text:
<pb/>And the king answered, “Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you. Now whatever you request of me, I will do for you.”


text:
Then all the people went over the Jordan. And when the king had crossed over, the king <f>[40†]</f>kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own place.


text:
<pb/>Now the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him. And all the people of Judah escorted the king, and also half the people of Israel.


text:
Just then all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, “Why have our brethren, the men of Judah, stolen you away and <f>[41†]</f>brought the king, his household, and all David’s men with him across the Jordan?”


text:
<pb/>So all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king <i>is</i> <f>[42†]</f>a close relative of ours. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we ever eaten at the king’s <i>expense?</i> Or has he given us any gift?”


text:
<pb/>And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, <f>[43†]</f>“We have ten shares in the king; therefore we also have more <i>right</i> to David than you. Why then do you despise us—were we not the first to advise bringing back our king?” <pb/>Yet <f>[44†]</f>the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.


text:
<pb/>And there happened to be there a rebel, whose name <i>was</i> Sheba the son of Bichri, a Benjamite. And he blew a trumpet, and said: <pb/><t> <f>[1†]</f>“We have no share in David, </t><t>Nor do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse; </t><t> <f>[2†]</f>Every man to his tents, O Israel!”</t>


text:
<pb/>So every man of Israel deserted David, <i>and</i> followed Sheba the son of Bichri. But the <f>[3†]</f>men of Judah, from the Jordan as far as Jerusalem, remained loyal to their king.


text:
<pb/>Now David came to his house at Jerusalem. And the king took the ten women, <f>[4†]</f>his concubines whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in seclusion and supported them, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood.


text:
<pb/>And the king said to Amasa, <f>[5†]</f>“Assemble the men of Judah for me within three days, and be present here yourself.”


text:
So Amasa went to assemble <i>the</i> <i>men</i> <i>of</i> Judah. But he delayed longer than the set time which David had appointed him.


text:
And David said to <f>[6†]</f>Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. Take <f>[7†]</f>your lord’s servants and pursue him, lest he find for himself fortified cities, and escape us.”


text:
So Joab’s men, with the <f>[8†]</f>Cherethites, the Pelethites, and <f>[9†]</f>all the mighty men, went out after him. And they went out of Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.


text:
When they <i>were</i> at the large stone which <i>is</i> in Gibeon, Amasa came before them. Now Joab was dressed in battle armor; on it was a belt <i>with</i> a sword fastened in its sheath at his hips; and as he was going forward, it fell out.


text:
Then Joab said to Amasa, “<i>Are</i> you in health, my brother?” <f>[10†]</f>And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.


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But Amasa did not notice the sword that <i>was</i> in Joab’s hand. And <f>[11†]</f>he struck him with it <f>[12†]</f>in the stomach, and his entrails poured out on the ground; and he did not <i>strike</i> him again. Thus he died. <pb/>Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri.


text:
Meanwhile one of Joab’s men stood near Amasa, and said, “Whoever favors Joab and whoever <i>is</i> for David—follow Joab!”


text:
But Amasa wallowed in <i>his</i> blood in the middle of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he moved Amasa from the highway to the field and threw a garment over him, when he saw that everyone who came upon him halted.


text:
When he was removed from the highway, all the people went on after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.


text:
<pb/>And he went through all the tribes of Israel to <f>[13†]</f>Abel and Beth Maachah and all the Berites. So they were gathered together and also went after <i>Sheba.</i>


text:
Then they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth Maachah; and they <f>[14†]</f>cast up a siege mound against the city, and it stood by the rampart. And all the people who <i>were</i> with Joab battered the wall to throw it down.


text:
<pb/>Then a wise woman cried out from the city, “Hear, hear! Please say to Joab, ‘Come nearby, that I may speak with you.’ ”


text:
When he had come near to her, the woman said, “<i>Are</i> you Joab?” <pb/>He answered, “I <i>am.</i>” <pb/>Then she said to him, “Hear the words of your maidservant.” <pb/>And he answered, “I am listening.”


text:
<pb/>So she spoke, saying, “They used to talk in former times, saying, ‘They shall surely seek <i>guidance</i> at Abel,’ and so they would end <i>disputes.</i>


text:
I <i>am</i> <i>among</i> <i>the</i> peaceable <i>and</i> faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up <f>[15†]</f>the inheritance of the LORD?”


text:
<pb/>And Joab answered and said, “Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy!


text:
That <i>is</i> not so. But a man from the mountains of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has raised his hand against the king, against David. Deliver him only, and I will depart from the city.” <pb/>So the woman said to Joab, “Watch, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.”


text:
Then the woman <f>[16†]</f>in her wisdom went to all the people. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw <i>it</i> out to Joab. Then he blew a trumpet, and they withdrew from the city, every man to his tent. So Joab returned to the king at Jerusalem.


text:
<pb/>And <f>[17†]</f>Joab <i>was</i> over all the army of Israel; Benaiah the son of Jehoiada <i>was</i> over the Cherethites and the Pelethites;


text:
Adoram <i>was</i> <f>[18†]</f>in charge of revenue; <f>[19†]</f>Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud <i>was</i> recorder;


text:
<pb/>Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David <f>[1†]</f>inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, “<i>It</i> <i>is</i> because of Saul and <i>his</i> bloodthirsty house, because he killed the Gibeonites.”


text:
So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites <i>were</i> not of the children of Israel, but <f>[2†]</f>of the remnant of the Amorites; the children of Israel had sworn protection to them, but Saul had sought to kill them <f>[3†]</f>in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah.


text:
<pb/>Therefore David said to the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? And with what shall I make atonement, that you may bless <f>[4†]</f>the inheritance of the LORD?”


text:
<pb/>And the Gibeonites said to him, “We will have no silver or gold from Saul or from his house, nor shall you kill any man in Israel for us.” <pb/>So he said, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”


text:
<pb/>Then they answered the king, “As for the man who consumed us and plotted against us, <i>that</i> we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the territories of Israel,


text:
let seven men of his descendants be delivered <f>[5†]</f>to us, and we will hang them before the LORD <f>[6†]</f>in Gibeah of Saul, <f>[7†]</f><i>whom</i> the LORD chose.” <pb/>And the king said, “I will give <i>them.</i>”


text:
<pb/>But the king spared <f>[8†]</f>Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of <f>[9†]</f>the LORD’s oath that <i>was</i> between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.


text:
So the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of <f>[10†]</f>Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite;


text:
and he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill <f>[11†]</f>before the LORD. So they fell, <i>all</i> seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first <i>days,</i> in the beginning of barley harvest.


text:
<pb/>Now <f>[12†]</f>Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock, <f>[13†]</f>from the beginning of harvest until the late rains poured on them from heaven. And she did not allow the birds of the air to rest on them by day nor the beasts of the field by night.


text:
Then David went and took the bones of Saul, and the bones of Jonathan his son, from the men of <f>[14†]</f>Jabesh Gilead who had stolen them from the street of Beth Shan, where the <f>[15†]</f>Philistines had hung them up, after the Philistines had struck down Saul in Gilboa.


text:
So he brought up the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from there; and they gathered the bones of those who had been hanged.


text:
They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in <f>[16†]</f>Zelah, in the tomb of Kish his father. So they performed all that the king commanded. And after that <f>[17†]</f>God heeded the prayer for the land.


text:
<pb/>When the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David and his servants with him went down and fought against the Philistines; and David grew faint.


text:
Then Ishbi-Benob, who <i>was</i> one of the sons of the <f>[18†]</f>giant, the weight of whose bronze spear <i>was</i> three hundred <i>shekels,</i> who was bearing a new <i>sword,</i> thought he could kill David.


text:
But <f>[19†]</f>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, <f>[20†]</f>“You shall go out no more with us to battle, lest you quench the <f>[21†]</f>lamp of Israel.”


text:
<pb/> <f>[22†]</f>Now it happened afterward that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob. Then <f>[23†]</f>Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Saph, who <i>was</i> one of the sons of the giant.


text:
Again there was war at Gob with the Philistines, where <f>[24†]</f>Elhanan the son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed <f>[25†]</f><i>the</i> <i>brother</i> <i>of</i> Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear <i>was</i> like a weaver’s beam.


text:
<pb/>Yet again <f>[26†]</f>there was war at Gath, where there was a man of <i>great</i> 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:
<pb/> <f>[28†]</f>These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.


text:
<pb/>Then David <f>[1†]</f>spoke to the LORD the words of this song, on the day when the LORD had <f>[2†]</f>delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.


text:
And he <f>[3†]</f>said: <pb/><t> <f>[4†]</f>“The LORD <i>is</i> my rock and my <f>[5†]</f>fortress and my deliverer;</t>


text:
<t>The God of my strength, <f>[6†]</f>in whom I will trust; </t><t>My <f>[7†]</f>shield and the <f>[8†]</f>horn of my salvation, </t><t>My <f>[9†]</f>stronghold and my <f>[10†]</f>refuge; </t><t>My Savior, You save me from violence.</t>


text:
<t>I will call upon the LORD, <i>who</i> <i>is</i> <i>worthy</i> to be praised; </t><t>So shall I be saved from my enemies.</t>


text:
<t>In my distress <f>[12†]</f>I called upon the LORD, </t><t>And cried out to my God; </t><t>He <f>[13†]</f>heard my voice from His temple, </t><t>And my cry <i>entered</i> His ears.</t>


text:
<t>“Then <f>[14†]</f>the earth shook and trembled; </t><t> <f>[15†]</f>The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken, </t><t>Because He was angry.</t>


text:
<t>Smoke went up from His nostrils, </t><t>And devouring <f>[16†]</f>fire from His mouth; </t><t>Coals were kindled by it.</t>


text:
<t>He <f>[17†]</f>bowed the heavens also, and came down </t><t>With <f>[18†]</f>darkness under His feet.</t>


text:
<t>He rode upon a cherub, and flew; </t><t>And He was seen <f>[19†]</f>upon the wings of the wind.</t>


text:
<t>He made <f>[20†]</f>darkness canopies around Him, </t><t>Dark waters <i>and</i> thick clouds of the skies.</t>


text:
<t>He sent out <f>[22†]</f>arrows and scattered them; </t><t>Lightning bolts, and He vanquished them.</t>


text:
<t>Then the channels of the sea <f>[23†]</f>were seen, </t><t>The foundations of the world were uncovered, </t><t>At the <f>[24†]</f>rebuke of the LORD, </t><t>At the blast of the breath of His nostrils.</t>


text:
<t>He delivered me from my strong enemy, </t><t>From those who hated me; </t><t>For they were too strong for me.</t>


text:
<t>They confronted me in the day of my calamity, </t><t>But the LORD was my <f>[26†]</f>support.</t>


text:
<t> <f>[27†]</f>He also brought me out into a broad place; </t><t>He delivered me because He <f>[28†]</f>delighted in me.</t>


text:
<t>“The <f>[29†]</f> LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; </t><t>According to the <f>[30†]</f>cleanness of my hands </t><t>He has recompensed me.</t>


text:
<t>For I have <f>[31†]</f>kept the ways of the LORD, </t><t>And have not wickedly departed from my God.</t>


text:
<t>For all His <f>[32†]</f>judgments <i>were</i> before me; </t><t>And <i>as</i> <i>for</i> His statutes, I did not depart from them.</t>


text:
<t>Therefore <f>[34†]</f>the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness, </t><t>According to my cleanness in His eyes.</t>


text:
<t>“With <f>[35†]</f>the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; </t><t>With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless;</t>


text:
<t>With the pure You will show Yourself pure; </t><t>And <f>[36†]</f>with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.</t>


text:
<t>You will save the <f>[37†]</f>humble people; </t><t>But Your eyes <i>are</i> on <f>[38†]</f>the haughty, <i>that</i> You may bring <i>them</i> down.</t>


text:
<t>“For You <i>are</i> my <f>[39†]</f>lamp, O LORD; </t><t>The LORD shall enlighten my darkness.</t>


text:
<t><i>As</i> <i>for</i> God, <f>[41†]</f>His way <i>is</i> perfect; </t><t> <f>[42†]</f>The word of the LORD <i>is</i> proven; </t><t>He <i>is</i> a shield to all who trust in Him.</t>


text:
<t>“For <f>[43†]</f>who <i>is</i> God, except the LORD? </t><t>And who <i>is</i> a rock, except our God?</t>


text:
<t>God <i>is</i> my <f>[44†]</f>strength <i>and</i> power, </t><t>And He <f>[45†]</f>makes my way <f>[46†]</f>perfect.</t>


text:
<t>He makes my feet <f>[47†]</f>like the <i>feet</i> of deer, </t><t>And <f>[48†]</f>sets me on my high places.</t>


text:
<t>“You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; </t><t>Your gentleness has made me great.</t>


text:
<t>“I have pursued my enemies and destroyed them; </t><t>Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed.</t>


text:
<t>And I have destroyed them and wounded them, </t><t>So that they could not rise; </t><t>They have fallen <f>[50†]</f>under my feet.</t>


text:
<t>For You have <f>[51†]</f>armed me with strength for the battle; </t><t>You have subdued under me <f>[52†]</f>those who rose against me.</t>


text:
<t>You have also given me the <f>[53†]</f>necks of my enemies, </t><t>So that I destroyed those who hated me.</t>


text:
<t>They looked, but <i>there</i> <i>was</i> none to save; </t><t><i>Even</i> <f>[54†]</f>to the LORD, but He did not answer them.</t>


text:
<t>Then I beat them as fine <f>[55†]</f>as the dust of the earth; </t><t>I trod them <f>[56†]</f>like dirt in the streets, </t><t><i>And</i> I spread them out.</t>


text:
<t>“You <f>[57†]</f> have also delivered me from the strivings of my people; </t><t>You have kept me as the <f>[58†]</f>head of the nations. </t><t> <f>[59†]</f>A people I have not known shall serve me.</t>


text:
<t>“The LORD lives! </t><t>Blessed <i>be</i> my Rock! </t><t>Let God be exalted, </t><t>The <f>[61†]</f>Rock of my salvation!</t>


text:
<t>He delivers me from my enemies. </t><t>You also lift me up above those who rise against me; </t><t>You have delivered me from the <f>[63†]</f>violent man.</t>


text:
<t>Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among <f>[64†]</f>the Gentiles, </t><t>And sing praises to Your <f>[65†]</f>name.</t>


text:
<t>“<i>He</i> <f>[66†]</f> is the tower of salvation to His king, </t><t>And shows mercy to His <f>[67†]</f>anointed, </t><t>To David and <f>[68†]</f>his descendants forevermore.”</t>


text:
<pb/>Now these <i>are</i> the last words of David. <pb/><t><i>Thus</i> says David the son of Jesse; </t><t><i>Thus</i> says <f>[1†]</f>the man raised up on high, </t><t> <f>[2†]</f>The anointed of the God of Jacob, </t><t>And the sweet psalmist of Israel:</t>


text:
<t>“The <f>[3†]</f> Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, </t><t>And His word <i>was</i> on my tongue.</t>


text:
<t>The God of Israel said, </t><t> <f>[4†]</f>The Rock of Israel spoke to me: </t><t>‘He who rules over men <i>must</i> <i>be</i> just, </t><t>Ruling <f>[5†]</f>in the fear of God.</t>


text:
<t>And <f>[6†]</f><i>he</i> <i>shall</i> <i>be</i> like the light of the morning <i>when</i> the sun rises, </t><t>A morning without clouds, </t><t><i>Like</i> the tender grass <i>springing</i> out of the earth, </t><t>By clear shining after rain.’</t>


text:
<t>“Although my house <i>is</i> not so with God, </t><t> <f>[7†]</f>Yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant, </t><t>Ordered in all <i>things</i> and secure. </t><t>For <i>this</i> <i>is</i> all my salvation and all <i>my</i> desire; </t><t>Will He not make <i>it</i> increase?</t>


text:
<t>But <i>the</i> <i>sons</i> of rebellion <i>shall</i> all <i>be</i> as thorns thrust away, </t><t>Because they cannot be taken with hands.</t>


text:
<t>But the man <i>who</i> touches them </t><t>Must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear, </t><t>And they shall be utterly burned with fire in <i>their</i> place.”</t>


text:
<pb/>These <i>are</i> the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-Basshebeth the Tachmonite, chief among the captains. He was called Adino the Eznite, because he had killed eight hundred men at one time.


text:
And after him <i>was</i> <f>[8†]</f>Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, <i>one</i> of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines <i>who</i> were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated.


text:
He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was <f>[9†]</f>weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to <f>[10†]</f>plunder.


text:
And after him <i>was</i> <f>[11†]</f>Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. <f>[12†]</f>The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. So the people fled from the Philistines.


text:
But he stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the LORD brought about a great victory.


text:
<pb/>Then <f>[13†]</f>three of the thirty chief men went down at harvest time and came to David at <f>[14†]</f>the cave of Adullam. And the troop of Philistines encamped in <f>[15†]</f>the Valley of Rephaim.


text:
David <i>was</i> then in <f>[16†]</f>the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines <i>was</i> then <i>in</i> Bethlehem.


text:
And David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which <i>is</i> by the gate!”


text:
So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that <i>was</i> by the gate, and took it and brought <i>it</i> to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD.


text:
And he said, “Far be it from me, O LORD, that I should do this! Is <i>this</i> <i>not</i> <f>[17†]</f>the blood of the men who went in <i>jeopardy</i> <i>of</i> their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. <pb/>These things were done by the three mighty men.


text:
<pb/>Now <f>[18†]</f>Abishai the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of <i>another</i> three. He lifted his spear against three hundred <i>men,</i> killed <i>them,</i> and won a name among <i>these</i> three.


text:
Was he not the most honored of three? Therefore he became their captain. However, he did not attain to the <i>first</i> three.


text:
<pb/>Benaiah <i>was</i> the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from <f>[19†]</f>Kabzeel, who had done many deeds. <f>[20†]</f>He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day.


text:
And he killed an Egyptian, a spectacular man. The Egyptian <i>had</i> a spear in his hand; so he went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.


text:
He was more honored than the thirty, but he did not attain to the <i>first</i> three. And David appointed him <f>[21†]</f>over his guard.


text:
<pb/> <f>[22†]</f>Asahel the brother of Joab <i>was</i> one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,


text:
Heleb the son of Baanah (the Netophathite), Ittai the son of Ribai from Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,


text:
Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of <f>[26†]</f>Ahithophel the Gilonite,


text:
<pb/>Again <f>[1†]</f>the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, <f>[2†]</f>“Go, number Israel and Judah.”


text:
<pb/>So the king said to Joab the commander of the army who <i>was</i> with him, “Now go throughout all the tribes of Israel, <f>[3†]</f>from Dan to Beersheba, and count the people, that <f>[4†]</f>I may know the number of the people.”


text:
<pb/>And Joab said to the king, “Now may the LORD your God <f>[5†]</f>add to the people a hundred times more than there are, and may the eyes of my lord the king see <i>it.</i> But why does my lord the king desire this thing?”


text:
Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab and against the captains of the army. Therefore Joab and the captains of the army went out from the presence of the king to count the people of Israel.


text:
<pb/>And they crossed over the Jordan and camped in <f>[6†]</f>Aroer, on the right side of the town which <i>is</i> in the midst of the ravine of Gad, and toward <f>[7†]</f>Jazer.


text:
Then they came to Gilead and to the land of Tahtim Hodshi; they came to <f>[8†]</f>Dan Jaan and around to <f>[9†]</f>Sidon;


text:
and they came to the stronghold of <f>[10†]</f>Tyre and to all the cities of the <f>[11†]</f>Hivites and the Canaanites. Then they went out to South Judah <i>as</i> <i>far</i> <i>as</i> Beersheba.


text:
So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.


text:
Then Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to the king. <f>[12†]</f>And there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.


text:
<pb/>And <f>[13†]</f>David’s heart condemned him after he had numbered the people. So <f>[14†]</f>David said to the LORD, <f>[15†]</f>“I have sinned greatly in what I have done; but now, I pray, O LORD, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have <f>[16†]</f>done very foolishly.”


text:
<pb/>Now when David arose in the morning, the word of the LORD came to the prophet <f>[17†]</f>Gad, David’s <f>[18†]</f>seer, saying,


text:
“Go and tell David, ‘Thus says the LORD: “I offer you three <i>things;</i> choose one of them for yourself, that I may do <i>it</i> to you.” ’ ”


text:
So Gad came to David and told him; and he said to him, “Shall <f>[19†]</f>seven years of famine come to you in your land? Or shall you flee three months before your enemies, while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days’ plague in your land? Now consider and see what answer I should take back to Him who sent me.”


text:
<pb/>And David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the LORD, <f>[20†]</f>for His mercies <i>are</i> great; but <f>[21†]</f>do not let me fall into the hand of man.”


text:
<pb/>So <f>[22†]</f>the LORD sent a plague upon Israel from the morning till the appointed time. From Dan to Beersheba seventy thousand men of the people died.


text:
<f>[23†]</f>And when the angel stretched out His hand over Jerusalem to destroy it, <f>[24†]</f>the LORD relented from the destruction, and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “It is enough; now restrain your hand.” And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.


text:
<pb/>Then David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and said, “Surely <f>[25†]</f>I have sinned, and I have done wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? Let Your hand, I pray, be against me and against my father’s house.”


text:
<pb/>And Gad came that day to David and said to him, <f>[26†]</f>“Go up, erect an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.”


text:
Now Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming toward him. So Araunah went out and bowed before the king with his face to the ground.


text:
<pb/>Then Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” <pb/> <f>[27†]</f>And David said, “To buy the threshing floor from you, to build an altar to the LORD, that <f>[28†]</f>the plague may be withdrawn from the people.”


text:
<pb/>Now Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take and offer up whatever <i>seems</i> good to him. <f>[29†]</f>Look, <i>here</i> <i>are</i> oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing implements and the yokes of the oxen for wood.


text:
All these, O king, Araunah has given to the king.” <pb/>And Araunah said to the king, “May the LORD your God <f>[30†]</f>accept you.”


text:
<pb/>Then the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy <i>it</i> from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God with that which costs me nothing.” So <f>[31†]</f>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. <f>[32†]</f>So the LORD heeded the prayers for the land, and <f>[33†]</f>the plague was withdrawn from Israel.


text:
<pb/>Now King David was <f>[1†]</f>old, advanced in years; and they put covers on him, but he could not get warm.


text:
Therefore his servants said to him, “Let a young woman, a virgin, be sought for our lord the king, and let her stand before the king, and let her care for him; and let her lie in your bosom, that our lord the king may be warm.”


text:
So they sought for a lovely young woman throughout all the territory of Israel, and found <f>[2†]</f>Abishag the <f>[3†]</f>Shunammite, and brought her to the king.


text:
The young woman <i>was</i> very lovely; and she cared for the king, and served him; but the king did not know her.


text:
<pb/>Then <f>[4†]</f>Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king”; and <f>[5†]</f>he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.


text:
(And his father had not rebuked him at any time by saying, “Why have you done so?” He <i>was</i> also very good-looking. <f>[6†]</f><i>His</i> <i>mother</i> had borne him after Absalom.)


text:
Then he conferred with <f>[7†]</f>Joab the son of Zeruiah and with <f>[8†]</f>Abiathar the priest, and <f>[9†]</f>they followed and helped Adonijah.


text:
But <f>[10†]</f>Zadok the priest, <f>[11†]</f>Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, <f>[12†]</f>Nathan the prophet, <f>[13†]</f>Shimei, Rei, and <f>[14†]</f>the mighty men who <i>belonged</i> to David were not with Adonijah.


text:
<pb/>And Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and fattened cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which <i>is</i> by <f>[15†]</f>En Rogel; he also invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants.


text:
But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or <f>[16†]</f>Solomon his brother.


text:
<pb/>So Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, “Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of <f>[17†]</f>Haggith has become king, and David our lord does not know <i>it?</i>


text:
Come, please, let me now give you advice, that you may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.


text:
Go immediately to King David and say to him, ‘Did you not, my lord, O king, swear to your maidservant, saying, <f>[18†]</f>“Assuredly your son Solomon shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne“? Why then has Adonijah become king?’


text:
Then, while you are still talking there with the king, I also will come in after you and confirm your words.”


text:
<pb/>So Bathsheba went into the chamber to the king. (Now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.)


text:
<pb/>Then she said to him, “My lord, <f>[19†]</f>you swore by the LORD your God to your maidservant, <i>saying,</i> ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.’


text:
<f>[20†]</f>He has sacrificed oxen and fattened cattle and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the sons of the king, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army; but Solomon your servant he has not invited.


text:
And as for you, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel <i>are</i> on you, that you should tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.


text:
Otherwise it will happen, when my lord the king <f>[21†]</f>rests with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be counted as offenders.”


text:
So they told the king, saying, “Here is Nathan the prophet.” And when he came in before the king, he bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.


text:
And Nathan said, “My lord, O king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne’?


text:
<f>[22†]</f>For he has gone down today, and has sacrificed oxen and fattened cattle and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king’s sons, and the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest; and look! They are eating and drinking before him; and they say, <f>[23†]</f>‘<i>Long</i> live King Adonijah!’


text:
But he has not invited me—me your servant—nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon.


text:
Has this thing been done by my lord the king, and you have not told your servant who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”


text:
<pb/>Then King David answered and said, “Call Bathsheba to me.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before the king.


text:
And the king took an oath and said, <f>[24†]</f>“<i>As</i> the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from every distress,


text:
<f>[25†]</f>just as I swore to you by the LORD God of Israel, saying, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place,’ so I certainly will do this day.”


text:
<pb/>Then Bathsheba bowed with <i>her</i> face to the earth, and paid homage to the king, and said, <f>[26†]</f>“Let my lord King David live forever!”


text:
<pb/>And King David said, “Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king.


text:
The king also said to them, <f>[27†]</f>“Take with you the servants of your lord, and have Solomon my son ride on my own <f>[28†]</f>mule, and take him down to <f>[29†]</f>Gihon.


text:
There let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet <f>[30†]</f>anoint him king over Israel; and <f>[31†]</f>blow the horn, and say, ‘<i>Long</i> live King Solomon!’


text:
Then you shall come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne, and he shall be king in my place. For I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.”


text:
<pb/>Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, <f>[32†]</f>“Amen! May the LORD God of my lord the king say so <i>too.</i>


text:
<f>[33†]</f>As the LORD has been with my lord the king, even so may He be with Solomon, and <f>[34†]</f>make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David.”


text:
<pb/>So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, <f>[35†]</f>Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the <f>[36†]</f>Cherethites, and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride on King David’s mule, and took him to Gihon.


text:
Then Zadok the priest took a horn of <f>[37†]</f>oil from the tabernacle and <f>[38†]</f>anointed Solomon. And they blew the horn, <f>[39†]</f>and all the people said, <i>“Long</i> live King Solomon!”


text:
And all the people went up after him; and the people played the flutes and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth <i>seemed</i> <i>to</i> split with their sound.


text:
<pb/>Now Adonijah and all the guests who <i>were</i> with him heard <i>it</i> as they finished eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the horn, he said, “Why <i>is</i> the city in such a noisy uproar?”


text:
While he was still speaking, there came <f>[40†]</f>Jonathan, the son of Abiathar the priest. And Adonijah said to him, “Come in, for <f>[41†]</f>you <i>are</i> a prominent man, and bring good news.”


text:
The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites; and they have made him ride on the king’s mule.


text:
So Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon; and they have gone up from there rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. This <i>is</i> the noise that you have heard.


text:
And moreover the king’s servants have gone to bless our lord King David, saying, <f>[43†]</f>‘May God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and may He make his throne greater than your throne.’ <f>[44†]</f>Then the king bowed himself on the bed.


text:
Also the king said thus, ‘Blessed <i>be</i> the LORD God of Israel, who has <f>[45†]</f>given <i>one</i> to sit on my throne this day, while my eyes see <f>[46†]</f><i>it!</i>’ ”


text:
<pb/>Now Adonijah was afraid of Solomon; so he arose, and went and <f>[47†]</f>took hold of the horns of the altar.


text:
And it was told Solomon, saying, “Indeed Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon; for look, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’ ”


text:
<pb/>Then Solomon said, “If he proves himself a worthy man, <f>[48†]</f>not one hair of him shall fall to the earth; but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.”


text:
So King Solomon sent them to bring him down from the altar. And he came and fell down before King Solomon; and Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.”


text:
<pb/>Now <f>[1†]</f>the days of David drew near that he should die, and he charged Solomon his son, saying:


text:
<f>[2†]</f>“I go the way of all the earth; <f>[3†]</f>be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man.


text:
And keep the charge of the LORD your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may <f>[4†]</f>prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn;


text:
that the LORD may <f>[5†]</f>fulfill His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, <f>[6†]</f>‘If your sons take heed to their way, to <f>[7†]</f>walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul,’ He said, <f>[8†]</f>‘you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’


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<pb/>“Moreover you know also what Joab the son of Zeruiah <f>[9†]</f>did to me, <i>and</i> what he did to the two commanders of the armies of Israel, to <f>[10†]</f>Abner the son of Ner and <f>[11†]</f>Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed. And he shed the blood of war in peacetime, and put the blood of war on his belt that <i>was</i> around his waist, and on his sandals that <i>were</i> on his feet.


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Therefore do <f>[12†]</f>according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray hair go down to the grave in peace.


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<pb/>“But show kindness to the sons of <f>[13†]</f>Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who <f>[14†]</f>eat at your table, for so <f>[15†]</f>they came to me when I fled from Absalom your brother.


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<pb/>“And see, <i>you</i> <i>have</i> with you <f>[16†]</f>Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a malicious curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim. But <f>[17†]</f>he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and <f>[18†]</f>I swore to him by the LORD, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’


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Now therefore, <f>[19†]</f>do not hold him guiltless, for you <i>are</i> a wise man and know what you ought to do to him; but <f>[20†]</f>bring his gray hair down to the grave with blood.”


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The period that David <f>[23†]</f>reigned over Israel <i>was</i> forty years; seven years he reigned in Hebron, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years.


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<f>[24†]</f>Then Solomon sat on the throne of his father David; and his kingdom was <f>[25†]</f>firmly established.


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<pb/>Now Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. So she said, <f>[26†]</f>“Do you come peaceably?” <pb/>And he said, “Peaceably.”


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<pb/>Then he said, “You know that the kingdom was <f>[27†]</f>mine, and all Israel had set their expectations on me, that I should reign. However, the kingdom has been turned over, and has become my brother’s; for <f>[28†]</f>it was his from the LORD.


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<pb/>Then he said, “Please speak to King Solomon, for he will not refuse you, that he may give me <f>[29†]</f>Abishag the Shunammite as wife.”


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<pb/>Bathsheba therefore went to King Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her and <f>[30†]</f>bowed down to her, and sat down on his throne and had a throne set for the king’s mother; <f>[31†]</f>so she sat at his right hand.


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Then she said, “I desire one small petition of you; do not refuse me.” <pb/>And the king said to her, “Ask it, my mother, for I will not refuse you.”


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<pb/>And King Solomon answered and said to his mother, “Now why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also—for he <i>is</i> my <f>[32†]</f>older brother—for him, and for <f>[33†]</f>Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.”


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Then King Solomon swore by the LORD, saying, <f>[34†]</f>“May God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life!


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Now therefore, <i>as</i> the LORD lives, who has confirmed me and set me on the throne of David my father, and who has established a house for me, as He <f>[35†]</f>promised, Adonijah shall be put to death today!”


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<pb/>So King Solomon sent by the hand of <f>[36†]</f>Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he struck him down, and he died.


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<pb/>And to Abiathar the priest the king said, “Go to <f>[37†]</f>Anathoth, to your own fields, for you <i>are</i> deserving of death; but I will not put you to death at this time, <f>[38†]</f>because you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before my father David, and because you were afflicted every time my father was afflicted.”


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So Solomon removed Abiathar from being priest to the LORD, that he might <f>[39†]</f>fulfill the word of the LORD which He spoke concerning the house of Eli at Shiloh.


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<pb/>Then news came to Joab, for Joab <f>[40†]</f>had defected to Adonijah, though he had not defected to Absalom. So Joab fled to the tabernacle of the LORD, and <f>[41†]</f>took hold of the horns of the altar.


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And King Solomon was told, “Joab has fled to the tabernacle of the LORD; there <i>he</i> <i>is,</i> by the altar.” Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, <f>[42†]</f>strike him down.”


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So Benaiah went to the tabernacle of the LORD, and said to him, “Thus says the king, <f>[43†]</f>‘Come out!’ ” <pb/>And he said, “No, but I will die here.” And Benaiah brought back word to the king, saying, “Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.”


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<pb/>Then the king said to him, <f>[44†]</f>“Do as he has said, and strike him down and bury him, <f>[45†]</f>that you may take away from me and from the house of my father the innocent blood which Joab shed.


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So the LORD <f>[46†]</f>will return his blood on his head, because he struck down two men more righteous <f>[47†]</f>and better than he, and killed them with the sword— <f>[48†]</f>Abner the son of Ner, the commander of the army of Israel, and <f>[49†]</f>Amasa the son of Jether, the commander of the army of Judah—though my father David did not know <i>it.</i>


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Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab and <f>[50†]</f>upon the head of his descendants forever. <f>[51†]</f>But upon David and his descendants, upon his house and his throne, there shall be peace forever from the LORD.”


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<pb/>So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and struck and killed him; and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.


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The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his place over the army, and the king put <f>[52†]</f>Zadok the priest in the place of <f>[53†]</f>Abiathar.


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<pb/>Then the king sent and called for <f>[54†]</f>Shimei, and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and dwell there, and do not go out from there anywhere.


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For it shall be, on the day you go out and cross <f>[55†]</f>the Brook Kidron, know for certain you shall surely die; <f>[56†]</f>your blood shall be on your own head.”


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<pb/>And Shimei said to the king, “The saying <i>is</i> good. As my lord the king has said, so your servant will do.” So Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.


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<pb/>Now it happened at the end of three years, that two slaves of Shimei ran away to <f>[57†]</f>Achish the son of Maachah, king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, “Look, your slaves <i>are</i> in Gath!”


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So Shimei arose, saddled his donkey, and went to Achish at Gath to seek his slaves. And Shimei went and brought his slaves from Gath.


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Then the king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the LORD, and warn you, saying, ‘Know for certain that on the day you go out and travel anywhere, you shall surely die’? And you said to me, ‘The word I have heard <i>is</i> good.’


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The king said moreover to Shimei, “You know, as your heart acknowledges, <f>[58†]</f>all the wickedness that you did to my father David; therefore the LORD will <f>[59†]</f>return your wickedness on your own head.


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But King Solomon <i>shall</i> <i>be</i> blessed, and <f>[60†]</f>the throne of David shall be established before the LORD forever.”


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<pb/>So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he went out and struck him down, and he died. Thus the <f>[61†]</f>kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.


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<pb/>Now <f>[1†]</f>Solomon made a treaty with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and married Pharaoh’s daughter; then he brought her <f>[2†]</f>to the City of David until he had finished building his <f>[3†]</f>own house, and <f>[4†]</f>the house of the LORD, and <f>[5†]</f>the wall all around Jerusalem.


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<f>[6†]</f>Meanwhile the people sacrificed at the high places, because there was no house built for the name of the LORD until those days.


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And Solomon <f>[7†]</f>loved the LORD, <f>[8†]</f>walking in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense at the high places.


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<pb/>Now <f>[9†]</f>the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, <f>[10†]</f>for that <i>was</i> the great high place: Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.


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<f>[11†]</f>At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon <f>[12†]</f>in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?”


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<pb/> <f>[13†]</f>And Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he <f>[14†]</f>walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You <f>[15†]</f>have given him a son to sit on his throne, as <i>it</i> <i>is</i> this day.


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Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I <i>am</i> a <f>[16†]</f>little child; I do not know <i>how</i> <f>[17†]</f>to go out or come in.


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And Your servant <i>is</i> in the midst of Your people whom You <f>[18†]</f>have chosen, a great people, too <f>[19†]</f>numerous to be numbered or counted.


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<f>[20†]</f>Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart <f>[21†]</f>to judge Your people, that I may <f>[22†]</f>discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”


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Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have <f>[23†]</f>not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice,


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<f>[24†]</f>behold, I have done according to your words; <f>[25†]</f>see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.


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And I have also <f>[26†]</f>given you what you have not asked: both <f>[27†]</f>riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days.


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So <f>[28†]</f>if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, <f>[29†]</f>as your father David walked, then I will <f>[30†]</f>lengthen your days.”


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<pb/>Then Solomon <f>[31†]</f>awoke; and indeed it had been a dream. And he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, offered up burnt offerings, offered peace offerings, and <f>[32†]</f>made a feast for all his servants.


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<pb/>Now two women <i>who</i> <i>were</i> harlots came to the king, and <f>[33†]</f>stood before him.


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And one woman said, “O my lord, this woman and I dwell in the same house; and I gave birth while she <i>was</i> in the house.


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Then it happened, the third day after I had given birth, that this woman also gave birth. And we <i>were</i> together; no one <i>was</i> with us in the house, except the two of us in the house.


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So she arose in the middle of the night and took my son from my side, while your maidservant slept, and laid him in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.


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And when I rose in the morning to nurse my son, there he was, dead. But when I had examined him in the morning, indeed, he was not my son whom I had borne.”


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<pb/>Then the other woman said, “No! But the living one <i>is</i> my son, and the dead one <i>is</i> your son.” <pb/>And the first woman said, “No! But the dead one <i>is</i> your son, and the living one <i>is</i> my son.” <pb/>Thus they spoke before the king.


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<pb/>And the king said, “The one says, ‘This <i>is</i> my son, who lives, and your son <i>is</i> the dead one’; and the other says, ‘No! But your son <i>is</i> the dead one, and my son <i>is</i> the living one.’ ”


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<pb/>Then the woman whose son <i>was</i> living spoke to the king, for <f>[34†]</f>she yearned with compassion for her son; and she said, “O my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him!” <pb/>But the other said, “Let him be neither mine nor yours, <i>but</i> divide <i>him.</i>”


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<pb/>So the king answered and said, “Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him; she <i>is</i> his mother.”


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<pb/>And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had rendered; and they feared the king, for they saw that the <f>[35†]</f>wisdom of God <i>was</i> in him to administer justice.


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Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; <f>[1†]</f>Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder;


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Azariah the son of Nathan, over <f>[4†]</f>the officers; Zabud the son of Nathan, <f>[5†]</f>a priest <i>and</i> <f>[6†]</f>the king’s friend;


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<pb/>And Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household; each one made provision for one month of the year.


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Baana the son of Ahilud, <i>in</i> Taanach, Megiddo, and all Beth Shean, which <i>is</i> beside Zaretan below Jezreel, from Beth Shean to Abel Meholah, as far as the other side of Jokneam;


text:
Ben-Geber, in Ramoth Gilead; to him <i>belonged</i> <f>[8†]</f>the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, in Gilead; to him <i>also</i> <i>belonged</i> <f>[9†]</f>the region of Argob in Bashan—sixty large cities with walls and bronze gate-bars;


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Geber the son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, <i>in</i> <f>[13†]</f>the country of Sihon king of the Amorites, and of Og king of Bashan. <i>He</i> <i>was</i> the only governor who <i>was</i> in the land.


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<pb/>Judah and Israel <i>were</i> as numerous <f>[14†]</f>as the sand by the sea in multitude, <f>[15†]</f>eating and drinking and rejoicing.


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So <f>[16†]</f>Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from <f>[17†]</f>the River <i>to</i> the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. <f>[18†]</f><i>They</i> brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.


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<pb/> <f>[19†]</f>Now Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty kors of fine flour, sixty kors of meal,


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ten fatted oxen, twenty oxen from the pastures, and one hundred sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fatted fowl.


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<pb/>For he had dominion over all <i>the</i> <i>region</i> on this side of the River from Tiphsah even to Gaza, namely over <f>[20†]</f>all the kings on this side of the River; and <f>[21†]</f>he had peace on every side all around him.


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And Judah and Israel <f>[22†]</f>dwelt safely, <f>[23†]</f>each man under his vine and his fig tree, <f>[24†]</f>from Dan as far as Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.


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<pb/> <f>[25†]</f>Solomon had forty thousand stalls of <f>[26†]</f>horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.


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And <f>[27†]</f>these governors, each man in his month, provided food for King Solomon and for all who came to King Solomon’s table. There was no lack in their supply.


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They also brought barley and straw to the proper place, for the horses and steeds, each man according to his charge.


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<pb/>And <f>[28†]</f>God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore.


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Thus Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men <f>[29†]</f>of the East and all <f>[30†]</f>the wisdom of Egypt.


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For he was <f>[31†]</f>wiser than all men— <f>[32†]</f>than Ethan the Ezrahite, <f>[33†]</f>and Heman, Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol; and his fame was in all the surrounding nations.


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Also he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree of Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he spoke also of animals, of birds, of creeping things, and of fish.


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And men of all nations, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom, <f>[36†]</f>came to hear the wisdom of Solomon.


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<pb/>Now <f>[1†]</f>Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, because he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, <f>[2†]</f>for Hiram had always loved David.


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<pb/><t> <f>[4†]</f>You know how my father David could not build a house for the name of the LORD his God <f>[5†]</f>because of the wars which were fought against him on every side, until the LORD put <i>his</i> <i>foes</i> under the soles of his feet.</t>


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<t>But now the LORD my God has given me <f>[6†]</f>rest on every side; <i>there</i> <i>is</i> neither adversary nor evil occurrence.</t>


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<t> <f>[7†]</f>And behold, I propose to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, <f>[8†]</f>as the LORD spoke to my father David, saying, “Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he shall build the house for My name.”</t>


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<t>Now therefore, command that they cut down <f>[9†]</f>cedars for me from Lebanon; and my servants will be with your servants, and I will pay you wages for your servants according to whatever you say. For you know <i>there</i> <i>is</i> none among us who has skill to cut timber like the Sidonians.</t>


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<pb/>So it was, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly and said, <pb/><t>Blessed <i>be</i> the LORD this day, for He has given David a wise son over this great people!</t>


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<pb/>Then Hiram sent to Solomon, saying: <pb/><t>I have considered <i>the</i> <i>message</i> which you sent me, <i>and</i> I will do all you desire concerning the cedar and cypress logs.</t>


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<t>My servants shall bring <i>them</i> down <f>[10†]</f>from Lebanon to the sea; I will float them in rafts by sea to the place you indicate to me, and will have them broken apart there; then you can take <i>them</i> away. And you shall fulfill my desire <f>[11†]</f>by giving food for my household.</t>


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<f>[12†]</f>And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand kors of wheat <i>as</i> food for his household, and twenty kors of pressed oil. Thus Solomon gave to Hiram year by year.


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<pb/>So the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, <f>[13†]</f>as He had promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty together.


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<pb/>Then King Solomon raised up a labor force out of all Israel; and the labor force was thirty thousand men.


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And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month in shifts: they were one month in Lebanon <i>and</i> two months at home; <f>[14†]</f>Adoniram <i>was</i> in charge of the labor force.


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<f>[15†]</f>Solomon had seventy thousand who carried burdens, and eighty thousand who quarried <i>stone</i> in the mountains,


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besides three thousand three hundred from the <f>[16†]</f>chiefs of Solomon’s deputies, who supervised the people who labored in the work.


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And the king commanded them to quarry large stones, costly stones, <i>and</i> <f>[17†]</f>hewn stones, to lay the foundation of the temple.


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So Solomon’s builders, Hiram’s builders, and the Gebalites quarried <i>them;</i> and they prepared timber and stones to build the temple.


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<pb/>And <f>[1†]</f>it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which <i>is</i> the second month, <f>[2†]</f>that he began to build the house of the LORD.


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Now <f>[3†]</f>the house which King Solomon built for the LORD, its length <i>was</i> sixty cubits, its width twenty, and its height thirty cubits.


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The vestibule in front of the sanctuary of the house <i>was</i> twenty cubits long across the width of the house, <i>and</i> the width of <i>the</i> <i>vestibule</i> <i>extended</i> ten cubits from the front of the house.


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<pb/>Against the wall of the temple he built <f>[5†]</f>chambers all around, <i>against</i> the walls of the temple, all around the sanctuary <f>[6†]</f>and the inner sanctuary. Thus he made side chambers all around it.


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The lowest chamber <i>was</i> five cubits wide, the middle <i>was</i> six cubits wide, and the third <i>was</i> seven cubits wide; for he made narrow ledges around the outside of the temple, so that <i>the</i> <i>support</i> <i>beams</i> would not be fastened into the walls of the temple.


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And <f>[7†]</f>the temple, when it was being built, was built with stone finished at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel <i>or</i> any iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built.


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The doorway for the middle story <i>was</i> on the right side of the temple. They went up by stairs to the middle <i>story,</i> and from the middle to the third.


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<pb/> <f>[8†]</f>So he built the temple and finished it, and he paneled the temple with beams and boards of cedar.


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And he built side chambers against the entire temple, each five cubits high; they were attached to the temple with cedar beams.


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“<i>Concerning</i> this temple which you are building, <f>[9†]</f>if you walk in My statutes, execute My judgments, keep all My commandments, and walk in them, then I will perform My word with you, <f>[10†]</f>which I spoke to your father David.


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And <f>[11†]</f>I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not <f>[12†]</f>forsake My people Israel.”


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And he built the inside walls of the temple with cedar boards; from the floor of the temple to the ceiling he paneled the inside with wood; and he covered the floor of the temple with planks of cypress.


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Then he built the twenty-cubit room at the rear of the temple, from floor to ceiling, with cedar boards; he built <i>it</i> inside as the inner sanctuary, as the <f>[13†]</f>Most Holy <i>Place.</i>


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The inside of the temple was cedar, carved with ornamental buds and open flowers. All <i>was</i> cedar; there was no stone <i>to</i> <i>be</i> seen.


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<pb/>And he prepared the inner sanctuary inside the temple, to set the ark of the covenant of the LORD there.


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The inner sanctuary <i>was</i> twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high. He overlaid it with pure gold, and overlaid the altar of cedar.


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So Solomon overlaid the inside of the temple with pure gold. He stretched gold chains across the front of the inner sanctuary, and overlaid it with gold.


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The whole temple he overlaid with gold, until he had finished all the temple; also he overlaid with gold <f>[14†]</f>the entire altar that <i>was</i> by the inner sanctuary.


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<pb/>Inside the inner sanctuary <f>[15†]</f>he made two cherubim <i>of</i> olive wood, <i>each</i> ten cubits high.


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One wing of the cherub <i>was</i> five cubits, and the other wing of the cherub five cubits: ten cubits from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other.


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Then he set the cherubim inside the inner room; and <f>[16†]</f>they stretched out the wings of the cherubim so that the wing of the one touched <i>one</i> wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall. And their wings touched each other in the middle of the room.


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<pb/>Then he carved all the walls of the temple all around, both the inner and outer <i>sanctuaries,</i> with carved <f>[17†]</f>figures of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers.


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<pb/>For the entrance of the inner sanctuary he made doors <i>of</i> olive wood; the lintel <i>and</i> doorposts <i>were</i> one-fifth <i>of</i> <i>the</i> <i>wall.</i>


text:
The two doors <i>were</i> <i>of</i> olive wood; and he carved on them figures of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, and overlaid <i>them</i> with gold; and he spread gold on the cherubim and on the palm trees.


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So for the door of the sanctuary he also made doorposts <i>of</i> olive wood, one-fourth <i>of</i> <i>the</i> <i>wall.</i>


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And the two doors <i>were</i> <i>of</i> cypress wood; <f>[18†]</f>two panels <i>comprised</i> one folding door, and two panels <i>comprised</i> the other folding door.


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Then he carved cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers <i>on</i> <i>them,</i> and overlaid <i>them</i> with gold applied evenly on the carved work.


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<pb/>And he built the <f>[19†]</f>inner court with three rows of hewn stone and a row of cedar beams.


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<pb/> <f>[20†]</f>In the fourth year the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid, in the month of Ziv.


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And in the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished in all its details and according to all its plans. So he was <f>[21†]</f>seven years in building it.


text:
<pb/>But Solomon took <f>[1†]</f>thirteen years to build his own house; so he finished all his house.


text:
<pb/>He also built the <f>[2†]</f>House of the Forest of Lebanon; its length <i>was</i> one hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits, with four rows of cedar pillars, and cedar beams on the pillars.


text:
And <i>it</i> <i>was</i> paneled with cedar above the beams that <i>were</i> on forty-five pillars, fifteen <i>to</i> a row.


text:
<i>There</i> <i>were</i> windows <i>with</i> <i>beveled</i> <i>frames</i> <i>in</i> three rows, and window <i>was</i> opposite window <i>in</i> three tiers.


text:
And all the doorways and doorposts <i>had</i> rectangular frames; and window <i>was</i> opposite window <i>in</i> three tiers.


text:
<pb/>He also made the Hall of Pillars: its length <i>was</i> fifty cubits, and its width thirty cubits; and in front of them <i>was</i> a portico with pillars, and a canopy <i>was</i> in front of them.


text:
<pb/>Then he made a hall for the throne, the Hall of Judgment, where he might judge; and <i>it</i> <i>was</i> paneled with cedar from floor to ceiling.


text:
<pb/>And the house where he dwelt <i>had</i> another court inside the hall, of like workmanship. Solomon also made a house like this hall for Pharaoh’s daughter, <f>[3†]</f>whom he had taken <i>as</i> <i>wife.</i>


text:
<pb/>All these <i>were</i> <i>of</i> costly stones cut to size, trimmed with saws, inside and out, from the foundation to the eaves, and also on the outside to the great court.


text:
The foundation <i>was</i> <i>of</i> costly stones, large stones, some ten cubits and some eight cubits.


text:
The great court <i>was</i> enclosed with three rows of hewn stones and a row of cedar beams. So were the <f>[4†]</f>inner court of the house of the LORD <f>[5†]</f>and the vestibule of the temple.


text:
<f>[6†]</f>He <i>was</i> the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, and <f>[7†]</f>his father <i>was</i> a man of Tyre, a bronze worker; <f>[8†]</f>he was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill in working with all kinds of bronze work. So he came to King Solomon and did all his work.


text:
<pb/>And he cast <f>[9†]</f>two pillars of bronze, each one eighteen cubits high, and a line of twelve cubits measured the circumference of each.


text:
Then he made two capitals <i>of</i> cast bronze, to set on the tops of the pillars. The height of one capital <i>was</i> five cubits, and the height of the other capital <i>was</i> five cubits.


text:
<i>He</i> <i>made</i> a lattice network, with wreaths of chainwork, for the capitals which <i>were</i> on top of the pillars: seven chains for one capital and seven for the other capital.


text:
So he made the pillars, and two rows of pomegranates above the network all around to cover the capitals that <i>were</i> on top; and thus he did for the other capital.


text:
<pb/>The capitals which <i>were</i> on top of the pillars in the hall <i>were</i> in the shape of lilies, four cubits.


text:
The capitals on the two pillars also <i>had</i> <i>pomegranates</i> above, by the convex surface which <i>was</i> next to the network; and there <i>were</i> <f>[10†]</f>two hundred such pomegranates in rows on each of the capitals all around.


text:
<pb/> <f>[11†]</f>Then he set up the pillars by the vestibule of the temple; he set up the pillar on the right and called its name Jachin, and he set up the pillar on the left and called its name Boaz.


text:
<pb/>And he made <f>[12†]</f>the Sea of cast bronze, ten cubits from one brim to the other; <i>it</i> <i>was</i> completely round. Its height <i>was</i> five cubits, and a line of thirty cubits measured its circumference.


text:
<pb/>Below its brim <i>were</i> ornamental buds encircling it all around, ten to a cubit, <f>[13†]</f>all the way around the Sea. The ornamental buds <i>were</i> cast in two rows when it was cast.


text:
It stood on <f>[14†]</f>twelve oxen: three looking toward the north, three looking toward the west, three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east; the Sea <i>was</i> <i>set</i> upon them, and all their back parts <i>pointed</i> inward.


text:
It <i>was</i> a handbreadth thick; and its brim was shaped like the brim of a cup, <i>like</i> a lily blossom. It contained two thousand baths.


text:
<pb/>He also made ten carts of bronze; four cubits <i>was</i> the length of each cart, four cubits its width, and three cubits its height.


text:
And this <i>was</i> the design of the carts: They had panels, and the panels <i>were</i> between frames;


text:
on the panels that <i>were</i> between the frames <i>were</i> lions, oxen, and cherubim. And on the frames <i>was</i> a pedestal on top. Below the lions and oxen <i>were</i> wreaths of plaited work.


text:
Every cart had four bronze wheels and axles of bronze, and its four feet had supports. Under the laver <i>were</i> supports of cast <i>bronze</i> beside each wreath.


text:
Its opening inside the crown at the top <i>was</i> one cubit in diameter; and the opening <i>was</i> round, shaped <i>like</i> a pedestal, one and a half cubits in outside diameter; and also on the opening <i>were</i> engravings, but the panels were square, not round.


text:
Under the panels <i>were</i> the four wheels, and the axles of the wheels <i>were</i> <i>joined</i> to the cart. The height of a wheel <i>was</i> one and a half cubits.


text:
The workmanship of the wheels <i>was</i> like the workmanship of a chariot wheel; their axle pins, their rims, their spokes, and their hubs <i>were</i> all of cast <i>bronze.</i>


text:
And <i>there</i> <i>were</i> four supports at the four corners of each cart; its supports <i>were</i> part of the cart itself.


text:
On the top of the cart, at the height of half a cubit, <i>it</i> <i>was</i> perfectly round. And on the top of the cart, its flanges and its panels <i>were</i> of the same casting.


text:
On the plates of its flanges and on its panels he engraved cherubim, lions, and palm trees, wherever there was a clear space on each, with wreaths all around.


text:
<pb/>Then <f>[15†]</f>he made ten lavers of bronze; each laver contained forty baths, <i>and</i> each laver <i>was</i> four cubits. On each of the ten carts <i>was</i> a laver.


text:
And he put five carts on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house. He set the Sea on the right side of the house, toward the southeast.


text:
<pb/> <f>[16†]</f>Huram made the lavers and the shovels and the bowls. So Huram finished doing all the work that he was to do for King Solomon <i>for</i> the house of the LORD:


text:
the two pillars, the <i>two</i> bowl-shaped capitals that <i>were</i> on top of the two pillars; the two <f>[17†]</f>networks covering the two bowl-shaped capitals which <i>were</i> on top of the pillars;


text:
<f>[18†]</f>four hundred pomegranates for the two networks (two rows of pomegranates for each network, to cover the two bowl-shaped capitals that <i>were</i> on top of the pillars);


text:
<f>[19†]</f>the pots, the shovels, and the bowls. <pb/>All these articles which Huram made for King Solomon <i>for</i> the house of the LORD <i>were</i> <i>of</i> burnished bronze.


text:
<f>[20†]</f>In the plain of Jordan the king had them cast in clay molds, between <f>[21†]</f>Succoth and <f>[22†]</f>Zaretan.


text:
And Solomon did not weigh all the articles, because <i>there</i> <i>were</i> so many; the weight of the bronze was not <f>[23†]</f>determined.


text:
<pb/>Thus Solomon had all the furnishings made for the house of the LORD: <f>[24†]</f>the altar of gold, and <f>[25†]</f>the table of gold on which <i>was</i> <f>[26†]</f>the showbread;


text:
the lampstands of pure gold, five on the right <i>side</i> and five on the left in front of the inner sanctuary, with the flowers and the lamps and the wick-trimmers of gold;


text:
the basins, the trimmers, the bowls, the ladles, and the censers of pure gold; and the hinges of gold, <i>both</i> for the doors of the inner room (the Most Holy <i>Place</i>) <i>and</i> for the doors of the main hall of the temple.


text:
<pb/>So all the work that King Solomon had done for the house of the LORD was finished; and Solomon brought in the things <f>[27†]</f>which his father David had dedicated: the silver and the gold and the furnishings. He put them in the treasuries of the house of the LORD.


text:
<pb/>Now <f>[1†]</f>Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, <f>[2†]</f>that they might bring <f>[3†]</f>up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the City of David, which <i>is</i> Zion.


text:
Therefore all the men of Israel assembled with King Solomon at the <f>[4†]</f>feast in the month of Ethanim, which <i>is</i> the seventh month.


text:
Then they brought up the ark of the LORD, <f>[6†]</f>the tabernacle of meeting, and all the holy furnishings that <i>were</i> in the tabernacle. The priests and the Levites brought them up.


text:
Also King Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel who were assembled with him, <i>were</i> with him before the ark, <f>[7†]</f>sacrificing sheep and oxen that could not be counted or numbered for multitude.


text:
Then the priests <f>[8†]</f>brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD to <f>[9†]</f>its place, into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the Most Holy <i>Place,</i> <f>[10†]</f>under the wings of the cherubim.


text:
For the cherubim spread <i>their</i> two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim overshadowed the ark and its poles.


text:
The poles <f>[11†]</f>extended so that the ends of the poles could be seen from the holy <i>place,</i> in front of the inner sanctuary; but they could not be seen from outside. And they are there to this day.


text:
<f>[12†]</f>Nothing <i>was</i> in the ark <f>[13†]</f>except the two tablets of stone which Moses <f>[14†]</f>put there at Horeb, <f>[15†]</f>when the LORD made <i>a</i> <i>covenant</i> with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.


text:
<pb/>And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy <i>place,</i> that the cloud <f>[16†]</f>filled the house of the LORD,


text:
so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the <f>[17†]</f>glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.


text:
<pb/> <f>[18†]</f>Then Solomon spoke: <pb/><t>“The LORD said He would dwell <f>[19†]</f>in the dark cloud.</t>


text:
<t> <f>[20†]</f>I have surely built You an exalted house, </t><t> <f>[21†]</f>And a place for You to dwell in forever.”</t>


text:
<pb/>Then the king turned around and <f>[22†]</f>blessed the whole assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing.


text:
And he said: <f>[23†]</f>“Blessed <i>be</i> the LORD God of Israel, who <f>[24†]</f>spoke with His mouth to my father David, and with His hand has fulfilled <i>it,</i> saying,


text:
‘Since the day that I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I have chosen no city from any tribe of Israel <i>in</i> <i>which</i> to build a house, that <f>[25†]</f>My name might be there; but I chose <f>[26†]</f>David to be over My people Israel.’


text:
Now <f>[27†]</f>it was in the heart of my father David to build a temple for the name of the LORD God of Israel.


text:
<f>[28†]</f>But the LORD said to my father David, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well that it was in your heart.


text:
Nevertheless <f>[29†]</f>you shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body, he shall build the temple for My name.’


text:
So the LORD has fulfilled His word which He spoke; and I have filled the position of my father David, and sit on the throne of Israel, <f>[30†]</f>as the LORD promised; and I have built a temple for the name of the LORD God of Israel.


text:
And there I have made a place for the ark, in which <i>is</i> <f>[31†]</f>the covenant of the LORD which He made with our fathers, when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.”


text:
<pb/>Then Solomon stood before <f>[32†]</f>the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and <f>[33†]</f>spread out his hands toward heaven;


text:
and he said: “LORD God of Israel, <f>[34†]</f><i>there</i> <i>is</i> no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, <f>[35†]</f>who keep <i>Your</i> covenant and mercy with Your servants who <f>[36†]</f>walk before You with all their hearts.


text:
You have kept what You promised Your servant David my father; You have both spoken with Your mouth and fulfilled <i>it</i> with Your hand, as <i>it</i> <i>is</i> this day.


text:
Therefore, LORD God of Israel, now keep what You promised Your servant David my father, saying, <f>[37†]</f>‘You shall not fail to have a man sit before Me on the throne of Israel, only if your sons take heed to their way, that they walk before Me as you have walked before Me.’


text:
<f>[38†]</f>And now I pray, O God of Israel, let Your word come true, which You have spoken to Your servant David my father.


text:
<pb/>“But <f>[39†]</f>will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the <f>[40†]</f>heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!


text:
Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O LORD my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You today:


text:
that Your eyes may be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, <f>[41†]</f>‘My name shall be <f>[42†]</f>there,’ that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes <f>[43†]</f>toward this place.


text:
<f>[44†]</f>And may You hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear in heaven Your dwelling place; and when You hear, forgive.


text:
<pb/>“When anyone sins against his neighbor, and is forced to take <f>[45†]</f>an oath, and comes <i>and</i> takes an oath before Your altar in this temple,


text:
then hear in heaven, and act, and judge Your servants, <f>[46†]</f>condemning the wicked, bringing his way on his head, and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.


text:
<pb/> <f>[47†]</f>“When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and <f>[48†]</f>when they turn back to You and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication to You in this temple,


text:
then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to their <f>[49†]</f>fathers.


text:
<pb/> <f>[50†]</f>“When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, when they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin because You afflict them,


text:
then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, that You may <f>[51†]</f>teach them <f>[52†]</f>the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people as an inheritance.


text:
<pb/> <f>[53†]</f>“When there is famine in the land, pestilence <i>or</i> blight <i>or</i> mildew, locusts <i>or</i> grasshoppers; when their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness <i>there</i> <i>is;</i>


text:
whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, <i>or</i> by all Your people Israel, when each one knows the plague of his own heart, and spreads out his hands toward this temple:


text:
then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and act, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone <f>[54†]</f>know the hearts of all the sons of men),


text:
<f>[55†]</f>that they may fear You all the days that they live in the land which You gave to our fathers.


text:
<pb/>“Moreover, concerning a foreigner, who <i>is</i> not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for Your name’s sake


text:
(for they will hear of Your great name and Your <f>[56†]</f>strong hand and Your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this temple,


text:
hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, <f>[57†]</f>that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and <f>[58†]</f>fear You, as <i>do</i> Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name.


text:
<pb/>“When Your people go out to battle against their enemy, wherever You send them, and when they pray to the LORD toward the city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name,


text:
<pb/>“When they sin against You <f>[59†]</f>(for <i>there</i> <i>is</i> no one who does not sin), and You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they take them captive <f>[60†]</f>to the land of the enemy, far or near;


text:
<f>[61†]</f><i>yet</i> when they come to themselves in the land where they were carried captive, and repent, and make supplication to You in the land of those who took them captive, <f>[62†]</f>saying, ‘We have sinned and done wrong, we have committed wickedness’;


text:
and <i>when</i> they <f>[63†]</f>return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who led them away captive, and <f>[64†]</f>pray to You toward their land which You gave to their fathers, the city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name:


text:
then hear in heaven Your dwelling place their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause,


text:
and forgive Your people who have sinned against You, and all their transgressions which they have transgressed against You; and <f>[65†]</f>grant them compassion before those who took them captive, that they may have compassion on them


text:
(for <f>[66†]</f>they <i>are</i> Your people and Your inheritance, whom You brought out of Egypt, <f>[67†]</f>out of the iron furnace),


text:
<f>[68†]</f>that Your eyes may be open to the supplication of Your servant and the supplication of Your people Israel, to listen to them whenever they call to You.


text:
For You separated them from among all the peoples of the earth <i>to</i> <i>be</i> Your inheritance, <f>[69†]</f>as You spoke by Your servant Moses, when You brought our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord GOD.”


text:
<pb/> <f>[70†]</f>And so it was, when Solomon had finished praying all this prayer and supplication to the LORD, that he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.


text:
“Blessed <i>be</i> the LORD, who has given <f>[72†]</f>rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. <f>[73†]</f>There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses.


text:
May the LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers. <f>[74†]</f>May He not leave us nor forsake us,


text:
that He may <f>[75†]</f>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.


text:
And may these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the LORD, be near the LORD our God day and night, that He may maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day may require,


text:
<f>[76†]</f>that all the peoples of the earth may know that <f>[77†]</f>the LORD <i>is</i> God; <i>there</i> <i>is</i> no other.


text:
Let your <f>[78†]</f>heart therefore be loyal to the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes and keep His commandments, as at this day.”


text:
And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to the LORD, twenty-two thousand bulls and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD.


text:
On <f>[80†]</f>the same day the king consecrated the middle of the court that <i>was</i> in front of the house of the LORD; for there he offered burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the <f>[81†]</f>bronze altar that <i>was</i> before the LORD <i>was</i> too small to receive the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings.


text:
<pb/>At that time Solomon held <f>[82†]</f>a feast, and all Israel with him, a great assembly from <f>[83†]</f>the entrance of Hamath to <f>[84†]</f>the Brook of Egypt, before the LORD our God, <f>[85†]</f>seven days and seven <i>more</i> days—fourteen days.


text:
<f>[86†]</f>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 His servant David, and for Israel His people.


text:
<pb/>And <f>[1†]</f>it came to pass, when Solomon had finished building the house of the LORD <f>[2†]</f>and the king’s house, and <f>[3†]</f>all Solomon’s desire which he wanted to do,


text:
And the LORD said to him: <f>[5†]</f>“I have heard your prayer and your supplication that you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built <f>[6†]</f>to put My name there forever, and <f>[7†]</f>My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.


text:
Now if you <f>[8†]</f>walk before Me <f>[9†]</f>as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, <i>and</i> if you <f>[10†]</f>keep My statutes and My judgments,


text:
then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, <f>[11†]</f>as I promised David your father, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’


text:
<f>[12†]</f><i>But</i> if you or your sons at all turn from following Me, and do not keep My commandments <i>and</i> My statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them,


text:
<f>[13†]</f>then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them; and this house which I have consecrated <f>[14†]</f>for My name I will cast out of My sight. <f>[15†]</f>Israel will be a proverb and a byword among all peoples.


text:
And <i>as</i> <i>for</i> <f>[16†]</f>this house, <i>which</i> is exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and will hiss, and say, <f>[17†]</f>‘Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?’


text:
Then they will answer, ‘Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore the LORD has brought all this <f>[18†]</f>calamity on them.’ ”


text:
<pb/>Now <f>[19†]</f>it happened at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the LORD and the king’s house


text:
<f>[20†]</f>(Hiram the king of Tyre had supplied Solomon with cedar and cypress and gold, as much as he desired), <i>that</i> King Solomon then gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.


text:
Then Hiram went from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him, but they did not please him.


text:
So he said, “What <i>kind</i> <i>of</i> cities <i>are</i> these which you have given me, my brother?” <f>[21†]</f>And he called them the land of Cabul, as they are to this day.


text:
<pb/>And this <i>is</i> the reason for <f>[22†]</f>the labor force which King Solomon raised: to build the house of the LORD, his own house, the <f>[23†]</f>Millo, the wall of Jerusalem, <f>[24†]</f>Hazor, <f>[25†]</f>Megiddo, and <f>[26†]</f>Gezer.


text:
(Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up and taken Gezer and burned it with fire, <f>[27†]</f>had killed the Canaanites who dwelt in the city, and had given it <i>as</i> a dowry to his daughter, Solomon’s wife.)


text:
all the storage cities that Solomon had, cities for <f>[30†]</f>his chariots and cities for his <f>[31†]</f>cavalry, and whatever Solomon <f>[32†]</f>desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.


text:
<pb/> <f>[33†]</f>All the people <i>who</i> <i>were</i> left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, who <i>were</i> not of the children of Israel—


text:
that is, their descendants <f>[34†]</f>who were left in the land after them, <f>[35†]</f>whom the children of Israel had not been able to destroy completely— <f>[36†]</f>from these Solomon raised <f>[37†]</f>forced labor, as it is to this day.


text:
But of the children of Israel Solomon <f>[38†]</f>made no forced laborers, because they <i>were</i> men of war and his servants: his officers, his captains, commanders of his chariots, and his cavalry.


text:
<pb/>Others <i>were</i> chiefs of the officials who <i>were</i> over Solomon’s work: <f>[39†]</f>five hundred and fifty, who ruled over the people who did the work.


text:
<pb/>But <f>[40†]</f>Pharaoh’s daughter came up from the City of David to <f>[41†]</f>her house which <i>Solomon</i> had built for her. <f>[42†]</f>Then he built the Millo.


text:
<pb/> <f>[43†]</f>Now three times a year Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar which he had built for the LORD, and he burned incense with them <i>on</i> <i>the</i> <i>altar</i> that <i>was</i> before the LORD. So he finished the temple.


text:
<pb/> <f>[44†]</f>King Solomon also built a fleet of ships at <f>[45†]</f>Ezion Geber, which <i>is</i> near Elath on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom.


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<f>[46†]</f>Then Hiram sent his servants with the fleet, seamen who knew the sea, to work with the servants of Solomon.


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And they went to <f>[47†]</f>Ophir, and acquired four hundred and twenty talents of gold from there, and brought <i>it</i> to King Solomon.


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<pb/>Now when the <f>[1†]</f>queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came <f>[2†]</f>to test him with hard questions.


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She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels that bore spices, very much gold, and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart.


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So Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing so difficult for the king that he could not explain <i>it</i> to her.


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the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters and their apparel, his cupbearers, <f>[3†]</f>and his entryway by which he went up to the house of the LORD, there was no more spirit in her.


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Then she said to the king: “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom.


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However I did not believe the words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard.


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<f>[4†]</f>Happy <i>are</i> your men and happy <i>are</i> these your servants, who stand continually before you <i>and</i> hear your wisdom!


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<f>[5†]</f>Blessed be the LORD your God, who <f>[6†]</f>delighted in you, setting you on the throne of Israel! Because the LORD has loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, <f>[7†]</f>to do justice and righteousness.”


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<pb/>Then she <f>[8†]</f>gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great quantity, and precious stones. There never again came such abundance of spices as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.


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<f>[9†]</f>Also, the ships of Hiram, which brought gold from Ophir, brought great quantities of almug wood and precious stones from Ophir.


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<f>[10†]</f>And the king made steps of the almug wood for the house of the LORD and for the king’s house, also harps and stringed instruments for singers. There never again came such <f>[11†]</f>almug wood, nor has the like been seen to this day.


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<pb/>Now King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired, whatever she asked, besides what Solomon had given her according to the royal generosity. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.


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besides <i>that</i> from the <f>[12†]</f>traveling merchants, from the income of traders, <f>[13†]</f>from all the kings of Arabia, and from the governors of the country.


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<pb/>And King Solomon made two hundred large shields <i>of</i> hammered gold; six hundred <i>shekels</i> of gold went into each shield.


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He also <i>made</i> <f>[14†]</f>three hundred shields <i>of</i> hammered gold; three minas of gold went into each shield. The king put them in the <f>[15†]</f>House of the Forest of Lebanon.


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The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne <i>was</i> round at the back; <i>there</i> <i>were</i> armrests on either side of the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the armrests.


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Twelve lions stood there, one on each side of the six steps; nothing like <i>this</i> had been made for any <i>other</i> kingdom.


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<pb/> <f>[17†]</f>All King Solomon’s drinking vessels <i>were</i> gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon <i>were</i> pure gold. Not <i>one</i> <i>was</i> silver, for this was accounted as nothing in the days of Solomon.


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For the king had <f>[18†]</f>merchant ships at sea with the fleet of Hiram. Once every three years the merchant <f>[19†]</f>ships came bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and monkeys.


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<pb/>Now all the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.


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Each man brought his present: articles of silver and gold, garments, armor, spices, horses, and mules, at a set rate year by year.


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<pb/> <f>[21†]</f>And Solomon <f>[22†]</f>gathered chariots and horsemen; he had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem.


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<f>[23†]</f>The king made silver <i>as</i> <i>common</i> in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedar trees as abundant as the sycamores which <i>are</i> in the lowland.


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<pb/> <f>[24†]</f>Also Solomon had horses imported from Egypt and Keveh; the king’s merchants bought them in Keveh at the <i>current</i> price.


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Now a chariot that was imported from Egypt cost six hundred <i>shekels</i> of silver, and a horse one hundred and fifty; <f>[25†]</f>and thus, through their agents, they exported <i>them</i> to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria.


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<pb/>But <f>[1†]</f>King Solomon loved <f>[2†]</f>many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, <i>and</i> Hittites—


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from the nations of whom the LORD had said to the children of Israel, <f>[3†]</f>“You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love.


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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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For it was so, when Solomon was old, <f>[4†]</f>that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his <f>[5†]</f>heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, <f>[6†]</f>as <i>was</i> the heart of his father David.


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For Solomon went after <f>[7†]</f>Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after <f>[8†]</f>Milcom the abomination of the <f>[9†]</f>Ammonites.


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Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not fully follow the LORD, as <i>did</i> his father David.


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<f>[10†]</f>Then Solomon built a high place for <f>[11†]</f>Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on <f>[12†]</f>the hill that <i>is</i> east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the people of Ammon.


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<pb/>So the LORD became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the LORD God of Israel, <f>[13†]</f>who had appeared to him twice,


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and <f>[14†]</f>had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not keep what the LORD had commanded.


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Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, “Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, <f>[15†]</f>I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your <f>[16†]</f>servant.


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Nevertheless I will not do it in your days, for the sake of your father David; I will tear it out of the hand of your son.


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<f>[17†]</f>However I will not tear away the whole kingdom; I will give <f>[18†]</f>one tribe to your son <f>[19†]</f>for the sake of My servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem <f>[20†]</f>which I have chosen.”


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<pb/>Now the LORD <f>[21†]</f>raised up an adversary against Solomon, Hadad the Edomite; he <i>was</i> a descendant of the king in Edom.


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<f>[22†]</f>For it happened, when David was in Edom, and Joab the commander of the army had gone up to bury the slain, <f>[23†]</f>after he had killed every male in Edom


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(because for six months Joab remained there with all Israel, until he had cut down every male in Edom),


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that Hadad fled to go to Egypt, he and certain Edomites of his father’s servants with him. Hadad <i>was</i> still a little child.


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Then they arose from Midian and came to Paran; and they took men with them from Paran and came to Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave him a house, apportioned 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 as wife the sister of his own wife, that is, the sister of Queen Tahpenes.


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Then 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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<pb/> <f>[24†]</f>So when Hadad heard in Egypt that David rested with his fathers, and that Joab the commander of the army was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, “Let me depart, that I may go to my own country.”


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<pb/>Then Pharaoh said to him, “But what have you lacked with me, that suddenly you seek to go to your own country?” <pb/>So he answered, “Nothing, but do let me go anyway.”


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<pb/>And God raised up <i>another</i> adversary against him, Rezon the son of Eliadah, who had fled from his lord, <f>[25†]</f>Hadadezer king of Zobah.


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So he gathered men to him and became captain over a band <i>of</i> <i>raiders,</i> <f>[26†]</f>when David killed those <i>of</i> <i>Zobah.</i> And they went to Damascus and dwelt there, and reigned in Damascus.


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He was an adversary of Israel all the days of Solomon (besides the trouble that Hadad <i>caused</i>); and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.


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<pb/>Then Solomon’s servant, <f>[27†]</f>Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite from Zereda, whose mother’s name <i>was</i> Zeruah, a widow, <f>[28†]</f>also <f>[29†]</f>rebelled against the king.


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<pb/>And this <i>is</i> what caused him to rebel against the king: <f>[30†]</f>Solomon had built the Millo <i>and</i> repaired the damages to the City of David his father.


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The man Jeroboam <i>was</i> a mighty man of valor; and Solomon, seeing that the young man was <f>[31†]</f>industrious, made him the officer over all the labor force of the house of Joseph.


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<pb/>Now it happened at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet <f>[32†]</f>Ahijah the Shilonite met him on the way; and he had clothed himself with a new garment, and the two <i>were</i> alone in the field.


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Then Ahijah took hold of the new garment that <i>was</i> on him, and <f>[33†]</f>tore it <i>into</i> twelve pieces.


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And he said to Jeroboam, “Take for yourself ten pieces, for <f>[34†]</f>thus 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 the sake of My servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel),


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<f>[35†]</f>because they have forsaken Me, and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the people of Ammon, and have not walked in My ways to do <i>what</i> <i>is</i> right in My eyes and <i>keep</i> My statutes and My judgments, as <i>did</i> his father David.


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However I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, because I have made him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of My servant David, whom I chose because he kept My commandments and My statutes.


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And to his son I will give one tribe, that <f>[37†]</f>My servant David may always have a lamp before Me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen for Myself, to put My name there.


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So I will take you, and you shall reign over all your heart desires, and you shall be king over Israel.


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Then it shall be, if you heed all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do <i>what</i> <i>is</i> right in My sight, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then <f>[38†]</f>I will be with you and <f>[39†]</f>build for you an enduring house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you.


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<pb/>Solomon therefore sought to kill Jeroboam. But Jeroboam arose and fled to Egypt, to <f>[40†]</f>Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.


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<pb/>Now <f>[41†]</f>the rest of the acts of Solomon, all that he did, and his wisdom, <i>are</i> they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon?


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<f>[42†]</f>And the period that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel <i>was</i> forty years.


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<f>[43†]</f>Then Solomon rested with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David his father. And Rehoboam his son reigned in his <f>[44†]</f>place.


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<pb/>And <f>[1†]</f>Rehoboam went to <f>[2†]</f>Shechem, for all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king.


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So it happened, when <f>[3†]</f>Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard <i>it</i> (he was still in <f>[4†]</f>Egypt, for he had fled from the presence of King Solomon and had been dwelling in Egypt ),


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that they sent and called him. Then Jeroboam and the whole assembly of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying,


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“Your father made our <f>[5†]</f>yoke heavy; now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.”


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<pb/>So he said to them, “Depart <i>for</i> three days, then come back to me.” And the people departed.


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<pb/>Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he still lived, and he said, “How do you advise <i>me</i> to answer these people?”


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<pb/>And they spoke to him, saying, <f>[6†]</f>“If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.”


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<pb/>But he rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted 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? How should we answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?”


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<pb/>Then the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you should speak to this people who have spoken to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make <i>it</i> lighter on us’—thus you shall say to them: ‘My little <i>finger</i> shall be thicker than my father’s waist!


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And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!’ ”


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<pb/>So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had directed, saying, “Come back to me the third day.”


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and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!”


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So the king did not listen to the people; for <f>[7†]</f>the turn <i>of</i> <i>events</i> was from the LORD, that He might fulfill His word, which the LORD had <f>[8†]</f>spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.


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<pb/>Now when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying: <pb/><t> <f>[9†]</f>“What share have we in David? </t><t><i>We</i> <i>have</i> no inheritance in the son of Jesse. </t><t>To your tents, O Israel! </t><t>Now, see to your own house, O David!” </t> <pb/>So Israel departed to their tents.


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<pb/>Then King Rehoboam <f>[11†]</f>sent Adoram, who <i>was</i> in charge of the revenue; but all Israel stoned him with stones, and he died. Therefore King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste to flee to Jerusalem.


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<pb/>Now it came to pass when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had come back, they sent for him and called him to the congregation, and made him king over all <f>[13†]</f>Israel. There was none who followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah <f>[14†]</f>only.


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<pb/>And when <f>[15†]</f>Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah with the tribe of <f>[16†]</f>Benjamin, one hundred and eighty thousand chosen <i>men</i> who were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, that he might restore the kingdom to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.


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“Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, saying,


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‘Thus says the LORD: “You shall not go up nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel. Let every man return to his house, <f>[18†]</f>for this thing is from Me.” ’ ” Therefore they obeyed the word of the LORD, and turned back, according to the word of the LORD.


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<pb/>Then Jeroboam <f>[19†]</f>built Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim, and dwelt there. Also he went out from there and built <f>[20†]</f>Penuel.


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If these people <f>[21†]</f>go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn back to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and go back to Rehoboam king of Judah.”


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<pb/>Therefore the king asked advice, <f>[22†]</f>made two calves of gold, and said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. <f>[23†]</f>Here are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt!”


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Now this thing became <f>[26†]</f>a sin, for the people went <i>to</i> <i>worship</i> before the one as far as Dan.


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He made shrines on the high places, <f>[27†]</f>and made priests from every class of people, who were not of the sons of Levi.


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<pb/>Jeroboam ordained a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like <f>[28†]</f>the feast that <i>was</i> in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar. So he did at Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had made. <f>[29†]</f>And at Bethel he installed the priests of the high places which he had made.


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So he made offerings on the altar which he had made at Bethel on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in the month which he had <f>[30†]</f>devised in his own heart. And he ordained a feast for the children of Israel, and offered sacrifices on the altar and <f>[31†]</f>burned incense.


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<pb/>And behold, <f>[1†]</f>a man of God went from Judah to Bethel by the word of the LORD, <f>[2†]</f>and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.


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Then he cried out against the altar by the word of the LORD, and said, “O altar, altar! Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, a child, <f>[3†]</f>Josiah by name, shall be born to the house of David; and on you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and men’s bones shall be <f>[4†]</f>burned on you.’ ”


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And he gave <f>[5†]</f>a sign the same day, saying, “This <i>is</i> the sign which the LORD has spoken: Surely the altar shall split apart, and the ashes on it shall be poured out.”


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<pb/>So it came to pass when King Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, who cried out against the altar in Bethel, that he stretched out his hand from the altar, saying, “Arrest him!” Then his hand, which he stretched out toward him, withered, so that he could not pull it back to himself.


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The altar also was split 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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Then the king answered and said to the man of God, “Please <f>[6†]</f>entreat the favor of the LORD your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me.” <pb/>So the man of God entreated the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored to him, and became as before.


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Then the king said to the man of God, “Come home with me and refresh yourself, and <f>[7†]</f>I will give you a reward.”


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<pb/>But the man of God said to the king, <f>[8†]</f>“If you were to give me half your house, I would not go in with you; nor would I eat bread nor drink water in this place.


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For so it was commanded me by the word of the LORD, saying, <f>[9†]</f>‘You shall not eat bread, nor drink water, nor return by the same way you came.’ ”


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<pb/>Now an <f>[10†]</f>old prophet dwelt in Bethel, and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel; they also told their father the words which he had spoken to the king.


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And their father said to them, “Which way did he go?” For his sons had seen which way the man of God went who came from Judah.


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Then he said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” So they saddled the donkey for him; and he rode on it,


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and went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak. Then he said to him, “<i>Are</i> you the man of God who came from Judah?” <pb/>And he said, “I <i>am.</i>”


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<pb/>And he said, <f>[11†]</f>“I cannot return with you nor go in with you; neither can I eat bread nor drink water with you in this place.


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For I have been told <f>[12†]</f>by the word of the LORD, ‘You shall not eat bread nor drink water there, nor return by going the way you came.’ ”


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<pb/>He said to him, “I too <i>am</i> a prophet as you <i>are,</i> and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.’ ” (He was lying to him.)


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<pb/>Now it happened, as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came to the prophet who had brought him back;


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and he cried out to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Because you have disobeyed the word of the LORD, and have not kept the commandment which the LORD your God commanded you,


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but you came back, ate bread, and drank water in the <f>[13†]</f>place of which <i>the</i> <i>LORD</i> said to you, “Eat no bread and drink no water,” your corpse shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.’ ”


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<pb/>So it was, after he had eaten bread and after he had drunk, that he saddled the donkey for him, the prophet whom he had brought back.


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When he was gone, <f>[14†]</f>a lion met him on the road and killed him. And his corpse was thrown on the road, and the donkey stood by it. The lion also stood by the corpse.


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And there, men passed by and saw the corpse thrown on the road, and the lion standing by the corpse. Then they went and told <i>it</i> in the city where the old prophet dwelt.


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<pb/>Now when the prophet who had brought him back from the way heard <i>it,</i> he said, “It <i>is</i> the man of God who was disobedient to the word of the LORD. Therefore 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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Then he went and found his corpse thrown on the road, and the donkey and the lion standing by the corpse. The lion had not eaten the corpse nor torn the donkey.


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And the prophet took up the corpse of the man of God, laid it on the donkey, and brought it back. So the old prophet came to the city to mourn, and to bury him.


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Then he laid the corpse in his own tomb; and they mourned over him, <i>saying,</i> <f>[15†]</f>“Alas, my brother!”


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So it was, after he had buried him, that he spoke to his sons, saying, “When I am dead, then bury me in the tomb where the man of God <i>is</i> buried; <f>[16†]</f>lay my bones beside his bones.


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<f>[17†]</f>For the saying which he cried out by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel, and against all the shrines on the high places which <i>are</i> in the cities of <f>[18†]</f>Samaria, will surely come to pass.”


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<pb/> <f>[19†]</f>After this event Jeroboam did not turn from his evil way, but again he made priests from every class of people for the high places; whoever wished, he consecrated him, and he became <i>one</i> of the priests of the high places.


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<f>[20†]</f>And this thing was the sin of the house of Jeroboam, so as <f>[21†]</f>to exterminate and destroy <i>it</i> from the face of the earth.


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And Jeroboam said to his wife, “Please arise, and disguise yourself, that they may not recognize you as the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Shiloh. Indeed, Ahijah the prophet <i>is</i> there, who told me that <f>[1†]</f><i>I</i> <i>would</i> <i>be</i> king over this people.


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<f>[2†]</f>Also take with you ten loaves, <i>some</i> cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him; he will tell you what will become of the child.”


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And Jeroboam’s wife did so; she arose <f>[3†]</f>and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. But Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were glazed by reason of his age.


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<pb/>Now the LORD had said to Ahijah, “Here is the wife of Jeroboam, coming to ask you something about her son, for he <i>is</i> sick. Thus and thus you shall say to her; for it will be, when she comes in, that she will pretend <i>to</i> <i>be</i> another <i>woman.</i>”


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<pb/>And so it was, when Ahijah heard the sound of her footsteps as she came through the door, he said, “Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why do you pretend <i>to</i> <i>be</i> another <i>person?</i> For I <i>have</i> <i>been</i> sent to you <i>with</i> bad <i>news.</i>


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Go, tell Jeroboam, ‘Thus says the LORD God of Israel: <f>[4†]</f>“Because I exalted you from among the people, and made you ruler over My people Israel,


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and <f>[5†]</f>tore the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it to you; and <i>yet</i> you have not been as My servant David, <f>[6†]</f>who kept My commandments and who followed Me with all his heart, to do only <i>what</i> <i>was</i> right in My eyes;


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but you have done more evil than all who were before you, <f>[7†]</f>for you have gone and made for yourself other gods and molded images to provoke Me to anger, and <f>[8†]</f>have cast Me behind your back—


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therefore behold! <f>[9†]</f>I will bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam, and <f>[10†]</f>will cut off from Jeroboam every male in Israel, <f>[11†]</f>bond and free; I will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as one takes away refuse until it is all gone.


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The dogs shall eat <f>[12†]</f>whoever belongs to Jeroboam and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field; for the LORD has spoken!” ’


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Arise therefore, go to your own house. <f>[13†]</f>When your feet enter the city, the child shall die.


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And all Israel shall mourn for him and bury him, for he is the only one of Jeroboam who shall come to the grave, because in him <f>[14†]</f>there is found something good toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam.


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<pb/> <f>[15†]</f>“Moreover the LORD will raise up for Himself a king over Israel who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam; this is the day. What? Even now!


text:
For the LORD will strike Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water. He will <f>[16†]</f>uproot Israel from this <f>[17†]</f>good land which He gave to their fathers, and will scatter them <f>[18†]</f>beyond the River, <f>[19†]</f>because they have made their wooden images, provoking the LORD to anger.


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And He will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, <f>[20†]</f>who sinned and who made Israel sin.”


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<pb/>Then Jeroboam’s wife arose and departed, and came to <f>[21†]</f>Tirzah. <f>[22†]</f>When she came to the threshold of the house, the child died.


text:
And they buried him; and all Israel mourned for him, <f>[23†]</f>according to the word of the LORD which He spoke through His servant Ahijah the prophet.


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<pb/>Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he <f>[24†]</f>made war and how he reigned, indeed they <i>are</i> written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.


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The period that Jeroboam reigned <i>was</i> twenty-two years. So he rested with his fathers. <f>[25†]</f>Then Nadab his son reigned in his place.


text:
<pb/>And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. <f>[26†]</f>Rehoboam <i>was</i> forty-one years old when he became king. He reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city <f>[27†]</f>which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put His name there. <f>[28†]</f>His mother’s name <i>was</i> Naamah, an Ammonitess.


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<f>[29†]</f>Now Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they <f>[30†]</f>provoked Him to jealousy with their sins which they committed, more than all that their fathers had done.


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For they also built for themselves <f>[31†]</f>high places, <f>[32†]</f><i>sacred</i> pillars, and <f>[33†]</f>wooden images on every high hill and <f>[34†]</f>under every green tree.


text:
<f>[35†]</f>And there were also perverted persons in the land. They did according to all the <f>[36†]</f>abominations of the nations which the LORD had cast out before the children of <f>[37†]</f>Israel.


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<pb/> <f>[38†]</f>It happened in the fifth year of King Rehoboam <i>that</i> Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem.


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<f>[39†]</f>And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king’s house; he took away everything. He also took away all the gold shields <f>[40†]</f>which Solomon had made.


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Then King Rehoboam made bronze shields in their place, and committed <i>them</i> to the hands of the captains of the guard, who guarded the doorway of the king’s house.


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And whenever the king entered the house of the LORD, the guards carried them, then brought them back into the guardroom.


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<pb/> <f>[41†]</f>Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did, <i>are</i> they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


text:
<f>[43†]</f>So Rehoboam rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David. <f>[44†]</f>His mother’s name <i>was</i> Naamah, an Ammonitess. Then <f>[45†]</f>Abijam his son reigned in his place.


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<pb/> <f>[1†]</f>In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam became king over Judah.


text:
He reigned three years in Jerusalem. <f>[2†]</f>His mother’s name <i>was</i> <f>[3†]</f>Maachah the granddaughter of <f>[4†]</f>Abishalom.


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And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him; <f>[5†]</f>his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David.


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Nevertheless <f>[6†]</f>for David’s sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, by setting up his son after him and by establishing Jerusalem;


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because David <f>[7†]</f>did <i>what</i> <i>was</i> right in the eyes of the LORD, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, <f>[8†]</f>except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.


text:
<f>[10†]</f>Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, <i>are</i> they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.


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<pb/> <f>[11†]</f>So Abijam rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the City of David. Then Asa his son reigned in his place.


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And he reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His grandmother’s name <i>was</i> Maachah the granddaughter of Abishalom.


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<f>[12†]</f>Asa did <i>what</i> <i>was</i> right in the eyes of the LORD, as <i>did</i> his father David.


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<f>[13†]</f>And he banished the perverted persons from the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.


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Also he removed <f>[14†]</f>Maachah his grandmother from <i>being</i> queen mother, because she had made an obscene image of Asherah. And Asa cut down her obscene image and <f>[15†]</f>burned <i>it</i> by the Brook Kidron.


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<f>[16†]</f>But the high places were not removed. Nevertheless Asa’s <f>[17†]</f>heart was loyal to the LORD all his days.


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He also brought into the house of the LORD the things which his father <f>[18†]</f>had dedicated, and the things which he himself had dedicated: silver and gold and utensils.


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And <f>[19†]</f>Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built <f>[20†]</f>Ramah, <f>[21†]</f>that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.


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Then Asa took all the silver and gold <i>that</i> <i>was</i> left in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the treasuries of the king’s house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants. And King Asa sent them to <f>[22†]</f>Ben-Hadad the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who dwelt in <f>[23†]</f>Damascus, saying,


text:
“<i>Let</i> <i>there</i> <i>be</i> a treaty between you and me, as there was between my father and your father. See, I have sent you a present of silver and gold. Come and break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.”


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<pb/>So Ben-Hadad heeded King Asa, and <f>[24†]</f>sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel. He attacked <f>[25†]</f>Ijon, <f>[26†]</f>Dan, <f>[27†]</f>Abel Beth Maachah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.


text:
Now it happened, when Baasha heard <i>it,</i> that he stopped building Ramah, and remained in <f>[28†]</f>Tirzah.


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<pb/> <f>[29†]</f>Then King Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none <i>was</i> exempted. And they took away the stones and timber of Ramah, which Baasha had used for building; and with them King Asa built <f>[30†]</f>Geba of Benjamin, and <f>[31†]</f>Mizpah.


text:
<pb/>The rest of all the acts of Asa, all his might, all that he did, and the cities which he built, <i>are</i> they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? But <f>[32†]</f>in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet.


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So Asa rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David his father. <f>[33†]</f>Then <f>[34†]</f>Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place.


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<pb/>Now <f>[35†]</f>Nadab the son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he 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 <f>[36†]</f>his sin by which he had made Israel sin.


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<pb/> <f>[37†]</f>Then Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him. And Baasha killed him at <f>[38†]</f>Gibbethon, which <i>belonged</i> to the Philistines, while Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon.


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And it was so, when he became king, <i>that</i> he killed all the house of Jeroboam. He did not leave to Jeroboam anyone that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according to <f>[39†]</f>the word of the LORD which He had spoken by His servant Ahijah the Shilonite,


text:
<f>[40†]</f>because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he had sinned and by which he had made Israel sin, because of his provocation with which he had provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger.


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<pb/>Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, <i>are</i> they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


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<pb/>In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah became king over all Israel in Tirzah, and <i>reigned</i> twenty-four years.


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He did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in <f>[42†]</f>the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin by which he had made Israel sin.


text:
<pb/>Then the word of the LORD came to <f>[1†]</f>Jehu the son of <f>[2†]</f>Hanani, against <f>[3†]</f>Baasha, saying:


text:
<f>[4†]</f>“Inasmuch as I lifted you out of the dust and made you ruler over My people Israel, and <f>[5†]</f>you have walked in the way of Jeroboam, and have made My people Israel sin, to provoke Me to anger with their sins,


text:
surely I will <f>[6†]</f>take away the posterity of Baasha and the posterity of his house, and I will make your house like <f>[7†]</f>the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.


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The dogs shall eat <f>[8†]</f>whoever belongs to Baasha and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the fields.”


text:
<pb/>Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, what he did, and his might, <f>[9†]</f><i>are</i> they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


text:
So Baasha rested with his fathers and was buried in <f>[10†]</f>Tirzah. Then Elah his son reigned in his place.


text:
<pb/>And also the word of the LORD came by the prophet <f>[11†]</f>Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha and his house, because of 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 <f>[12†]</f>he killed them.


text:
<pb/>In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha became king over Israel, <i>and</i> <i>reigned</i> two years in Tirzah.


text:
<f>[13†]</f>Now his servant Zimri, commander of half <i>his</i> chariots, conspired against him as he was in Tirzah drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, <f>[14†]</f>steward of <i>his</i> house in Tirzah.


text:
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.


text:
<pb/>Then it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he was seated on his throne, <i>that</i> he killed all the household of Baasha; he <f>[15†]</f>did not leave him one male, neither of his relatives nor of his friends.


text:
Thus Zimri destroyed all the household of Baasha, <f>[16†]</f>according to the word of the LORD, which He spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet,


text:
for all the sins of Baasha and the sins of Elah his son, by which they had sinned and by which they had made Israel sin, in provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger <f>[17†]</f>with their idols.


text:
<pb/>Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, <i>are</i> they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


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<pb/>In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri had reigned in Tirzah seven days. And the people <i>were</i> encamped <f>[18†]</f>against Gibbethon, which <i>belonged</i> to the Philistines.


text:
Now the people <i>who</i> <i>were</i> encamped heard it said, “Zimri has conspired and also has killed the king.” So all Israel made Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that day in the camp.


text:
And it happened, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the citadel of the king’s house and burned the king’s house down upon himself with fire, and died,


text:
because of the sins which he had committed in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, <f>[19†]</f>in walking in the <f>[20†]</f>way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he had committed to make Israel sin.


text:
<pb/>Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and the treason he committed, <i>are</i> they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


text:
<pb/>Then the people of Israel were divided into two parts: half of 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 prevailed over the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath. So Tibni died and Omri reigned.


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In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri became king over Israel, <i>and</i> <i>reigned</i> twelve years. Six years he reigned in <f>[21†]</f>Tirzah.


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And he bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver; then he built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, <f>[22†]</f>Samaria, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill.


text:
<f>[23†]</f>Omri did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all who <i>were</i> before him.


text:
For he <f>[24†]</f>walked in all the ways of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin by which he had made Israel sin, provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their <f>[25†]</f>idols.


text:
<pb/>Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and the might that he showed, <i>are</i> they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


text:
<pb/>So Omri rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria. Then Ahab his son reigned in his place.


text:
<pb/>In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri became king over Israel; and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years.


text:
Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who <i>were</i> before him.


text:
And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, <f>[26†]</f>that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the <f>[27†]</f>Sidonians; <f>[28†]</f>and he went and served Baal and worshiped him.


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<f>[30†]</f>And Ahab made a wooden image. Ahab <f>[31†]</f>did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.


text:
In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation with Abiram his firstborn, and with his youngest <i>son</i> Segub he set up its gates, <f>[32†]</f>according to the word of the LORD, which He had spoken through Joshua the son of Nun.


text:
<pb/>And Elijah the Tishbite, of the <f>[1†]</f>inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, <f>[2†]</f>“<i>As</i> the LORD God of Israel lives, <f>[3†]</f>before whom I stand, <f>[4†]</f>there shall not be dew nor rain <f>[5†]</f>these years, except at my word.”


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And it will be <i>that</i> you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the <f>[6†]</f>ravens to feed you there.”


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<pb/>So he went and did according to the word of the LORD, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan.


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The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook.


text:
“Arise, go to <f>[7†]</f>Zarephath, which <i>belongs</i> to <f>[8†]</f>Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.”


text:
So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow <i>was</i> there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.”


text:
And as she was going to get <i>it,</i> he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.”


text:
<pb/>So she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I <i>am</i> gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and <f>[9†]</f>die.”


text:
<pb/>And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go <i>and</i> do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring <i>it</i> to me; and afterward make <i>some</i> for yourself and your son.


text:
For thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth.’ ”


text:
<pb/>So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for <i>many</i> days.


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The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by Elijah.


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<pb/>Now it happened after these things <i>that</i> the son of the woman who owned the house became sick. And his sickness was so serious that there was no breath left in him.


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So she said to Elijah, <f>[10†]</f>“What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to kill my son?”


text:
<pb/>And he said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him out of her arms and carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed.


text:
Then he cried out to the LORD and said, “O LORD my God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?”


text:
<f>[11†]</f>And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the LORD and said, “O LORD my God, I pray, let this child’s soul come back to him.”


text:
Then the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he <f>[12†]</f>revived.


text:
<pb/>And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the house, and gave him to his mother. And Elijah said, “See, your son lives!”


text:
<pb/>Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now by this <f>[13†]</f>I know that you <i>are</i> a man of God, <i>and</i> that the word of the LORD in your mouth <i>is</i> the truth.”


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<pb/>And it came to pass <i>after</i> <f>[1†]</f>many days that the word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, present yourself to Ahab, and <f>[2†]</f>I will send rain on the earth.”


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<pb/>So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab; and <i>there</i> <i>was</i> a severe famine in Samaria.


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And Ahab had called Obadiah, who <i>was</i> in charge of <i>his</i> house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly.


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For so it was, while Jezebel massacred the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah had taken one hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty to a cave, and had fed them with bread and water.)


text:
And Ahab had said to Obadiah, “Go into the land to all the springs of water and to all the brooks; perhaps we may find grass to keep the horses and mules alive, so that we will not have to kill any livestock.”


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So they divided the land between them to explore it; Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.


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<pb/>Now as Obadiah was on his way, suddenly Elijah met him; and he <f>[3†]</f>recognized him, and fell on his face, and said, “<i>Is</i> that you, my lord Elijah?”


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<pb/>And he answered him, “<i>It</i> <i>is</i> I. Go, tell your master, ‘Elijah <i>is</i> <i>here.</i>’ ”


text:
<pb/>So he said, “How have I sinned, that you are delivering your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me?


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<i>As</i> the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to hunt for you; and when they said, ‘<i>He</i> <i>is</i> not <i>here,</i>’ he took an oath from the kingdom or nation that they could not find you.


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And it shall come to pass, <i>as</i> <i>soon</i> <i>as</i> I am gone from you, that <f>[4†]</f>the Spirit of the LORD will carry you to a place I do not know; so when I go and tell Ahab, and he cannot find you, he will kill me. But I your servant have feared the LORD from my youth.


text:
Was it not reported to my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the LORD, how I hid one hundred men of the LORD’s prophets, fifty to a cave, and fed them with bread and water?


text:
<pb/>Then Elijah said, “<i>As</i> the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely present myself to him today.”


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<pb/>Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, <f>[5†]</f>“<i>Is</i> <i>that</i> you, O <f>[6†]</f>troubler of Israel?”


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<pb/>And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house <i>have,</i> <f>[7†]</f>in that you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and have followed the Baals.


text:
Now therefore, send <i>and</i> gather all Israel to me on <f>[8†]</f>Mount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, <f>[9†]</f>and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”


text:
<pb/>So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and <f>[10†]</f>gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel.


text:
And Elijah came to all the people, and said, <f>[11†]</f>“How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD <i>is</i> God, follow Him; but if Baal, <f>[12†]</f>follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.


text:
Then Elijah said to the people, <f>[13†]</f>“I alone am left a prophet of the LORD; <f>[14†]</f>but Baal’s prophets <i>are</i> four hundred and fifty men.


text:
Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay <i>it</i> on the wood, but put no fire <i>under</i> <i>it;</i> and I will prepare the other bull, and lay <i>it</i> on the wood, but put no fire <i>under</i> <i>it.</i>


text:
Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD; and the God who <f>[15†]</f>answers by fire, He is God.” <pb/>So all the people answered and said, “It is well spoken.”


text:
<pb/>Now Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare <i>it</i> first, for you <i>are</i> many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire <i>under</i> <i>it.</i>”


text:
<pb/>So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared <i>it,</i> and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, “O Baal, hear us!” But <i>there</i> <i>was</i> <f>[16†]</f>no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made.


text:
<pb/>And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Cry aloud, for he <i>is</i> a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, <i>or</i> perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.”


text:
So they cried aloud, and <f>[17†]</f>cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them.


text:
And when midday was past, <f>[18†]</f>they prophesied until the <i>time</i> of the offering of the <i>evening</i> sacrifice. But <i>there</i> <i>was</i> <f>[19†]</f>no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.


text:
<pb/>Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him. <f>[20†]</f>And he repaired the altar of the LORD <i>that</i> <i>was</i> broken down.


text:
And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, <f>[21†]</f>“Israel shall be your name.”


text:
Then with the stones he built an altar <f>[22†]</f>in the name of the LORD; and he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed.


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And he <f>[23†]</f>put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid <i>it</i> on the wood, and said, “Fill four waterpots with water, and <f>[24†]</f>pour <i>it</i> on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood.”


text:
Then he said, “Do <i>it</i> a second time,” and they did <i>it</i> a second time; and he said, “Do <i>it</i> a third time,” and they did <i>it</i> a third time.


text:
<pb/>And it came to pass, at <i>the</i> <i>time</i> <i>of</i> the offering of the <i>evening</i> sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “LORD <f>[26†]</f>God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, <f>[27†]</f>let it be known this day that You <i>are</i> God in Israel and I <i>am</i> Your servant, and <i>that</i> <f>[28†]</f>I have done all these things at Your word.


text:
Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You <i>are</i> the LORD God, and <i>that</i> You have turned their hearts back <i>to</i> <i>You</i> again.”


text:
<pb/>Then <f>[29†]</f>the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that <i>was</i> in the trench.


text:
Now when all the people saw <i>it,</i> they fell on their faces; and they said, <f>[30†]</f>“The LORD, He <i>is</i> God! The LORD, He <i>is</i> God!”


text:
<pb/>And Elijah said to them, <f>[31†]</f>“Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let one of them escape!” So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the Brook <f>[32†]</f>Kishon and <f>[33†]</f>executed them there.


text:
<pb/>Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for <i>there</i> <i>is</i> the sound of abundance of rain.”


text:
So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; <f>[34†]</f>then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees,


text:
and said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” <pb/>So he went up and looked, and said, “<i>There</i> <i>is</i> nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.”


text:
<pb/>Then it came to pass the seventh <i>time,</i> that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare <i>your</i> <i>chariot,</i> and go down before the rain stops you.’ ”


text:
<pb/>Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.


text:
Then the <f>[35†]</f>hand of the LORD came upon Elijah; and he <f>[36†]</f>girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.


text:
<pb/>And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had <f>[1†]</f>executed all the prophets with the sword.


text:
Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, <f>[2†]</f>“So let the gods do <i>to</i> <i>me,</i> and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.”


text:
And when he saw <i>that,</i> he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which <i>belongs</i> to Judah, and left his servant there.


text:
<pb/>But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he <f>[3†]</f>prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I <i>am</i> no better than my fathers!”


text:
<pb/>Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise <i>and</i> eat.”


text:
Then he looked, and there by his head <i>was</i> a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again.


text:
And the angel of the LORD came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise <i>and</i> eat, because the journey <i>is</i> too great for you.”


text:
So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and <f>[4†]</f>forty nights as far as <f>[5†]</f>Horeb, the mountain of God.


text:
<pb/>And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the LORD <i>came</i> to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”


text:
<pb/>So he said, <f>[6†]</f>“I have been very <f>[7†]</f>zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and <f>[8†]</f>killed Your prophets with the sword. <f>[9†]</f>I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”


text:
<pb/>Then He said, “Go out, and stand <f>[10†]</f>on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD <f>[11†]</f>passed by, and <f>[12†]</f>a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, <i>but</i> the LORD <i>was</i> not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, <i>but</i> the LORD <i>was</i> not in the earthquake;


text:
and after the earthquake a fire, <i>but</i> the LORD <i>was</i> not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.


text:
<pb/>So it was, when Elijah heard <i>it,</i> that he <f>[13†]</f>wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. <f>[14†]</f>Suddenly a voice <i>came</i> to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”


text:
<pb/> <f>[15†]</f>And he said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”


text:
<pb/>Then the LORD said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; <f>[16†]</f>and when you arrive, anoint Hazael <i>as</i> king over Syria.


text:
Also you shall anoint <f>[17†]</f>Jehu the son of Nimshi <i>as</i> king over Israel. And <f>[18†]</f>Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint <i>as</i> prophet in your place.


text:
<f>[19†]</f>It shall be <i>that</i> whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will <f>[20†]</f>kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, <f>[21†]</f>Elisha will kill.


text:
<f>[22†]</f>Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, <f>[23†]</f>and every mouth that has not kissed him.”


text:
<pb/>So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who <i>was</i> plowing <i>with</i> twelve yoke <i>of</i> <i>oxen</i> before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his <f>[24†]</f>mantle on him.


text:
And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, <f>[25†]</f>“Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and <i>then</i> I will follow you.” <pb/>And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?”


text:
<pb/>So <i>Elisha</i> turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and <f>[26†]</f>boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.


text:
<pb/>Now <f>[1†]</f>Ben-Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his forces together; thirty-two kings <i>were</i> with him, with horses and chariots. And he went up and besieged <f>[2†]</f>Samaria, and made war against it.


text:
Then he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, and said to him, “Thus says Ben-Hadad:


text:
<pb/>And the king of Israel answered and said, “My lord, O king, just as you say, I and all that I have <i>are</i> yours.”


text:
<pb/>Then the messengers came back and said, “Thus speaks Ben-Hadad, saying, ‘Indeed I have sent to you, saying, “You shall deliver to me your silver and your gold, your wives and your children”;


text:
but 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, <i>that</i> whatever is pleasant in your eyes, they will put <i>it</i> in their hands and take <i>it.</i>’ ”


text:
<pb/>So the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, “Notice, please, and see how this <i>man</i> seeks trouble, for he sent to me for my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold; and I did not deny him.”


text:
<pb/>Therefore he said to the messengers of Ben-Hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you sent for to your servant the first time I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’ ” <pb/>And the messengers departed and brought back word to him.


text:
<pb/>Then Ben-Hadad sent to him and said, <f>[3†]</f>“The gods do so to me, and more also, if enough dust is left of Samaria for a handful for each of the people who follow me.”


text:
<pb/>So the king of Israel answered and said, “Tell <i>him,</i> ‘Let not the one who puts on <i>his</i> <i>armor</i> <f>[4†]</f>boast like the one who takes <i>it</i> <i>off.</i>’ ”


text:
<pb/>And it happened when <i>Ben-Hadad</i> heard this message, as he and the kings <i>were</i> <f>[5†]</f>drinking at the command post, that he said to his servants, “Get ready.” And they got ready to attack the city.


text:
<pb/>Suddenly a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel, saying, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, <f>[6†]</f>I will deliver it into your hand today, and you shall know that I <i>am</i> the LORD.’ ”


text:
<pb/>So Ahab said, “By whom?” <pb/>And he said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘By the young leaders of the provinces.’ ” <pb/>Then he said, “Who will set the battle in order?” <pb/>And he answered, “You.”


text:
<pb/>Then he mustered the young leaders of the provinces, and there were two hundred and thirty-two; and after them he mustered all the people, all the children of Israel—seven thousand.


text:
<pb/>So they went out at noon. Meanwhile Ben-Hadad and the thirty-two kings helping him were <f>[7†]</f>getting drunk at the command post.


text:
The young leaders of the provinces went out first. And Ben-Hadad sent out <i>a</i> <i>patrol,</i> and they told him, saying, “Men are coming out of Samaria!”


text:
So he said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; and if they have come out for war, take them alive.”


text:
<pb/>Then these young leaders of the provinces went out of the city with the army which followed them.


text:
And each one killed his man; so the Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them; and Ben-Hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with the cavalry.


text:
Then the king of Israel went out and attacked the horses and chariots, and killed the Syrians with a great slaughter.


text:
<pb/>And the prophet came to the king of Israel and said to him, “Go, strengthen yourself; take note, and see what you should do, <f>[8†]</f>for in the spring of the year the king of Syria will come up against you.”


text:
<pb/>Then the servants of the king of Syria said to him, “Their gods <i>are</i> gods of the hills. Therefore they were stronger than we; but if we fight against them in the plain, surely we will be stronger than they.


text:
and you shall muster an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse and chariot for chariot. Then we will fight against them in the plain; surely we will be stronger than they.” <pb/>And he listened to their voice and did so.


text:
<pb/>So it was, in the spring of the year, that Ben-Hadad mustered the Syrians and went up to <f>[9†]</f>Aphek to fight against Israel.


text:
And the children of Israel were mustered and given provisions, and they went against them. Now the children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of goats, while the Syrians filled the <f>[10†]</f>countryside.


text:
<pb/>Then a <f>[11†]</f>man of God came and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The LORD <i>is</i> God of the hills, but He <i>is</i> not God of the valleys,” therefore <f>[12†]</f>I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I <i>am</i> the LORD.’ ”


text:
And they encamped opposite each other for seven days. So it was that on the seventh day the battle was joined; and the children of Israel killed one hundred thousand foot soldiers <i>of</i> the Syrians in one day.


text:
But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; then a wall fell on twenty-seven thousand of the men <i>who</i> <i>were</i> left. <pb/>And Ben-Hadad fled and went into the city, into an inner chamber.


text:
<pb/>Then his servants said to him, “Look now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel <i>are</i> merciful kings. Please, let us <f>[13†]</f>put sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads, and go out to the king of Israel; perhaps he will spare your life.”


text:
So they wore sackcloth around their waists and <i>put</i> ropes around their heads, and came to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-Hadad says, ‘Please let me live.’ ” <pb/>And he said, “<i>Is</i> he still alive? He <i>is</i> my brother.”


text:
<pb/>Now the men were watching closely to see whether <i>any</i> <i>sign</i> <i>of</i> <i>mercy</i> <i>would</i> <i>come</i> from him; and they quickly grasped <i>at</i> <i>this</i> <i>word</i> and said, “Your brother Ben-Hadad.” <pb/>So he said, “Go, bring him.” Then Ben-Hadad came out to him; and he had him come up into the chariot.


text:
<pb/>So <i>Ben-Hadad</i> said to him, <f>[14†]</f>“The cities which my father took from your father I will restore; and you may set up marketplaces for yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” <pb/>Then <i>Ahab</i> <i>said,</i> “I will send you away with this treaty.” So he made a treaty with him and sent him away.


text:
<pb/>Now a certain man of <f>[15†]</f>the sons of the prophets said to his neighbor <f>[16†]</f>by the word of the LORD, “Strike me, please.” And the man refused to strike him.


text:
Then he said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, surely, as soon as you depart from me, a lion shall kill you.” And as soon as he left him, <f>[17†]</f>a lion found him and killed him.


text:
<pb/>And he found another man, and said, “Strike me, please.” So the man struck him, inflicting a wound.


text:
Then the prophet departed and waited for the king by the road, and disguised himself with a bandage over his eyes.


text:
Now <f>[18†]</f>as the king passed by, he cried out to the king and said, “Your servant went out into the midst of the battle; and there, a man came over and brought a man to me, and said, ‘Guard this man; if by any means he is missing, <f>[19†]</f>your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.’


text:
While your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.” <pb/>Then the king of Israel said to him, “So <i>shall</i> your judgment <i>be;</i> you yourself have decided <i>it.</i>”


text:
<pb/>And he hastened to take the bandage away from his eyes; and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets.


text:
Then he said to him, “Thus says the LORD: <f>[20†]</f>‘Because you have let slip out of <i>your</i> hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.’ ”


text:
<pb/>So the king of Israel <f>[21†]</f>went to his house sullen and displeased, and came to Samaria.


text:
<pb/>And it came to pass after these things <i>that</i> Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which <i>was</i> in <f>[1†]</f>Jezreel, next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.


text:
So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “Give me your <f>[2†]</f>vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it <i>is</i> near, next to my house; and for it I will give you a vineyard better than it. <i>Or,</i> if it seems good to you, I will give you its worth in money.”


text:
<pb/>But Naboth said to Ahab, “The LORD forbid <f>[3†]</f>that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you!”


text:
<pb/>So Ahab went into his house sullen 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 down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no food.


text:
But <f>[4†]</f>Jezebel his wife came to him, and said to him, “Why is your spirit so sullen that you eat no food?”


text:
<pb/>He said to her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite, and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if it pleases you, I will give you <i>another</i> vineyard for it.’ And he answered, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’ ”


text:
<pb/>Then Jezebel his wife said to him, “You now exercise authority over Israel! Arise, eat food, and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”


text:
<pb/>And she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed <i>them</i> with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who <i>were</i> dwelling in the city with Naboth.


text:
She wrote in the letters, saying, <pb/><t>Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth with high honor among the people; </t>


text:
<t>and seat two men, scoundrels, before him to bear witness against him, saying, “You have <f>[5†]</f>blasphemed God and the king.” <i>Then</i> take him out, and <f>[6†]</f>stone him, that he may die.</t>


text:
<pb/>So the men of his city, the elders and nobles who were inhabitants of his city, did as Jezebel had sent to them, as it <i>was</i> written in the letters which she had sent to them.


text:
And two men, scoundrels, came in and sat before him; and the scoundrels <f>[8†]</f>witnessed against him, against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth has blasphemed God and the king!” <f>[9†]</f>Then they took him outside the city and stoned him with stones, so that he died.


text:
<pb/>And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead.”


text:
So it was, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab got up and went down to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.


text:
“Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, <f>[12†]</f>who <i>lives</i> in Samaria. There <i>he</i> <i>is,</i> in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone down to take possession of it.


text:
You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Have you murdered and also taken possession?” ’ And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD: <f>[13†]</f>“In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours.” ’ ”


text:
<pb/>So Ahab said to Elijah, <f>[14†]</f>“Have you found me, O my enemy?” <pb/>And he answered, “I have found <i>you,</i> because <f>[15†]</f>you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD:


text:
‘Behold, <f>[16†]</f>I will bring calamity on you. I will take away your <f>[17†]</f>posterity, and will cut off from Ahab <f>[18†]</f>every male in Israel, both <f>[19†]</f>bond and free.


text:
I will make your house like the house of <f>[20†]</f>Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of <f>[21†]</f>Baasha the son of Ahijah, because of the provocation with which you have provoked <i>Me</i> to anger, and made Israel sin.’


text:
And <f>[22†]</f>concerning Jezebel the LORD also spoke, saying, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’


text:
The dogs shall eat <f>[23†]</f>whoever belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field.”


text:
<pb/>But <f>[24†]</f>there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the LORD, <f>[25†]</f>because Jezebel his wife stirred him up.


text:
And he behaved very abominably in following idols, according to all <f>[26†]</f><i>that</i> the Amorites had done, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.


text:
<pb/>So it was, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes and <f>[27†]</f>put sackcloth on his body, and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went about mourning.


text:
“See how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he <f>[28†]</f>has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity in his days. <f>[29†]</f>In the days of his son I will bring the calamity on his house.”


text:
Then it came to pass, in the third year, that <f>[1†]</f>Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went down to <i>visit</i> the king of Israel.


text:
<pb/>And the king of Israel said to his servants, “Do you know that <f>[2†]</f>Ramoth in Gilead <i>is</i> ours, but we hesitate to take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?”


text:
So he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight at Ramoth Gilead?” <pb/>Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, <f>[3†]</f>“I <i>am</i> as you <i>are,</i> my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”


text:
Also Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, <f>[4†]</f>“Please inquire for the word of the LORD today.”


text:
<pb/>Then the king of Israel <f>[5†]</f>gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to fight, or shall I refrain?” <pb/>So they said, “Go up, for the Lord will deliver <i>it</i> into the hand of the king.”


text:
<pb/>And <f>[6†]</f>Jehoshaphat said, “<i>Is</i> <i>there</i> not still a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of Him?”


text:
<pb/>So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “<i>There</i> <i>is</i> still one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.” <pb/>And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say such things!”


text:
<pb/>The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, having put on <i>their</i> robes, sat each on his throne, at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.


text:
Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made <f>[7†]</f>horns of iron for himself; and he said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘With these you shall <f>[8†]</f>gore the Syrians until they are destroyed.’ ”


text:
And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, “Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper, for the LORD will deliver <i>it</i> into the king’s hand.”


text:
<pb/>Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, “Now listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Please, let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak encouragement.”


text:
<pb/>And Micaiah said, “<i>As</i> the LORD lives, <f>[9†]</f>whatever the LORD says to me, that I will speak.”


text:
<pb/>Then he came to the king; and the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall we refrain?” <pb/>And he answered him, “Go and prosper, for the LORD will deliver <i>it</i> into the hand of the king!”


text:
<pb/>So the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?”


text:
<pb/>Then he said, “I saw all Israel <f>[10†]</f>scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.’ ”


text:
<pb/>And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”


text:
<pb/>Then <i>Micaiah</i> said, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: <f>[11†]</f>I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, <f>[12†]</f>and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right hand and on His left.


text:
And the LORD said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner.


text:
The LORD said to him, ‘In what way?’ So he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And the LORD said, <f>[13†]</f>‘You shall persuade <i>him,</i> and also prevail. Go out and do so.’


text:
<f>[14†]</f>Therefore look! The LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the LORD has declared disaster against you.”


text:
<pb/>Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near and <f>[15†]</f>struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, <f>[16†]</f>“Which way did the spirit from the LORD go from me to speak to you?”


text:
<pb/>And Micaiah said, “Indeed, you shall see on that day when you go into an <f>[17†]</f>inner chamber to hide!”


text:
<pb/>So the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah, and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son;


text:
and say, ‘Thus says the king: “Put this <i>fellow</i> in <f>[18†]</f>prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction, until I come in peace.” ’ ”


text:
<pb/>But Micaiah said, “If you ever return in peace, <f>[19†]</f>the LORD has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Take heed, all you people!”


text:
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle; but you put on your robes.” So the king of Israel <f>[20†]</f>disguised himself and went into battle.


text:
<pb/>Now the <f>[21†]</f>king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two <f>[22†]</f>captains of his chariots, saying, “Fight with no one small or great, but only with the king of Israel.”


text:
So it was, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, “Surely it <i>is</i> the king of Israel!” Therefore they turned aside to fight against him, and Jehoshaphat <f>[23†]</f>cried out.


text:
And it happened, when the captains of the chariots saw that it <i>was</i> not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.


text:
Now a <i>certain</i> man drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am wounded.”


text:
<pb/>The battle increased that day; and the king was propped up in his chariot, facing the Syrians, and died at evening. The blood ran out from the wound onto the floor of the chariot.


text:
Then, as the sun was going down, a shout went throughout the army, saying, “Every man to his city, and every man to his own country!”


text:
Then <i>someone</i> washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood while the harlots bathed, according <f>[24†]</f>to the word of the LORD which He had spoken.


text:
<pb/>Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, <f>[25†]</f>the ivory house which he built and all the cities that he built, <i>are</i> they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


text:
<pb/> <f>[27†]</f>Jehoshaphat the son of Asa had become king over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.


text:
Jehoshaphat <i>was</i> thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name <i>was</i> Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.


text:
And <f>[28†]</f>he walked in all the ways of his father Asa. He did not turn aside from them, doing <i>what</i> <i>was</i> right in the eyes of the LORD. Nevertheless <f>[29†]</f>the high places were not taken away, <i>for</i> the people offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.


text:
<pb/>Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, the might that he showed, and how he made war, <i>are</i> they not written <f>[32†]</f>in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


text:
<f>[33†]</f>And the rest of the perverted persons, who remained in the days of his father Asa, he banished from the land.


text:
<pb/> <f>[35†]</f>Jehoshaphat <f>[36†]</f>made merchant ships to go to <f>[37†]</f>Ophir for gold; <f>[38†]</f>but they never sailed, for the ships were wrecked at <f>[39†]</f>Ezion Geber.


text:
Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships.” But Jehoshaphat would not.


text:
<pb/>And <f>[40†]</f>Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David his father. Then Jehoram his son reigned in his place.


text:
<pb/> <f>[41†]</f>Ahaziah the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel.


text:
He did evil in the sight of the LORD, and <f>[42†]</f>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 had made Israel sin;


text:
for <f>[43†]</f>he served Baal and worshiped him, and provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger, <f>[44†]</f>according to all that his father had done.


text:
<pb/>Now <f>[3†]</f>Ahaziah fell through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria, and was injured; so he sent messengers and said to them, “Go, inquire of <f>[4†]</f>Baal-Zebub, the god of <f>[5†]</f>Ekron, whether I shall recover from this injury.”


text:
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, ‘<i>Is</i> <i>it</i> because <i>there</i> <i>is</i> no God in Israel <i>that</i> you are going to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?’


text:
Now therefore, thus says the LORD: ‘You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ” So Elijah departed.


text:
<pb/>So they said to him, “A man came up to meet us, and said to us, ‘Go, return to the king who sent you, and say to him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘<i>Is</i> <i>it</i> because <i>there</i> <i>is</i> no God in Israel <i>that</i> you are sending to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ” ’ ”


text:
<pb/>Then he said to them, “What kind of man <i>was</i> <i>it</i> who came up to meet you and told you these words?”


text:
<pb/>So they answered him, <f>[6†]</f>“A hairy man wearing a leather belt around his waist.” <pb/>And he said, <f>[7†]</f>“It <i>is</i> Elijah the Tishbite.”


text:
<pb/>Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty men. So he went up to him; and there he was, sitting on the top of a hill. And he spoke to him: “Man of God, the king has said, ‘Come down!’ ”


text:
<pb/>So Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, “If I <i>am</i> a man of God, then <f>[8†]</f>let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.


text:
Then he sent to him another captain of fifty with his fifty men. <pb/>And he answered and said to him: “Man of God, thus has the king said, ‘Come down quickly!’ ”


text:
<pb/>So Elijah answered and said to them, “If I <i>am</i> a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.


text:
<pb/>Again, he sent a third captain of fifty with his fifty men. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and pleaded with him, and said to him: “Man of God, please let my life and the life of these fifty servants of yours <f>[9†]</f>be precious in your sight.


text:
Look, fire has come down from heaven and burned up the first two captains of fifties with their fifties. But let my life now be precious in your sight.”


text:
<pb/>And the angel of the LORD said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So he arose and went down with him to the king.


text:
Then he said to him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, <i>is</i> <i>it</i> because <i>there</i> <i>is</i> no God in Israel to inquire of His word? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ”


text:
<pb/>So <i>Ahaziah</i> died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. Because he had no son, <f>[10†]</f>Jehoram became king in his place, in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah.


text:
<pb/>Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, <i>are</i> they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


text:
<pb/>And it came to pass, when the LORD was about to <f>[1†]</f>take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with <f>[2†]</f>Elisha from Gilgal.


text:
Then Elijah said to Elisha, <f>[3†]</f>“Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.” <pb/>But Elisha said, “<i>As</i> the LORD lives, and <f>[4†]</f><i>as</i> your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel.


text:
<pb/>Now <f>[5†]</f>the sons of the prophets who <i>were</i> at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?” <pb/>And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”


text:
<pb/>Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Jericho.” <pb/>But he said, “<i>As</i> the LORD lives, and <i>as</i> your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they came to Jericho.


text:
<pb/>Now the sons of the prophets who <i>were</i> at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?” <pb/>So he answered, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”


text:
<pb/>Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.” <pb/>But he said, “<i>As</i> the LORD lives, and <i>as</i> your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So the two of them went on.


text:
And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing <i>them</i> at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan.


text:
Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled <i>it</i> up, and struck the water; and <f>[6†]</f>it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry <f>[7†]</f>ground.


text:
<pb/>And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” <pb/>Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”


text:
<pb/>So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. <i>Nevertheless,</i> if you see me <i>when</i> <i>I</i> <i>am</i> taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be <i>so.</i>”


text:
Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly <f>[8†]</f>a chariot of fire <i>appeared</i> with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah <f>[9†]</f>went up by a whirlwind into heaven.


text:
<pb/>And Elisha saw <i>it,</i> and he cried out, <f>[10†]</f>“My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces.


text:
He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan.


text:
Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where <i>is</i> the LORD God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, <f>[11†]</f>it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.


text:
<pb/>Now when the sons of the prophets who <i>were</i> <f>[12†]</f>from Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him.


text:
Then they said to him, “Look now, there are fifty strong men with your servants. Please let them go and search for your master, <f>[13†]</f>lest perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley.” <pb/>And he said, “You shall not send anyone.”


text:
<pb/>But when they urged him till he was <f>[14†]</f>ashamed, he said, “Send <i>them!</i>” Therefore they sent fifty men, and they searched for three days but did not find him.


text:
And when they came back to him, for he had stayed in Jericho, he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”


text:
<pb/>Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please notice, the situation of this city <i>is</i> pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water <i>is</i> bad, and the ground barren.”


text:
Then he went out to the source of the water, and <f>[15†]</f>cast in the salt there, and said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.’ ”


text:
So the water remains <f>[16†]</f>healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.


text:
<pb/>Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up the road, some youths came from the city and mocked him, and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!”


text:
<pb/>So he turned around and looked at them, and <f>[17†]</f>pronounced a curse on them in the name of the LORD. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths.


text:
<pb/>Now <f>[1†]</f>Jehoram the son of Ahab became king over Israel at Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.


text:
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, but not like his father and mother; for he put away the <i>sacred</i> pillar of Baal <f>[2†]</f>that his father had made.


text:
Nevertheless he persisted in <f>[3†]</f>the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin; he did not depart from them.


text:
<pb/>Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheepbreeder, and he <f>[4†]</f>regularly paid the king of Israel one hundred thousand <f>[5†]</f>lambs and the wool of one hundred thousand rams.


text:
But it happened, when <f>[6†]</f>Ahab died, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.


text:
Then he went and sent to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, saying, “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?” <pb/>And he said, “I will go up; <f>[7†]</f>I <i>am</i> as you <i>are,</i> my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”


text:
<pb/>So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom, and they marched on that roundabout route seven days; and there was no water for the army, nor for the animals that followed them.


text:
And the king of Israel said, “Alas! For the LORD has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.”


text:
<pb/>But <f>[8†]</f>Jehoshaphat said, “<i>Is</i> <i>there</i> no prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD by him?” <pb/>So one of the servants of the king of Israel answered and said, “Elisha the son of Shaphat <i>is</i> here, who <f>[9†]</f>poured water on the hands of Elijah.”


text:
<pb/>And Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the LORD is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom <f>[10†]</f>went down to him.


text:
<pb/>Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, <f>[11†]</f>“What have I to do with you? <f>[12†]</f>Go to <f>[13†]</f>the prophets of your father and the <f>[14†]</f>prophets of your mother.” <pb/>But the king of Israel said to him, “No, for the LORD has called these three kings <i>together</i> to deliver them into the hand of Moab.”


text:
<pb/>And Elisha said, <f>[15†]</f>“<i>As</i> the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you.


text:
But now bring me <f>[16†]</f>a musician.” <pb/>Then it happened, when the musician <f>[17†]</f>played, that <f>[18†]</f>the hand of the LORD came upon him.


text:
For thus says the LORD: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.’


text:
And this is a simple matter in the sight of the LORD; He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.


text:
Also you shall attack every fortified city and every choice city, and shall cut down every good tree, and stop up every spring of water, and ruin every good piece of land with stones.”


text:
<pb/>Now it happened in the morning, when <f>[20†]</f>the grain offering was offered, that suddenly water came by way of Edom, and the land was filled with water.


text:
<pb/>And when all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them, all who were able to bear arms and older were gathered; and they stood at the border.


text:
Then they rose up early in the morning, and the sun was shining on the water; and the Moabites saw the water on the other side <i>as</i> red as blood.


text:
And they said, “This is blood; the kings have surely struck swords and have killed one another; now therefore, Moab, to the spoil!”


text:
<pb/>So when they came to the camp of Israel, Israel rose up and attacked the Moabites, so that they fled before them; and they entered <i>their</i> land, killing the Moabites.


text:
Then they destroyed the cities, and each man threw a stone on every good piece of land and filled it; and they stopped up all the springs of water and cut down all the good trees. But they left the stones of <f>[21†]</f>Kir Haraseth <i>intact.</i> However the slingers surrounded and attacked it.


text:
<pb/>And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took with him seven hundred men who drew swords, to break through to the king of Edom, but they could not.


text:
Then <f>[22†]</f>he took his eldest son who would have reigned in his place, and offered him <i>as</i> a burnt offering upon the wall; and there was great indignation against Israel. <f>[23†]</f>So they departed from him and returned to <i>their</i> <i>own</i> land.


text:
<pb/>A certain woman of the wives of <f>[1†]</f>the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And the creditor is coming <f>[2†]</f>to take my two sons to be his slaves.”


text:
<pb/>So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.”


text:
<pb/>Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; <f>[3†]</f>do not gather just a few.


text:
And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones.”


text:
<pb/>So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought <i>the</i> <i>vessels</i> to her; and she poured <i>it</i> out.


text:
Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” <pb/>And he said to her, “<i>There</i> <i>is</i> not another vessel.” So the oil ceased.


text:
Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you <i>and</i> your sons live on the rest.”


text:
<pb/>Now it happened one day that Elisha went to <f>[4†]</f>Shunem, where there <i>was</i> a notable woman, and she persuaded him to eat some food. So it was, as often as he passed by, he would turn in there to eat some food.


text:
And she said to her husband, “Look now, I know that this <i>is</i> a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly.


text:
Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there.”


text:
<pb/>And it happened one day that he came there, and he turned in to the upper room and lay down there.


text:
Then he said to <f>[5†]</f>Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite woman.” When he had called her, she stood before him.


text:
And he said to him, “Say now to her, ‘Look, you have been concerned for us with all this care. What <i>can</i> <i>I</i> do for you? Do you want me to speak on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’ ” <pb/>She answered, “I dwell among my own people.”


text:
<pb/>So he said, “What then <i>is</i> to be done for her?” <pb/>And Gehazi answered, “Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old.”


text:
Then he said, “About this time next year you shall embrace a son.” <pb/>And she said, “No, my lord. Man of God, <f>[6†]</f>do not lie to your maidservant!”


text:
<pb/>But the woman conceived, and bore a son when the appointed time had come, of which Elisha had told her.


text:
And he said to his father, “My head, my head!” <pb/>So he said to a servant, “Carry him to his mother.”


text:
When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and <i>then</i> died.


text:
And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, shut <i>the</i> <i>door</i> upon him, and went out.


text:
Then she called to her husband, and said, “Please send me one of the young men and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God and come back.”


text:
<pb/>So he said, “Why are you going to him today? <i>It</i> <i>is</i> neither the <f>[7†]</f>New Moon nor the Sabbath.” <pb/>And she said, “<i>It</i> <i>is</i> well.”


text:
Then she saddled a donkey, and said to her servant, “Drive, and go forward; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you.”


text:
And so she departed, and went to the man of God <f>[8†]</f>at Mount Carmel. <pb/>So it was, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to his servant Gehazi, “Look, the Shunammite woman!


text:
Please run now to meet her, and say to her, ‘<i>Is</i> <i>it</i> well with you? <i>Is</i> <i>it</i> well with your husband? <i>Is</i> <i>it</i> well with the child?’ ” <pb/>And she answered, “<i>It</i> <i>is</i> well.”


text:
Now when she came to the man of God at the hill, she caught him by the feet, but Gehazi came near to push her away. But the man of God said, “Let her alone; for her soul <i>is</i> in deep distress, and the LORD has hidden <i>it</i> from me, and has not told me.”


text:
<pb/>Then he said to Gehazi, <f>[10†]</f>“Get yourself ready, and take my staff in your hand, and be on your way. If you meet anyone, <f>[11†]</f>do not greet him; and if anyone greets you, do not answer him; but <f>[12†]</f>lay my staff on the face of the child.”


text:
<pb/>And the mother of the child said, <f>[13†]</f>“<i>As</i> the LORD lives, and <i>as</i> your soul lives, <f>[14†]</f>I will not leave you.” So he arose and followed her.


text:
Now Gehazi went on ahead of them, and laid the staff on the face of the child; but <i>there</i> <i>was</i> neither voice nor hearing. Therefore he went back to meet him, and told him, saying, “The child has <f>[15†]</f>not awakened.”


text:
He <f>[16†]</f>went in therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, <f>[17†]</f>and prayed to the LORD.


text:
And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and <f>[18†]</f>he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm.


text:
He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up <f>[19†]</f>and stretched himself out on him; then <f>[20†]</f>the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.


text:
And he called Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite woman.” So he called her. And when she came in to him, he said, “Pick up your son.”


text:
So she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; then she <f>[21†]</f>picked up her son and went out.


text:
<pb/>And Elisha returned to <f>[22†]</f>Gilgal, and <i>there</i> <i>was</i> a <f>[23†]</f>famine in the land. Now the sons of the prophets <i>were</i> <f>[24†]</f>sitting before him; and he said to his servant, “Put on the large pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.”


text:
So one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered from it a lapful of wild gourds, and came and sliced <i>them</i> into the pot of stew, though they did not know <i>what</i> <i>they</i> <i>were.</i>


text:
Then they served it to the men to eat. Now it happened, as they were eating the stew, that they cried out and said, “Man of God, <i>there</i> <i>is</i> <f>[25†]</f>death in the pot!” And they could not eat <i>it.</i>


text:
<pb/>So he said, “Then bring some flour.” And <f>[26†]</f>he put <i>it</i> into the pot, and said, “Serve <i>it</i> to the people, that they may eat.” And there was nothing harmful in the pot.


text:
<pb/>Then a man came from <f>[27†]</f>Baal Shalisha, <f>[28†]</f>and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley bread, and newly ripened grain in his knapsack. And he said, “Give <i>it</i> to the people, that they may eat.”


text:
<pb/>But his servant said, <f>[29†]</f>“What? Shall I set this before one hundred men?” <pb/>He said again, “Give it to the people, that they may eat; for thus says the LORD: <f>[30†]</f>‘They shall eat and have <i>some</i> left over.’ ”


text:
So he set <i>it</i> before them; and they ate <f>[31†]</f>and had <i>some</i> left over, according to the word of the LORD.


text:
<pb/>Now <f>[1†]</f>Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was <f>[2†]</f>a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, <i>but</i> a leper.


text:
And the Syrians had gone out <f>[3†]</f>on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman’s wife.


text:
Then she said to her mistress, “If only my master <i>were</i> with the prophet who <i>is</i> in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy.”


text:
And <i>Naaman</i> went in and told his master, saying, “Thus and thus said the girl who <i>is</i> from the land of Israel.”


text:
<pb/>Then the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” <pb/>So he departed and <f>[4†]</f>took with him ten talents of silver, six thousand <i>shekels</i> of gold, and ten changes of clothing.


text:
Then he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which said, <pb/><t>Now be advised, when this letter comes to you, that I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy.</t>


text:
<pb/>And it happened, when the king of Israel read the letter, that he tore his clothes and said, “<i>Am</i> I <f>[5†]</f>God, to kill and make alive, that this man sends a man to me to heal him of his leprosy? Therefore please consider, and see how he seeks a quarrel with me.”


text:
<pb/>So it was, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Please let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.”


text:
And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and <f>[6†]</f>wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and <i>you</i> <i>shall</i> be clean.”


text:
But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, “Indeed, I said to myself, ‘He will surely come out <i>to</i> <i>me,</i> and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.’


text:
<i>Are</i> not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.


text:
And his <f>[7†]</f>servants came near and spoke to him, and said, “My father, <i>if</i> the prophet had told you <i>to</i> <i>do</i> something great, would you not have done <i>it?</i> How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”


text:
So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his <f>[8†]</f>flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and <f>[9†]</f>he was clean.


text:
<pb/>And he returned to the man of God, he and all his aides, and came and stood before him; and he said, “Indeed, now I know that <i>there</i> <i>is</i> <f>[10†]</f>no God in all the earth, except in Israel; now therefore, please take <f>[11†]</f>a gift from your servant.”


text:
<pb/>But he said, <f>[12†]</f>“<i>As</i> the LORD lives, before whom I stand, <f>[13†]</f>I will receive nothing.” And he urged him to take <i>it,</i> but he refused.


text:
<pb/>So Naaman said, “Then, if not, please let your servant be given two mule-loads of earth; for your servant will no longer offer either burnt offering or sacrifice to other gods, but to the LORD.


text:
Yet in this thing may the LORD pardon your servant: when my master goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship there, and <f>[14†]</f>he leans on my hand, and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon—when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD please pardon your servant in this thing.”


text:
<pb/>But <f>[15†]</f>Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, while not receiving from his hands what he brought; but <i>as</i> the LORD lives, I will run after him and take something from him.”


text:
So Gehazi pursued Naaman. When Naaman saw <i>him</i> running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him, and said, “<i>Is</i> all well?”


text:
<pb/>And he said, “All <i>is</i> <f>[16†]</f>well. My master has sent me, saying, ‘Indeed, just now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the mountains of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of garments.’ ”


text:
<pb/>So Naaman said, “Please, take two talents.” And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and handed <i>them</i> to two of his servants; and they carried <i>them</i> on ahead of him.


text:
When he came to the citadel, he took <i>them</i> from their hand, and stored <i>them</i> away in the house; then he let the men go, and they departed.


text:
Now he went in and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, “Where <i>did</i> <i>you</i> <i>go,</i> Gehazi?” <pb/>And he said, “Your servant did not go anywhere.”


text:
<pb/>Then he said to him, “Did not my heart go <i>with</i> <i>you</i> when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? <i>Is</i> <i>it</i> <f>[17†]</f>time to receive money and to receive clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants?


text:
Therefore the leprosy of Naaman <f>[18†]</f>shall cling to you and your descendants forever.” And he went out from his presence <f>[19†]</f>leprous, <i>as</i> <i>white</i> as snow.


text:
<pb/>And <f>[1†]</f>the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us.


text:
Please, let us go to the Jordan, and let every man take a beam from there, and let us make there a place where we may dwell.” <pb/>So he answered, “Go.”


text:
<pb/>Then one said, <f>[2†]</f>“Please consent to go with your servants.” <pb/>And he answered, “I will go.”


text:
But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron <i>ax</i> <i>head</i> fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, master! For it was <f>[3†]</f>borrowed.”


text:
<pb/>So the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And he showed him the place. So <f>[4†]</f>he cut off a stick, and threw <i>it</i> in there; and he made the iron float.


text:
<pb/>Now the <f>[5†]</f>king of Syria was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants, saying, “My camp <i>will</i> <i>be</i> in such and such a place.”


text:
And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there.”


text:
Then the king of Israel sent <i>someone</i> to the place of which the man of God had told him. Thus he warned him, and he was watchful there, not just once or twice.


text:
<pb/>Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me which of us <i>is</i> for the king of Israel?”


text:
<pb/>And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who <i>is</i> in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.”


text:
<pb/>So he said, “Go and see where he <i>is,</i> that I may send and get him.” <pb/>And it was told him, saying, “Surely <i>he</i> <i>is</i> in <f>[6†]</f>Dothan.”


text:
<pb/>Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city.


text:
And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”


text:
<pb/>So he answered, <f>[7†]</f>“Do not fear, for <f>[8†]</f>those who <i>are</i> with us <i>are</i> more than those who <i>are</i> with them.”


text:
And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the LORD <f>[9†]</f>opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain <i>was</i> full of <f>[10†]</f>horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.


text:
So when <i>the</i> <i>Syrians</i> came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, and said, “Strike this people, I pray, with blindness.” And <f>[11†]</f>He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.


text:
<pb/>Now Elisha said to them, “This <i>is</i> not the way, nor <i>is</i> this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” But he led them to Samaria.


text:
<pb/>So it was, when they had come to Samaria, that Elisha said, “LORD, open the eyes of these <i>men,</i> that they may see.” And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and there <i>they</i> <i>were,</i> inside Samaria!


text:
<pb/>Now when the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My <f>[12†]</f>father, shall I kill <i>them?</i> Shall I kill <i>them?</i>”


text:
<pb/>But he answered, “You shall not kill <i>them.</i> Would you kill those whom you have taken captive with your sword and your bow? <f>[13†]</f>Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.”


text:
Then he prepared a great feast for them; and after they ate and drank, he sent them away and they went to their master. So <f>[14†]</f>the bands of Syrian <i>raiders</i> came no more into the land of Israel.


text:
<pb/>And it happened after this that <f>[15†]</f>Ben-Hadad king of Syria gathered all his army, and went up and besieged Samaria.


text:
And there was a great <f>[16†]</f>famine in Samaria; and indeed they besieged it until a donkey’s head was <i>sold</i> for eighty <i>shekels</i> of silver, and one-fourth of a kab of dove droppings for five <i>shekels</i> of silver.


text:
<pb/>Then, as the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, saying, “Help, my lord, O king!”


text:
<pb/>And he said, “If the LORD does not help you, where can I find help for you? From the threshing floor or from the winepress?”


text:
Then the king said to her, “What is troubling you?” <pb/>And she answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’


text:
So <f>[17†]</f>we boiled my son, and ate him. And I said to her on the next day, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him’; but she has hidden her son.”


text:
<pb/>Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he <f>[18†]</f>tore his clothes; and as he passed by on the wall, the people looked, and there underneath <i>he</i> <i>had</i> sackcloth on his body.


text:
Then he said, <f>[19†]</f>“God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on him today!”


text:
<pb/>But Elisha was sitting in his house, and <f>[20†]</f>the elders were sitting with him. And <i>the</i> <i>king</i> sent a man ahead of him, but before the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, <f>[21†]</f>“Do you see how this son of <f>[22†]</f>a murderer has sent someone to take away my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door. <i>Is</i> not the sound of his master’s feet behind him?”


text:
And while he was still talking with them, there was the messenger, coming down to him; and then <i>the</i> <i>king</i> said, “Surely this calamity <i>is</i> from the LORD; <f>[23†]</f>why should I wait for the LORD any longer?”


text:
<pb/>Then Elisha said, “Hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the LORD: <f>[1†]</f>‘Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour <i>shall</i> <i>be</i> <i>sold</i> for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.’ ”


text:
<pb/> <f>[2†]</f>So an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, “Look, <f>[3†]</f><i>if</i> the LORD would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” <pb/>And he said, “In fact, you shall see <i>it</i> with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it.”


text:
<pb/>Now there were four leprous men <f>[4†]</f>at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die?


text:
If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ the famine <i>is</i> in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore, come, let us surrender to the <f>[5†]</f>army of the Syrians. If they keep us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall only die.”


text:
And they rose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians; and when they had come to the outskirts of the Syrian camp, to their surprise no one <i>was</i> there.


text:
For the Lord had caused the army of the Syrians <f>[6†]</f>to hear the noise of chariots and the noise of horses—the noise of a great army; so they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel has hired against us <f>[7†]</f>the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us!”


text:
Therefore they <f>[8†]</f>arose and fled at twilight, and left the camp intact—their tents, their horses, and their donkeys—and they fled for their lives.


text:
And when these lepers came to the outskirts of the camp, they went into one tent and ate and drank, and carried from it silver and gold and clothing, and went and hid <i>them;</i> then they came back and entered another tent, and carried <i>some</i> from there <i>also,</i> and went and hid <i>it.</i>


text:
<pb/>Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day <i>is</i> a day of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell the king’s household.”


text:
So they went and called to the gatekeepers of the city, and told them, saying, “We went to the Syrian camp, and surprisingly no one <i>was</i> there, not a human sound—only horses and donkeys tied, and the tents intact.”


text:
<pb/>So the king arose in the night and said to his servants, “Let me now tell you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we <i>are</i> <f>[9†]</f>hungry; therefore they have gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, ‘When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive, and get into the city.’ ”


text:
<pb/>And one of his servants answered and said, “Please, let several <i>men</i> take five of the remaining horses which are left in the city. Look, they <i>may</i> <i>either</i> <i>become</i> like all the multitude of Israel that are left in it; or indeed, <i>I</i> <i>say,</i> they <i>may</i> <i>become</i> like all the multitude of Israel left from those who are consumed; so let us send them and see.”


text:
Therefore they took two chariots with horses; and the king sent them in the direction of the Syrian army, saying, “Go and see.”


text:
And they went after them to the Jordan; and indeed all the road <i>was</i> full of garments and weapons which the Syrians had thrown away in their haste. So the messengers returned and told the king.


text:
Then the people went out and plundered the tents of the Syrians. So a seah of fine flour was <i>sold</i> for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, <f>[10†]</f>according to the word of the LORD.


text:
<pb/>Now the king had appointed the officer on whose hand he leaned to have charge of the gate. But the people trampled him in the gate, and he died, just <f>[11†]</f>as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him.


text:
So it happened just as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, <f>[12†]</f>“Two seahs of barley for a shekel, and a seah of fine flour for a shekel, shall be <i>sold</i> tomorrow about this time in the gate of Samaria.”


text:
<pb/>Then that officer had answered the man of God, and said, “Now look, <i>if</i> the LORD would make windows in heaven, could such a thing be?” <pb/>And he had said, “In fact, you shall see <i>it</i> with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it.”


text:
<pb/>Then Elisha spoke to the woman <f>[1†]</f>whose son he had restored to life, saying, “Arise and go, you and your household, and stay wherever you can; for the LORD <f>[2†]</f>has called for a <f>[3†]</f>famine, and furthermore, it will come upon the land for seven years.”


text:
So the woman arose and did according to the saying of the man of God, and she went with her household and dwelt in the land of the Philistines seven years.


text:
<pb/>It came to pass, at the end of seven years, that the woman returned from the land of the Philistines; and she went to make an appeal to the king for her house and for her land.


text:
Then the king talked with <f>[4†]</f>Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, saying, “Tell me, please, all the great things Elisha has done.”


text:
Now it happened, as he was telling the king how he had restored the dead to life, that there was the woman whose son he had <f>[5†]</f>restored to life, appealing to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, “My lord, O king, this <i>is</i> the woman, and this <i>is</i> her son whom Elisha restored to life.”


text:
And when the king asked the woman, she told him. <pb/>So the king appointed a certain officer for her, saying, “Restore all that <i>was</i> hers, and all the proceeds of the field from the day that she left the land until now.”


text:
<pb/>Then Elisha went to Damascus, and <f>[6†]</f>Ben-Hadad king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, “The man of God has come here.”


text:
And the king said to <f>[7†]</f>Hazael, <f>[8†]</f>“Take a present in your hand, and go to meet the man of God, and <f>[9†]</f>inquire of the LORD by him, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this disease?’ ”


text:
So <f>[10†]</f>Hazael went to meet him and took a present with him, of every good thing of Damascus, forty camel-loads; and he came and stood before him, and said, “Your son Ben-Hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this disease?’ ”


text:
<pb/>And Elisha said to him, “Go, say to him, ‘You shall certainly recover.’ However the LORD has shown me that <f>[11†]</f>he will really die.”


text:
And Hazael said, “Why is my lord weeping?” <pb/>He answered, “Because I know <f>[13†]</f>the evil that you will do to the children of Israel: Their strongholds you will set on fire, and their young men you will kill with the sword; and you <f>[14†]</f>will dash their children, and rip open their women with child.”


text:
<pb/>So Hazael said, “But what <f>[15†]</f><i>is</i> your servant—a dog, that he should do this gross thing?” <pb/>And Elisha answered, <f>[16†]</f>“The LORD has shown me that you <i>will</i> <i>become</i> king over Syria.”


text:
<pb/>Then he departed from Elisha, and came to his master, who said to him, “What did Elisha say to you?” And he answered, “He told me you would surely recover.”


text:
But it happened on the next day that he took a thick cloth and dipped <i>it</i> in water, and spread <i>it</i> over his face so that he died; and Hazael reigned in his place.


text:
<pb/>Now <f>[17†]</f>in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab, king of Israel, Jehoshaphat <i>having</i> <i>been</i> king of Judah, <f>[18†]</f>Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat began to reign as king of Judah.


text:
He was <f>[19†]</f>thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.


text:
And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done, for <f>[20†]</f>the daughter of Ahab was his wife; and he did evil in the sight of the LORD.


text:
Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah, for the sake of His servant David, <f>[21†]</f>as He promised him to give a lamp to him <i>and</i> his sons forever.


text:
<pb/>In his days <f>[22†]</f>Edom revolted against Judah’s authority, <f>[23†]</f>and made a king over themselves.


text:
So Joram went to Zair, and all his chariots with him. Then he rose by night and attacked the Edomites who had surrounded him and the captains of the chariots; and the troops fled to their tents.


text:
Thus Edom has been in revolt against Judah’s authority to this day. <f>[24†]</f>And Libnah revolted at that time.


text:
<pb/>Now the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, <i>are</i> they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


text:
So Joram rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David. Then <f>[25†]</f>Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.


text:
<pb/>In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab, king of Israel, Ahaziah the son of Jehoram, king of Judah, began to reign.


text:
Ahaziah <i>was</i> <f>[26†]</f>twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name <i>was</i> Athaliah the granddaughter of Omri, king of Israel.


text:
<f>[27†]</f>And he walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did evil in the sight of the LORD, like the house of Ahab, for he <i>was</i> the son-in-law of the house of Ahab.


text:
<pb/>Now he went <f>[28†]</f>with Joram the son of Ahab to war against Hazael king of Syria at <f>[29†]</f>Ramoth Gilead; and the Syrians wounded Joram.


text:
Then <f>[30†]</f>King Joram went back to Jezreel to recover from the wounds which the Syrians had inflicted on him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. <f>[31†]</f>And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram, king of Judah, went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.


text:
<pb/>And Elisha the prophet called one of <f>[1†]</f>the sons of the prophets, and said to him, <f>[2†]</f>“Get yourself ready, take this flask of oil in your hand, <f>[3†]</f>and go to Ramoth Gilead.


text:
Now when you arrive at that place, look there for Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, and go in and make him rise up from among <f>[4†]</f>his associates, and take him to an inner room.


text:
Then <f>[5†]</f>take the flask of oil, and pour <i>it</i> on his head, and say, ‘Thus says the LORD: “I have anointed you king over Israel.” ’ Then open the door and flee, and do not delay.”


text:
And when he arrived, there <i>were</i> the captains of the army sitting; and he said, “I have a message for you, Commander.” <pb/>Jehu said, “For which <i>one</i> of us?” <pb/>And he said, “For you, Commander.”


text:
Then he arose and went into the house. And he poured the oil on his head, and said to him, <f>[6†]</f>“Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘I have anointed you king over the people of the LORD, over Israel.


text:
You shall strike down the house of Ahab your master, that I may <f>[7†]</f>avenge the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, <f>[8†]</f>at the hand of Jezebel.


text:
For the whole house of Ahab shall perish; and <f>[9†]</f>I will cut off from Ahab all <f>[10†]</f>the males in Israel, both <f>[11†]</f>bond and free.


text:
So I will make the house of Ahab like the house of <f>[12†]</f>Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of <f>[13†]</f>Baasha the son of Ahijah.


text:
<f>[14†]</f>The dogs shall eat Jezebel on the plot <i>of</i> <i>ground</i> at Jezreel, and <i>there</i> <i>shall</i> <i>be</i> none to bury <i>her.</i>’ ” And he opened the door and fled.


text:
<pb/>Then Jehu came out to the servants of his master, and <i>one</i> said to him, “<i>Is</i> all well? Why did <f>[15†]</f>this madman come to you?” <pb/>And he said to them, “You know the man and his babble.”


text:
<pb/>And they said, “A lie! Tell us now.” <pb/>So he said, “Thus and thus he spoke to me, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD: “I have anointed you king over Israel.” ’ ”


text:
<pb/>Then each man hastened <f>[16†]</f>to take his garment and put <i>it</i> under him on the top of the steps; and they blew trumpets, saying, “Jehu is king!”


text:
<pb/>So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, conspired against <f>[17†]</f>Joram. (Now Joram had been defending Ramoth Gilead, he and all Israel, against Hazael king of Syria.


text:
But <f>[18†]</f>King Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds which the Syrians had inflicted on him when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) And Jehu said, “If you are so minded, let no one leave <i>or</i> escape from the city to go and tell <i>it</i> in Jezreel.”


text:
So Jehu rode in a chariot and went to Jezreel, for Joram was laid up there; <f>[19†]</f>and Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to see Joram.


text:
<pb/>Now a watchman stood on the tower in Jezreel, and he saw the company of Jehu as he came, and said, “I see a company of men.” <pb/>And Joram said, “Get a horseman and send him to meet them, and let him say, ‘<i>Is</i> <i>it</i> peace?’ ”


text:
<pb/>So the horseman went to meet him, and said, “Thus says the king: ‘<i>Is</i> <i>it</i> peace?’ ” <pb/>And Jehu said, “What have you to do with peace? Turn around and follow me.” <pb/>So the watchman reported, saying, “The messenger went to them, but is not coming back.”


text:
<pb/>Then he sent out a second horseman who came to them, and said, “Thus says the king: ‘<i>Is</i> <i>it</i> peace?’ ” <pb/>And Jehu answered, “What have you to do with peace? Turn around and follow me.”


text:
<pb/>So the watchman reported, saying, “He went up to them and is not coming back; and the driving <i>is</i> like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously!”


text:
<pb/>Then Joram said, “Make ready.” And his chariot was made ready. Then <f>[20†]</f>Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot; and they went out to meet Jehu, and met him <f>[21†]</f>on the property of Naboth the Jezreelite.


text:
<pb/>Now it happened, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, “<i>Is</i> <i>it</i> peace, Jehu?” <pb/>So he answered, “What peace, as long as the harlotries of your mother Jezebel and her witchcraft <i>are</i> <i>so</i> many?”


text:
Now Jehu drew his bow with full strength and shot Jehoram between his arms; and the arrow came out at his heart, and he sank down in his chariot.


text:
Then <i>Jehu</i> said to Bidkar his captain, “Pick <i>him</i> up, <i>and</i> throw him into the tract of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember, when you and I were riding together behind Ahab his father, that <f>[22†]</f>the LORD laid this <f>[23†]</f>burden upon him:


text:
‘Surely I saw yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons,’ says the LORD, <f>[24†]</f>‘and I will repay you in this plot,’ says the LORD. Now therefore, take <i>and</i> throw him on the plot <i>of</i> <i>ground,</i> according to the word of the LORD.”


text:
<pb/>But when Ahaziah king of Judah saw <i>this,</i> he fled by the road to Beth Haggan. So Jehu pursued him, and said, “Shoot him also in the chariot.” <i>And</i> <i>they</i> <i>shot</i> <i>him</i> at the Ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. Then he fled to <f>[25†]</f>Megiddo, and died there.


text:
And his servants carried him in the chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his tomb with his fathers in the City of David.


text:
<pb/>Now when Jehu had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard <i>of</i> <i>it;</i> <f>[26†]</f>and she put paint on her eyes and adorned her head, and looked through a window.


text:
Then, as Jehu entered at the gate, she said, <f>[27†]</f>“<i>Is</i> <i>it</i> peace, Zimri, murderer of your master?”


text:
<pb/>And he looked up at the window, and said, “Who <i>is</i> on my side? Who?” So two <i>or</i> three eunuchs looked out at him.


text:
Then he said, “Throw her down.” So they threw her down, and <i>some</i> of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses; and he trampled her underfoot.


text:
And when he had gone in, he ate and drank. Then he said, “Go now, see to this accursed <i>woman,</i> and bury her, for <f>[28†]</f>she was a king’s daughter.”


text:
So they went to bury her, but they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of <i>her</i> hands.


text:
Therefore they came back and told him. And he said, “This <i>is</i> the word of the LORD, which He spoke by His servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, <f>[29†]</f>‘On the plot <i>of</i> <i>ground</i> at Jezreel dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel;


text:
and the corpse of Jezebel shall be <f>[30†]</f>as refuse on the surface of the field, in the plot at Jezreel, so that they shall not say, “Here <i>lies</i> Jezebel.” ’ ”


text:
<pb/>Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote and sent letters to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to those who reared Ahab’s <i>sons,</i> saying:


text:
<pb/><t>Now as soon as this letter comes to you, since your master’s sons <i>are</i> with you, and you have chariots and horses, a fortified city also, and weapons, </t>


text:
<t>choose the best qualified of your master’s sons, set <i>him</i> on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.</t>


text:
<pb/>But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, “Look, <f>[1†]</f>two kings could not stand up to him; how then can we stand?”


text:
And he who <i>was</i> in charge of the house, and he who <i>was</i> in charge of the city, the elders also, and those who reared <i>the</i> <i>sons,</i> sent to Jehu, saying, “We <i>are</i> your servants, we will do all you tell us; but we will not make anyone king. Do <i>what</i> <i>is</i> good in your sight.”


text:
Then he wrote a second letter to them, saying: <pb/><t>If you <i>are</i> for me and will obey my voice, take the heads of the men, your master’s sons, and come to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow. </t> <pb/>Now the king’s sons, seventy persons, <i>were</i> with the great men of the city, <i>who</i> were rearing them.


text:
So it was, when the letter came to them, that they took the king’s sons and <f>[2†]</f>slaughtered seventy persons, put their heads in baskets and sent <i>them</i> to him at Jezreel.


text:
<pb/>Then a messenger came and told him, saying, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons.” <pb/>And he said, “Lay them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.”


text:
<pb/>So it was, in the morning, that he went out and stood, and said to all the people, “You <i>are</i> righteous. Indeed <f>[3†]</f>I conspired against my master and killed him; but who killed all these?


text:
Know now that nothing shall <f>[4†]</f>fall to the earth of the word of the LORD which the LORD spoke concerning the house of Ahab; for the LORD has done what He spoke <f>[5†]</f>by His servant Elijah.”


text:
So Jehu killed all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men and his close acquaintances and his priests, until he left him none remaining.


text:
<f>[6†]</f>Jehu met with the brothers of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, “Who <i>are</i> you?” <pb/>So they answered, “We <i>are</i> the brothers of Ahaziah; we have come down to greet the sons of the king and the sons of the queen mother.”


text:
<pb/>And he said, “Take them alive!” So they took them alive, and <f>[7†]</f>killed them at the well of Beth Eked, forty-two men; and he left none of them.


text:
<pb/>Now when he departed from there, he met <f>[8†]</f>Jehonadab the son of <f>[9†]</f>Rechab, <i>coming</i> to meet him; and he greeted him and said to him, “Is your heart right, as my heart <i>is</i> toward your heart?” <pb/>And Jehonadab answered, “It is.” <pb/><i>Jehu</i> <i>said,</i> “If it is, <f>[10†]</f>give <i>me</i> your hand.” So he gave <i>him</i> his hand, and he took him up to him into the chariot.


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Then he said, “Come with me, and see my <f>[11†]</f>zeal for the LORD.” So they had him ride in his chariot.


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And when he came to Samaria, <f>[12†]</f>he killed all who remained to Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed them, according to the word of the LORD <f>[13†]</f>which He spoke to Elijah.


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<pb/>Then Jehu gathered all the people together, and said to them, <f>[14†]</f>“Ahab served Baal a little, Jehu will serve him much.


text:
Now therefore, call to me all the <f>[15†]</f>prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests. Let no one be missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever is missing shall not live.” But Jehu acted deceptively, with the intent of destroying the worshipers of Baal.


text:
Then Jehu sent throughout all Israel; and all the worshipers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left who did not come. So they came into the temple of Baal, and the <f>[16†]</f>temple of Baal was full from one end to the other.


text:
And he said to the one in charge of the wardrobe, “Bring out vestments for all the worshipers of Baal.” So he brought out vestments for them.


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Then Jehu and Jehonadab the son of Rechab went into the temple of Baal, and said to the worshipers of Baal, “Search and see that no servants of the LORD are here with you, but only the worshipers of Baal.”


text:
So they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had appointed for himself eighty men on the outside, and had said, “<i>If</i> any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escapes, <i>whoever</i> <i>lets</i> <i>him</i> <i>escape, it shall be</i> <f>[17†]</f>his life for the life of the other.”


text:
<pb/>Now it happened, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, “Go in <i>and</i> kill them; let no one come out!” And they killed them with the edge of the sword; then the guards and the officers threw <i>them</i> out, and went into the inner room of the temple of Baal.


text:
Then they broke down the <i>sacred</i> pillar of Baal, and tore down the temple of Baal and <f>[19†]</f>made it a refuse dump to this day.


text:
<pb/>However Jehu did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin, <i>that</i> <i>is,</i> from <f>[20†]</f>the golden calves that <i>were</i> at Bethel and Dan.


text:
And the LORD <f>[21†]</f>said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in doing <i>what</i> <i>is</i> right in My sight, <i>and</i> have done to the house of Ahab all that <i>was</i> in My heart, <f>[22†]</f>your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth <i>generation.</i>”


text:
But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart; for he did not depart from <f>[23†]</f>the sins of Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin.


text:
<pb/>In those days the LORD began to cut off <i>parts</i> of Israel; and <f>[24†]</f>Hazael conquered them in all the territory of Israel


text:
from the Jordan eastward: all the land of Gilead—Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh—from <f>[25†]</f>Aroer, which <i>is</i> by the River Arnon, including <f>[26†]</f>Gilead and Bashan.


text:
<pb/>Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, all that he did, and all his might, <i>are</i> they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


text:
So Jehu rested with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria. Then <f>[27†]</f>Jehoahaz his son reigned in his place.


text:
<pb/>When <f>[1†]</f>Athaliah <f>[2†]</f>the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was <f>[3†]</f>dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal heirs.


text:
But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of <f>[4†]</f>Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons <i>who</i> <i>were</i> being murdered; and they hid him and his nurse in the bedroom, from Athaliah, so that he was not killed.


text:
So he was hidden with her in the house of the LORD for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land.


text:
<pb/>In <f>[5†]</f>the seventh year Jehoiada sent and brought the captains of hundreds—of the bodyguards and the escorts—and brought them into the house of the LORD to him. And he made a covenant with them and took an oath from them in the house of the LORD, and showed them the king’s son.


text:
Then he commanded them, saying, “This <i>is</i> what you shall do: one-third of you who come on duty <f>[6†]</f>on the Sabbath shall be keeping watch over the king’s house,


text:
one-third <i>shall</i> <i>be</i> at the gate of Sur, and one-third at the gate behind the escorts. You shall keep the watch of the house, lest it be broken down.


text:
The two contingents of you who go off duty on the Sabbath shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD for the king.


text:
But you shall surround the king on all sides, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes within range, let him be put to death. You are to be with the king as he goes out and as he comes in.”


text:
<pb/> <f>[7†]</f>So the captains of the hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. Each of them took his men who were to be on duty on the Sabbath, with those who were going off duty on the Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.


text:
And the priest gave the captains of hundreds the spears and shields which <i>had</i> <i>belonged</i> to King David, <f>[8†]</f>that were in the temple of the LORD.


text:
Then the escorts stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, all around the king, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, by the altar and the house.


text:
And he brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, and <i>gave</i> <i>him</i> the <f>[9†]</f>Testimony; they made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, <f>[10†]</f>“Long live the king!”


text:
<pb/> <f>[11†]</f>Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the escorts <i>and</i> the people, she came to the people <i>in</i> the temple of the LORD.


text:
When she looked, there was the king standing by <f>[12†]</f>a pillar according to custom; and the leaders and the trumpeters were by the king. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. So Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out, “Treason! Treason!”


text:
<pb/>And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the army, and said to them, “Take her outside under guard, and slay with the sword whoever follows her.” For the priest had said, “Do not let her be killed in the house of the LORD.”


text:
So they seized her; and she went by way of the horses’ entrance <i>into</i> the king’s house, and there she was killed.


text:
<pb/> <f>[13†]</f>Then Jehoiada <f>[14†]</f>made a covenant between the LORD, the king, and the people, that they should be the LORD’s people, and <i>also</i> <f>[15†]</f>between the king and the people.


text:
And all the people of the land went to the <f>[16†]</f>temple of Baal, and tore it down. They thoroughly <f>[17†]</f>broke in pieces its altars and images, and <f>[18†]</f>killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And <f>[19†]</f>the priest appointed officers over the house of the LORD.


text:
Then he took the captains of hundreds, the bodyguards, the escorts, and all the people of the land; and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD, and went by way of the gate of the escorts to the king’s house. Then he sat on the throne of the kings.


text:
So all the people of the land rejoiced; and the city was quiet, for they had slain Athaliah with the sword <i>in</i> the king’s house.


text:
<pb/>In the seventh year of Jehu, <f>[1†]</f>Jehoash became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name <i>was</i> Zibiah of Beersheba.


text:
Jehoash did <i>what</i> <i>was</i> right in the sight of the LORD all the days in which <f>[2†]</f>Jehoiada the priest instructed him.


text:
But <f>[3†]</f>the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.


text:
<pb/>And Jehoash said to the priests, <f>[4†]</f>“All the money of the dedicated gifts that are brought into the house of the LORD—each man’s <f>[5†]</f>census money, each man’s <f>[6†]</f>assessment money—<i>and</i> all the money that a man <f>[7†]</f>purposes in his heart to bring into the house of the LORD,


text:
let the priests take <i>it</i> themselves, each from his constituency; and let them repair the damages of the temple, wherever any dilapidation is found.”


text:
<pb/>Now it was so, by the twenty-third year of King Jehoash, <f>[8†]</f><i>that</i> the priests had not repaired the damages of the temple.


text:
<f>[9†]</f>So King Jehoash called Jehoiada the priest and the <i>other</i> priests, and said to them, “Why have you not repaired the damages of the temple? Now therefore, do not take <i>more</i> money from your constituency, but deliver it for repairing the damages of the temple.”


text:
And the priests agreed that they would neither receive <i>more</i> money from the people, nor repair the damages of the temple.


text:
<pb/>Then Jehoiada the priest took <f>[10†]</f>a chest, bored a hole in its lid, and 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 <f>[11†]</f>there all the money brought into the house of the LORD.


text:
So it was, whenever they saw that <i>there</i> <i>was</i> much money in the chest, that the king’s <f>[12†]</f>scribe and the high priest came up and put it in bags, and counted the money that was found in the house of the LORD.


text:
Then they gave the money, which had been apportioned, into the hands of those who did the work, who had the oversight of the house of the LORD; and they paid it out to the carpenters and builders who worked on the house of the LORD,


text:
and to masons and stonecutters, and for buying timber and hewn stone, to <f>[13†]</f>repair the damage of the house of the LORD, and for all that was paid out to repair the temple.


text:
However <f>[14†]</f>there were not made for the house of the LORD basins of silver, trimmers, sprinkling-bowls, trumpets, any articles of gold or articles of silver, from the money brought into the house of the LORD.


text:
Moreover <f>[15†]</f>they did not require an account from the men into whose hand they delivered the money to be paid to workmen, for they dealt faithfully.


text:
<f>[16†]</f>The money from the trespass offerings and the money from the sin offerings was not brought into the house of the LORD. <f>[17†]</f>It belonged to the priests.


text:
<pb/> <f>[18†]</f>Hazael king of Syria went up and fought against Gath, and took it; then <f>[19†]</f>Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem.


text:
And Jehoash king of Judah <f>[20†]</f>took all the sacred things that his fathers, Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own sacred things, and all the gold found in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and in the king’s house, and sent <i>them</i> to Hazael king of Syria. Then he went away from Jerusalem.


text:
<pb/>Now the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, <i>are</i> they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


text:
<pb/>And <f>[21†]</f>his servants arose and formed a conspiracy, and killed Joash in the house of the Millo, which goes down to Silla.


text:
For Jozachar the son of Shimeath and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, struck him. So he died, and they buried him with his fathers in the City of David. Then <f>[22†]</f>Amaziah his son reigned in his place.


text:
<pb/>In the twenty-third year of <f>[1†]</f>Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, <f>[2†]</f>Jehoahaz the son of Jehu became king over Israel in Samaria, <i>and</i> <i>reigned</i> seventeen years.


text:
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the <f>[3†]</f>sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. He did not depart from them.


text:
<pb/>Then <f>[4†]</f>the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel, and He delivered them into the hand of <f>[5†]</f>Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of <f>[6†]</f>Ben-Hadad the son of Hazael, all <i>their</i> days.


text:
So Jehoahaz <f>[7†]</f>pleaded with the LORD, and the LORD listened to him; for <f>[8†]</f>He saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them.


text:
<f>[9†]</f>Then the LORD gave Israel a deliverer, so that they escaped from under the hand of the Syrians; and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents as before.


text:
Nevertheless they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin, <i>but</i> walked in them; <f>[10†]</f>and the wooden image also remained in Samaria.


text:
For He left of the army of Jehoahaz only fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers; for the king of Syria had destroyed them <f>[11†]</f>and made them <f>[12†]</f>like the dust at threshing.


text:
<pb/>Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, all that he did, and his might, <i>are</i> they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


text:
So Jehoahaz rested with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria. Then Joash his son reigned in his place.


text:
<pb/>In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria, <i>and</i> <i>reigned</i> sixteen years.


text:
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin, <i>but</i> walked in them.


text:
<pb/> <f>[13†]</f>Now the rest of the acts of Joash, <f>[14†]</f>all that he did, and <f>[15†]</f>his might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, <i>are</i> they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


text:
So Joash <f>[16†]</f>rested with his fathers. Then Jeroboam sat on his throne. And Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.


text:
<pb/>Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die. Then Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over his face, and said, “O my father, my father, <f>[17†]</f>the chariots of Israel and their horsemen!”


text:
<pb/>And Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and some arrows.” So he took himself a bow and some arrows.


text:
Then he said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” So he put his hand <i>on</i> <i>it,</i> and Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands.


text:
And he said, “Open the east window”; and he opened <i>it.</i> Then 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 must strike the Syrians at <f>[18†]</f>Aphek till you have destroyed <i>them.</i>”


text:
Then he said, “Take the arrows”; so he took <i>them.</i> And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground”; so he struck three times, and stopped.


text:
And the man of God was angry with him, and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed <i>it!</i> <f>[19†]</f>But now you will strike Syria <i>only</i> three times.”


text:
<pb/>Then Elisha died, and they buried him. And the <f>[20†]</f><i>raiding</i> bands from Moab invaded the land in the spring of the year.


text:
So it was, as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band <i>of</i> <i>raiders;</i> and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.


text:
But the LORD was <f>[22†]</f>gracious to them, had compassion on them, and <f>[23†]</f>regarded them, <f>[24†]</f>because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not yet destroy them or cast them from His presence.


text:
And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz recaptured from 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. <f>[25†]</f>Three times Joash defeated him and recaptured the cities of Israel.


text:
<pb/>In <f>[1†]</f>the second year of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel, <f>[2†]</f>Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, became king.


text:
He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.


text:
And he did <i>what</i> <i>was</i> right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like his father David; he did everything <f>[3†]</f>as his father Joash had done.


text:
<f>[4†]</f>However the high places were not taken away, and the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.


text:
<pb/>Now it happened, as soon as the kingdom was established in his hand, that he executed his servants <f>[5†]</f>who had murdered his father the king.


text:
But the children of the murderers he did not execute, according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, in which the LORD commanded, saying, <f>[6†]</f>“Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers; but a person shall be put to death for his own sin.”


text:
<pb/> <f>[7†]</f>He killed ten thousand Edomites in <f>[8†]</f>the Valley of Salt, and took Sela by war, <f>[9†]</f>and called its name Joktheel to this day.


text:
<pb/> <f>[10†]</f>Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us face one another <i>in</i> <i>battle.</i>”


text:
And Jehoash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, <f>[11†]</f>“The thistle that <i>was</i> in Lebanon sent to the <f>[12†]</f>cedar that <i>was</i> in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as wife’; and a wild beast that <i>was</i> in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle.


text:
You have indeed defeated Edom, and <f>[13†]</f>your heart has lifted you up. Glory <i>in</i> <i>that,</i> and stay at home; for why should you meddle with trouble so that you fall—you and Judah with you?”


text:
<pb/>But Amaziah would not heed. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went out; so he and Amaziah king of Judah faced one another at <f>[14†]</f>Beth Shemesh, which <i>belongs</i> to Judah.


text:
Then Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh; and he went to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from <f>[15†]</f>the Gate of Ephraim to <f>[16†]</f>the Corner Gate—four hundred cubits.


text:
And he took all <f>[17†]</f>the gold and silver, all the articles that were found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the king’s house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.


text:
<pb/> <f>[18†]</f>Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did—his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah—<i>are</i> they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


text:
So Jehoash rested with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. Then Jeroboam his son reigned in his place.


text:
<pb/> <f>[19†]</f>Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel.


text:
Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, <i>are</i> they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


text:
And <f>[20†]</f>they formed a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to <f>[21†]</f>Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish and killed him there.


text:
Then they brought him on horses, and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the City of David.


text:
<pb/>And all the people of Judah took <f>[22†]</f>Azariah, who <i>was</i> sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.


text:
<pb/>In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, became king in Samaria, <i>and</i> <i>reigned</i> forty-one years.


text:
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart from all the <f>[24†]</f>sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin.


text:
He <f>[25†]</f>restored the territory of Israel <f>[26†]</f>from the entrance of Hamath to <f>[27†]</f>the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which He had spoken through His servant <f>[28†]</f>Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet who <i>was</i> from <f>[29†]</f>Gath Hepher.


text:
For the LORD <f>[30†]</f>saw <i>that</i> the affliction of Israel <i>was</i> very bitter; and whether bond or free, <f>[31†]</f>there was no helper for Israel.


text:
<f>[32†]</f>And the LORD did not say that He would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven; but He saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.


text:
<pb/>Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did—his might, how he made war, and how he recaptured for Israel, from <f>[33†]</f>Damascus and Hamath, <f>[34†]</f><i>what</i> <i>had</i> <i>belonged</i> to Judah—<i>are</i> they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


text:
So Jeroboam rested with his fathers, the kings of Israel. Then <f>[35†]</f>Zechariah his son reigned in his place.


text:
<pb/>In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, <f>[1†]</f>Azariah the son of Amaziah, king of Judah, <f>[2†]</f>became king.


text:
He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name <i>was</i> Jecholiah of Jerusalem.


text:
And he did <i>what</i> <i>was</i> right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done,


text:
<f>[3†]</f>except that the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.


text:
Then the LORD <f>[4†]</f>struck the king, so that he was a leper until the day of his <f>[5†]</f>death; so he <f>[6†]</f>dwelt in an isolated house. And Jotham the king’s son <i>was</i> over the <i>royal</i> house, judging the people of the land.


text:
<pb/>Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, <i>are</i> they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


text:
So Azariah rested with his fathers, and <f>[7†]</f>they buried him with his fathers in the City of David. Then Jotham his son reigned in his place.


text:
<pb/>In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, <f>[8†]</f>Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six months.


text:
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, <f>[9†]</f>as his fathers had done; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin.


text:
Then Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and <f>[10†]</f>struck and killed him in front of the people; and he reigned in his place.


text:
<pb/>Now the rest of the acts of Zechariah, indeed they <i>are</i> written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.


text:
<pb/>This <i>was</i> the word of the LORD which He spoke to Jehu, saying, <f>[11†]</f>“Your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth <i>generation.</i>” And so it was.


text:
<pb/>Shallum the son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria.


text:
For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from <f>[12†]</f>Tirzah, came to Samaria, and struck Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria and killed him; and he reigned in his place.


text:
<pb/>Now the rest of the acts of Shallum, and the conspiracy which he led, indeed they <i>are</i> written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.


text:
Then from Tirzah, Menahem attacked <f>[13†]</f>Tiphsah, all who <i>were</i> there, and its territory. Because they did not surrender, therefore he attacked <i>it.</i> All <f>[14†]</f>the women there who were with child he ripped open.


text:
<pb/>In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi became king over Israel, <i>and</i> <i>reigned</i> ten years in Samaria.


text:
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin.


text:
<f>[15†]</f>Pul king of Assyria came against the land; and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to <f>[16†]</f>strengthen the kingdom under his control.


text:
And Menahem <f>[17†]</f>exacted the money from Israel, from all the very wealthy, from each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and did not stay there in the land.


text:
<pb/>Now the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, <i>are</i> they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


text:
<pb/>In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem became king over Israel in Samaria, <i>and</i> <i>reigned</i> two years.


text:
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin.


text:
Then Pekah the son of Remaliah, an officer of his, conspired against him and killed him in Samaria, in the <f>[18†]</f>citadel of the king’s house, along with Argob and Arieh; and with him were fifty men of Gilead. He killed him and reigned in his place.


text:
<pb/>Now the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, indeed they <i>are</i> written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.


text:
<pb/>In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, <f>[19†]</f>Pekah the son of Remaliah became king over Israel in Samaria, <i>and</i> <i>reigned</i> twenty years.


text:
In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria <f>[20†]</f>came and took <f>[21†]</f>Ijon, Abel Beth Maachah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali; and he <f>[22†]</f>carried them captive to Assyria.


text:
Then Hoshea the son of Elah led a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and struck and killed him; so he <f>[23†]</f>reigned in his place in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.


text:
<pb/>Now the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, indeed they <i>are</i> written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.


text:
<pb/>In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, <f>[24†]</f>Jotham the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, began to reign.


text:
He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name <i>was</i> Jerusha the daughter of Zadok.


text:
And he did <i>what</i> <i>was</i> right in the sight of the LORD; he did <f>[25†]</f>according to all that his father Uzziah had done.


text:
<f>[26†]</f>However the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. <f>[27†]</f>He built the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD.


text:
<pb/>Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, <i>are</i> they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


text:
In those days the LORD began to send <f>[28†]</f>Rezin king of Syria and <f>[29†]</f>Pekah the son of Remaliah against Judah.


text:
So Jotham rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David his father. Then Ahaz his son reigned in his place.


text:
<pb/>In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, Ahaz the son of Jotham, king of Judah, began to reign.


text:
Ahaz <i>was</i> twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not do <i>what</i> <i>was</i> right in the sight of the LORD his God, as his father David <i>had</i> <i>done.</i>


text:
But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel; indeed <f>[1†]</f>he made his son pass through the fire, according to the <f>[2†]</f>abominations of the nations whom the LORD had cast out from before the children of Israel.


text:
And he sacrificed and burned incense on the <f>[3†]</f>high places, <f>[4†]</f>on the hills, and under every green tree.


text:
<pb/> <f>[5†]</f>Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, came up to Jerusalem to <i>make</i> war; and they besieged Ahaz but could not overcome <i>him.</i>


text:
At that time Rezin king of Syria <f>[6†]</f>captured Elath for Syria, and drove the men of Judah from Elath. Then the Edomites went to Elath, and dwell there to this day.


text:
<pb/>So Ahaz sent messengers to <f>[7†]</f>Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, saying, “I <i>am</i> your servant and your son. Come up and save me from the hand of the king of Syria and from the hand of the king of Israel, who rise up against me.”


text:
And Ahaz <f>[8†]</f>took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasuries of the king’s house, and sent <i>it</i> <i>as</i> a present to the king of Assyria.


text:
So the king of Assyria heeded him; for the king of Assyria went up against <f>[9†]</f>Damascus and <f>[10†]</f>took it, carried <i>its</i> <i>people</i> captive to <f>[11†]</f>Kir, and killed Rezin.


text:
<pb/>Now King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that <i>was</i> at Damascus; and King Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the design of the altar and its pattern, according to all its workmanship.


text:
Then <f>[12†]</f>Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus. So Urijah the priest made <i>it</i> before King Ahaz came back from Damascus.


text:
And when the king came back from Damascus, the king saw the altar; and <f>[13†]</f>the king approached the altar and made offerings on it.


text:
So he burned his burnt offering and his grain offering; and he poured his drink offering and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings on the altar.


text:
He also brought <f>[14†]</f>the bronze altar which <i>was</i> before the LORD, from the front of the temple—from between the <i>new</i> altar and the house of the LORD—and put it on the north side of the <i>new</i> altar.


text:
Then King Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, “On the great <i>new</i> altar burn <f>[15†]</f>the morning burnt offering, the evening grain offering, the king’s burnt sacrifice, and his grain offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, their grain offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle on it all the blood of the burnt offering and all the blood of the sacrifice. And the bronze altar shall be for me to inquire <i>by.</i>”


text:
<pb/> <f>[16†]</f>And King Ahaz cut off <f>[17†]</f>the panels of the carts, and removed the lavers from them; and he took down <f>[18†]</f>the Sea from the bronze oxen that <i>were</i> under it, and put it on a pavement of stones.


text:
Also he removed the Sabbath pavilion which they had built in the temple, and he removed the king’s outer entrance from the house of the LORD, on account of the king of Assyria.


text:
<pb/>Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, <i>are</i> they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


text:
So Ahaz rested with his fathers, and <f>[19†]</f>was buried with his fathers in the City of David. Then Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.


text:
<pb/>In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, <f>[1†]</f>Hoshea the son of Elah became king of Israel in Samaria, <i>and</i> <i>he</i> <i>reigned</i> nine years.


text:
<f>[2†]</f>Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against him; and Hoshea <f>[3†]</f>became his vassal, and paid him tribute money.


text:
And the king of Assyria uncovered a conspiracy by Hoshea; for he had sent messengers to So, king of Egypt, and brought no tribute to the king of Assyria, as <i>he</i> <i>had</i> <i>done</i> year by year. Therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.


text:
<pb/>Now <f>[4†]</f>the king of Assyria went throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria and besieged it for three years.


text:
<f>[5†]</f>In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria and <f>[6†]</f>carried Israel away to Assyria, <f>[7†]</f>and placed them in Halah and by the Habor, the River of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.


text:
<pb/>For <f>[8†]</f>so it was that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and they had <f>[9†]</f>feared other gods,


text:
and <f>[10†]</f>had walked in the statutes of the nations whom the LORD had cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made.


text:
Also the children of Israel secretly did against the LORD their God things that <i>were</i> not right, and they built for themselves high places in all their cities, <f>[11†]</f>from watchtower to fortified city.


text:
<f>[12†]</f>They set up for themselves <i>sacred</i> pillars and <f>[13†]</f>wooden images <f>[14†]</f>on every high hill and under every green tree.


text:
There they burned incense on all the high places, like the nations whom the LORD had carried away before them; and they did wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger,


text:
for they served idols, <f>[15†]</f>of which the LORD had said to them, <f>[16†]</f>“You shall not do this thing.”


text:
<pb/>Yet the LORD testified against Israel and against Judah, by all of His <f>[17†]</f>prophets, <f>[18†]</f>every seer, saying, <f>[19†]</f>“Turn from your evil ways, and keep My commandments <i>and</i> My statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by My servants the prophets.”


text:
Nevertheless they would not hear, but <f>[20†]</f>stiffened their necks, like the necks of their fathers, who <f>[21†]</f>did not believe in the LORD their God.


text:
And they <f>[22†]</f>rejected His statutes <f>[23†]</f>and His covenant that He had made with their fathers, and His testimonies which He had testified against them; they followed <f>[24†]</f>idols, <f>[25†]</f>became idolaters, and <i>went</i> after the nations who <i>were</i> all around them, <i>concerning</i> whom the LORD had charged them that they should <f>[26†]</f>not do like them.


text:
So they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, <f>[27†]</f>made for themselves a molded image <i>and</i> two calves, <f>[28†]</f>made a wooden image and worshiped all the <f>[29†]</f>host of heaven, <f>[30†]</f>and served Baal.


text:
<f>[31†]</f>And they caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire, <f>[32†]</f>practiced witchcraft and soothsaying, and <f>[33†]</f>sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger.


text:
Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them from His sight; there was none left <f>[34†]</f>but the tribe of Judah alone.


text:
<pb/>Also <f>[35†]</f>Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made.


text:
And the LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel, afflicted them, and <f>[36†]</f>delivered them into the hand of plunderers, until He had cast them from His <f>[37†]</f>sight.


text:
For <f>[38†]</f>He tore Israel from the house of David, and <f>[39†]</f>they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king. Then Jeroboam drove Israel from following the LORD, and made them commit a great sin.


text:
For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they did not depart from them,


text:
until the LORD removed Israel out of His sight, <f>[40†]</f>as He had said by all His servants the prophets. <f>[41†]</f>So Israel was carried away from their own land to Assyria, <i>as</i> <i>it</i> <i>is</i> to this day.


text:
<pb/> <f>[42†]</f>Then the king of Assyria brought <i>people</i> from Babylon, Cuthah, <f>[43†]</f>Ava, Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed <i>them</i> in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they took possession of Samaria and dwelt in its cities.


text:
And it was so, at the beginning of their dwelling there, <i>that</i> they did not fear the LORD; therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which killed <i>some</i> of them.


text:
So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The nations whom you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the rituals of the God of the land; therefore He has sent lions among them, and indeed, they are killing them because they do not know the rituals of the God of the land.”


text:
Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, “Send there one of the priests whom you brought from there; let him go and dwell there, and let him teach them the rituals of the God of the land.”


text:
Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.


text:
<pb/>However every nation continued to make gods of its own, and put <i>them</i> <f>[44†]</f>in the shrines on the high places which the Samaritans had made, <i>every</i> nation in the cities where they dwelt.


text:
The men of <f>[45†]</f>Babylon made Succoth Benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima,


text:
<f>[46†]</f>and the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites <f>[47†]</f>burned their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.


text:
So they feared the LORD, <f>[48†]</f>and from every class they appointed for themselves priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the shrines of the high places.


text:
<f>[49†]</f>They feared the LORD, yet served their own gods—according to the rituals of the nations from among whom they were carried away.


text:
<pb/>To this day they continue practicing the former rituals; they do not fear the LORD, nor do they follow their statutes or their ordinances, or the law and commandment which the LORD had commanded the children of Jacob, <f>[50†]</f>whom He named Israel,


text:
with whom the LORD had made a covenant and charged them, saying: <f>[51†]</f>“You shall not fear other gods, nor <f>[52†]</f>bow down to them nor serve them nor sacrifice to them;


text:
but the LORD, who <f>[53†]</f>brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and <f>[54†]</f>an outstretched arm, <f>[55†]</f>Him you shall fear, Him you shall worship, and to Him you shall offer sacrifice.


text:
And the statutes, the ordinances, the law, and the commandment which He wrote for you, <f>[56†]</f>you shall be careful to observe forever; you shall not fear other gods.


text:
And the covenant that I have made with you, <f>[57†]</f>you shall not forget, nor shall you fear other gods.


text:
<f>[58†]</f>So these nations feared the LORD, yet served their carved images; also their children and their children’s children have continued doing as their fathers did, even to this day.


text:
<pb/>Now it came to pass in the third year of <f>[1†]</f>Hoshea the son of Elah, king of Israel, <i>that</i> <f>[2†]</f>Hezekiah the son of Ahaz, king of Judah, began to reign.


text:
He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name <i>was</i> <f>[3†]</f>Abi the daughter of Zechariah.


text:
And he did <i>what</i> <i>was</i> right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father David had done.


text:
<pb/> <f>[4†]</f>He removed the high places and broke the <i>sacred</i> pillars, cut down the wooden image and broke in pieces the <f>[5†]</f>bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and called it Nehushtan.


text:
He <f>[6†]</f>trusted in the LORD God of Israel, <f>[7†]</f>so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him.


text:
For he <f>[8†]</f>held fast to the LORD; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the LORD had commanded Moses.


text:
The LORD <f>[9†]</f>was with him; he <f>[10†]</f>prospered wherever he went. And he <f>[11†]</f>rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.


text:
<f>[12†]</f>He subdued the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory, <f>[13†]</f>from watchtower to fortified city.


text:
<pb/>Now <f>[14†]</f>it came to pass in the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which <i>was</i> the seventh year of Hoshea the son of Elah, king of Israel, <i>that</i> Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria and besieged it.


text:
And at the end of three years they took it. In the sixth year of Hezekiah, that <i>is,</i> <f>[15†]</f>the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.


text:
<f>[16†]</f>Then the king of Assyria carried Israel away captive to Assyria, and put them <f>[17†]</f>in Halah and by the Habor, the River of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes,


text:
because they <f>[18†]</f>did not obey the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed His covenant <i>and</i> all that Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded; and they would neither hear nor do <i>them.</i>


text:
<pb/>And <f>[19†]</f>in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them.


text:
Then Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, “I have done wrong; turn away from me; whatever you impose on me I will pay.” And the king of Assyria assessed Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.


text:
So Hezekiah <f>[20†]</f>gave <i>him</i> all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the king’s house.


text:
At that time Hezekiah stripped <i>the</i> <i>gold</i> <i>from</i> the doors of the temple of the LORD, and <i>from</i> the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.


text:
<pb/>Then the king of Assyria sent <i>the</i> Tartan, <i>the</i> Rabsaris, <i> and the</i> Rabshakeh from Lachish, with a great army against Jerusalem, to King Hezekiah. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. When they had come up, they went and stood by the <f>[21†]</f>aqueduct from the upper pool, <f>[22†]</f>which <i>was</i> on the highway to the Fuller’s Field.


text:
And when they had called to the king, <f>[23†]</f>Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who <i>was</i> over the household, Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came out to them.


text:
Then <i>the</i> Rabshakeh said to them, “Say now to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: <f>[24†]</f>“What confidence <i>is</i> this in which you trust?


text:
You speak of <i>having</i> plans and power for war; but <i>they</i> <i>are</i> mere words. And in whom do you trust, that you rebel against me?


text:
<f>[25†]</f>Now look! You are trusting in the staff of this broken reed, Egypt, on which if a man leans, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So <i>is</i> Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.


text:
But if you say to me, ‘We trust in the LORD our God,’ <i>is</i> it not He <f>[26†]</f>whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and said to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem’?” ’


text:
Now therefore, I urge you, give a pledge to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses—if you are able on your part to put riders on them!


text:
How then will you repel one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put your trust in Egypt for chariots and horsemen?


text:
Have I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, ‘Go up against this land, and destroy it.’ ”


text:
<pb/> <f>[27†]</f>Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, Shebna, and Joah said to <i>the</i> Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in <f>[28†]</f>Aramaic, for we understand <i>it;</i> and do not speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people who <i>are</i> on the wall.”


text:
<pb/>But <i>the</i> Rabshakeh said to them, “Has my master sent me to your master and to you to speak these words, and not to the men who sit on the wall, who will eat and drink their own waste with you?”


text:
<pb/>Then <i>the</i> Rabshakeh stood and called out with a loud voice in Hebrew, and spoke, saying, “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria!


text:
Thus says the king: <f>[29†]</f>‘Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he shall not be able to deliver you from his hand;


text:
nor let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, “The LORD will surely deliver us; this city shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.” ’


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Do not listen to Hezekiah; for thus says the king of Assyria: ‘Make <i>peace</i> with me by a present and come out to me; and every one of you eat from his own <f>[30†]</f>vine and every one from his own fig tree, and every one of you drink the waters of his own cistern;


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until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, <f>[31†]</f>a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive groves and honey, that you may live and not die. But do not listen to Hezekiah, lest he persuade you, saying, “The LORD will deliver us.”


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<f>[32†]</f>Has any of the gods of the nations at all delivered its land from the hand of the king of Assyria?


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Where <i>are</i> the gods of <f>[33†]</f>Hamath and Arpad? Where <i>are</i> the gods of Sepharvaim and Hena and <f>[34†]</f>Ivah? Indeed, have they delivered Samaria from my hand?


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Who among all the gods of the lands have delivered their countries from my hand, <f>[35†]</f>that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem from my hand?’ ”


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<pb/>But the people held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.”


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Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who <i>was</i> over the household, Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah <f>[36†]</f>with <i>their</i> clothes torn, and told him the words of <i>the</i> Rabshakeh.


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<pb/>And <f>[1†]</f>so it was, when King Hezekiah heard <i>it,</i> that he tore his clothes, covered himself with <f>[2†]</f>sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.


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Then he sent Eliakim, who <i>was</i> over the household, Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz.


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And they said to him, “Thus says Hezekiah: ‘This day <i>is</i> a day of trouble, and rebuke, and blasphemy; for the children have come to birth, but <i>there</i> <i>is</i> no strength to bring them forth.


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<f>[3†]</f>It may be that the LORD your God will hear all the words of <i>the</i> Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to <f>[4†]</f>reproach the living God, and will <f>[5†]</f>rebuke the words which the LORD your God has heard. Therefore lift up <i>your</i> prayer for the remnant that is left.’ ”


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<f>[6†]</f>And Isaiah said to them, “Thus you shall say to your master, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Do not be <f>[7†]</f>afraid of the words which you have heard, with which the <f>[8†]</f>servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me.


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Surely I will send <f>[9†]</f>a spirit upon him, and he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.” ’ ”


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<pb/>Then <i>the</i> Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah, for he heard that he had departed <f>[10†]</f>from Lachish.


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And <f>[11†]</f>the king heard concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, “Look, he has come out to make war with you.” So he again sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,


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“Thus you shall speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying: ‘Do not let your God <f>[12†]</f>in whom you trust deceive you, saying, “Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.”


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Look! You have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by utterly destroying them; and shall you be delivered?


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<f>[13†]</f>Have the gods of the nations delivered those whom my fathers have destroyed, Gozan and Haran and Rezeph, and the people of <f>[14†]</f>Eden who <i>were</i> in Telassar?


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<f>[15†]</f>Where <i>is</i> the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?’ ”


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<pb/> <f>[16†]</f>And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.


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Then Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said: “O LORD God of Israel, <i>the</i> <i>One</i> <f>[17†]</f>who dwells <i>between</i> the cherubim, <f>[18†]</f>You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.


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<f>[19†]</f>Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; <f>[20†]</f>open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, <f>[21†]</f>which he has sent to reproach the living God.


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and have cast their gods into the fire; for they <i>were</i> <f>[22†]</f>not gods, but <f>[23†]</f>the work of men’s hands—wood and stone. Therefore they destroyed them.


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Now therefore, O LORD our God, I pray, save us from his hand, <f>[24†]</f>that all the kingdoms of the earth may <f>[25†]</f>know that You <i>are</i> the LORD God, You alone.”


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<pb/>Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: <f>[26†]</f>‘Because you have prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, <f>[27†]</f>I have heard.’


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This <i>is</i> the word which the LORD has spoken concerning him: <pb/><t>‘The virgin, <f>[28†]</f>the daughter of Zion, </t><t>Has despised you, laughed you to scorn; </t><t>The daughter of Jerusalem </t><t> <f>[29†]</f>Has shaken <i>her</i> head behind your back!</t>


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<t>‘Whom have you reproached and blasphemed? </t><t>Against whom have you raised <i>your</i> voice, </t><t>And lifted up your eyes on high? </t><t>Against <f>[30†]</f>the Holy <i>One</i> of Israel.</t>


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<t> <f>[31†]</f>By your messengers you have reproached the Lord, </t><t>And said: <f>[32†]</f>“By the multitude of my chariots </t><t>I have come up to the height of the mountains, </t><t>To the limits of Lebanon; </t><t>I will cut down its tall cedars </t><t><i>And</i> its choice cypress trees; </t><t>I will enter the extremity of its borders, </t><t><i>To</i> its fruitful forest.</t>


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<t>I have dug and drunk strange water, </t><t>And with the soles of my feet I have <f>[33†]</f>dried up </t><t>All the brooks of defense.”</t>


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<t>‘Did you not hear long ago </t><t><i>How</i> <f>[34†]</f>I made it, </t><t>From ancient times that I formed it? </t><t>Now I have brought it to pass, </t><t>That <f>[35†]</f>you should be </t><t>For crushing fortified cities <i>into</i> heaps of ruins.</t>


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<t>Therefore their inhabitants had little power; </t><t>They were dismayed and confounded; </t><t>They were <i>as</i> the grass of the field </t><t>And the green herb, </t><t><i>As</i> <f>[36†]</f>the grass on the housetops </t><t>And <i>grain</i> blighted before it is grown.</t>


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<t>‘But <f>[37†]</f>I know your dwelling place, </t><t>Your going out and your coming in, </t><t>And your rage against Me.</t>


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<t>Because your rage against Me and your tumult </t><t>Have come up to My ears, </t><t>Therefore <f>[38†]</f>I will put My hook in your nose </t><t>And My bridle in your lips, </t><t>And I will turn you back </t><t> <f>[39†]</f>By the way which you came.</t>


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<t>‘This <i>shall</i> <i>be</i> a <f>[40†]</f>sign to you: </t><t>You shall eat this year such as grows of itself, </t><t>And in the second year what springs from the same; </t><t>Also in the third year sow and reap, </t><t>Plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them.</t>


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<t> <f>[41†]</f>And the remnant who have escaped of the house of Judah </t><t>Shall again take root downward, </t><t>And bear fruit upward.</t>


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<t>For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, </t><t>And those who escape from Mount Zion. </t><t> <f>[42†]</f>The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.’</t>


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<pb/>“Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria: <pb/><t>‘He shall <f>[43†]</f>not come into this city, </t><t>Nor shoot an arrow there, </t><t>Nor come before it with shield, </t><t>Nor build a siege mound against it.</t>


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<t>By the way that he came, </t><t>By the same shall he return; </t><t>And he shall not come into this city,’ </t><t>Says the LORD.</t>


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<t>‘For <f>[44†]</f>I will <f>[45†]</f>defend this city, to save it </t><t>For My own sake and <f>[46†]</f>for My servant David’s sake.’ ”</t>


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<pb/>And <f>[47†]</f>it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the LORD went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when <i>people</i> arose early in the morning, there were the corpses—all dead.


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So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went away, returned <i>home,</i> and remained at <f>[48†]</f>Nineveh.


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Now it came to pass, as he was worshiping in the temple of Nisroch his god, that his sons <f>[49†]</f>Adrammelech and Sharezer <f>[50†]</f>struck him down with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. Then <f>[51†]</f>Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.


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<pb/>In <f>[1†]</f>those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.’ ”


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<f>[2†]</f>“Remember now, O LORD, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done <i>what</i> <i>was</i> good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.


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<pb/>And it happened, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,


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“Return and tell Hezekiah <f>[3†]</f>the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: <f>[4†]</f>“I have heard your prayer, I have seen <f>[5†]</f>your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD.


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And I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and <f>[6†]</f>I will defend this city for My own sake, and for the sake of My servant David.” ’ ”


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<pb/>Then <f>[7†]</f>Isaiah said, “Take a lump of figs.” So they took and laid <i>it</i> on the boil, and he recovered.


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<pb/>And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, <f>[8†]</f>“What <i>is</i> the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of the LORD the third day?”


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<pb/>Then Isaiah said, <f>[9†]</f>“This is the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing which He has spoken: <i>shall</i> the shadow go forward ten degrees or go backward ten degrees?”


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<pb/>And Hezekiah answered, “It is an easy thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees; no, but let the shadow go backward ten degrees.”


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<pb/>So Isaiah the prophet cried out to the LORD, and <f>[10†]</f>He brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down on the sundial of Ahaz.


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<pb/> <f>[11†]</f>At that time Berodach-Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been sick.


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And <f>[12†]</f>Hezekiah was attentive to them, and showed them all the house of his treasures—the silver and gold, the spices and precious ointment, and all his armory—all that was found among his treasures. There was nothing in his house or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.


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<pb/>Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say, and from where did they come to you?” <pb/>So Hezekiah said, “They came from a far country, from Babylon.”


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<pb/>And he said, “What have they seen in your house?” <pb/>So Hezekiah answered, <f>[13†]</f>“They have seen all that <i>is</i> in my house; there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them.”


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‘Behold, the days are coming when all that <i>is</i> in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, <f>[14†]</f>shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,’ says the LORD.


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‘And <f>[15†]</f>they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; <f>[16†]</f>and they shall be <f>[17†]</f>eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’ ”


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<pb/>So Hezekiah said to Isaiah, <f>[18†]</f>“The word of the LORD which you have spoken <i>is</i> good!” For he said, “Will there not be peace and truth at least in my days?”


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<pb/> <f>[19†]</f>Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah—all his might, and how he <f>[20†]</f>made a <f>[21†]</f>pool and a tunnel and <f>[22†]</f>brought water into the city—<i>are</i> they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


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<pb/>Manasseh <f>[1†]</f><i>was</i> twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name <i>was</i> Hephzibah.


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And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, <f>[2†]</f>according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.


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For he rebuilt the high places <f>[3†]</f>which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; he raised up altars for Baal, and made a wooden image, <f>[4†]</f>as Ahab king of Israel had done; and he <f>[5†]</f>worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.


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<f>[6†]</f>He also built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, <f>[7†]</f>“In Jerusalem I will put My name.”


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And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the <f>[8†]</f>two courts of the house of the LORD.


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<f>[9†]</f>Also he made his son pass through the fire, practiced <f>[10†]</f>soothsaying, used witchcraft, and consulted spiritists and mediums. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke <i>Him</i> to anger.


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He even set a carved image of Asherah that he had made, in the house of which the LORD had said to David and to Solomon his son, <f>[11†]</f>“In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever;


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<f>[12†]</f>and I will not make the feet of Israel wander anymore from the land which I gave their fathers—only if they are careful to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that My servant Moses commanded them.”


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But they paid no attention, and Manasseh <f>[13†]</f>seduced them to do more evil than the nations whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.


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<f>[15†]</f>“Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations ( <f>[16†]</f>he has acted more wickedly than all the <f>[17†]</f>Amorites who <i>were</i> before him, and <f>[18†]</f>has also made Judah sin with his idols),


text:
therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘Behold, <i>I</i> am bringing <i>such</i> calamity upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whoever hears of it, both <f>[19†]</f>his ears will tingle.


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And I will stretch over Jerusalem <f>[20†]</f>the measuring line of Samaria and the plummet of the house of Ahab; <f>[21†]</f>I will wipe Jerusalem as <i>one</i> wipes a dish, wiping <i>it</i> and turning <i>it</i> upside down.


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So I will forsake the <f>[22†]</f>remnant of My inheritance and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall become victims of plunder to all their enemies,


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because they have done evil in My sight, and have provoked Me to anger since the day their fathers came out of Egypt, even to this day.’ ”


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<pb/> <f>[23†]</f>Moreover Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, besides his sin by which he made Judah sin, in doing evil in the sight of the LORD.


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<pb/>Now <f>[24†]</f>the rest of the acts of <f>[25†]</f>Manasseh—all that he did, and the sin that he committed—<i>are</i> they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


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So <f>[26†]</f>Manasseh rested with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza. Then his son Amon reigned in his place.


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<pb/> <f>[27†]</f>Amon <i>was</i> twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name <i>was</i> Meshullemeth the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah.


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So he walked in all the ways that his father had walked; and he served the idols that his father had served, and worshiped them.


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<pb/> <f>[30†]</f>Then the servants of Amon <f>[31†]</f>conspired against him, and killed the king in his own house.


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But the people of the land <f>[32†]</f>executed all those who had conspired against King Amon. Then the people of the land made his son Josiah king in his place.


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<pb/>Now the rest of the acts of Amon which he did, <i>are</i> they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


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<pb/>Josiah <f>[1†]</f><i>was</i> eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name <i>was</i> Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of <f>[2†]</f>Bozkath.


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And he did <i>what</i> <i>was</i> right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the ways of his father David; he <f>[3†]</f>did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.


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<pb/> <f>[4†]</f>Now it came to pass, in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, <i>that</i> the king sent Shaphan the scribe, the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the house of the LORD, saying:


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“Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money which has been <f>[5†]</f>brought into the house of the LORD, which <f>[6†]</f>the doorkeepers have gathered from the people.


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And let them <f>[7†]</f>deliver it into the hand of those doing the work, who are the overseers in the house of the LORD; let them give it to those who <i>are</i> in the house of the LORD doing the work, to repair the damages of the house—


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However <f>[8†]</f>there need be no accounting made with them of the money delivered into their hand, because they deal faithfully.”


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<pb/>Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, <f>[9†]</f>“I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.


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So Shaphan the scribe went to the king, bringing the king word, saying, “Your servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of those who do the work, who oversee the house of the LORD.”


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Then Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king.


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<pb/>Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes.


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Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, <f>[10†]</f>Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Michaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying,


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“Go, inquire of the LORD for me, for the people and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great <i>is</i> <f>[11†]</f>the wrath of the LORD that is aroused against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”


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<pb/>So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of <f>[12†]</f>Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. (She dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter.) And they spoke with her.


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“Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, <f>[13†]</f>I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants—all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read—


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<f>[14†]</f>because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore My wrath shall be aroused against this place and shall not be quenched.’ ” ’


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But as for <f>[15†]</f>the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, in this manner you shall speak to him, ‘Thus says the LORD God of Israel: “<i>Concerning</i> the words which you have heard—


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because your <f>[16†]</f>heart was tender, and you <f>[17†]</f>humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become <f>[18†]</f>a desolation and <f>[19†]</f>a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard <i>you,</i>” says the LORD.


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“Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you <f>[20†]</f>shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place.” ’ ” So they brought back word to the king.


text:
The king went up to the house of the LORD with all the men of Judah, and with him all the inhabitants of Jerusalem—the priests and the prophets and all the people, both small and great. And he <f>[2†]</f>read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant <f>[3†]</f>which had been found in the house of the LORD.


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<pb/>Then the king <f>[4†]</f>stood by a pillar and made a <f>[5†]</f>covenant before the LORD, to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes, with all <i>his</i> heart and all <i>his</i> soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people took a stand for the covenant.


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And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, the <f>[6†]</f>priests of the second order, and the doorkeepers, to bring <f>[7†]</f>out of the temple of the LORD all the articles that were made for Baal, for Asherah, and for all the host of heaven; and he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried their ashes to Bethel.


text:
Then he removed the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense on the high places in the cities of Judah and in the places all around Jerusalem, and those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun, to the moon, to the constellations, and to <f>[8†]</f>all the host of heaven.


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And he brought out the <f>[9†]</f>wooden image from the house of the LORD, to the Brook Kidron outside Jerusalem, burned it at the Brook Kidron and ground <i>it</i> to <f>[10†]</f>ashes, and threw its ashes on <f>[11†]</f>the graves of the common people.


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Then he tore down the <i>ritual</i> booths <f>[12†]</f>of the perverted persons that <i>were</i> in the house of the LORD, <f>[13†]</f>where the <f>[14†]</f>women wove hangings for the wooden image.


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And he brought all the priests from the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from <f>[15†]</f>Geba to Beersheba; also he broke down the high places at the gates which <i>were</i> at the entrance of the Gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which <i>were</i> to the left of the city gate.


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<f>[16†]</f>Nevertheless the priests of the high places did not come up to the altar of the LORD in Jerusalem, <f>[17†]</f>but they ate unleavened bread among their brethren.


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<pb/>And he defiled <f>[18†]</f>Topheth, which <i>is</i> in <f>[19†]</f>the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, <f>[20†]</f>that no man might make his son or his daughter <f>[21†]</f>pass through the fire to Molech.


text:
Then he removed the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun, at the entrance to the house of the LORD, by the chamber of Nathan-Melech, the officer who <i>was</i> in the court; and he burned the chariots of the sun with fire.


text:
The altars that <i>were</i> <f>[22†]</f>on the roof, the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which <f>[23†]</f>Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the LORD, the king broke down and pulverized there, and threw their dust into the Brook Kidron.


text:
Then the king defiled the high places that <i>were</i> east of Jerusalem, which <i>were</i> on the south of the Mount of Corruption, which <f>[24†]</f>Solomon king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the people of Ammon.


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And he <f>[25†]</f>broke in pieces the <i>sacred</i> pillars and cut down the wooden images, and filled their places with the bones of men.


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<pb/>Moreover the altar that <i>was</i> at Bethel, <i>and</i> the high place <f>[26†]</f>which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin, had made, both that altar and the high place he broke down; and he burned the high place <i>and</i> crushed <i>it</i> to powder, and burned the wooden image.


text:
As Josiah turned, he saw the tombs that <i>were</i> there on the mountain. And he sent and took the bones out of the tombs and burned <i>them</i> on the altar, and defiled it according to the <f>[27†]</f>word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words.


text:
Then he said, “What gravestone <i>is</i> this that I see?” <pb/>So the men of the city told him, “<i>It</i> <i>is</i> <f>[28†]</f>the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah and proclaimed these things which you have done against the altar of Bethel.”


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<pb/>And he said, “Let him alone; let no one move his bones.” So they let his bones alone, with the bones of <f>[29†]</f>the prophet who came from Samaria.


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<pb/>Now Josiah also took away all the shrines of the high places that <i>were</i> <f>[30†]</f>in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke the LORD to anger; and he did to them according to all the deeds he had done in Bethel.


text:
<f>[31†]</f>He <f>[32†]</f>executed all the priests of the high places who <i>were</i> there, on the altars, and <f>[33†]</f>burned men’s bones on them; and he returned to Jerusalem.


text:
<pb/>Then the king commanded all the people, saying, <f>[34†]</f>“Keep the Passover to the LORD your God, <f>[35†]</f>as <i>it</i> <i>is</i> written in this Book of the Covenant.”


text:
<f>[36†]</f>Such a Passover surely had never been held since the days of the judges who judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah.


text:
Moreover Josiah put away those who consulted mediums and spiritists, the household gods and idols, all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might perform the words of <f>[37†]</f>the law which were written in the book <f>[38†]</f>that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.


text:
<f>[39†]</f>Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did <i>any</i> arise like him.


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<pb/>Nevertheless the LORD did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath, with which His anger was aroused against Judah, <f>[40†]</f>because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked Him.


text:
And the LORD said, “I will also remove Judah from My sight, as <f>[41†]</f>I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, <f>[42†]</f>‘My name shall be there.’ ”


text:
<pb/>Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, <i>are</i> they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


text:
<f>[43†]</f>In his days Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt went to the aid of the king of Assyria, to the River Euphrates; and King Josiah went against him. And <i>Pharaoh</i> <i>Necho</i> killed him at <f>[44†]</f>Megiddo when he <f>[45†]</f>confronted him.


text:
<f>[46†]</f>Then his servants moved his body in a chariot from Megiddo, brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb. And <f>[47†]</f>the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, anointed him, and made him king in his father’s place.


text:
<pb/> <f>[48†]</f>Jehoahaz <i>was</i> twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother’s name <i>was</i> <f>[49†]</f>Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.


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Now Pharaoh Necho put him in prison <f>[50†]</f>at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and he imposed on the land a tribute of one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.


text:
Then <f>[51†]</f>Pharaoh Necho made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in place of his father Josiah, and <f>[52†]</f>changed his name to <f>[53†]</f>Jehoiakim. And <i>Pharaoh</i> took Jehoahaz <f>[54†]</f>and went to Egypt, and he died there.


text:
<pb/>So Jehoiakim gave <f>[55†]</f>the silver and gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give money according to the command of Pharaoh; he exacted the silver and gold from the people of the land, from every one according to his assessment, to give <i>it</i> to Pharaoh Necho.


text:
<f>[56†]</f>Jehoiakim <i>was</i> twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name <i>was</i> Zebudah the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.


text:
<pb/>In <f>[1†]</f>his days Nebuchadnezzar king of <f>[2†]</f>Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his vassal <i>for</i> three years. Then he turned and rebelled against him.


text:
<f>[3†]</f>And the LORD sent against him <i>raiding</i> bands of Chaldeans, bands of Syrians, bands of Moabites, and bands of the people of Ammon; He sent them against Judah to destroy it, <f>[4†]</f>according to the word of the LORD which He had spoken by His servants the prophets.


text:
Surely at the commandment of the LORD <i>this</i> came upon Judah, to remove <i>them</i> from His sight <f>[5†]</f>because of the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he had done,


text:
<f>[6†]</f>and also because of the innocent blood that he had shed; for he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, which the LORD would not pardon.


text:
<pb/>Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, <i>are</i> they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


text:
<pb/>And <f>[8†]</f>the king of Egypt did not come out of his land anymore, for <f>[9†]</f>the king of Babylon had taken all that belonged to the king of Egypt from the Brook of Egypt to the River Euphrates.


text:
<pb/> <f>[10†]</f>Jehoiachin <i>was</i> eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name <i>was</i> Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.


text:
<pb/> <f>[11†]</f>At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.


